North by Northwest, Chapter 3: The Winter of Our Discontent
- Thread starter Old Fezziwig
- Start date
Bloodweaver1
First Post
Cole Braddock
"Your demour." Says Cole quit honestly. "The roads have been very harsh to us and it is refreshing if not amusing to see a place so untouched and people so positive."
Kajamba Lion said:
"Your demour." Says Cole quit honestly. "The roads have been very harsh to us and it is refreshing if not amusing to see a place so untouched and people so positive."
Old Fezziwig
this is a low-flying panic attack
The Mahatkata shrugs at Cole. "You make the best out of what you have. And what we have here is excellent in terms of resources, company, and entertainment. And, besides, the location is secure, and we're more than capable of defending it against anyone that might want to attack it."
As he's about to address Zeegra's question, one of the svirfneblin that had been sent off to cook returns with a tray full of carafes and large ivory goblets. "Ah, the wine. Delightful. It's ancient, possibly a good deal older than you, Master Arranz. Please, help yourselves. There's plenty where it came from." As he pours the wine, he speaks to the canis and the rest of you.
"The generals. There are five: the Frost Maiden, the Winged Prince, the Carver, the Hanged Man, and the Poet. There are rumors that the Poet has been killed, but my agents have learned nothing reliable about that. They arrived here from lands over the seas to the far north, in giant black boats, along with their retinues. They're all incredibly competent and incredibly egotistical, tending to surround themselves with things that they're fond of or creating aesthetics for themselves and their troops. It's foolish and asinine, but when you're as powerful as they are, your power can buy you a great deal of leeway in how you present yourself. For instance, the Carver tends to favor heavily armored troops with bladed weapons or claws that can get upon your men faster than you realize they're coming. The Winged Prince prefers, well, creatures and troops with wings; hit and run tactics, and so on. But, perhaps I can explain things better if you explain what specifically you'd like to know: deployments, composition, historical tendencies? And, even better, why do you want this knowledge?" He finishes a glass of wine and pours another for himself.
As he's about to address Zeegra's question, one of the svirfneblin that had been sent off to cook returns with a tray full of carafes and large ivory goblets. "Ah, the wine. Delightful. It's ancient, possibly a good deal older than you, Master Arranz. Please, help yourselves. There's plenty where it came from." As he pours the wine, he speaks to the canis and the rest of you.
"The generals. There are five: the Frost Maiden, the Winged Prince, the Carver, the Hanged Man, and the Poet. There are rumors that the Poet has been killed, but my agents have learned nothing reliable about that. They arrived here from lands over the seas to the far north, in giant black boats, along with their retinues. They're all incredibly competent and incredibly egotistical, tending to surround themselves with things that they're fond of or creating aesthetics for themselves and their troops. It's foolish and asinine, but when you're as powerful as they are, your power can buy you a great deal of leeway in how you present yourself. For instance, the Carver tends to favor heavily armored troops with bladed weapons or claws that can get upon your men faster than you realize they're coming. The Winged Prince prefers, well, creatures and troops with wings; hit and run tactics, and so on. But, perhaps I can explain things better if you explain what specifically you'd like to know: deployments, composition, historical tendencies? And, even better, why do you want this knowledge?" He finishes a glass of wine and pours another for himself.
Old Fezziwig
this is a low-flying panic attack
[sblock=OOC]Hi, folks. I'm not going to roleplay this conversation by myself. 
[/sblock]
[/sblock]
Scotley
Hero
Cian Dark Elf Bard
"I see we have come to the right place," says Cian sipping the ancient wine slowly and breathing deeply of its bouqet. "You might say we are scouts. Our quest is to discover the nature of those in power and the forces at their disposal." Holding his glass up he adds, "Your wine is excellent."
[sblock=OOC]Sorry I've been a little over commited lately, but I should be able to get better posts up this week.[/sblock]
"I see we have come to the right place," says Cian sipping the ancient wine slowly and breathing deeply of its bouqet. "You might say we are scouts. Our quest is to discover the nature of those in power and the forces at their disposal." Holding his glass up he adds, "Your wine is excellent."
[sblock=OOC]Sorry I've been a little over commited lately, but I should be able to get better posts up this week.[/sblock]
Last edited:
Bloodweaver1
First Post
Cole Braddock
"I guess the simplist answer is that we wish to put an end to thier reign. Like Cian says we were originally scouts. An advance team with an objective of setting up camp and establishing supply routes. However, I think it is fair to assume that our mission has evolved. "
"I guess the simplist answer is that we wish to put an end to thier reign. Like Cian says we were originally scouts. An advance team with an objective of setting up camp and establishing supply routes. However, I think it is fair to assume that our mission has evolved. "
Thanee
First Post
Zeegra
“Thank you for the wine. It tastes most delicious.”
Zeegra takes another nip from the glass, before she goes on.
“The Frost Maiden... We have heard this name before. We have met one of her followers. In fact, he sent us here. This is all very confusing. He said, that we were of some use to her, and that there is something here, which we would want, though we do not have the slightest idea yet, what that might be.”
“I surely hope, that we do not end up in battle with the forces of these generals. Maybe we should do as he suggested and try to clear out Delzomen's Forge to bring back what we find in the depths. He said, the Ice Queen would grant an audience to anyone that can do that.”
“Thank you for the wine. It tastes most delicious.”
Zeegra takes another nip from the glass, before she goes on.
“The Frost Maiden... We have heard this name before. We have met one of her followers. In fact, he sent us here. This is all very confusing. He said, that we were of some use to her, and that there is something here, which we would want, though we do not have the slightest idea yet, what that might be.”
“I surely hope, that we do not end up in battle with the forces of these generals. Maybe we should do as he suggested and try to clear out Delzomen's Forge to bring back what we find in the depths. He said, the Ice Queen would grant an audience to anyone that can do that.”
Old Fezziwig
this is a low-flying panic attack
He smiles at the compliments to his wine. "It is good, isn't it? An advance force? From whom have you been sent?"
[In response to Cian] "Fair enough. I think the names of the generals are fairly descriptive, but a brief overview of their forces should be helpful enough for your purposes. All their troops have their origin in either the Nine Hells or the Abyss, although, after some 20 centuries, many have...gone native, as the Frost Maiden's svirfneblin have. You should, as best you can, outfit yourselves with cold iron weapons, silvered weapons, holy water, and so on — my outfitters might be able to help you with some of that. For a nominal price."
He continues. "Really, it would be more instructive for you to know of their politics and relationships before the composition of their troops, I think. The Frost Maiden — whom you've heard of," he smiles at Zeegra, "is currently...out of favor with the other four. She feels somewhat neglected as she mans the front lines. And not entirely undeservedly so. The leverage she thought it would buy her with the others never materialized. I mean, it really just opened the way for the Hanged Man to seize power and grab the Throne of Kith Kisane. The Carver and the Winged Prince each man one of the coasts and serve as lieutenants to the Hanged Man; they're little more than his lackeys, but I've heard rumors over the centuries about one or the other aiming to dispatch of his opposite and then take the Throne from the Hanged Man. As for the Poet, he's dead or hiding, but he was always the wild card in the bunch. Auril, the Frost Maiden, might be at odds with them, but she always was and always will be to one degree or another. (Of course her servant thinks you'll be of use to her — you could blow this whole thing open.) Still, no one ever knew what the Poet wanted." He drinks more wine.
"As for there being something here that you want, I'm sure there is. There are many things here that you'll want if your mission has evolved the way you imply it has." He pauses. "After all, I have the most extensive library of ancient texts and documents in the entire world. I'm a bit of a collector. And, I'll make an offer to you — you should meet with Auril and see what she wants — keep her at arm's length but use her...she should be an invaluable ally to you. She always was to me. I'll outfit you for an expedition to the Forge, for free (never mind the nominal price), if you'll agree to retrieve the journals of the Forge's master for me. They aren't powerful, but they're of great interest to me. And, while you're there, you can clean it out so you'll be ready to meet with her. You can talk it over." He stands, still smiling benignly. "I need to check on dinner."
[In response to Cian] "Fair enough. I think the names of the generals are fairly descriptive, but a brief overview of their forces should be helpful enough for your purposes. All their troops have their origin in either the Nine Hells or the Abyss, although, after some 20 centuries, many have...gone native, as the Frost Maiden's svirfneblin have. You should, as best you can, outfit yourselves with cold iron weapons, silvered weapons, holy water, and so on — my outfitters might be able to help you with some of that. For a nominal price."
He continues. "Really, it would be more instructive for you to know of their politics and relationships before the composition of their troops, I think. The Frost Maiden — whom you've heard of," he smiles at Zeegra, "is currently...out of favor with the other four. She feels somewhat neglected as she mans the front lines. And not entirely undeservedly so. The leverage she thought it would buy her with the others never materialized. I mean, it really just opened the way for the Hanged Man to seize power and grab the Throne of Kith Kisane. The Carver and the Winged Prince each man one of the coasts and serve as lieutenants to the Hanged Man; they're little more than his lackeys, but I've heard rumors over the centuries about one or the other aiming to dispatch of his opposite and then take the Throne from the Hanged Man. As for the Poet, he's dead or hiding, but he was always the wild card in the bunch. Auril, the Frost Maiden, might be at odds with them, but she always was and always will be to one degree or another. (Of course her servant thinks you'll be of use to her — you could blow this whole thing open.) Still, no one ever knew what the Poet wanted." He drinks more wine.
"As for there being something here that you want, I'm sure there is. There are many things here that you'll want if your mission has evolved the way you imply it has." He pauses. "After all, I have the most extensive library of ancient texts and documents in the entire world. I'm a bit of a collector. And, I'll make an offer to you — you should meet with Auril and see what she wants — keep her at arm's length but use her...she should be an invaluable ally to you. She always was to me. I'll outfit you for an expedition to the Forge, for free (never mind the nominal price), if you'll agree to retrieve the journals of the Forge's master for me. They aren't powerful, but they're of great interest to me. And, while you're there, you can clean it out so you'll be ready to meet with her. You can talk it over." He stands, still smiling benignly. "I need to check on dinner."
Scotley
Hero
Cian
Dazzled by the posibility of getting a look at the library here and the journals to be found in the Forge, Cian's mind is racing. Once they have some privacy he says, "This sounds like too good an offer to pass up. As long as you all feel it meets the goals of your mission, I'm interested."
Dazzled by the posibility of getting a look at the library here and the journals to be found in the Forge, Cian's mind is racing. Once they have some privacy he says, "This sounds like too good an offer to pass up. As long as you all feel it meets the goals of your mission, I'm interested."
Bloodweaver1
First Post
Cole Braddock
"If something is too good to be true.. it probally isn't" Whispers Cole as he mules of the Host's offer.
"If something is too good to be true.. it probally isn't" Whispers Cole as he mules of the Host's offer.
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