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An Adventure in Five Acts (AD&D 2E) (Final Update 25 Feb 2023)
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<blockquote data-quote="ilgatto" data-source="post: 8868108" data-attributes="member: 86051"><p><strong><span style="font-size: 18px">An Adventure in Five Acts, </span></strong><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong>Act III (Continued)</strong></span></p><p></p><p>Upstairs, Scaralat de Sarazin is searching the bedroom in a manner quite unbecoming a <em>chevalier.</em> He is crawling around on the floor on his hands and knees, peering into every nook and cranny. When he gets to the small bed, he lowers himself even further, reaches underneath and pulls out a strongbox. Without bothering to get up, he opens the box and starts emptying it at speed until he finds a small bag with some diamonds.</p><p>“What’s that?,” Sir Eber says, who has been watching the <em>chevalier</em> surround himself with the contents of the box.</p><p>“<em>Des bijoux!,”</em> the ransacking <em>chevalier</em> announces, pursing his lips appreciatively and holding one of the stones to the light. <em>“Merveilleux!”</em></p><p>And with that, like a common thief, he deftly pockets the stones.</p><p>“Not that,” Sir Eber says. “That!”</p><p>He is pointing at a large construct that can perhaps best be described as a cross between a backpack and an accordion. It is made of a variety of materials – leather, canvas, metal, wood – and features numerous straps and bands as if it is meant to be attached to someone’s back. On each side is a bellows-like construct. He picks up the construct and finds it surprisingly heavy even for a man of his strength. It seems to filled to the brim with… something.</p><p>“Does it open?,” he murmurs, turning the construct up and down.</p><p>But the <em>chevalier</em> isn’t listening and has turned his attention to the other items on the floor around him: a scroll case, a small pouch, a short sword, a largish bag, the box he took the diamonds from. He picks up the short sword, a bland and grayish thing. He puts it down again and opens the bag, which turns out to contain a veritable stash of silver coins.</p><p></p><p>Behind him, Sir Eber gives up on the construct. He puts it on the bed and picks up the sword.</p><p>“What have we here?,” he says, inspecting the weapon and finding it to be of some quality albeit rather dull of color.</p><p>“A gray sword,” he resumes. “You don’t suppose…”</p><p>“Ha, ha!,” the <em>chevalier</em> chortles. <em>“Prudence, mon cher!</em> It may be the evil sword!”</p><p>“My thoughts exactly,” the ranger says, putting the weapon on his back.</p><p></p><p>Outside, Navarre and Sir Suvali have reached the pile of stones behind the hut.</p><p>“I cannot read them,” the sorcerer says after he has inspected the runes on the stone slab for some time. “I’d say they were written by an inexperienced hand. I’ll copy them and maybe we can find out what they mean later.”</p><p>He produces a piece of paper and a pencil and starts scribbling away. Navarre and Sir Oengus sit down on some rocks and watch their noble fellow in silence for a while.</p><p>“It is too small for giant,” Navarre says after some time. “It must be for the Magus.”</p><p>“To be sure,” Sir Oengus says. “Buried here by the giant, who then carved the runes into the stone.”</p><p>“So the Magus died before the giant,” Navarre muses. “Then what did the giant do with the sword after the Magus died? Is it now in the hands of the people who killed him? I told you this whole mission was a waste of time!”</p><p></p><p>But then the <em>chevalier</em> comes storming around the corner, soon followed by Sir Eber carrying the strange apparatus and the other items from the strongbox.</p><p>“We have found it!,” the <em>chevalier</em> cries. “We have found it!”</p><p>“What are you on about?,” Navarre says irritably.</p><p>“It’s on my back,” Sir Eber says, pointing to the gray sword on his back.</p><p>Navarre gets to his feet and has a good look at the weapon.</p><p>“Is that the <em>Sword of Shadows?,”</em> he asks, not half convinced. “A short sword? It seems quite unremarkable.”</p><p>He has another good look at the weapon and, now, he is informed that it does appear to be of exceptional quality; that it is probably the best sword of ever; that it is 50 shades of gray; and that what else could it be?</p><p>“You see?,” the <em>chevalier</em> cries. “I told you we had to go after it! There it is! In our hands!”</p><p>Even though it now seems that Navarre has to admit that the sword probably is the <em>Sword of Shadows,</em> he still isn’t convinced that obtaining it was the right thing to do.</p><p>“Hmm…,” he says. “That thing is sure to stick out like a sore thumb to whatever mysterious means the enemy seems to have of knowing where people and things are. If anything, it will sooner hinder our effort than benefit it.”</p><p>“<em>Tant pis, mon cher!,”</em> the <em>chevalier</em> says. “I’d rather it is in our hands when the enemy comes for it than in this deserted hut here. Cheer up, <em>mon cher!</em> We have outwitted the enemy!”</p><p>“Just be sure to notify me when people start drawing it,” Navarre growls.</p><p>“Of course,” Sir Eber says.</p><p></p><p>Sir Suvali has finished copying the runes and now notices the strange construct the ranger brought. He utters an excited cry, hurries over and starts looking at the thing from all sides. It isn’t long before he has put the thing on his back and instructs Sir Eber to help him fasten the various straps and bands.</p><p>“Is there a key?,” he asks when the construct is securely tied to his back.</p><p>“<em>Celle-ci?,”</em> the <em>chevalier</em> asks, procuring a largish key from the box he found under the bed.</p><p>“That’s it,” the sorcerer says. “Excellent! Now, put it in the slot on the back of the apparatus and turn it.”</p><p>Sir Eber takes the key from the <em>chevalier,</em> inserts it into the slot and starts turning it. Navarre takes a couple of steps back. When nothing happens after he has turned the key a couple of times, the ranger turns it some more, and some more, and then some more – still nothing, until, after a lot more turning, he says that he seems to be feeling some resistance.</p><p>The sorcerer takes the construct off his back, puts it against the hut and starts turning the key himself.</p><p></p><p>When nothing happens for quite some time, Sir Eber seems to have had enough.</p><p>“I’ll start killing some birds, then,” he says.</p><p>Sir Oengus, who has been told that killing albatrosses brings bad luck, grabs him by the arm.</p><p>“Don’t you be killing any albatrosses or I’ll break your bow to be sure,” he says. “I want to get back to the mainland in one piece if you don’t mind.”</p><p>Sir Eber gives his noble fellow a blank stare.</p><p>“I have to feed the dog,” he says. He calls the giant dog, which emerges from the hut and approaches, tail wagging.</p><p></p><p>Navarre has observed the whole exchange with a bemused look on his face. When the ranger starts patting the giant dog, he decides to try and get things going again.</p><p>“My Lords,” he says. “Your attention, if you please. I would suggest we speak of what comes next.”</p><p>“The mission to get the little sword is over,” Sir Eber says. “I say we get on with the resistance.”</p><p>“The resistance?”</p><p>“Get to the forests,” the ranger says. “Start killing people.”</p><p>“And what, pray, shall we do with the sword?,” Navarre asks. “The enemy seems to be able to locate mythical artifacts at their leisure and I say the six of us will not be enough to protect it.”</p><p>“We’ll use it,” Sir Eber says. “They’ll all be dead before they can get their hands on it.”</p><p>“<em>Messieurs,</em> we cannot draw the sword,” the <em>chevalier</em> says.</p><p>“I agree,” Sir Suvali says, still turning the key. “The legends say it brings disaster and woe whenever it is drawn.”</p><p>“The bastards killed my whole family,” Sir Eber growls. “I want my revenge and I will use this sword to achieve it!”</p><p>“Perhaps I could have another look at the sword?,” the <em>chevalier</em> asks.</p><p>“No,” Sir Eber says.</p><p>“And so it begins!,” Navarre says. “This is exactly what the legends speak of!”</p><p>Sir Oengus rises to his feet.</p><p>“Tell me again about the sword,” he says. “What do the legends say?”</p><p>“That the sword kills all creatures it touches,” Sir Eber says, grinning.</p><p>“I remind you, Sir, that it is not for you alone to decide what is to be done with the sword,” Navarre says to the ranger. “As the rightful rulers of the realm, we shall decide in council what to do with it. I second the motion that we do not draw the sword until we know how to deal with the possible consequences.”</p><p>“Fine,” Sir Eber says. “Then I say to your council that we head into the forest and start raiding enemy lines.”</p><p>“And what of the sword, Sir?,” Navarre asks. “We shall need all the help we can get to keep it out of the hands of the enemy and I put it to you that some trees will not protect it from their armies – or even a small unit of archers for that matter.”</p><p>“Nonsense,” Sir Eber says. “Armies cannot operate in forests. We’ll pick them off one by one.”</p><p>Navarre throws the ranger an indignant look.</p><p>“My dear fellow!,” he says. “Surely you do not suggest we engage in a campaign of brigandage!?”</p><p>“And why not?,” Sir Eber says.</p><p>“I remind you of your position, Sir!,” Navarre says angrily. “The commoners depend on us for protection and it is our sacred duty to free them from the yoke of the oppressor. We must raise our armies and restore order as soon as possible, provide safe havens for those who have lost home and hearth. We must make haste and defeat the enemy. I say this can only be done in a single, decisive battle!”</p><p>A lively discussion ensues and, as usual, our noble heroes don’t seem to be able to agree on anything.</p><p></p><p>Navarre is in the middle of one of his angry arguments, this one involving the notion that our noble heroes cannot not allow the <em>Sword of Shadows</em> to fall into enemy hands and that they must guard it with their lives, when the <em>chevalier</em> suddenly bursts into applause.</p><p>“<em>Bravo!,”</em> he cries, looking in the direction of the plateau. “When can I have a go?”</p><p>Annoyed, Navarre turns around to see that Sir Suvali has the construct on his back again. From it, two large, wing-like protrusions appear to have unfolded.</p><p>“It is a flying apparatus!,” the sorcerer cries. “Watch this!”</p><p>With this, he turns around and starts running away from the hut.</p><p>“I say we start the killing immediately,” Sir Eber continues when the sorcerer is gone. “Let’s not hide behind armies and start acting like real men.”</p><p>“Real men?,” Navarre replies angrily. “And what kind of man would leave his wards to fend for themselves? By Olm! We are Dukes of the Realm! Our place is at the head of our armies!”</p><p>“Let Palava play with his soldiers and look after the commoners,” Sir Eber says. “I say we target supply lines and messengers, create confusion, strike from ambush. It is what I was trained to do.”</p><p>“I am Duke Dauberval, Sir!,” Navarre exclaims. “I will not resort to banditry!”</p><p>Again, the discussion continues like this until there is another disturbance and the <em>chevalier</em> bursts into applause again. This time, Sir Suvali is actually flying. He approaches through the air and makes an awkward landing close to his noble fellows.</p><p>“<em>Mes compliments, monsieur!,”</em> the <em>chevalier</em> cries. <em>“Vous aviez l’air magnifique!”</em></p><p>“Pff,” the sorcerer wheezes, somewhat unsteady on his feet and wiping his forehead. “That is <em>not</em> as easy as it would seem!”</p><p>“Bravo!,” the <em>chevalier</em> cries. “A demonstration! Some <em>pirouettes, monsieur!”</em></p><p></p><p>This seems to remind the sorcerer of something.</p><p>“Ah, yes!,” he says, reaching for one of the many pockets of his <em>mage vest.</em> “I almost forgot. We’ve found a rather peculiar map of the realm. Would you believe that it is actually much larger?”</p><p>“Pardon?,” Navarre says, not quite sure of what he has just heard.</p><p>The sorcerer procures the scroll case the <em>chevalier</em> found in the bedroom. He retrieves a parchment from it and unrolls it, revealing a map of the mainland with a rather large piece of land attached to the rimward coast, just below some lettering that says “Icy Wastes”. Also on the map, off the duskward coast, is a small island marked “Walrus Island”.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]271154[/ATTACH]</p><p>Our noble heroes cannot believe their eyes.</p><p>“I do declare!,” Navarre exclaims. “Could this map be correct?”</p><p>“<em>Mon cher!,”</em> the <em>chevalier</em> cries excitedly. “More land! And no dukes!”</p><p>“Wow!,” Sir Oengus says. “Walrus Island!”</p><p>“I say!,” Navarre exclaims. “Could this be were the enemy came from? Why doesn’t anybody know of this?”</p><p>“Magus Seaworthy knew of it,” Sir Suvali says.</p><p>Navarre cannot begin to fathom what the map seems to mean but the <em>chevalier</em> begs to differ.</p><p>“This is where we must go from here!,” he cries.</p><p>“<em>Pardon?,”</em> Navarre says. “Why? What do you hope to achieve? No one even has the faintest idea what is up there! Are we to embark on yet another expedition into the unknown while the enemy ransacks our lands?”</p><p>“It is the heartland of the enemy!,” the <em>chevalier</em> cries. “We must strike them where it hurts!”</p><p>“My dear fellow,” Navarre says. “The enemy is on Apple Island. Not on the other side of the mountains.”</p><p>“<em>Fi!,”</em> the <em>chevalier</em> cries. “They are after the sword! If we go rimward, they will follow!”</p><p>Navarre looks at his noble friend in astonishment.</p><p>“What!?,” he cries. “For crying out loud! Do you honestly believe that the enemy will send their whole army after six men with a sword? Abandon what they have just conquered? Surely you must see that obtaining the sword is only part of their objective at best? And what if the enemy <em>does</em> hail from beyond the mountains? Who is to say that the whole place isn’t swarming with iron-clad soldiers and giants? It will take weeks to get there and explore!”</p><p>“That’s it!,” the <em>chevalier</em> cries. “The giant was the guardian of the <em>Sword of Shadows!</em> The giants of the wastes want to take it from him! That’s why they killed him!”</p><p>“Aye,” Sir Oengus says. “The giant was the guardian of the sword.”</p><p>Navarre cannot believe his ears. Where do his noble fellows get all this from?</p><p>“My Lords!,” he cries. “Surely! Have you forgotten that this whole expedition started because the Loremaster’s notebook said that he gave the sword to Magus Seaworthy? There is no mention of a giant!”</p><p></p><p>Once more, our noble heroes lose themselves in heated debate. If anything, the discovery of the map seems to have divided them even more.</p><p>“We must sail for Walrus Island,” Sir Oengus says. “Think about it! Walrus Island! I feel it in my bones!”</p><p>“I am going nowhere on any boat,” Sir Eber says. “We’ll go rimward and we’ll go there on foot.”</p><p>“And leave the usurper to do as they please?,” Navarre cries. “Never! I am Duke Dauberval! We will have plenty of time to explore whatever is up there once we are back in control of the realm! We must proceed as planned!”</p><p>After a lot more of this, the tide seems to turn when the <em>chevalier</em> is suddenly all in favor of Navarre’s plan again.</p><p>“To battle it is!,” he cries. “To Sarazin! <em>Tous pour un, un pour tous!”</em></p><p>“Sarazin?,” Sir Eber says. “Free Dauberval? What about Weald?”</p><p>Navarre draws a deep breath.</p><p>“We will liberate <em>all</em> duchies,” he says. “We are going to Dauberval and Sarazin first since all reports indicate that the other duchies where we hold sway are compromised. Including Weald. You should be happy. We’ll have to get to Sarazin without attracting attention.”</p><p>At this moment, Sir Oerknal, who hasn’t said anything at all so far, decides to speak: “I will listen to suggestions. I will pick one and we’ll do that one.”</p><p>The remark leads to a bemused silence, in which our noble heroes seem to reflect on the fact that they did elect the oafish creature with the golden earring on its head as their King – even if that was in a moment of drunken revelry.</p><p>Navarre is the first to speak.</p><p>“It would seem that the… King has spoken,” he starts.</p><p>But now Sir Suvali points to the sky.</p><p>“A flare!,” he exclaims. “Up there!”</p><p>Within seconds, Sir Oengus is on his feet.</p><p>“All hands to the ship!,” he shouts.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ilgatto, post: 8868108, member: 86051"] [B][SIZE=5]An Adventure in Five Acts, [/SIZE][/B][SIZE=5][B]Act III (Continued)[/B][/SIZE] Upstairs, Scaralat de Sarazin is searching the bedroom in a manner quite unbecoming a [I]chevalier.[/I] He is crawling around on the floor on his hands and knees, peering into every nook and cranny. When he gets to the small bed, he lowers himself even further, reaches underneath and pulls out a strongbox. Without bothering to get up, he opens the box and starts emptying it at speed until he finds a small bag with some diamonds. “What’s that?,” Sir Eber says, who has been watching the [I]chevalier[/I] surround himself with the contents of the box. “[I]Des bijoux!,”[/I] the ransacking [I]chevalier[/I] announces, pursing his lips appreciatively and holding one of the stones to the light. [I]“Merveilleux!”[/I] And with that, like a common thief, he deftly pockets the stones. “Not that,” Sir Eber says. “That!” He is pointing at a large construct that can perhaps best be described as a cross between a backpack and an accordion. It is made of a variety of materials – leather, canvas, metal, wood – and features numerous straps and bands as if it is meant to be attached to someone’s back. On each side is a bellows-like construct. He picks up the construct and finds it surprisingly heavy even for a man of his strength. It seems to filled to the brim with… something. “Does it open?,” he murmurs, turning the construct up and down. But the [I]chevalier[/I] isn’t listening and has turned his attention to the other items on the floor around him: a scroll case, a small pouch, a short sword, a largish bag, the box he took the diamonds from. He picks up the short sword, a bland and grayish thing. He puts it down again and opens the bag, which turns out to contain a veritable stash of silver coins. Behind him, Sir Eber gives up on the construct. He puts it on the bed and picks up the sword. “What have we here?,” he says, inspecting the weapon and finding it to be of some quality albeit rather dull of color. “A gray sword,” he resumes. “You don’t suppose…” “Ha, ha!,” the [I]chevalier[/I] chortles. [I]“Prudence, mon cher![/I] It may be the evil sword!” “My thoughts exactly,” the ranger says, putting the weapon on his back. Outside, Navarre and Sir Suvali have reached the pile of stones behind the hut. “I cannot read them,” the sorcerer says after he has inspected the runes on the stone slab for some time. “I’d say they were written by an inexperienced hand. I’ll copy them and maybe we can find out what they mean later.” He produces a piece of paper and a pencil and starts scribbling away. Navarre and Sir Oengus sit down on some rocks and watch their noble fellow in silence for a while. “It is too small for giant,” Navarre says after some time. “It must be for the Magus.” “To be sure,” Sir Oengus says. “Buried here by the giant, who then carved the runes into the stone.” “So the Magus died before the giant,” Navarre muses. “Then what did the giant do with the sword after the Magus died? Is it now in the hands of the people who killed him? I told you this whole mission was a waste of time!” But then the [I]chevalier[/I] comes storming around the corner, soon followed by Sir Eber carrying the strange apparatus and the other items from the strongbox. “We have found it!,” the [I]chevalier[/I] cries. “We have found it!” “What are you on about?,” Navarre says irritably. “It’s on my back,” Sir Eber says, pointing to the gray sword on his back. Navarre gets to his feet and has a good look at the weapon. “Is that the [I]Sword of Shadows?,”[/I] he asks, not half convinced. “A short sword? It seems quite unremarkable.” He has another good look at the weapon and, now, he is informed that it does appear to be of exceptional quality; that it is probably the best sword of ever; that it is 50 shades of gray; and that what else could it be? “You see?,” the [I]chevalier[/I] cries. “I told you we had to go after it! There it is! In our hands!” Even though it now seems that Navarre has to admit that the sword probably is the [I]Sword of Shadows,[/I] he still isn’t convinced that obtaining it was the right thing to do. “Hmm…,” he says. “That thing is sure to stick out like a sore thumb to whatever mysterious means the enemy seems to have of knowing where people and things are. If anything, it will sooner hinder our effort than benefit it.” “[I]Tant pis, mon cher!,”[/I] the [I]chevalier[/I] says. “I’d rather it is in our hands when the enemy comes for it than in this deserted hut here. Cheer up, [I]mon cher![/I] We have outwitted the enemy!” “Just be sure to notify me when people start drawing it,” Navarre growls. “Of course,” Sir Eber says. Sir Suvali has finished copying the runes and now notices the strange construct the ranger brought. He utters an excited cry, hurries over and starts looking at the thing from all sides. It isn’t long before he has put the thing on his back and instructs Sir Eber to help him fasten the various straps and bands. “Is there a key?,” he asks when the construct is securely tied to his back. “[I]Celle-ci?,”[/I] the [I]chevalier[/I] asks, procuring a largish key from the box he found under the bed. “That’s it,” the sorcerer says. “Excellent! Now, put it in the slot on the back of the apparatus and turn it.” Sir Eber takes the key from the [I]chevalier,[/I] inserts it into the slot and starts turning it. Navarre takes a couple of steps back. When nothing happens after he has turned the key a couple of times, the ranger turns it some more, and some more, and then some more – still nothing, until, after a lot more turning, he says that he seems to be feeling some resistance. The sorcerer takes the construct off his back, puts it against the hut and starts turning the key himself. When nothing happens for quite some time, Sir Eber seems to have had enough. “I’ll start killing some birds, then,” he says. Sir Oengus, who has been told that killing albatrosses brings bad luck, grabs him by the arm. “Don’t you be killing any albatrosses or I’ll break your bow to be sure,” he says. “I want to get back to the mainland in one piece if you don’t mind.” Sir Eber gives his noble fellow a blank stare. “I have to feed the dog,” he says. He calls the giant dog, which emerges from the hut and approaches, tail wagging. Navarre has observed the whole exchange with a bemused look on his face. When the ranger starts patting the giant dog, he decides to try and get things going again. “My Lords,” he says. “Your attention, if you please. I would suggest we speak of what comes next.” “The mission to get the little sword is over,” Sir Eber says. “I say we get on with the resistance.” “The resistance?” “Get to the forests,” the ranger says. “Start killing people.” “And what, pray, shall we do with the sword?,” Navarre asks. “The enemy seems to be able to locate mythical artifacts at their leisure and I say the six of us will not be enough to protect it.” “We’ll use it,” Sir Eber says. “They’ll all be dead before they can get their hands on it.” “[I]Messieurs,[/I] we cannot draw the sword,” the [I]chevalier[/I] says. “I agree,” Sir Suvali says, still turning the key. “The legends say it brings disaster and woe whenever it is drawn.” “The bastards killed my whole family,” Sir Eber growls. “I want my revenge and I will use this sword to achieve it!” “Perhaps I could have another look at the sword?,” the [I]chevalier[/I] asks. “No,” Sir Eber says. “And so it begins!,” Navarre says. “This is exactly what the legends speak of!” Sir Oengus rises to his feet. “Tell me again about the sword,” he says. “What do the legends say?” “That the sword kills all creatures it touches,” Sir Eber says, grinning. “I remind you, Sir, that it is not for you alone to decide what is to be done with the sword,” Navarre says to the ranger. “As the rightful rulers of the realm, we shall decide in council what to do with it. I second the motion that we do not draw the sword until we know how to deal with the possible consequences.” “Fine,” Sir Eber says. “Then I say to your council that we head into the forest and start raiding enemy lines.” “And what of the sword, Sir?,” Navarre asks. “We shall need all the help we can get to keep it out of the hands of the enemy and I put it to you that some trees will not protect it from their armies – or even a small unit of archers for that matter.” “Nonsense,” Sir Eber says. “Armies cannot operate in forests. We’ll pick them off one by one.” Navarre throws the ranger an indignant look. “My dear fellow!,” he says. “Surely you do not suggest we engage in a campaign of brigandage!?” “And why not?,” Sir Eber says. “I remind you of your position, Sir!,” Navarre says angrily. “The commoners depend on us for protection and it is our sacred duty to free them from the yoke of the oppressor. We must raise our armies and restore order as soon as possible, provide safe havens for those who have lost home and hearth. We must make haste and defeat the enemy. I say this can only be done in a single, decisive battle!” A lively discussion ensues and, as usual, our noble heroes don’t seem to be able to agree on anything. Navarre is in the middle of one of his angry arguments, this one involving the notion that our noble heroes cannot not allow the [I]Sword of Shadows[/I] to fall into enemy hands and that they must guard it with their lives, when the [I]chevalier[/I] suddenly bursts into applause. “[I]Bravo!,”[/I] he cries, looking in the direction of the plateau. “When can I have a go?” Annoyed, Navarre turns around to see that Sir Suvali has the construct on his back again. From it, two large, wing-like protrusions appear to have unfolded. “It is a flying apparatus!,” the sorcerer cries. “Watch this!” With this, he turns around and starts running away from the hut. “I say we start the killing immediately,” Sir Eber continues when the sorcerer is gone. “Let’s not hide behind armies and start acting like real men.” “Real men?,” Navarre replies angrily. “And what kind of man would leave his wards to fend for themselves? By Olm! We are Dukes of the Realm! Our place is at the head of our armies!” “Let Palava play with his soldiers and look after the commoners,” Sir Eber says. “I say we target supply lines and messengers, create confusion, strike from ambush. It is what I was trained to do.” “I am Duke Dauberval, Sir!,” Navarre exclaims. “I will not resort to banditry!” Again, the discussion continues like this until there is another disturbance and the [I]chevalier[/I] bursts into applause again. This time, Sir Suvali is actually flying. He approaches through the air and makes an awkward landing close to his noble fellows. “[I]Mes compliments, monsieur!,”[/I] the [I]chevalier[/I] cries. [I]“Vous aviez l’air magnifique!”[/I] “Pff,” the sorcerer wheezes, somewhat unsteady on his feet and wiping his forehead. “That is [I]not[/I] as easy as it would seem!” “Bravo!,” the [I]chevalier[/I] cries. “A demonstration! Some [I]pirouettes, monsieur!”[/I] This seems to remind the sorcerer of something. “Ah, yes!,” he says, reaching for one of the many pockets of his [I]mage vest.[/I] “I almost forgot. We’ve found a rather peculiar map of the realm. Would you believe that it is actually much larger?” “Pardon?,” Navarre says, not quite sure of what he has just heard. The sorcerer procures the scroll case the [I]chevalier[/I] found in the bedroom. He retrieves a parchment from it and unrolls it, revealing a map of the mainland with a rather large piece of land attached to the rimward coast, just below some lettering that says “Icy Wastes”. Also on the map, off the duskward coast, is a small island marked “Walrus Island”. [ATTACH type="full" alt="5A-4-enworld-new-forest-map.png"]271154[/ATTACH] Our noble heroes cannot believe their eyes. “I do declare!,” Navarre exclaims. “Could this map be correct?” “[I]Mon cher!,”[/I] the [I]chevalier[/I] cries excitedly. “More land! And no dukes!” “Wow!,” Sir Oengus says. “Walrus Island!” “I say!,” Navarre exclaims. “Could this be were the enemy came from? Why doesn’t anybody know of this?” “Magus Seaworthy knew of it,” Sir Suvali says. Navarre cannot begin to fathom what the map seems to mean but the [I]chevalier[/I] begs to differ. “This is where we must go from here!,” he cries. “[I]Pardon?,”[/I] Navarre says. “Why? What do you hope to achieve? No one even has the faintest idea what is up there! Are we to embark on yet another expedition into the unknown while the enemy ransacks our lands?” “It is the heartland of the enemy!,” the [I]chevalier[/I] cries. “We must strike them where it hurts!” “My dear fellow,” Navarre says. “The enemy is on Apple Island. Not on the other side of the mountains.” “[I]Fi!,”[/I] the [I]chevalier[/I] cries. “They are after the sword! If we go rimward, they will follow!” Navarre looks at his noble friend in astonishment. “What!?,” he cries. “For crying out loud! Do you honestly believe that the enemy will send their whole army after six men with a sword? Abandon what they have just conquered? Surely you must see that obtaining the sword is only part of their objective at best? And what if the enemy [I]does[/I] hail from beyond the mountains? Who is to say that the whole place isn’t swarming with iron-clad soldiers and giants? It will take weeks to get there and explore!” “That’s it!,” the [I]chevalier[/I] cries. “The giant was the guardian of the [I]Sword of Shadows![/I] The giants of the wastes want to take it from him! That’s why they killed him!” “Aye,” Sir Oengus says. “The giant was the guardian of the sword.” Navarre cannot believe his ears. Where do his noble fellows get all this from? “My Lords!,” he cries. “Surely! Have you forgotten that this whole expedition started because the Loremaster’s notebook said that he gave the sword to Magus Seaworthy? There is no mention of a giant!” Once more, our noble heroes lose themselves in heated debate. If anything, the discovery of the map seems to have divided them even more. “We must sail for Walrus Island,” Sir Oengus says. “Think about it! Walrus Island! I feel it in my bones!” “I am going nowhere on any boat,” Sir Eber says. “We’ll go rimward and we’ll go there on foot.” “And leave the usurper to do as they please?,” Navarre cries. “Never! I am Duke Dauberval! We will have plenty of time to explore whatever is up there once we are back in control of the realm! We must proceed as planned!” After a lot more of this, the tide seems to turn when the [I]chevalier[/I] is suddenly all in favor of Navarre’s plan again. “To battle it is!,” he cries. “To Sarazin! [I]Tous pour un, un pour tous!”[/I] “Sarazin?,” Sir Eber says. “Free Dauberval? What about Weald?” Navarre draws a deep breath. “We will liberate [I]all[/I] duchies,” he says. “We are going to Dauberval and Sarazin first since all reports indicate that the other duchies where we hold sway are compromised. Including Weald. You should be happy. We’ll have to get to Sarazin without attracting attention.” At this moment, Sir Oerknal, who hasn’t said anything at all so far, decides to speak: “I will listen to suggestions. I will pick one and we’ll do that one.” The remark leads to a bemused silence, in which our noble heroes seem to reflect on the fact that they did elect the oafish creature with the golden earring on its head as their King – even if that was in a moment of drunken revelry. Navarre is the first to speak. “It would seem that the… King has spoken,” he starts. But now Sir Suvali points to the sky. “A flare!,” he exclaims. “Up there!” Within seconds, Sir Oengus is on his feet. “All hands to the ship!,” he shouts. [/QUOTE]
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