Birthright: Promises to Keep, Chapter 2

[ewancummins]

Filbert looks at the cellar door where the Master just fled then looks back at the paralyzed duke and the almost dead Father Michael.

"I don't think it's wise to go after him right now. We cannot see in the dark and he can very well hide and attack us one by one and paralyze us. Here we are altogether and we can look after each other. I think it's better wait till His Grace and Father Michael fight the paralysis, get the chest we came here for and leave as soon as possible before he returns."

Gunnar agree's by nodding his head . Thinking it wise at the least to wait for his companions to shake off their paralysis at the least before tracking this last ghoul down and putting him down for good, . Since we will need him dead before the party can search for the object that Maeve wanted without interference from him while doing so .

THE SHADOW WORLD

After ten minutes or so...


Father Michael and Devlin recover movement and speech.

A hasty search of the kitchen, hall closets, and hall has not turned up the box Maeve sent the party to find.
But some other upstairs rooms remain unchecked, and likewise the cellar has yet to be explored.

[ewancummins]

DAY AFTER THE EVE OF THE DEAD
ELEVESNEMIERE



After a late start, the party cleans up the camp and heads out, riding and hiking by turns, moving south by east with the hazy winter sun as a guide.

...


It's well past noon when the landscape of rolling hills becomes familiar to Foerde and shows signs of human habitation to the party; withered hedges, broken stone fences, and shepherd's summer hutches.

The elf women walk in silence behind the spare horse, hands bound to a rope lead. They neither speak nor make any attempt at escape.

A dim tower appears over the hilltops miles to the south and then recedes from view as the party moves on. (The Tower of the Hunt, from which Knights of the Spear ride against the wicked elves)

Going a bit further still, the party crosses onto a road; a muddy track with wagon ruts running east, but a known road.

The little road carries the weary, cold, travelers into the dell where Foerde's cottage stands in a clearing, bordered with green trees and a weedy little garden.

Smoke puffs from Foerde's fieldstone chimney.

Thunk.

Cracaaak.


Getting closer, so that the an old oak tree no longer blocks the view from the road, the party sees a burly man in common clothes chopping wood in the front yard.

[alhoon]

Filbert looks at the cellar door where the Master just fled then looks back at the paralyzed duke and the almost dead Father Michael.

Gunnar agree's by nodding his head .

After ten minutes or so...
Father Michael and Devlin recover movement and speech.

Ugo jumps back in the kitchen and with a wary eye towards the too-bigs comes somewhat close to Filbert. While approaching he has his hands up and open to show he has no weapons and presents no threat.
"I want to speak with thee" he said with a low voice. "Tell thy friends that I'm no enemy. I have some information thee may find useful." he also whispered. "I would sell it, if thy friends promise to take me with them when they leave this place. And promise to protect me if the Masters return and not involve me in the fight."

[VAN]

Filbert waits till the Duke and Father Michael recover and then fill them with the details of the encounter.

"Your Grace, I suggest we don't separate, this Master is strong and our attacks can hardy harm him. I think it's better search the rest of the house for what we came here for but move altogether. We can use torches as sources of light."

When Ugo finishes talking Filbert smiles and says:

"You have nothing to afraid of my friend, you helped us and I gurantee you that none of us will harm you. Come on, I will introduce you to Duke Devlin and I'm quite sure he will decide to take you with us and protect you as well. Don't worry."

Filbert gets closer to Devlin and says:

"Your Grace, this is Ugo. He is the one that opened my cage when I was taken and set me free. As you remember he also pointed me where all the flamable stuff were so I could get them in the oven. He asks if we can take him with us when we get out of this sinister place. He also has information that maybe are useful to us."

[Adam]

Cormac and his folks will ride up to the house, nodding briefly at whoever is out chopping the wood and looking for a place to secure their horses and the prisoners.

[ewancummins]

Cormac and his folks will ride up to the house, nodding briefly at whoever is out chopping the wood and looking for a place to secure their horses and the prisoners.

The man chopping wood nods at Cormac and smiles.
He continues chopping.

[RocEter]

Foerde's Home, ELEVESNEMIER

Foerde will stop and dismount, he waits for Roald and Reese to catch up him. He hands the reigns to Reese, "There is a small stable in the back. Enough for my horse and the mule, you can tie the rest of the horses around the stable." He says to Reese.

He pulls a key out his one of his belt pouches and hands it over to Reese. "A key to the house. Have Cormac, start a fire in the hearth room. There is a cask of Tournen's finest ale in the cellar, everyone is welcome to it." He says. He looks at Roald. "Separate the prisoners, we don't want them plotting an escape together. You can put one in the cellar, tie her up to a support post. The other you can put in the stable. After you have secured them, let them be. Let's give them some to time to realize that need to be of use to us if they way stay a live." He says.

Foerde waits until Roald and Reese have acknowledge what he said, once they do so he makes his way over to the woodsman. "Oh, don't hurt the Bobcat. He is tamed, for the most part." He says as he walks away.

As he approaches the woodsman he calls out to him "Gavin!"

[Varrus the Ethical]

Roald dismounts from his horse and starts removing the prisoners' leads from the saddle.

"I'll secure the Green-Eyed elf in the cellar," Roald says, "Captain Ghonallison, could you and your men secure the burned one in the stable?"

He then turns to his squire. "Tend to the animals as Foerde suggests. And try not to offend his pet while you do."

[ewancummins]

FOERDE'S HOUSE


FOERDE, in the YARD

The man chopping wood stops when Foerde calls out his name. He looks up, now resting by leaning on the ax like a cane, with the head set on the ground.

"Foerde."


He smiles.

"You've come home."

[Adam]

Cormac rides around back, looking around warily for the aformentioned bobcat.

Once this is done he makes his way inside. He watches Ned and Hobb make their way to the ale keg before the druid turns and gets started on the fire.

[ewancummins]

ROALD

Roald dismounts from his horse and starts removing the prisoners' leads from the saddle.

"I'll secure the Green-Eyed elf in the cellar," Roald says, "Captain Ghonallison, could you and your men secure the burned one in the stable?"

He then turns to his squire. "Tend to the animals as Foerde suggests. And try not to offend his pet while you do."

Roald makes his way into the cellar by way of a hatch in the rear of the house, which opens onto a narrow wooden stairway.

With the elf bound and walking ahead of him, he ventures down into the dim basement.

His squire steps after him, pausing near the top of the steps and messing about with something.

Steel rasps on stone, and a candle flickers into life.
Reese follows close behind Roald and the green-eyed elf-maid, holding up the light for his master.

Foerde's small cellar smells of brown ale, dry earth, and a musty animal odor.

Sacks, casks, crates, and other containers line the wooden shelves and pack the corners of the small, close cellar. Across the room, another small staircase leads up to a trap door.

The trap door lifts open and a pair of legs appears, followed by the rest of a man; Ned.
"Where's the drink?"

[ewancummins]

INSIDE THE COTTAGE

Cormac rides around back, looking around warily for the aformentioned bobcat.

Once this is done he makes his way inside. He watches Ned and Hobb make their way to the ale keg before the druid turns and gets started on the fire.

Cormac does not see the cat, but he does catch a whiff of wild animal smell along with the smell of burning pine.

Ned and Hob find a trap door that leads down into the cellar, and drop through it, one by one.

Left alone, Cormac walks through the rustic, but well-made little house, and finds the source of at least one of the scents: a stone fireplace with a low fire of pine knots and pinecones burning in it.

He hears footsteps in the next room and sees a shadow fall across the open door across from the fireplace.

[Adam]

Cormac shrugs at the already lit fire and walks over to see who is in the doorway.

[ewancummins]

CORMAC

Cormac shrugs at the already lit fire and walks over to see who is in the doorway.

A tall, slim woman with silvery hair steps into view. A pleasant smile forms on her youthful, heart shaped face. The lady wears a mantle of red fur loose over her white shoulders, with a low-cut green kirtle.

"Welcome."

She steps a bit closer.
Cormac notices an elfin cast to her lovely features, a certain sharpness of ear-tips, a brightness in the eyes.

[Adam]

"Evenin', ma'am," Cormac says. He jerks a thumb over his shoulder. "I'm with Foerde. He'll be along shortly."