Birthright Chapter Eight

[Varrus the Ethical]

Watch HQ

Roald nods. "More or less, Your Grace. Though I would caution that's quite possible that the women may have been moved since Torthur's discovery...or killed. We're potentially going after a lot of moving targets. We may have to engage in some information gathering once we're inside the city walls."

[RocEter]

Brennan pauses for thought so long that he nearly burns his breakfast.

After hurriedly scraping the hot food onto a wooden plate, the husky innkeeper says,

''Yeah, that could be the same man I met, but aged. It's been years, so yeah...''

Foerde nods. "Well, it will help. At the very least it will give the people an idea of this fellow looks like and then if they see him some where they can send word." He says, slightly more optimistic then has been these past few days.

Think for a moment he tries figure out why the face looks familiar to him..

[RocEter]

Foerde, Auld Oak.

Foerde eats his breakfast with Brennan while he thinks..

"No, that can't be right.." He says setting his wooden fork down. "He didn't, did he?" He says again mostly to himself.

Shaking his head, Foerde looks at Brennan as he realize he voiced his thought out loud. "Was thinking out loud, just ignore me." He says to him. "I think today, I will do something else slightly more productive. I am going to go do some work, make something. Need a new cabinet, or table? Something along those lines? I want to grab my violin anyways and so I can play some music."

[ewancummins]

Foerde, Auld Oak.

Foerde eats his breakfast with Brennan while he thinks..

"No, that can't be right.." He says setting his wooden fork down. "He didn't, did he?" He says again mostly to himself.

Shaking his head, Foerde looks at Brennan as he realize he voiced his thought out loud. "Was thinking out loud, just ignore me." He says to him. "I think today, I will do something else slightly more productive. I am going to go do some work, make something. Need a new cabinet, or table? Something along those lines? I want to grab my violin anyways and so I can play some music."

"Well, yeah, there is some work you could help with."
Brennan breaks a couple of eggs and slices up some ham, dropping the uncooked food into the skillet.
"But let's get some food in you first, huh?"
The innkeeper sticks another hunk of firewood into the iron and stone stove.

[ewancummins]

CORMAC AND THE GOBLINS

CORMAC AND THE GOBLINS

"Tha's not good," Cormac muses, scratching at his beard, "Did the trader do somethin' to make the bird angry, or is it just killin' whoever it comes across?"

He looks up, loosening one piece of the hack-silver from the ring. "And do ye know where we migh' find this bird, if we wanted to try an' deal with it?"

"You hunting the big evil bird?"

The big goblin laughs.

The goblin leader provides directions to a mountain cavern where the goblins believe that that 'evil bird' may have its lair.


"Don't tell it us goblins sent you, if you find it"

[Lord Skybolt]

WATCH HQ

Rennault takes in all this information with a frown. To the pragmatic Watch Captain, this plan was turning out to be even worse than the one to save Torthur. Now, instead of freeing a capable soldier, they would have to play nursemaids toa brothel full of women--and that was assuming they were successful. It all seems like a bad idea.

But then there was Bee, and her request that Renn help those women if he could. He might have tried talking the group out of this fool mission otherwise, but he couldn't let Beatrix down like that.

"It's a strange place, the Shadow Realm" he tells Torthur. "Whatever forces live in that place, they know your innermost thoughts, your worst memories. Or maybe there's something there that lets you project the strangest bits of yourself onto the place. I've no clue, but it's un-damned-comfortable. Still, if we're doing this we need to move quickly. The Shadow Realm might be our best bet."

Gunnar leaning against a wall listeing to the dwarfs story and how the "rescue team" could get into Lofton, thinks going through the Shadow World to get there is a daft idea at best when they Have Safana going with them . Looking around at the others "Why would we have to go through the Realm of the Nightstalker to get into Loft when we could just have Safana makes us invisible as she has to done before when we were out scouting and ambushing Goblin patrols up north ."Pausing to make sure he has every ones attention he continues ."While invisible we could just walk right through the gates when they are open, and if needed have one of our more stealthy members could go and unlock the gate for us from the inside if that was needed depending on the the time of day we took this little raid into Lofton at ."

[VAN]

Devlin sits at the head of the table.

"I'm a little late to the planning here. Lord Filbert, please report anything you where able to find during your trip to southwest."

Filbert stands up and bows when Devlin enters the room and got his seat at the head of the table.
"Well Your Grace, I don't have very good news. I was able to spread the rumors at the tavern of the South Provinces as you have asked me to do but unfortunately I have heard no news of any big movement of troops over the border in Avanil, and nothing about any payments from Avan to Carilon Alam. Maybe the Avanese agents are moving money to Alamie in secret, and maybe they aren't. Maybe troops are being moved piecemeal to Tuornen's southern border in some kind of disguise, and maybe they aren't. I have no confirmation, no proof, but also nothing to show my earlier information was wrong. It remains mysterious."

Filbert lowers his eyes a bit embarrassed that he didn't succeed at his mission.

Turning to Gunnar he asks:

"This is indeed very interesting. If we can go invisible we can use the Shadow travel for emergency maybe for escaping."

[steveflam]

Watch HQ-

"Master Dwarf! Please, don't go, I'm sure there is much you can assist us with. I have indeed heard that you helped Sir Roald, who I have knighted and titled based on his blood tie to me. That was why I was preparing a team for your rescue, it seems you are quite adept at handling yourself, and I can use men...er...warriors such as you. From your tale it would seem that this Region is a monster and needs to be shown justice, and his crimes need to be exposed. As for your help with the barge, do you seek a reward of some kind? I have heard that dwarves love their gems and ore."

Torthur comes back in, "I tell ye what. Me king weren't born to his station, he earned it through his deeds. I am honored an pleased ter call im me king. You," he points his finger at him "you were born ta yer station an go aroun doin as ye please cuz yer the Duke. WHen ye've earned me respect by yer actions an deeds, then you'll hear me call ye yer grace. Fer now, I be polite an call ye sir."


TOrthurs eyes narrow at the mention of gold and gems, reward even.. "Ye must clean yer ears acuz I don' care fer gems or gold. I think I gitted a share o some gold fer me deeds which I dint even keep fer meself, sir. An furthermore, I helpin Roald, sir. Earn me respect then I'll treat ya tha same way. I aint no someone ye kin use. As fer Reigon, he'll git his."

He looks at Roald "Imma be at tha Gorgons Crown with Clyde, see you later.

He exits the room again, heading for the Gorgons Crown.

[kintire]

With a look at Safana the halfing adds:

"I think you may have heard the terms Shadow Realm and shadow travel. I'm sure someone with your talents will be really helpful to our mission."

Safana's face remains politely blank, but she shudders just a little. However her voice is calm as she replies

"Yes, I am familiar with Shadow Walking, although I cannot initiate it myself. I recommend its use in extreme emergencies only. The realm is perilous, and its denizens... do not always appreciate being disturbed."

She curtsies deeply as the Duke enters, and listens politely to the discussion, eyeing Filbert thoughtfully.

She then nods at Gunnar's words.

"I can make people invisible if they stay close to me. I can make a couple of people invisible and they can do as they choose. I can also allow someone to climb walls like a spider. I am sure we can get in to this city. But my resources are limited in the course of a single day..."

She remains silent as Torthur speaks, but she seems unimpressed by the rude dwarf.

[Adam]

CORMAC AND THE GOBLINS

"Aye, we've not much interest in talkin', I think," Cormac says, pulling two strips of the hack silver from the ring and tossing them to the floor.

"Now, ye should know somethin'. This land," he gestures outside of the cave, "Don't belong to ye an' yer kind. Ye made yer try at takin' it, an' ye lost. Ye helped us today, so we'll all leave in peace. But yer not welcome here anymore, an' ye won't be safe till ye get back to yer mountains with yer own kind."

With that, he and the crew will withdraw from the cave and travel a distance away, looking for a safe place to camp out and avoid a goblin ambush.

[ewancummins]

The goblins shoot some nasty looks at Cormac and grumble in their own tongue, but they don't move to attack him or hinder his leave-taking.

[Varrus the Ethical]

Roald's brow wrinkles as Torthur makes his exit.

Glancing at the giant swordsman, he thinks, The Rjurk is smarter than he looks. "Gunnar...isn't it? I think you have a point."

He addresses the table. "Perhaps we shouldn't over-rely on Filbert's special power." He steeples finger. "If we were to use Safana's magic to make us invisible, then we should probably plan on infiltrating at night. The gates would be too crowded during the day, I think." He looks to Filbert and smiles. "And I could think of a newly risen Lord who could open the gates for us."

[JMaytr]

Torthur comes back in, "I tell ye what. Me king weren't born to his station, he earned it through his deeds. I am honored an pleased ter call im me king. You," he points his finger at him "you were born ta yer station an go aroun doin as ye please cuz yer the Duke. WHen ye've earned me respect by yer actions an deeds, then you'll hear me call ye yer grace. Fer now, I be polite an call ye sir."

Devlin stands, clearly offended.

"I take back my words, I am in need of no one who is a disrespectful as you, dwarf. Guards! escort the dwarf out to the street and to the Gorgon's crown tavern. Let the tavern keeper know he has earned the disfavor of the Duke. He is not to return to this building."

The Duke waits until the dwarf is escorted out and looks angrily at Sir Roald, more mad at Torthur than his kinsman.

"I am unfamiliar with the mannerisms of dwarves, but in the presence of a Duke of Anuire, I demand the respect due me. This is Tuornen, where any man or even dwarf can raise himself through deeds and claim nobility, thats what it means to be a Tuor! I know you don't speak for the dwarf, nor he you, Sir Roald Flaertes. But he has made it clear that he is in your company and therefore I make him YOUR responsibility.

As for this raid. Gunner has a good point, I did not know the extent of Lady Safina's abilities- an incantation that renders you invisible is scores preferable to me than a trip through that shadowy realm. And of course The Siegebreaker has a good point too: the women could be moved or long dead. That Dwarf may even have blown them up alighting that smoke powder. We do require more information before we attempt such a rescue. Lady Safina, you say your abilities are only good for so long in the day, I understand. what about several days?

"What I suggest is this, its a suggestion and not an order, as we have council for this precise reason, I suggest that Sir Roald, Lady Safina, Gunner, and Lord Filbert first go to the City of Endier. Find out what you can about the missing girls and find out more about how they are being funneled to Alamie.

Sir Roald I trust in your abilities and wisdom to lead this mission. You may have become the Warden of the Tuor River, but before that you were a sellsword. You know how to deal and talk with the people you will need to talk to in order to find out what must be known. It is your decision as to what will be done with Torthur. I admire his resolve to stop Region, but I cannot allow him to be a loose cannon that could derail our efforts. I can keep him safely under guard at the Gorgon's Crown tavern, or you could take him with you. Either way, find out who is behind these initial kidnappings.

Stop the source.

Lord Filbert, as my ambassador I would have you meet with Guilder Kalien and propose to him our rescue of his people-all the while with an ear and eye to the ground to see if the Guilder's spies report it back to anyone.

Master Gunner, in your absence I will assign Lady Beatrix with guards to keep her safe, so that this mission does not derelict your duties. I am sure her brother, Captain Rennault here, will vet the men personally to his satisfaction. They will need someone of your strength and stature. Your very presence may inspire tongues to loosen.

Lady Safina, within Endier resides the wizard Caine. My father permitted him the rights to the magic of Tuornen's land, provided he give us aid when we need it. We saw no help from him during the invasion and if he'd continue to use our sources, a new arrangement must be made. Inform him that I am open to keeping his sources where they are without encroaching upon them through developing the wild-permitted he begin scrying on Alam at once and informing us of their plans and movements.

And speaking of these magical land sources...Lady Safina, do you have the power or knowledge to tap into them? I wonder if any unclaimed wonders reside within Alamie?"

The Duke of Tuornen looks around at the assembled war council, and smiles. He feels surrounded by capable men and women.

"Any suggestions, advice or additional notes?" the Duke asks.

[VAN]

Filbert sighs at Torthur's exit, he was expecting to see him a bit more respectful toward a Duke who was ready to send a team top save him from Lofton. At Safana words the halfling nods in agreement and replies:

"You are absolutely right Lady Safana, Shadow Realm isn't a happy place and of course is dangerous. I agree that if you can make us invisible we should do that and indeed leave my ability as backplan."

Winking at Roald he says:

"And yes sneak in and try to open the gate. Just need to make sure the guards are down first because even at the night they can see that the gate has been opened."

At Devlin words Filbert bows and just says:

"It will be done Your Grace."

[Adam]

CORMAC AND HIS MERRY BAND

"Righ'," Cormac says, once the crew is a safe distance from the goblins. "I think we're gonna have to go an' find this bird. Can't let it keep flyin' around killin' parishioners. I think we'd best camp fer the night an' go in the morning. If this thing is a creature o' the shadow, it may be best to challenge it durin' the daytime."