Birthright Chapter Nine

[ewancummins]

DEVLIN



Devlin is greeted at the gates by Count Montros' servants, who hasten to bring fresh water and baskets of food for the foot soldiers.

The count's herald, who looks a bit like a much younger version of Count Montros, with washed out blue eyes , sharp features, and pale skin, bows before the duke. He explains, "His Lordship requests the honor of You Grace's company at table. Servants are setting a place for you and your officers now, Your Grace."

[JMaytr]

Devlin-


As the second chorus of Pechalin's Ale rings through the assembly, Devlin catches eyes of Gryphon Castle. He Marches the men through the gates, waving to the guard as he does.

"Men, We have a long march ahead. Find a latrine if you need it and grab any tool or weapon you neglected to bring from Haes."

Devlin and his personal guard go to Count Montros.

"Esteemed Count, forgive the intrusion. I am marching to Sorelies today, and bringing an end to this war by taking Sorentier castle and the north of Alamie. If you have heard of any troop movements by the enemy, or any news you can spare I would be grateful."

Devlin looks back to his troops, scattering throughout the courtyards of the castle.

"We may need to grab a few things. I appreciate your hospitality."

[ewancummins]

Devlin-


As the second chorus of Pechalin's Ale rings through the assembly, Devlin catches eyes of Gryphon Castle. He Marches the men through the gates, waving to the guard as he does.

"Men, We have a long march ahead. Find a latrine if you need it and grab any tool or weapon you neglected to bring from Haes."

Devlin and his personal guard go to Count Montros.

"Esteemed Count, forgive the intrusion. I am marching to Sorelies today, and bringing an end to this war by taking Sorentier castle and the north of Alamie. If you have heard of any troop movements by the enemy, or any news you can spare I would be grateful."

Devlin looks back to his troops, scattering throughout the courtyards of the castle.

"We may need to grab a few things. I appreciate your hospitality."

Devlin finds the aged Count sitting in his great hall, seated on a high chair surrounded by relatives, servants, and armed guards.


''Take what you need, of course, Your Grace. My steward will keep track."

The Count rubs his gnarled hands together and licks his dry lips.

"Now, what was I...oh yes, that's right. Breakfast. Let's eat together. Table!"


Six burly men hasten to lift and carry a big table in from a side room, rattling plates of food and sloshing mugs of already set on top.

Count Montros laughs, a dry, hollow cackle.
"I see many things from my watchtower, Your Grace. Even these old eyes can spot your stag banner on the wind from a mile away on such a clear morning. Yes, and other things besides..hehehehee."
Two of his retainers help the old man down his dais.
He stands behind by his seat at the table, leaning on a gilded cane.
"After you, my duke."
He waves a bony claw at a chair near his, which a servant pulls out for Devlin.
"I don't like to shout, and I imagine you don't like being shouted at, Your Grace."

[JMaytr]

Devlin takes a seat near Montros so the old man doesnt have to strain his voice.

[ewancummins]

Devlin takes a seat near Montros so the old man doesnt have to strain his voice.

Count Montros orders his minstrels to play music for the amusement of the rest of the court, and dismisses most of the servants from table, besides his cup-bearer and two guards.


"Now, then, hmmm..."

He picks at a roast game hen, sucking his fingers between bites of flesh.
He slurps at his silver goblet, drooling and wiping his chin on the green tablecloth.

The Count's words come faster and clearer once he's got some food in his belly. His faded blue eyes even twinkle a little.
"Troop movements, you asked about troop movements? My niece informs me that Duke Carilon has moved at least a couple of hundred men into Lofton.
That's at least a company of foot you and the Grand Master won't have to fight, at least not soon.

Fhylie the Sword..mmmmmmmm,..."

The old nobleman smiles as if at some private joke, and then continues where he left off-

"She's been fighting hard in the north of Alamie. Last I heard she had nearly all of Baron Lynwerd's--ah, the late baron's-- men penned up in their old master's castle-keep. ''

[VAN]

After making sure that the riot is over Filbert joins the others outside and wait his turn to receive the blessing from the Archprelate. Listening about the poison he asks:

"Your Holiness, the poison you mentioned is a sleeping one right? It will be handy to get Riegon alive as you asked."

Then turns to others ans asks:

"Are we ready to go? And I think is better get the necessary for our disguise from here so we will not need to search there for the right clothes."

[ewancummins]

The Archprelate shakes his head.

''What? Poison? No, no, no! It's an antidote for poison, Lord Filbert! The temple does not go about poisoning people."

[VAN]

"I'm sorry Your Holiness, I didn't want to offend you and the temple. Just trying to figure out a way to take alive a man like Riegon that will be guarded better than anything. But guess we have to find another way to do it. Again, I'm sorry for what I said."

[ewancummins]

''No, it's fine."

The old cleric casts a wary glance towards Filbert before climbing into a sedan chair that his servants bring forth for him.

[kintire]

Safana heads into the watch house, looking slightly smug.

"I think there is some sort of event going on across the river. A big crowd at the arena place, and some sort of speech. Do we have a plan for the raid?"

[Varrus the Ethical]

WATCH HQ, ROALD

Roald smiles knowingly. "Why yes. You will play an essential roll, in fact. You're going to pretend to be a wealthy Khinasi merchant coming from Endier to see Riegon's spectacle. The rest of the team will pretend to be your bodyguards and retinue."

He explains his plan to get into Lofton to Safana.

(Plan detailed in OOC)

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

WATCH HQ, ROALD

Renn gives a deep bow to the Archprelate when he arrives, and kisses the ring if offered. "Your holiness. It seems some of your followers came to make their petitions known to us." He glares at the young priest who'd been ranting at him earlier. "I understand their concern, but this is a fine mess, and like you said, we are already pressed for time." He stops to think. "But they did not strike the first blow, nor did they interfere with us when we restored order. I'll release them into your custody to correct them as you see fit."

Then turning to Foerde, he says, "The militant order's rioters I do not release, not yet. Taking beer money is no excuse for causing a riot on my city streets. In fact it only makes it worse that these men were fueled by strong drink instead of religious zeal. Mix the two, and you have a world of problems."

To his guards, he says, "Round up those eight, put them in irons. Find out -everything- they know." Turning back to Foerde he says, "I will release them to you once my men have questioned them. I know your feelings on this, but the wishes Militant Order cannot stand superior to the law of the land. If the Imperial Temple men had started this riot, I'd have done the same to them."

He stays silent during the rest of the Archprelate's conversation, then listens with attention as Roald lays out his plan.

[ewancummins]

THE RAID ON LOFTON


After dealing with the rioters, gaining the blessing of the Archprelate, and donning their disguises, the raiders make their way to the wharves where a keelboat waits for them. A crew of stout boatmen rows the party and a couple of horses across the river to a point south of Lofton, screened from view of the city walls by a stand of willow trees.
Once ashore, the raiders make their way onto the nearest road leading to the city gate.
At the great wooden double gate, they are scrutinized by a squad of guards dressed in brigandine with short swords and bucklers strapped on their belts. The guard sergeant questions Safana for several minutes, making a few crude (and perhaps failed?) attempts to flirt with the exotic-looking woman. His men walk around the other members of her party, looking them over and taking note of weapons or any unusual features.

The sergeant demands a ‘sword tax’ of one silver piece for each weapon brought into town, besides daggers and staves (not that any of the party carries a staff, but that’s how the law reads). In addition, he informs the party that all weapons must be peace-bonded in the city, or unstrung in the case of bows.


“Only exceptions are for the nobles, us guards, and them what work for the nobles and carries scrolls to show it. Sorry, but you don’t count, Lady.”

He also claims a ‘exotic beast tax’ of 5 silver pieces for Foerde, and wants Safana to put the ‘cat-demon’ on a leash.

[kintire]

Safana is actually very relaxed about this, as it isn't her money, but she maintains her disguise and seeks to wring every silver she can, largely by pressing the definition of "dagger" as long as she can possibly get it! She cheerfully flirts with the gate guard, but seems to busy with her trading mission to go any further.

She makes some effort to persuade the guard that the cat-man is merely an exotic foreigner of peaceable and amiable disposition and does not need to be leashed, although she makes no mention of not paying the tax...

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

LOFTON

Renn keeps his head down as the guard speaks, trying his best to affect an air of a gruff Khinasi sellsword. He raises no objection at the mention of the tax or the peace-strings. After all, if they would have to draw their weapons in public they were already sunk. He plans to do most of his killing in the dark, where he works best.

He hands over the three silvers with a grunt.