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<blockquote data-quote="spyscribe" data-source="post: 3133527" data-attributes="member: 5808"><p><strong>Part the Two-Hundred Ninth</strong></p><p><em>In which: well, we’ve deposed the Count… what happens now?</em></p><p></p><p>Since Etienne didn’t elect to accompany the party through the Count’s secret escape tunnel, the adventurers return to find him in the throne room looking down at the corpse of his double. </p><p></p><p>There is an awkward pause. Finally, Eva breaks it. “Yeah, who is that guy anyway?”</p><p></p><p>Etienne sighs. “My twin brother, Florismart.” </p><p></p><p>This leads to a rather awkard pause. Finally, Kiara asks, “You okay?” </p><p></p><p>“Fine. Perfectly fine.” Etienne makes a distracted gesture. “And look… he died right by Gaston. Probably begging for healing… I always told him, ‘Just put your hands up, and you won’t <strong>need</strong> healing.’ …Idiot.”</p><p></p><p>They party withdraws, allowing the odd wizard to mourn in private, when he turns to call after them. “You’ll need someone to maintain order.”</p><p></p><p>Reyu blinks. “Order?”</p><p></p><p>“Among the troops. With Lady Tempeste gone, barracks discipline is bound to slip with no one in the top post. You’ll need someone with experience to take charge.” He lets the thought dangle suggestively.</p><p></p><p>“And that would be you?”</p><p></p><p>Etienne shrugs modestly. “I believe I’ve proven my trustworthiness to you and your companions, and the men do know and respect me already.”</p><p></p><p>Reyu’s is confused. “They respect you… <strong>and</strong> they know you?”</p><p></p><p>Etienne makes a small, insulted, noise, and turns away.</p><p></p><p>###</p><p></p><p>The first thing Anvil does after the battle, naturally, is to send for the local high-ranking Justicar so that the rule of law might be quickly and firmly established. With typical Justicar efficiency, she soon arrives.</p><p></p><p>Indefatigable the Just is an older woman, with a penetrating gaze and a demeanor that brooks no nonsense. She and her escorts enter the courtyard, and she surveys the disordered scene before her.</p><p></p><p>Anvil presents himself. “Greetings, I am Anvil the Just, Third order Justicar of Dar Pykos.”</p><p></p><p>“Greetings,” she looks around. “You are responsible for this?”</p><p></p><p>“The Count is responsible. This is merely the fruit of his unjust actions.”</p><p></p><p>Indefatigable raises an eyebrow. “Indeed. I’ll hear from you later, then.” She motions to a member of her retinue, and points to a County Guardswoman sitting dumbly outside the barracks. The guard is quickly fetched before her.</p><p></p><p>“Who is your commander?” Indefatigable asks. Her manner, although direct, is not unkind.</p><p></p><p>“Lady Tempeste <strong>was</strong>…” the young woman trails off.</p><p></p><p>“And who has taken command now?” the Justicar presses.</p><p></p><p>The guard swallows, but the direct demand appears to help kick her brain into gear. She glances around, getting her bearings and taking count of the dead and the living. “Captain Bellamy, Justicar.”</p><p></p><p>Indefatigable nods. “Good. Bring him here.”</p><p></p><p>###</p><p></p><p>Etienne, perhaps smelling that important decisions are being made, appears along with the disgruntled guard captain, and after Indefatigable calls the small company formally to order, Anvil tells the party’s story.</p><p></p><p>He begins with the mission to speak to Barnabus. This is a good place to start, not only because it is the beginning of the tale chronologically, but it is also easily verified by the letters Anvil carries from King Orin and the heads of the temples of Dar Pykos.</p><p></p><p>Anvil goes on to describe their initial encounters with the Count. How they actively presented themselves to the County Guard, were completely forthright about their motives, only to be rewarded with deception when the Count presented them with an imposter instead of Barnabus.</p><p></p><p>This is where Captain Bellamy—who has so far kept himself to expressing his displeasure by dark looks punctuated by the occasional low grumble—begins to sputter. “Are you really going to believe some story—?”</p><p></p><p>“Hold your peace, Captain. You will have an opportunity to give your account.” She pauses, and Etienne delicately coughs to get her attention. She frowns at him. “Yes, who are you?”</p><p></p><p>Etienne bows. “Etienne Biber, Madame Justicar. Lately court wizard to the Count. I believe I can add relevant testimony at this juncture.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes?”</p><p></p><p>“I was he who impersonated the Archmage Barnabus.”</p><p></p><p>“Oh?”</p><p></p><p>“Indeed.”</p><p></p><p>“At the Count’s request?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes Madame.”</p><p></p><p>“For what reason?”</p><p></p><p>“I did not ask for specifics, Madame Justicar. But I was given the impression the Count was desirous to be rid of his visitors as quickly and quietly as possible.”</p><p></p><p>The look Captain Bellamy gives Etienne is positively murderous. </p><p></p><p>Indefatigable merely raises an eyebrow. “Anvil the Just, pray continue.”</p><p></p><p>Anvil does.</p><p></p><p>When Anvil reaches the relevant point in the story, Chadiss the cook is found and brought before the Justicar. He nervously recounts how he was brought to the islands against his will, his daughter held hostage for his cooperation, and how he finally gathered the courage to ask the party for help.</p><p></p><p>“Never!” Captain Bellamy sputters. “My guards have no such duties… guarding an island full of hostages… Outrageous!”</p><p></p><p>Indefatigable turns to Eitienne.</p><p></p><p>“The islands aren’t far from here. I can show you on a map, if you like.”</p><p></p><p>Captain Bellamy glowers.</p><p></p><p>Barnabus does not provide the most coherent account of his time on his island, but does confirm that Anvil and the others found him, and describes how, using magical means, he was able to determine that they were telling him the truth about their encounters with the Count.</p><p></p><p>“Plus there was the body,” he adds.</p><p></p><p>Indefatigable blinks. “The body?”</p><p></p><p>“Of their friend.”</p><p></p><p>Euro is found and is relieved of his burden, after which Barnabus restores Lira’s corpse to its original size. One of Indefatigable’s people steps aside and performs a quick examination of the body under Euro and Anvil’s watchful eyes.</p><p></p><p>He turns to Indefatigable to make his report. “The wounds are consistent with the weapon described.”</p><p></p><p>Captain Ballamy sputters. “But… But… They’re outlaws!”</p><p></p><p>Indefatigable holds up a hand for silence. “Peace, Captain. The evidence before me, as well as…” she pauses, “other information known to me—is sufficient. Agramount is to be brought before the bar of Justice to answer the accusations brought before him, and in the meantime, is ruled a fugitive, to be apprehended and brought to custody by any member of the County, be they civil guard, temple dedicat, or private citizen.”</p><p></p><p>She takes a stone in each hand, and solemnly strikes them together four ties.</p><p></p><p>Indefatigable next addresses Captain Bellamy. “Captain, these are your orders: to find and apprehend he who has been lately known as the Count of these lands. If you cannot fulfill your charge, this is your opportunity to cede to someone who can. What say you?”</p><p></p><p>Bellamy pauses, glares at Anvil. He then turns his back on him, and makes a short bow to Indefatigable. “I accept my charge, Madame.”</p><p></p><p>“Good. See to your men. You are dismissed.”</p><p></p><p>Bellamy risks one last glance to Anvil. “What about them, Madame?”</p><p></p><p>“Do not concern yourself. They are in my custody.”</p><p></p><p>Bellamy bows again, rather stiffly, and leaves without a backward glance. Soon, his voice can be heard bellowing across the courtyard as he brings his people back into order.</p><p></p><p>Indefatigable turns to one of her acolytes. “Take a small team and a squad of <strong>our</strong> guards to the islands that house the craftspeople and their families. Carry my ruling under my seal to the guards stationed there, and… inform the residents that any who wish the leave the islands, will now be free to go.”</p><p></p><p>“Very good, Madame.”</p><p></p><p>“Anvil, your friend taken from you. Her name was Annika Tandeuter?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes.”</p><p></p><p>“Fetch her back here.”</p><p></p><p>“With all speed. Kettenek’s Justice be with you.”</p><p></p><p>“And with you.” Having dismissed all but a few members of her escort, Indefatigable gestures for Anvil to remain, then stands for a moment in silence.</p><p></p><p>“You are fortunate,” she observes finally, “that Mountain the Just, the head of my order, is away in Dar Darine at the moment.” </p><p></p><p>“Oh?”</p><p></p><p>“Were it he hearing this case you and your friends would certainly have clapped in irons.”</p><p></p><p>“Surely he would have followed Ketennek’s Justice in this matter as any other.”</p><p></p><p>Indefatigable’s lips twist with irony. “No doubt. Still… you are fortunate.”</p><p></p><p>“Is there anything else you require of us?” Anvil inquires respectfully.</p><p></p><p>At this, Indefatigable does quirk an eyebrow. “No, I think this will be quite enough.” She sighs. “By all rights, since you’ve unearthed this debacle, I should demand you do your share to clean it up. But I suppose you have other duties.”</p><p></p><p>Anvil bows. “We have delivered the last of our invitations. We should return to Dar Pykos to inform King Orin and our temple superiors, but if you require a service—”</p><p></p><p>Indefatigable waves him off. In spite of her name, she does seem a bit tired. “No, your presence here will serve more as a center for conflict than anything else. The Justicars can administrate the County in the short-term, and in the long… well, we got along before Agramount. We will somehow muddle through again.”</p><p></p><p>“This count is not of the original ruling line?” Anvil inquires.</p><p></p><p>“On his father’s side only. He ensured that any legitimate heirs were… unavailable to take the throne when the last Count died. It has been a long time now…” she pauses and eyes look far away for a moment. She shakes herself, and it passes. “If you will excuse me, Brother, I have much to do.”</p><p></p><p>Anvil bows and by the time he rises, Indefatigable is already halfway across the courtyard.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="spyscribe, post: 3133527, member: 5808"] [b]Part the Two-Hundred Ninth[/b] [i]In which: well, we’ve deposed the Count… what happens now?[/i] Since Etienne didn’t elect to accompany the party through the Count’s secret escape tunnel, the adventurers return to find him in the throne room looking down at the corpse of his double. There is an awkward pause. Finally, Eva breaks it. “Yeah, who is that guy anyway?” Etienne sighs. “My twin brother, Florismart.” This leads to a rather awkard pause. Finally, Kiara asks, “You okay?” “Fine. Perfectly fine.” Etienne makes a distracted gesture. “And look… he died right by Gaston. Probably begging for healing… I always told him, ‘Just put your hands up, and you won’t [b]need[/b] healing.’ …Idiot.” They party withdraws, allowing the odd wizard to mourn in private, when he turns to call after them. “You’ll need someone to maintain order.” Reyu blinks. “Order?” “Among the troops. With Lady Tempeste gone, barracks discipline is bound to slip with no one in the top post. You’ll need someone with experience to take charge.” He lets the thought dangle suggestively. “And that would be you?” Etienne shrugs modestly. “I believe I’ve proven my trustworthiness to you and your companions, and the men do know and respect me already.” Reyu’s is confused. “They respect you… [b]and[/b] they know you?” Etienne makes a small, insulted, noise, and turns away. ### The first thing Anvil does after the battle, naturally, is to send for the local high-ranking Justicar so that the rule of law might be quickly and firmly established. With typical Justicar efficiency, she soon arrives. Indefatigable the Just is an older woman, with a penetrating gaze and a demeanor that brooks no nonsense. She and her escorts enter the courtyard, and she surveys the disordered scene before her. Anvil presents himself. “Greetings, I am Anvil the Just, Third order Justicar of Dar Pykos.” “Greetings,” she looks around. “You are responsible for this?” “The Count is responsible. This is merely the fruit of his unjust actions.” Indefatigable raises an eyebrow. “Indeed. I’ll hear from you later, then.” She motions to a member of her retinue, and points to a County Guardswoman sitting dumbly outside the barracks. The guard is quickly fetched before her. “Who is your commander?” Indefatigable asks. Her manner, although direct, is not unkind. “Lady Tempeste [b]was[/b]…” the young woman trails off. “And who has taken command now?” the Justicar presses. The guard swallows, but the direct demand appears to help kick her brain into gear. She glances around, getting her bearings and taking count of the dead and the living. “Captain Bellamy, Justicar.” Indefatigable nods. “Good. Bring him here.” ### Etienne, perhaps smelling that important decisions are being made, appears along with the disgruntled guard captain, and after Indefatigable calls the small company formally to order, Anvil tells the party’s story. He begins with the mission to speak to Barnabus. This is a good place to start, not only because it is the beginning of the tale chronologically, but it is also easily verified by the letters Anvil carries from King Orin and the heads of the temples of Dar Pykos. Anvil goes on to describe their initial encounters with the Count. How they actively presented themselves to the County Guard, were completely forthright about their motives, only to be rewarded with deception when the Count presented them with an imposter instead of Barnabus. This is where Captain Bellamy—who has so far kept himself to expressing his displeasure by dark looks punctuated by the occasional low grumble—begins to sputter. “Are you really going to believe some story—?” “Hold your peace, Captain. You will have an opportunity to give your account.” She pauses, and Etienne delicately coughs to get her attention. She frowns at him. “Yes, who are you?” Etienne bows. “Etienne Biber, Madame Justicar. Lately court wizard to the Count. I believe I can add relevant testimony at this juncture.” “Yes?” “I was he who impersonated the Archmage Barnabus.” “Oh?” “Indeed.” “At the Count’s request?” “Yes Madame.” “For what reason?” “I did not ask for specifics, Madame Justicar. But I was given the impression the Count was desirous to be rid of his visitors as quickly and quietly as possible.” The look Captain Bellamy gives Etienne is positively murderous. Indefatigable merely raises an eyebrow. “Anvil the Just, pray continue.” Anvil does. When Anvil reaches the relevant point in the story, Chadiss the cook is found and brought before the Justicar. He nervously recounts how he was brought to the islands against his will, his daughter held hostage for his cooperation, and how he finally gathered the courage to ask the party for help. “Never!” Captain Bellamy sputters. “My guards have no such duties… guarding an island full of hostages… Outrageous!” Indefatigable turns to Eitienne. “The islands aren’t far from here. I can show you on a map, if you like.” Captain Bellamy glowers. Barnabus does not provide the most coherent account of his time on his island, but does confirm that Anvil and the others found him, and describes how, using magical means, he was able to determine that they were telling him the truth about their encounters with the Count. “Plus there was the body,” he adds. Indefatigable blinks. “The body?” “Of their friend.” Euro is found and is relieved of his burden, after which Barnabus restores Lira’s corpse to its original size. One of Indefatigable’s people steps aside and performs a quick examination of the body under Euro and Anvil’s watchful eyes. He turns to Indefatigable to make his report. “The wounds are consistent with the weapon described.” Captain Ballamy sputters. “But… But… They’re outlaws!” Indefatigable holds up a hand for silence. “Peace, Captain. The evidence before me, as well as…” she pauses, “other information known to me—is sufficient. Agramount is to be brought before the bar of Justice to answer the accusations brought before him, and in the meantime, is ruled a fugitive, to be apprehended and brought to custody by any member of the County, be they civil guard, temple dedicat, or private citizen.” She takes a stone in each hand, and solemnly strikes them together four ties. Indefatigable next addresses Captain Bellamy. “Captain, these are your orders: to find and apprehend he who has been lately known as the Count of these lands. If you cannot fulfill your charge, this is your opportunity to cede to someone who can. What say you?” Bellamy pauses, glares at Anvil. He then turns his back on him, and makes a short bow to Indefatigable. “I accept my charge, Madame.” “Good. See to your men. You are dismissed.” Bellamy risks one last glance to Anvil. “What about them, Madame?” “Do not concern yourself. They are in my custody.” Bellamy bows again, rather stiffly, and leaves without a backward glance. Soon, his voice can be heard bellowing across the courtyard as he brings his people back into order. Indefatigable turns to one of her acolytes. “Take a small team and a squad of [b]our[/b] guards to the islands that house the craftspeople and their families. Carry my ruling under my seal to the guards stationed there, and… inform the residents that any who wish the leave the islands, will now be free to go.” “Very good, Madame.” “Anvil, your friend taken from you. Her name was Annika Tandeuter?” “Yes.” “Fetch her back here.” “With all speed. Kettenek’s Justice be with you.” “And with you.” Having dismissed all but a few members of her escort, Indefatigable gestures for Anvil to remain, then stands for a moment in silence. “You are fortunate,” she observes finally, “that Mountain the Just, the head of my order, is away in Dar Darine at the moment.” “Oh?” “Were it he hearing this case you and your friends would certainly have clapped in irons.” “Surely he would have followed Ketennek’s Justice in this matter as any other.” Indefatigable’s lips twist with irony. “No doubt. Still… you are fortunate.” “Is there anything else you require of us?” Anvil inquires respectfully. At this, Indefatigable does quirk an eyebrow. “No, I think this will be quite enough.” She sighs. “By all rights, since you’ve unearthed this debacle, I should demand you do your share to clean it up. But I suppose you have other duties.” Anvil bows. “We have delivered the last of our invitations. We should return to Dar Pykos to inform King Orin and our temple superiors, but if you require a service—” Indefatigable waves him off. In spite of her name, she does seem a bit tired. “No, your presence here will serve more as a center for conflict than anything else. The Justicars can administrate the County in the short-term, and in the long… well, we got along before Agramount. We will somehow muddle through again.” “This count is not of the original ruling line?” Anvil inquires. “On his father’s side only. He ensured that any legitimate heirs were… unavailable to take the throne when the last Count died. It has been a long time now…” she pauses and eyes look far away for a moment. She shakes herself, and it passes. “If you will excuse me, Brother, I have much to do.” Anvil bows and by the time he rises, Indefatigable is already halfway across the courtyard. [/QUOTE]
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