Last Stand of the Dorinthians (Chapter 2 - Illusions)

The young man who approaches your group upon your return has all the look of the aristocracy of Dorinthia. Th tall bearing, and look of confidence so often manifested as arrogance. But the man moves with a subtle grace and fluidity, perhaps indicitive of many ball-room dances.

But as he approaches you can see that he is no foppish court dandy. His armor is sweat stained and riven in several places. The ease of his movements are due to years in the saddle. A well worn bow lies across his back and a decorated, but well used sword hangs at his belt. No, this is not some sycophant of the king, but a member of the nobility that has maintained the tradition of mounted might that kept Dorinthia strong for so many years.


As he approaches a genuine smile is on his lips and he extend his hand in greeting, only to lower it when greeted by simple nods, the smile never leaves though.

"Greetings. Baron Dorin has asked me to join you in doing what we can to continue the fight. I am Baron Dartis Kalnian. The title still comes new to my tongue. I am the last of my house it seems" he says as the smile fades from his face. "So, until my lands are no longer undeer the shadow of Tallione, please call me Dartis. Now I have a bow and a sword and wish to use them in defense of my home land in whatever mannner I may. To what end are we to put them?"

"Well met, Dartis Kalnian. I am Silas Eyrstan." Silas will continue to talk with Dartis, specifically asking him about his military service and revealing to him that he served in a unit at the Last Stand. However, the difference in social class keeps Silas from becoming too chatty or familiar until he gets to know him better.

"Well met countryman. I served mostly on the southern border with Tallione for much of the past few years. I too was at the Last Stand, my commander sent me back to Faircreek with the warning. It was thus that I lost my horse. But come tell me of your service"
 

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Silas seems pleased at Baron Dartis Kalnian's interest in his service. "Lord Kalnian, I served as adjunct to Sir Martin, connected to the Dorinthian Foot." His face takes a grim cast. "Sir Martin, gods rest his soul, sent me with missives back towards Baron Dorin's command tent just before the lines broke." Meeting Dartis' eye he says, "We were among the lucky ones that day, it seems, though it was some time after your message was delivered before I was able to make my way back to Fair Creek."

"At this moment, however, the threat seems to be from kobolds."
Silas scowls. "And unless the gnomes have received better information in our absence we have only a general direction of their lairs to go on. And a gnomish name connected to the goblins we just raided, 'Astraughlay Kondeeistreigh', I think it's pronounced."
 
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Alexander had just heard what was transpiring, paying little attention and not bothering to look at the human, but at the mention of his current state, the great half orc rises from his seat, strides towards Dartis "Alexander's the name, Faithful Scout of the Huntress to Seven Trees" he offers a callous, but clean hand "brought to ground level by those who break the perfect cycle... I've sworn to take revenge on their flesh, and hope to start getting Tallione blood after disabling the menace to this settlement"

"But we must be swift, not hasty..."
 

As you spend two days recovering before your next outing, the gnomes bring you several items for you to take for free:

Medium-sized:
1 chain shirt
2 suits of leather
1 suit of studded leather
1 wooden buckler
2 short swords
1 light crossbow
20 bolts
3 daggers
1 warhammer
1 waterskin

Small-Sized
26 trail rations (2 can make enough for 1 person)
5 waterskins
3 backpacks
2 coils of rope (50 ft)
1 grapple
2 suits of padded armor
3 suits of leather armor
3 suits of studded leather
1 chain shirt
1 wooden buckler
2 metal bucklers
1 wooden shield
3 picks
5 hand-axes
1 battle-axe
4 short swords
3 light crossbows
50 bolts
1 short bow
20 arrows
4 daggers
1 punch-dagger

OOC: We continue Monday, since Ferrix is normally busy on the weekends.
 

Rix glances up at the aristocrat, sniveling money-grubbers, he thinks. He'd been in a bad mood, although who could tell the difference, ever since they returned. The incursion on the goblin camp had been primarily successful, his plan had gone off soundly and he had put down more than his fair share of the runt-faced creatures. However, he missed Danica. Although he was warming up to the half-orc, particularly now that the other stuffy one was no longer around. Imagine that, he was warming up to being party to a half-orc companion. He hated orcs, although this one was different.

Lira leaving was everything of a blessing, the less elves he had to deal with the better. However, returning to the gnomish enclave left him rife with internal strife. He was helping gnomes! They might as well burn in the pits of the Dragon's gut for what he wished, although that letter seemed like there was definately some internal strife that he might be able to play up and plunge them into chaos. The thought tickled him.

Turning back to the aristocrat, "I am Vaerixsjach, do your best to leave me be human." He turns away from this noble born warrior, the thought of noble blood all too painful for the orphaned dragonkin at this moment, he had been noble blooded among his people and now was treated no better than a dog by most.

Moving away at a quick pace he disappears into the gnomish community, his hand constantly upon his blade. He hated this place, he hated gnomes, and now he was supposed to seek out the source of their kobold trouble and stop it. How he wanted these kobolds to overrun this hovel.

[sblock=DM]Rix will restock his bolts and rations, as well as seek out a place to purchase masterwork thieves tools and trade in his old ones. Also, he'll check out that sack he found at the goblin encampment, see what is in it. It sounded like coins :)[/sblock]
 

Silas sighs and frowns as he watches Rix quickly disappear. I do not know how to relate to that kobold. His frowns deepens as he considers his own thoughts. Perhaps if I started thinking of him as Rix first rather than 'that kobold'... Musings interuppted by the arrival of a group of gnomes with an offer of equipment, Silas looks over the items and contents himself with refilling the supplies of bolts and travel rations he carries.

"Thank you, sirs," says Silas with a bow. "The replenishment of my supplies is appreciated. However, might you have a scroll case for sale? And may I impose upon you to direct me to a place of solitude where I may study uninterrupted?"
 
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Rix
[sblock]
You find in the sack 35 platinum pieces, 12 gold pieces, a dull iron ring that may be worth a gold piece, and a scroll that looks to have magical writing on it.
[/sblock]
 

GlassEye said:
"Thank you, sirs," says Silas with a bow. "The replenishment of my supplies is appreciated. However, might you have a scroll case for sale? And may I impose upon you to direct me to a place of solitude where I may study uninterrupted?"

After a brief discussion, some of the local apprentices scrounge up a beat-up, wooden scroll case free for your use (holds up to eight scrolls and weighs a half a pound) and allow you to use their library for quiet study.
 

Dartis turns to Silas as Rix leaves walks away.
"Pleasant little fellow isn't he" he says to Silas with a droll smile.
"Of course, he maybe upset and rightfully so at his current situation, but tell me how does a kobold come to be working with Dorinthians, for the cause of the gnomes? That is a riddle that I suppose would explain his sour mood. Though I must confess that I have dealt with few enough kobold to not assume that they are all that grumpy."

Dartis grasps Alexanders offered hand gladly "Well met my friend, I too wish to soak the ground with Tallione blood. May we cause rivers of it to flow!"

Dartis gladly picks through the gnome's extra equipment "I lost all I had at Kelnar, save what I wore." He picks out a buckler, a chain shirt, a dagger, and a water skin and some rations, and after a long search of looking for arrows asks Silas "Is there somewhere to buy equipment that is not in this pile? There is no pack in my size and I would like more arrows."
 

Silas looks thoughtful for a moment. "I can't rightly say why Rix is working on behalf of the Dorinthians. When the Baron sent out the call for aid he arrived. He has not got on well with the gnomes, though. Truth be told I worry about us heading into kobold territory with Rix."

"The nearest place I know of to purchase equipment is in the new community founded by the Fair Creek refugees, several days travel away. Perhaps the gnomes would be able to find you some equipment that isn't included amongst that offered to us."
 

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