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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Carlo-One" data-source="post: 7946753" data-attributes="member: 7015827">The group could hear the rain outside as the door to the guest house opened. On edge, Rahnee, Darrow and Belle readied themselves for a fight as Jokull went to the entrance and greeted Aerikoth, who had just entered. As the phlegmatic wizard brushed water from his robes and joined the others at the table, a murderous glint appeared in Rahnee’s eyes as she expressed concern for his health and questioned why he had so suddenly disappeared back in Tallwell. Her hand gripped her sword hilt as he explained in his usual monotone that he had decided to leave for various reasons, above all because he had an engagement to keep and wished to show them the result of his actions; something that he would prefer Brok-Tul and Veran to witness as well, as he had done it because of them and Rahnee and Belle.Rahnee’s sword almost unconsciously came into her hand as words lashed out from her towards the mage, informing him of what had occurred with Brok-Tul and Veran’s deaths, in her words all because Aerikoth “had an appointment.” He showed no reaction beyond lifting an eyebrow as Jokull intervened to avoid bloodshed. Rahnee dropped her sword and, screaming imprecations at Aerikoth, cried and raged at him while attempting to overturn the table. Eventually, because of the efforts of Jokull and the others, she calmed down enough to hear Aerikoth speak, although she and Belle remained doubtful of his motives. The wizard stated that he now understood her reaction and, although his gesture of thanks now seemed somewhat pointless, he showed them what he had disappeared in order to obtain: the deed to the Hidden House, which would have fulfilled Brok-Tul’s dream of a shrine to Helm in Westgate. Rahnee broke down in tears again upon seeing it.(However cathartic this conversation was, I cannot help but wonder if all questions were truly answered. Why did the wizard pick that moment to depart, with no warning? Perhaps it was simply a matter of ego, yet there seems to be something more behind it. The decision by Rahnee and her fallen companions to proceed with their assault on Hallton's manor was, nonetheless, their own. Upon them fell the judgment of events. --R)The following morning, Hammer 29, saw the group gather in the Gatereach to break their fast, Aerikoth having arrived a short while before the others. After enjoying some of Goruna’s omelets, they decided they needed to re-equip and walked to Shalush’s in the Market District. Jokull, Aerikoth and Darrow returned to the Gatereach guest house, where Darrow changed into his new armor. The three then stood around waiting for the two women, Rahnee and Belle, who eventually showed up. Confirming that everyone was ready to depart the city, they headed for the southern route to Glees.The trip to the village was uneventful and a Baronial guard captain named Renthor greeted Rahnee as soon as she stepped into the inn. He and a squad of six soldiers had arrived the previous day, under orders from Pahar to await the companions and offer their assistance. Rahnee told the captain they would leave for Tallwell at dawn, even though Jokull and Darrow were eager to press on, so he ordered his men to make camp for the night. Rather than share a room with one of the others, Aerikoth joined the guards, taking possession of one of their tents to sleep in.In the chill morning air, the companions readied themselves and the soldiers struck camp. The march to Tallwell took three hours, the group deciding not to divert to pick up the Hallton magic armor that Belle and Rahnee had previously buried at some distance away in the woods. Belle carefully scouted ahead while the rest followed, the baronial soldiers forming a rearguard. The village was almost devoid of activity and the group traversed it unmolested, heading east towards Hallton’s manor.The companions and Pahar’s men paused to rest as they reached the Hallton manor grounds. A sense of uneasiness gripped some of them as they contemplated the way to the manor, the site of Brok-Tul and Veran’s fall, and periodic tremors shook the ground, source unknown. Belle and Jokull moved off on their own, making a wide circle around the grounds in order to find and hopefully prevent any reinforcements from arriving. Meanwhile, Aerikoth prepared Darrow for battle by casting a stoneskin spell on him.Rahnee took the role of scout, moving across the field and up to the ridge where the manor lay. After a time, she returned, white-faced, to tell the others that their departed comrades’ heads had been placed on poles outside of the manor wall. She had also been unable to disable a trap she had detected on the path leading to the building itself. Aerikoth observed that they would need to secure the gate in order to prevent the defenders from sealing them out. Rahnee concurred and assured an impatient Darrow that they would be moving to the assault, also giving a grisly order to the dwarf: to remove their dead companions’ heads.</blockquote>

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