Bordell's Tales, Chapter 1 : Two faces.

[Velmont]

"It isn't your fault, Xavier. You did as you were order, and that's was the good thing to do. If you had fallen, the news wouldn't have come to the king before more days and the border would still be unprotected, and maybe the undead would have destroyed other villages. It is always a sad thing when a soldier fall, but it is a risk of being knight.

You might be right for us being target, but it's not sure. The attack on the village start before our coming, and no one escaped alive before our coming, so it might just be that, they were trying to kill everyone, whoever they was. Stay alert."

You lead both knight to your chamber where they quickly change themselves before the dinner. During the dinner, you are you three, the king and Varence. Stones talks a lot of the things to come. He confirms that the order have accepted to support Theor in there attempt to get rid of the unknown threat. He talks about teh startegy, teh formation of the army. Also, more support will come in the comings month. The first step in this mission was to evaluate the needs. Varence speaks little, giving a few information about the undead to the king, but nothing new to you or Stones. Kriegspire let his diplomatic friend do all the work.

Once the dinner is finish, the king retreat with Varence to talk. You three get out in the garden where Stones speaks to Kriegspire and you. You climb on the wall. The night is clear and the wind is fresh. You see the moat runnig along the wall, the water coming from the rive rthatcross the city and the country.

"In the next month, we will have to find the source of the threat, and also devellop a strategy so the country can defend himself without our help. Any idea?"

 

[Jdvn1]

"I... suppose. Still, Bellmon was a good knight. An honest man, who served Crian well."

When he leads the knights to change, Xavier tries to recount what happened on his trip--the assassin, the town with the old lady and the mayor husband--that there are supporters of Crian even in Theor--the tavern where he met Pioris, and then the situation with Captain Irom, and finally Varence. He is probably not able to get through all of the information, so Captain Irom and Varence will have to be told later. Though, the find their way on top of the wall with some relative privacy.

"I cannot be sure, but I think Varence knows more than he says. I remembered some texts about the sandmen and asked him to do some research, but it seems like he has done nothing. Moreover, there is an evil spirit that he keeps with him." Xavier looks to the countryside, "There is something wrong here. Maybe I am being paranoid, but the undead are not intelligent. They should be easy to take care of. Digging more trenches to catch them should not be difficult, especially if we can cover them. They can just fall into the holes. The problem is that there is likely some intelligence leading them."

He pauses and looks to the other two knights, "Though, you two know the area better than I, probably. I don't know what the surrounding area is like. Maybe there is a stronger place to defend ourselves? A stronghold somewhere?"

 

[Velmont]

"You tell Varence has an evil spirit? Maybe he is holding some item of evil power. It is a bit cliché to think that, but we should stay vigilent.

And you are right about those undead. They are very dumb. Even skeleton are brighter than that. The skeleton are generally attracted by life form when not commanded, those sandman simply go foward. It must have an head behind all that."

"There is a few stronghold to build a defence, but most was build on the border of Gaile. Theodor III, who build them, was fearing an invasion from Gaile. All the border with the savage lands are less protected, as the kingdom of Theor have been less interesting for the barbarians." explains Kriegspire. He instinctively try to take something at his belt but finally find nothing under his hand. "I left the maps in Xavier's room."

"Xavier, can you go fetch the maps of Theor? We will take a look at it a bit before resting, while all this is still fresh in our mind."

 

[Jdvn1]

"So the strongholds likely won't be useful to us at the moment..." Kriegspire seems to have lost his map, "Sure, I'll get it. With your things?" Xavier goes to his room to retrieve the map.

 

[Velmont]

You find the scroll case in your room and comes back to the wall. As you climb the wall, you see Kriegspire and Stone talking to each other. Kriegspire is facing you, but you see Stone back. He hears you and turns around to look who is coming. It is then you see something you took time to understand. Kriegspire quickly draw his sword and strike Stone in the back. Jasper's blade reappears in the front of Stone. Stone didn't react to it, his body simply fall on the ground. The wounds seems to have been mortal. Kriegspire look to the body in front of him and then his look fall on you. You see in his eyes a bit of sadness.

 

[Jdvn1]

<... Stone did this intentionally?> Xavier drops the map, draws his sword, and runs to Kriegspire, holding the sword to him. He does not want to fight Kriegspire, though.

"Not only did you kill the greatest knight of Crian, you killed my knight master. Explain yourself." He tries to sense if there is any evil in the area.

 

[Velmont]

You scan the area, but you feel nothing evil. "Xavier... I thought you a bit wiser than that. Even Crian can be fooled." Jasper removes the brooch that hold his cloak. It is at that moment you see that Kriegspire is Evil. "Xavier, you are a good squire, and a man like you could do a lot. Stones was blinded by his faith, and couldn't see what was coming. If I am here, it isn't for Theor, it is for Gaile. Once and for all, Gaile will get rid of the two thorns in his feet. Gaile treasure are so low that the country is about to fall into ruin. But when the country will get attack by the famous siege undead, and they learn they have been sent by the Kingdom of Theor, which has allied himself, the first move of the king will to move on the rock, get rid of the order, take control of there famous forge and keep the order treasure. He will then sent a united assault on Theor and finally reunite the peninsula.

The order will fall, but the king will reward his ally. You can be on the winning side. The king have just the need to hear a word from me and you're name will be removed from the black list, which contain all the member of the Order. You could gain power, fame and fortune, you could finally get out of your little squire role and do things more concreate than being a messenger. It is up to you. You have your futur in your hand,"

 

[Jdvn1]

Xavier takes a step back, draws his sword, and calls out, "Guards! There is an emergency! Guards! Emergency!"

When the guards come, he will say that Kriegspire has killed Sir Stone, and that he must be imprisoned immediately--and that he is not allowed to send any messages without his permission. He will then request a messenger for himself, to send a warning to the Order.

 

[Velmont]

"These gardens have been made so you can't hear the sounds of the city or the castle. It is true the other way, the guards have been dismiss from teh garden and no one can hear you, no need to shout." tell a voice behind you. You see Varence who climbs the stairs behind you, blocking your easiest way of escape. "I told it to you, Kriegspire, this man have been lost by his blind faith to Crian. You can't convert him."

"He was worth the try. It's too bad to lose such a fine man. I think if I could have been your knight, I could have done a better work that Bellmon. He was also too slow and also blinded by Stone's faith. He never knew who was holding the dagger who kill him." Kriegspire draw the sword of Stone from his corpse. "At least, you won't see the fall of your precious order, Xavier."

 

[Jdvn1]

Xavier nodded at Varence. Some of the pieces were starting to make sense. "I imagine this has something to do with that evil item you keep on your person."

When Kriegspire draws his weapon, Xavier gets the impression that combat is imminent--and that he can't defeat both Kriegspire and Varence at the same time, without help. At least, not now. After all, Kriegspire has much more experience than he does, and Varence is a practiced caster. He needs to encounter these two on his own terms.

"Crian has defeated evil in the past, and we will prevail again." Xavier runs back to the castle, through the forest.