D&D: Kazadar Empire

[Toric_Arthendain]

Abandoned Barn Outside Taran

"Please don't tell me that your employer is the youngster calling himself King, camped a short distance away," Lodren says. At Gilbie's slightly suprised look, Lodren smiles. "Ah yes, Master Halfling. I trade in things of value and information is often very valuable. Of course I know about Osbourne. I am fully aware of his presence here. I have only been biding my time, trying to decide what exactly to do with that knowledge. Are you saying that this Osbourne wants my help? Bring me to him and I will speak with him."

OOC: Dolfuur and Trent, I'll keep you two on hold for the moment. If Fae and Gilbie decide to bring Lodren to Osbourne, they will arrive before you would be leaving since you are about 8 hours ahead of them at the moment. As for replacing Galego and Keldorn, that is a possibility. Let's get the game moving and then we'll see what happens.

 

[Faehlle Cennaire]

Faehlle gestures to Gilbie that she would like a brief aside with him before replying to Lodren. "If there is a chance that he can help us against the formidable odds that we face here, then perhaps we should take him. He will not likely trust us enough to come with us alone back to see Osbourne, but we cannot again afford to be outnumbered be him and his men until they prove themselves worthy of our trust. I would agree to take him and one of his own to see Osbourne, provided you do not see any ill-wisdom in such a plan." Fae awaits Gilbie's response before speaking further.

{ooc: if Gilbie agrees....}

Fae declares to Lodren, "We will take you to see Lord Osbourne, and you may take one of our own along if you are not comfortable riding with us back to camp unaccompanied."

{ooc: Fae then awaits Lodren's response.}

 

[maddmic]

Gilbie nods at Fae's comments. "As a matter of fact, we'll take you to him now if you wish. We've got nothing better to do."

 

[Toric_Arthendain]

"Fair enough," Lodren says in reply to Faehlle and Gilbie. "And I am not so untrusting as to need one of my own people along with me. I am ready to depart now, if you wish."

Assuming that there are no objections to this, Lodren speaks privately with one of his people at the barn, gathers his things and follows the group away from the barn and into the rolling farmland surrounding it. The sun is just beginning to brighten the eastern horizon, causing the group to shield their eyes as they travel.

Several hours later, the group enters the shallow valley where the rebel army is camped. After a few brief words with a sentry, the group is taken to Osbourne's tent, running into Dolfuur and Trent along the way.

OOC:
Okay, the whole party is back together. It was early afternoon when Dolfuur and Trent woke from their sleep and it would have taken Gilbie, Fae and Lodren until approximately that time to travel back to the camp so I decided that it was time for the group to be reunited.

 

[bkmanis]

Upon seeing Gilbie and the rest of the group Trent approaches them. "Well about time you showed up, Dolfuur and I figured you were out picking a fight with the local militia." Trent says to Gilbie. "We were about to go out and look for you."

 

[Dolfuur]

Dolfuur eyes the man accompanying the others as Fae and company approach. Some kind of thiefmaster. The Dwarf wonders if this fellow can be trusted, or if he will merrily take Osbourne's gold in exchange for vague promises, and then promptly sell whatever he sees here to the Kazadars for an even higher price.

"It is good to see you all again," Dolfuur rumbles in greeting to Gilbie, Fae and the Humans. "You must be Lodren?" he queries the man, offering his hand for a shake and never taking eyes off the man.

 

[Faehlle Cennaire]

Faehlle blushes. "Oopsie, double post!".

 

[Faehlle Cennaire]

Faehlle nods. "We have indeed brought Lodren back with us, and at his request, no less. Let us all go and speak with Lord Osbourne and decide on our new course of action."

 

[maddmic]

Gilbie looks at Trent and shrugs. "We aren't late. All we did is take one more step towards competing our mission. So, you all get anything of value from that guard we captured?"

 

[Toric_Arthendain]

"Yes, I am Lodren," the raspy-voiced man says to Dolfuur. "Let us do as the fair elf says and speak with Osbourne."

Leading Lodren through the camp, the group notices a fair amount of activity. The place has the look of a camp preparing for war. Reaching Osbourne's tent, the guards outside immediately recognize the group and once disappears inside to see if Osbourne is willing to see you. A few moments later, the tent flap is pulled aside and the group is ushered inside.

Osbourne approaches and a grin spreads across his face. Lodren drops to one knee. "My lord," he says, bowing his head.

Osbourne reaches down and pulls Lodren to his feet. "Stand up, cousin. No need for such formalities."

Almost unbelieveably, the two men embrace, patting each other on the back. "I'm glad to see you've made it here safely," Osbourne says to Lodren.

"Once my people spotted your friends here in Taran, I knew it was time to move," Lodren answers.

Realizing that what they are talking about is probably making no sense to the group, Osbourne turns and says, "Forgive me for deceiving you. It was for Lodren's own safety that I did. Lodren is my cousin and has known of my plans for some time. He had to go about his own business as if he knew nothing, otherwise our plan might have been discovered. I told Lodren that I would send word when it was time to put my plan into action. He knew to look for strangers in Taran. When he discovered you all, he obviously contacted you. The reason I didn't tell you that Lodren knew of my plan was in the event you were captured by the enemy. I couldn't have them finding out about Lodren's involvement in my planned attack. The less you knew the better. Again, I apologize for deceiving you. You have done well in making contact with Lodren and bringing him to me safely. I had to have some way to get word to him that it was time to act and you all served well."

Lodren interrupts. "Things have been set into motion as you requested. My people have warned the honest Taran folk about the impending attack and have spirited them to safety when possible. I have another five hundred men poised to assist you once the attack begins."

"Very well. We attack at dawn!" Osbourne says, a gleam in his eye.