Mathew_Freeman
Adventurer
Excellent. That puts aside any further worries on that score.
Lost City of Gaxmoor - The Borderlands Campaign
- Thread starter S'mon
- Start date
Excellent. That puts aside any further worries on that score.StalkingBlue
First Post
And I'm now the co-boss of the union. Right?
Mathew_Freeman
Adventurer
The Party vs. Heraclues II - This Time It's Even More Personal
After his strong words, Xiang and the others calmed themselves somewhat. Recuperation was needed. The party needed to lay some plans, and possibly gain reinforcements. The fallen members of the party were not recoverable - Heracules would already have decapitated them*. To make matters worse, Sigurd was called away for important matters in Trafalgis**, and was teleported away.
Xiang fretted a little. However, there was some good news. Apart from the notable fighter Red Ivy agreeing to join the return attack, there were two new arrivals, one he had heard about, the other entirely fresh. The man he had heard about was Ramu Khan, the Aryptian warrior that had aided the party in Gutheron's Tomb. He said he had decided upon a "sabbatical" from his homeland, and wished to explore the North. Leo filled him in on current events, and he willingly and eagerly agreed to join the party.
The other man was a Knight of the Order of the Griffon, which initally meant nothing to Xiang. The Knight explained it was an order dedicated to honour and Good, and that he was interested in adding his sword against the Giants. His name was Helm. Long may it be remembered.
With the group reinforced, plans were laid. Leo and Barak, after some discussion, agreed to teleport the group to the location of the Fortress. After that, the plan was to use fly spells to get to the precise location needed. Once there - attack, and leave none alive. Xiang liked this plan.
The next morning, with Leo and Barak having readied themselves, the spells were cast. The two groups arrived safely at their campsite of a few days previously, and began to cast spells. Leo, Barak and Saphie enhanced themselves in various ways, and then the fly spells were activated. The stronger members of the group bore the lighter aloft, and with speed the group circled around the valley, and then dropped over the cliffs to land in front of the Fortress.
In front of the nice, new ironbound doors that had been erected across the opening.
Xiang swore quitely under his breath, and briefly considered trying to blow a hole in the doors with the Spear. Before this thought could really be completed, Leo, showing remarkable quick thinking even for him stepped up to the wall by the side of one door and gestured at it. The stone simply melted away, forming a neat tunnel into the room beyond and causing the near door to tilt and fall forwards. Beyond the doors lay the guard group that had been there before - two trolls, a hill giant, an ettin, and to one side a Frost Giant. All looked ready to attack!
The group had discussed this situation, however, expecting to meet guards in the entrance hall. The fighters paused for a moment as Barak gestured and incanted. Before the giants in the room beyond could move or react to the fall of the doors, a mighty empowered fireball exploded in their midst. The creatures fell screaming, the Frost Giant in particular fearing the red hot spell power. The ettin's heads ceased their chattering as it's body collapsed, and the two trolls felt the burn of a force they couldn't regenerate. Even the Hill Giant fell backwards.
Xiang used the fly spell to move inside, gliding smoothly up to one troll as it lay on the floor and using the Spear to finish it off. He looked down the corridor to his right, seeing a tall door at the far end of it.
Leo acted next, placing a Wall of Force across the other entranceway, preventing any access. The rest of the party moved into the room, Ivy moving in front of Xiang alongside Helm and Ramu Khan. Tarquin moved into the middle of the group, casting a sanctuary on himself. As he did this, Orcs came from both sides, as the door opened revealing two more Frost Giants behind them, who threw boulders at Red Ivy, injuring her. The battle was joined in earnest.
With some speed, the group damaged the orcs and Giants with another fireball, this one from Saphie. The fighters made quick work of them after that, and Red Ivy moved swiftly up to engage the Giants themselves, a serious error. As she got near them, they used their long arms to strike at her, dealing her considerable damage. Her charge connected, but failed to bring her target down, and then the Giant swung with his huge axe and felled her. The other Giant laughed and swung the door shut in the face of the party.
Tarquin rushed forwards and used one of his most powerful spells, heal to bring her back from the brink of death. She stood, unsteady for a moment, and thanked him. The rest of the group moved up, enjoying the sight of the orcs on the far side who were unable to penetrate the wall of force and raged impotently as their evil friends were slaughtered. Leo tried his magical tunnel building again, but this time misaimed and the tunnel led nowhere. But all was changed as the Giants opened the doors again, brutally reaching over the heads of the fighters and attacking Barak, who had moved forwards with the rest. His Dwarven training protected him as he dodged away, and with two injured Giants in front of them the party wasted no time hacking them down with sword, scimitar and Spear. Xiang struck the final blow on the second one, and wiped the blood clear. "That's three Giants down, now where are the rest?" he snarled.
The party swiftly explored this side of the Fortress, discovering that they had gone as far as they could on this side. This came as a relief to Xiang, as the prospect of being trapped between two opposing and powerful enemy forces was about the worst it could get. Everyone regrouped in front of the wall of force, seeing that the orcs were doing the same. It seemed that the instant the spells duration ended, both sides would seek to react as quickly as possible. The party spoke swiftly amongst themselves, deciding that Leo would first cast his spell, followed by Barak and then leaving the rest to the fighters.
A female Frost Giant had been spotted talking to the Orcs, but she had now disappeared. Several mangy looking Ogres had joined their ranks and been pushed to the front. There was an expectant pause, and Leo counted down the final seconds of the spell.
With perfect timing, Leo cast his spell, and a Circle of Death spread across the enemy, killing all but one of the four ogres and an orc. The orcs and ogres pressed forwards towards the party, not quite able to get to them before Barak's chain lightning erupted in the middle of them. Bolts of lightning blasted another orc, and scorched the rest. In this weakened state, Red Ivy and Ramu Khan went through them like hot knives as Xiang shot the surviving Ogre with the White Foul Flame from the Spear. Red Ivy cleaved perfectly through the Orcs, destroying them with grim efficiency.
Two doors on the far side of the room were quickly explored by Xiang and Helm, and confirmed empty, although one led through to a further room with another door. Xiang left this alone, reasoning that a door that led away from a pantry next to a kitchen was unlikely to hold enemies.
The only other exit from the room was a narrow corridor, that looked somewhat recently excavated. The group formed up in single file, Xiang first, and advanced after Leo tried sending some prying eyes down there. They didn't return, indicating enemies. As Xiang moved forwards he was ambushed by six Winter Wolves - favoured pets of the Frost Giants. Six cones of icy breath surrounded him, sapping his energy. Again, the party reacted with commendable speed and efficiency, Leo killing four of them with another circle of death and Helm and Ramu moving into the room to deal with the reamaining two. Tarquin moved up and healed Xiang, earning his thanks yet again.
Red Ivy moved forwards into the next room as the battle against the wolves raged behind her...only to discover it too had an occupant! A deadly Cyrohydra; a multi-headed monster that also breathed icy fumes from it's seven heads! Ivy and Xiang felt the pain again, but moved forwards and engaged it swiftly. With a few short seconds, and at the cost of but a few light wounds, the hydra died, as did the wolves, falling before the might of Helm and Ramu Khan.
More healing was applied as Leo sent his prying eyes down a further tunnel. The eyes reported a small barricade built about twenty feet further down the tunnel. After that the tunnel opened out into a much larger room. The party began to quietly discuss how to get past the barricade when disaster struck.
Barak gasped as Heracules calmly stepped out of the wall in his ethereal state and swung at him. With one accord, the party went to react...when they heard the sounds of approaching orcs from behind the barricade. Things had gone from fine to horrendous in a split second.
Seeing that they were in serious trouble, Leo dimensioned doored out to the entrance hall as Heracules continued his attack on Barak, his ebony black sword slicing through him and dropping the Dwarven wizard to the floor in scant seconds. Heracules stepped forwards, using his reach to attack Saphie and sending a spray of blood across the wall as she collapsed as well. The sword screamed a song of death, a supernatural ability that inspired fear but the party had strong wills and all resisted it's effects.
In this moment, in a supreme act of heroism and knowing that he almost certainly was throwing his life away, Helm of the Order of the Knights of the Griffon charged Heracules the Cambion, his sword swinging in a hard arc towards his foe. The sword cut into Heracules as a stream of acid spat from the Black Spear as Xiang joined the fight from distance. Tarquin showed his mettle by risking the Cambion's blade to drag the almost dead Saphie from where she had fallen.
Then the enemy showed it's guile, as a previously invisible Ogre magi cast a cone of cold down the corridor, injuring everyone in the party. Xiang inwardly thanked the magical protections of his armour as it protected him***, but the wave of cold energy struck the helpless and dying Saphie and snuffed her lifeforce out completely. Xiang stared around him, unable to engage either foe in combat.
At that precise moment, a further torrent of Orcs poured forth from behind the barricade, engaging Ramu and Red Ivy in combat. The two of them defended themselves, but it left Xiang awkwardly placed in the narrow corridor. He couldn't get to either enemy!
Heracules smiled and tore into Helm, striking with little regard for accuracy but wanting power. In three short strokes the brave man lay dead on the floor next to Barak, and as he fell Heracules looked up and saw the Black Spear. "At last, a foe worthy of my attention!" he called out in challenge.
The challenge was to be denied. Seeing that all seemed lost, Tarquin darted across the corridor and siezed Xiang, Ramu Khan and Red Ivy and used his prayer of teleportation to take them all back to the Temple of Urnus Gregaria in Gaxmoor. The last thing Xiang saw as they left was the smile of mocking triumph playing around the Cambion's lips...and was that a hint of relief?
Arriving in Gaxmoor, the survivors quickly discovered that Leo had also teleported away. Once again, the forces of Heracules and the Frost Giants were victorious.
"We cannot face him in combat. Not yet. We are simply not skilled enough." Leo spoke boldly and honestly, and Xiang was forced to agree. He had seen the skill of his opponent first hand this time, and even though Heracules had been striking for power he had penetrated the defences of Helm, who was an accomplished warrior in his own right. Although Xiang was confident of finding gaps in the armour of the Cambion, he knew that his own ability to defend himself and resist damage was not enough.
"If we can persuade Archduke Ulfius and his wizard Clarendon, however..."
* In this campaign, resurrection requires a whole body. It is therefore standard practice to behead the bodies of your enemies.
** Or the English train system failed to deal with some snow, take your pick.
*** Xiang's armour grants him SR13, which seems pitiful, but that's twice it has saved him from Ogre magi cones of cold. Seems S'mon just keeps rolling low there...
After his strong words, Xiang and the others calmed themselves somewhat. Recuperation was needed. The party needed to lay some plans, and possibly gain reinforcements. The fallen members of the party were not recoverable - Heracules would already have decapitated them*. To make matters worse, Sigurd was called away for important matters in Trafalgis**, and was teleported away.
Xiang fretted a little. However, there was some good news. Apart from the notable fighter Red Ivy agreeing to join the return attack, there were two new arrivals, one he had heard about, the other entirely fresh. The man he had heard about was Ramu Khan, the Aryptian warrior that had aided the party in Gutheron's Tomb. He said he had decided upon a "sabbatical" from his homeland, and wished to explore the North. Leo filled him in on current events, and he willingly and eagerly agreed to join the party.
The other man was a Knight of the Order of the Griffon, which initally meant nothing to Xiang. The Knight explained it was an order dedicated to honour and Good, and that he was interested in adding his sword against the Giants. His name was Helm. Long may it be remembered.
With the group reinforced, plans were laid. Leo and Barak, after some discussion, agreed to teleport the group to the location of the Fortress. After that, the plan was to use fly spells to get to the precise location needed. Once there - attack, and leave none alive. Xiang liked this plan.
The next morning, with Leo and Barak having readied themselves, the spells were cast. The two groups arrived safely at their campsite of a few days previously, and began to cast spells. Leo, Barak and Saphie enhanced themselves in various ways, and then the fly spells were activated. The stronger members of the group bore the lighter aloft, and with speed the group circled around the valley, and then dropped over the cliffs to land in front of the Fortress.
In front of the nice, new ironbound doors that had been erected across the opening.
Xiang swore quitely under his breath, and briefly considered trying to blow a hole in the doors with the Spear. Before this thought could really be completed, Leo, showing remarkable quick thinking even for him stepped up to the wall by the side of one door and gestured at it. The stone simply melted away, forming a neat tunnel into the room beyond and causing the near door to tilt and fall forwards. Beyond the doors lay the guard group that had been there before - two trolls, a hill giant, an ettin, and to one side a Frost Giant. All looked ready to attack!
The group had discussed this situation, however, expecting to meet guards in the entrance hall. The fighters paused for a moment as Barak gestured and incanted. Before the giants in the room beyond could move or react to the fall of the doors, a mighty empowered fireball exploded in their midst. The creatures fell screaming, the Frost Giant in particular fearing the red hot spell power. The ettin's heads ceased their chattering as it's body collapsed, and the two trolls felt the burn of a force they couldn't regenerate. Even the Hill Giant fell backwards.
Xiang used the fly spell to move inside, gliding smoothly up to one troll as it lay on the floor and using the Spear to finish it off. He looked down the corridor to his right, seeing a tall door at the far end of it.
Leo acted next, placing a Wall of Force across the other entranceway, preventing any access. The rest of the party moved into the room, Ivy moving in front of Xiang alongside Helm and Ramu Khan. Tarquin moved into the middle of the group, casting a sanctuary on himself. As he did this, Orcs came from both sides, as the door opened revealing two more Frost Giants behind them, who threw boulders at Red Ivy, injuring her. The battle was joined in earnest.
With some speed, the group damaged the orcs and Giants with another fireball, this one from Saphie. The fighters made quick work of them after that, and Red Ivy moved swiftly up to engage the Giants themselves, a serious error. As she got near them, they used their long arms to strike at her, dealing her considerable damage. Her charge connected, but failed to bring her target down, and then the Giant swung with his huge axe and felled her. The other Giant laughed and swung the door shut in the face of the party.
Tarquin rushed forwards and used one of his most powerful spells, heal to bring her back from the brink of death. She stood, unsteady for a moment, and thanked him. The rest of the group moved up, enjoying the sight of the orcs on the far side who were unable to penetrate the wall of force and raged impotently as their evil friends were slaughtered. Leo tried his magical tunnel building again, but this time misaimed and the tunnel led nowhere. But all was changed as the Giants opened the doors again, brutally reaching over the heads of the fighters and attacking Barak, who had moved forwards with the rest. His Dwarven training protected him as he dodged away, and with two injured Giants in front of them the party wasted no time hacking them down with sword, scimitar and Spear. Xiang struck the final blow on the second one, and wiped the blood clear. "That's three Giants down, now where are the rest?" he snarled.
The party swiftly explored this side of the Fortress, discovering that they had gone as far as they could on this side. This came as a relief to Xiang, as the prospect of being trapped between two opposing and powerful enemy forces was about the worst it could get. Everyone regrouped in front of the wall of force, seeing that the orcs were doing the same. It seemed that the instant the spells duration ended, both sides would seek to react as quickly as possible. The party spoke swiftly amongst themselves, deciding that Leo would first cast his spell, followed by Barak and then leaving the rest to the fighters.
A female Frost Giant had been spotted talking to the Orcs, but she had now disappeared. Several mangy looking Ogres had joined their ranks and been pushed to the front. There was an expectant pause, and Leo counted down the final seconds of the spell.
With perfect timing, Leo cast his spell, and a Circle of Death spread across the enemy, killing all but one of the four ogres and an orc. The orcs and ogres pressed forwards towards the party, not quite able to get to them before Barak's chain lightning erupted in the middle of them. Bolts of lightning blasted another orc, and scorched the rest. In this weakened state, Red Ivy and Ramu Khan went through them like hot knives as Xiang shot the surviving Ogre with the White Foul Flame from the Spear. Red Ivy cleaved perfectly through the Orcs, destroying them with grim efficiency.
Two doors on the far side of the room were quickly explored by Xiang and Helm, and confirmed empty, although one led through to a further room with another door. Xiang left this alone, reasoning that a door that led away from a pantry next to a kitchen was unlikely to hold enemies.
The only other exit from the room was a narrow corridor, that looked somewhat recently excavated. The group formed up in single file, Xiang first, and advanced after Leo tried sending some prying eyes down there. They didn't return, indicating enemies. As Xiang moved forwards he was ambushed by six Winter Wolves - favoured pets of the Frost Giants. Six cones of icy breath surrounded him, sapping his energy. Again, the party reacted with commendable speed and efficiency, Leo killing four of them with another circle of death and Helm and Ramu moving into the room to deal with the reamaining two. Tarquin moved up and healed Xiang, earning his thanks yet again.
Red Ivy moved forwards into the next room as the battle against the wolves raged behind her...only to discover it too had an occupant! A deadly Cyrohydra; a multi-headed monster that also breathed icy fumes from it's seven heads! Ivy and Xiang felt the pain again, but moved forwards and engaged it swiftly. With a few short seconds, and at the cost of but a few light wounds, the hydra died, as did the wolves, falling before the might of Helm and Ramu Khan.
More healing was applied as Leo sent his prying eyes down a further tunnel. The eyes reported a small barricade built about twenty feet further down the tunnel. After that the tunnel opened out into a much larger room. The party began to quietly discuss how to get past the barricade when disaster struck.
Barak gasped as Heracules calmly stepped out of the wall in his ethereal state and swung at him. With one accord, the party went to react...when they heard the sounds of approaching orcs from behind the barricade. Things had gone from fine to horrendous in a split second.
Seeing that they were in serious trouble, Leo dimensioned doored out to the entrance hall as Heracules continued his attack on Barak, his ebony black sword slicing through him and dropping the Dwarven wizard to the floor in scant seconds. Heracules stepped forwards, using his reach to attack Saphie and sending a spray of blood across the wall as she collapsed as well. The sword screamed a song of death, a supernatural ability that inspired fear but the party had strong wills and all resisted it's effects.
In this moment, in a supreme act of heroism and knowing that he almost certainly was throwing his life away, Helm of the Order of the Knights of the Griffon charged Heracules the Cambion, his sword swinging in a hard arc towards his foe. The sword cut into Heracules as a stream of acid spat from the Black Spear as Xiang joined the fight from distance. Tarquin showed his mettle by risking the Cambion's blade to drag the almost dead Saphie from where she had fallen.
Then the enemy showed it's guile, as a previously invisible Ogre magi cast a cone of cold down the corridor, injuring everyone in the party. Xiang inwardly thanked the magical protections of his armour as it protected him***, but the wave of cold energy struck the helpless and dying Saphie and snuffed her lifeforce out completely. Xiang stared around him, unable to engage either foe in combat.
At that precise moment, a further torrent of Orcs poured forth from behind the barricade, engaging Ramu and Red Ivy in combat. The two of them defended themselves, but it left Xiang awkwardly placed in the narrow corridor. He couldn't get to either enemy!
Heracules smiled and tore into Helm, striking with little regard for accuracy but wanting power. In three short strokes the brave man lay dead on the floor next to Barak, and as he fell Heracules looked up and saw the Black Spear. "At last, a foe worthy of my attention!" he called out in challenge.
The challenge was to be denied. Seeing that all seemed lost, Tarquin darted across the corridor and siezed Xiang, Ramu Khan and Red Ivy and used his prayer of teleportation to take them all back to the Temple of Urnus Gregaria in Gaxmoor. The last thing Xiang saw as they left was the smile of mocking triumph playing around the Cambion's lips...and was that a hint of relief?
Arriving in Gaxmoor, the survivors quickly discovered that Leo had also teleported away. Once again, the forces of Heracules and the Frost Giants were victorious.
"We cannot face him in combat. Not yet. We are simply not skilled enough." Leo spoke boldly and honestly, and Xiang was forced to agree. He had seen the skill of his opponent first hand this time, and even though Heracules had been striking for power he had penetrated the defences of Helm, who was an accomplished warrior in his own right. Although Xiang was confident of finding gaps in the armour of the Cambion, he knew that his own ability to defend himself and resist damage was not enough.
"If we can persuade Archduke Ulfius and his wizard Clarendon, however..."
* In this campaign, resurrection requires a whole body. It is therefore standard practice to behead the bodies of your enemies.
** Or the English train system failed to deal with some snow, take your pick.
*** Xiang's armour grants him SR13, which seems pitiful, but that's twice it has saved him from Ogre magi cones of cold. Seems S'mon just keeps rolling low there...
StalkingBlue
First Post
Cool writeup of a cool session. Loved reading it. 
Last edited:
Leo's account
The Frost Giant Jarl
Leo swore this time it was going to be different. After the last disastrous expedition to the Dosk Heights he was determined he was going to be better prepared. Heracules the cambion had caught the group in a situation straight out of a nightmare. Two Rope Trick spells housing the group as it was sleeping. The only silver lining of that whole situation was that only Aos and Titania had been lost. His brow furrowed. Aos and Titania had been good, strong allies. Combined with the death of Rhianne the Woodswoman, the whole loss had been griveous.
The group was determined to go back and have a final accounting with Heracules. So, he questioned Barak and Sigurd carefully about what little they had seen of the cambion during his appearance in the Rope Trick. The observations they made were chilling. Whilst Leo had not forgotten what a fighting machine the cambion was, it was brought to him with brutal clarity by the accounts of his two companions. His strength, his speed, his footwork, his expertise, his intelligence and the various items looted from the bodies of dead adventurers made him a formidable opponent indeed. Even the strongest of warriors fell quickly to his vicious efficiency. Leo absorbed everything they said. He researched his abilities carefully, consulting with both Dovistar and Barak. There were methods of neutralising the enemy. His new headband was of invaluable help in these matters. Leo now found he could calculate, theorise, devise and evaluate at breathtaking speed. Just as he was finalising his plans, he received a message. A strange, rather odd figure was at the gates of Gaxmoor asking for him. He was described as a tall, handsome man, wearing strange clothes, a large scimitar and shivering in the cold. He was asking for Leo the White. Leo looked in askance at the guard. He had an inkling of who the stranger was but he had no idea why he was here.
He accompanied the guard to the gate and saw the figure. It was Ramu Khem, the Aryptian. A stalwart warrior with strange quasi mystical abilities he had proved himself to be a boon companion whilst some of the group had been investigating Gutheron’s Tomb. He had left Gaxmoor to go back to Arypt with his fortune after the disposal of the Harmonic Armour. Leo remembered he was something in the Order of Horus, some Aryptian bird headed god. He wondered what he was doing here.
“Ramu”, he said. “Its very good to see you although very unexpected.”
“I have decided I wish to explore this northern land. My last stay here has shown me that there is a huge world outside my country. I wish to travel to broaden my mind.”
Leo was impressed. Most of the Aryptians he met were insular, arrogant and convinced that their land was pivotal to all that happened in Ea. Ramu was an exception.
“Well, if you are interested, we are in the middle of a mission at the moment.”
He then proceeded to explain their last encounter in the Dosk heights, describe the cambion and relate the potential Frost Giant threat.
Ramu pondered and frowned. “Your mission is just and good. If you will allow, I would like to accompany you. I hope I will be of service.”
Leo was pleased. He had hoped Ramu was going to react in such a manner. So far as he was concerned, the more people they could take on the mission the better.
“Shall we go to the inn where you stayed last time and I will gather the others and introduce you. I am afraid that many of the people you met are either dead or have gone. Tarquin is still here. Cho has decided she wishes to follow another path. Please bear with me. I will be back in a few hours.”
Leo then left and went to the Margrave. A barrage of good news awaited him there.
After exchanging pleasantries with the Margrave, Kanor rapidly told Leo his latest news. He looked tired and drawn as if he hadn’t slept for several days.
“Leo, could you please come with me to Scornel in a month’s time. We are having a counsel of the Scornic League as to how best to meet the threat of the Mongali.”
Leo had several solutions to the Mongali threat. Most of them involved packing and leaving but he kept his thoughts to himself.
“My fort at Dendridi was destroyed and burnt by a Red Dragon. It was then seen flying off to the Dosk Heights. The descriptions suggest it was much bigger than Wormscather.”
Leo groaned. Heracules and the Frost Giants, Imarr, the Mongali and now this. Just how much more trouble could this city attract. An infinite amount judging by this news.
“Yes of course I will go with you to Scornel. As for the dragon, we will deal with it when we can. At the moment, as you know, we are going back after Heracules.”
“Ah yes, Saphie was talking about that. Oh, just to let you know. She has just received a knight. A relative of her fiancee.”
“Oh, the missing one. Has he been found then?”
“I presume so. The fact that Saphie isn’t here enthusing about a journey to Imgart, makes me suspect that the news is not good. Be careful there Leo. Oh, one last thing. Sigurd has had to go back to his kingdom. Something to do with ruling it I think.”
“Of course Margrave. Could you let Saphie know that we are meeting at this inn. Ramu Khem the Aryptian is back and we need to discuss various things with the others about going back to the Dosk Heights.”
With those words Leo left and collected Xiang at his favourite drinking haunt, Tarquin at the Temple, Barak at the Tower, Red Ivy at the training salle and took them all to the inn. There he introduced all of them to Ramu and they talked about plans to approach the complex. Leo had gone to Carrisqui earlier where he obtained a more detailed map of the layout from Gysshk the Hobgoblin. As they were still discussing their approach, Saphie approached with a stranger. A well armoured, powerful looking man, with a large shield, a sword and an ornate helm. Obviously a warrior.
Saphie said. “Hello everyone. This is Helm. He is a cousin of my late fiancee. He would like to come with us to the Heights. He is a Knight of the Griffin.”
Saphie had said that as if it was meant to mean something but Leo had never heard of this knightly order. There were so many of these orders though. However, Saphie was composed and dry eyed, suggesting that she had already done her grieving. So, room was made for the two arrivals and plans were discussed.
It was decided that the main method of transport was to teleport to an area close to the entrance and fly down to the ledge. From there the best thing was to go in with everything blazing.
The rest of the day was spent preparing and the next day everything was ready. As arranged the group teleported to the specified location. Various spells and effects were cast. Then the group flew along the cliffside to the entrance ledge. There had been a development. Large wooden iron bound doors barred the way into the complex. The group debated briefly and then Leo used one of his few items to make an entrance into the rock, which was then used by the others. Looking in, they could see the same set up as previously. There was a hill giant, an ettin, two trolls and a frost giant standing in a large entrance chamber. As the group stepped forward they took the enemy by surprise. Leo sealed off one of the exits from the hall and Barak cast a mighty fireball. When the fire cleared away, the four figures were on the floors, badly burned and dying. The group rushed in and congregated on the exit that had not been sealed.
Beyond the exit was another room with a large door on the opposite wall. Half a dozen hardened, fanatical orc warriors formed ranks with disciplined, military precision. They attacked Helm and Ivy. The doors behind the orcs opened and two more Frost Giants appeared, balancing large rocks in their huge hands. As was their wont, they threw these and wounded Red Ivy. Then Saphie this time cast a large fireball, felling the orcs and badly damaging the giants. In a fit of enthusiasm, after seeing the effectiveness of the spells, Ivy charged forward to attack the giants. She was quickly brought down to earth with four sharp blows from the giants, which left her a heap on the floor. Tarquin had to step forward quickly to save her, taking a glancing blow from one of the giants as he did so. The giants then shut the door.
Leo called the others and looking at Gysshk’s map, prepared to create another doorway through the wall. The group made ready and the entrance was promptly created. It made a tunnel into the rock. Cursing, Leo made a mental note to visit Gysshk and have a word with him about the accuracy of his mapping. The doors then opened. One of the giants stepped forward, looking healthier and engaged the group’s warriors. It was soon followed by the other. However, they were still hurt and the warriors and Saphie made short work of them.
The group examined the rooms quickly and then went back to the entrance chamber. Barak had reported that he had seen groups of orcs, ogres and a frost giantess in the chamber which had been sealed. The group got ready and waited for the wall to go down. They made ready and as soon as it did, two major spells were unleashed. One was a death effect, which felled most of the ogres and one of the orcs. Leo disliked using that effect. It was very expensive. Barak unleashed a lightning bolt at one orc that then forked and struck the other orcs albeit with less power. The warriors then advanced and mopped up the rest.
A quick search was made of the small complex of rooms in the area which seemed mainly a dining room, kitchen and pantry. A worked narrow tunnel leading further into the depths was found. Leo sent his prying eyes into it and found several open areas. He sent a couple into another area and they did not return. Thus warned, the group formed up into a single file and followed the tunnel, using a sunrod as a light source. Although Xiang approached the dangerous area cautiously the group did not expect the combination of deathly cold breaths emanating from six wolf like creatures the size of small ponies. Xiang stumbled back several steps, his skin white, his hair and eyebrows frozen. Leo cast his last death effect. It proved quite effective, killing four of the creatures. Helm and Ramu then engaged the final two. Tarquin healed Xiang and Red Ivy investigated a larger opening in front of the group. Chained to the floor, she found a strange seven headed reptilian beast, slightly resembling a tiny dragon but without wings. All seven head promptly breathed cold on both her and Xiang again, this time enraging him. However, the creature was not as dangerous and the warriors soon dealt with it as well as the remaining two wolf-like creatures.
As the party healed, Leo sent another of his eyes to investigate another corridor. When it came back it showed him a closed wooden barrier. The group briefly discussed how to circumvent this when a flicker made Leo whirl around.
Calmly, Heracules emerged from a wall just behind Barak. Leo watched in horrified fascination as the cambion stepped up and with a calculated, vicious efficiency hewed into the defenseless magician. Moving with a dancer’s grace he struck the first blow, then a second and Barak fell down, almost hewn in half, with most of his insides over the walls. Whirling in a perfect pirouette he struck another blow and Saphie fell down. Then he reversed his steps and struck two blows into Leo. Leo rocked but still stood. Heracules looked at him in mild annoyance as if insulted that he hadn’t fallen. Leo knew that he couldn’t take any more of this and he immediately cast his transport effect that took him into the entrance chamber. He vaguely hoped that the rest of the group could maybe make a fight of it. Tarquin dragged Saphie into the side cave. Helm engaged Heracules and the rest of the group made ready to receive the other denizens of the complex. These could be heard massing behind the barricade. As it opened, a blast of freezing cold affected Xiang, Ivy, Ramu and Saphie and an ogre mage appeared. Tarquin groaned as he recognised that Saphie had now died, frozen to death. Heracules engaged Helm and efficiently cut him down. He now had a clear path towards the line that was preparing to fight the orcs, which had just emerged from behind the barrier. Tarquin realised that their position was untenable. Heracules was cutting down people as if they had no defences, all their spell casters were dead or gone and they hadn’t even seen the Frost Giant Jarl and his court yet. He stepped forward and teleported with Ramu, Ivy and Xiang back to Gaxmoor.
Leo was back in the Tower of the White Way. He quickly made his way to the Temple of Urnus Gregaria, hoping that more of the group had made it back with Tarquin. He was met by the survivors. Again it was a bitter pill to swallow. Barak, his old teacher, was gone forever. Saphie, the Margrave’s sister was also gone as was Helm, whom he did not get to know, but who didn’t lack courage. He would need to talk to Kanor. He had seen Heracules close and had seen his potency as a warrior. He would have to admit that they were completely overmatched. It would be suicidal to go up against the cambion again. More people would be lost. He would have to tell Kanor bluntly that Gaxmoor didn’t have a warrior who could match the cambion at the moment and that they would have to make ready for a winter campaign.
The Frost Giant Jarl
Leo swore this time it was going to be different. After the last disastrous expedition to the Dosk Heights he was determined he was going to be better prepared. Heracules the cambion had caught the group in a situation straight out of a nightmare. Two Rope Trick spells housing the group as it was sleeping. The only silver lining of that whole situation was that only Aos and Titania had been lost. His brow furrowed. Aos and Titania had been good, strong allies. Combined with the death of Rhianne the Woodswoman, the whole loss had been griveous.
The group was determined to go back and have a final accounting with Heracules. So, he questioned Barak and Sigurd carefully about what little they had seen of the cambion during his appearance in the Rope Trick. The observations they made were chilling. Whilst Leo had not forgotten what a fighting machine the cambion was, it was brought to him with brutal clarity by the accounts of his two companions. His strength, his speed, his footwork, his expertise, his intelligence and the various items looted from the bodies of dead adventurers made him a formidable opponent indeed. Even the strongest of warriors fell quickly to his vicious efficiency. Leo absorbed everything they said. He researched his abilities carefully, consulting with both Dovistar and Barak. There were methods of neutralising the enemy. His new headband was of invaluable help in these matters. Leo now found he could calculate, theorise, devise and evaluate at breathtaking speed. Just as he was finalising his plans, he received a message. A strange, rather odd figure was at the gates of Gaxmoor asking for him. He was described as a tall, handsome man, wearing strange clothes, a large scimitar and shivering in the cold. He was asking for Leo the White. Leo looked in askance at the guard. He had an inkling of who the stranger was but he had no idea why he was here.
He accompanied the guard to the gate and saw the figure. It was Ramu Khem, the Aryptian. A stalwart warrior with strange quasi mystical abilities he had proved himself to be a boon companion whilst some of the group had been investigating Gutheron’s Tomb. He had left Gaxmoor to go back to Arypt with his fortune after the disposal of the Harmonic Armour. Leo remembered he was something in the Order of Horus, some Aryptian bird headed god. He wondered what he was doing here.
“Ramu”, he said. “Its very good to see you although very unexpected.”
“I have decided I wish to explore this northern land. My last stay here has shown me that there is a huge world outside my country. I wish to travel to broaden my mind.”
Leo was impressed. Most of the Aryptians he met were insular, arrogant and convinced that their land was pivotal to all that happened in Ea. Ramu was an exception.
“Well, if you are interested, we are in the middle of a mission at the moment.”
He then proceeded to explain their last encounter in the Dosk heights, describe the cambion and relate the potential Frost Giant threat.
Ramu pondered and frowned. “Your mission is just and good. If you will allow, I would like to accompany you. I hope I will be of service.”
Leo was pleased. He had hoped Ramu was going to react in such a manner. So far as he was concerned, the more people they could take on the mission the better.
“Shall we go to the inn where you stayed last time and I will gather the others and introduce you. I am afraid that many of the people you met are either dead or have gone. Tarquin is still here. Cho has decided she wishes to follow another path. Please bear with me. I will be back in a few hours.”
Leo then left and went to the Margrave. A barrage of good news awaited him there.
After exchanging pleasantries with the Margrave, Kanor rapidly told Leo his latest news. He looked tired and drawn as if he hadn’t slept for several days.
“Leo, could you please come with me to Scornel in a month’s time. We are having a counsel of the Scornic League as to how best to meet the threat of the Mongali.”
Leo had several solutions to the Mongali threat. Most of them involved packing and leaving but he kept his thoughts to himself.
“My fort at Dendridi was destroyed and burnt by a Red Dragon. It was then seen flying off to the Dosk Heights. The descriptions suggest it was much bigger than Wormscather.”
Leo groaned. Heracules and the Frost Giants, Imarr, the Mongali and now this. Just how much more trouble could this city attract. An infinite amount judging by this news.
“Yes of course I will go with you to Scornel. As for the dragon, we will deal with it when we can. At the moment, as you know, we are going back after Heracules.”
“Ah yes, Saphie was talking about that. Oh, just to let you know. She has just received a knight. A relative of her fiancee.”
“Oh, the missing one. Has he been found then?”
“I presume so. The fact that Saphie isn’t here enthusing about a journey to Imgart, makes me suspect that the news is not good. Be careful there Leo. Oh, one last thing. Sigurd has had to go back to his kingdom. Something to do with ruling it I think.”
“Of course Margrave. Could you let Saphie know that we are meeting at this inn. Ramu Khem the Aryptian is back and we need to discuss various things with the others about going back to the Dosk Heights.”
With those words Leo left and collected Xiang at his favourite drinking haunt, Tarquin at the Temple, Barak at the Tower, Red Ivy at the training salle and took them all to the inn. There he introduced all of them to Ramu and they talked about plans to approach the complex. Leo had gone to Carrisqui earlier where he obtained a more detailed map of the layout from Gysshk the Hobgoblin. As they were still discussing their approach, Saphie approached with a stranger. A well armoured, powerful looking man, with a large shield, a sword and an ornate helm. Obviously a warrior.
Saphie said. “Hello everyone. This is Helm. He is a cousin of my late fiancee. He would like to come with us to the Heights. He is a Knight of the Griffin.”
Saphie had said that as if it was meant to mean something but Leo had never heard of this knightly order. There were so many of these orders though. However, Saphie was composed and dry eyed, suggesting that she had already done her grieving. So, room was made for the two arrivals and plans were discussed.
It was decided that the main method of transport was to teleport to an area close to the entrance and fly down to the ledge. From there the best thing was to go in with everything blazing.
The rest of the day was spent preparing and the next day everything was ready. As arranged the group teleported to the specified location. Various spells and effects were cast. Then the group flew along the cliffside to the entrance ledge. There had been a development. Large wooden iron bound doors barred the way into the complex. The group debated briefly and then Leo used one of his few items to make an entrance into the rock, which was then used by the others. Looking in, they could see the same set up as previously. There was a hill giant, an ettin, two trolls and a frost giant standing in a large entrance chamber. As the group stepped forward they took the enemy by surprise. Leo sealed off one of the exits from the hall and Barak cast a mighty fireball. When the fire cleared away, the four figures were on the floors, badly burned and dying. The group rushed in and congregated on the exit that had not been sealed.
Beyond the exit was another room with a large door on the opposite wall. Half a dozen hardened, fanatical orc warriors formed ranks with disciplined, military precision. They attacked Helm and Ivy. The doors behind the orcs opened and two more Frost Giants appeared, balancing large rocks in their huge hands. As was their wont, they threw these and wounded Red Ivy. Then Saphie this time cast a large fireball, felling the orcs and badly damaging the giants. In a fit of enthusiasm, after seeing the effectiveness of the spells, Ivy charged forward to attack the giants. She was quickly brought down to earth with four sharp blows from the giants, which left her a heap on the floor. Tarquin had to step forward quickly to save her, taking a glancing blow from one of the giants as he did so. The giants then shut the door.
Leo called the others and looking at Gysshk’s map, prepared to create another doorway through the wall. The group made ready and the entrance was promptly created. It made a tunnel into the rock. Cursing, Leo made a mental note to visit Gysshk and have a word with him about the accuracy of his mapping. The doors then opened. One of the giants stepped forward, looking healthier and engaged the group’s warriors. It was soon followed by the other. However, they were still hurt and the warriors and Saphie made short work of them.
The group examined the rooms quickly and then went back to the entrance chamber. Barak had reported that he had seen groups of orcs, ogres and a frost giantess in the chamber which had been sealed. The group got ready and waited for the wall to go down. They made ready and as soon as it did, two major spells were unleashed. One was a death effect, which felled most of the ogres and one of the orcs. Leo disliked using that effect. It was very expensive. Barak unleashed a lightning bolt at one orc that then forked and struck the other orcs albeit with less power. The warriors then advanced and mopped up the rest.
A quick search was made of the small complex of rooms in the area which seemed mainly a dining room, kitchen and pantry. A worked narrow tunnel leading further into the depths was found. Leo sent his prying eyes into it and found several open areas. He sent a couple into another area and they did not return. Thus warned, the group formed up into a single file and followed the tunnel, using a sunrod as a light source. Although Xiang approached the dangerous area cautiously the group did not expect the combination of deathly cold breaths emanating from six wolf like creatures the size of small ponies. Xiang stumbled back several steps, his skin white, his hair and eyebrows frozen. Leo cast his last death effect. It proved quite effective, killing four of the creatures. Helm and Ramu then engaged the final two. Tarquin healed Xiang and Red Ivy investigated a larger opening in front of the group. Chained to the floor, she found a strange seven headed reptilian beast, slightly resembling a tiny dragon but without wings. All seven head promptly breathed cold on both her and Xiang again, this time enraging him. However, the creature was not as dangerous and the warriors soon dealt with it as well as the remaining two wolf-like creatures.
As the party healed, Leo sent another of his eyes to investigate another corridor. When it came back it showed him a closed wooden barrier. The group briefly discussed how to circumvent this when a flicker made Leo whirl around.
Calmly, Heracules emerged from a wall just behind Barak. Leo watched in horrified fascination as the cambion stepped up and with a calculated, vicious efficiency hewed into the defenseless magician. Moving with a dancer’s grace he struck the first blow, then a second and Barak fell down, almost hewn in half, with most of his insides over the walls. Whirling in a perfect pirouette he struck another blow and Saphie fell down. Then he reversed his steps and struck two blows into Leo. Leo rocked but still stood. Heracules looked at him in mild annoyance as if insulted that he hadn’t fallen. Leo knew that he couldn’t take any more of this and he immediately cast his transport effect that took him into the entrance chamber. He vaguely hoped that the rest of the group could maybe make a fight of it. Tarquin dragged Saphie into the side cave. Helm engaged Heracules and the rest of the group made ready to receive the other denizens of the complex. These could be heard massing behind the barricade. As it opened, a blast of freezing cold affected Xiang, Ivy, Ramu and Saphie and an ogre mage appeared. Tarquin groaned as he recognised that Saphie had now died, frozen to death. Heracules engaged Helm and efficiently cut him down. He now had a clear path towards the line that was preparing to fight the orcs, which had just emerged from behind the barrier. Tarquin realised that their position was untenable. Heracules was cutting down people as if they had no defences, all their spell casters were dead or gone and they hadn’t even seen the Frost Giant Jarl and his court yet. He stepped forward and teleported with Ramu, Ivy and Xiang back to Gaxmoor.
Leo was back in the Tower of the White Way. He quickly made his way to the Temple of Urnus Gregaria, hoping that more of the group had made it back with Tarquin. He was met by the survivors. Again it was a bitter pill to swallow. Barak, his old teacher, was gone forever. Saphie, the Margrave’s sister was also gone as was Helm, whom he did not get to know, but who didn’t lack courage. He would need to talk to Kanor. He had seen Heracules close and had seen his potency as a warrior. He would have to admit that they were completely overmatched. It would be suicidal to go up against the cambion again. More people would be lost. He would have to tell Kanor bluntly that Gaxmoor didn’t have a warrior who could match the cambion at the moment and that they would have to make ready for a winter campaign.
StalkingBlue
First Post
Here's a little scene that randomling (as Saphie's player) and I (as Helm) came up with before last Sunday. It was originally meant to be an intro for my new character. Little did we suspect that it was destined to stand in place of an obituary for both of us.
Content warning: As the title might suggest, this is ... different.
Knights At Home
Helm has arrived in Gaxmoor, got a bath and a shave and changed into his court dress in record time. He's grabbed a man he judged appropriate to announce him to Saphie, and already his vaguely familiar stomping resounds as he approaches down the hallway ...
"Helm of Gorn, to pay his respects to your Ladyship," the guardsman announces, far from self-assured in the feminine environment of the Margrave’s sister’s apartments. In and around the poor man Helm strides, heels clicking together as he takes a flawlessly correct, if squarish bow, sword at his side.
"Most honoured Cousin..." the knight begins, somewhat strained.
"Helm!" Saphie's face lights up as she rises to her feet. "It's so good to see you!"
She looks at him for a moment, taking in the sober expression on his face. "What is it? Do you have news of Tarin?"
Helm strides forward, hands outstretched to meet hers. "Saphanie. You must arm your heart with courage. It is news of Tarin that I bring."
Saphie falters... but just a little. "Come and sit down," she says, somewhat unsteadily, guiding him over the table where she's been sitting. "Can I get you something to drink?"
"Saphie. Listen." Helm pushes gently for her to sit down (but continues whether she'll sit or not). "It was at Justiminium. We were fighting a retreat. It was a bloody day. Tarin gave his life for us."
Saphie sits.
For a long moment, she stares at Helm, then forcefully blinks back tears.
Drawing a deep breath, she says, "Were you with him at the end?"
"He died in my arms. His last words were of you. He smiled. He bade me assure you of his - undying devotion. Saphie, he died well, and no man better. It was Ukko's will."
Saphie shakes her head, closes her eyes, and falls silent, groping for Helm's hand.
Helm takes her hand in both of his and pats it, awkwardly, for the briefest of moments, then draws away.
“There is something you should know. It is not right that should be bereaved of all protection as well as love. So I thought –. In fact, I pledged my word to Tarin on it. Cousin –“
Something is obviously distressing him. Remain a knight, or follow ancient family tradition? There can be no question, really. – Helm gulps and hurtles onward at the more terrifying enemy.
“So if our recent defeats have not changed your heart about a possible alliance with an Imgart house. And if it be Ukko’s will that I live through this coming week – I will be prepared and willing to step into Tarin’s place and take you to wife.”
There. It is done. A long breath whistles out of him. “If that is any comfort. I cannot tell you how I have wished that lance had found me and not him.”
Saphie takes a moment to wipe away her tears, then opens her eyes. She finds herself once again staring into his face and once again reaching for his hand.
"Helm..." She flounders a little, then smiles.
"I am honoured to accept, Cousin." Briefly, she links her fingers with his, then lifts her hand gently away.
Something in Helm’s thunderstruck silence must have been unsatisfactory. For …
A moment later, Saphie is standing and turning away from her cousin, pulling her hair nervously back from her face with one hand.
"Helm... I would be honoured. I am honoured..." He can see her twisting her hair through her fingers. She turns back to face him. "You do not love me, Helm. Not as Tarin did." Her gaze drops to the floor. "Nor do I love you."
A long pause, then: "I would not marry at my brother's behest. I won't marry at Tarin's either. Thank you for your kind offer, Helm, but I'll marry for love, and no other reason."
She turns to leave him, her composure regained, and takes a few steps before looking back. "I'm sure my brother and I would be honoured if you would join us for dinner this evening, Helm. Good day."
Helm sways slightly in the fury of Saphie's wake. The door bangs.
A moment of silence before Helm recollects himself, looks startled at the femininity of his surroundings, and hurriedly stomps away.
***
Which could have been the awkward end of that. But wasn’t. Or not quite. About an hour before dinner …
Saphie finds out which guest room Helm has been put in, and makes her way there. She clears her throat, smoothes her dress, and knocks on the door three times.
“Come!”
Saphie takes a deep breath, opens the door, and steps into the room.
"Cousin, I want to apologize to you for my appalling conduct this afternoon. I was extremely grateful for the news of Tarin you brought, and most honoured by your proposal, and I should not have responded with such unforgivable rudeness. Please forgive me." The entire speech is delivered at high speed, and is clearly a prepared speech, but sincere in its sentiment.
She takes another step into the room and shuts the door behind her.
Helm clearly had expected anyone but Saphie. As the door opens, he glances up from the window seat where he’s sitting, shoeless, cleaning his sword with a cloth – and shoots up from his seat in the greatest discomfort, colour rising as her speech unfolds.
“Well,” he says. “Well. Cousin.” He starts forward, suddenly remembers to put the sword and cloth down, turns back. “Come in then – I mean to say, welcome to have come in. Cousin? I may still call you that, mayn’t I? Even if –.”
Shoes. He wriggles into them as unobtrusively as he can, which is not very. “It is I who should apologise. I ought not to have spoken to you so soon of such matters.” He smiles ruefully. “I suppose Ukko in His wisdom knew why he denied me the hands of a healer. Will you not come and tell me how you have been?” (Picking the sword and cloth back up from the window seat and looking around for another place to put it.) “Unless of course you prefer to … have a third party present?”
Saphie smiles in response as she takes a seat beside him. "My dear Cousin," she says, "I'm sure you will be the perfect gentleman, as ever."
“Well. Well … Tell me, Saphie. Have you been well?” Helm grows serious as he lowers his heavy shape down on the seat beside her, sword and cleaning cloth disposed at this feet. “There was talk when you left Justiminium so suddenly. Stories you were being magicked back here against your will.”
"I've been..." Saphie clears her throat. "The last few months have been somewhat eventful. My brother had me - he didn't want me in Imgart after the invasion, and he sent for me to come home. I didn't want to leave Tarin, but he, um..." Saphie trails off, takes a couple of breaths, and regains her composure. "He hired some mercenaries to have me removed. They overpowered me..." She pauses. "...and, so here I am."
“Overpowered!!” The seat groans and the window panes sing and shiver as the heavy knight, barely seated, leaps to his feet again. “Overpowered you! You mean – Do you mean –?” He casts around, fails, glowers down at her. “Saphanie, you must tell me, very carefully now. Are you free to come and go as you please? Has anyone, and I mean anyone made attempts on your honour?”
"Oh!" Saphie's colour rises a little as she realizes the impression she's given. "No! No, Helm, it was nothing like that." She takes a deep breath. "I didn't see them coming. I was packing, and somebody came into my chambers unannounced. I tried to defend myself, but they grabbed me, bound my hands and mouth, and brought me home." She lowers her head, twisting her fingers in her lap.
Helm blinks, and blinks again, completely at a loss for a moment. Then a rumble rises deep in his chest - and explodes in a roaring fit of laughter. “Grabbed you? Oh, oh, oh – grabbed you!
“Remember - remember that Midrentide Dance two years ago? When Carl had drunk more than his fill as usual, and – and – And you -.” Choking with laughter, he spreads all ten fingers out in front of him in an inept but vaguely recognisable imitation of burning hands. “To this day he will swear every - oath that you - turned into a writhing demon and breathed Hel’s own fire on him. I don’t think there was a man in Justiminium who’d care to try and grab you against your will. In fact, Tarin used to say –”
The memory sobers him. “Pardon, Cousin.
“I should have remembered you were well able to care of yourself. In fact, I mean to ask your opinion. That group of assorted heroes your brother has collected. What can you tell me about them?”
Saphie laughs with Helm at memories of social occasions past, but like him, sobers when Tarin is mentioned.
"Heroes," she says contemplatively. "Well, let's see. There's Leo, who's a high up in the White Way and the most paranoid man in a thousand-mile radius. His companion Tarquin, a kind man and most devout priest of Urnus Gregaria. Then there's Sigurd... whom you no doubt know of, Cousin. There's Xiang. He's a cavalier by training, I believe... a very serious man, quiet, but stronger in battle than you would imagine by looking at him. And we've recently acquired a new compatriot, a wizard from the dwarven citadel. I regret I've forgotten his name..." She pauses. "And myself, of course."
“Tarkane’s new minion king.” Helm’s gaze wanders out of the window in deep thought. “Yet, he must be a man of both strength and courage. You can fault the Jarls for many things, but not for placing their vote on a coward. I wonder how far he can be trusted …”
… And so amidst talk of past glory and current local and not-so-local politics, old friendship overcomes the obstacles of long separation and recent embarrassment; and an agreeable hour passes until (discreetly well-timed) the dinner bell rings.
Content warning: As the title might suggest, this is ... different.
Knights At Home
Helm has arrived in Gaxmoor, got a bath and a shave and changed into his court dress in record time. He's grabbed a man he judged appropriate to announce him to Saphie, and already his vaguely familiar stomping resounds as he approaches down the hallway ...
"Helm of Gorn, to pay his respects to your Ladyship," the guardsman announces, far from self-assured in the feminine environment of the Margrave’s sister’s apartments. In and around the poor man Helm strides, heels clicking together as he takes a flawlessly correct, if squarish bow, sword at his side.
"Most honoured Cousin..." the knight begins, somewhat strained.
"Helm!" Saphie's face lights up as she rises to her feet. "It's so good to see you!"
She looks at him for a moment, taking in the sober expression on his face. "What is it? Do you have news of Tarin?"
Helm strides forward, hands outstretched to meet hers. "Saphanie. You must arm your heart with courage. It is news of Tarin that I bring."
Saphie falters... but just a little. "Come and sit down," she says, somewhat unsteadily, guiding him over the table where she's been sitting. "Can I get you something to drink?"
"Saphie. Listen." Helm pushes gently for her to sit down (but continues whether she'll sit or not). "It was at Justiminium. We were fighting a retreat. It was a bloody day. Tarin gave his life for us."
Saphie sits.
For a long moment, she stares at Helm, then forcefully blinks back tears.
Drawing a deep breath, she says, "Were you with him at the end?"
"He died in my arms. His last words were of you. He smiled. He bade me assure you of his - undying devotion. Saphie, he died well, and no man better. It was Ukko's will."
Saphie shakes her head, closes her eyes, and falls silent, groping for Helm's hand.
Helm takes her hand in both of his and pats it, awkwardly, for the briefest of moments, then draws away.
“There is something you should know. It is not right that should be bereaved of all protection as well as love. So I thought –. In fact, I pledged my word to Tarin on it. Cousin –“
Something is obviously distressing him. Remain a knight, or follow ancient family tradition? There can be no question, really. – Helm gulps and hurtles onward at the more terrifying enemy.
“So if our recent defeats have not changed your heart about a possible alliance with an Imgart house. And if it be Ukko’s will that I live through this coming week – I will be prepared and willing to step into Tarin’s place and take you to wife.”
There. It is done. A long breath whistles out of him. “If that is any comfort. I cannot tell you how I have wished that lance had found me and not him.”
Saphie takes a moment to wipe away her tears, then opens her eyes. She finds herself once again staring into his face and once again reaching for his hand.
"Helm..." She flounders a little, then smiles.
"I am honoured to accept, Cousin." Briefly, she links her fingers with his, then lifts her hand gently away.
Something in Helm’s thunderstruck silence must have been unsatisfactory. For …
A moment later, Saphie is standing and turning away from her cousin, pulling her hair nervously back from her face with one hand.
"Helm... I would be honoured. I am honoured..." He can see her twisting her hair through her fingers. She turns back to face him. "You do not love me, Helm. Not as Tarin did." Her gaze drops to the floor. "Nor do I love you."
A long pause, then: "I would not marry at my brother's behest. I won't marry at Tarin's either. Thank you for your kind offer, Helm, but I'll marry for love, and no other reason."
She turns to leave him, her composure regained, and takes a few steps before looking back. "I'm sure my brother and I would be honoured if you would join us for dinner this evening, Helm. Good day."
Helm sways slightly in the fury of Saphie's wake. The door bangs.
A moment of silence before Helm recollects himself, looks startled at the femininity of his surroundings, and hurriedly stomps away.
***
Which could have been the awkward end of that. But wasn’t. Or not quite. About an hour before dinner …
Saphie finds out which guest room Helm has been put in, and makes her way there. She clears her throat, smoothes her dress, and knocks on the door three times.
“Come!”
Saphie takes a deep breath, opens the door, and steps into the room.
"Cousin, I want to apologize to you for my appalling conduct this afternoon. I was extremely grateful for the news of Tarin you brought, and most honoured by your proposal, and I should not have responded with such unforgivable rudeness. Please forgive me." The entire speech is delivered at high speed, and is clearly a prepared speech, but sincere in its sentiment.
She takes another step into the room and shuts the door behind her.
Helm clearly had expected anyone but Saphie. As the door opens, he glances up from the window seat where he’s sitting, shoeless, cleaning his sword with a cloth – and shoots up from his seat in the greatest discomfort, colour rising as her speech unfolds.
“Well,” he says. “Well. Cousin.” He starts forward, suddenly remembers to put the sword and cloth down, turns back. “Come in then – I mean to say, welcome to have come in. Cousin? I may still call you that, mayn’t I? Even if –.”
Shoes. He wriggles into them as unobtrusively as he can, which is not very. “It is I who should apologise. I ought not to have spoken to you so soon of such matters.” He smiles ruefully. “I suppose Ukko in His wisdom knew why he denied me the hands of a healer. Will you not come and tell me how you have been?” (Picking the sword and cloth back up from the window seat and looking around for another place to put it.) “Unless of course you prefer to … have a third party present?”
Saphie smiles in response as she takes a seat beside him. "My dear Cousin," she says, "I'm sure you will be the perfect gentleman, as ever."
“Well. Well … Tell me, Saphie. Have you been well?” Helm grows serious as he lowers his heavy shape down on the seat beside her, sword and cleaning cloth disposed at this feet. “There was talk when you left Justiminium so suddenly. Stories you were being magicked back here against your will.”
"I've been..." Saphie clears her throat. "The last few months have been somewhat eventful. My brother had me - he didn't want me in Imgart after the invasion, and he sent for me to come home. I didn't want to leave Tarin, but he, um..." Saphie trails off, takes a couple of breaths, and regains her composure. "He hired some mercenaries to have me removed. They overpowered me..." She pauses. "...and, so here I am."
“Overpowered!!” The seat groans and the window panes sing and shiver as the heavy knight, barely seated, leaps to his feet again. “Overpowered you! You mean – Do you mean –?” He casts around, fails, glowers down at her. “Saphanie, you must tell me, very carefully now. Are you free to come and go as you please? Has anyone, and I mean anyone made attempts on your honour?”
"Oh!" Saphie's colour rises a little as she realizes the impression she's given. "No! No, Helm, it was nothing like that." She takes a deep breath. "I didn't see them coming. I was packing, and somebody came into my chambers unannounced. I tried to defend myself, but they grabbed me, bound my hands and mouth, and brought me home." She lowers her head, twisting her fingers in her lap.
Helm blinks, and blinks again, completely at a loss for a moment. Then a rumble rises deep in his chest - and explodes in a roaring fit of laughter. “Grabbed you? Oh, oh, oh – grabbed you!
“Remember - remember that Midrentide Dance two years ago? When Carl had drunk more than his fill as usual, and – and – And you -.” Choking with laughter, he spreads all ten fingers out in front of him in an inept but vaguely recognisable imitation of burning hands. “To this day he will swear every - oath that you - turned into a writhing demon and breathed Hel’s own fire on him. I don’t think there was a man in Justiminium who’d care to try and grab you against your will. In fact, Tarin used to say –”
The memory sobers him. “Pardon, Cousin.
“I should have remembered you were well able to care of yourself. In fact, I mean to ask your opinion. That group of assorted heroes your brother has collected. What can you tell me about them?”
Saphie laughs with Helm at memories of social occasions past, but like him, sobers when Tarin is mentioned.
"Heroes," she says contemplatively. "Well, let's see. There's Leo, who's a high up in the White Way and the most paranoid man in a thousand-mile radius. His companion Tarquin, a kind man and most devout priest of Urnus Gregaria. Then there's Sigurd... whom you no doubt know of, Cousin. There's Xiang. He's a cavalier by training, I believe... a very serious man, quiet, but stronger in battle than you would imagine by looking at him. And we've recently acquired a new compatriot, a wizard from the dwarven citadel. I regret I've forgotten his name..." She pauses. "And myself, of course."
“Tarkane’s new minion king.” Helm’s gaze wanders out of the window in deep thought. “Yet, he must be a man of both strength and courage. You can fault the Jarls for many things, but not for placing their vote on a coward. I wonder how far he can be trusted …”
… And so amidst talk of past glory and current local and not-so-local politics, old friendship overcomes the obstacles of long separation and recent embarrassment; and an agreeable hour passes until (discreetly well-timed) the dinner bell rings.
StalkingBlue
First Post
S'mon said:Glad to see, not *that* different...
(bad PBEM experiences, you know)
I remembered that perfectly well, of course. That's precisely why I put that warning there. I was thinking, a bit of initial apprehension never hurt anyone ...
S'mon said:
Hey! XP. Fabulous. Thank you.
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