Six From Gate Pass - Chapter 3: Shelter From The Storm

[fromage67]

Lars watches the proceedings with tremendous interest, letting the more experienced and worldly Kirio and Alric speak for the group. As the chaos rises with the arrival of the elves, Lars smiles inwardly. This behaviour reinforces what he has always believed: That the great lords of the world are just ordinary buffoons in fancy clothes.

 

[digimattic]

Arnir was on the edge of breaking his silence when the princess and her retinue sweep into the council room. Just as he draws back his hood, revealing his fine, noble features, he locks onto the form of Calladan, the younger brother and now heir to his rival house. As his face flushes, he finds he can't look away, transfixed by what seems to be a ghost from his past. All can do as his eyes dart from Calladan to the Princess and back is kick Kirio softly in the shin under the table.

 

[Gregor]

Arnir, the Princess' eyes fix on you for a moment as you remove your hood. You notice some glimmer of recognition in her eyes before she quickly shifts her view back to Simeon and the other council members where tempers are heating.

Calladan, the elf holding the banner of Shahalesti glares at you with a steely gaze beneath his silver helmet. His lips curl slightly with distaste and his free hand opens and closes slowly along the hilt of his longsword. The majority of the people in the room are focused on the discussion which grows louder and louder. Calladan then overtly mouths some words in elven at Arnir. His eyes throw daggers of contained rage at Arnir and his hand begins to tremble slightly, sending minor ripples through the banner.

[sblock="Calladan's mouthed words, if you speak Elven"]You should have run farther away dead man...[/sblock]

The tension between the two elves simmers under the cacophany of the arguments going on around them. It grows, pulsates and seems to take on a life of its own. Just when it threatens to burst into violence, Simeon's voice rings out:

"Enough! This will descend into continued squabbling and I have many matters to attend to this day. This council is adjourned until further notice. In the interim Princess, I will hope that you will keep true to your word that you will approach your father and discuss altering his militaristic terms. Please leave now."

Princess Shalosha nods and says softly: "I will keep to my word Headmaster." She then summons her retinue and the elves depart, marching down the hallway to the balcony on which they flew in. On the way out, Calladan throws one more gaze at Arnir and then walks away.

The council members prepare to leave and you can make out the images of the elves flying in the drizzle over the harbour towards their ships. Giorgio quickly stands up and dispenses fine looking sheets of paper, covered in gorgeous writing and affixed with a wax seal bearing the emblem of the Wayfarers.

"These are for a performance in three weeks," he begins in his pompous voice, "of The Spectacular Trial of Toteth Topec, which you’ve no doubt heard will be premiering at the Wayfarers’ Theater. Though there will be other performances before the night of your tickets, the ageless beauty that is Guildmistress Larkins wants to be certain we have everything perfect before we show it to you, the city’s most respected citizens, and those dignitaries visiting from similarly respected nations. Think of the symbol it will be, for all you to attend a show together. I dare say it may be wholly disastrous to morale if even one of you fails to attend."

You take your tickets. The other council members nod their thanks, pocket their own tickets and file out in small groups grumbling and muttering about the meeting. Finally, only the party remains along with Simeon and Kiernan who look exhausted.

"Some meeting eh?" says Simeon. "However, I promised you some time after the meeting and that time is now. You apparently have some stolen intelligence you like to discuss?"

 

[funkmamagoat]

All can do as his eyes dart from Calladan to the Princess and back is kick Kirio softly in the shin under the table.

Kirio looks in consternation at the younger elf and whispers [sblock="if you speak elven"]"don't kick me fool, why in the blazes would you take your hood off or even think of saying anything here!" [/sblock]

Kirio pockets the ticket, as of yet undecided how he will deal with their offer...

Once the council session is over "We do indeed have some intelligence to share..." he looks to Torrent "We are here to share it are we not? As I said earlier, I am actually more than a little curious as to what it contains, given the sweat and blood we have spent getting it here..."

He whispers to Arnir when he gets the chance [sblock="if you speak elven"] "Listen Arnir, I've killed with you, I've bled with you, I even kind of like you. But if you don't tell me what the F#$% is happening with that flag bearing dandy, you are on your own..."[/sblock]

 

[Gregor]

Torrent opens her pack and produces the black case you've been carrying since Gate Pass. She opens it and removes the rolled up maps and the stack of pages that Arnir copied from the original documents. Torrent explains that they are copies of an original, currently in the hands of a woman named Shealis, an agent of Shahalesti. Torrent adds that Shealis suggested that if the Lyceum wished to discuss the originals, its mages should contact a wizard by the name of Clathan who serves in the court of the King.

Simeon takes the documents and looks them over, with Kiernan glancing over his shoulder. His eyes narrow as he reads over some of the pages. "Well, there is definitely some kind of cipher being used here, and I am not sure about these maps. Let me take these back to my office to cast a few divinations and to see about contacting this Clathan. This should take no longer than half of one hour." He rises and walks out of the room, intelligence in hand.

Kiernan takes a seat and reclines a bit. "Simeon is a powerful diviner, he should be able to learn much by the time he returns." says the Dwarf in his stern voice. "In the meanwhile, I would like to offer you employment in the service of Seaquen and the resistance. As Head of the Department of War, it is my responsibility to ensure that we are prepared and capable to resist Ragesian aggression. As you may have noticed, we are are far from that position at the current moment. The first step is acquiring agents and assets that not only have strategic value, but who also have their own resources in terms of arms, equipment and other sundries. I have a number of missions available that would greatly benefit Seaquen and can help improve our chances. The Lyceum will happily provide a house for you in the city, and we would be willing to provide a monetary reward for the successful completion of any missions we assign you. Are you interested?"

 

[funkmamagoat]

Kirio smiles at Kiernan "I cannot speak for the others, we have no leaders among us; but I am interested in hearing what types of assignment you have to offer. I have worked for the resistance before in Gate Pass and am no friend to the Regesians. That being said however, I am also what you may call a... free spirit, and so am not signing up for military service in any sense of the word. I commit only to hearing what missions you have available and reserve the right to refuse them if I feel the risks outweigh the rewards, like say "go forth and kill that red dragon". If I do take something on however I commit to completing the task assigned." Having said his peace he looks to the others to see what they think...

 

[Adjuntive]

"Indeed, I feel the same as Kirio in terms of reward. Consider us mostly self-interested in this particular enterprise," Alric says with a wolfish smile. "And considering no ships will be leaving Seaquen for the moment, I do have a particular need to be busying myself."

Alric grinds his teeth for a pensive moment but says nothing more.

 

[Gregor]

"Alas," says Katrina, "I must decline this offer. I came with the party merely to gain access to the Lyceum and now believe that my time is best spent learning. My time adventuring and as a member of this party is at an end for now. With your leave Kiernan, I would like to approach some instructors." Kiernan nods his consent and she stands up to leave the room. "It has been exciting while it lasted friends," she says as she leaves, "but I'll still see you at the Wayfarer's play. Oh," she adds as she walks down the hall out of sight, "thanks again for the rescue!"

Diashan follows suit. "I too must decline sir, for I have no more interest in adventuring towards a cause that leads to more war. I have seen enough in my long life and I seek now only to find my own way. I trust neither the Ragesians, nor the leaders of my homeland." With an outstretched hand, he says his goodbyes to the party. "I am forever indebted to you releasing me from the shrine below the earth, and for your help in coming this far. Stay safe and I wish you all long lives. Farewell." With that, Diashan leaves the council chamber and your party.

After hugging Diashan, Torrent weighs in. "Kiernan, I would like to offer my services directly to the Lyceum and the council. Gate Pass is a player in this war and it suffers the most at this very moment. My city and its resistance requires full representation on the war council and I am best positioned to do so. My party of friends here, the Six from Gate Pass, are capable and reliable. They will succeed at any task assigned. Kirio is a man of music, mirth, archery and keeps a silver tongue in his mouth. Lars is a sly yet courageous rogue with skills in misdirection and illusion. Bannock is a true warrior of the resistance who is quick to laugh and even quicker to strike with his glaive. Alric can hold the line with his shield and as long as you keep paying him, he will continue to swing his sword. Hrimr is a servant of nature and shifter of shapes whose commitment to the cause has never been questioned. Lastly, Arnir is a learned wizard whose knowledge, arcane power and quick wit have served to keep us informed, protected and ... entertained on our journey. As for me, I am a humble servant of Istishia, once student of the Lyceum and hopeful current member of the war council."

Kiernan grins and nods. "I accept your seat on the council Torrent of Gate Pass. Lee has spoken a great deal of kind words on your behalf and we are an improved council by having you join us. As for the rest of the group, consider me impressed and eager to put you to work."

 

[The Bashar]

Hrimr nods and makes a slight bow to Kiernan.

"Thank you for your kind words. Gate Pass needs to be relieved and the Ragesian advances need to battled back. A war of this scale will cause great harm to nature and sentient creature alike. I am a skilled healer, but like any Dwarf I know when to fight and that time is now."

 

[fromage67]

Lars nods at Torrent's introduction. "Kirio has stated it well, I will sign on for a specific task, but not for regular employment. I am curious to hear what mission you have in mind."