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A Kingdom Divided: meomwt's WotBS Story Hour
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<blockquote data-quote="meomwt" data-source="post: 4373957" data-attributes="member: 47885"><p><strong>Chapter 1, Part 1: Farewell to the Old</strong></p><p></p><p>New Year’s Eve, just before midnight.</p><p></p><p>The Poison Apple Pub was quiet and dark. Only the very observant would have noticed the chinks of light escaping through the cracks in the boards over the windows. Light made by Torrent, a pretty girl with a big axe, who was busily arranging a table and chairs in the middle of the floor. </p><p></p><p>There was a quiet knock on the alley door. Opening it a smidgen, and looking into the snowy night, Torrent couldn’t see anyone outside. Then, with barely a noise, an elf was gently pushing the door open and sliding through the crack. Scanning the room quickly, the female elf looked up. </p><p></p><p>“Greetings. My name is Isobella. I take it you are my contact?” </p><p></p><p>Torrent looked at the newcomer. She was dressed in dark clothing, a tabard and cloak which covered a darkened leather armour. Isobella’s eyes continued to sweep the room, scanning the nooks and corners to determine what was there. </p><p></p><p>“Yes indeed, I am Torrent. Welcome to the Poison Apple. Please, there is a keg of ale on the table – feel free to sup and celebrate the New Year.”</p><p></p><p>Isobella motioned towards the stairs. “With your permission, I would like to check the upper floor. I do not want to be disturbed this night.” </p><p></p><p>Torrent nodded. “By the by,” she said, “were you successful in finding assistance for our endeavour?“</p><p></p><p>“Aye,” came the reply, “three souls likely to want to evade the Inquisitors. They’re to make their own ways here, a group would attract attention.” As Isobella skipped up the stairs, there was a determined knocking on the door. </p><p></p><p>Peering through a crack in the portal, Torrent saw a blonde woman, scale mail clearly visible under her winter cloak, standing patiently in the snow. Dangling round her neck was a Holy Symbol of Hieroneous. She opened the door and smiled. “Can I help you?”</p><p></p><p>“Oh yes,” replied the lady. “I’m Sessia, and I’m here to see Torrent.” </p><p></p><p>Inviting her in, Torrent sighed inwardly. Guile and subterfuge were obviously not on tonight’s agenda. </p><p></p><p>Sessia sat down at the table and drew a tankard of beer. Torrent could hear Isobella pacing round on the upper floor, checking the guest rooms for unwanted intruders. By the time the elf returned to the tap room, the others she’d recruited had arrived and were seated. Next had been Shamus McGovern, a bright-faced type with an odd accent, whilst the final arrival had been Sylar, a dark-eyed, dark-clad gentleman with a strange demeanour. </p><p></p><p>Isobella tried the door to the kitchen: finding it locked, she poked at it with a probe before kicking it in disgust. Pacing the floor, she noticed a second door hidden behind a pile of tables. Enlisting the help of the burly Shamus, she untangled the wreckage. Behind the door lay an empty store-room, through which was the cold, empty kitchen. Satisfied, she returned to the taproom and declared herself satisfied. </p><p></p><p>Torrent ensured that all the tankards were charged and called for a toast. “Out with the old, in with the new,” she smiled. As they drank, Torrent outlined what was happening outside the tavern. </p><p></p><p>“The Overking of the Great Kingdom, Ivid the Undying, has not been seen or heard for three months. It is likely that he has died.”</p><p></p><p>“Ironic,” murmured Sylar. </p><p></p><p>“Now that there’s a power vacuum in the Great Kingdom, forces are at work to fill in the position. Leading contender is Leska, Leader of the Order of Inquisitors. She’s looking to demonstrate her authority by clamping down on spell-casters, and has been kidnapping magic-users of all types across the Great Kingdom. </p><p></p><p>“Gate Pass lies as a Free City between the Great Kingdom and the County of Sunndi. It has long been a thorn in Ivid’s side that Gate Pass is a Free City, he wanted to control trade through Gate Pass – even occupied the City, years ago – but now Leska is moving against us. </p><p></p><p>“An Army is closing in on Gate Pass – and the City Council has decided to invite them in with open arms. The Inquisitors will be allowed in, welcomed, and told to take any magic-users they like. </p><p></p><p>“As you can imagine, mages, clerics, bards and the like are leaving in droves – despite the City Gates having been closed off.” </p><p></p><p>Torrent paused and took a long draught from her beer. “We’re part of the Resistance, we want to keep Gate Pass free. We have vital information to take to Lyceum, a school for mages and a rallying point against The Great Kingdom. Normally, we’d send it using a Teleport spell, but of late, these have proved to be unreliable – several messengers have died, burned to a crisp, after using the spell. So, we need to take it by more conventional means.</p><p></p><p>“If you’re willing to help us obtain this information and get it to Lyceum, we’ll help you get out of Gate Pass. What do you say?”</p><p></p><p>Isobella looked up at the Cleric. “There’s a secret gate out of the Elvish Ghetto. We could head out that way.”</p><p></p><p>Torrent nodded approvingly. “That sounds good. Is the gate guarded?”</p><p></p><p>The elf paused. “I don’t know, but I’m sure we can take them out.” </p><p></p><p>There was an almost perceptible step back from the table from Torrent. “No, no, no… we can’t kill anyone – especially guards: we will need them to defend us against the Great Kingdom’s Armies. If we can get through without killing anyone, so much the better. If not, we’ll have to find an alternative.”</p><p></p><p>Isobella looked up sulkily. “It’s a suggestion. We can check the gate out.”</p><p></p><p>Sylar shifted in his chair. “Are there any other alternatives?”</p><p></p><p>“Possibly,” replied Torrent. “We can talk about them en route to the repository where I am due to pick up the information to go to Lyceum.”</p><p></p><p>Outside, across the city, bells started to sound out the New Year. The five strangers raised glasses and toasted each other. The ringing continued. Against the ringing, Isobella suddenly paused, ears pricked. Sylar looked up, too, eyes raised to the roof. </p><p></p><p>Someone, or something, was moving around – in the rooms Isobella had declared empty just minutes earlier…</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="meomwt, post: 4373957, member: 47885"] [B]Chapter 1, Part 1: Farewell to the Old[/B] New Year’s Eve, just before midnight. The Poison Apple Pub was quiet and dark. Only the very observant would have noticed the chinks of light escaping through the cracks in the boards over the windows. Light made by Torrent, a pretty girl with a big axe, who was busily arranging a table and chairs in the middle of the floor. There was a quiet knock on the alley door. Opening it a smidgen, and looking into the snowy night, Torrent couldn’t see anyone outside. Then, with barely a noise, an elf was gently pushing the door open and sliding through the crack. Scanning the room quickly, the female elf looked up. “Greetings. My name is Isobella. I take it you are my contact?” Torrent looked at the newcomer. She was dressed in dark clothing, a tabard and cloak which covered a darkened leather armour. Isobella’s eyes continued to sweep the room, scanning the nooks and corners to determine what was there. “Yes indeed, I am Torrent. Welcome to the Poison Apple. Please, there is a keg of ale on the table – feel free to sup and celebrate the New Year.” Isobella motioned towards the stairs. “With your permission, I would like to check the upper floor. I do not want to be disturbed this night.” Torrent nodded. “By the by,” she said, “were you successful in finding assistance for our endeavour?“ “Aye,” came the reply, “three souls likely to want to evade the Inquisitors. They’re to make their own ways here, a group would attract attention.” As Isobella skipped up the stairs, there was a determined knocking on the door. Peering through a crack in the portal, Torrent saw a blonde woman, scale mail clearly visible under her winter cloak, standing patiently in the snow. Dangling round her neck was a Holy Symbol of Hieroneous. She opened the door and smiled. “Can I help you?” “Oh yes,” replied the lady. “I’m Sessia, and I’m here to see Torrent.” Inviting her in, Torrent sighed inwardly. Guile and subterfuge were obviously not on tonight’s agenda. Sessia sat down at the table and drew a tankard of beer. Torrent could hear Isobella pacing round on the upper floor, checking the guest rooms for unwanted intruders. By the time the elf returned to the tap room, the others she’d recruited had arrived and were seated. Next had been Shamus McGovern, a bright-faced type with an odd accent, whilst the final arrival had been Sylar, a dark-eyed, dark-clad gentleman with a strange demeanour. Isobella tried the door to the kitchen: finding it locked, she poked at it with a probe before kicking it in disgust. Pacing the floor, she noticed a second door hidden behind a pile of tables. Enlisting the help of the burly Shamus, she untangled the wreckage. Behind the door lay an empty store-room, through which was the cold, empty kitchen. Satisfied, she returned to the taproom and declared herself satisfied. Torrent ensured that all the tankards were charged and called for a toast. “Out with the old, in with the new,” she smiled. As they drank, Torrent outlined what was happening outside the tavern. “The Overking of the Great Kingdom, Ivid the Undying, has not been seen or heard for three months. It is likely that he has died.” “Ironic,” murmured Sylar. “Now that there’s a power vacuum in the Great Kingdom, forces are at work to fill in the position. Leading contender is Leska, Leader of the Order of Inquisitors. She’s looking to demonstrate her authority by clamping down on spell-casters, and has been kidnapping magic-users of all types across the Great Kingdom. “Gate Pass lies as a Free City between the Great Kingdom and the County of Sunndi. It has long been a thorn in Ivid’s side that Gate Pass is a Free City, he wanted to control trade through Gate Pass – even occupied the City, years ago – but now Leska is moving against us. “An Army is closing in on Gate Pass – and the City Council has decided to invite them in with open arms. The Inquisitors will be allowed in, welcomed, and told to take any magic-users they like. “As you can imagine, mages, clerics, bards and the like are leaving in droves – despite the City Gates having been closed off.” Torrent paused and took a long draught from her beer. “We’re part of the Resistance, we want to keep Gate Pass free. We have vital information to take to Lyceum, a school for mages and a rallying point against The Great Kingdom. Normally, we’d send it using a Teleport spell, but of late, these have proved to be unreliable – several messengers have died, burned to a crisp, after using the spell. So, we need to take it by more conventional means. “If you’re willing to help us obtain this information and get it to Lyceum, we’ll help you get out of Gate Pass. What do you say?” Isobella looked up at the Cleric. “There’s a secret gate out of the Elvish Ghetto. We could head out that way.” Torrent nodded approvingly. “That sounds good. Is the gate guarded?” The elf paused. “I don’t know, but I’m sure we can take them out.” There was an almost perceptible step back from the table from Torrent. “No, no, no… we can’t kill anyone – especially guards: we will need them to defend us against the Great Kingdom’s Armies. If we can get through without killing anyone, so much the better. If not, we’ll have to find an alternative.” Isobella looked up sulkily. “It’s a suggestion. We can check the gate out.” Sylar shifted in his chair. “Are there any other alternatives?” “Possibly,” replied Torrent. “We can talk about them en route to the repository where I am due to pick up the information to go to Lyceum.” Outside, across the city, bells started to sound out the New Year. The five strangers raised glasses and toasted each other. The ringing continued. Against the ringing, Isobella suddenly paused, ears pricked. Sylar looked up, too, eyes raised to the roof. Someone, or something, was moving around – in the rooms Isobella had declared empty just minutes earlier… [/QUOTE]
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