Birthright 2: Promises to Keep

[Varrus the Ethical]

PENCHALLIN

Roald looks off to the southeast towards his old hunting grounds.

"The knife-ears who put shafts into that poor trapper came a long way just to do it," Roald says. "That's unusually bold for them."

[kintire]

CROAKER NORGE

Safana sighs, then catches herself and resumes her bland smile. She has loosened the furs somewhat in the warmer depths, and looks about with interest, eying the old witch closely and awaiting the Duke's response.

[Adam]

PECHALLIN

"I suppose we can try to follow them back home," Cormac says, "Deal with 'em in person. Ye're righ' that it's strange they came this far, though. Maybe he was someone important?"

He gives the man's belongings a bit closer examination.

[ewancummins]

PECHALLIN

"I suppose we can try to follow them back home," Cormac says, "Deal with 'em in person. Ye're righ' that it's strange they came this far, though. Maybe he was someone important?"

He gives the man's belongings a bit closer examination.

Searching the dead man with care, Cormac finds:

• three small puncture wounds in his back, consistent with arrows
  
  bloody, muddy clothing (outer layers missing, unless he was underdressed for the weather)
  
  a medallion strung on a rawhide cord, partly hidden under his tunic and unkempt beard

From the cord hangs a disk of polished and carved oak with a leafy face etched on the obverse and old-fashioned script incised into the reverse, Andu letters running in a spiral pattern.

[Adam]

Cormac stares down at the amulet. "Brothers," he says to Ned and Hob, "this fellow was one of our own. This is a symbol of Aeric, the local church of our patron."

He lays the amulet respectfully back down on the trapper's chest.

"We should see to his burial. And then we should find who did this, and let them feel Erik's wrath."

[ewancummins]

PECHALLIN



Ned busts up the cold, thin dirt with a spade, digging a shallow grave.
Hob gathers rocks for a cairn over the trapper's body.


The goblins depart, rolling their handcart downhill towards the north.

[Adam]

Cormac says a few words commemorating the man's soul to the afterlife.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Renn stands some distance away as Cormac and his men take care of the fallen trapper.

"Poor soul. But aside from your common faith," he says to Cormac, nothing to distinguish him?" He frowns. Maybe he wasn't a target, maybe he was just in the way.

He produces an old iron arrowhead, worn smooth by years of touch, and begins worrying it in one hand. "I've long dreaded that the Manslayer might take an army into our lands. Strike at us in force while we're still weak and lulled into complacence by the illusion of peace. Perhaps we're tracking down something worse than kidnappers."

[JMaytr]

Devlin strips his armor off and soon he is in nothing but his undergarments. He smiles rakishly at the others.

"It is a good night for a swim. Care to join me?" The duke says to the assembled party. He begins to wade into the waters, awaiting further instructions from the hunched woman.

[ewancummins]

CROAKER NORGE

Devlin strips his armor off and soon he is in nothing but his undergarments. He smiles rakishly at the others.

"It is a good night for a swim. Care to join me?" The duke says to the assembled party. He begins to wade into the waters, awaiting further instructions from the hunched woman.

Maeve shrugs her shawl off her shoulders, turning to watch the duke.

The torches and lamps carried by Devlin's men flare up brighter than before, outlining him as he steps into the water.

In the increased light, Maeve looks younger than she had appeared in the gloom.

[RocEter]

Pechallin

Foerde rides up with the squire Reece, and with Captain Ghonallison's men Sevet and Gatt. "That is something a great many people fear, good Captain." He says as he approaches. "But, you have nothing to fear. The Manslayer is indeed cruel and his hatred for human kind burns white hot but he hasn't the military strength push against Tournen. He might be able to take province but I don't think he would be able to hold for very long." He says.

Looking down at the dead man, he points. "A friend?" He says to Cormac.

[Adam]

"A devotee of Eric. Not someone I'd met personally," he throws a final handful of dirt onto the man, clapping his hands together.

"Thank you for giving me time to see to the man. Let's get back to the hunt, now."

[RocEter]

Foerde nods to Cormac. "I think we have exhausted all of our leads. Lets head back to my house in Elvesnemiere, we discuss our plan to enter the Manslayer's domain. Come, follow me." He says.

Turning slightly towards Roald, he says. "You too, Siegebreaker. Least we can do is put one last good meal and good drink in these men bellies before venturing off into Elf territory."

Foerde waits for the rest of the party to mount up before changing direction to his in Elvesnemiere.

[Varrus the Ethical]

PENCHALLIN

Roald looks down at the trapper's gear he bartered from the goblins and then to Foerde. "Aye, seems like a fine plan."

He steals a glance off towards the hills to the southeast, dark memories flashing through his mind. "No reason to rush."

[ewancummins]

PECHALLIN

The party travels south through the foothills.
High winds tears down from the mountains, threatening to push horses and men off the narrow, ice-glazed paths.

Moving with care, they avoid any nasty accidents, but the weather and terrain slow their progress.

By midday the hills level into a low valley dotted with boulders and dwarf trees.

The party rides on into a dead zone: barren dirt dusted with snow, no trees at all, cairns and mounds that look too regular in form and placement to be wholly natural. The men begin grumbling. They cast dark looks about, checking their weapons every few minutes.

Roald's horse kicks something under the dirt. Looking down, Roald sees the object; a rusted vambrace.