Fantasy RP

[Bannanachair]

(As I usually say when I snag the top post of a page, lurkers are still welcome to join, if they want to.)

@ Jonos: The inn was not the sort of place that you would expect to see a nobleman, but that was likely by design on the part of Baron Cirthil. Likewise, you were unable to see Cirthil, but you suspected that he was able to see you. After several minutes of looking around and waiting, a short man with a dark beard and a hood covering his eyes approached you.

"I'm to take you to the Baron, I was told. Just you, not your friends."

@ Alfred: "Aye captain, that's understood," Garry said.

@ Verous: "And if this is the damage that the storm caused here, then cities further downriver should all be destroyed," Prue added. "And yet, from the rumours that we heard, Oakwell was hit the hardest of anywhere, and Estermere was barely effected."

"We shouldn't stay here very long, your majesty," Darryl said. "It's not good for the horses to stand around in water like this, and it wouldn't be good for us to dismount. We should head to somewhere where the ground's sturdier and safer."

(My posts may slow down significantly over the next handful of weeks because of A levels. Sorry about that, guys.)

[Duck14]

Alfred

“Alright. Finish up here and join me outside,” I said. Hopefully the Duke would receive us sooner rather than later. But he probably had a lot to attend to. I made my way outside to wait for Garry.

————
Verous

“Oh yeah. Lead the way Darryl. You’ll know where to go better than the rest of us.” I turned my steed in behind my friend waiting for him to head off. It seemed we would be dealing with water for quite some time. At least it wasn’t an ogre or a meteor shower. That would be completely out of my realm.

[Leggo]

Jonos

“Aye, wait here lads. Let’s go.” I head with the man.

This is a stupid risk to take. I dare the Baron to try something, though, I’ll put my sword through his throat. Going alone probably won’t be a popular opinion among my companions. Why would I be allowed to bring three men with me when they’re not in on the conversation?

[Tikobe]

(How pregnant is my sister-in-law? Very pregnant, apparently.)

(Also, it appears that Kainer is the "Do dogs dream?" debate reborn)

Othan

I look around at the remainder. I decide to speak first.

"Let us share our findings. Who wishes to begin?"

I had found a likely location, so I decided to wait until the others have spoken. Call it playfulness on my part.

Kainer

I wake from my dreamless night with a smile on my face. I was told famous people always smiled. It was weird since the sprites also said the wider and more ominous the more famous. For some reason the elves beat my buttocks when I tried to do that, so I smiled more friendly-like. Some fame is better than no fame, right?

As I get out and get dressed I head out the door to my room and returned the key to the innkeeper.

"Do you have some breakfast I can buy?" I ask.

[Bannanachair]

@ Alfred: Garry arrives outside with you several minutes later, and you make your way together to the Stone Tower, where the King of Esteremere lives. Despite its name, it is not one of the famous Towers where wizards live, but it was one of five towers made in imitation of them during a time between the reigns of Ghoril and Tarthel when both sides of the Nubarb called the same man "King". The others have fallen into ruin, but the Dukes of Estermere and those who came before them have preserved this one over the millennia.

Despite it being merely an imitation, it was still a grand structure in its own right. It must have been two hundred feet tall from the base to the top, well-fortified and grand. The top three stories have fallen into ruin due to disuse, and truthfully hardly anything above the first four are ever used, but it was still an incredible sight. You've only been within it several times, though everyone in Estermere and for a dozen miles around can look up and marvel at it.

You had to pay a nominally small fee to be able to get in to the grand courtroom, but the guards let you through nonetheless to see the Duke of Esteremere, seated upon his throne, answering petitioners from throughout his realm.

@ Verous: Darryl lead you back through the streets of Oakwell, past the destroyed homes and the homeless, the flooded shops and the corpses, to a manor. Despite the manner being closer to the river than you were earlier, it lay atop a hill and so was spared the worst of the storm. "If I'm not mistaken, this is where the Count of Oakwell lives, Ver," Darryl said, "But I've never been here. The pub that I normally go to for a room when I'm in Oakwell was probably destroyed, though, so I don't know if he has any spare rooms."

@ Jonos: Wallace seemed about to object to the danger of it, but he remained silent about it. Your other two vassal-companions didn't offer any objections at all.

The bearded man threw a pouch onto the bar, which made the clinking sound that coins tend to make when it landed, and the barkeeper allowed the two of you through into his back store room. The bearded man looked around some more until he found a box, which you presume was full of food. "Could you help me move this out?" He asked, and as you did so you noticed something peculiar. The box was attached to a rope which was attached to a small hole in the wall, and underneath the box was a man-sized hole in the ground and a ladder leading downwards.

He led you down the ladder into a secret cellar. The cellar must have been twenty or thirty feet underground, and smelled terrible. Whatever it stored smelled more like feces than food, and when the man lit a torch, you saw what the room you were in really was. It was a hallway, with two cells on either side. The cells seemed to be newer than the underground room itself, just iron bars attached to the walls and floor and ceiling. They were empty for the time being, the doors closed, but there was more evidence than just an unchanged chamberpot that there were prisoners here recently.

The man put his torch in a place that could hold it, and then started pulling on a rope. You heard what sounded like wood scraping on wood above you as you realised that the man was closing the way in and out, likely to maintain his secret lair in case anyone were to go here to look for you. Then, he turned to you and knelt down.

"I am sorry for my deception, your majesty," The bearded man said, "And the scenery, but this meeting is very dangerous for me. I am Baron Cirthil Holmsbury. I know what you're going to ask of me, and I will swear fealty to you and aid you in conquering Mescor, on one condition. I desire to be named Count of Mescor."

@ Othan: "They're all very clearly former soldiers," Arthel Haiderling said. "When the men of Bistown tried to fight back, they were outflanked and surrounded before surrendering. Most are wounded, and some died. Whoever's in charge is a strategic thinker." Surrounding your enemy is one of the most basic rules of tactical warfare, so the bandit may not have been a very good strategic thinker, but you have heard of bandits who can't even accomplish that. He went into more detail about the skirmish, and from what you could gather, the men of Bistown only lost because they didn't even have anyone giving them orders. You'll be able to outthink this bandit with ease.

"I have nothing quite like that to report, except that they stole all of the horses that were in Mayweir," Galad Forsnith offered. "They had maybe four or five horses between the twenty of them when they arrived, but they've been using the stolen horses from Mayweir for a couple weeks now. There's no telling where their leaders got the first couple horses from, though - maybe they had a little bit of money before turning to banditry, or maybe they stole individual horses as highwaymen before attacking these villages."

"Sir Boderick and I found a small mountain pass in the Qhirst range that looks like it may lead to their lair," Sir Raethus said, "Though I haven't a clue where they're putting their horses if that is their lair."

@ Kainer: "Bread for six 'tins, an egg for eight, some meat for a dozen."

(Sorry for half-assing Kainer's reply, I was just exhausted from schoolwork and my other replies.)

[Leggo]

Jonos

Interesting. I was going to ask that eventually, most likely, but I wanted to measure him up first. It doesn’t look good for him to be jumping at the bit to betray his Lord for a promotion. He acts like I need him. I outnumber the entire army of Mescor, I’m a better general then any of them, and so I offer him safety in my ranks so he and everyone under him doesn’t get slaughtered. He has the audacity to make a request of such magnitude as being named Count if Mescor? I’ll try calling him out, and see how it goes.

“A bit quick to jump ship, Baron Holmsbury? What does it say about a man when he would so quickly and eagerly betray his Lord and take up arms against him in the name of his own ambition? I expected I’d have to attempt to convince you, but obviously not. I asked for this meeting, as yes I was planning to have you join me, but not because I need you. I thought it would be better to have one of the more competent Barons alive after I took Mescor. I can conquer Mescor with you, or without you. To me it makes no difference. I offer you a chance to join me so you can save your life, and the lives of your people. In my domain, land and titles are awarded based on merit, not based on who you’ve betrayed.”

It would be good to have him on my side, but I don’t really care. I would sooner kill him myself then give him Mescor based on his betrayal. I’m eager to see how he responds.

[Tikobe]

Othan

"Well, it appears we've found no more than the rest of you did," I sigh as I share what I found. "I was given information that they moved in a formation that I had used during the Second War. Evidently, the one leading them is quite familiar with tactics though I wasn't able to discover his name. According to a tracker, the bandits moved very orderly while they were under the direct supervision of this man and tracking was made impossible. However, when they returned to Wyst's Town this man was not with them and they lost a lot of their coordination leaving behind a much easier trail to follow. The tracker led us down to where the new trail followed, although like everyone else what we had found was a path in the Qhirst."

Kainer

I gave the man twenty coins from some meat and an egg and had some breakfast. If nothing came up I head straight to the castle. No point in delaying things.

[Duck14]

Alfred

I had felt a little robbed by the need to pay to the man. We were here to give information not to take anything from him. Petty as it seemed I made a mental note to charge the lord a little extra if he were ever to travel on one of my boats. Call it a protection tax or something. We made our way over to the line and listened in on the current petitioners as we waited our turn. Any mention of the storm would be very valuable information.

————
Verous

“The rooms should go to those who need it most. If the need comes we’ll head for dry land and set up camp there.” I got off my saddle and approached the door. “Darryl, Perrin could you take care of the horses? Make sure they’re safe and secure. Prue...” I looked to her. “Prue, come with me.” I knocked on the door.

[Bannanachair]

@ Jonos: "I wasn't quick to jump ship, your majesty. I received your note days before I sent my response, guessing at what you would ask me and what reasons would be there for me to change sides. I convinced myself that it's to my own benefit to side with you after days of private deliberation. And it's true that you don't need me to conquer Mescor, but you will need me to hold it - I grew up in the County of Mescor, I know all the politicians there and many people, and I more than anyone else know how to convince them not to rebel. Besides, if you grant me Mescor, you may encourage other noblemen throughout Old Thasia to flock to your banners instead of those of your enemies, if they think that you're likely to grant lands to them."

@ Othan: "It was confirmation of the rest of our findings, at least," Raethus said. "One source may be faulty, but not two. We know where the bandits are, how they move and where they might attack. Now all we ned to do is come up with a plan."

"We'll also need to mobilise the peasants into some force that might be able to fight," Northan suggested. "The men of Bistown, unfortunately, may be unable to assist us, but Wyst's Town and Mayweir will be able to offer men, from the sounds of things."

@ Kainer: You eat breakfast without incident, and manage to pay for access to Calbourne Castle. The interior of the castle was just as beautiful as the exterior, with a high-vaulted ceiling and lots of sitting space for people to observe as the king presented his court. One of the guards inside, who seemed to be in charge of crowd control, approached you and asked you a question. "Are you a petitioner, or simply here to watch the king's judgements?"

Before you had an opportunity to respond, however, a familiar face approaches and answers for you. "His father was Baron Gavance Adderant," Sir Trihem says for you. "The Adderants may have lost their land decades ago, but the lad's still of noble birth. Lad, I told you your name seemed familiar yesterday, didn't I?"

@ Alfred: Basically the only thing that people talked about was the storm. Farmers talked about how it destroyed their harvests, fishermen talked about how it lost their ship and knights and minor noblemen talked about how it scared people away from the river and chased them to their lands. However, nobody who spoke was actually in the worst of the Great Storm, as they were calling it, but rather were effected by it more indirectly. To each of the petitions, the Duke made a decision to send men or resources or money to help the problem, until at last it was your turn.

@ Verous: Darryl and Perrin did as you asked, leading all eight of your horses towards the stables. When the door was opened, you were able to look in and see the great hall of the castle. Rather than the neat rows of petitioners that you were used to in Courtdell and other places you visited, you were instead met with what appeared to be a makeshift hospital. Even the throne area was replaced by hospital beds and surgical equipment.

A man in red clothing approached you. "Are you or your companion injured?" He asked, his voice muffled through a thick cloth mask that covered his mouth and nose.

"Neither of us are injured," Prue said. "We're here to see Count Ballus. This is Duke Verous III, of Datha."

"I didn't know, your majesty," The surgeon said. "I'll take you to him now."

[Tikobe]

Othan

"Very well," I say. "Let us think of a strategy with what we do know to fight off the bandits. Our first and foremost priority is to make sure we stop the bandit issue in it's entirety, but let's not neglect the second most important thing: Making sure there are as few injuries as needed. We can't allow a single death on our side since these are civilians of Orevod and it'd cause too many issues if any of them died."

Kainer

"Hm? Well, I suppose my father was named Gavance from what I can recall. Of course, what's even funnier is that you recognized my family. I didn't even think that there'd be those who'd remembered the Adderants," I lightly chuckle. "However, that family gave me off to other people when I was a babe, so all I have is the name and not the will. As such, let's not worry about that part at all."

Besides, I think that coming from a dead family isn't anywhere near as significant as being raised by my benefactors.

"I've come with a letter for his Majesty," I explain as I turn to the guard, taking out the letter. "The person who wrote this is from the Court of Autumn."

I watch my words speaking this since I have no clue if it's from the Queen or from just a high ranking elf if even that. Considering the fact that I didn't even know that it and the other items were in my bags until I saw it, the whole thing could actually very well just be a prank from the sprites. As such, the letter's writer is a "person from the Court of Autumn" until I've figured this out.

[Duck14]

Alfred

I walked forward as it reached my turn. It seemed I was the only one here to actually suffer through the storm which would be important. It also seemed like people were receiving money for their troubles. Now that would help me greatly.

“Hello milord,” I said as I reached the speaking spot. “I am Captain Alfred Melling of the good ship Fortuna. We provide voyages across the Nubarb for anyone who wishes to make that journey. But yesterday we were caught in a storm that no one could have expected. Right in the centre.”

————
Verous

I nodded, not needing to repeat what Prue had already stated. The fact the man had to ask the question spoke to the harm done by the storm. I looked around the makeshift hospital. This was not what I wanted to see on my first venture to Oakwell. But it was my duty to look after these people, if they showed me how. Even an experienced lord couldn’t face down a storm. Unless they were a mage, maybe.

[Bannanachair]

@ Othan: "We seem to have two main options," Raethus suggested, "Either we can rally up and arm the peasants to attack them, or we can try to figure out which town they'll attack next, fortify that and stop them there."

@ Kainer: "The court of... Autumn? As in the season?" The guard asked.

"You don't mean... The court of autumn as in the faerie court, do you?" Sir Trihem asked.

@ Verous: The surgeon led you and Prue to a back room, full of food rations in crates being moved about. The surgeon led the two of you to the portly, bald man in finery who was organizing the whole operation, and you heard a bit of what he was saying before he saw you.

"Three barrels of apples... That won't last very long, with the number of sick. We need more shipments of food, Al, no matter what the cost to me personally is."

"My lord," The surgeon said to the man - presumably Count Ballus - "I present to you Duke Verous, and his companion..."

"Prue," She finished for him.

"And his companion Prue. They have come to aid you in your efforts," The surgeon said.

The count turned at that and looked at you, sizing you up. He was slightly taller than you, and not quite as bald as he first appeared - his thin blonde hair was just too similar in colour to his skin for you to see it at first, and though he looked ugly, he was at the very least seeming to be doing his best to help the people.

"Your majesty," The count said, "I am sorry that I was unable to attend your father's funeral. He was a friend of mine once, though it's been years since I've seen him. I had important matters to attend to here, and then the storm tried to destroy my city and I'm glad I was here so that I could help my citizens. People are displaced, foodstores were destroyed, farmland as well, and whole crops lost. The forest to the west of my city has turned into a bog, and people are starving."

The man who Count Ballus was speaking to earlier seems to have gone to do his task, whatever it was.

[Leggo]

Jonos

“Aye, I can see you as the Count of Mescor if you serve me. The benefits of having you in the position would be prudent in keeping my realm free from chaos. However, you mustn’t take offense if I tell you I can’t just give you the position now. My realm places a great deal of importance on merit. I granted the County of Atrekara based on merit, I’ve granted positions and rewards in the past based on merit.

If I decide to give a man a position that he hasn’t earned, that he gained by betraying his former Lord, it wouldn’t sit well with my vassals. Also, I’m sure you being the Count of Mescor would probably not sit well with the other vassals of Mescor, who would see you as a scoundrel and a betrayer. So here is my proposition. Join me, fight with me to take Mescor, and if you show me merit, a reason to give you the position, I will. You’re the best option as of now seeing as you have connections to Mescor.”

I hope I wasn’t laying it on too thick. Then again, I honestly don’t care.

[Duck14]

(I think you missed our good friend Alfred.)

Verous

The storm had left this region in ruin. No way could we repair this overnight, it would take good while longer. What would father do? “We need to gather what food we can and place it in one of the more secure buildings. Make sure someone stands guard at all times. Well that’s assuming you haven’t done that already it seems you’ve already counted what you can.”

I looked around and my eyes landed on Prue. “We should probably move the sick and injured, if possible, further inland to a safer and drier location.”

[Tikobe]

Othan

"Unfortunately, while it would be the safest option normally, given the circumstances the second option isn't practical. To begin we'd need to spend time trying to figure out the pattern of raids, but by the time we've figured it out they could strike at the towns. Furthermore, even if we do find the pattern the one in charge may catch on that we're on their tail and attempt to change things. This doesn't mention the worst issue: If we do set up a defense, we'd get five men at the most, meaning we would fail at exterminating the problem in it's entirety. We could attempt to capture one of them alive and torture useful information out of them, but by the time we get anything useful the bandits would've noticed the party they sent out didn't return. In other words, from where I stand to see things, for as risky an option as it may be our best option is the first," I say, sharing my thoughts.

Kainer

I look at the two of them and then nod at Sir Trihem.

"Yeah, you're right! It's the one with all of the faeries," I reply, beaming a smile as innocent as a child's like how I always do.

[Bannanachair]

@ Jonos: "I have an option even better than siding with you openly. When Arnil var Mescor sees you crossing into his territory, he will call his war-councils and try to force a pitched battle. I can be your agent within Arnil's war councils, I can turn other barons and knights over to the idea of surrendering more quickly in the event of Arnil seeming to lose and then, when he inevitably gives my men an important position within his ranks, I can turn on him, taking him by surprise. If he positions me in the rear, which is a position I will try to acquire, we can much more easily surround his forces. If he puts me on a flank you can focus your armies on the other, leading to another easy victory. If he puts me in the centre, we'll be effectively splitting his army in two."

The way that he spoke it seemed already a foregone conclusion that he was on your side, and not that of Count Arnil. Whether he was greedy, or if he thought that you simply had the best chance of winning, or if he had some personal enmity against Arnil, he seemed to have gone past the negotiations on whether he'd swap sides and onto how he'd do so.

@ Duck14: (Ah, sorry about that. Feel free to take your time on this reply for Alfred as well, by the way - it'll probably be a long one. Also, it was several days ago - I think I did a three day timeskip a few pages ago, and also you had a night's rest after the storm and then again after the timeskip.)

@ Alfred: "Right in the centre of the storm, you say?" Asked the Duke. He was a tall, thin man, with pale-blonde hair cut short and done neatly, and his inquisitive voice sounded just as you'd have expected from his appearance. "I've been dealing with many questions about the storm for days now, and your account would be very helpful. My wizards have gone to look for magical causes closer to where the storm itself had hit, but I will have a messenger convey your account to them. I believe that Brother Norin, a priest of Lord Ynedar, is in attendance today as well, and he will surely be listening for any religious, godly or cosmological aspects of your story... Anyway, please tell us all everything that you can remember of the storm. It will be of great help to me in dealing with its aftermath."

@ Verous: "I'm keeping a close watch on the food already, your majesty," The count said, "It's just that we don't seem to have enough of it. Most locations that would be good for treating large numbers of injured were right on the riverfront. My palace isn't normally a hospital, you know."

"What about inns and taverns?" Prue offered, "We could use any spare beds there to house the homeless and injured, and pay the innkeepers for letting them stay there from royal funds - if you don't mind the expense, that is, Ver."

"It's no use," The Count said. "There were manors and other wealthy estates near the river, and those rich enough to afford to do so have already rented out what rooms are available."

@ Othan: "Then we need to mobilise the peasants and move to attack the bandits in their hide-out," Raethus said. "I've instructed them to practice fighting with spears and in basic formations, but they're not soldiers. Further, they have harvesting to attend to. If we get word out tomorrow that we need to mobilise them the day after, we can strike then, but they won't be able to attack on a moment's notice."

"There are twenty bandits," Galad said, "And eight of us who can fight." He was counting you, Raethus, Northan, Arthel, Boderick and the four squires - they don't call him one-armed Galad Forsnith for nothing. "If we can split them into groups, pick them off more slowly, we won't even need a peasant army."

"If we could get Nizeston to fly down here and personally eat the bandits, we wouldn't have to do anything," Sir Boderick said. "It's all well and good to suggest that we do something, but what matters is how we do that. How do you propose... What, quartering them might be the easiest safe option? Without them finding out about it? We lure off and beat up five of them, the rest figure out what's happening and don't split up."

@ Kainer: "I've dealt with fey powers before, lad, but only individually. You say you have a letter from the whole court?" Sir Trihem asked.

"It seems like the right season for the autumn court, at least," The guard said, in a slightly different tone than the one he used earlier. "It makes more sense than the spring court sending letters at this time of year."

"That's... That's not exactly how faeries work, I think," Trihem said. "Then again, the rules with them seem to change from pixie to pixie, so what do I know? Anyway, you'll probably want a private audience with King Arthel rather than to deliver your letter as publicly as this."

"You two are being serious?" The guard asked, changing his tone of voice back to his earlier one. "I can't tell if this is some elaborate prank or not. I'll put you down for a private audience, then. If Sir Trihem vouches for you, which it seems he does, you'll have no troubles getting that." He then left to bother the rest of the crowd.

"What in God's name is your history with the fey, lad?" Sir Trihem asked. "I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt, but I want answers. Your family was destroyed years ago, you were presumed dead, and now you come out of nowhere with a letter for the king from a faerie queen?"

[Leggo]

Jonos

I suppose that works. It’ll be weird if I convince Vena to join me, Cirthil will probably be taken by surprise that it’s not just him defecting.

“Aye, that works. You might receive a message from me again. I think we’re done here.”

[Tikobe]

Othan

"I was never trying to say that they shouldn't be able to find out until the last second. I was, however, saying we need to move in a way that give very little time to properly plan out a counterattack," I explain, defending myself. "Well, Galad actually brought up a good point."

He was right, now that I think of it: If we handle things properly then we can eliminate the need for a peasant army and circumvent the issue of prevent their deaths.

It was all good but...

"However, I worry that it's too slow. As much I dislike having to rush things for political reasons since it never goes well, the Tourney will be here in a matter of weeks, and with lord Nizeston as it's guest of honor. These bandits shouldn't be the only problem in Mallowater, and the longer we spend resolving it the less time we have left to spend on other problems."

Kainer

History?

Ugh...

I was never good at history. Wait, is he talking about my past? Thank god. If I got another lecture on the formation of Eredal I would puke.

"Well, when I was a kid, my father, Gavance, gave me off to the faeries of the Autumn Court. Don't know why, don't really see any reason to care. This was, what, a week or so before the Adderants were wiped out? All I have is second hand information from the elves so I'm not really sure. Well, the faeries took me in, taught me some things, and then I became the gate guard for the Autumn Court. That's all that happened."

[Duck14]

Alfred

I took a moment to compose myself and gather my thoughts. I didn’t want to glorify this tale with any embellishment, this had to be the truth. Besides people who heard of this tale or later embellish the story themselves. In the end I would probably be known as a hero who slew some storm dragon or something like that. Then nodded and gripped my waistcoat. “Well then. We set sail from Oakwell in Datha seven days ago on a fresh voyage. You see, I’m a ferry captain and as such I’ve sailed up and down the Nubarb in almost every weather imaginable. We recently hired a navigator called Artie, who is well known for predicting storms. He predicted this one but I doubt even he knew how severe it would be.”

I looked around the people gathered in the room. They had all lost something in this storm in some way. “You see the strangest thing about this storm was the timing. We’re almost a full month away from storm season. Yeah, we have storms outside of that time but never something on this scale. That’s why we set off. Artie told us that a storm was on the way, a severe one even. But I didn’t think it would be one quite so bad. We had the merchants secure their merchandise. The rest of us were seasoned sailors and knew our stuff. We had nothing to fear.”

Remembering it all surprised me, I had been mulling it over but I had assumed it would be one very hazy memory. I gulped. “But we did. The water rose from below us and water rained down upon us. In the end it became hard to tell which way was up. Garry here had his arm torn to the bone. And with that I had everyone save Artie move below. I don’t know why I made that decision but we had been cut off from him and the steer. I needed someone at the wheel to navigate but couldn’t risk having the others swept overboard.”

My voice deepened as I talked turning into a bit of a sailor’s grunt but I persisted with the story. “The merchants were out of their mind in worry. Some feared they would lose their stock, and others rightfully feared that they would lose their lives. I managed to quell their fears slightly and even negotiated for some medication to go to Garry. But that wouldn’t get us out of the storm. Two men went to the deck to support Artie. Some time went by and then I took it upon myself to go up. The first thing I saw was the hand of one my crewmen who I dragged back aboard. The other, Matt, had been swept overboard. We lost a good man there.”

How many others had lost someone in that storm. How much damaged had it caused? “I went to support Artie using the far stairwell. The normal stairs had broken. But as I reached him lightning struck destroying the helm. The thing was completely busted. That left us with one option, we had to steer the ship manually. Artie went to the sails while I slipped back to the rudder. We spent hours screaming unheard directions at each other as the storm raged around us. The storm would eventually falter but not without a fight. I’ve never had a more exhausting day on the river.”

I licked my now dry lips as I finished the tale. Then something else hit me, something I wouldn’t usually consider. But the lord had mentioned wizards. “Can storms laugh?”

————
Verous

That seemed a little unfair. Everyone had suffered through the storm. In times like these you could use each room as a place for more than a couple of people at a time. Were people really that selfish? Or was I just showing my naivte. Either way it was the way I wanted to lead right now.

“In times like these we should be working together, not segregating eachother because of expenses. These are trying times and we’ll compensate everyone for their assistance as soon as we can. You’ve done a great job here, I understand this must be hard for you having your palace turned into a hospital and all. Prue, organise a message to Courtdell. The people here need proper assistance and supplies. We need medics, food, and blankets. Anything else will come later. We’ll what we can to make this situation bearable.”

[Bannanachair]

(I changed my mind. I finished half of the tests this week and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. We're open to joiners and new CSes again. Also, it just occurred to me that I haven't actually named the Duke of Estermere yet, so I decided to just go ahead and do that in this post.)

@ Jonos: "I will let you out now," The Baron said. He walked back towards the ladder and pulled on a lever, which caused the crate covering his underground bunker to open back up. "Don't bother with the trapdoor, I'll deal with it myself," He said after the two of you exited his secret chamber. You left the inn's storeroom to find Sir Wallace and barons Horthon and Humphrey spread throughout the inn, watching it for any potential ambushes or attacks.

Wallace greeted you as you saw him. "Your majesty, how did the meeting go?" He asked after the four of you left the inn.

@ Othan: "Then tomorrow we could split up again," Raethus suggested. "One group, led by Othan, will travel to each of the villages, rallying the peasants, ensuring that they're properly armed and equipped and ready to attack the following day. I'll lead the other group, a scouting mission to go along the mountain trail that we discovered and find out what we can about the bandits numbers and defences from firsthand observation."

@ Kainer: "You were raised by faeries?" Sir Trihem asked. "While this is a good story, I would very much appreciate the truth." It's clear that he didn't believe you.

@ Alfred: "I... I have never heard of a storm laughing," Duke Palron said, taken aback by the intensity of your tale, "But I've never heard of a storm quite that bad either. I would like to hear your navigator's account of the story, and accounts from your other crew and the passengers aboard your ship. Your vessel was the Fortuna, you said? Garin, would you please hand me the logbook... The one bound in red leather, yes..." He looked in the logbook, and then spoke again. "The damage you reported is the same that the dockhands found in the assessment of your ship. And from these dates you certainly could have been in the middle of the storm.

"Laughter, you said?" He asked again. "I've read in a book on physiology that oftentimes hearing a loud sound will make you hear a quieter sound within it, even one that's not there. Sounds that loud can often make people go deaf, though, or cause even worse damage."

The next man to speak was Brother Norin, the priest. "Your majesty, captain, good people of Estermere, the laughter that captain Melling heard was none other than the laughter of Ybris. He was laughing at the destruction that he caused through the storm, and at his attempt to foil Lord Ynedar."

@ Verous: "As you command, your majesty," Prue said. "I'll be right on it."

"Clean drinking water as well, please," Count Ballus added. "We used to get it primarily from the river, but the riverwater is not very clean anymore due to the storm and the wells that weren't damaged aren't enough to support the entire city. Actually, wine might be best, to avoid any confusion about what water is clean."

"Medics, food, blankets, water and wine. I don't think I should leave immediately, in case there's anything that we're not thinking of right now, so that we don't need to send Darryl after me."

[Tikobe]

Othan

"I'll support that idea," I say, nodding. If we were to put in the stronger fighters of our group into the scouting party, there wouldn't be much to worry about.

"I'd also recommend you bring along the tracker that brought us to the pass as well, a man in Wyst's Town named Forlon. He seemed to know the landscape."

Kainer

"But I didn't lie?" I say before I recalled something an elf told me. A something that followed that  humans generally didn't believe stories that were a little too far from the norm.

"Well, I suppose that sounds ridiculous, so I can't blame you for doubting. However, the truth's the truth. I don't really like having to lie."

I shrug casually. Even if Sir Trihem doesn't believe me, it's fine since all I need is to prove my story to the king. And worst comes to worst, if he tries something problematic I do have the dagger and the glass leaf I've brought. However, since I don't know why those were put into my bag beyond the idea of being a gift of sorts to the king, I'd much rather try to avoid having to pull those out. After all, for all I know they could be pieces for some crazy ritual. Not even I know everything about the faeries, and they raised me.

[Leggo]

Jonos

“Baron Cirthil will serve as our inside man within the Count’s ranks. He’ll cause disarray from within and betray when the time is right. I have no doubt he’s on our side, seeing as the way he was speaking was not the way a loyal vassal would speak. Let’s get back to Atrekara, then see where we’re at with Vena.”

[Duck14]

Alfred

I eyed the man carefully as he took that approach. To my logical mind the Lord’s assessment made sense. But the storm was far too fierce for there not to be something else at work. Maybe Brother Norin spoke the truth, and if what did it mean if he was speaking the truth?

“If what you say is true, why would Ybris try to foil Lord Ynedar?” Was I missing something I shouldn’t be missing? I was a little flustered after the storm, maybe something had slipped my mind. I never paid too much heed to the world around me. Just did my job transporting people back and forth across the river.

————
Verous

“Fair point, we don’t want to miss anything we shouldn’t. But we should keep that all in mind and send that message as soon as we’re certain. Now Ballus, tell me how many able-bodied people we have available to us. We need everyone working to clear paths and waterways.

There was a lot to do before this town was going to be in working order again.

[Bannanachair]

@ Othan: "Forlon... Ah yes, I know Forlon. He'd be a good addition," Raethus said. "What should the split be? I was thinking it would be Northan, Boderick and I doing the scouting, while you, Galad and Arthel travel to the villages."

@ Kainer: "Can you prove it?" Trihem asked. "Maybe your letter contains some proof of that, but it's for the king to read, you said."

(Norbury is the city, Atrekara is the county, remember? You're still in Atrekara.)

@ Jonos: "Hopefully Vena will also turn to our side," Humphrey said. "Mescor might be even easier than Atrekara if we have both of them."

"I'd be very concerned if both Cirthil and Vena changed to our side that easily," Wallace said. "If Mescorian barons are too fickle, what's to stop them from changing sides yet again when someone offers them a better deal?"

@ Alfred: "Because Ybris is evil," Brother Norin said, as though it were the most obvious statement in the world.

@ Verous: "There are maybe two thousand men in able condition, but most are working to save themselves and their families. There are maybe five hundred people volunteering to repair the flooded sections of the city, but many of them are rescuing people, ensuring that the food stores remain safe and dealing with other tasks. Oakwell doesn't have the manpower that we need right now."

(Sorry about the lackluster reply, guys. I took some sleeping pills before I began writing this so I was incredibly drowsy.)

[Leggo]

(Didn’t realize I was still in Atrekara. “Neutral ground” threw me off.)

Jonos

“Our army will stop them. Everyone wants to be on the winning side. We’ve just got to make sure we’re that side. Let’s get back."