[Lakelands] Six For Adventure

[Toric_Arthendain]

Selanil looks around at everyone in the group. "Once this business with the miller is concluded I will be returning to where I met Etain, to deliver the news to her about the manticore's death. Perhaps I will make the journey tomorrow morning, after I have had a chance to rest and heal some more. If anyone wishes to accompany me, I would be honored. As for the barrows, I'm not sure that looting them or defiling them in any way would be a good idea. Not to mention that Etain or her mother may have issues with doing so. But let us bring this miller to justice first."

 

[wolfheart]

Dain soaks up the admiration of the villagers like a sponge. He begins pumping his fists and exalting Aedor in the High Tongue. When Kregor stops and sets down the cart, Dain beams as the villagers see their bane laid low before them. He can not help himself. He clambers up onto the back of the beast and raises his hammer. He then speaks with booming dwarvish bravado.

"The seven goodly gods have smiled on your hamlet this day. They led us to the beast as it lay in hiding off the north road. We dipatched the beast with the speed and force of Aedor's hammer striking his forge." Dain then paused and let that sink in to the gathered throng. "Let this be a lesson to those who doubted the seven and reverted to the pagan ways. For while we were bringing this beast low, that sad excuse of a man, Selwirk Miller, drunkingly tied himself to a tree and hoped to harpoon the beast. And endangered others of your village by convincing them to help in his rat-brained scheme."

"I suggest you learn from this experience, and help restore the church to its glory."

With that he gave another triumphant shout and climbed down to rejoin his friends. Hearing of Selanil's plan, he agrees that it is a good idea but declines to join him, saying that he has work to do at the church. He does offer to work more healing magic on him in the morning before he leaves.

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

"Selanil, we weren't planning on looting the barrows. We were wondering if there was some greater evil lurking there that might be responsible for the appearance of the manticore." He pauses. "When you see Tattercoats again, say hi. And thanks."

OOC: I'm off on a fishing trip tomorrow. Won't be back till Sunday. I'm all for investigating the barrows, especially the one beneath the church (if there is one.. I might have misread RC's description, but I thought only the stones from another barrow were used in the construction of the mill - not that there was an actual barrow under the mill).

 

[Raven Crowking]

It was not necessary to go looking for the miller. When word of the manticore's death reached him, he came to the church on his own.

By this time, as many of the villagers as could be spared from planting had come to see, and touch, the dead creature. They marvelled at its horrible teeth and, as always it seems to fall, whispered that it had seemed so much larger in life. It became obvious that the farmers of Kell's Reach had not really expected the party to slay this creature. They had seen so-called adventurers before, and few were true heroes. Most were louts who waved swords, seduced farmers' daughters, then made off with whatever wasn't firmly tied down.

The miller arrived a humbled man.

He approached the church, but still did not set foot on its soil. Instead, he dropped to his knees, hands held before him.

"I beg pardon," the miller said. "As I love this place, I thank you for its deliverance." He paused. He coughed, almost a choke, eyes blinking rapidly. "I was willing to die to give the others a chance to shoot it. That creature." He indicated the manticore with a nod of his head. "You have revenged my son. I...I am willing...kill me if that is what it will take to end this affair."

 

[maddmic]

Kregor looks at the miller on the ground. "Others would not be so quick to admit that they were wrong. Neither would the forgive a group that they truely thought had killed their son. I will not strike you for convincing these villagers that the only way to end the winter was to sacrifice helpless and innocent children, however, I will ensure that you are handed over to the authorites so that they can determine what justice must be done. I believe now, that you understand what the parents of the children sacrificed must have felt when they lost their offspring." Kregor pauses to let that sink in. "I shall accompany you to your house. There you will pack your things and say your goodbyes. I will then accompany you back to Selby. Once there, we will explain to them what happened here. They will then be responsible for you."

The half-orc turned to the others. "I feel that this is the path that I must take. I am hoping that it will not take long for my return. At that time, I will assist you in your endeavour to find out why this beast terrorized this village."

OOC:
Please refresh my memory.....How long does it take to travel to Selby from Kell's Reach?

 

[wolfheart]

ooc: If I remember right it is less than a days journey.

Dain looks away from the repentant miller, wondering if his newfound humility is a ruse he thinks will save his hide. As he hears the words of the miller, the teachings of Aedor creep into his mind. 'Sometimes the soul must be reforged by pain and toil for the man to be saved. There is no furnace hotter than that created by our own failings.' Dain knows now that he must bring this man in out of pity rather than vengance.

He turns to Kregor and the miller and says, "I will accompany you also, I must report to the archdeacon what has happened here. When we return, we will explore the mystery of these local mounds."

 

[Raven Crowking]

Kregor looks at the miller on the ground. "Others would not be so quick to admit that they were wrong. Neither would the forgive a group that they truely thought had killed their son. I will not strike you for convincing these villagers that the only way to end the winter was to sacrifice helpless and innocent children, however, I will ensure that you are handed over to the authorites so that they can determine what justice must be done. I believe now, that you understand what the parents of the children sacrificed must have felt when they lost their offspring." Kregor pauses to let that sink in. "I shall accompany you to your house. There you will pack your things and say your goodbyes. I will then accompany you back to Selby. Once there, we will explain to them what happened here. They will then be responsible for you."

"No," said the miller. "If I am to die, let it be here and now, where my family can mourn me. I do not forgive you for my son's death, and I never shall. But my family has suffered enough. Let us make an end to it. I feel grief for the sacrifices that were forced upon us this winter, but I know also that they were necessary, and that they saved more lives than were lost. I know this to be true. Sometimes sacrifices are necessary. Let this be the last."

The half-orc turned to the others. "I feel that this is the path that I must take. I am hoping that it will not take long for my return. At that time, I will assist you in your endeavour to find out why this beast terrorized this village."

OOC:
Please refresh my memory.....How long does it take to travel to Selby from Kell's Reach?

OOG: Wolfheart is correct; you are less than a day's ride from Selby-by-the-Water. It would be possible to deliver the miller, have a good night's rest, and be back by morning.


"No," said the miller again. "I throw myself upon your mercy instead. Determine what is just. Before all these people, I concede your authority." He looked up with anger in his eyes. "Do you think I don't know what awaits me in Selby? Full well, too well, I know what a stinking morass their Pit is, where they keep prisoners awaiting trial. Open to the sky, and two feet of water -- more perhaps, in the spring. What needs a trial when disease can eat a man slowly while he waits? Think you that would be a mercy?" He stood and eyed the dwarf. "Well willing you were, to kill me before. Has your heart softened now? Must I draw weapon and force you to fight?" He looked down again. "I have no weapon on me now."

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

Horsom addressed the miller. "How do you know that the sacrifices saved more lives than were lost? Is there something more to this sorry tale?" HIs eyes narrowed. "You haven't stepped foot on the church grounds. Why? Has the advice of dark spirits guided your hand this winter? Speak, miller. Redemption begins with truth."

 

[Raven Crowking]

"How can I enter the church that refused to bury my son?" the miller asked, but there seemed to be an edge to his question, as though the answer was more ruse than revelation.

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

Horsom ignored the man's question. "Selwark, we know about the voices in the mill. If you think yourself damned for consorting with Dark Powers, let your mind rest easy. Maldordo can introduce you to your 'spiritual advisors' if you like. We know this winter's tale from their side - now we'd like to hear it from yours."