The Reconquista: Part I (Shadows over Istivin)

[Branding Opportunity]

A look back

OOC: The story momentarily flashes back to the morning of Coldeven 15th. The party has just returned to the rented townhouse after their meeting with Algorthas the Seer. You are busy preparing to infiltrate Krelont Keep through a long-forgotten escape tunnel and discover what is going on in the Deeper Dungeons. If you are having trouble remembering exactly what is going on at this point in the narrative, please refer back the the brief summary posted in the OOC thread.

[FLASHBACK]

The rains from the day before have let up, even though the sky is still cloudy and cold. A stiff wind blows from the high peaks of the Jotens, visible far to the south. After their brief conversation with Algorthas, the group has made its way back to their pied-a-terre in the western half of the city to gather their belongings and make relevant preparations for a little light sewer spelunking.

None of you slept particularly well after all the commotion of the previous night. Even after you finally found some rest, your thoughts always returned to the questions raised by the appearance of the ensorcelled guardsman. Your dreams were filled with dark, threatening shapes and disturbing noises, and a few of you awoke from these night terrors bathed in your own sweat.

As always seems to happen, the kitchen at the back of the house has become a gathering place where everyone comes to periodically check in with each other. It is a large room on the ground floor of the townhouse. A small back staircase leades up to the main dining room on the floor above. One door leads to the walled-in back courtyard. Next to the door, the stables can be seen through yellowish-tinted windows. The other door leads to the front entry hall.

A large fireplace used for cooking dominates one wall, providing light and heat. Numerous cabinets filled with dried foodstuffs and spices occupy the other side of the room. Two large tables used for food preparation and eating stand in the middle, with numerous chairs strewn about.

Two servants are busy preparing food for the entire company. They are Josepha and Mirtik, husband and wife caretakers for the townhouse and who live in a much smaller cottage down the street. Both are of mixed Oerdian-Flan ancestry and look to be in their mid-forties.

Morley Stendal's dog Beau is curled up next to the fireplace, quite unconcerned with the activity going on around him. Two white and black cats which tenuously belong to the house seem to wish to join him there, but are still a bit wary of the mastiff. They are sitting under one of the large tables, keeping a close eye on the large, fawny-colored canine.

 

[James Heard]

[Flashback]

The two servants were cowed and crowded, as the kitchen filled to the bursting with bustling, bleary-eyed Reddogs. Gemlem returned without anyone ever knowing he'd left early in the morning with an armful of supplies and kicking at the heels of a rather despondent looking Roen. The older gentleman, obviously nursing a hangover, now sat eyes cast downwards peeling potatoes while the sharply jabbing finger of Eshanna Maile darted dangerously close to his nose with every viperous word that jerked from her lips. Yes, indeed, for servants that were perhaps unaccustomed to soldiers, the tiny camp of rangers that had parked itself inside their domain was quite undomesticated.

Mavic Larigne sat imperiously in a rough wooden chair, aloofly expelling small rings out in the courtyard from smoking a delicate, elongated pipe. His enormous, rough-looking hands stroked his beard in thought as the grizzled veteran Merres sat on a short stool in front of him, vigorously polishing his boots while his son Anders stood ramrod stiff at attention and gave the Captain a report on the events of the last night. After some coaxing, one of the house cats had deigned to sit upon his lap, and his other hand scratched absently under the animal's jaw.

Thom the Elder and Gemlem had held a whispered conference earlier, and had left for the day to "see the sights" and no doubt obtain whatever largess they had decided was needful. Meanwhile, Mishell had led an eager looking Miggens out to the stables to tend the horses, much to the jealous resignation of Thom Younger, who stood unhappily at the front door of the temporary headquarters of the small cavalry unit.

It jus' ain't fair, he thought, glumly looking out at the vastly menacing looking landscape of a peaceful city street. I was up all night!

OOC: Note to self, never try this with any more followers than this.

 

[Scotley]

Morley Stendal Human Ranger

[Flashback]

A lean dark haired man comes to the kitchen door from the stables. He pauses to knock the mud from his boots and cloak before entering. He nods companionably to several of the Redarms. Inhaling the smells of food deeply he asks, "Did you lot leave any breakfast?" The big dog near the fire gets up and strides over with a pause for a stretch. The man ruffles the fur of the animals neck affectionately and asks the dog, "So you won't trouble yourself to go for an early morning ride, but at the mention of breakfast you're my best buddy huh?" Finding a hearty breakfast he makes his way up to the dinning room to see who else is about.

 

[Thanee]

Latalya

[Flashback]

With no need for sleep, and only little need for rest, Latalya was up early as usual and she had been sitting in front of the house for a while, watching the morning sky. At the smell of breakfast, the silver-haired elf finally returns to the inside of the townhouse, wrapped inside her cloak to fight the morning chill.

“Good morning! I hope you slept well.”

Carefully putting her impressive sword and her elven bow aside, obviously she had considered it wise to go fully armed, even though she was just outside of the house, Latalya takes a seat and a look-around, taking in the impressions radiated by the people around her. Soon, they would head out to infiltrate the castle, and to find out more about what's going on in Istivin... hopefully.

 

[Rhun]

Reivik

[Flashback]

A stout dwarf enters the room, still clad in nightshirt of mail and looking somewhat disheveled. He appears a bit blurry-eyed, and his usually neatly braided beard is beginning to become unraveled. "Need more sleep," grunts Reivik, who then pauses to sniff the air with his craggy nose. "Ah, breakfast." The dwarf quickly helps himself to a heaping portion of food, and begins to eat with a hearty gusto.

 

[J. Alexander]

George

(flashblack0

Going down to the commone room, freshly groomed and daper looking, George makes his way to the table. "I trust we all had a restfuly night" he comments in an ironic tone. Preparing a small plate for himself, he goes over to where the cat are and begins to absentmindly feed them.

 

[Scotley]

Morley

Between bites, Morley greets his companions as they arrive. "A pleasant good morning to you."

 

[Rhun]

The normally talkative dwarf simply grunts his acknowledgment to Morley. The lack of sleep has obviously left Reivek in a sour mood.

 

[Bloodweaver1]

Anastasia Winterheart

With only a few pieces of her armor on and her hair tied back she walks into the kitchen area feeling as if she just caught the same amount of sleep as she did back in basic training. “Sleep, I fear is something that comes in very small doses in this town.” Whispers Anastasia as she helps herself to an offering of breakfast. After a few moments of silence passes through the kitchen, the holy warrior peers around the room and asks the question that has been on her mind since their arrival, “So my friends, what do you fear is the cause of all’ this?”

 

[Rhun]

“So my friends, what do you fear is the cause of all’ this?”

Reivik looks up from his plate of food. "Somethin' dark and fearsome, not to doubt. Could it be any other way? As the bards say 'no rest for the weary,' as we certainly found last night." The dwarf gives a quick shake of his head, and goes back to shoveling food into his mouth.