[ic] nameless III: lost and found

[doghead]

The female goblin catches the satchel and proceeds to rummage through it. She shows little interrest in the contents til she gets to the map that was taken from the goblin warband. "Tell me about this," she demands. As you do so, she occasionally asks questions. Eventually she states, "It is enough." With a growled command, her worg sinks to to the ground, and she steps off.

She approaches to within about 10 feet, then tosses the satchel, less the map, back to Nate. She stands tall and straight and gazes at you calmly. But an unconcious twisting of a ring on her finger suggests that she is not as calm as she would appear on the outside. When Hadarook's dog barks, she flinches and her composure vanishes for a moment. But it is quickly restored, and she glares at you ferociously for a moment, as if daring you to challenge her. If it was meant to intimidate you, it wasn't very successful. But you say nothing. More than anything, that display of naked fear convinced you that to hear her out. Whatever reasons she had for being her, they seem to be compelling ones.

The tales she tells you is a simple one. There is one amoung her kind, the heratic she calls him, who seeks to unite the tribes and bring them out of the forests. He seeks create a goblin kingdom, and he desires all of the land that lies between the two forests, below the mountains and above the river. The lands where you live. Already he has the support of the some of the tribes and some powerful allies, but many of the others are still wary and hold out.

She tells you that one amoung your kind works to help the heratic by bringing him an item, or ally, of great power. If that happpens, she tells you, many more of the tribes will join the heratic, and war will be inevitable. She talks about the idea of a kingdom with disgust. "It is not the goblin way," she spits. "It is not a fit way to live."

What she wants is also simple. She wants your help to deny the heritic what it is he seeks. She wants you find the seeker. She cannot do it herself without being exposed. She does not know who the seeker is, but she shows you a small symbol on the map taken from the goblin warband outside Trolluc. She tells you that is it is the symbol of the heratic, and by it you can confirm the identity of the seeker, for he will have a copy of it on him somewhere. It will be his guarantee of safe passage when he visits the heratic.

She will wait for you for three nights on the other side of town. It is safer for her over there she explains. She shows you where on the map. It is a small hill about 6 miles from Killingtom. She cannot wait for longer for then her absense will be noticed, and questions asked.

Just for three nights she reminds you. Then she hands the map to Nate, returns to her worg and rides back to the others. They slip away quietly.

 

[doghead]

A short time later you arrive at the gates of the village. The village consists of mostly single story buildings of timber construction. A mainstreet runs through the center. Around the village is a low earth wall, and around that a ditch, over grown with brambles. A reasonably effective deternant, except that there is at least one track through the brambles that you can see - somebody's shortcut no doubt.

The guard at the gate eyes you warily, no doubt wondering why you came overland rather than up the road. But he takes you up the mainstreet to one of the few two story buildings. It is the town hall. There he tells you to wait while someone sent to get the reeve. Others also arrive, and by the time the reeve arrives, there is small crowd in the open area of the hall. Some oatcakes are produced, and some water. Finally the reeve ushers you and a few others upstairs to the town chambers. Also there are the guard Sergeant, the Landcarl, a couple of merchants (who sit on the council), a Lady's Handmaiden and his companion, and the Justicar.

The reeve silently reads the letter that Nate gives him.

 

[DrZombie]

Nate stands to a weary attention, mind still mulling over the meeting with the goblin.

Heretic? A goblin heretic. What does a goblin heretic preach? Peace and love? probably not. A goblin king, with a human traitor. Off-course, whe only have the goblins word that the human is a traitor. Yes mr judge, the goblin-woman who is now nowhere to be found said that anyone wearing thit sign was a traitor so I bashed in his head.... Not that I don't have enough trouble as it is. Maybe that old coot has something to do with it. Don't believe he's dead. Bugger me, why did Cromwell go bananas. He might be able to deal with this. We need a new sarge. Ooh bugger, what did he just say? Better pay attention.

 

[Seonaid]

Garival slips in quietly when no one seems to be looking, hoping his lateness goes unnoticed and unremarked. He nods to those who turn his direction, trying to breathe normally and not look suspicious. While he waits, he pulls at the leather that binds his hair, slipping it off and then retying it. Other than that quick motion, his impatience and restlessness are not evident. His clothing looks a bit worse for wear, but presentable.

When the reeve enters with the group, Garival looks each one up and down, appraising them in a glance. I don't recognize some of these. Perhaps new to the area, or townsmen. I wouldn't necessarily know everyone. This is too much time here as it is! His fingers itch to leave their clasp behind his back, but he holds his stance, ready for anything. Not that something would happen here, he thinks sardonically.

 

[doghead]

The reeve fisnishes reading and looks up.

"Right, this is not a formal meeting of the council, but questions can be asked.

"The gist of the letter is this. There was a goblin raiding party sighted about a mile in from the edge of the western forest. That night two manor farms were raided and burnt down. The Captain Commander advises us to take what precautions we can."

The reeve looks to Nate. "Do you have anything to add to that er, Sergeant? Corporal? Nathan?!? By the Lord. I didn't recognise you in that iron pot. Anyway, do you have anything to add to this?"

Before Nate can say anything, the Sergeant of the Guard butts in.

"I don't think that it is anything worth worrin about. No disrespect intended to the Captain Commander an all. But its probably just a bunch of youngbloods looking to prove themselves. One look at a gob and those city folk get all their silk stocking knotted. If you'll pardon the expression like.

"If any gobbos do show their snouts around here, we'll just add'em to our collection."

 

[DrZombie]

The reeve looks to Nate. "Do you have anything to add to that er, Sergeant? Corporal? Nathan?!? By the Lord. I didn't recognise you in that iron pot. Anyway, do you have anything to add to this?"

Before Nate can say anything, the Sergeant of the Guard butts in.

"I don't think that it is anything worth worrin about. No disrespect intended to the Captain Commander an all. But its probably just a bunch of youngbloods looking to prove themselves. One look at a gob and those city folk get all their silk stocking knotted. If you'll pardon the expression like.

"If any gobbos do show their snouts around here, we'll just add'em to our collection."

Nate's jaws clench when he's interrupted by the sergeant. When the fat oaf stops speaking Nate adresses him in a perfectly neutral voice, saluting him as if he's the general himself.
"Excuse me sir. I seem to have forgotten my silk stockings, Sir. You'll notice there's a bandage on my foot instead, Sir. A fierce wound from a knotted stocking, remarkably shaped as an arrow wound, Sir. In fact, Sir, Oscar de Reign got his stocking so knotted he was heavily wounded, Sir. As a matter of fact, his wounds reopened, although they were healed magically. The priests were baffled, although I'm quite sure you can reassure them that knotted stocking injuries can be quite fierce, Sir. So fierce, in fact, that from the seven that left Seven, I'm the only one that made it here, Sir. With your permission I'll finish my report to the Reeve and then hurry back to untie the Captain Commanders stockings, Sir."

With a crisp salute he then turns to the Reeve.
"It's fairly bad out there, sir. Our sergeant got killed yesterday, an acute case of knotted stockings " with a disgusted look at the sergeant " and in a nightly ambush we lost one of our men, Hewik. Hes not the type to run away, but we couldn't find him, nor could we find any tracks. There's several bands of goblins around, mounted on worgs. We managed to avoid most of 'em. They attacked and killed armed merchants with guards about an hour from the city. We took some prisoners there. They talk about a goblin king uniting the tribes. It is not their way but apparently he's succeeding. I'd take this very seriously. I've lost six good friends trying to deliver this message. Being prepared never hurt anyone. The least you could do is take off your silk stockings."

"I'm sorry sir, but we're wounded, tired , dirty and hungry. We need a bath, food and if there's some healing someone could offer we'd be more than happy. You'll need to appoint a new sergeant amongst us, and we need new equipment and supplies if there's any to be had. We've got some more communities to warn, and I plan on leaving very early tomorrow."

With that, Nate stops, gives the sergeant another dirty look, and steps back.

 

[doghead]

The sergeant's face flushes red as he listens to Nate. He get as far as opening his mouth to respond before Nate cuts him out by turning to continue his report to the reeve. The sergeant clamps his jaw shut with an audible snap!

There is a ripple of movement through the group gathered as those nearby try to discetely get out of the way of whatever is coming.

By the time Nate has finished, the sergeant's face is beet red. A vein in his temple throbs, the muscles in his neck bulge and his hands clench and unclench.

"Son," the sergeant bawls as soon as Nate steps back, "you've just booked youself a date with the lash. A half dozen of the best. And if I hear any more lip from you, you will get another half dozen more.

"You will answer the reeves questions and keep you damnable opinions to yourself. Unless you are a glutton for punishment.

"I don't know what sort of slip shod behaviour is tolerated where you come from but here," and suddenly his voice goes calm and he smiles at you with all the warmth of a glacier, "we do things ... properly.

"And you will address me as Sergeant. Have I made myself perfectly clear?"

 

[Stagger_Lee]

Rhys steps forward without hesitation, though with the presence of mind to look properly abashed as he runs one hand through his blond hair. He places a hand on the Sergeant's shoulder, and smiles up at him before looking at the object of his tirade with concern.

"No disrespect, Sergeant, sir, and forgive me for interfering, but the young man is obviously wounded. Surely we can be slightly forgiving of a sharp tongue when it has recently been in danger of being cut out? And if, as you say, he's a scared boy, then we've little reason to scare him further. And on the off chance that he isn't, he's done the town a great service." He stops and chews his bottom lip, "again, forgive me for interfereing."

 

[doghead]

The sergeant jumps at Rhy's touch and his hand jerks up before his brain registers whats what. He quickly pulls it down.

"Beggin your pardon there cleric. You surprised me."

He listens to what Rhys has to say, but the vein begins to throb again and his face begins to flush red again. He obviously doesn't like what he's hearing.

But before he can respond, the reeve jumps in. His words scuttle out piling up one on the back of another as he tries to hold the advantage and prevent anyone leading the discussion even further astray. "I'm sure that the sergeant will do what is right given the circumstances. I don't think its our business to meddle in how he he handles his business. But I'm sure that consideration will be given where consideration is due, won't it sergeant. And with that done, lets get back to our business here. Are there any more questions for these men?"

The sergeant nods, but the surly look doesn't his face. He flashes a dark look at Rhys, but hold his peace.

Rhys:

Spoiler

Diplomacy check made. You and the sergeant aren't exactly friends (ie Initial attitude - Indifferent). Sense Motive check - You haven't improved that (he definately didn't like your interference) but you're pretty sure that you haven't made things any worse.

 

[Seonaid]

Garival holds his peace as the others brawl verbally. Interesting set of relationships, hmm . . . he says to himself. When the reeve speaks to the assembled, he steps forward slightly and clears his throat. "You mentioned a goblin king and the tribes banding together?" His voice is not deep, but he speaks with calmness and surety. "What proof do you have?"