Birthright: Tuornen, Chapter Two

[steveflam]

"I was just pondering something. You see, you are a sellsword, or mercenary, if I am not mistaken. Is there a particular reason why you are hiding in here and not out there fighting."

"Sir Rory hired me to me to protect all the fine ladies in this room. Including you, my lady. I can't do that if I'm wandering around looking for a fight."

Dominica sighs, looking suddenly tired and dejected. She moves to a seat and leans on it for support. "I am terribly sorry for my preposterous behaviour." She sits and takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly. She looks at the ground, looking somewhat ashamed.

"I came here, fast as I could, but was *gasp* attacked by two assailants." She kicks the floor in disgust. "They took me by surprise. The ruckus occurring all over the city took me by surprise as well. I thwarted them with a bit of luck and ran here with my mule as fast as I could. These two brigands totally ruined my day and have caused me much anguish. I am terribly sorry for my attitude here. I just wish to
find a hot bath and attempt to relax."

[Adam]

Despite his best efforts at modesty, the corner of Cormac's lip turns up in a curl at the thought of the "work" Gunnar needs to get done. He hopes it is mostly concealed behind his beard.

"Well it seems yeh have a fine man, there. Looked like a durned commander durin' the battle, orderin' the men around and organizin' defenses. Between him an' the Huntsman, wasn't much for me to do. Not that I mind, o' course," he nods, "I ain't seen the silver yet I thought was worth riskin' my life o'er. Helpin' people out at the inn? That's another story. The men I could save an' this 'ere soup," he lifts his spoon, "that's thanks enough fer me."

[ewancummins]

Despite his best efforts at modesty, the corner of Cormac's lip turns up in a curl at the thought of the "work" Gunnar needs to get done. He hopes it is mostly concealed behind his beard.

"Well it seems yeh have a fine man, there. Looked like a durned commander durin' the battle, orderin' the men around and organizin' defenses. Between him an' the Huntsman, wasn't much for me to do. Not that I mind, o' course," he nods, "I ain't seen the silver yet I thought was worth riskin' my life o'er. Helpin' people out at the inn? That's another story. The men I could save an' this 'ere soup," he lifts his spoon, "that's thanks enough fer me."

Jeyne blinks.

"Huntsman? Pa used to tell me bedtime stories about a hunter who would show up to help folks in trouble, and then vanish "

[ewancummins]

Caer Haes, the room with women under guard-

"I was just pondering something. You see, you are a sellsword, or mercenary, if I am not mistaken. Is there a particular reason why you are hiding in here and not out there fighting."

"Sir Rory hired me to me to protect all the fine ladies in this room. Including you, my lady. I can't do that if I'm wandering around looking for a fight."

Dominica sighs, looking suddenly tired and dejected. She moves to a seat and leans on it for support. "I am terribly sorry for my preposterous behaviour." She sits and takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly. She looks at the ground, looking somewhat ashamed.

"I came here, fast as I could, but was *gasp* attacked by two assailants." She kicks the floor in disgust. "They took me by surprise. The ruckus occurring all over the city took me by surprise as well. I thwarted them with a bit of luck and ran here with my mule as fast as I could. These two brigands totally ruined my day and have caused me much anguish. I am terribly sorry for my attitude here. I just wish to
find a hot bath and attempt to relax."

Several of the women gather round and try to comfort Dominica with soft words and reassuring pats on the shoulders and arms.

The guard nods his head and mutters something about 'dirty, cowardly alley-men.' His hard expression softens a bit, but he keeps a watchful eye on Dominica all the same.

[steveflam]

"I'm... I'm ....... thank you...... I Just wish this day would end. Those two cowards, I hope they get what they deserve....... which is much better than what they wanted to offer me.. *sob*.."

The red haired woman, puts her face in her hands and sobs softly, shoulders slightly shaking. Red eyes look up at the guard "I would like to have a bath, sir. A hot bath. Please, allow me this. I wish to look my best for the young Duke Devlin upon his return."

[ewancummins]

"I'm... I'm ....... thank you...... I Just wish this day would end. Those two cowards, I hope they get what they deserve....... which is much better than what they wanted to offer me.. *sob*.."

The red haired woman, puts her face in her hands and sobs softly, shoulders slightly shaking. Red eyes look up at the guard "I would like to have a bath, sir. A hot bath. Please, allow me this. I wish to look my best for the young Duke Devlin upon his return."

The guard's face tightens. ''Sorry, my lady, you will have to wait.''

[Varrus the Ethical]

Roald snorts. "How very moving."

[Adam]

"Aye, an' a fine warrior 'e was," Cormac says, before launching into the story of his adventures in the bandit hideout with the Huntsman. At an appropriately dramatic point, he shows the Huntsman's sword maneuvers with his soup spoon, likely throwing a few droplets around inadvertently.

"An' then we heard them gobbins comin' outta the cave, and darned if they weren' hungry fer our blood. 'Ride on to town,' he said, 'I'll stay here, and throw them off our trail.' An' so I grabbed up the girl and off we went. A fine hero if there ever was one."

He lifts his mug. "To the Huntsman!"

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Renn puts a hand on Coll's shoulder. "See there, nothing but scars. Now back to it, watchman!"

He turns and dips his head in thanks to the priest. "My grattitude, Archprelate Nichaelir." He quickly thinks back to what he's heard of this man. Stodgy, obsessed with order. Not quite a friend of The Order, and no love for Hotspur. Points in his favor, Renn reckons. The Watch Captain has little interest in the gods of Haes, but the archprelate may prove valuable.

"We've been holding them off so far," he tells Rhober, "But they might hit us again. I've got good men here but most aren't soldiers. How should we keep these 'raiders' back?"

[ewancummins]

Renn puts a hand on Coll's shoulder. "See there, nothing but scars. Now back to it, watchman!"

He turns and dips his head in thanks to the priest. "My grattitude, Archprelate Nichaelir." He quickly thinks back to what he's heard of this man. Stodgy, obsessed with order. Not quite a friend of The Order, and no love for Hotspur. Points in his favor, Renn reckons. The Watch Captain has little interest in the gods of Haes, but the archprelate may prove valuable.

"We've been holding them off so far," he tells Rhober, "But they might hit us again. I've got good men here but most aren't soldiers. How should we keep these 'raiders' back?"

''Indeed, that is the question. After the reverses they have suffered, I think that the invaders will most likely pause for a time--but how long remains to be seen. I intend to go out now and parley, in order to arrange a hold on the fighting till morning. That will give our duke time to plan, the city defenders time to rest, and Duke Carilon time to reconsider this invasion. Some of the men out there-- the Alamien soldiers if not the mercenary rabble-- are followers of the Western Imperial Temple. They will not harm me if I come under a flag of truce."

He hefts his spear as he stands to his feet.

[Lord Skybolt]

Gunnar just eats his stew and listens as Cormac tells his tale .Thinking:That this Huntsman seems is too damn mysterious and arrogant too boot .

[ewancummins]

GUNNAR'S TABLE

Gunnar just eats his stew and listens as Cormac tells his tale .Thinking:That this Huntsman seems is too damn mysterious and arrogant too boot .

Dietric puts in-

"Yeah, I have heard stories about this 'Huntsman' too, only I heard he was running the hills over a hundred years ago. That'd make him pretty old. Unless he's an elf."

The man’s lined, stubbly face twists into a scowl.

"Or maybe this one aint the original. He hid his face. In my...ummm...experience, bandits and outlaws are the only men who go about killing people while hooded and masked."

[ewancummins]

Caer Haes, the Chamber of the Guarded Women

A silver-haired dame in a finely-made gown turns and whispers something to her maid, a tall and plain girl in a simple dun and black dress.

The maid approaches Roald while the other women gossip or pray.

"Sir, my lady sends her thanks to you for your overthow of the 'infernal machine.' And she asks your name and station. You are new at court, yes?"

[Varrus the Ethical]

"I am Roald, madame. And I have no station. I am a simple sellsword hired by Sir Rory so that he could free up more men to fight the invaders."

[Adam]

GUNNAR'S TABLE

Gunnar just eats his stew and listens as Cormac tells his tale .Thinking:That this Huntsman seems is too damn mysterious and arrogant too boot .

Dietric puts in-

"Yeah, I have heard stories about this 'Huntsman' too, only I heard he was running the hills over a hundred years ago. That'd make him pretty old. Unless he's an elf."

The man’s lined, stubbly face twists into a scowl.

"Or maybe this one aint the original. He hid his face. In my...ummm...experience, bandits and outlaws are the only men who go about killing people while hooded and masked."

"Aye, a point," Cormac nods, "or at least those who are afraid o' reprisal. Might be he has a family out there somewhere to protect. An' the mask makes it so you can pass the Huntsman role on from one man to the next."