(Casual D&D III) The Man in Black

[dpdx]

Nurthk eventually gets back, leading along a pale grey horse. There's a glint in the beast's eye that suggests it was bred for war, but the big half-orc appears to be able to handle his new steed quite easily.

"How has everyone's shopping fared?" he asks as he prepares his horse's saddle.

"Very well, thank you, Nurthk. I regret having to have left Sunray with the halflings, but perhaps they shall take care of him, or let him enjoy the fields nearby and run free. Vespers, here, will do nicely, and this time I could afford bridle and tack!"

Fendric reaches up to indicate his tack, with Exantrius' saddlebags mounted.

 

[Sparky]

Oliver assembles with the rest sniffling into a handkerchief. "I've gotten two horses. A firey pair. I'm taking ---" his face screws up with a stifled sneeze.

"I'm taking one of th--CHOOOO!" The old man totters with the force of the sneeze.

He growls into his handkerchief, eyes watering. "I'm taking one of them. The other someone can ride if they so choose."

 

[Festy_Dog]

"Very well, thank you, Nurthk. I regret having to have left Sunray with the halflings, but perhaps they shall take care of him, or let him enjoy the fields nearby and run free. Vespers, here, will do nicely, and this time I could afford bridle and tack!"

Nurthk nods and smiles, glancing Fendric's purchase over.

"More familiar with sled dogs myself, but it looks like you got your money's worth from here," he says.

"I'm taking one of th--CHOOOO!" The old man totters with the force of the sneeze.

"Sounds like you don't react too well to horses, Oliver," Nurthk proposes.

 

[Guilt Puppy]

(Well, looks like everyone has horses, and I'm assuming you're going to go back and pick up Kester, even though you didn't specify it...)

Heading back to the tavern, you find Kester seated with his hat and a high-riding scarf -- almost comically covert. Despite the color of his cloth, however, he seems quite cheerful at your arrival.

"Back now? Wonderful! I was starting to worry you wouldn't come!" He adjusts his gloves, then stands. "I promise I won't talk much."

True to his word, he is silent as Aerda leads you uptown, finding and following a slender but well-kept alleyway, up a long set of stairs... Apparently, this Aesop lives above a library.

Although the handle is low, the door is sized for humans -- when he comes to meet you, you see that his sitting room is built to much the same scale. Still, with nine of you in attendance, it is quite cramped.

"So," he says, as he ushers you in. "My nephew tells me you have something for me?"

 

[dpdx]

Fendric steps forward, and takes the letter from out of his shirt.

"Ghant spoke true - and you are Aesop Rhandoril, Council to the Jury of Sages. What I have is something I believe to be a letter from the recently-departed Sir Exantrius, Knight of the Greater Kingdom, addressed to you. You are one of several recipients of such letters, scattered in cities of import throughout the Greater Kingdom. We had delivered two previous.

Our objective is to warn the Realm of the approach of one Thedoric, fallen Knight of the Greater Kingdom, trailing pestilence, strife, and conflict in his wake, May the Light Reclaim His Wayward Soul. Eivanrach must guard against him, or it will exist no more the way you know it.

In accordance with the judgement of my Holy Patron, I promise you the letter is not taint, but it does contain magic.

Before I deliver it, if I might prevail upon you to let us know what you discover about this letter as a result, if you believe it appropriate to share such with us, we would appreciate it. We are of two possibilities: that either what I just told you is true, or we have all been deceived.

However, I know that the fate of which Exantrius warns us is already true of Hedrogura. It is under siege as we speak, from these very same forces, and won't hold out much longer.

Will you accept it?"

 

[Guilt Puppy]

"Thedoric... fallen Knight, you say?" he asks, reaching to take the letter.

He turns it over, examining the seal, then moves to sit down.

"Ghant mentioned you had doubts about this letter... How long will you be in the city for? It will take some time to have it properly looked at, I'm afraid."

At that point, Kester leans in, speaking quietly to Fendric -- though not so quietly that everyone else can't plainly here.

"On that subject, I should mention that the boy, the one I mentioned, seems to have rejected the ring... I checked while you were away, and it was lying among some tall grass, is all I know. Can't say how long it will stay there, but in any case, you may have a bit more time to stick around. I was going to wait 'til later before saying anything... Didn't know it would come up."

 

[dpdx]

"I understand," replies Fendric to Aesop and Kester, both.

"I worry not for my own safety or that of my sworn companions here assembled, you should both know. As a result, I am of a mind to wait however long it takes, within reason. To that end, Kester, it would serve us well if you were to inform us of anything different you ascertain about this ring and its destination. I do not fear it, but I am wary of it."

Fendric turns around briefly to the Fellowship behind him, then returns his attention to Aesop.

"However, this is your letter - it is addressed to none other. Were I in your position, I would not think it to take an arcanist of your obvious reputation very long at all to discern an aura about this letter good or ill, and in such a result, if you do not trust my word in it, determine if you could indeed proceed to read its contents.

Were I to guess, I'd say that a Knight of the Greater Kingdom such as Exantrius is - was - perfectly capable of casting a geas on his missives.

And considering what we know of Hedrogura, and what Exantrius has told us, it may take just such... dedication to save Eivanrach from destruction, which none of us want. So I beseech you to trust me in this, when I say that you could not possibly be doing anything more important anyway for this City, May the Light Protect Us All.

So I do not wish to sound arrogant, or scare you, and I apologize to you if I do either, but you may want to seek our council after you have 'experienced' its contents. It did not go well for Father Premule, or for Visach Cheraul, the past two recipients.

But at the end, this all is my opinion: with my best effort to have formed it, to be sure, still it is but one - and all of us have an equal share in this decision.

So having spoken my piece, I shall retreat as much as the others may want to come forward."

Fendric does just that, finding a wall of the room to press his back against.

 

[DrZombie]

Raven stands with his back against the wall, face impassive, keeping an eye out for trouble, especially from Kester, trying to see if he's casting some magic or interfering in some way or another.

 

[Guilt Puppy]

"However, this is your letter - it is addressed to none other. Were I in your position, I would not think it to take an arcanist of your obvious reputation very long at all to discern an aura about this letter good or ill, and in such a result, if you do not trust my word in it, determine if you could indeed proceed to read its contents."

"True, if it were my reputation that was doing the discerning. Although I think you overestimate even that. Alas, it will be but a few colleagues of mine on the task -- talented folk, sure, but there are still ways they could be tricked. So, given your concerns, I'd like to have it looked at from every angle, and that takes time." He shrugs. "I'd say three or four days to make sure it was safe to open, and then a week after that to judge its authenticity. Either way, I would love to talk with you when I find anything out... do you have a place to stay in town?"

Raven: Kester seems to be pretty much staying put, not up to much at all.

 

[dpdx]

"Good sir, I am afraid that may be too long. As I have told you, Thedoric's thrall army sweeps across this Realm as we speak, and may be at your door within the fortnight to visit punishment upon its fair citizens. We wish this City to be prepared if that dire tide may come, and perhaps that letter may help you in so doing, I cannot be sure of it.

No matter - it will take however long it will take, and we may be able to deliver this warning and another letter to the next city and return here in that much time. However, I do have questions about this letter that I wish answered, and I must be willing to wait for them, it seems.

As for our accommodations, we had rooms at an inn here in town last night, and we are more than capable of living off the land if it shall come to that, the Will of the Light So Concurring.

To put it plainly, good sir, ten days is not a length I can delay our quest on my own authority. I must hear from a majority of my companions that we wish to remain here for that duration for it to be so, and I expect even that decision to take time and food."

Fendric turns to face his group. "You heard the Counsel, my brothers and sisters. Are we best to proceed, or does this information deserve the time it takes to wait for it?"

Fendric seems lost in thought for a second, then looks up.

"It just occurred to me; Aesop, do you have a way of sending a message to us or sending for us if you should learn something? Perhaps we could proceed, but yet await your call."