It was a few days before the New Year when Liiros Tivaniel met with Staret Vilina Lea, Stalwart Wolverine. Gate Pass was well adapted to the harsh mountain winters, but thick walls and tight-fitting shutters only do so much. Despite the roaring fire, Vilina wore a heavy fur cloak over warm woolen clothes. She had not been particularly blessed with beauty or grace, but had also been spared any unattractiveness, leaving her wholly unremarkable in appearance. Her face was lined from her constant smiles, though, and her compassion and caring for others came through in her demeanor.
Right now, she was not smiling. “Thanks for coming, squire Liiros,” she said. “The situation in Gate Pass isn't good. I know the city handled one Ragesion invasion already, but this will be worse. Coaltongue just wanted to add to his empire. Inquisitor Leska wants to make a point, and it seems like she wants to do it with blood. They're calling her army the Scourge, and it's slowly marching to Gate Pass.
“The Order's been preparing for the attack,” Vilina said, “but it's not a fight Gate Pass can win in the long run. That's where you come in. The local resistance needs to get a message out of Gate Pass before the Scourge gets here, and they've asked us for help. I'll be honest: we can't send our best people on a mission away from the fight. But I've seen you fight, and growing up in Shahalesti could be valuable once you're out of the city.
“The resistance lead on the mission is a woman named Torrent,” Vilina said. “Meet her shortly before midnight on New Year's Eve at the Poison Apple Pub. Use the alley door. Expect other people. If nothing else, Squire Illiana Vresk should be there.
“I don't have much more to share,” Vilina said. “I'm afraid it's because the resistance doesn't have much more of a plan. Be prepared to improvise. And keep this a secret. There are plenty of Ragesian supporters in the city who will be happy to sell out the resistance.”
Liiros Tivaniel nods his assent, standing politely a yard or so from his superior in the Order. His heavy banded-mail armor, with its leather and padded underlayers, kept him reasonably insulated, but it was still chilly. The red and white tabard of the Knighthood of the Aquilline Cross was draped clearly over his armor, bearing the signature cross, and the crescent-moon symbol of Corellon Larethian adorned his wooden shield.
"I understand, Staret Lea. Good thing I'll have a few days to rest my feet in Gate Pass before I set out on the road again. A pity the barbarous Inquisitors aren't likely to parlay..... But at least the most experienced Knights will be on-hand to face this 'Scourge' and blunt it. I'll return as soon as I may, circumstances permitting, to aid in the city's defense," the elf says reassuringly, a faint smile on his handsome face. He salutes in a sort of lazy, informal, friendly manner, not caring for perfect execution of protocol.
"How should I recognize this woman called Torrent, Staret?" he asks before departing. "Is it safe to ask the barkeep, and would he or she know her?"
"How should I recognize this woman called Torrent, Staret?" he asks before departing. "Is it safe to ask the barkeep, and would he or she know her?"
"I'm sorry, I forgot you were new in town," Vilina says. "They arrested the Apple's owner for being too vocal in his dislike of the Ragesian Scourge. It's been locked up for a week. Torrent should be the only person in the place when you get there."
“So, Illiana,” Derrick said, “you’ll meet Torrent at the Poison Apple shortly before the start of the New Year tomorrow night. You’ll leave Gate Pass and travel to Seaquen, in Dassen. There’s a magical academy there called Lyceum. They’re willing to stand against the Ragesians, so we’re hoping they’ll be able to help defend Gate Pass.”
Derrick paused. He pulled the blanket he and Illiana shared further up on his lap. The winter cold soaked into everything - walls, floors, furniture. His room's fireplace was filled with flames, and still he and Illiana were nearly huddling for warmth.
He hesitated briefly before sliding closer to Illiana on the bench. “I didn’t invite you over just to give you a mission,” he said. “The truth is, when I found out you were leaving, I – well, I don’t know how I felt. I guess I was sad. Nervous, too. For some reason, the idea of you dying when the Scourge attacks is easier for me to think about than you leaving. Deep down, I expected our relationship to ultimately end because one of us died in battle, so I prepared myself for that. What I didn’t prepare for is the idea of you being alive and out there, somewhere, where I can’t ever see you.
“I know things between us are the way they are,” Derrick said, “I’m fine with it, but not dating and not seeing you at all are two very different things. If you stayed I could at least hear your voice, see your smile and hear your laugh.” He sighed and took her hands in his. “This is probably the last night I’ll see you, and I don’t want it to end, not with me giving an assignment and you walking out. Not with a handshake and a pat on the back.” He cupped her cheek in his right hand. “The idea of you leaving my life forever is just terrifying.”
He gently pulled her forward and leaned in for a kiss …
Illiana pulls back awkwardly, and with little strength. She had seen it coming, his advance, but she obviously hadn't prepared herself well enough. So instead of the careful letdown she had planned beforehand, letting him know again that she didn't share his feelings, she murmered an obviously false and awkward excuse, "I really have to get ready to leave. I can't do this..." She trails off, wishing that would actually forestall him.
Illiana pulls back awkwardly, and with little strength. She had seen it coming, his advance, but she obviously hadn't prepared herself well enough. So instead of the careful letdown she had planned beforehand, letting him know again that she didn't share his feelings, she murmered an obviously false and awkward excuse, "I really have to get ready to leave. I can't do this..." She trails off, wishing that would actually forestall him.
Derrick tried to pull her back. "Illiana, please," he said. He stopped and let his hand drop into his lap. "I'm sorry. I don't want this to be bad." He looked away. "Look, just come back safe, okay. And don't take too long - I'll miss you."
Liiros responds "Ah, I see. Good luck with Gate Pass' defense, Staret Lea. May Corellon help you amass a fearsome pile of Ragesian half-orc skulls." He departs into the wintry conditions outside the office, looking around town first to locate the Poison Apple, so he'll know where to return in a few days.
She sighs heavily, more to blow away this whole mess than because she's agitated. Resolved once again, she looks back into his eyes, "I'm sure we can figure things out when I get back, but I don't want to have us on my mind along with everything else. I'll come back safe, so don't worry." She turns away, as if to leave, but turns back quickly and finishes, "I'll miss you too."
It wasn't a good time to be anti-Ragesian in Gate Pass, especially not if you were in the City Guard. It was clear the city council planned on welcoming the Scourge with open arms, and they were having the Guard lock up all the magic users they could find as a present to their conquerors. The Guard wasn't enforcing this new edict as strictly as they did some others. Most of the time, magic users were safe as long as they didn't do anything too flashy. Some guardsmen would even let you get away with the flashy stuff.
Davyth's platoon was full of those types of guardsmen. Davyth had earned some leeway from his superiors for the quality of his guardsmen, and lately he'd been using it fill his platoon with guardsmen who were still planning on fighting the Scourge when it showed up. He felt bad for them. They were old enough to be competent guardsmen, but too young to understand the political realities of the City Guard. At least under him, they had a chance of having a career when this was all over. Assuming they survived.
Which is why Davyth was talking to Rashelle. “I know you're not a big fan of Leska, Rashelle,” he said. “So I have a special mission for you. There's a magic academy way down south called Lyceum that seems to have taken offense to the Scourge's indiscriminate killing of magic users. They're offering help to anyone fighting the Scourge. The resistance wants Gate Pass to get that help”
“Normally,” Davyth said, “they'd just use magic to send a message. For some reason, that's not working, so they need to send a courier. One of my resistance friends asked me if I could send anyone as an escort. I'm sending you. This isn't official, at least not as far the Guard is concerned. I can't make you go, but if I thought you'd say no you wouldn't be in my platoon.”
“I know you want to fight the Scourge, but this is important,” Davyth said. “We can't hold Gate Pass forever, not without help. That courier needs to get though to Lyceum. The courier's name is Torrent. Meet her at the Poison Apple shortly before midnight on New Year's Eve. Don't worry about missing any fun, with the Scourge knocking on our door I don't think there'll be much partying this year.”
"The apple.." Rashelle sighed as her mind went back to that night when the order had come down, the raid on the Poison Apple. The barkeep had been one of the few friends she'd made since coming to town, and the council had ordered him and most of his staff rounded up.
Rashelle had been there that night relaxing, and had almost drawn steel defending him against the guards sent to do the council's dirty work. If Davyth hadn't been there to stop her, she'd probly be sitting right beside the poor man in jail.
"A suitable start point for a journey like this, I suppose." She looked back to him, her mind returning to the present "It will be a pleasure and an honour, Sir. Wether my path lies in glorious battle or protecting a messenger, I will do all I can to help stop the madness of the Inquisitor."
Othric pulled his heavy robes tight around him and huddled back around the building corner. Winter was no time to hanging around outside in Gate Pass, so it was difficult for him to stay inconspicuous for long. Othric's plan was to use the weather to his advantage. It was ingenious, if he did say so himself. As a cleric of Boccob and general academic, he prided himself on solving problems with his brains, and not with his brawn like all the thickheaded brutes in the city. He realized that with all the cold weather, no one else would be spending a lot of time outside to observe him. Every window was tightly shuttered, and doors were kept shut, so no one inside could see him, either. He used a map work out a route he could walk that would always keep him in sight of the door to Plavin's place.
You see, he had a message for Plavin. As a priest, Othric knew a lot of people. A number of them were students at Gabal's school. Some of those students were also in the resistance. From them, he heard about plans to fight the Scourge when it arrived. Part of those plans involved getting help from the Lyceum. Planer travel was being blocked, so they couldn't send a message or teleport there. Othric's research led him to suspect that Leska's Inqusitors were behind it. He couldn't figure out exactly how they were doing it.
Othric's ruminating over the nature of the planer blockage was interrupted by Plaving walking out of his home. Othric stepped back out into the wind and quickly closed with Plavin. “Walk with me. Quickly,” he said. “Gate Pass needs your help. I know you're not truly a magic user, but the Scourge won't be so astute in either their observations or categorization. If you are still here when the Scourge arrives, I suspect you will not survive.”
“The gates at either end of the city are closed,” Othric said as he walked, “But with the help of others, you may be able to escape. The resistance is assembling a team to escort a courier into the Shining Lands. I understand you're an affiliate of the resistance. If all of you collaborate, you may be able to escape. Meet them at the Poison Apple shortly before the bells ring in the new year. Use the door in the alley. It will not be a, um, 'cakewalk', but I implore you to act on this opportunity.” Othric turned and started walking back to the temple of Boccob.
Plavin just stands there for a moment and watches Othric walk away before collecting his thoughts.
He begins to think to himself-Great, just great, I barely escaped with my life the last time I was here, and now I have to deal with an entire army. What ever gave him the idea I was in some resistance? Pauses for a few seconds so he can calm down-As much as I don't like it, he was right I do have to do something. Most people don't know or even care about the difference between a psion, and a caster. Magic is magic, even when it's not magic. With the small amount of time he has left he begins to make a list of items he may need so that he may gather them quickly. He decides it is about time for him to go knocking on fate's door instead of it always visiting him.
“Squire Reginald!” staret Vilina Lea shouted across the chapel.
“I hope you didn't have plans for tonight,” she said after hustling over to Reginald. “I have a mission for you that will put your particular skills to good use. The Resistance needs to get a courier out of Gate Pass tonight. With the gates closed to all non-military traffic, they need all the help they can get.
“The courier is a woman named Torrent,” staret Vilina said. “She knows about some intelligence about the Ragesions that needs to get to potential allies to the south. Meet her at the Poison Apple Pub a little before midnight tonight. Hopefully the New Years celebrations will make your escape easier.
“Now go and get packed! Once you get outside the city, who knows when you'll be back.”
Diogenes shut the door to his room after letting Hollister in. Students at Gabal's School of War usually had their own rooms, dormitory-style. “Thanks for stopping by,” he said to Hollister. “I was hoping I could pick your brain about fire-related magic. I'm working on a different way of charming] people, and I think you might be able to help. Here, have a seat.” Diogenes gestured to one of two chairs at a small table before sitting down himself.
“Here, let me show you ...” Diogenes grabbed a slate and a piece of chalk from the tabletop and started writing. He showed his writing to Hollister. “I don't want anyone to overhear us,” it said. “Interesting, right,” he said? “So ...”
“The Resistance needs help,” he wrote on the slate, erasing when he needed more room. His handwriting was angular and hasty-looking. “The Scourge will kill everyone here. The city council will not protect us.” As he wrote, Diogenes explained how charm spells worked. “We need to contact the Lyceum and ask for help. The Lyceum is a magic school in the city of Seaquen in Dassen. They want to help fight the Scourge. Magic-users unite!” Diogenes winked.
“Meet the Resistance at the Poison Apple Pub,” Diogenes wrote. “Meet before midnight tonight.” “Tonight” was underlined twice. “Contact is a woman named Torrent. She is going to Lyceum to get help. Others will go with you.”
“So,” Diogenes said aloud, “what do you think? Do you think you can help me work this out?”
“I hope you didn't have plans for tonight,” she said after hustling over to Reginald. “I have a mission for you that will put your particular skills to good use. The Resistance needs to get a courier out of Gate Pass tonight. With the gates closed to all non-military traffic, they need all the help they can get.
“The courier is a woman named Torrent,” staret Vilina said. “She knows about some intelligence about the Ragesions that needs to get to potential allies to the south. Meet her at the Poison Apple Pub a little before midnight tonight. Hopefully the New Years celebrations will make your escape easier.
“Now go and get packed! Once you get outside the city, who knows when you'll be back.”
"Of course I haven't plans for this evening when there's knightly business to attend to m'lady" Reginald will reply, "Is Torrent a codename I'm assuming? I will endaevour to meet this woman and assist in any way I am able. If there's anything else you require I will be at the pub until this evening."
With that he'll ensure he's got all his gear, the well made sword from his father's exotic weapon collection, as well as the chain shirt he'd commissioned. Reginald will kill time in the pub while he awaits his charge, doing his best to remain low-key.
Hollister considered Diogenes' request. As he did so, the fire mage waved his hand back and forth in the air in a figure-eight, small flames dancing over his fingers, tracing the pattern in the air. It was something of a nervous habit that he had developed. With the other hand, he removed the ornate meerschaum pipe from his mouth and exhaled smoke rings into the air. After a few seconds, Hollister locked his smoke grey eyes on his companion.
"I think that I can probably help you with this," he finally answered, his voice low. "But isn't there some inherent risks associated with this type of...magic?"
__________________ -Rhun
"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge - myth is more potent than history - dreams are more powerful than facts - hope always triumphs over experience - laughter is the cure for grief - love is stronger than death." -Robert Fulghum
"Of course I haven't plans for this evening when there's knightly business to attend to m'lady" Reginald will reply, "Is Torrent a codename I'm assuming? I will endaevour to meet this woman and assist in any way I am able. If there's anything else you require I will be at the pub until this evening."
"As far as I know, Torrent is her real name," Staret Lea says.
Quote:
Originally Posted by renau1g
With that he'll ensure he's got all his gear, the well made sword from his father's exotic weapon collection, as well as the chain shirt he'd commissioned. Reginald will kill time in the pub while he awaits his charge, doing his best to remain low-key.
When Reginald arrives at the Poison Apple, he sees that it's boarded up. Posted to the door is the following sign:
"I think that I can probably help you with this," he finally answered, his voice low. "But isn't there some inherent risks associated with this type of...magic?"
"Sure, it's a little dangerous," Diogenes said. "But it's nothing compared to the danger we're both facing being wizards in Gate Pass with the Scourge right outside. If we're stuck here, we may as well put the time to good use."
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