Birthright: Tuornen, Chapter Two

[VAN]

Filbert, on the river-

Morning sunlight rouses the hafling from sleep. He feels the little boat gently rocking under him.
Looking south along the river he spies the walls of Haes ahead, rising through a light cloud of smoke and dust. Across the river, the walls of Lofton rear up on the bluffs, like a fist raised in challenge to the western city. As the little rowboat carries him further downstream, he spots the lion banner of Duke Carilon flying over the wharf district of Riverside, just north of the wall. The enemy, it seems, has laid siege to Filbert's city.

Filbert swears, he just hopes he isn't too late. The help should be on the way but he doesn't know if Haes has that much time...He looks around in order to see if are any enemy boats the last thing he wants now is to be captured. He has to to make it back and inform Devlin that his mission has been accomplished and the Count of Ghonalison's army is on the way to help them.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

"Ah Gatt, you're a true hunter even in the city. Tell the truth, I'm damned hungry, but I've much to do yet. Save that crow for yourself--I'll need your eyes sharp when they hit us again. Might borrow some grease for my bowstring, though."

As he says that, and idea comes to him. He looks at the makeshift firepit and grins. "Of course--pitch! We'll cook the bastards on their own ladders." He claps Gatt on the shoulder before walking off, "Good man, Gatt, keep it up."

He then goes among the conscripts, shouting for the tanners, the renderers, the thatchers---shouting for anybody who could bring oil, grease, pitch, an cauldrons to put them in. Death by boiling oil was a terrible fate--but was it any less than these invaders deserved?

[Adam]

Cormac buckles his gear in place on his horse, looking to Gunnar and making sure his preparations are similarly under way. "We'll need to stop by a smith or town somewhere along the way," he says. "Need to pick up some kit fer Dietric. I'm less familiar with the area than you. Any thoughts on what the best place would be?"

[ewancummins]

Filbert, on the river-

Morning sunlight rouses the hafling from sleep. He feels the little boat gently rocking under him.
Looking south along the river he spies the walls of Haes ahead, rising through a light cloud of smoke and dust. Across the river, the walls of Lofton rear up on the bluffs, like a fist raised in challenge to the western city. As the little rowboat carries him further downstream, he spots the lion banner of Duke Carilon flying over the wharf district of Riverside, just north of the wall. The enemy, it seems, has laid siege to Filbert's city.

Filbert swears, he just hopes he isn't too late. The help should be on the way but he doesn't know if Haes has that much time...He looks around in order to see if are any enemy boats the last thing he wants now is to be captured. He has to to make it back and inform Devlin that his mission has been accomplished and the Count of Ghonalison's army is on the way to help them.

Drifting closer...

Filbert sees some rowboats and barges on the river, ferrying supplies and men from Lofton side(east) to the Haes side(west).

He sees that the wharf of Riverside (Haes) is occuiped by a lot of men, most not wearing surcoats or other identifying marks, so far as he can tell.

[ewancummins]

HAES , THE NORTHERN WALL SECTION, NEAR THE RIVER GATE

"Ah Gatt, you're a true hunter even in the city. Tell the truth, I'm damned hungry, but I've much to do yet. Save that crow for yourself--I'll need your eyes sharp when they hit us again. Might borrow some grease for my bowstring, though."

As he says that, and idea comes to him. He looks at the makeshift firepit and grins. "Of course--pitch! We'll cook the bastards on their own ladders." He claps Gatt on the shoulder before walking off, "Good man, Gatt, keep it up."

He then goes among the conscripts, shouting for the tanners, the renderers, the thatchers---shouting for anybody who could bring oil, grease, pitch, an cauldrons to put them in. Death by boiling oil was a terrible fate--but was it any less than these invaders deserved?

Renn and his helpers begin gathering flammables...

[ewancummins]

ELEVESNEMIERE, ON THE ROAD

Cormac buckles his gear in place on his horse, looking to Gunnar and making sure his preparations are similarly under way. "We'll need to stop by a smith or town somewhere along the way," he says. "Need to pick up some kit fer Dietric. I'm less familiar with the area than you. Any thoughts on what the best place would be?"

Dietric mutters-
"I don't want to go back to that inn. Folks might change their minds and decide to hang me after all."

[ewancummins]

ROALD, CHAPEL AT CAER HAES-


The Castellan hands Roald a purse full of coins.

"This should be enough to get you out of Tuornen, at least. I recommend that you ride south to Endier. It wouldn't be safe to ride right through Alamie, after all. In the Free City of Endier, you can obtain passage to Coeranys by whatever means seem best to you, land or sea. I urge you to leave soon, while the truce yet holds. At noon, hostilities will resume. You haven't got a lot of time."

[Varrus the Ethical]

Roald shake the purse, hearing the clink of coins before securing it to his belt. "I'll start gathering supplies right now. I'll see about getting a mount for Lady Dominca, first. Something calm, reliable, and most of all, slow. A mule I think. And some leg fetters after that, just in case."

[VAN]

Filbert decides that is better leave his boat and try to sneak to the riverside.

[steveflam]

DOMINICA

A messenger arrives and informs Dominica that she is being sent home to Coeranys, today. She has a few minutes to pack her things and eat.

"The Castellan seemed anxious that you leave before the truce ends, my lady', the young page explains.
"Later it may be unsafe."

Dominica is in the middle of morning exercises. A towel dabbing her face, she looks at he messenger, smiling slightly.

"Young sir, thank you for your diligence. Now, you must deliver this message back to the Castellan, Sir Rory." She moves over to a chair and retrieves something from a pouch. She approaches the messenger in an official manner. Some coins appear in his hand even as she begins to speak to him.

"Tell him this. I, Lady Dominica Barilia, was on my here the previous day, to warn the Keep of the attack on the city. I saw first hand enemies debarking from boats near the river. I almost made it with ease but was accosted by two ne'er do wells. Luckily, I escaped with my life. My pride and person was not so lucky. I made it here as quick as I could. Under stress and very disturbed after my encounter with the two men. Needless to say, I was not in a right state of mind when I arrived here. Please, tell him everything I am telling you, word for word best you can."

She looks at the floor, one foot rubbing the floor nervously, like she is remembering her ordeal.


Sighing, she continues.

"Once here, I acted terribly and unlike any lady of a proper station should. I sincerely apologize for the embarassment I have caused and wish to see the Duke. I enjoyed my evening with him and would like to know him better. Tell Sir Rory I am of royal blood and my family would verily ally itself with the Duke, especially if both he and I took our relationship farther. The situation here right now is dire, but I do not wish to leave. I would prefer to stay, stand by the Duke's side in these trying times."

Dominica moves to sit on her bed. "You must deliver this message to Sir Rory and insist he deliver it to the Duke posthaste."

[ewancummins]

DOMINICA

A messenger arrives and informs Dominica that she is being sent home to Coeranys, today. She has a few minutes to pack her things and eat.

"The Castellan seemed anxious that you leave before the truce ends, my lady', the young page explains.
"Later it may be unsafe."

Dominica is in the middle of morning exercises. A towel dabbing her face, she looks at he messenger, smiling slightly.

"Young sir, thank you for your diligence. Now, you must deliver this message back to the Castellan, Sir Rory." She moves over to a chair and retrieves something from a pouch. She approaches the messenger in an official manner. Some coins appear in his hand even as she begins to speak to him.

"Tell him this. I, Lady Dominica Barilia, was on my here the previous day, to warn the Keep of the attack on the city. I saw first hand enemies debarking from boats near the river. I almost made it with ease but was accosted by two ne'er do wells. Luckily, I escaped with my life. My pride and person was not so lucky. I made it here as quick as I could. Under stress and very disturbed after my encounter with the two men. Needless to say, I was not in a right state of mind when I arrived here. Please, tell him everything I am telling you, word for word best you can."

She looks at the floor, one foot rubbing the floor nervously, like she is remembering her ordeal.


Sighing, she continues.

"Once here, I acted terribly and unlike any lady of a proper station should. I sincerely apologize for the embarassment I have caused and wish to see the Duke. I enjoyed my evening with him and would like to know him better. Tell Sir Rory I am of royal blood and my family would verily ally itself with the Duke, especially if both he and I took our relationship farther. The situation here right now is dire, but I do not wish to leave. I would prefer to stay, stand by the Duke's side in these trying times."

Dominica moves to sit on her bed. "You must deliver this message to Sir Rory and insist he deliver it to the Duke posthaste."

The page replies
''Yes, my lady', and then departs.



Dominica is left alone with two guards and the women of the court.

The second guard from last night having since been replaced, Dominica doesn't recognize either man at the door.

[ewancummins]

Roald shake the purse, hearing the clink of coins before securing it to his belt. "I'll start gathering supplies right now. I'll see about getting a mount for Lady Dominca, first. Something calm, reliable, and most of all, slow. A mule I think. And some leg fetters after that, just in case."

Roald finds the Castellan most eager to help him find a mule, supplies, even fetters. In contrast to the three hours it took to get a cleric, all that takes mere minutes, with Sir Rory snapping off orders to underlings as fast as if Roald were the duke himself.

[Varrus the Ethical]

"I think we're just about ready, Sir Rory," says Roald as he hangs a coil of rope off the side of his saddle. "Now all we need is for the Lady herself."

[ewancummins]

Filbert decides that is better leave his boat and try to sneak to the riverside.

Filbert beaches his little rowboat and drags it under some bushes.

He stands near the Riverside district, north of the River Gate and the walls of Haes. This close, he smells the cook fires of the besieging army, and he sees clumps of soldiers tramping out of wooden warehouses and shops, carrying off armfuls of loot. Now and then hoof beats thud along dirt roads or clatter against plank ways, as horses move just out of sight, screened by buildings.
Looking southwest, He sees the pastures and farms beyond the city. Smoke rises from a few distant chimneys and thin lines of men wander the open ground within a mile of the city walls, like strings of foraging ants.

[ewancummins]

"I think we're just about ready, Sir Rory," says Roald as he hangs a coil of rope off the side of his saddle. "Now all we need is for the Lady herself."

''That part I leave entirely to you, Roald. If I never see the devil-woman again, I won't regret it. Take her from this place with all haste. You will be rewarded upon your return. I pray to Haelyn and his divine son to keep you safe."