Birthright: Tuornen, Chapter Ten

[RocEter]

"Despite all his mercenary swagger, he reminds me of a young Gilgaed, and in more than looks."

The elf sips.
"Devlin reminds me more of Telaena. He's got the same steel in him."

Braedonnal turns his long face towards the tent opening.
"Come in."

A livered messenger enters.

"His Grace summons you both to his pavilion, noble sirs."

"I never met Gilgaed." He says. "I take it you would place more trust in him than any other Mercenary?"

He takes a large gulp of the wine.
"I never met Telaena as a fully grown woman, by then I had completely changed. I did however see her fight in the Five Peaks. Though I never did approach, I kept my distanced and fought alongside my fellow brothers."

Foerde laughs at being called a 'noble' but quickly turns his attention back to Braedonnel.
"Well it would appear duty calls."

[ewancummins]

HOTSPUR AND FOERDE


Braedonnal picks up his wine goblet and walks towards the open fly of the tent.

"Let's not keep His Grace waiting too long. This might be something important."

[RocEter]

Picking up his wine goblet, Foerde follows Braedonnel.

[ewancummins]

Picking up his wine goblet, Foerde follows Braedonnel.

They both go to Devlin's tent, and are admitted.

[VAN]

FILBERT

IN TAVERNA
"I don't know about any new men at Caer Haes."

Atli shrugs.

''I haven't been to the palace since you saw me last. I've been much too busy fixing this place up. Torthur isn't useful for work. He's drunk all the time now, and his leg is ruined."

Filbert lowers his head and sighs, he has met Torthur briefly but he liked him, was a brave guy.

"I'm sorry to hear that, was hoping he could go back to his land and have a normal life away of battles and the memories of Lofton and what he get through there."

Looking outside the window notices that is getting late.

"It's nice catching up, but is getting late and tomorrow will be a big day. Thank you for the chat and hopefully we will meet again soon."

The halfling stands up but not before handing his purse to Atli beneath the table.

"Fare well my friend."

[ewancummins]

FILBERT
IN TAVERNA


Atli grabs the purse under the table.

The dwarf's gold-capped teeth flash wide in a smile.
"Sure, you are always welcome here."

[VAN]

Filbert just nods to Atli and exits the tavern. He heads back to palace wanting to tell the news to his friends as soon as possible so they plan their course of action.

[ewancummins]

FILBERT

Filbert just nods to Atli and exits the tavern. He heads back to palace wanting to tell the news to his friends as soon as possible so they plan their course of action.

Soft spring rain falls from the warm evening skies, mixing with the horse dung and other waste in the streets to produce steamy, turgid ponds in the sunken stretches of pavement and gurgling brown streams in the open sewers.
Lord Filbert picks his way around the deeper muck pits and hops over the narrower rivulets of filthy water, moving towards Caer Haes by cutting through the Fish Market.

...

[kintire]

Safana finds herself followed by a slim, auburn-haired young man dressed in a buff doublet and green hose.
"Lady Safana? A moment of your time?"

She turns with a smile;

"I don't think I'm due that title, but consider me flattered. And my time is pretty much availiable at present. With whom do I have the honour of speaking?"

She eyes the young man for any kind of badge or device... not that she has much chance of recognising one, of course!

[ewancummins]

SAFANA


Looking closely at the handsome, well-dressed young man, she spots a small silver badge pinned to his inner tunic, only partly sticking out the open collar of his doublet. The badge depicts a leaping deer of some sort. His only obvious weapon is a poignard that hangs belted at his left hip.

"You have more than earned the title of Lady in my eyes."

He bows in courtly fashion.

"Sir Galen of Avanfair, at your service. "

Galen smiles.

"The dark streets beyond Caer Haes may prove unsafe for a lady walking alone. Since you seem to have finished your business here, I pray that you will permit me to escort you."

He gestures down the candle-lit hall to a spot not far off, where a boy holding an unlit torch leans against a stone wall.

The young gentleman steps closer to Safana, blue eyes shining bright and hands moving outward in a second, more elaborate bow. He speaks with his voice dropped to a lover's murmur,
"There is more, but we cannot discuss it here. Seniors of my order would fain speak with you, my gracious lady."

[VAN]

FILBERT

Filbert gets a handkerchief out of his pocket and covers his mouth and nose. The halfling increases his pace through the fish market wanting to put as sooner as possible more distance possible between him and all those stinky odors.

[Varrus the Ethical]

''Now, your play, coz."

Roald begins to lay out his hand, placing each card face up one at a time.

"Though I doubt I have any tales Your Grace would find interesting, I do have a couple of scenarios that you may."

"Scenario one, my brother arrives to pass judgment on you, finds you guilty, and then tries to cut your head off with that tiny sword of his."

Placing the last card on the table, Roald looks up at Carlion.

"Scenario two, you agree to sign a peace treaty with Tuornen, which includes paying reparations and providing hostages to make sure you keep your word."

His face hardens.

"Hostages such as your daughter. Then you have my voice added to those who wish to keep you alive so that you may continue to outlive your enemies."

[Adam]

THE DUKE'S TENT

Cormac strokes his beard. "Fer what it's worth," he begins, "The man's too dangerous to keep in tha' cell fer long. He's got some kinda fire thing he can summon, an' besides tha' he's dead clever. I doubt there's many prisons that'd keep 'im locked up fer long."

He sighs. "I saw first hand the sufferin' the goblins caused with the small folk. If he was responsible, he deserves death. I don't know how much was truth, but 'e told me that his brother was the one rousin' the goblins as part o' his rebellion. If tha's the case, than the guilty one's already been punished an' now you just have a political prisoner, which is a different thing all together."

[kintire]

Safana looks curious, and a little excited.

"Well, I shall certainly be glad of the company of such a gallant knight. Its my honour to meet you, Sir Galen. Please, tell me of yourself as we walk. I am sure you have many exciting deeds to relate!"

She turns and heads for the linkboy, keeping a sidelong glance on the knight

[JMaytr]

Devlin takes it all in.

"Summon the Arch Prelate of the Haelyn temple," the Duke begins. " I think I have a plan."

Devlin waits until a representative for Nichilar arrives.

"I'd like to propose a deal to the arch-prelate that may end this war between the realms. Carilon Alam, Duke of Alamie deserves the penalty of death for his actions against Tuornen and its people. His soldiers brutally murdered and violated innocents in this conflict. Among those people I include my father and my mother. Unlike most of the heartlands, I do not forget his crimes of assassination. His proved allegiance with the goblins of the Five Peaks also cements the fact that the foul despot isn't fit to be called 'noble' among the others of Anuire's court. For these crimes he deserves Tuor justice. And with all my soul I want to see that old monster swing from the gallows while I plunge my rapier into his dying heart.

But will that end the war?

Probably not. But maybe this will. Send word to the holdouts in Sorentier castle that we have their duke prisoner and he may soon face the justice his brother Region has.

BUT-

If they throw down their arms and peacefully surrender the castle to us we will spare all of their lives. Once I have made positive that Sorentier is empty of Alam soldiers and civilians, I will deliver Carilon Alam to the Western Imperial Temple, alive and unharmed.

Take this message as swiftly as you can to his holiness. Count Robin, I charge you with insuring these demands are sent to Sorentier. Fhylie, I'd like you to remain here with my troops to ensure that Alam forces are nuetralized, and Bradonnel, foerde, and Cormac, I'd like you to make sure the castle is empty once they vacate.

If they do not accept the terms, we will move forward from there, continuing the siege until they rot inside."