[4e] The Wolfcrown, Chapter 1

[Phaezen]

Squeal stands in the throne room, taking in the events and nodding thoughtfully as the fate of the flottila is discussed. Having felt the force of the storm, the warforged wonders about the supernatural speed and ferocity with which it arrived.

At the queen's parting words Squeal bows, clumsily, and speaks "It was my... this one's honour to be of service to you and the Vale"

After receiving Baern's gift Squeal thanks the dwarf, putting the package into it's backpack and turning to the rest of the group noting "This one does not have any current business to attend to, and the message from Springseer sounds urgent"

 

[Shayuri]

There's a hard glint in Thorn eye when she hears that Teach has been moved to Castle Hood, and is waiting. That's the only emotion her face expresses until Baern makes his unexpected offering. Thorn accepts the package with a quizzical, almost annoyed look; as if to say, how dare you interrupt my brooding? That evaporates into bemusement as Baern explains what they are though.

"Mead...loaf," she repeats. "A loaf...of mead. Dwarves." Then with a smile she nods at Baern. "Thank you. I'll be careful eating it."

 

[HolyMan]

Torath had spent the night cleaning his armor, it had served him so well the day before. So he was groggy headed when aroused, but by the time he arrived to attend the queen he was alert.

He took the news of the storm with a calm face saying, "Munsu's Wrath for those who have failed him."

Listening to the Captain's message he folds his arms and nods his head after the message is delivered. "Blackmoor will help to see justice done, for that one, we must go and find out if this plot has other twists to discover."

He accepts the Mead Loaf with a polite "Thank you," and asks quietly. "Is it good to have for breakfast?" his stomach growling just as he asks.

 

[Rathan]

Doren looked to the queen with a sad face when the Captain asked their return... his eyes telling her he would miss her and this place but shared no emotion otherwise, he'd shown enough emotion that the battle site as it was.

"We should return quickly my fellow knights... We could make it back by nightfall if we leave within the hour I'm sure. the priest uttered as he moved to take the queens hand in his and places his other hand over it after lifting it to kiss the back of it softly.

"It will be hard leaving this place for me, however it seems like forever sense I've have seen Black Lake my queen. We will return as soon as we can but a heros work is never done." he said with a charming smile.

As Baern handed him his gift he blinked softly.. opening the package on one end slightly he took a long inhale of the mixture of fresh baked bread and heady mead hops and smiled.

"mmmm... reminds me of my dwarven friend back in Blackmoor.. so few of them left but his home used to smell of this smell all the time, though I never dared try any for fears of getting drunk while eating it." he said with a smile as he closed the package back up and stored it in his pack...

 

[DistractingFlare]

"Well, then, it seems that our time together has ended for now. Please be safe on your journey home, and remember your friends in the Vale," the Queen says serenely.

[sblock=ooc]If there's anything you want to do before returning, just post it.[/sblock]

The road back to Black Lake is an easy one. The high spires of Castle Hood stand majestically, piercing into the very blueness of the sky. When you arrive at the castle's gate, a young guard salutes.

"If you'll be following me, sirs, Cap'n Scultone is expecting you."

He leads you into the main hall of the keep, in which Captain Scultone has set up a makeshift barricade. There is a heightened military presence in the castle, and it seems that Scultone wants to keep security as tight as possible. Murmurs among the soldiers rise up as you pass. You hear whispers of words like "traitor" and "spy" directed at you.

[sblock=ooc]Remember, you technically haven't been acquitted of the murder of Lord Hood.[/sblock]

You arrive at a door in a well-furnished wing in the back of the castle. The guard who escorted you raps on the door with his plated knuckles.

"Cap'n, they're here."

"Send 'em in."

The guard salutes you and leaves at a brisk pace.

You enter the room, and Captain Scultone stands up from his well-furnished desk and smiles.

"Well, if it ain't my escaped prisoners," he says slyly. "Welcome back to town. As you may recall, we've got a very...distinguished guest holed up in the dungeon. Why don't you tell me about what happened in the White Vale, and then you can go visit him."

 

[Rathan]

Doren sat with the Captain and gave him a full briefing of the happenings in The White Vale. With the others free to interject in details forgotten by he himself he tells the captain about Bounders waylay and return only to be led into the Vale where an assassin and his plant creatures tried to take them all out. He mentioned the assassins words to him confirming that Mansu was indeed behind all of this.. at least according to the assassins words before taken away to the Vale dungeons.

Doren made light of the fact of how beautiful the queen was and how he saw the very staff used to defeat the Evil One so many years ago, and how by touching it his visage of the Goddess inside that gave him hope. He talked about the festival and how he'd come to trust his allies and now fellow Knights of the Vale. And then sadly explained what happened at Stratas Pass.

His voice then turned to sorrow as he knew retailing the details meant remembering how many of his elven brethren of the vale fell around him in this battle and how epic the sorrow and pain he felt afterward was to the Captain. He told Scultone of how each of his companions gathered here had grown since leaving the Black Lake and even how they had each received a home in the Vale as well.

Befor long Doren went silent again in hopes someone else might have something to say... perhaps some details he had missed.

 

[HolyMan]

Torath scowls at the murmuring guards as he passes. He manages to keep his head held high, he is after all a knight and innocent.

Upon entering the captsin's office he is surprised to se that this Cap'n Teach is not around be interrogated so he asks after Doren's report, "Has the prisoner said anything of use since his capture?"

 

[DistractingFlare]

Scultone nods to Torath.

"Teach is down in the dungeon under heavy guard. He's a quiet one, but he's been telling us that he lost command of The Cloak two months ago. I can take you down there, but I want to keep him alive for now." (Scultone casts a knowing glance at Thorn)

 

[Phaezen]

Squeal watches and listens to the report given by Doren, adding slightly to the tale where it can.

Looking at Scultone Squeal mentions, slightly menacingly "Does alive also mean in one piece or may we remove components?"

 

[Shayuri]

"No need to get ahead of ourselves," Thorn points out. "Lets go see what he has to say before we move on to the next step."

She gives the captain a nod. "Don't worry. I want answers too. I'm in no hurry."