Birthright: Tuornen Chapter Five

[JMaytr]

CROAKER NORGE-

"Yes Filbert, see what is happening out there. Better yet, bring the sherrif inside so you aren't spotted by any enemy riders."

[ewancummins]

. FARMHOUSE


At Devlin's command, the fat man is admitted. He nervously pats smooth the folds of his creased clothing.

''Uhh....ahhh....Your Grace. My name is Norton. I'm scribe to your sheriff, William Redstaff. He's hanging a man at the crossroads but he'll be along shortly. He sent me into Croaker Norge to see if the rumor was true, that you'd come north. "

The pump scribe reaches into his coat-- which action causes Devlin's handful of guards to tense just a bit.
Norton withdraws a scrap of parchment, much scraped but bearing a few lines in black ink.
"I copied it from the wall of Mott The Shepherd’s barn, three days past. The toadstools have since died, but there were a bunch of the things, all tiny and red as blood. Fairies left them. And there's only one soul that can command the fairies. Herself....Mad Maeve... I mean, that's what the peasants say. "
He sniffs.
"Whatever the truth, the Sheriff insisted that I copy this. He sent one copy south, but seeing as you are here, you might wish to read the original. "

He hands over the parchment.

If Devlin reads it--

VIEW CONTENT:

One thin supper In the worm’s pot
One still dreamer On a cold bed
Two wan candles In a pyre hot
Two dire brothers On a field dead

[ewancummins]

RENN, THE CATHEDRAL OF HAELYN

The guide takes Renn not to the Lord Mayor's house but to the cathedral.



Once inside, the thin man escorts Renn down a side hall to a snug, warm office where the Lord Mayor Brynaen Shander sits speaking with Archprelate Rhobher Nichaleir. She wears a bottle-green court gown, with her chain of office hanging from the back of her tall chair. He wears crimson robes trimmed with cloth-of-gold. The Lord Mayor pushes a strand of gray-streaked auburn hair behind her right ear and smiles at Renn, her careworn features showing a little faded loveliness in the soft lights of the tapers mounted in an alcove just behind her chair. The Archprelate rises and extends his right hand, palm down and fingers folded in. His oversized ring of office glints in the candle glow, old silver set with polished jet inlay.


"My son."

[VAN]

FARMHOUSE

Filbert flinches a bit when hears that a man is been hanging at a crossroad, the halfling doesn't like that drastic punishment but he keeps his opinion to himself. When sees the parcel he asks:

"What were these bunch of things, all tiny and red as blood that left the fairies? And can you tell us more about these fairies and this Mad Maeve please?"

[Adam]

THE OCCUPIED TEMPLE

Cormac regroups Foerde with the rest of the men, passing both of them a Goodberry.

"Well, lads, not exactly the way we drew it up, but effective I'd say."

He nods.

"So the question now, do we stay an' try to wait 'em out or do we move on? There's a good chance your brothers are still in their as slaves, Foerde, so I know what yer vote'll be." He looks to the others. "We got 'em on the back foot now. We'll never have a better chance than we do now o' finishin' 'em off. What say ye?"

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

CATHEDRAL OF HAELYN

Rennault gives a short bow to the Mayor and to Nichaleir. He suppresses an inward groan when the Archprelate extends his hand, but he plays the dutiful servant and kisses the ring of office none the less. The Watch Commander knows that if he's to move up in the world, he'll eventually have to kiss worse things than jet.

"Lord Mayor, Archprelate. I understand you wished to see me without delay."

[RocEter]

THE OCCUPIED TEMPLE

Cormac regroups Foerde with the rest of the men, passing both of them a Goodberry.

"Well, lads, not exactly the way we drew it up, but effective I'd say."

He nods.

"So the question now, do we stay an' try to wait 'em out or do we move on? There's a good chance your brothers are still in their as slaves, Foerde, so I know what yer vote'll be." He looks to the others. "We got 'em on the back foot now. We'll never have a better chance than we do now o' finishin' 'em off. What say ye?"

The Occupied Temple

Cormac and the rest of men find Foerde back in the woods taking cover behind the trees. Soaked in blood Foerde turns to face the others as they approach. "Don't worry isn't mine," He says about the blood. "Tore a Bug Bear apart with my claws, sent them other gobs running.."

He takes the good berry and eats it. "Thanks."

Seeing that one of the poachers is still injured he walks over to the man, while Cormac speaks and says a little prayer and lays his healing hands on the poacher.

"Wait'em out isn't a choice either. They are locked up tight, closed the gates. We have to press the attack! We can scout the out skirts of the temple, see if we can't find an alternate way in. If there isn't one, I got a plan to get us in. Good thing is the weather is just right." He says. "However we decide to do it, I will need at least ten minutes to prepare.."

[Adam]

Cormac smiles, guessing at Foerde's intent.

[ewancummins]

FARMHOUSE

Filbert flinches a bit when hears that a man is been hanging at a crossroad, the halfling doesn't like that drastic punishment but he keeps his opinion to himself. When sees the parcel he asks:

"What were these bunch of things, all tiny and red as blood that left the fairies? And can you tell us more about these fairies and this Mad Maeve please?"

Norton the Scribe answers,
"Toadstools, tiny mushrooms. " He sniffs the air, scenting the breakfast out on the table. "As for the fairies, well, I have never seen one. But I'm sure Hers-- Mad Maeve is real. She's a witch who lives deep in Croaker Norge-- the actual hole in the earth, not this town that borrows its name. Once..."
All the color goes out of the fat scriveners heretofore ruddy cheeks. He quivers a little before continuing, "I saw her out on the moors. I was only a boy. She walked by me with a black lace veil over her face, holding one of her lilies. She was headed for the steading of Yeoman Grig. The next morning, Grig's wife found the lily on his bed, and he had vanished. No one ever saw him again, but surely he must have died."

Norton sits down. Then, looking at Devlin, he hops up. "Oh, forgive me, Your Grace!"

[ewancummins]

THE KRAKEN'S ARMS


Torthur wrestles for drinks, beating not just the boatman but three other challengers.
A crowd gathers...
Reese, who has come along to look after his boss, quietly takes bets the whole time and comes out of the affair with a small purse for himself and the dwarf. He offers to buy a drink for his master.

One of the rough fellows in the crowd shouts- "Hey, that's Roald the Siegebreaker!"

[ewancummins]

THE MOUNTAINS

THE OCCUPIED TEMPLE

Cormac regroups Foerde with the rest of the men, passing both of them a Goodberry.

"Well, lads, not exactly the way we drew it up, but effective I'd say."

He nods.

"So the question now, do we stay an' try to wait 'em out or do we move on? There's a good chance your brothers are still in their as slaves, Foerde, so I know what yer vote'll be." He looks to the others. "We got 'em on the back foot now. We'll never have a better chance than we do now o' finishin' 'em off. What say ye?"

Dietric says, "I'm for it."
The other men all nod grimly, hoisting their arms.

[ewancummins]

THE WOODS

Gunnar's horse neighs shrilly and long, jerking away from the rolling fire of Safana's conjured fire. The warg avoids the flames as well, only to leap too close to Rumbles. The warhorse's training comes to bear as it forgets its fear of the flames and pounds its iron-shod hooves down on the great wolf. Gunnar, standing in the saddle, brings his sword down on the monster's head with a terrific blow, cutting open the skull to spill brains and blood on the wet grass.

While the sorceress and the myrmidon finish off the second warg, Gunnar's men chase the goblins from the deadwood with enthusiastic but clumsy swings and thrusts of axe and spear.

Looking up from the dead wolf, Gunnar see thrashing bushes and the dim outlines of one of two goblins as the enemy forces escapes down the game trail, back the way it had come. The ground where the goblins are running is too narrow for a horseback charge.

His men are busy pulling arrows from the deadwood. One man makes rude gestures at the fleeing goblins, while a couple of others lean against the dead trees, breathing hard.
A man looks back to Gunnar and calls out just loudly enough to be heard-

"What do we do? Go after them?"

Safana’s rolling ball of fire drifts back to her side, waiting for further commands.

Damp brush sputters and smolders where the ball has struck weak fires, and thin smoke rises in the misty air.

[Varrus the Ethical]

THE KRAKEN'S ARMS INN

THE KRAKEN'S ARMS

One of the rough fellows in the crowd shouts- "Hey, that's Roald the Siegebreaker!"

"Yes, please," Roald says to Reese when offered a drink. He then turns towards the man who calls him out, "Yes, that would be me."

[ewancummins]

CATHEDRAL OF HAELYN

CATHEDRAL OF HAELYN

Rennault gives a short bow to the Mayor and to Nichaleir. He suppresses an inward groan when the Archprelate extends his hand, but he plays the dutiful servant and kisses the ring of office none the less. The Watch Commander knows that if he's to move up in the world, he'll eventually have to kiss worse things than jet.

"Lord Mayor, Archprelate. I understand you wished to see me without delay."

The Lord Mayor speaks, “Yes, Captain. This morning Sir Rory informed me that the duke seemed disappointed that you hadn’t been free to ride north him. He seems to like to keep you close. I thought that with the prisoners largely freed or set to work, you might depart at any time to join him in the north. The two of us want your opinion and advice about a pressing matter appertaining to our young lord, so I arranged for you to meet us here, as we were already in council.’’She turns towards the Archprelate. "Your Holiness..."



The silver-haired clergyman favors Renn with an easy smile.
"Do you know very many ladies?”Rhobher chuckles, motioning for Renn to be seated.

“Duke Devlin is young, and I pray that he will reign at least as long as his father before him. But let us be honest-- he is bold and impetuous, and there are risks in battle even for a cautious man. As he pointed out at the last council meeting, he has no heir. He should marry soon and beget children, sons if the gods show favor.
I’d like you to help me find a suitable wife for His Grace.”The elder churchman fills a goblet from a crystal decanter of red wine, taking a sip.
“There is something else. I have heard that he has designated Braedonnal Tuare as his heir in all but name. No ceremony has been performed to give the elf such right, not by this temple. Perhaps it is only a rumor? Do you know more of this?”

[ewancummins]

THE KRAKEN'S ARMS INN

THE KRAKEN'S ARMS

One of the rough fellows in the crowd shouts- "Hey, that's Roald the Siegebreaker!"

"Yes, please," Roald says to Reese when offered a drink. He then turns towards the man who calls him out, "Yes, that would be me."

The man raises a crossbow from under his table and fires from just two yards away!