The Rape of Morne [Final Update]
- Thread starter Sepulchrave II
- Start date
Azure Trance
First Post
See, I told you we should have nabbed him after work with that potato bag.
Sepulchrave II
Legend
The next few posts are when the proverbial sh*t hits the fan - I'll try and update as often as possible, but my RL schedule is pretty mad at the moment.
This takes us up to 9th September, btw, so I'm slipping behind in the posts - we're probably 6 sessions further on. At the same time, I'm trying not to gloss events too drastically.
**
Morne: Part 1
"You are in violation of our compact," Kothchori spat at the Succubus, Chomele. "You promised the return of all of my books after Jiuhu."
"And you undertook the obliteration of the town, not a few paltry fireworks," she smiled easily.
"That was not specified in the agreement – merely that I assault the place," he retaliated. "Your master is in breach. I demand their return immediately, or he will suffer at my hands."
Chomele laughed. "What will you do, Kothchori? You have a handful of spells at your disposal: will you Teleport to the Abyss and slay Graz’zt with a Fireball?"
"Return the books," the Mage demanded again.
"Or what?"
"I am not entirely toothless, Chomele."
Instantly, without word or gesture, Kothchori vanished.
Oh, sh*t, the Demoness thought. She immediately made an Ethereal Jaunt to where her contact, the Glabrezu Thurukos waited.
"You incompetent whore," he screamed.
The Demoness sneered. "Relay the news to his Highness. I have not lost the Wizard, merely misplaced him. I will need a larger incentive to woo him, however. And watch your mouth, Pig-face. I am favoured."
Thurukos smiled a wicked smile. "Not for long, pretty-pretty. There are a billion other sluts in the Abyss who are just the same as you."
"Perhaps," she agreed. "But I am not the messenger bearing bad news." And, with that, she rematerialized upon the Prime.
The Succubus waited for an hour, and made a second Ethereal Jaunt. Thurukos, who was waiting, smote her with a Power Word and grabbed her with an enormous pincer around the neck. It bit into her, and ichor dribbled down the Glabrezu’s claw.
"The Prince has divined Kothchori’s location. He is in Fumaril."
"Why?" She choked.
"He is looking for the Elementalist’s daughter, you imbecile."
"Is she capable of reaching her mother?" The Succubus was aghast.
"Who knows? Anyway, she’s not there, so it doesn’t matter. Kothchori is here."(Mental image). "I don’t need to tell you of the price of failure."
"No, indeed," she replied. She smiled to herself. The sprite, Orolde, would give her the leverage she needed. Kothchori seemed to care about his servant more than anyone else in the world.
Quite touching, really.
**
Eadric observed events at Hrim Eorth in the wake of the massacre which had occurred there. Hullu’s Bagaudas moved amongst the fallen, looting their bodies, and dispatching those who still breathed with dagger thrusts to the throat.
The Dragon – or whatever it had been – had vanished, but not before wreaking havoc amongst the armoured nobility of Jiuhu and their mounted retainers. As if to press the point home, the witches – whom Mostin had located around halfway into the battle – had dragged a quartet of fire elementals into the fray, panicking the horses and decimating the front ranks of an already disordered charge. Under Hullu’s direction, the rain of quarrels and arrows continued to descend upon his enemies. He had reordered his troops – resisting numerous requests from his underlings to surge forwards – and the brave and foolish few who had reached the Uediian lines found the pikemen waiting for them.
Eadric sighed. Aristocrats could be such arrogant, ignorant bastards. Although he regretted the loss of life, he had little sympathy for the group of brightly-clad knights who had continued despite all odds. At least those who fled were still alive.
A year ago, he would have felt differently, but a lot had happened in that time. The tourneys at Trempa were a lifetime away.
"What will you do?" He asked Mostin.
"Do?" The Alienist questioned.
"You have just witnessed the violation of the Injunction," Eadric said. "Aren’t you honour-bound to follow up on it?"
"Honour? No. Pragmatism and concern that this does not escalate further – I suppose so. Others who were observing will have seen the image evoked by Rimilin, however. I am implicated in the assault upon Jiuhu. If an assembly forms, they will probably have questions for me as well."
"And that concerns you?"
"Ultimately, no," Mostin replied. "Rimilin’s suggestion that I was the first to act in contempt is hardly plausible. Mud sticks, however, no matter who throws it. I will wait until someone contacts me – it might look rather suspicious if I immediately embark upon a crusade to bring Rimilin to justice, whilst being under scrutiny myself. Especially this recently after Deorham. I’ll just go about my business normally."
"How long before one of the other mages approaches you?" Nwm asked.
"Not too long, I’d imagine," Mostin smiled.
Fifteen minutes passed, and a sensor appeared nearby. Seconds later, Shomei appeared. Eadric immediately became uneasy.
"I thought you were in Hell," Mostin remarked wrily.
"News travels fast," she replied. "Did you do Jiuhu?"
"Certainly not," the Alienist said. "Ask the Paladin, here. Besides, I’d have used Sonics." Mostin raised an eyebrow. "This is the second time that you’ve called me on the Injunction, Shomei. What are you, the legal enforcer in Wyre?"
"Hardly," she laughed. "But think about it, Mostin. If things are about to go haywire – and I have information that would suggest that this is the case – perhaps now is a good time to assert oneself."
"Maybe," Mostin agreed dubiously. "What do you mean, haywire?"
"Ask him," she said, pointing at Eadric.
Mostin turned to look at Eadric quizzically.
"I’ve had the odd dream or two," Eadric admitted.
"Go on," Mostin said slowly.
"I believe that Jovol might intervene in the current crisis."
"Jovol has communicated to you through dreams? That is a rare honour. What did he say?"
"Well, nothing, actually," The Paladin replied. "He just appeared. Made his presence known. I believe that he is benign."
"Jovol’s motivations are obscure at best," Mostin said.
"How powerful is he?" Eadric asked.
"No-one really knows," Mostin admitted. "Perhaps very. I’ve never met him. I think Hlioth used to know him, before she went crazy."
Nwm sighed.
"I think he may be an ally," Eadric carefully said. "Although I don’t know for sure."
"Jovol is active," Shomei confirmed. "My sources inform me of as much."
Eadric’s head reeled. Her sources? What sources? Devils, but which ones? This woman was beyond him. She had personal contact with entities whose names, for him, embodied the ultimate evil in the Universe. Names which appeared in lists of the Fallen. But she bore no taint. It made no sense – she was an impossible paradox. Had she encountered even Him?. The nameless Adversary? And she would facilitate the translation of a Duke of Hell who would, at some point, tempt him. Somehow, however, he could not see her as an enemy. Was that a device of the Enemy? Ngaarh! Don’t go there, you’ll go crazy.
"All things are necessary," Nehael said, stepping into the tent and sitting.
The knot of logical impasse within the Paladin’s mind instantly evaporated, and he experienced a feeling of relief.
He remembered Nwm’s words regarding Nehael: She spoke to me of a Middle Way.
**
"Is that it?" Ortwin asked. He had expected something somewhat more formal. "There is no ceremony? No celebration? No congratulations? No Gifts?"
"Why should there be?" Iua asked. "Ulao is the law here. He just says: ‘let it be so,’ and it is."
"So what now?" The Bard asked.
"I am no longer his responsibility. Also, note, from now on he owes me no guidance or aid. That is now your duty. You also, of course, owe him your fealty, if and when he requests it."
"Fealty?" Ortwin asked, horrified. "Now hang on. If this is some feudal bullsh*t thing, then he can forget it."
"The exchange is made," Iua said, shrugging. "I assumed that you knew the implications of marriage to an Elemental noble, however minor. If it’s any consolation, I think that its unlikely that he’ll call upon your services any time soon."
"Great," Ortwin said sarcastically.
"We should find a Janni, and make our way back to the Prime," Iua said, holding up a small bag and grinning.
"For the journey?" Ortwin asked.
Iua opened the bag, which was full of flawless corundum stones. "Our dowry," she said. "Of course, Djinn law requires that the bride alone determines how it is spent."
Ortwin looked at her askance.
"I’m joking, Ortwin," she smiled. "What do you want to do with it? We could buy a castle."
"Ed’s got one already," Ortwin said. "Assuming he’s not King of Wyre by now. No – let’s just squander it."
**
Eadric’s decision to march immediately upon Morne was not undertaken lightly. He sent fast riders to bring instructions to Olann, Sercion and Streek – who had already been dispatched with a sizeable cavalry – to contain the army of the Duke of Kaurban as well as the combined troops of Tomur and Thahan, should they attempt to intercept Eadric’s main force. He reinforced them with another fifty Templars and three hundred mounted auxiliaries, but issued dire warnings against meeting the numerically superior forces of Foide and Sihu in open battle.
The news that Tahl brought, that Eisarn would support him, lifted his mood somewhat. But Eisarn’s units were four days away, and had no hope of joining with him before the Paladin moved out. They were also in Thahan – now, to all intents, hostile territory.
Hullu. Hullu was a concern. What would he do?
The Uediians had not pulled back after the battle at Hrim Eorth, but their Cingetomaru – their war leader – had ordered the entire camp to uproot and move northeast. He was also heading straight for Morne, and support for the movement would undoubtedly grow even more rapidly. His negotiating position would become very strong very quickly – already, indentured farmers whose families had, for years, served the Oronthonian nobility of northern Hethio, were deserting their masters and flocking to join the popular movement.
And – unknown to Eadric - Mesikämmi was not remiss in disseminating knowledge of the events that had transpired near the Nenning. But, despite her own desires, and following the advice offered by the Succubus Chr’ri, she maintained a discreet distance from Hullu himself.
"Maintaining a certain mystery is never a bad thing," Chr’ri had said with a wicked smile.
Nwm undertook the responsibility of speaking with Hullu again – partly to gauge the Tunthi warrior’s position, and partly to attempt to determine the identity of the sorceresses who were aiding him
"I will accompany you," Eadric insisted.
"That is probably unwise, given the current climate," Nwm said. "Besides, I’m going to the mountains for a day or two before I meet with Hullu."
"Mountains?"
"I have a pair of eagles to catch," he said mysteriously, before vanishing into mist.
Hyne entered Eadric’s tent shortly afterwards. "They are ready," his herald said.
Eadric sighed. "Very well. Sound the trumpets. We’re moving out."
Ten thousand soldiers – nobles, Templars, squires, retainers, mercenaries, auxiliaries, and levies – as well as numerous camp followers, began to crawl towards Morne.
**
Nwm arrived in the woods near Deorham, and was greeted by the immense form of the bear Tostig, who slobbered over him. The Druid touched him gently on the nose. Nwm incanted briefly, and when he spoke, the sounds which issued from his throat which guttural whines and growls.
"Tostig, free. Go. Eat berries and fish. Find mate."
The Bear grunted, and lumbered back into the woods. Nwm smiled. No change there, then, he thought ironically. The last of his erstwhile menagerie, Tostig had long since been left to his own devices. He would probably still loiter in the woods there – there were, after all, plenty of fish in the numerous streams which crossed Eadric’s land.
Lots of land, Nwm reminded himself. Eadric was now Earl of Deorham, and Soraine had bestowed the estates of Hernath and Droming on him. The Paladin was, in fact, very, very rich.
The Druid lamented the loss of warm evenings spent on the Steeple with Ortwin and Eadric in idle conversation. Before conflict, or Alienists, or Succubi.
Change. Always Change, he grinned, and flew north to the mountains. Regret was not in his nature.
He sped over Thahan, brooding under the threat of war; over the cold, dark waters of the lake of the same name, and passed over Dramore, ascending into the dizzying aeries of the high Thrumohars. Through his torc, the Druid’s mind reached out and he began to search.
*
Chomele found Kothchori amongst the sprawl of Fumaril with little difficulty, his exact location revealed to her by Thurukos. He was pestering passers-by for information regarding Mulissu’s daughter, only to receive blank and uncomprehending stares.
He was still filthy and ragged: most people mistook him for a beggar, or a madman, or both.
Chomele – hooded, and clothed in the garb of an expensive courtesan, approached him wearing a different face to the one he had previously encountered. It was only when she stood a few feet from him, that she revealed herself.
She threw a tiny severed hand to the ground at the Wizard’s feet.
"Orolde has another hand, and two feet," she smiled. "Plus two ears, two eyes, and a rather pathetic set of genitalia. You will do as commanded, Kothchori. Do I make myself clear?
He nodded dumbly.
**
Three days passed, each more threatening and ominous than the last. Time seemed to drag interminably for Eadric. Moving troops was frustratingly slow and tedious – making camp, breaking camp, his speed limited to the plod of his heavy infantry, lest his army separated and the columns of men, horses and wagons became spread too thinly and vulnerable.
News of the movements of other units continually reached him through his scouts and through Mostin’s divinations.
To the north, Kaurban’s force retreated under the advance of Olann, but refused to meet the Ardanese captain in battle. Rather, it simply withdrew further into Thahan, and taunted the Templars and mercenaries to pursue it.
The combined army of Foide and Sihu had left Lang Herath and was moving upon a course which, unless Eadric entered Morne within two or three days, threatened to intercept him outside of the capitol. It was led by Durhm, as he had anticipated. Somewhere behind them, the Paladin knew that Eisarn followed.
Mostin’s efforts to find Rimilin had been unsuccessful, and the Alienist concluded that must be Mind Blanked. As he sat on his horse, Mostin thought. Logically, the Acolyte must have an item to provide this benefit – the spell was undoubtedly beyond his means. How had he acquired such a fabulous treasure? A patron seemed likely – probably a demon, given Rimilin’s inclinations, and probably Graz’zt, given the history of the current conflict. Rimilin would have likely compacted. He rode up the line of troops and spoke to Eadric.
"Demons," he announced.
Eadric sighed. It hardly came as a surprise.
Shomei visited Waide and Hlioth and Tozinak, in an attempt to form a quorum for action and tried without success to contact Jovol. She cursed the Ogre-Mage for his arrogance in the affair – what in hell’s name was he playing at? He was so damned superior. Both Waide and Tozinak were sympathetic to her solicitations, although each conceded that little could be done until Rimilin was, in fact, located. And the matter of Jiuhu also remained: who had perpetrated the attack?
Hlioth the Green Witch was, predictably, disinclined to help.
As Eadric set camp that night, in wide fertile fields barely a day from Morne, news reached him that his scouts and Hullu’s outriders had spotted each other south of the city. Durhm’s force was rapidly closing on his position from the northeast, and the gates to the city were closed and barred – most of the inhabitants of the outlying farms having already retreated within its walls. Morne’s defenses were in place, although it appeared that the Royal Council was not deploying troops beyond the city itself. They probably worried that there were too many variables.
Eadric laughed. He understood that all too clearly.
Just before midnight, Ortwin and Iua arrived in the camp, borne on a fierce wind evoked by the duelist. Eadric, seemingly more human again – to Ortwin’s relief – fretted continually about the situation. He was eased to find the Bard as nonchalant as ever, and experienced the distractions offered by Ortwin’s (unexaggerated) stories of Magathei as a welcome break.
At one o’clock in the morning, Mostin and Nehael entered Eadric’s tent. The Alienist reached into his Portable Hole, and erected his mirror.
"I think you should probably see this," the Mostin said. He waved a hand, and an image rapidly formed upon the surface of the looking-glass.
Fire. Slaughter. Death.
Morne.
"What happened?" Eadric asked, aghast.
"We are still trying to work that out," Nehael replied. "Hullu is leading an assault within the walls, but we aren’t sure who is responsible for the fires – maybe those who are with him, maybe Rimilin, perhaps whoever assaulted Jiuhu. And the Temple – several of the outbuildings have collapsed, the Fane building shows signs of enormous weakening."
"I suspect it was hit by an Earthquake," Mostin suggested. "Maybe more than one."
"How did Hullu get in?" Eadric asked, groaning.
The scene on the mirror shifted again, around to the eastern side of the city. A long rent, seeming in the very fabric of space itself, penetrated the twenty-foot thick curtain wall.
"Passwalls," Mostin said. "Maybe twenty or thirty of them. He has access to very potent magic."
"And he is attempting to seize the city?"
"Unlikely," Nehael replied. "He has at most two hundred men with him – although undoubtedly they are the best of his Bagaudas. No, this is more of a guerilla raid. And a demonstration of his seriousness."
"Can you find Nwm?"
Mostin concentrated briefly, and the face of the Druid appeared in the mirror. He was sitting on an icy outcrop with two eagles. He seemed unperturbed by the precipice – a drop of nearly a thousand feet – which stretched below him. As the sensor appeared, he raised an eyebrow, and began to cast a spell.
Mostin stuck his head through the mirror.
"It’s only me," the Alienist said. "Do you really need to associate with such loathsome creatures?"
"What an ill-mannered human," one of the eagles remarked.
Mostin would have blinked if he’d had eyelids.
"They are Awakened," Nwm grinned. "Take care not to insult them. I would like to introduce Sem and Gheim. Sem, Gheim, this is Mostin the Metagnostic. He is a friend, but rather distrusting of avians."
"Unfortunate," Sem remarked drily.
"You keep dubious company, Nwm," Gheim added.
Mostin groaned. A pair of birds that talked. That was all he needed. "I assume that you haven’t spoken to Hullu, yet?" He asked.
"He is safe for now. I had planned to catch up with him tomorrow."
"Change your plans," Mostin said. "He’s in Morne, causing chaos."
**
The old fire that he’d felt in the Linna in his youth had returned to him. The speed, the danger, the exhilaration. A rage that bordered on ecstasy. Somehow, however, it seemed to persist. His desire to slay was immense, moving through his body like a tide.
He had felt the ground rumble, observed the rain of Fireballs that had erupted from the sky. He didn’t know who, or how, or where it had come from – the two sorceresses who accompanied him were quiescent, and as distant and restrained as always. Bells clamoured across the city in response to the fires.
It didn’t matter. He had cut a rift into the wall, thrusting Melancholy into the dressed granite, and dragging her slowly through the stone. The great blocks had parted easily, as if folded back upon themselves. His Bagaudas, under cover of night, had crept below the walls and followed him beyond.
The streets were already in uproar, with lights kindling, people banging on doors, families streaming out of houses, guards dashing impotently around and everyone cursing the sky.
"Kill," Hullu screamed insanely, and the guerillas fell upon those present indiscriminately.
This takes us up to 9th September, btw, so I'm slipping behind in the posts - we're probably 6 sessions further on. At the same time, I'm trying not to gloss events too drastically.
**
Morne: Part 1
"You are in violation of our compact," Kothchori spat at the Succubus, Chomele. "You promised the return of all of my books after Jiuhu."
"And you undertook the obliteration of the town, not a few paltry fireworks," she smiled easily.
"That was not specified in the agreement – merely that I assault the place," he retaliated. "Your master is in breach. I demand their return immediately, or he will suffer at my hands."
Chomele laughed. "What will you do, Kothchori? You have a handful of spells at your disposal: will you Teleport to the Abyss and slay Graz’zt with a Fireball?"
"Return the books," the Mage demanded again.
"Or what?"
"I am not entirely toothless, Chomele."
Instantly, without word or gesture, Kothchori vanished.
Oh, sh*t, the Demoness thought. She immediately made an Ethereal Jaunt to where her contact, the Glabrezu Thurukos waited.
"You incompetent whore," he screamed.
The Demoness sneered. "Relay the news to his Highness. I have not lost the Wizard, merely misplaced him. I will need a larger incentive to woo him, however. And watch your mouth, Pig-face. I am favoured."
Thurukos smiled a wicked smile. "Not for long, pretty-pretty. There are a billion other sluts in the Abyss who are just the same as you."
"Perhaps," she agreed. "But I am not the messenger bearing bad news." And, with that, she rematerialized upon the Prime.
The Succubus waited for an hour, and made a second Ethereal Jaunt. Thurukos, who was waiting, smote her with a Power Word and grabbed her with an enormous pincer around the neck. It bit into her, and ichor dribbled down the Glabrezu’s claw.
"The Prince has divined Kothchori’s location. He is in Fumaril."
"Why?" She choked.
"He is looking for the Elementalist’s daughter, you imbecile."
"Is she capable of reaching her mother?" The Succubus was aghast.
"Who knows? Anyway, she’s not there, so it doesn’t matter. Kothchori is here."(Mental image). "I don’t need to tell you of the price of failure."
"No, indeed," she replied. She smiled to herself. The sprite, Orolde, would give her the leverage she needed. Kothchori seemed to care about his servant more than anyone else in the world.
Quite touching, really.
**
Eadric observed events at Hrim Eorth in the wake of the massacre which had occurred there. Hullu’s Bagaudas moved amongst the fallen, looting their bodies, and dispatching those who still breathed with dagger thrusts to the throat.
The Dragon – or whatever it had been – had vanished, but not before wreaking havoc amongst the armoured nobility of Jiuhu and their mounted retainers. As if to press the point home, the witches – whom Mostin had located around halfway into the battle – had dragged a quartet of fire elementals into the fray, panicking the horses and decimating the front ranks of an already disordered charge. Under Hullu’s direction, the rain of quarrels and arrows continued to descend upon his enemies. He had reordered his troops – resisting numerous requests from his underlings to surge forwards – and the brave and foolish few who had reached the Uediian lines found the pikemen waiting for them.
Eadric sighed. Aristocrats could be such arrogant, ignorant bastards. Although he regretted the loss of life, he had little sympathy for the group of brightly-clad knights who had continued despite all odds. At least those who fled were still alive.
A year ago, he would have felt differently, but a lot had happened in that time. The tourneys at Trempa were a lifetime away.
"What will you do?" He asked Mostin.
"Do?" The Alienist questioned.
"You have just witnessed the violation of the Injunction," Eadric said. "Aren’t you honour-bound to follow up on it?"
"Honour? No. Pragmatism and concern that this does not escalate further – I suppose so. Others who were observing will have seen the image evoked by Rimilin, however. I am implicated in the assault upon Jiuhu. If an assembly forms, they will probably have questions for me as well."
"And that concerns you?"
"Ultimately, no," Mostin replied. "Rimilin’s suggestion that I was the first to act in contempt is hardly plausible. Mud sticks, however, no matter who throws it. I will wait until someone contacts me – it might look rather suspicious if I immediately embark upon a crusade to bring Rimilin to justice, whilst being under scrutiny myself. Especially this recently after Deorham. I’ll just go about my business normally."
"How long before one of the other mages approaches you?" Nwm asked.
"Not too long, I’d imagine," Mostin smiled.
Fifteen minutes passed, and a sensor appeared nearby. Seconds later, Shomei appeared. Eadric immediately became uneasy.
"I thought you were in Hell," Mostin remarked wrily.
"News travels fast," she replied. "Did you do Jiuhu?"
"Certainly not," the Alienist said. "Ask the Paladin, here. Besides, I’d have used Sonics." Mostin raised an eyebrow. "This is the second time that you’ve called me on the Injunction, Shomei. What are you, the legal enforcer in Wyre?"
"Hardly," she laughed. "But think about it, Mostin. If things are about to go haywire – and I have information that would suggest that this is the case – perhaps now is a good time to assert oneself."
"Maybe," Mostin agreed dubiously. "What do you mean, haywire?"
"Ask him," she said, pointing at Eadric.
Mostin turned to look at Eadric quizzically.
"I’ve had the odd dream or two," Eadric admitted.
"Go on," Mostin said slowly.
"I believe that Jovol might intervene in the current crisis."
"Jovol has communicated to you through dreams? That is a rare honour. What did he say?"
"Well, nothing, actually," The Paladin replied. "He just appeared. Made his presence known. I believe that he is benign."
"Jovol’s motivations are obscure at best," Mostin said.
"How powerful is he?" Eadric asked.
"No-one really knows," Mostin admitted. "Perhaps very. I’ve never met him. I think Hlioth used to know him, before she went crazy."
Nwm sighed.
"I think he may be an ally," Eadric carefully said. "Although I don’t know for sure."
"Jovol is active," Shomei confirmed. "My sources inform me of as much."
Eadric’s head reeled. Her sources? What sources? Devils, but which ones? This woman was beyond him. She had personal contact with entities whose names, for him, embodied the ultimate evil in the Universe. Names which appeared in lists of the Fallen. But she bore no taint. It made no sense – she was an impossible paradox. Had she encountered even Him?. The nameless Adversary? And she would facilitate the translation of a Duke of Hell who would, at some point, tempt him. Somehow, however, he could not see her as an enemy. Was that a device of the Enemy? Ngaarh! Don’t go there, you’ll go crazy.
"All things are necessary," Nehael said, stepping into the tent and sitting.
The knot of logical impasse within the Paladin’s mind instantly evaporated, and he experienced a feeling of relief.
He remembered Nwm’s words regarding Nehael: She spoke to me of a Middle Way.
**
"Is that it?" Ortwin asked. He had expected something somewhat more formal. "There is no ceremony? No celebration? No congratulations? No Gifts?"
"Why should there be?" Iua asked. "Ulao is the law here. He just says: ‘let it be so,’ and it is."
"So what now?" The Bard asked.
"I am no longer his responsibility. Also, note, from now on he owes me no guidance or aid. That is now your duty. You also, of course, owe him your fealty, if and when he requests it."
"Fealty?" Ortwin asked, horrified. "Now hang on. If this is some feudal bullsh*t thing, then he can forget it."
"The exchange is made," Iua said, shrugging. "I assumed that you knew the implications of marriage to an Elemental noble, however minor. If it’s any consolation, I think that its unlikely that he’ll call upon your services any time soon."
"Great," Ortwin said sarcastically.
"We should find a Janni, and make our way back to the Prime," Iua said, holding up a small bag and grinning.
"For the journey?" Ortwin asked.
Iua opened the bag, which was full of flawless corundum stones. "Our dowry," she said. "Of course, Djinn law requires that the bride alone determines how it is spent."
Ortwin looked at her askance.
"I’m joking, Ortwin," she smiled. "What do you want to do with it? We could buy a castle."
"Ed’s got one already," Ortwin said. "Assuming he’s not King of Wyre by now. No – let’s just squander it."
**
Eadric’s decision to march immediately upon Morne was not undertaken lightly. He sent fast riders to bring instructions to Olann, Sercion and Streek – who had already been dispatched with a sizeable cavalry – to contain the army of the Duke of Kaurban as well as the combined troops of Tomur and Thahan, should they attempt to intercept Eadric’s main force. He reinforced them with another fifty Templars and three hundred mounted auxiliaries, but issued dire warnings against meeting the numerically superior forces of Foide and Sihu in open battle.
The news that Tahl brought, that Eisarn would support him, lifted his mood somewhat. But Eisarn’s units were four days away, and had no hope of joining with him before the Paladin moved out. They were also in Thahan – now, to all intents, hostile territory.
Hullu. Hullu was a concern. What would he do?
The Uediians had not pulled back after the battle at Hrim Eorth, but their Cingetomaru – their war leader – had ordered the entire camp to uproot and move northeast. He was also heading straight for Morne, and support for the movement would undoubtedly grow even more rapidly. His negotiating position would become very strong very quickly – already, indentured farmers whose families had, for years, served the Oronthonian nobility of northern Hethio, were deserting their masters and flocking to join the popular movement.
And – unknown to Eadric - Mesikämmi was not remiss in disseminating knowledge of the events that had transpired near the Nenning. But, despite her own desires, and following the advice offered by the Succubus Chr’ri, she maintained a discreet distance from Hullu himself.
"Maintaining a certain mystery is never a bad thing," Chr’ri had said with a wicked smile.
Nwm undertook the responsibility of speaking with Hullu again – partly to gauge the Tunthi warrior’s position, and partly to attempt to determine the identity of the sorceresses who were aiding him
"I will accompany you," Eadric insisted.
"That is probably unwise, given the current climate," Nwm said. "Besides, I’m going to the mountains for a day or two before I meet with Hullu."
"Mountains?"
"I have a pair of eagles to catch," he said mysteriously, before vanishing into mist.
Hyne entered Eadric’s tent shortly afterwards. "They are ready," his herald said.
Eadric sighed. "Very well. Sound the trumpets. We’re moving out."
Ten thousand soldiers – nobles, Templars, squires, retainers, mercenaries, auxiliaries, and levies – as well as numerous camp followers, began to crawl towards Morne.
**
Nwm arrived in the woods near Deorham, and was greeted by the immense form of the bear Tostig, who slobbered over him. The Druid touched him gently on the nose. Nwm incanted briefly, and when he spoke, the sounds which issued from his throat which guttural whines and growls.
"Tostig, free. Go. Eat berries and fish. Find mate."
The Bear grunted, and lumbered back into the woods. Nwm smiled. No change there, then, he thought ironically. The last of his erstwhile menagerie, Tostig had long since been left to his own devices. He would probably still loiter in the woods there – there were, after all, plenty of fish in the numerous streams which crossed Eadric’s land.
Lots of land, Nwm reminded himself. Eadric was now Earl of Deorham, and Soraine had bestowed the estates of Hernath and Droming on him. The Paladin was, in fact, very, very rich.
The Druid lamented the loss of warm evenings spent on the Steeple with Ortwin and Eadric in idle conversation. Before conflict, or Alienists, or Succubi.
Change. Always Change, he grinned, and flew north to the mountains. Regret was not in his nature.
He sped over Thahan, brooding under the threat of war; over the cold, dark waters of the lake of the same name, and passed over Dramore, ascending into the dizzying aeries of the high Thrumohars. Through his torc, the Druid’s mind reached out and he began to search.
*
Chomele found Kothchori amongst the sprawl of Fumaril with little difficulty, his exact location revealed to her by Thurukos. He was pestering passers-by for information regarding Mulissu’s daughter, only to receive blank and uncomprehending stares.
He was still filthy and ragged: most people mistook him for a beggar, or a madman, or both.
Chomele – hooded, and clothed in the garb of an expensive courtesan, approached him wearing a different face to the one he had previously encountered. It was only when she stood a few feet from him, that she revealed herself.
She threw a tiny severed hand to the ground at the Wizard’s feet.
"Orolde has another hand, and two feet," she smiled. "Plus two ears, two eyes, and a rather pathetic set of genitalia. You will do as commanded, Kothchori. Do I make myself clear?
He nodded dumbly.
**
Three days passed, each more threatening and ominous than the last. Time seemed to drag interminably for Eadric. Moving troops was frustratingly slow and tedious – making camp, breaking camp, his speed limited to the plod of his heavy infantry, lest his army separated and the columns of men, horses and wagons became spread too thinly and vulnerable.
News of the movements of other units continually reached him through his scouts and through Mostin’s divinations.
To the north, Kaurban’s force retreated under the advance of Olann, but refused to meet the Ardanese captain in battle. Rather, it simply withdrew further into Thahan, and taunted the Templars and mercenaries to pursue it.
The combined army of Foide and Sihu had left Lang Herath and was moving upon a course which, unless Eadric entered Morne within two or three days, threatened to intercept him outside of the capitol. It was led by Durhm, as he had anticipated. Somewhere behind them, the Paladin knew that Eisarn followed.
Mostin’s efforts to find Rimilin had been unsuccessful, and the Alienist concluded that must be Mind Blanked. As he sat on his horse, Mostin thought. Logically, the Acolyte must have an item to provide this benefit – the spell was undoubtedly beyond his means. How had he acquired such a fabulous treasure? A patron seemed likely – probably a demon, given Rimilin’s inclinations, and probably Graz’zt, given the history of the current conflict. Rimilin would have likely compacted. He rode up the line of troops and spoke to Eadric.
"Demons," he announced.
Eadric sighed. It hardly came as a surprise.
Shomei visited Waide and Hlioth and Tozinak, in an attempt to form a quorum for action and tried without success to contact Jovol. She cursed the Ogre-Mage for his arrogance in the affair – what in hell’s name was he playing at? He was so damned superior. Both Waide and Tozinak were sympathetic to her solicitations, although each conceded that little could be done until Rimilin was, in fact, located. And the matter of Jiuhu also remained: who had perpetrated the attack?
Hlioth the Green Witch was, predictably, disinclined to help.
As Eadric set camp that night, in wide fertile fields barely a day from Morne, news reached him that his scouts and Hullu’s outriders had spotted each other south of the city. Durhm’s force was rapidly closing on his position from the northeast, and the gates to the city were closed and barred – most of the inhabitants of the outlying farms having already retreated within its walls. Morne’s defenses were in place, although it appeared that the Royal Council was not deploying troops beyond the city itself. They probably worried that there were too many variables.
Eadric laughed. He understood that all too clearly.
Just before midnight, Ortwin and Iua arrived in the camp, borne on a fierce wind evoked by the duelist. Eadric, seemingly more human again – to Ortwin’s relief – fretted continually about the situation. He was eased to find the Bard as nonchalant as ever, and experienced the distractions offered by Ortwin’s (unexaggerated) stories of Magathei as a welcome break.
At one o’clock in the morning, Mostin and Nehael entered Eadric’s tent. The Alienist reached into his Portable Hole, and erected his mirror.
"I think you should probably see this," the Mostin said. He waved a hand, and an image rapidly formed upon the surface of the looking-glass.
Fire. Slaughter. Death.
Morne.
"What happened?" Eadric asked, aghast.
"We are still trying to work that out," Nehael replied. "Hullu is leading an assault within the walls, but we aren’t sure who is responsible for the fires – maybe those who are with him, maybe Rimilin, perhaps whoever assaulted Jiuhu. And the Temple – several of the outbuildings have collapsed, the Fane building shows signs of enormous weakening."
"I suspect it was hit by an Earthquake," Mostin suggested. "Maybe more than one."
"How did Hullu get in?" Eadric asked, groaning.
The scene on the mirror shifted again, around to the eastern side of the city. A long rent, seeming in the very fabric of space itself, penetrated the twenty-foot thick curtain wall.
"Passwalls," Mostin said. "Maybe twenty or thirty of them. He has access to very potent magic."
"And he is attempting to seize the city?"
"Unlikely," Nehael replied. "He has at most two hundred men with him – although undoubtedly they are the best of his Bagaudas. No, this is more of a guerilla raid. And a demonstration of his seriousness."
"Can you find Nwm?"
Mostin concentrated briefly, and the face of the Druid appeared in the mirror. He was sitting on an icy outcrop with two eagles. He seemed unperturbed by the precipice – a drop of nearly a thousand feet – which stretched below him. As the sensor appeared, he raised an eyebrow, and began to cast a spell.
Mostin stuck his head through the mirror.
"It’s only me," the Alienist said. "Do you really need to associate with such loathsome creatures?"
"What an ill-mannered human," one of the eagles remarked.
Mostin would have blinked if he’d had eyelids.
"They are Awakened," Nwm grinned. "Take care not to insult them. I would like to introduce Sem and Gheim. Sem, Gheim, this is Mostin the Metagnostic. He is a friend, but rather distrusting of avians."
"Unfortunate," Sem remarked drily.
"You keep dubious company, Nwm," Gheim added.
Mostin groaned. A pair of birds that talked. That was all he needed. "I assume that you haven’t spoken to Hullu, yet?" He asked.
"He is safe for now. I had planned to catch up with him tomorrow."
"Change your plans," Mostin said. "He’s in Morne, causing chaos."
**
The old fire that he’d felt in the Linna in his youth had returned to him. The speed, the danger, the exhilaration. A rage that bordered on ecstasy. Somehow, however, it seemed to persist. His desire to slay was immense, moving through his body like a tide.
He had felt the ground rumble, observed the rain of Fireballs that had erupted from the sky. He didn’t know who, or how, or where it had come from – the two sorceresses who accompanied him were quiescent, and as distant and restrained as always. Bells clamoured across the city in response to the fires.
It didn’t matter. He had cut a rift into the wall, thrusting Melancholy into the dressed granite, and dragging her slowly through the stone. The great blocks had parted easily, as if folded back upon themselves. His Bagaudas, under cover of night, had crept below the walls and followed him beyond.
The streets were already in uproar, with lights kindling, people banging on doors, families streaming out of houses, guards dashing impotently around and everyone cursing the sky.
"Kill," Hullu screamed insanely, and the guerillas fell upon those present indiscriminately.
Velenne
Explorer
Yay, the whole party's back together!! I love these updates!
Poor Hullu -nothing more than a pawn. And I want to see a fight between our heroes and Hullu accompanied by his lieutenant and the two sorceresses. I get the feeling something like that is going to happen.
Care to share your own predictions?
Poor Hullu -nothing more than a pawn. And I want to see a fight between our heroes and Hullu accompanied by his lieutenant and the two sorceresses. I get the feeling something like that is going to happen.
Care to share your own predictions?
Guardian Andy
First Post
Ah! Passwall at will! How can I not caught that?
Great story and update!I begin to doubt does even "WoW" done any justice to this story.
But I have yet another question, how does you and Nwm's player(that's Dave, did I remember correctly?) view the spell Awaken ?
Some would said that granting intelligence to animal can be a curse, it can't go back to it's species, because a life among those simple animals won't satisfy it any more. They are different, they can now understand things, develop moral, and experience emotions. What will they feel if they saw a hunter kill one of their kind in front of them? Just as a man saw an animal attack another man, will they rush to aid? Will they want to stop that kind of thing all together? Will they try to presuade Nwm to prevent that from happening? etc. You know where this went.
Perhaps it is just thinking too much, but I think that awaken, if used extenisively, can change the entire world and "reform" the nature. Just think about if every thing you eat started to talk and feel the emotions, and develop their personal desire. (Well, actually, Druid already can talk to everything they eat...)
Perhaps one days, an army of sparrows will crush over the world....
Great story and update!I begin to doubt does even "WoW" done any justice to this story.
But I have yet another question, how does you and Nwm's player(that's Dave, did I remember correctly?) view the spell Awaken ?
Some would said that granting intelligence to animal can be a curse, it can't go back to it's species, because a life among those simple animals won't satisfy it any more. They are different, they can now understand things, develop moral, and experience emotions. What will they feel if they saw a hunter kill one of their kind in front of them? Just as a man saw an animal attack another man, will they rush to aid? Will they want to stop that kind of thing all together? Will they try to presuade Nwm to prevent that from happening? etc. You know where this went.
Perhaps it is just thinking too much, but I think that awaken, if used extenisively, can change the entire world and "reform" the nature. Just think about if every thing you eat started to talk and feel the emotions, and develop their personal desire. (Well, actually, Druid already can talk to everything they eat...)
Perhaps one days, an army of sparrows will crush over the world....
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Thorntangle
First Post
Wow - looks like Melancholy has finally started to assert itself.
That is one powerful sword.
That is one powerful sword.
