The Reconquista: Part I (Shadows over Istivin)

[Seeten]

Anastasia looks toward Mavic, overhearing parts of his conversation, and asks him, once he is not surrounded by minions, "Mavic. Would you like me to accompany you to see the Marchioness? I have some influence with the Monarchy, and know their ways. In addition, perhaps she will be able to assist us in unravelling this mystery of ours, or perhaps worse, maybe the answers we seek are there."

 

[Hypersmurf]

After leaving the livery he looks to the East Citadel. "Morley, I agree, how did we forget about this place.

Reivik sniffs. "Adequate, I suppose." It's not often that his inner dwarf makes itself obnoxiously apparent, but he does slip from time to time...

As George spins his tale for the guard, Reivik shrugs and joins Morley in propping up the walls...

 

[Branding Opportunity]

Walking up to the Citadel's front door, I address the guard, "Col. Anarion (retired) is here to see Capt. Ren....what, you want to know the purpose? My business is private and for his eyes only." George winks and says softly, "not that you won't overhear later. Please tell him it is about being Vigil in protecting Sterich."

The East Citadel is a sprawling affair with a wood and metal portcullis gate granting access to a enormous interior dirt courtyard. Inside you can see infantrymen already at drills, their instructors barking out commands in sharp stacatto, or practicing halbardier unit formations. A large mess hall, armory and two barracks line the interior wall to your left and right. Past these, on the far side of the square is a second gate which leads to the command keep.

Four halbardiers stand next to the open portcullis as you approach, eyeing the human, elf and dwarf with some suspicion. (OOC: I am really holding myself back from making a "Two Towers" joke here.) After your introduction gives you an appraising look which transforms into a quick yet sharp salute (OOC: After all, it's always better to salute an officer, even if you're not sure they deserve it.) Making a military turn, he trots into a nearby building, you assume to pass on your message. The other guards do not seem inclined to let you in, although they do stand up a bit straighter now.

After approximately ten minutes, the guard returns and beckons you into the central courtyard, "Just stan' over there against the wall, sirs. Captain Ren will be wit you momentarily. He's jus' in a meetin' at this moment." He gives another salute before returning to his post, just to be on the safe side.

OOC: From what you remember about Garant Ren, he's a half-wood elven man who had joined your former liege, the Baron Veaublanche, before the war. He was never greatly liked among the other men, because he tended to only look out for himself, but was so good at moving unnoticed that the Baron quickly began including him in his more covert missions. Although he did not seem to take joy in killing, he also did not shy away from it. He left eastern Sterich and joined the military when the old Baron's grandson took over after his grandfather's death four years ago.

 

[Ranger Rick]

The East Citadel is a sprawling affair with a wood and metal portcullis gate granting access to a enormous interior dirt courtyard. Inside you can see infantrymen already at drills, their instructors barking out commands in sharp stacatto, or practicing halbardier unit formations. A large mess hall, armory and two barracks line the interior wall to your left and right. Past these, on the far side of the square is a second gate which leads to the command keep.

Four halbardiers stand next to the open portcullis as you approach, eyeing the human, elf and dwarf with some suspicion. (OOC: I am really holding myself back from making a "Two Towers" joke here.) After your introduction gives you an appraising look which transforms into a quick yet sharp salute (OOC: After all, it's always better to salute an officer, even if you're not sure they deserve it.) Making a military turn, he trots into a nearby building, you assume to pass on your message. The other guards do not seem inclined to let you in, although they do stand up a bit straighter now.

After approximately ten minutes, the guard returns and beckons you into the central courtyard, "Just stan' over there against the wall, sirs. Captain Ren will be wit you momentarily. He's jus' in a meetin' at this moment." He gives another salute before returning to his post, just to be on the safe side.

OOC: From what you remember about Garant Ren, he's a half-wood elven man who had joined your former liege, the Baron Veaublanche, before the war. He was never greatly liked among the other men, because he tended to only look out for himself, but was so good at moving unnoticed that the Baron quickly began including him in his more covert missions. Although he did not seem to take joy in killing, he also did not shy away from it. He left eastern Sterich and joined the military when the old Baron's grandson took over after his grandfather's death four years ago.

George returns all salutes and than stands at parade rest near the wall. George whispers, "Reivik, why do I feel I am on the receiving end of a execution squad? If we are executed, than I will for go that copper shilling you owe me and write off the debt." <Wink and a chuckle.>

 

[Hypersmurf]

A large mess hall, armory and two barracks line the interior wall to your left and right. Past these, on the far side of the square is a second gate which leads to the command keep.

Four halbardiers stand next to the open portcullis as you approach, eyeing the human, elf and dwarf with some suspicion. After your introduction gives you an appraising look which transforms into a quick yet sharp salute. Making a military turn, he trots into a nearby building, you assume to pass on your message. The other guards do not seem inclined to let you in, although they do stand up a bit straighter now.

While they wait, Reivik eyes the mess hall wistfully. "Starting to think Latalya had the right idea," he comments. "Breakfast first, business after..."

After more minutes pass, he sighs again, touching a rumbling belly gingerly. "Hey, Colonel," he says to George. "Do you think one of these boys might..." He breaks off as their messenger comes back into view. "Never mind... guess it'll wait."

 

[Hypersmurf]

George returns all salutes and than stands at parade rest near the wall. George whispers, "Reivik, why do I feel I am on the receiving end of a execution squad? If we are executed, than I will for go that copper shilling you owe me and write off the debt." <Wink and a chuckle.>

"Your accounting's off, lad," Reivik corrects him. "Don't forget that scrape I got you out of last year. Paying the innkeeper for the damages set me back a dozen gold. Don't you think I've forgotten it, either."

He taps one temple with a gloved finger. "Remembering trivia is my profession. No convenient memory lapses'll get you out of what you owe..."

He grins, then glances back over his shoulder at the mess hall and sighs again.

 

[Branding Opportunity]

After a few more minutes of waiting around a youngish-looking half-elven man appears from a nearby building which is flanked by two guards. He has extremely close-cropped black hair and is wearing a chain shirt coverered in the black-and-red lion rampant of the Sterich flag. A scimitar hangs on his back and a short sword on his belt. He immediately walks over to your group with a purpuseful stride and stretches out his hand to George, "It is good to see you again, brother. You have arrived at the perfect time, as always." His expression in warmer than you have ever seen it and he turns to Morley and Reivik.

The Captain gives the others a quick bow, stating "Greetings to you also, gentlemen, and welcome to Istivin, Captain Garant Ren at your service. I only wish you could have arrived at a better time." He turns back to George and whispers in Elvish, "Could I speak to you for a moment in private, Anarion?"

After pulling you aside he continues in the sybillant tounge of your common ancestors, "You have arrived at a dangerous time, and there are more spies and more danger here than you would believe. Can the human and the dwarf be trusted?"

 

[Ranger Rick]

"Your accounting's off, lad," Reivik corrects him. "Don't forget that scrape I got you out of last year. Paying the innkeeper for the damages set me back a dozen gold. Don't you think I've forgotten it, either."

He taps one temple with a gloved finger. "Remembering trivia is my profession. No convenient memory lapses'll get you out of what you owe..."

He grins, then glances back over his shoulder at the mess hall and sighs again.

George breaks out into a loud 'head tilted back' chuckle. "Silly I for trying to out haggle a dwarf....Aye, that smoke does smell good, but ..." Rubs his eye with a ringed finger "you know hunger is all mind over matter. I could be here all week and not be half as hungry as you."

OOC Ring of Sustenance

 

[Hypersmurf]

He immediately walks over to your group with a purpuseful stride and stretches out his hand to George, "It is good to see you again, brother. You have arrived at the perfect time, as always. Greetings to you also, gentlemen, and welcome to Istivin, Captain Garant Ren at your service. I only wish you could have arrived at a better time."

"A better time than the perfect one?" Reivik mutters to Morley, as Ren takes George aside. "Nin heniach edhellen, u gerin be nau e be nah," he adds in Elvish - though he knows Morley does not speak it.

Go not to the elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes...*

* No, it's not actual Sindarin, I just grabbed some syllables that looked about right

 

[Ranger Rick]

....After pulling you aside he continues in the sybillant tounge of your common ancestors, "You have arrived at a dangerous time, and there are more spies and more danger here than you would believe. Can the human and the dwarf be trusted?"

Spoken in elvish
"By the swinging balls of the dead orc, of course they can be trusted. Why one of them is the hero of Fentil (sic). If they could not be trusted I would have not brought them. Hell I am the least trustworthy of the group. Also, they speak elvish as well."