Birthright Chapter Nine

[ewancummins]

MORGAN IN LOFTON

Morgan has spent a day and two nights, hiding like a hunted rat, holed up in a crumbling tenement. Whoever arranged the trash into piles hasn't come back-- so far as Morgan can tell. Yesterday morning, he dared to creep out of his hidey-hole and try to exit the city by the west gate, but was rebuffed by the guards. Since the raid got messy, the whole city seemed laced as tight as a virgin's nickers.

But maybe today he'll have better luck?

Morgan looks for any section of the city where the rooftops come near the outer wall. Failing that, he looks for a way to get his hands on some guard's clothes. Starting by attempting to locate a tavern favored by the guardsmen.

Morgan locates a two-story wine sink called the Poxy Doxy, built close to the city walls that overlook the river and the bluffs. This early in the morning the common room is mostly empty; he sees a bored-looking whore, a trio of scruffy barflies, a scrawny serving maid, and a couple of baggy-eyed city guards in uniform.

The plump, painted harlot tugs her low cut bodice a little lower and leans forward to display ample décolletage as Morgan passes her table. She stretches her lips into a smile and attempts to sound jolly as she intones, "You look like you could use some company."

[VAN]

Filbert nods at the Catman's entrance. When Sir Rory finishes talking Filbert raises and tells with serious face:

"There is another problem about Lord Riegon. The past two days I tried to gather intelligencce about Lofton spies or whoever could help Riegon escape. I found out that are strangers in town, quite possibly agents from Lofton. They have been offering silver and gold coins for Riegon's whereabouts. I don't know if anyone has given up that information; it's possible that some civilians of even guards who saw us the night Riegon was brought in may have realized who he was and informed. Or maybe not. I cant tell for sure. But maybe we have to move him. Me and Foerde picked trusted guards to guard Riegon but if Carilon's men are here they might try to get in he prison and take him."

[Lord Skybolt]

Gunnar

Gunnar comes riding back into Haes after spending some time with his wife, he goes and checks on how things are going with Reigon and if those in town have received any word about Cormac .

Gunnar is detained and questioned for several minutes by the palace guards. The men remain friendly so long as the big warrior cooperates, but are meticulous in looking over his arms, armor, and possessions, and in confirming his identity.
"Can't be too careful these days" one of them comments.

If Gunnar cooperates with the security checks, he may be informed about and admitted to the meeting.

Gunnar answers the questions and cooperates fully complimenting the guards for their diligence .

[ewancummins]

Gunnar

Gunnar comes riding back into Haes after spending some time with his wife, he goes and checks on how things are going with Reigon and if those in town have received any word about Cormac .

Gunnar is detained and questioned for several minutes by the palace guards. The men remain friendly so long as the big warrior cooperates, but are meticulous in looking over his arms, armor, and possessions, and in confirming his identity.
"Can't be too careful these days" one of them comments.

If Gunnar cooperates with the security checks, he may be informed about and admitted to the meeting.

Gunnar answers the questions and cooperates fully complimenting the guards their diligence .

The guards smile and nod, waving Gunnar along now that he's passed the security checks.

The page opens the door to the meeting chamber and escorts the hulking warrior into the room.

[kintire]

Safana rests and relaxes for a couple of days, before accepting Filbert's invitation to the meeting. She waits silently as the discussion goes on, then looks for a moment as if she is about to make a suggestion, then merely asks a question.

"If this Duke wants to execute the prisoner, which is much what we intend, why bother asking for him back? What does it matter to him whether we execute him or he does?"

[RocEter]

"His blood." Foerde says. "There is a ceremony which priests can perform to transfer the bloodline, because they are brothers they share the same bloodline. If he does this, it will make Duke Carilon stronger. He could also forgo the ceremony and stab his brother in the heart, which he might do." He says.

"Though given the fact Riegon has been accused of treason acts, I think we should go a head with the exchange. We could make arrangements to ensure that Duke Carilon doesn't betray us and that we return safely.

Before make the exchange we could interrogate him and learn everything he knows about his brothers plans, troop movements and the like."

[VAN]

"The thing is that we believe Carilon will execute him, we aren't sure. Also if we trade him whatever info he gives us will be useless because he will tell his brother what he told us and he will just change his plans...So we need to be very careful and if we trade him, to do it for something really big. Not that Cormac's life isn't, but all due respect to our friend Reigon's life for Carilon is more important so he has to give us something more. Like call his army back, or give us Lofton, or make a truce, or whatever His Grace wants. And in the mean time the trading will go on, we can think of a plan to save our friends because I don't trust Carilon at all to be honest."

[Varrus the Ethical]

CAER HAES, ROALD.


"I think the best thing we can do right now is question Riegon to find out what he knows," says Roald. "Find out what he did with the women he kidnapped, and learn what he knows of Carlinon's activities. Activities that include the assassination of the Old Duke that started this whole war. Then..." he steeples his fingers, "we invite His Holiness, the Arcprelate, to come to Caer Haes to question Riegon."

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

CAER HAES


"The cat's right. If Carilon executes Riegon he can take his power, and not just the blood power. We know the two have been feuding, and with Riegon out of the way, Carilon consolidates Alamie against us. Even if we give him back, it would be better if we sent him back with the means to escape Carilon's clutches."

Unusually, Renn appears visibly troubled by this dilemma. "I like Cormac, but what have we to gain by his return? He was foolish enough to run away from the group--should we risk our own safety to spare him from the gibbet? But I do like the man, a shame to see him go." Why couldn't it have been the bloody cat instead?

His brow furrows. "But we can't allow Cormac to give up any information on us, which he'll surely do if tortured. If we can get Cormac free, it keeps more of our plans hidden from Carilon. So there's that. But yes, first thing's first. Let's see what Riegon has to say. I wouldn't hold out any hope for those women, but he might have more to tell us..."

[Ben]

MORGAN IN LOFTON

Morgan locates a two-story wine sink called the Poxy Doxy, built close to the city walls that overlook the river and the bluffs. This early in the morning the common room is mostly empty; he sees a bored-looking whore, a trio of scruffy barflies, a scrawny serving maid, and a couple of baggy-eyed city guards in uniform.

The plump, painted harlot tugs her low cut bodice a little lower and leans forward to display ample décolletage as Morgan passes her table. She stretches her lips into a smile and attempts to sound jolly as she intones, "You look like you could use some company."

Morgan puts on a grin. "Maybe after I've got some drink in me and relaxed some." he says winking at the woman.

Morgans walks over to the guards men and claps the nearest man on the shoulder.
"Mate, is it true what they say about the monster in the city streets? Did you guards defeat it single-handed the way gossip says? Damn me, let me buy you boys a round! Least I could do for protecting our good people! Tell me the story!" Morgan says in an excited ramble, then rushing to the bar to order drinks before the guardsmen can reply.

[ewancummins]

MORGAN AT THE SIGN OF THE POXY DOXY

The guardsmen smile and laugh at Morgan's friendly banter and his offer of a drink. One of them slaps his comrade on the back and says, loud enough for everyone in the bar to hear him "Olmer was there! He saw our friend Mikah skewer the demon-snake with a spear. He saw what the thing did in the arena too. Pretty nasty!"
Olmer mumbles "thin and wrinkled, the worm, the worm made 'em so thin..."

Morgan returns to the table with drinks and sits down with his new pals. Encouraging the men to drink and talk, he gets little out of Olmer but mumbling and bleary stares. The other fellow, Edjer, talks enough for three men; mostly tales of fighting some 'insane dwarf with a blood stained axe' in the city streets.



...


Two hours later Olmer snoozes hunched over the tabletop, face pressed to the rough wood, blowing bubbles in spilled ale.


Elsewhere-

Edjer, naked, rolls out of bed. He looks about the cramped, dim room.

"Hey...wheredya put m'clothes, girlie? Where's me good pal, M..Mikah? Morgin? Uhmmmmmm..."

But the plump whore has gone.
And Edjer's newest drinking companion (so nice of him to pay for everything, even the woman) has also departed...

[ewancummins]

THE DUNGEON IN THE CELLARS


Roald, Filbert, Renn, and the others depart the meeting chamber and venture into the cellar-dungeon where Lord Riegon is being kept. The shrill sound of infants crying rises from the gloom.

The gaoler, a thickset, gray-bearded man (Lord Filbert recognizes him as Sergeant Dagobert of the Ducal Guard) hums a jaunty tune as he leads the party down the stone halls to the cell. He waggles his torch in the direction of a curtained alcove. The crying sounds seem to be coming from behind the curtain. Turning his head slightly towards Sir Roald, the gaoler whispers “His Lordship hasn’t guessed, methinks. We don’t let him out for anything.”

Walking on a little further and going round a corner, the party reaches the heavy door of the cell, Dagobert unlocks and opens it, holding up his torch to show as much of the small cell as possible. In the back of the cell, Lord Riegon paces, mumbling and shaking his hands.

Riegon whips round to face Roald, Filbert and the other who crowd into the doorway and the forward part of his room. Beads of sweat roll down his pallid face. He blinks in the harsh glare of the torch, bloodshot eyes darting from face to face among his captors.
“Talk to me, ask me whatever. I’ll answer, if only to hear something other than that damned CRYING!”

He sits on his cot and waits for the questioning to begin. The babies cry in the background.

…

Riegon seems reticent to talk at all about the women or the babies; several times he tries to change the subject to his brother Carilon. He mentions being out of favor in his brother’s court because of a ‘misunderstanding’ about a ‘lady of the court.’ If given the opportunity, he rants at length about the injustice and wickedness of Carilon, and hints that he, Riegon, would make a far better duke and a better neighbor to Tuornen. The prisoner claims to know a lot about his brother: Filbert learns that Carilon’s favorite wine is claret imported from Avanil, his favorite gemstone is topaz, his favorite food is crayfish raised in rock pools, and his favorite weapon is burning oil. On the subject of secret doors and secret locations, Riegon says only “no place in Caer Haes will be unguarded now. The moment to strike has passed. You ruined my plan!”

But of course Sir Roald isn’t going to let Riegon get away without talking about the women and the babies. Pressed continually on the question of what happened to them, the prisoner finally breaks down, shouting-
“They served their purpose to me, and then I got rid of them! Is that what you wanted to hear? “


Outside the room, the babies continue to cry.

Riegon stands and slams his fists against the wall.“SHUT UP!” He kicks his brass chamber pot across the stone floor, spilling filth and piss over the feet of those nearest him.

“Feh! Who cares about a bunch of whores and their little bastards, anyway?”

[Varrus the Ethical]

DUNGEON, ROALD.

“Feh! Who cares about a bunch of whores and their little bastards, anyway?”

Roald doesn't even notice the filth spilled on his boots, he was feeling something akin moral outrage.

His eyes narrow, his hands ball into fists so tight the leather of his gloves creak, and a cold smile appears on his face.

"I do, Lord Riegon. And so does Duke Devlin. I suspect when he returns, he'll waste little time before sending you to the gallows. Unless, of course, you tell me something useful so that I may convince him to do otherwise."

[ewancummins]

Riegon stands aghast for a moment, mouth open but not speaking.


He closes his mouth, presses his lips into a thin line.

Nodding slowly, he says,
"The toymaker, Baubb. Carilon sent him to be a spy in Haes, and to murder both Duke Gilgead and his son."

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

CAER HAES DUNGEON

“Feh! Who cares about a bunch of whores and their little bastards, anyway?”

Renn gives the slightest of shrugs. "So you can gut a whore. Are we supposed to be shocked? Impressed? Yes, very clever, very brave. Baron Lynwerd thought he was very clever and very brave too. Have you heard what I did to that clever, brave man?" Renn gives Riegon a death's head grin and makes a circle around his own neck with his thumb, his tongue lolling from his mouth.

Despite his taunts, Renn's interest is piqued at the mention of the toymaker. Not new information, but a much better source. Especially if the archprelate insists on taking this to trial. "You'll sign a sworn statement attesting to Carilon's role in the plot. That's a -start.-"

"Now, let's here more about this misunderstanding with a lady of the court. Were you clever and brave with her, too?"