Birthright Tuornen Chapter Four

[JMaytr]

"If needs be captain, than yes, I will send a greater force."

[ewancummins]

THE TRAINING GROUND

"What are your motives here, Gunnar?" Foerde says placing his normal hands in front him. "If this is supposed to be a friendly match for instructional purposes, then what has fear to do with this?" He says questioning Gunnar's motives. "This is not about fear, it is about skill. It would be unfair of me to fight you, your skills do not match my own."

Men begin to murmur, then a couple of guys start yelling-
"Boo! The 'battle priest' is a coward! He fears a boxing match with Gunnar- how can he lead anyone in a real fight! Booo!"

[ewancummins]

Foerde shakes his head. "Not all duels require armor, Gunnar." He says. "Were you a true Tuor you would know this." He says to the large man.

Foerde begins casting a spell, he chants in Andu and moves his hands and arms around. Suddenly his arms and hands grow in size and girth. The fur on his arms becomes thicker and more beast like, and his fingers turn into razor sharp claws.

"As a priest of Cuiraecen we are never truly unarmed." He says showing his beast claws. "As you can see I am not the best candidate for this instructional session in unarmed combat." He says to Gunnar as if stating a simple fact. "Perhaps some one along your skill level would be better, after all I wouldn't want to accidentally cause you harm, I would suggest Lord Ranald."

Uttering a command in Andu, Foerde's hands and arms return to normal.

One of the servants in the back, Ranald's man, cries out-
''Magic-- he cheats! See how the beastman cheats!"

[ewancummins]

COUNCIL AT CAER HAES

"And there is still the matter of The Toymaker and the note we received." Renn pauses a moment to remember the lines.

"Let the red dawn surmise
What we shall do,
When this blue starlight dies
And all is through"

"I've no bloody idea what that means, but the note looked to be torn out of some book--maybe a magical book by the looks of the scrawling. Whatever it is, we'd do well not to ignore it." He looks at the priests. "That stanza ring a bell with either of you?"

Both priests shake their heads.


While the others present argue about how to handle Alamie and the goblins, the castellan leans over to the duke and says in a quiet voice-
"The magician we hired has finished examining the remains of Baubb's creations. Would you like to hear that report in council or in private?"

[ewancummins]

THE MANOR



Ranald sips cold tea in his small, candlelit office. A knock on the door.

" 'Squire, the woman is here."
Ranald pats down his bushy sideburns with his fingertips and adjusts the bone toggles on his russet coat.

"Send her in, please."

...

[kintire]

Safana steps into the office of the squire trying to look cool and confident. The rips and tears in her attires after the night's adventures have been smoothed away, and her raven hair is in a smooth curve. She has laid aside her travelling cloak to reveal a lithe and beautiful young woman in her late teens or early twenties, dusky skinned and raven haired and clad in a light vest and puffy silken harem pants, with a leather belt around her waist and a silver ring around her right wrist. She curtsies with a flourish.

"My fair Lord, I am honoured and delighted to be allowed refuge in your fortress in my hour of need. I am deeply in your debt. I am Safana of the Silver Circle, and if any of my skills can be of use to you they are entirely at your disposal!"

[ewancummins]

Ranald's Office-

Safana steps into the office of the squire trying to look cool and confident. The rips and tears in her attires after the night's adventures have been smoothed away, and her raven hair is in a smooth curve. She has laid aside her travelling cloak to reveal a lithe and beautiful young woman in her late teens or early twenties, dusky skinned and raven haired and clad in a light vest and puffy silken harem pants, with a leather belt around her waist and a silver ring around her right wrist. She curtsies with a flourish.

"My fair Lord, I am honoured and delighted to be allowed refuge in your fortress in my hour of need. I am deeply in your debt. I am Safana of the Silver Circle, and if any of my skills can be of use to you they are entirely at your disposal!"

The balding, aristocratically handsome gentleman rises from his seat and bows to Safana as she enters the small office with pine-paneled walls. A scent of resin and musk cologne hangs in the air.
"Esquire Ranald, son of Waleran at your service, dear lady."
He straightens from the bow. A slight smile plays on his lips, the russet hair of his muttonchops pricks up just a bit. "I am told that you had something of an adventure with the goblins. Would you like to tell me the story? Over a drink?’ He motions to a rock crystal decanter and a pair of pewter cups on the desk.

[ewancummins]

CORMAC, the cold and draughty front hall of the manor house


As Cormac is getting ready for travel, working quietly so as not to wake the children and old folks who snooze in huddles on the floor, a big bearded man approaches him. Cormac recognizes the fellow as Gustbold the Lumber-Master, whom he had met at the smaller lumber camp a couple of days ago.


"Ho, Cormac! How do you fare? "

[kintire]

Safana blossoms under the attention

"I would be delighted my Lord! I was travelling through this land, eagerly seeking your famous hospitality, which all in the region extol. As dusk began to fall, I became aware of movement in the underbrush around me, and in an instant, there they were! Foul, twisted creatures, dark mockeries of the human form, cackling with glee... that changed swiftly to astonishment and surprise as my mastery of the art veiled me from their sight!"

She winces slightly

"But they were evilly persistent, and I was evading bands of them until almost your very gate..."

[Adam]

"I can't complain, Gustbold. I am alive and I did'nae lose anyone on my raid." He shakes the man's hand. "How 'bout yerself. Findin' this place to yer likin'?"

[ewancummins]

"I can't complain, Gustbold. I am alive and I did'nae lose anyone on my raid." He shakes the man's hand. "How 'bout yerself. Findin' this place to yer likin'?"

''It's cold in this big house without fires, but the woods and hills are colder."

The big man scratches under his beard.

"'Squire Ranald has been fair with us. We work, he gives us food, drink, shelter. Can't complain about that."

He looks around the hall.

"I'm worried that the goblins will burn Fox Run. They must have looted it by now. My house there, it aint much but it's mine...''

[Adam]

Cormac nods, thoughtfully. "Well, I can tell ye that the gobs were lookin' more interested in takin' the buildin's an' livin' in 'em when we raided the town," Cormac chuckles. "O' course, a gob sittin' in yer favorite chair wi' his feet up on yer hearth ain't much better than them burnin' it, but at least it's somethin'."

[ewancummins]

RANALD'S OFFICE-

Safana blossoms under the attention

"I would be delighted my Lord! I was travelling through this land, eagerly seeking your famous hospitality, which all in the region extol. As dusk began to fall, I became aware of movement in the underbrush around me, and in an instant, there they were! Foul, twisted creatures, dark mockeries of the human form, cackling with glee... that changed swiftly to astonishment and surprise as my mastery of the art veiled me from their sight!"

She winces slightly

"But they were evilly persistent, and I was evading bands of them until almost your very gate..."

''That close, eh? Not good. I have many people under my protection here, and their safety is my first concern. If the goblins are on my doorstep..."

He frowns, rubs his chin, pours a dribble of brandy into his cup.

"You mention the Art. Are you a magician?"

[ewancummins]

FRONT HALL

Cormac nods, thoughtfully. "Well, I can tell ye that the gobs were lookin' more interested in takin' the buildin's an' livin' in 'em when we raided the town," Cormac chuckles. "O' course, a gob sittin' in yer favorite chair wi' his feet up on yer hearth ain't much better than them burnin' it, but at least it's somethin'."

''Living in the buildings? Does that mean they plan to stay? In the past they have always raided and then gone home..."

[kintire]

"Indeed my Lord! I am chagrined to discover that my reputation has not spread to these parts. I am a purveyor of illusions and delight! a dancer and a weaver of webs of enjoyment..."

She seems to realise this may not be the skillset he is looking for...

"... and I can wield other mighty magics as well..."