[ic] nameless III: lost and found

Meanwhile ...

Seonaid: [sblock]The departure of Cromwell, and the horse he rode in on, causes no small stir in Killingtom. The council seizes on the opportunity to call another meeting to discuss the mattter. All blown up with their own self importance they talk and talk. They fill the hall with grandious statements like: "Now is the time for a firm hand on the reins", and "The town of Killingtom is looking to us for leadership". Eventually, Garival realises that the town council, desperate to believe that nothing out of the ordinary is happening, is determined to to act that way.

But Garival is not so sure. Of course there have been goblin raids before. But the Captain-Commander is a solid soldier. Garival has met him a few times personally, and heard many more stories. Garival doubts that the Captain Commander would be easily panicked into sending a garrison forces to Killingtom if he did not have reason to think this was something maore than a few goblin raids.

And then there is the Shaman. Never before have the goblins sought contact before.

And then Garival makes a mistake. He realises it almost as soon as the words are out of his mouth: "Let me go after Cromwell. I can leave immediately." This the council will have nothing of. Doing something, Garival realises, would mean admitting something needed to be done. And the council want nothing more than to believe that everything is "under control". They demand that Garival promise not to follow after Cromwell, and he does so.

Back at his room, Garvial prepares his gear. It has been too long since I checked the western reaches for wolf and bear signs. Winter is approaching and they will be looking to fatten up before they cold. And the enclosure fences need checking before the snows fall. While I'm at it I should check on the cutting in the western reaches. I'm sure Hadson has been overcutting again. Goblins or no goblins, work needs tending to. Garival doesn't really need to get much ready, but somehow it seems to take just long enough for darkness to have fallen by the time he slips out of the door.

"Evenin' Master Garival."

Fenix emerges from the shadows under an old oak tree. He glances casually at Garival's bag and gear. Fenix was, Garival recalls, at the meeting. Although why Garicval is not sure, he's not on the council. He's not even a resident. Fenix, Garial realises, has a habit of being around.

"Mighty nice night for a little trip I would say."

ooc: OK. You are up. You know what to do. Get yourself out of the town, I'll pick it up from there. Please "sblock" your posts for the moment.[/sblock]

khavren: [sblock]Fenix returns after a few days out in the woods and hills around the village to find the place abuzz. The arrival of the Seventh has definately livened things up a bit. A brawl, a whipping, goblin raids and a shaman. And its not over yet, Fenix hears a little later. Cromwell has bolted and the council has called another meeting. Might be worth a look Fenix decides. Of course, he's not a member of the council and not invited. But that has never been a reason to miss something interesting Fenix has found in the past. A word here, a little misdirection there, a bit confidence and voila, Fenix is tucked discretely into a corner of the hall.

Killingtom has been good to Fenix. He came up north originally to take advantage of the local's willingness to enter the western forest and the local laws willingness to be convinced to look the other way. But there was more money in Killingtom than Fenix had suspected. Others had also seen the entrepeneurial possibilities of the region and its ameniable law enforcement. Matron Honnis has done rather well out of the lord's enclosures and has become rather partial to Fenix's calming elixia for her "hysteria". Joshua, the village's biggest hauler of goods pays a tidy sum for his "easy weed", which he shares with his friends. And the Reeve pays more than a tidy sum for his elixia of well ... vigor. Of course he has spent more than he should have but ... well, there is always more to made.

The meeting proves most interesting. Garvil leaves shortly after he is refused permission to go out after Cromwell. Fenix needs only a glance to see the mans intentions writ plainly on his face. Fenix is astounded that the council cannot see it. It takes only a moment for Fenix to come to decision. A goblin sharman and magical devices of power. The goblins are legendary brewers and the chance alone to meet a shaman would be worth it. Fenix slips out of the hall and hurries back to his rooms to gather his gear. Fenix has been wanting to head out west ways a bit anyway. There are supposed to be some rather rare herbs and ... whatevers out that way. Now would be as good a time as any, right. It doesn't take Fenix long to gather his stuff and be out again.

The lights and noises from within Garival's home tell Fenix that the Landcarl is still within when Fenix arrives outside the Garival's house. Fenix finds a suitably discrete place to sit and watch the door. Garival slips out shortly after nighfall.

"Evening Master Garival."

Fenix steps out of the shadows. A bag hangs on Garvil's shoulder and his leather armour gleems dully under his cloak.

""Mighty nice night for a little trip I would say."

ooc: OK. You are up. You know what to do. Get yourself out of the town, I'll pick it up from there. Plese "sblock" your posts for the moment.[/sblock]
 

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ooc: Two hours of typing and all I get is 2 inches added to the thread ... ! I also lost the sharman's reply etc but its 2am and ... bedtime. Sorry.
 
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Garival, human male landcarl

[sblock]Garival checks his packs once more, patting them softly as if in reassurance. "Aye," he replies after a moment. "It is a nice night. Good for getting out while the getting out is good." He frowns slightly. "I am going to check our borders. Winter soon. Wolves and bears, you know." He takes a few steps before turning back. "You're not following me on council's orders, are you? I wouldn't go against their word, and they know it."[/sblock]
 
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In the hill for ruins

"You have your orders? hisses the shaman. "From some village chief? From a sergeant at the arms? While something evil crouches in the swamps waiting to be found and unleased upon all of us you want to sit down and talk more?"

The goblin's voice begins to rise as she responds, and for the first time it looks like her icy self control is about to crack. She goes silent for a moment. She works to regain her control.

"Did you hear something?" you hear Hadarook mutter to Craddoc. Craddoc shakes his head. Neither of you heard anything either.

"Just the riders probably. Or you imagined it. Nerves."

"Maybe ..." Hadarook acknowledges reluctantly. He grips his spear more tightly and rubs the ears of his hound.

The goblin sharman has obviously got herself back under control. She frowns at Hadarook and Craddoc, but probably is too far away to have heard. Anyway, she doesn't comment on it.

"There is no time anyway. I have only the time I have taken so far, and that which I need to get back. Barely. Going to your village is not an option.

"You must decide here and now what it is you wish to do. Find the temple and keep what lies within from the hands of the one who works for the warmonger. Or go home to your beds."

Cromwell, to your surprise, nods.

He steps back. He turns and looks at you.

ooc: not a decision I want to make for you.
 

"Well, I Don't really fancy going back to that sadistic streak of piss that calls himself sergeant without some result. I'd say we go to the temple. Or whatever."
 

Fredar says, "It won't do any good to try to drag her back against her will - there's no way she would give the council useful information at that point. So the only other choice besides looking for this temple is going back with nothing to show for it. That will go over well, I'm sure. Let's find the temple. Though I don't like the idea that what we're lookin for is 'crouching' very much."
 

In the hill top ruins

Cromwell smiles at Fredar's closing observation, but it doesn't really reach his eyes.

"If we do this, we may have more than the sergeant to worry about if ever we get back."

Cromwell turns to Hadarook who shrugs.

"I don't like it much, Corporal. But I just follow orders. Its your call. Its your neck that will be on the block. Or is the noose for desertion in the face?"

Cromwell doesn't respond. But any lingering trace of the smile disappears. He turns to Craddoc.

"Hells bells and Godspit! This is madness and you know it. If we can't," and his voice drops a little, "drag the goblin witch back, then so be it. We go back and tell them that. I don't want to be traipsing around the countryside if the gobs are on the warpath.

"But I think we can, if we catch 'em buy surprise," Craddoc hisses.

Cromwell nods slowly, but is still silent.
 

Seonaid said:
[sblock]Garival checks his packs once more, patting them softly as if in reassurance. "Aye," he replies after a moment. "It is a nice night. Good for getting out while the getting out is good." He frowns slightly. "I am going to check our borders. Winter soon. Wolves and bears, you know." He takes a few steps before turning back. "You're not following me on council's orders, are you? I wouldn't go against their word, and they know it."[/sblock]

[sblock] Fenix smiles and replies "Nah, nah, I'm just going out to collect some more samples. I hear tell there are some very interesting things growing out that direction. Tha council wouldn'a order anyone to actually do anything, twould take time out of talking about how important they are. So would you mind if I tag along? I can be helpful in unexpected situations." Fenix is wearing a travelors outfit and his pockets bulge with the shape of vials and other less obvious items. A heavy mace is tucked into his belt and a light crossbow with a quarrel of bolts is slung over one shoulder.[/sblock]
 

doghead said:
"I don't want to be traipsing around the countryside if the gobs are on the warpath."
"Then you believe her, too, Craddoc." Fredar says, more to Cromwell than Craddoc, then lets Craddoc finish.
But I think we can, if we catch 'em buy surprise," Craddoc hisses.

Cromwell nods slowly, but is still silent.
Hearing Craddoc suggest taking them by force, Fredar tries again: "But what good would it do? We think she's telling the truth, right? Or that there's a chance she is? That's the only reason we bothered talking to her and bringing her story to the council, right? If she is, there's no point in pissing her off, and ruining what may be a good contact for us if war does happen. No point in killing her before we know if she's an ally or not, just because she doesn't want a Goblin Overlord knowing she's consorted with the enemy.

" Finding this thing the warmonger wants verifies her story, anyway, right? Cromwell - all right we can't just abandon the council's orders - If you've got to go back and tell them the shaman wouldn't come, then so be it - But you could order some of us to go [what? what this you;re saying now Fredar? Idiot.]check out the temple a the same time. Then, not only are you not deserting, you're showing initiative. Making the best of a bad situation. Keeping the Council up to date, while still acting on the information you got on your mision before it was too late."
 

Meanwhile ...

Seonaid and kharven: [sblock]Garival considers Fenix's answer for a moment, then nods in unspoken understanding. Fenix reaches down into the shadows and hefts a bag onto his shoulder.

It doesn't take much to slip out of the town unseen. Its not necessary to do so, but its easier that way. Once clear of the village, Garival sets off cross-country straight as an arrow, and at a good pace. There is no need to track Cromwell's journey, Garvil knows where he is going. Garival notes that Fenix seems able to move without sounding like he is carrying around a whole kitchen with him. They make good time.

By the cold light of dawn, Garival and Fenix cross the last stream and approach the base of the hill upon which the ruins sit. The top of the hill is bare, but all around the base and up the sides most of the way is lightly wooded.

Garival comes to a dead halt, his heart pounding loudly (it seems to him) in the silence. He slowly lowers himself into a crouch, concealing himself behind the undergrowth. Fenix does the same, although it takes him a moment longer to see the reason for it. Ahead less than 60 feet away up the hill are the squat shapes of three, maybe four large humanoids. They crouch in among the trees between you and the ruins at the top of the hill. Everything is kinda grey in the early dawn light, and the view obscured, but the rough spikey outlines are those of warriors.

Another figure arrives from the direction of the ruins. A short conversation ensues. Their voices are pitched low, but the sound carries enough for you to recognise its not the common tongue. It sounds like the goblin tongue, but the creatures up ahead are bigger than any goblins. One of them begins to gesture. You've seen the sergeant make the like when working with the guard. Two of the figures slip away, skirting around the hill. They move through the woods with easy familiarity, almost soundlessly. You suspect that they would be unseen by anyone watching from the ruins up ahead. But they are not aware that they are being watched from behind. You get a clear look.

Orcs.

ooc: Over to you. Please keep it sblocked for the moment. The ruins are probably about 100 to 150 feet ahead of you. Lightly wooded. Slopes up towards the ruins. Have fun.[/sblock]
 

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