Age of Worms: Act I - The Whispering Cairn

[hippocrachus]

Chryse holds his tongue when the priest of Heironeous presents himself and sends them off to the infirmary.
I look forward to a time when my faith in you keeps me from needing anything but your aid, Apollo! he offers to his god, a silent apology for turning to another divine after Apollo has sent him so many blessings.

[sblock]Another motive of mine for making Chryse so devout is that the Olympian Pantheon has never been portrayed as overly forgiving rulers...
Let slip you think your daughter is prettier than Hera and the goddess will make you feed her to a Kraken.[/sblock]

 

[unleashed]

Orin Heartwood, Male Half-Elf Ranger

“Greeting Katrina, I am Orin and this is Damien,” Orin replies warmly, gesturing to the horseman, “As to our business, we are bringing these ratling to your care, they are the offspring of dire rats our group were forced to kill while defending ourselves and thought the Bronzewood Lodge would know best how to care for them. I was almost killed myself in their first assault.” Orin manoeuvres himself to show his barely scabbed wounds to Katrina, while protecting the ratlings.

 

[Saterus]

Not being wounded, Samuel accompanies the others to the infirmary anyway. "He will be ok, right? The priests here can heal as well as the one who has accompanied us so far, right?" After a while, he wanders around the infirmary curiously and asks a priest where he might find a wash basin. "Father, while traveling in today's weather I seem to have made quite a mess of my clothes and if the grounds has anywhere I might be able to wash them, I would be quite welcome."

After he finishes washing his clothes, he sets out to wander around the grounds...exploring...

 

[Elocin]

Shadow - Rogue 1

Shadow will continue to lay upon the horse's saddle unconscious contemplating just where that light might lead up ahead of him.

 

[Ozmar]

"Take him to the infirmary, as well as the others who are wounded. I have instructions to escort the Sergeant to speak with the Commander if he feels up to it."

"Indeed." Jorun hands the reigns of Copper to the priests so they can take Shadow to the infirmary. Then he nods to the Father and says, "I am ready, let's go report to Commander Trask."

Once standing before his father, Jorun stands at attention and reports on all that he has seen, leaving nothing out. He reports that the goblins were the agressors and have been defeated. He commends the bravery of Chryse, the priest of Apollo, and states that the other men have committed no crimes of which he is aware. He also reports that the goblins had acquired some valuables which were presumably stolen from others, but that the laws of salvage would seem to suggest that the adventuresome civilians have a rightful claim to them. He ends the report with his speculations... "Sir, I believe that there may be more goblins lairing in a nearby abandonded cairn, and request leave to investigate. The others I spoke of have it in mind to explore this cairn seeking treasure and adventure. I would like to accompany them, partially to keep an eye on them and ensure that their adventures do not lead them into lawlessness, but primarily to check on the possibility of goblins and perhaps neutralize this danger without commiting more than one soldier from the garrison. That is my plan, and I ask for your permission to implement it." With that, Jorun waits expectantly for his commander's reply.

 

[Majin]

Damien nods to Katrina in acknowledgement of his introduction. Besides that, he remains quiet, trusting Orin to deal better with his own ilk than he could. His eyebrow arched slightly, as he admired the woman. Despite her frosty demeanor, he couldn't help but appreciate her attractiveness. A half-smile slowly began to appear on his face...

 

[Verbatim]

Orin and Damien [sblock]

“Greeting Katrina, I am Orin and this is Damien,” Orin replies warmly, gesturing to the horseman, “As to our business, we are bringing these ratling to your care, they are the offspring of dire rats our group were forced to kill while defending ourselves and thought the Bronzewood Lodge would know best how to care for them. I was almost killed myself in their first assault.” Orin manoeuvres himself to show his barely scabbed wounds to Katrina, while protecting the ratlings.

Katrina motions to one of the men standing beside her and he begins walking towards you both. Damien notices right away that his steps fall just as light as Orin's and as he stands beside the two of you, you can barely detect his tracks in the still wet earth.

Pulling his cloak back, you see a man who looks as if he could have been just a few years older than you both to a few years younger than Damien's father. His face was deeply tanned from years of living outside, and his dark black hair and green eyes gave his features
a strange animalistic look to them. Reaching out for the ratlings, the man did not speak until the creatures were in his hands.

"You have Venelle's scent upon you pup, are you of her litter?"
[/sblock]

 

[unleashed]

Orin Heartwood, Male Half-Elf Ranger

Damien and Verbatim

“She has trained me and I work with her if that is what you ask,” Orin replies bowing his head to the older man and wondering how he could possibly know of his association with Venelle...could he actually smell Venelle about his person, if so it was a wondrous talent.

OOC: Did the man who took the ratlings also take Orin’s cloak?

 

[Verbatim]

Orin and Damien:[sblock]

“She has trained me and I work with her if that is what you ask,” Orin replies bowing his head to the older man and wondering how he could possibly know of his association with Venelle...could he actually smell Venelle about his person, if so it was a wondrous talent.

As Orin confirmed his relation to the bowyer of Diamond Lake, the tension seemed to drain out of the trio in front of them slightly. The shaggy dark haired man seemed to stare at you both for a moment before reaching a decision in his mind.

"If you are of her litter then you are welcome here, but what of the one who travels with you? He has nothing but the stench of the city on him, will you swear that he will not harm the Land?"

As the man finished, Katrina's voice robbed Orin of his chance to reply.

"Daggat, none but a few still require the oaths to enter the Lands these days, and fewer still are willing to swear to the oath. If they only wished to deliver their parcel they have done so. Give him coin for his cloak and allow the city-walkers to leave should they choose."

While Katrina's tone was less hard, it was by no means welcoming either.[/sblock]

 

[Verbatim]

Jorun: [sblock]As soon as you finished your report, the elder Trask stood up from behind his desk and began to pace slightly behind it. While some would have considered the act one of nervousness, you knew your father too well for that. With each step, the Commander was commiting your facts to memory and would speak when he was ready.

"Sit down Jorun, your legs look as if they will not be able to support you much longer, and I will not have one of my soldiers falling because he stood too long in my presence."

As you sat down, your father continued pacing for a moment before stopping to look you squarely in the eyes.

"You know I have always respected your abilities and judgements Sergeant, and as such, I will grant your request to travel with the others. However, you will do it as a free man, not as a soldier. Your wages will be suspended until you return to full time service and your access to the services of the temple will be suspended also. You may come to them for healing, as all faithful can, but you will be treated as any free man would be treated. I will not have the other soldiers thinking you are released from duties, yet are still granted the benefits they bring."

Commander Trask paused for a heartbeat before he continued. When he looked at Jorun, the young knight saw for the first time the weight of command that his father carried.

"All must be seen as equals or order can not be maintained, and those you will travel with will not show you their true selves if they think you are nothing more than a watchdog of the garrison. You will not be authorized to wear your watch cloak, nor any other symbols of rank. You will be nothing but Jorun Trask, a knight in service to none but Heironeous. Do you understand these things son?"[/sblock]