Birthright 3: The Worm's Supper , Chapter 2

[Adam]

Cormac points at the braces. "Well, that probably means that we're not headed into nothing, but it also probably means we're not alone down here."

Other than that, he will carry on unless something comes along that stops them or warrants investigation.

[kintire]

Safana nods, seeming largely unmoved by the sight of the blood, although sober as she looks at the dead man. She listens politely to Termalan looking a little uneasy, then heads up behind him as he speaks to the maid and drapes her own half cloak around him.

"That will do nicely. Lets go. I don't fancy spending the rest of the night talking to the watch. Loads of paperwork, I expect. Lets leave them to it!"

She leans closer and whispers.

"I heard bringing goblins into town is the Duke's current pet project. They won't be happy about bad publicity for it. We should fade..."

[ewancummins]

Safana nids, seeming largely unmoved by the sight of the blood, although sober as she looks at the dead man. She listens politely to Termalan looking a little uneasy, then heads up behind him as he speaks to the maid and drapes her own half cloak around him.

"That will do nicely. Lets go. I don't fancy spending the rest of the night talking to the watch. Loads of paperwork, I expect. Lets leave them to it!"

She leans closer and whispers.

"I heard bringing goblins into town is the Duke's current pet project. They won't be happy about bad publicity for it. We should fade..."

Safana may not be the only one who is disinclined to stay and deal with the Watch.
Several other guests have disappeared, not counting the men who left a short while ago in pursuit of the goblin.

[steveflam]

THE MERRY TRAVELLER

Delsenora curtsies in return. "Thank you for your kind invitation, Lord Bramm," and sits after Gimp seats her, taking a seat next to her.

"So, what might I inquire, brings a Lord of Elvensmire here? Is it the Ducal wedding? Or you perhaps have other interests? Pardon my bluntness, sire,
I am curious is all."

''Yes, I've come to attend His Grace's wedding. And to visit my children here and to take part in the tourney."
He sips wine from his goblet before continuing.
"I am afraid I don't recognize you, my lady, but it's clear from your manner and aspect that you must come of aristocratic stock."

"How terribly rude of me, sire," and she rises, and curtsying as she presents herself, "Delsenora Barillia, of Caudraight in Coeryanys. Second cousin to Lord Gustav Barillia there."

She sits back down again, satisfied.

"I have heard tell of this tourney, but know little of it. Would you be so kind as to elaborate more as to what it entails exactly?"

She sips her wine sparingly, dabbing at her lips after putting her wineglass down. Though paying attention to Lord Alam, she is also paying particular attention to his "muscle" or "hired
goons".

[alhoon]

Termelan, Safana, Lofton
"Thank you my dear" Termelan says as he quickly drops any discussions and moves to the exit.
"Paperwork?" he smiles. "More probably a couple of nights in the dungeon. From my experience, city watch doesn't like foreigners covered with blood especially when things don't go according to the Lord's plans. Let's head to the boat if you agree."
Termelan follows Safana outside, trying to hide the blood as much as possible and staying out of sight.

In the way, he whispers to Safana "Goblins you said... that's how goblins are? I have never seen one. We don't have any in my place."

[Varrus the Ethical]

Roald peers at the braces.

"There's a trick I learned from a Brecht sapper that could collapse this tunnel behind us," Roald says. "We just need to build a fire."

[ewancummins]

THE MERRY TRAVELLER

Delsenora curtsies in return. "Thank you for your kind invitation, Lord Bramm," and sits after Gimp seats her, taking a seat next to her.

"So, what might I inquire, brings a Lord of Elvensmire here? Is it the Ducal wedding? Or you perhaps have other interests? Pardon my bluntness, sire,
I am curious is all."

''Yes, I've come to attend His Grace's wedding. And to visit my children here and to take part in the tourney."
He sips wine from his goblet before continuing.
"I am afraid I don't recognize you, my lady, but it's clear from your manner and aspect that you must come of aristocratic stock."

"How terribly rude of me, sire," and she rises, and curtsying as she presents herself, "Delsenora Barillia, of Caudraight in Coeryanys. Second cousin to Lord Gustav Barillia there."

She sits back down again, satisfied.

"I have heard tell of this tourney, but know little of it. Would you be so kind as to elaborate more as to what it entails exactly?"

She sips her wine sparingly, dabbing at her lips after putting her wineglass down. Though paying attention to Lord Alam, she is also paying particular attention to his "muscle" or "hired
goons".

"The Barillias? Oh, yes, I've heard of your family."
He smiles.
"I've heard also that Coeranys is very lovely, green country with herds of wild horses and cattle, and rosecolored birds in the marshlands."
After another sip of wine, he says,
"About the tourney...His Grace called for public celebrations in honor of his upcoming wedding. He's marrying Carilon Alam's daughter--but you probably knew that. It's unusual to hold tourney so late in the year. The snow and rain will slow travelers, so I wouldn't expect a huge number of competitors and spectators. But certainly many people from Haes and Lofton will be present. And some from further afield."
The finishes his cup.
"There will be other events over the next couple of weeks: plays, speeches, gift giving, and all that. This marriage is very important."

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

SEARCHERS

Renn eyes the bulwarks. "In this case, better the devil we don't know than the one we do. If things go south, there are plenty of shadows to hide in at least. Let's see what awaits us further below."

[ewancummins]

THE SEARCHERS
FURTHER BELOW



The party has limited time for arson or investigation, as the sound of pursuers grows ever closer, footsteps echoing in the upper part of the tunnel.
Walking noises, not a headlong rush...


Sir Boarhort scrapes through a tight neck of rock, sparks flying from his cuirass. He whispers to his companions, "They won't be dumb enough to just come right at us. Probably roll or drop something nasty on us. We taught them a bit of caution."

The party hastens on, and the sounds of pursuit follow but lessen a little.

The downward slanting passage drops as a stairway into a rough hewn chamber about the size of a peasant's cottage. Four tunnels, narrow and high, lead out of the vault in directions away from the stairway the party used to enter.

By the light of Cormac's torch, the party's sees not only the tunnels and the walls of the chamber, but also a little heap of bones in the middle of the floor. It looks like the remains of rats, maybe moles of some other small creatures. A closer examination reveals teen marks and also knife marks.

[Adam]

Cormac scratches at his beard. "Those braces remind me o' somethin'," he snaps his fingers, "Aye, the mine devils. They probably dug this."

His eyes narrow. "Which may mean the place is lousy wi' traps. I'd keep an eye open, lads."

He looks for signs of traffic down any of the individual tunnels.

[steveflam]

"The Barillias? Oh, yes, I've heard of your family."
He smiles.
"I've heard also that Coeranys is very lovely, green country with herds of wild horses and cattle, and rosecolored birds in the marshlands."
After another sip of wine, he says,
"About the tourney...His Grace called for public celebrations in honor of his upcoming wedding. He's marrying Carilon Alam's daughter--but you probably knew that. It's unusual to hold tourney so late in the year. The snow and rain will slow travelers, so I wouldn't expect a huge number of competitors and spectators. But certainly many people from Haes and Lofton will be present. And some from further afield."
The finishes his cup.
"There will be other events over the next couple of weeks: plays, speeches, gift giving, and all that. This marriage is very important."

Finishing a bite of food, she dabs at her mouth with her napkin, listening.

"Ah, of course the wedding is all the rave as well as its activities. I do confess though of noble blood, that does not necessarily mean I enjoy all aspects of my upbringing.
I notice that you have an entourage with you. Are these your advisors?"

[ewancummins]

"The Barillias? Oh, yes, I've heard of your family."
He smiles.
"I've heard also that Coeranys is very lovely, green country with herds of wild horses and cattle, and rosecolored birds in the marshlands."
After another sip of wine, he says,
"About the tourney...His Grace called for public celebrations in honor of his upcoming wedding. He's marrying Carilon Alam's daughter--but you probably knew that. It's unusual to hold tourney so late in the year. The snow and rain will slow travelers, so I wouldn't expect a huge number of competitors and spectators. But certainly many people from Haes and Lofton will be present. And some from further afield."
The finishes his cup.
"There will be other events over the next couple of weeks: plays, speeches, gift giving, and all that. This marriage is very important."

Finishing a bite of food, she dabs at her mouth with her napkin, listening.

"Ah, of course the wedding is all the rave as well as its activities. I do confess though of noble blood, that does not necessarily mean I enjoy all aspects of my upbringing.
I notice that you have an entourage with you. Are these your advisors?"

"These men are my guards and servants."
Bramm calls for beer.
"It's a pity I haven't got the good stuff from home, but they serve passable local brew here. "

[ewancummins]

Cormac scratches at his beard. "Those braces remind me o' somethin'," he snaps his fingers, "Aye, the mine devils. They probably dug this."

His eyes narrow. "Which may mean the place is lousy wi' traps. I'd keep an eye open, lads."

He looks for signs of traffic down any of the individual tunnels.

CORMAC

Cormac finds some faint tracks in dust and gravel strewn in one of the side tunnels. He can't tell what made the trail, except that it seems smaller than a full grown man. Maybe...

[steveflam]

"These men are my guards and servants."
Bramm calls for beer.
"It's a pity I haven't got the good stuff from home, but they serve passable local brew here. "

"I see. They do not serve the ale from your home here? Is that a normal occurance? Ale is not my forté, nor wine. I like to keep a clear head, not addle it with alchohol, sire."

[ewancummins]

"These men are my guards and servants."
Bramm calls for beer.
"It's a pity I haven't got the good stuff from home, but they serve passable local brew here. "

"I see. They do not serve the ale from your home here? Is that a normal occurance? Ale is not my forté, nor wine. I like to keep a clear head, not addle it with alchohol, sire."

'Oh? Well, here in Tournen, everybody drinks!"

The Count buys a round for all his men as well as for himself.