Last Stand of the Dorinthians (Chapter 3 - The Imperials)

[GlassEye]

"Well Silas, I think I am glad we could not kill Nefius after all. The Imperials are their own worst enemies" he says. As they walk back to the celebration he turns to Danica and Silas "Thank you both for coming out to serve as my escort, that took no small amount of courage"

Silas nods, smiling with pride at Dartis' compliment. "Ah, well, you had already done the hard part: facing down the Imperial army alone like that. We couldn't let you do it all alone." He chuckles in relief at narrowly averting a larger, deadlier battle. "Although, mayhaps, we should've been less forward with our weaponry. It was a close thing, for a moment."

---

A short time later... "Greetings, Master Hume," begins Silas. However, he falls silent as Challik approaches with the captured Tallione. He schools his face to blankness and listens but his emotion is given away by a pursing of his lips and a tightening around his eyes. He stares at the one named Tessan Ventus but then an ill feeling arises. I've faced men like him and I've killed men like him... "All men deserve the chance to make a life of their own choosing," he murmurs hardly louder than a whisper. He looks to Dartis and doesn't envy him the decision with which he is now faced.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Ventus
[sblock]
To give you some ammunition... On your wanderings that led you to the dwarven kingdom, you found a glade hidden by tall hills that looked wild with growth and untouched by man.

However, you found that to be untrue. Inside the glade, by a crystal clear lake and large tree that appeared foreboding at night, you found a group of men sleeping in tall grass that wrapped around their bodies and kept them as prisoners. They seemed to be sleeping, and no amount of prodding could wake them. On closer inspection you saw that they wore the cloaks of Dorinthian calvary!

You then heard singing coming from the large tree, and as you looked you saw a lithe woman holding a Dorinthian noble in her arms, his face blank as if in a trance. The music compelled you to walk towards her and you grew sleepy as the grass seemed to wrap around your legs and pull at you.

As you were about to drift off, a slumbering Dorinthian somehow gathered enough strength to break the spell and grab your thigh. "By the gods, run from here man!" He begged as the grass tightened against him and pulled him once more closer to the ground.

The spell temporarily broken, you took his advice to heart. You ran, and did so for two days before being captured by the dwarves.

Perhaps these Dorinthians would be interested in the tale.
[/sblock]

 

[hafrogman]

Ventus turns to face Silas for a moment, considering the man's statement. He inclines his head in a slight bow, aknowledging the sentiment. He appears to be deep in thought for a moment before speaking again. These Dorinthians were at least willing to hear him out it seemed, more consideration than had been offered before.

"I am certain that your dwarven allies believe me to be one who would say anything to his own benefit, but I hope that in this you will at least take me as a man of my word. There are more dangerous things afoot in this land than man. As I wandered lost, I came upon a cursed glade. I nearly fell prey there to whatever evil magic held sway, but in the end it was the actions of one of your kinsmen who set me free. If it is not too late, I would render him the same aid, but alone I was powerless. Render your judgement upon me, but grant me this boon. Lend me your strength in the rescue of your blood."

 

[Fenris]

Dartis listens to the exchanges between Silas and Barok and Ventus carefully. After considering everthing spoken, Dartis turns to Ventus:

"The Emporer does not easily release his legionaires. Nor do they often seek to be released. The punishment for desertion is well known in the legions, and few dare to risk it. Fewer find fault with the tactics of the legions or the goals of the Emporer."

"In light of that I find it doubtful that the Tallione would send a spy under such pretenses. It would have been far too eas to have inflitrated the refugees. Not withstanding the timing would have put Ventus here as a spy far easlier than the Imperial column."

"If his tale is true, and the brutality of the legions, the breaking of the laws of war, and slaughter of civilians finally caused the Tallione conscience to finally awaken, then by all means we need to allow him to pursue his destiny a free man, so long as it is not to the detriment of Dorinthia."

"Here then is my judgement. We shall provide the opportunity for Tessan Ventus to demonstate his truthfulness and intentions. He was under no obligation to inform us of our kinsmen. Should his story be true, he will have done Dorinthia a service and shall have his freedom. In the meantime, he shall remain a prisoner of Dorinthia, but a prisoner of honor. He shall be permitted to shave and clean himself, and his possessions returned to him. He shall be fed as we are and shall lead us to our kinsmen. This we will do if he will swear an oath, that he is not a spy, agent or legionaire of the Empire of Tallione, and owes no allegiance to it and that he will make no attempt to escape our custody until he has lead us to our kinsman and we have declared final judgement. Since he claims to no longer be a legionaire and cannot swear by his legion or its standard, I would ask Tessan Ventus as to what he would swear by that we would deem his oath as binding." declares Dartis to Ventus and the assembled crowd.

 

[hafrogman]

Ventus listens patiently as the Dorinthian noble reasons his way through the situation. The stubble covering his face itches fiercely, but he maintains his stance, keeping his bound hands in front of him.

Dartis's statements about Tallione almost provoke a response from the former Legionaire, but he grits his teeth and says nothing. For all his feelings of betrayal, his old home is still firmly lodged in his heart. He listens stoicly to the judgement pronounced against him, nodding solemnly in response.

"Bring me my sword, the sword of my family. I will swear upon the blade, may it break under my hand if my word be sworn false."

 

[Nephtys]

Barok glances at the prisoner, "You'll know the truth of his oath at the glade, mylord." and turns to Dartis, "It seems the Empire has its reasons to want you dead, and I wouldn't put it past them to lay a trap for you. I'm pretty much done here, and don't really care wether I'll make it out of this war in one piece or many as long as I get a chance to kill some imperial scum along the way. You've done well so far sir and I'd like to join you fighting our enemies, whoever they may be." He salutes the Baron sloppily, something halfway between laughter and sorrow in his eyes.

 

[GlassEye]

Silas clamps his lips tight as he realizes the words he spoke were not quite as quiet as he thought them to be. Your wagging tongue will bring you to sorrow, yet, he thinks. He gazes at Ventus appraisingly as the scene between the Imperial and Lord Dartis Kalnian plays out. Briefly he glances over at Danica to see how the young woman is taking these newcomers, especially the Imperial, Ventus.

Thinking he sees a slight hint of command from Dartis, Silas steps over to Ventus' dwarven captors and retrieves Ventus' weapon. Unsheathing the weapon and holding the bare blade horizontally in front of him he moves over to stand in front of Ventus. He glances back at Dartis. I hope to the gods I'm not overstepping my boundaries...

"An oath made while in chains can never be binding." He looks at the nearby dwarves. "If this have Lord Kalnian's approval then cut him free, so he can give his word, freely." He returns his gaze to Ventus. "Know that I am a Caernite scholar. Not only will your oath be heard before two sovereign peoples but the earth itself will hear and bind your word to you."

 

[Deuce Traveler]

OOC: Very nice RPing guys!

 

[hafrogman]

Ventus meets Silas's gaze without flinching.

"I understand, and accept."

He holds his hands up in front of him, fists clenched and held apart so the binding ropes are pulled taunt between them. He too awaits the final word from the man to whom he has submitted himself, this Lord Kalnian.

 

[Fenris]

Barok glances at the prisoner, "You'll know the truth of his oath at the glade, mylord." and turns to Dartis, "It seems the Empire has its reasons to want you dead, and I wouldn't put it past them to lay a trap for you. I'm pretty much done here, and don't really care wether I'll make it out of this war in one piece or many as long as I get a chance to kill some imperial scum along the way. You've done well so far sir and I'd like to join you fighting our enemies, whoever they may be." He salutes the Baron sloppily, something halfway between laughter and sorrow in his eyes.

"And gladly would I have you join me Barok. Our first order is and has been as you yourself have been serving, protecting and gathering our peoples. But in doing so there has been much fighting. I am glad to have your sword. Dorinthia is grateful for your service" says Dartis clasping the man on the shoulder

"Bring me my sword, the sword of my family. I will swear upon the blade, may it break under my hand if my word be sworn false."

"So be it." replies Dartis as Silas retrieves Ventus' weapon. As Ventus holds his hands out Dartis give a nod to Silas.

In a rich and full voice far more suited for court than a battlefield, Dartis announces:"Tessan Ventus you are hereby remanded unto the custody of Dorinthia. Upon your honor you have sworn to remain as a Prisoner of Honor until such time as Dorinthia has rendered her judgement. Advisor Eyrstan, release his bonds."

As Silas cuts the cords Dartis adds in a more personal tone as Silas hands over the sword: "The weapons of ones ancestors are sacred, thier deeds are bound to them, and the manner in which their decendants employ them either desecrates or reveres their memory."

"Silas, see that he gets what he needs." Addressing the small assembled host "Come, let us now celebrate while we may. Tommorrow we will ride out to find our kinsmen and provide Ventus his reckoning"

Leaning in to Silas, in a whisper to Silas he adds [sblock] "Thank you my friend. I go to the king, come when you can and send Danica" [/sblock]

With a last look at Ventus, and a nod to Barok, Dartis turns and heads back into the celebration.