Fantasy RP

[Bannanachair]

@ Alfred: "Captain! It's good to see you!" Said Garry when you walked past your ship. "I managed to negotiate for lower prices on timber to repair the ship in exchange for conducting some voyages at discounted rates. I have the papers that were given to me, but I'm not good at numbers so I decided to wait until you arrived to do any more."
 
@ Verous: "Your majesty, I think you should do that tomorrow," The priest said. "Quite frankly, you and your man look exhausted."
 
@ Arthur: "Ah, so you're a blacksmith," Accovres said. "I figured that it must be something of the sort, given the size of your arms - they're like tree trunks. Where could I find your smithy? I have a horse that needs shoes, and some other bits and pieces that I need to have worked on."
 
@ Othan: Raethus's library was comparatively small - essentially a sitting room with three bookshelves. That makes sense, given that he spends more time in his manor-house in Mallowater than he does here, and that he has access to your much larger library. (And to the grand library in Ostcliff, which you don't doubt he has spent weeks in.)
 
However, the size of the library was no indication of its quality. He had stacks of letters next to the shelves, and some of the books were highly likely to be unique - There were books on religion that would be burned for being heretical anywhere other than Orevod, there were books on magic that discussed concepts just in their titles that you'd never heard of before, and there were histories, largely discussing the militaries of the three large empires - Nerath, Tarthel and even ancient Ghoril.
 
Curiously, the books written by Wyst were nowhere to be found. Raethus went out of his way to get all of them that he could out of circulation after his father's death, so you figured that he must have them here.
 
@ Kainer: "Very well then," Caidwyr said, "Todawc, stay up as well. Put the hood up on your cloaks and sit separately from the rest of us four while we have supper. I'll get the rooms. It will be easier to listen for rumours if you're not dressed like knights, as people will be more honest about things."
 
@ Arelia: "Yes, professor Nickart," Aristea said. "I was just thinking that, with how the Threun Guard managed to find some of the correspondence of Aranis Horkul and his sisters, that I could request access to it and perhaps decipher his code. Then I would at least have something."
 
You'd heard of Horkul, and that his workshop in Threus was raided, but this was the first you've heard of any letters being found.
 
@ Jonos: "My point is that I would like to know where to draw the northern border of my part of the campaign. Should I stick to what's currently controlled by Mescor or try to reach the historic borders and risk angering the count of Norvera? I doubt you'd want to take on the two of them at once."

[Tikobe]

Othan

As I peruse the library, I give a silent prayer that Raethus doesn't see the hidden compartment inside of the inconspicuous drawer put up against the westward wall of my chambers where I hid my copy of Wyst's book.

As a reader, I felt it necessary to protect such a thing, even if it was an embarrassment to the Shans.

Anyways, I pick up a history book as I began to read to pass the time.

Kainer

"Yes, sir!" I say as I begin to look through my bags for some casual clothes. I found a few which I don't mind losing as I begin to wonder to myself if I should slam them into the dirt to get them to look like they were used.

Arelia

"The letters of Horkul?" I ask, surprised. "I hadn't heard of them being found. My, now you've got me interested in seeing them myself. I might have some connections I can pull not just through the college itself but a few of my friends that could get the both of us permission to view it. I make no promises, however, but I'll still let you know if I can even get the door open."

[Duck14]

Alfred

I knew he would say something like that. Garry had always had a disinterest when it came to numbers, but he was a fine first mate despite that. “Good work. Pass them here and I will look them over. Discounted voyages are fine. There aren’t going to be as many ships out there for a while anyway. We should see business go up considering we have a ship that survived the storm.”

————
Verous

I looked at Perrin and that at myself. I hadn’t even thought about how tired I was. But now that they mentioned it the weariness made itself known. It had been a long day. I couldn’t push Perrin from place to place for much longer. He would follow my commands, and he wouldn’t complain. But he would eventually give into fatigue. As would I. “You’re right, of course. Look after these people as best as you can. The worst is over.”

I then ushered Perrin toward the door as we left.

————
Arthur

I smiled. Finally something I could answer properly. “Right, yes, I am a blacksmith. Well, actually a blacksmith’s apprentice but I do work in a blacksmith. We’re on Dewy Lane, not to far from here actually. You won’t miss it. Stands out like a sore thumb on that street.”

[Bannanachair]

@ Othan: The book that you selected was titled The History of the Dragon-Coven of Corodare, written by a Sir Ludger Seanton. The name Seanton was familiar, though it took you a second to recognize it as the name of a noble family of counts from somewhere in northern Eredal. You don't recognize Sir Ludger's name, though, nor are you familiar off the top of your head on where Corodare is other than that it's a county likewise in Eredal:
 
In the early days of the reign of King Aswell IV, following the overthrow of his cousin King Oswyn in the year 1097 after the enslavement of Neoran, there were many issues that faced his realm. Among the most overlooked of them by modern historians was that in Corodare there were five dragons who united to terrorize the region.
 
This book which I am writing seeks to discus the origins of the Dragon-Coven of Corodare in the context of the political instability of the Diarchy and the specific political situation in Strongvale. I will also analyze the possible motives of each of the dragons in this unique arrangement. Furthermore, I will detail the actions of this group over the dozen years of their operation, culminating in each of their deaths due to the actions of King Aswell and Duke Foral, and the aftermath of the whole affair and it's relevance to the overall Diarchy.
 
My reasons for this writing are immensely personal: My grandfather's maternal ancestor was the Sir Arnold Cresberg who slew Tyddroim, my mother's half-brother and his ancestors were the counts of Corodare since the reign of King Ronar I and the Owlen rebellion. Furthermore, my father, as the count of Seanton, conducts much trade with Corodare, and so will my elder brother when he inherits, so it is in the interests of my family that this knowledge is recorded, remembered and known.
 
Before beginning in earnest, I would also like to give my thanks to my sponsors, among them Sir Horthon Nickart the chair of the Organization for Draconic Studies at the University of Belgate, my uncle Count Wallace of Corodare (who has generously allowed me to inspect the relevant sites myself), Baron Luitwin of Olsnerth and, most importantly, King Ronar V, to whom this book is dedicated.
 
Table of Contents
 - Section One: Before the Coven: Motives for the Dragons, and their earlier Histories
  - Chapter One: A history of Galross and Maldrurth
  - Chapter Two: A history of Garvosdig
  - Chapter Three: A history of Tyddroim
  - Chapter Four: A history of Rhythonth
 - Section Two: Birth of the Coven: The Coven in the late years of King Ballus III
  - Chapter Five: The formation of the Coven, and settling in Corodare
  - Chapter Six: Efforts of resistance by Count Bolsner
  - Chapter Seven: Servitude of the peasants
 - Section Three: Glory of the Coven: The Coven through the first reign of King Oswyn
  - Chapter Eight: A new Arkhosia
  - Chapter Nine: Ousting of Count Bolsner
  - Chapter Ten: Efforts of resistance by Count Valnor and Sir Thain
  - Chapter Eleven: Establishing formal rule
  - Chapter Twelve: Alliances with Ekontyss the Younger
  - Chapter Thirteen: Courting Mosocron the Nocturnal
 - Section Four: Death of the Coven: The Coven in the beginning of the reign of King Aswell IV
  - Chapter Fourteen: Attracting the attentions of the king
  - Chapter Fifteen: The Battle of Irostale
  - Chapter Sixteen: Deaths of Galross and Maldrurth
  - Chapter Seventeen: Deaths of Tyddroim and Rhynthonth
  - Chapter Eighteen: Flight of Garvosdig
 - Section Five: After the Coven: Its effects on the Diarchical conflicts, and its continued effects in Corodare
  - Chapter Nineteen: Strongvale united behind the Black Owls
  - Chapter Twenty: Rebuilding Corodare
  - Chapter Twenty-One: Relations with Nizeston
 
Chapter One: A history of Galross and Maldrurth
 
Galross and Maldrurth were united for several decades prior to the formation of their group in Corodare, and it is fitting that they were also the first to die. As is known to many draconic scholars, the vast majority of instances where dragons are not solitary is when they are with their mate. There are only approximately two-hundred-fifty recorded instances in the past three thousand years where groups of three or more dragons coalesced into an alliance, and they are by far the exceptions to the rule and not the general rule.
 
For much of their history together, Galross and Maldrurth conformed to that general rule as a mating pair without other draconic contacts. Blue dragons both of them, it is hypothesized that they met some time in the years 1020s after the enslavement of Neoran in the Qhirst Mountains, then contested territory between the kingdoms of Ostcliff and Mallowater.
 
Prior to that, Galross (the wife) had lived for approximately four hundred years, and Maldrurth (the husband) had lived for maybe six hundred years. Maldrurth's history first, as it is longer and more well-recorded, and then I shall go back around to Galross's history.
 
There is speculation as to where his egg was laid, and whose line he is from. The most popular theory is that his egg was laid and hatched in Forfait, likely from the line of Pimmontyr the father and Torgyloss the mother. Another theory of Maldrurth's origin is that he was born in the northwest of the kingdom of Elsutia, in either the woods by modern Oakwell or closer to the Nubarb Delta.
 
Regardless of where he was born, and whose egg he was, the consensus is that Maldrurth was born near the Nubarb, and not north of it. Possible mothers, if not Torgyloss, are Tillaneth, Ondoris and Caenaenth. Possible fathers are counted as Peokyss, Genuntiess, Irserrin or possibly even Ekontyss the Elder.
 
That said, the most likely scenario of Maldrurth's birth is that he was born on Forfait, perhaps in the ruins of Dorevis or Uvefis where blue dragoneggshells have been found at the right time, and to Pimmontyr the father and Torgyloss the mother. He may have been born just before or right around the fall of the empire of Tarthel, or perhaps around the beginnings of the kingdom of Estermere.
 
Maldrurth may have had siblings who were slain early on as well. Baron Luitwin of Olsnerth attested in his book The Life of the Dragon Maldrurth that he was one of a clutch of four, and that his siblings all died before reaching one hundred. That in mind, he acknowledges that the evidence is circumstancial.
 
Maldrurth first appeared in the records terrorizing Estermerians around the fall of Tarthel. He was young, likely no older than a century and possibly younger given descriptions of his size. He mostly preyed upon merchants attempting to conduct trade, primarily stealing gold, silver and spideroak.
 
Gold and silver are common things for dragons to steal, but spideroak is a less common desire for dragons and particularly for ones that young. He may have gotten an interest in it from an early age due to being located conveniently downriver from the Spiderwood Forest (then much larger) or perhaps he was guided towards stealing it by his sire, particularly if it is Pimmontyr.
 
Regardless of his reasoning, he left that lair after merely a decade operating there and was not recorded again for nearly fifty years. Any reasoning for this that I can give would be pure speculation, and so I shall not do so.
 
Maldrurth was attested in the annals of Saint Ordmaer as one of the dragons who fought over the ruins of the Green Tower in the 560s after the enslavement of Neoran. He was purportedly chased off by Mazaer Checzic Rokij, though it must be remembered that Ordmaer was biased in favour  of that Mazaer due to his early conversion to Darism. It is more likely that he was chased off by Traketan knights or his draconic enemies.
 
His next appearance is significantly more notable, and perhaps an early indicator of his peculiar behaviour. In the year six-hundred-fifty-five after the enslavement of Neoran, it is recorded in the annals of Goldport that a blue dragon took up residence in the northerly regions of the Truqolp Mountains, where he terrorized man and cyclops in equal measure.
 
Thirty years later, however, the letters of the famed traveler Brelor the Bald paint a different picture. They paint a picture of a blue dragon, about two hundred to two hundred fifty years old, working in concert with a tribe of cyclopes to terrorize those on both sides of the Truqolp Mountains. The dragon named there is "Malturth, or Maldurth, or Malthur". It is not hard to imagine that it is indeed Maldrurth that Brelor was describing.
 
While in the Truqolp Mountains, Maldrurth came to style himself as a king over the cyclopes. Indeed, it was there that he remained for the longest consistent stretch of his career, and it is not hard to understand why. As a dragon he could get what he wanted from most people; as a dragon commanding hundreds of cyclopes he could sack large towns even in Eredal without much fear.
 
Ruins in the Truqolp Mountains are hard for mortal men to visit, but objects within them can be traded for, and among those objects are clay tablets with writing on them. Much of it has yet to be deciphered, but from what has been deciphered it is not from the days of the ancient Cyclops empire, but from the "kingdom of the blue storm-god". Maldrurth's ego led to him giving writing to at least his tribe of Cyclopes, though they seem not to have retained that ability in his absence.
 
A full account of this era of Maldrurth's life would be a book of its own, and for that I can only recommend The Life of the Dragon Maldrurth by Baron Luitwin and the third chapter of the second volume of Modern Kingdoms of the Cyclopes by Lady Areagne of Cironth. A full set of Lady Areagne's cyclopedia is hard to come by, though, so I suggest just reading Luitwin.
 
To make the long of it shorter, it took an army to chase Maldrurth away, and many bribes to ensure the Cyclopes did not revert to their prior loyalties when he returned to the Truqolp Mountains three years after his exile.
 
The longer of it is that King Biltorn VII of Eredal and King Mazaer Schizhik III of Traketus had to simultaneously attack either side of his nation in the Truqolp Mountains. They each led ten thousand men, thinking that to be more than enough, but it was a difficult fight nonetheless when the cyclops army turned out to number near two thousand instead of the two or three hundred first guessed by them.
 
You were hardly a dozen pages in when you were interrupted by a servant. "Lord Othan, we've been looking for you everywhere. Your brother and Sir Raethus are rather concerned that you aren't with everyone in the doctor's room."
 
@ Kainer: After you and Sir Todawc got into something more fitting for a tavern - Todawc just by putting on a different cloak - the two of you entered the tavern. Caidwyr and the other three knights had already entered ahead of you.
 
"Have a drink, but don't get drunk," Todawc said to you when the two of you sat down, both at the bar instead of a table. Then he turned to the barkeeper. "I'll have a mellomel, when you're done polishing that glass. And something to eat."
 
@ Arelia: "My older brother's in the Guard and he was the one who told me," Aristea said with a grin. "I know that you didn't know they had the letters, professor Nickart. I'm not supposed to know either. Be careful when asking for those permissions as well, professor Nickart, the Threun Guard are… Well, they're the Threun Guard. I'm sure you know."
 
She quickly recomposed herself. "I had better get going, professor Nickart, to allow you to resume your work."
 
@ Alfred: Garry reached into the pocket of his coat and took out some pieces of paper. The numbers all added up to a good amount of money that you saved, though the amount they were asking for on the reduced price was slightly more than you would have preferred.
 
"Cap'n, there, ah, there was also a priest who came to ask Artie some questions. Should I be at all concerned about him blasphemin' or something?"
 
@ Verous: Now that you noticed it, the exhaustion just kept getting worse and worse until you finally arrived back at the castle. You were so tired that you fell asleep as soon as your body hit the bed, and you didn't even bother to get undressed.
 
Your dream that night was a nightmare. Instead of staying in Oakwell with Perrin and Prue, you had instead decided to ride back to Courtdell with Darryl. There was a cool breeze that blew past you, and then your friend spoke. "The weather's not right," Darryl said. "It shouldn’t be raining, and the wind shouldn't be this strong."
 
Then the breeze picked up, and it began to rain. At first it was a light drizzle, but as you kept riding, the rain just got more and more intense. Your horses were frightened, and yours stumbled and you fell off, getting a faceful of mud.
 
"You'll have to run!" Darryl said. "There's nothing we can do for Oakwell - if this is the weather here, then they're dead!" The ground beneath you was covered in an inch or two of water, and the water level was rising. Then you looked behind you, and there was an approaching wave, engulfing the trees between you and it as it crashed into you and your lungs filled with water…
 
And then you woke up, with the sun shining down through the curtains.
 
@ Arthur: "Until I see you again, then, Arthur," Accovres said, and then finished his drink. "Stick around for my next song. I think you'd like it - it's sad, and it's about a blacksmith."
 
At that, he got up, walked back to where his instrument was in a mostly straight line and began playing. Despite the fact that he was only walking in a mostly straight line, he was clearly still sober enough to play beautifully.
 
Then he began singing. Once again, his voice was beautiful, and his lyrics were not as slurred as his words were when he talked to you. When he began to sing, it was yet another tale that you've never heard of.
 
There was a blacksmith named Ryemar, and he lived in a village near the sea. He loved a lady named Terine, and then one day they decided to get married. But Ryemar didn’t have enough money, as she came from a knightly family, and so he decided to get on a boat and seek fame and fortune.
 
First, he tried to stick to his original trade of blacksmithing, but that didn't work when he was on a ship. He sailed from port to port, trying to sell pots and helmets and horseshoes to the wealthiest men in the world, but to no avail.
 
One day, while sailing to another port, his ship was attacked by pirates, and his life was spared if he worked for them. He agreed, though he hated piracy, he managed to find work cleaning the ship and repairing their tools. As time went by, he befriended many of the pirates, and eventually agreed to do some piracy with them.
 
As a pirate, Ryemar had managed to start building his fortune by raiding wealthy merchant ships. Back in his village, however, Terine had heard that he died at sea, and had gone into mourning. She tried to be happy at home, but that didn't work.
 
So one day, she decided to leave, to sail far away. But everywhere that she sailed made her think of him, until one day, her ship was also attacked by pirates. The years had turned these pirates hard, and they absolutely terrified her.
 
When Ryemar saw the look of hatred and fear in the eyes of the woman that he loved, and realized that it was her that he was hurting with his pirating, he threw himself overboard. And then the song ended.

[Leggo]

Jonos

“Stick to the current borders. The Count of Norvera will get his due, in time. No point in giving him a reason to attack us now."

[Duck14]

Alfred

So, Brother Norrin had found Artie, that was good. I didn’t know what religion Artie held, nor did I really care. It was simple just not to bother anyone about that sort of thing. I didn’t bother about that sort of thing for myself. “No, that’s fine. I sent the priest down here actually. We’ve already had a conversation.”

————
Verous

That dream felt real. Most dreams did in the moment but then they disappeared. This one felt different. For one I rarely dreamt of stuff to do with my current circumstance, some had that luxury. I did not. My dreams were often random mishmashs of weird strolls through the woods or other such things. But this one played on a current fear, a current event. Was Darryl in danger? He wasn’t in the dream and I was with him for some reason. Was Oakwell going to face another storm? There was sun outside for now. Then what did it mean? Did it have to mean anything? Sometimes dreams were just dreams. Nothing more. Nothing less.

I slipped out of bed and noticed my clothes were still on. They had creased but I did not have the luxury of more of my clothes. People rarely did in times of strife. I put on my shoes and left the room without a second glance. The new day would bring new adventures.

————
Arthur

I smiled and applauded at the end. Not because I was a sadist and enjoyed hearing about the grim deaths of once-happy people. But because that story had struck more than one chord with me. The blacksmith’s tale had adventure, lofty highs and terrible lows. That was the life that I sought. A blacksmith could reach such things, though hopefully in a much safer, heroic way.

It also showed that Accovres truly had a penchant for miserable endings. Well miserable stories all the way through. Not one of his characters survived the tale in a happy manner. I rose my cup to him and then took my leave.

[Tikobe]

Othan

Did I have reason to be in the doctor's room?

Oh well, if I'm being called then I should head over there.

"So I see. Tell them that I got sidetracked for a moment and that I'm on my way," I replied with the most regal tone I could muster.

Kainer

"Something light and easy to drink please," I smile casually, not sure what to order due to a lacking knowledge of alcohols in the human kingdom.

Arelia

That damned girl. If it was such a secretive matter she could've told me ahead of time.

"You take care, Aristea," I awkwardly replied as she took off. I wait for her to have clearly left before I plot my next course of action. Obviously, I can't be direct about being considered for the project, nor can I be too aggressive in asserting myself less I draw the suspicions of the Therun Guard.

But that letter is something I have to see. Absolutely. It might be the most important event in my life barring my wedding day or the birth of my children.

If that letter has a single clue as to the necromancer from Elusia, then I must get my hands on it at all costs.

First, I need to assess my list of contacts. Someone close to the Guard and with their trust. If I can show off my research projects to such a person, then that person might pass on a good word to the Guard about me, meaning that the Therun Guard would have approached me and would have done so without the distrustful disposition I'm trying to avoid from them. I sit in my office spending as much time as I need to in order to think up a prime target for my goals.

[Bannanachair]

@ Jonos: "Aye, your majesty. In that case, I should like to request access to some of the agents that Sir Herwin Talsworth. Specifically, I want them focused on the border of Mescor and Norvera, and within Prydell. Geographically speaking we can easily surround Prydell once Mescor's taken, but the bastard count knows that as well."
 
@ Alfred: "Alright then, cap'n. The duke's money will have one more payment, they said, of something like ten talons or one hunred talons or something. More money'n I'd ever had, that's for sure." A talon is a unit of silver currency used throughout Eredal, with an image of an owl's talon on one side and the face of the monarch on the other - generally King Malcolm IV, as he's been reigning for just over fifty years by now, but high denominations change hands less frequently than lower denominations, so there are even still a handful of coins with Malcolm III's head on them out there.
 
@ Verous: "Good morning, your majesty," Perrin said when you encountered him breakfasting. He and Darryl are the only two people you know able to wake up before sunrise, so you're unsurprised that he's up. "I trust that you slept well? Your hair seems to indicate that."
 
@ Arthur: "Hello Arthur," Your father said when you returned home. "You were out late this evening. With friends, I suppose? Or does Phin have you working even longer than dawn 'til dusk these days?" He said that last part with a smile, though you could tell that it was forced. He seems to have had a bit to drink at home before you got back, which doesn't normally happen.
 
@ Othan: The doctor's room of Castle Shan is often unoccupied. Raethus funds a doctor to look after his castle, but as he also likes to avoid being injured and ill, doesn't have much use for him just hanging around. As such, the doctor will travel village to village treating sick and injured before leaving again, akin to how you imagine the druids of old must have operated.
 
That said, today the doctor was there, along with Raethus and Northan and their kids and your son. They were all crowded around Northan's pregnant wife, lying down on a table with her legs spread somewhat.
 
"Keep pushing! He's nearly out!" The doctor said, and you immediately remembered that Northan had told you several times in the past few weeks that his wife was expecting right around now, most recently just before you left Mallowater.
 
@ Kainer: "Beer, mead, wine or cider? I also think I have a bottle of perry somewhere that nobody drinks, and that's about as light as cider. To be honest, though, most people these past few days don't want something light."
 
"I know, we've heard the rumours," Todawc replied.
 
"About what happened in Camasse? A tragedy, that was. People're waiting for the king to send someone to - " As If having been summoned, Caidwyr and the rest entered the tavern right at that moment. The three others sat down at a back-corner table, and Caidwyr approached in your direction.
 
"I need two rooms for the night," Caidwyr said, "And I'll pay up-front."
 
"Did the king send you?" Todawc asked. The man was a very convincing actor.
 
"Aye, that he did. Those other three and I are here just headed through to the Chelmar, to avenge the slaughter of Camasse."
 
The innkeeper immediately fetched out two keys and handed them to Caidwyr. "Thank you, sir knight."
 
After Caidwyr paid and returned to the other knights, the innkeeper looked at both of you. "The kid's good luck," Todawc said with a wry smile, "even if he can seem a bit airheaded at times."
 
@ Arelia: You come up with a list of a few names. First and most obviously is Aristea, who just mentioned that her older brother is in the guard. That said, "in the Threun Guard" and "having enough influence to release those letters" are two different things.
 
The next few names on your list are other professors at the university who you're somewhat familiar with - Ballus Humsay is a professor of theology, teaching the theology of undeath and necromancy (and why it's necessarily of Ybris or Yllion). Valamer Cellady teaches the history of theology, and once mentioned having been in the Threun Guard years ago. Thinnot Warcton never claimed to have been a member of the Threun Guard, though has studied their history extensively and written two books about it - The Threun Guard and Eredal under the Owl Kings and On the origins and foundings of the Threun Guard.
 
The next two names that you think of are in the royal family - Prince Oswyn, a grandson of the king, was in one of your classes about a year ago and may be able to put in a good word for you, and his twin sister Princess Carla was in two of your classes and seems to have signed up for an advanced class in a similar field to yours. For that matter, though, you've met King Malcolm IV himself on a couple occasions.

[Duck14]

Alfred

We hadn’t come into much money in our recent venture and the storm had made that more obvious. We needed to come into some proper coin at some point. “Well, 100 talons is certainly much more than 10 talons. But I would take either to be honest. Anything to get us shipshape once more.” I looked out on the river again. Some would think me crazy for wanting to brave it so soon after a storm of that kind. But those few had never spent a lifetime out on the open water. They didn’t know what it was like.

————
Arthur

I narrowed my eyes at for a moment but I didn’t think to mention the drink or to ask about his smile. It was his right to have a drink after all. “No, he still has me working the regular hours. Just let me off to spend some time at the inn. The bard, Accorvres, was playing there tonight, he told some wondrous stories. Sad though.” I took a seat opposite him and loosened my shoelaces. “And how about you father? How was your day?”

————
Verous

Groggy was how I actually felt. A common thing to feel in the morning, especially after the previous day’s events, and the dream. That dream still played on my mind. It probably meant nothing, dreams rarely did. But I always liked to imagine that they did in some way. “Yeah, it was alright,” I lied.

[Tikobe]

Othan

Huh. That would explain why I was needed.

Actually, no it doesn't. I wasn't even there when my own children were born. I found administrative work more preferable to such a situation. Not that I found the birthing process itself unpleasant, I've had to sit through it when my siblings were being born. I was just worried that my wife would lose control during the process and finally bite my head off in a literal sense.

Those times were actually some of the most productive moments of my life, and I've made quite a lot of productive moments.

I quietly wait with the rest of the onlookers.

Kainer

"Air headed? Oh no, am I gonna float through the air!?" I exclaim aghast to the point that many would have thought that I was joking. However, I was, in fact, not joking at all.

"Actually, that might be useful in it's own way," I mutter to myself as I ponder the advantage of flying in the air, unaware that I was confirming my stupidity, which in a way is a confirmation of the fact itself.

Arelia

The royal family is out of the question. It's not a good idea to use them to accomplish any sort of goal. Such a plan often comes back to bite one in their own rear. Besides, not only is the logic of "My professor is knowledgeable" an absolutely terrible means of persuasion, but I still recall seeing the king give a speech on the aftermath of the Second War, with a particular mention concerning the events at Arlan's Field. Ever since that I've always felt a degree of discomfort when I'm near his Majesty. While it may have been a statement to help heal the hearts of those who saw the tragedy, and I certainly had no personal dislike towards the king, it still had the adverse effect of making me associate him in a small part to it.

This means the professors should be my target. This may not actually be a terribly difficult task. I merely need to find an excuse to start up a research project with them and then hope that they would bring up mention of our work together to some higher up in the Therun Guard that would put me in the spotlight in their eyes.

However, I'll need time to develop such a project, as well as time to draft up a splendid enough research proposal to get the professors on board. I don't have such a luxury right now though. That letter is a probable step towards my goals, but my work as a professor is what's feeding my children. I'll spend some more time on the matter after I finish my reading on the textbook.

[Bannanachair]

@ Alfred: "Aye, cap'n," Garry said. "Oh, and our ship is in better condition than most others, so we can probably be back on the water for another voyage before winter. The rich people'll probably want to travel first, so you could always just ask them for more money if the repairs are more than we think they are."
 
@ Verous: "Alright then. I think we still have a couple of days until Darryl gets back to us, but… No, we said goodbye to him yesterday. God, that was a long day." As the two of you eat and make idle conversation, you find yourself snuck up on unawares.
 
"You two just walked straight into a fight?" Prue's unexpected voice exclaimed.
 
"Good morning, Prue," Perrin said. "I trust that you slept we - "
 
"Perrin, you're supposed to be his guard! That means not bringing him into the middle of a fight!"
 
"How did I become the irresponsible friend that lets him sneak off and do dangerous things? Isn't that normally what you and Darryl did?"
 
"There's a difference between sneaking around in a forest or in the castle that our fathers lived in all their lives and getting into a fight with dangerous criminals! Do you know how I found out about it? Neither of you told me - Berig, a man I barely know, mentioned it!"
 
@ Arthur: "My day was fine, though I'm afraid that I might not have many more," He answered. "Count Karleon apparently got fed up with the lack of response or reinforcements from Golrane, Orodel, Calbourne… Anywhere, really. Duke Floriet's sent no-one, and there's no telling whether the king's even received word of this yet. Hell, there's no telling if he even cares."
 
Your father took another drink, then spoke again. "Anyway, I'm meant to be part of an expedition to Camasse to see what's been going on, into the Chelmar maybe. I just found out about this today, and we leave tomorrow. Sir Albince will be personally leading this expedition, as the count's son, and will likely take all the glory for a success and probably plenty of glory for a failure."
 
Another drink, then he spoke again, "He's a terrible excuse for a knight, barely competent with a sword and with no experience leading anyone. The bastard's going to get us killed, and you're going to be an orphan…" At that, his words broke down into tears.
 
@ Othan: After what felt like a decade of huffing and heaving and pushing, Kirsa Mallowater née Shan had finally given birth to her third child, and second son.
 
"What do you want to name him, Sir Northan?" The doctor asked, after giving the baby to a wetnurse.
 
"How about Wyst?" Northan suggested.
 
"We are not naming him after my father," Kirsa responded firmly.
 
"Alright then. How about Wilhard? Othan's named after one of our father's grandfathers, I might as well try to get the other one before Laia's next child is born."
 
"Was this ancient Wilhard Mallowater also a brave fighter?" Kirsa asked teasingly, though clearly with effort.
 
"I don't think he was a Mallowater, but from our grandmother's family… The Brythants, I think?"
 
@ Kainer: The barkeeper gave a light chuckle at that, and Todawc gave a bit of a smirk. "Say, you didn't happen to hear any more specifics about what happened, did you? Kainer and I are merchants, not from around here, and I keep telling him we shouldn't be stupid and should go around the Chelmar, but… Well, you know kids. Talk some sense into him."
 
"Camasse was a large village, nearly small town, of nearly four hundred people. Sir Bedain ruled it and the surrounding countryside justly, and there were maybe twenty well-trained militiamen and another fifty young boys more than able to hold their own weight. From the rumours that I've heard, there were maybe a dozen and a half trolls that struck the village in the night, slaughtered each and every one of the fighting men. Old greybeards, women, babes and cowards were the only ones able to survive. Damn, I can't have a single minute to have a conversation without someone needing a drink…" The innkeeper trailed off and went to go serve some other customers.
 
"Kainer, you're brilliant at playing the fool," Todawc said quietly after the innkeeper had left. "I wasn't sure you'd be able to catch onto your role that quickly - most men that I know aren't anywhere near as good an actor as you seem to be. Ah, he's coming back."
 
"Anyway, what was I saying? The people of Camasse were all killed. Only those who would choose to run survived."
 
@ Arelia: The rest of the textbook was as boringly written as the introduction. Much of it was given over to maps and genealogy charts, the descriptions of the wars and battles were stale and oversimplified and there was simply very little that actually related to your own fields of study.
 
Whenever something interesting did appear in the book, it was a footnote. A necromancer tried to raise King Biltorn V from the dead in order to interfere in some dynastic struggle of the Wolf Kings. There was a noble family in Belgate for much of the time that Nerath ruled Eredal and afterwards who were suspected to have been vampires, but no more information was given. Some settlers were once sent to the Zhalst Islands, but weren't heard from again after that.
 
As you read through it, you found yourself also thinking about what you knew of Aranis, Emalia and Avina Horkul. Despite being famed necromancers, they themselves were firmly among the living, as far as you're aware. They were born among minor nobility, Aranis the oldest by a few years and his sisters twins. All three never married. Some have posited since their public ousting as necromancers that it was because they had incestuous ambitions, though the people who make those accusations tend to confuse necromancers with demon-worshippers.
 
Family dynamics aside, Aranis and his sisters were all necromancers. Aranis Horkul was by far the most powerful and did the most experimenting, though his sisters had the ability to raise and manipulate the dead with some relative ease. Aranis was not content to simply make zombies and skeletons, however - operating from within the city of Threus itself, he would murder people, dissect their corpses and rearrange them to make absolutely foul creatures, which he would then set loose upon the surrounding countryside.
 
About fifteen years ago, the Horkuls were ousted as necromancers and took their work underground. Three years ago, it was found that they were operating out of an abandoned manor in Threus, and the Threun Guard managed to capture him and Avina, though they killed Emalia in the process. Avina has since escaped, though Aranis is currently rotting in a cage somewhere in Threus.
 
It was rumoured that they used their money to establish a network of other necromancers, and indeed a few letters from the Horkuls have been found when other necromancers were taken down. However, after their capture when no letters were found, many people had given up hope of finding out about other necromancers from them (you don't doubt that the Threun Guard has tortured Aranis Horkul extensively, but you also don't doubt that he's told them nothing). Of course, now Aristea has told you that the letters have indeed been found.

[Tikobe]

Othan

Eh? Wilhard?

Did we have a grandfather named that?

Oh well.

"Wilhard sounds like a good name," I mutter, not caring much about what one would think. After all, it was catchy and easy to remember.

Kainer

Fool? Pardon me I think it's a genius idea! Just think about the tactical advantage that would be provided by dropping in on the enemies from overhead!

Keeping my inner rant to myself, I look to the barkeep in confusion.

"You said a dozen and a half? How can there be half of a troll running around?"

Arelia

A network...

I can only hope that this is true. Well, it's getting late. Unless I have other business I should start heading home to take care of the kids.

[Duck14]

Alfred

That was a smart idea from Garry. He wasn’t always the best with numbers but he knew people and that’s why he was my second in command. Someone with his ability worked brilliantly in that position and allowed me to do my job as Captain with less interruptions. “You’re right, for sure. Is there anything else I need to know? Anyone else been down this way?” I was probing for mention of the merchant who had healed Garry. He had mentioned another trip as repayment for his service.

————
Verous

I looked down at the table and thought better than to mention this being the exact reason we hadn’t told her. “Yeah, we probably should have told you. But I was safe the whole time. Had more than one guard on my shoulder for that fight. Besides by the time we got back we were exhausted. It was a long day, it slipped my mind.”

————
Arthur

My eyes glazed over as he broke down. I had always hated seeing him in this state after all he had done for me since mother had died. He didn’t deserve to be pushed around in this way. Not by anyone, least of all someone who didn’t know what they were doing.

“Then don’t go father. Make up an excuse. Leave the guard.” I knew he would refuse. He had to. Honour wouldn’t allow him to make up an excuse and duty wouldn’t allow him to stay. Nothing would. He needed the coin, we both did.

[Leggo]

(Spring break is here, so i’m back!)
Jonos

“You have my consent, yet you’ll have to take that up with him. However many agents he can spare is at his discretion. Is there anything else?”

[Bannanachair]

(Let's see if this will work.)
 

Othan

 
At dinner that evening, everyone was in attendance celebrating the defeat of the bandits and the birth of Northan's son (except for Kirsa, who was still recovering from birth, and young Wilhard himself who was too young to eat food).
 
Thurum had a number of questions about Wilhard.
 
"Why is he named Wilhard?" Thurum asked, "Why not any other name?"
 
"Wilhard Brythant was the name of a brave baron, a vassal of an older earl of Mallowater and of the blue dragon Nizeston. When he was young, he fought in wars against Eriport and Nargon before Nizeston conquered them, and then as a man in his fifties he fought again in the War of Gagh Buldir. Many of his squires became notable knights in their own right, though I think that old Hedrek Talverton might be the only one still alive. Most importantly, he's one of my great-grandfathers, and one of your great-great grandfathers."
 
"What about your name, daddy? Who are you named after?"
 
"I was named after my grandfather baron Northan Darfield, who had passed away a year before I was born. He was a young knight during the War of Gagh Buldir, and managed to amass significant amounts of wealth during peacetime as well. My cousin baron Cregan Darfield is still one of the most powerful vassals of Mallowater to this day - in fact, on their mother's side, your cousins the Shans are also Darfields."
 
"What about me? Who am I named after?"
 
At this, Northan took a second to find the right words to say. "I figured I'd tell you this story some time, though I had hoped you'd be slightly older. When I was young, I had a friend who was also my cousin, the first Thurum Mallowater. He was as good a swordfighter as I was, probably better if I'm being honest.
 
"Thurum and I were leading a column of soldiers through the mountains between Clearden and Estermere, and there was a town called Grihmall. We took the town and set it up defensively - I had figured it would be a good place to hold, as it would allow us to more efficiently send supplies from Orevod to where Othan and Earl Ballus of Clearden were, besieging Estermere.
 
"We were quickly attacked by Eredal's soldiers - we held a defensive position, though, and so we held. It wasn't until they got mercenary reinforcements that we were forced out into open battle.
 
"Thurum and I stayed close together during the fighting, cutting down a path to allow our men to escape - we were woefully outnumbered and needed to retreat, but were completely surrounded. We had nearly managed to find a weakness which we could exploit when one of the mercenary leaders cut Thurum down. In return I attacked him mercilessly until I thought he had died, and I managed to ultimately lead a small retreat back through the mountains and into Clearden.
 
"We were surrounded from all sides and greatly outnumbered - Thurum, I want you to remember that no matter how good a fighter you become, you are not invincible. My cousin wasn't, the mercenary who killed him wasn't and I'm surely not invincible."
 

Kainer

 
The innkeeper chuckled and Todawc smirked again, though neither addressed your question with any seriousness. "That's a funny kid you've got there… Uh, I didn't catch your name, did I?"
 
"The name's Todawc, and the kid's is Kainer."
 
"Todawc like the count of Vertton?"
 
"I sometimes joke that he's named after me, despite that he's ten years older than I am."
 
"I think Kainer tells better jokes than that. I'm Kerint, by the way."
 
"You seem rather busy - Could you point us to someone else to talk with, to free you up to serve other customers?"
 
"Tomarre, at the table over there, is a regular here and is the first to know any news coming out of Calbourne."
 
"I meant someone who knows about news from the other direction, from the Chelmar."
 
"Very well then. My brother sits in the back corner there sometimes - he's a healer, of sorts. Claims to have studied under a druid in the Clovewood during his travels, though personally I think he says that shit to get into bed with pretty girls. Still, he's a pretty good doctor for someone without any formal training."
 

Arelia

 
When you returned home, you found your sister-in-law Halsey was visiting. As you spent much time at the university when your children were young you relied upon her as a babysitter, and though they're now older she still often spends time at your home with them.
 
"Hello Arelia," Halsey said when you walked in (the kids weren't in the living room, but may have been busy elsewhere). "I have a roast in the oven that should be ready in under an hour, and Reiselle and Jav are doing some reading."
 

Alfred

"Someone came with some letters, cap'n, but I don't know that there's anything useful in 'em. There's just one for you."
 
When you opened the letter that Garry gave you, you read the following:
 
Captain Alfred Melling,
 
The voyage that I requested should be by the end of the year. I have urgent business in Belgate, and it was only after several days of writing that I realized I should write to you. If you are traveling elsewhere upon my return to Estermere, I would be more than content to wait until you are back in Estermere.
 
Sincerely,
 
Naroth var Droskyn
 

Verous

 
"Well don't do that again," Prue said. "What do the two of you have planned for today?"
 

Arthur

 
"You know that I can't just quit the city guard, especially not in a situation like this. It's just… These are trolls I'm going to be fighting. They're ten feet tall and can't be killed. It's not like the bandits that I fought a few years ago. Arthur, if this is the last time I see you, I want you to know that I did everything I could to try to get you to live as good a life as you could…"
 

Jonos

 
"That's all that I have to request, your majesty," Bernard Darham said. As he opened the tent flap to leave, the Redscar entered.
 
"You know, Redscar, I always wondered how you got your nickname," The baron said.
 
"Look at my face and you'll see it all across my jawline," Redscar replied, and indeed it was true - the scar along his face wasn't just swollen skin, but looked almost crystalline - like a permanent ruby scab moreso than any other scar that you've ever seen.
 
"I mean, I was wondering how you got that. Dropped a razor one morning while you were shaving? What's your real name, anyway?"
 
"My 'real name' is Gyor Daim, though it's been a number of years since I've even heard it used. And no, it wasn't a shaving accident - it was an injury that I sustained while fighting in Eredal."
 
"And what exactly happened?"
 
"It was the battle of Grihmall. I saw two knights cutting through my men like how you might cut through cheese or butter, and so I went to fight them. I slew one, and the other kissed my cheek with his sword. Any other questions, my lord?"
 
Bernard noticed that you didn't care to hear that back-and-forth, and finished it quickly - "Nothing I can't ask later, Gyor. Good luck with your campaign, your majesty. I had better see to organizing my troops and moving north."

[Duck14]

Alfred

“Thanks Garry,” I say and slip the letter into my waistcoat pocket after reading. We would probably have to earn money in some form between now and the end of the year so his offer of waiting was greatly appreciated. But what next? Fix the ship obviously. But then what? Surely something would come along.

————
Verous

I show a quick, accidental glance in Perrin’s direction before replying. “We’re probably going to go round the churchs today. See if we can help with their hospitality and then maybe find out more about these tunnels. They’re intriguing and dangerous if the thieves know them better than we do.”

————
Arthur

Wow. He really thought the situation was that dire. My eyes glazed over and I looked down. He was usually a man of strength, he never let his emotions get to him like this, not since mother had died. But hearing him say those words was nothing but a shock. “I know father. You’ve done more than you ever needed to.”

[Tikobe]

Othan

I remain silent on the matter. Thurum was a good man, I suppose. But I won't say anything like it shouldn't have happened, we call war a tragedy because people die. I know that at least I've caused many catastrophes which led to the end of the lives of many enemies and I also know that men on my side would constantly fall prey to the enemy's strategies as well. Thurum just pulled the short straw on that day.

Even still, I suppose now's a good moment that Thurum learn this tale; The awareness of one's mortality might just save his life one day.

Kainer

"A druid, huh?"

I can't recall ever having met any druids, but the elves told me about them. I also frankly recall some of my conversations with the witch who had the nice coat. She apparently disliked them but the two often minded their own business anyways and so there was never any drastic conflicts between the druids and the witch.

Remembering the unpleasant expression of the witch when she talked about the druids and some of the nice things the elves said peaked my curiosity. As such, I give Todawc an expectant glance like as if I was a small child.

Arelia

"Thank you for cooking, Halsey, and furthermore thank you for watching over the place," I smile. "My apologies for returning at this later hour, I had some reading of my own to do for the college. Is everything alright with you?"

[Leggo]

Jonos

I could care less about how Redscar gained his infamous scar. It’s his business, and it’s in the past. Don’t know why Darham felt the need to start a conversation in the middle of my tent, but I don’t care. “Aye, Baron, good luck.”

I do wonder what the Redscar wants, though. Our conversations are always... productive. “What can I do for you, Redscar?”

[Bannanachair]

Alfred

 
"Aye, cap'n. Is there anything else you want?" Garry asked.
 
As you looked at the ship, you noticed that it looked like it still had some time to go before it would be ready to sail again, but not too long. At least a week, though it would likely be finished within three - after that, the only thing to do would be to get customers, of whom you currently don't have any booked.
 

Verous

 
"And don't worry, Prue, I won't let the duke get hurt," Perrin added.
 
"Thank you, Perrin… And sorry for snapping at you two first thing in the morning, I didn't get a lot of sleep last night. Those ledgers were hard work and, while not as life-threatening as what you're doing, it's still stressful to ration medicine and bandages."
 

Arthur

 
"I know Arthur," He said, managing to seem to go back to his old self - though you could see that it was just a mask of acceptance that he put up. "I'm sorry that you had to see me like this, drinking and scared of what will happen tomorrow. It's probably best for me to just go to sleep for the night."
 

Othan

 
A few minutes went by of quiet eating while Thurum let the story sink in. Eventually, Northan spoke again, seemingly eager to put everyone's mind on things other than death.
 
"Sirs, are you going to be staying awhile?" He asked.
 
"I'm the lord of this castle," Raethus replied. "I'll be staying a while longer to sort through this mess, though I intend to be back in Mallowater in time for the tournament."
 
"I didn't mean you, Raethus, obviously you're not going to abandon your castle. I meant everyone else here."
 
"I'll probably head back to the city tomorrow," Sir Boderick said. "I'm only in town for the tournament, and while this diversion was fun, I really should do some jousting practice if I'm to beat anyone here aside from Galad or Raethus's daughters."
 
"Hey!" Nerys Shan said as if about to protest, but quickly decided to be quiet.
 

Kainer

 
"Reign in your imagination, lad," Kerint said. "First your half-trolls, then you were caught by the druids - is this the first time you've been outside of whatever village you come from?"
 
Todawc spoke to you next. "Kainer, I'll go talk to this druid - " "Not a druid, just by brother" "- this druid that our good man here talked about. Mind that you don't get into any trouble while I'm gone."
 

Arelia

 
"Oh, I'm doing fine," Halsey said. "My mother's looking after my kids while I'm here with yours. If she'd only get over her stupid grudge with you…"
 

Jonos

 
"A couple of things, actually. While I hate to begin conversations with talk of money, I will need to pay wages for my men, and that means getting my monthly payments from you. The issue that I'm afraid of is that transporting that much money from your section of the army to the one led by our good baron Bernard may attract bandits or a cunning Mescorian lord. I feel that it would be in our best interests to figure out how to deal with this before we part ways."

[Duck14]

Alfred

“I guess there isn’t much for us to do before the ship is finished. You should get some rest at some point, how long have you been working for?” Garry was a hard worker, which made him one of the best but I didn’t want him to be neglecting his own health in the mean time.

————
Verous

I nodded. “Of course it is. Thanks for handling those, what you’re doing is very important. Has anyone retrieved the stores from the shop we raided? Hopefully that buys the people a few more days of supplies.”

————
Arthur

“Probably father. I’ve had a long day myself. I’ll see you in the morning.” It hurt to see him like this but it would hurt far more when he had to leave. No one should have to fight in a fruitless cause but he would. His contract demanded that he did.

[Tikobe]

Othan

"I'll try to see if I can stay here a few days longer if Raethus permits it. However, I'll eventually have to return to Mallowater soon," I reply.

Yep, I should return soon. Otherwise, Kallian might just kill me for being gone too long.

Kainer

"I'll try!" I smile innocently. I'm glad that Todawc trusts me, the elves always said never to leave me alone or else I'll get into trouble.

Seriously, I only play around with a bear once and then all the fae start fearing for my well being. To begin with, it's the sprites that suggested the idea.

"But, hold on a minute," I say, looking at Kerint, "There really isn't a half troll?"

Arelia

My eyes dart quickly to the side while I attempt to hide the awkwardness in my smile. Half the reason why the grudge isn't over yet is because I'm still holding my own, but it's probably best not to mention that to Halsey.

"Well, I should probably check on the young ones," I say as I go over to where they're reading.

[Leggo]

Jonos

“I’ll pay you two months wages in advance now, and if the campaign extends longer than that you’ll have my word that you’ll receive any unreceived wages when Mescor is taken. You’ll also have this month’s wages still, so almost three months will be covered. Agreed?”

[Bannanachair]

(Guys, we're moving at a snail's pace. We're on page 26 in May. We were on page 23 in January. You don't need to write more than a couple sentences per character for most posts, and neither do I. We can go faster than this. Scroll to the top of this page and look at the date if you want to see just how slowly we're moving.)
 

Alfred

 
"About thirty years by now, cap'n," Garry said with a chuckle. "Today, since about daybreak. I'd rather be out here near the water than cooped up in an office with some numbers."
 

Verous

 
"The treasure's been collected late last night, and Berig, count Ballus and I are going to be sorting through it all and counting it," Prue said. "No ledger was retrieved, but some of the treasure that was recovered… There was a tapestry that depicted the Battle of the Greywood, supposedly made by someone there himself."
 

Arthur

 
"Goodnight, Arthur."
 
Your dream that night was the same peculiar one that had been plaguing you periodically for six years - you were surrounded by mist somewhere that you couldn't see. In your hands was a sword, and to your left and your right were cyclopes fighting alongside you. The men with black hoods that you fought against were faceless, and the tree that you defended still burned.
 
You didn't have the dream every night, but you've had it often enough that when it was fresh in your mind upon awakening you weren't as shocked as when you were young. You weren't sure where you had gotten the idea for that dream for - an old story you must have heard once, though you can't ever seem to place it.
 

Othan

 
The next several days were spent in relative leisure - you finished reading The Dragon-Coven of Corodare and managed to read much of another history book, Non-Darist Myths of Arkhosia, which establishes the existence and some basic facts about that ancient empire. Though you knew much about the empire, you still learned a fair bit about the historicity of its various myths and about how its history has been twisted over the millennia to fit various agendas.
 
You also played plenty of Thaira. Though Boderick and Arthel left the day after young Wilhard's birth, Sir Galad stayed an extra day and came rather close to beating you on one occasion. Your son wasn't as good as you or Raethus, but he was certainly better than Northan, and decided to teach his younger cousin how to play one of the days. Thurum played horribly, as could only be expected of an eight-year-old.
 
Six days into your vacation, Sir Galad returned, with Sir Darmen Dinton accompanying him.
 
"Lord Othan, Sir Raethus, Sir Northan, we've been sent by Lord Kallian to request that you return to the city of Mallowater in advance of the tournament," Darmen said. 'Lord' wasn't your official title (you're technically only a knight right now, though an heir to a major title), but many used it to refer to you and your brother anyway. "The Great Dragon Nizeston will be in Mallowater in two days."
 

Kainer

 
"Half a troll's enough to send shivers down my spine, lad. Take my word for it," Kerint said. "If you must know, though, I've heard myths that trolls can survive being cut cleanly in half. Not that I know how anyone'd know to tell those stories, mind you - if it were the case, I doubt anyone would survive an attack by them long enough to tell any stories."
 

Arelia

 
They're each in their respective rooms. Reiselle's is nearer to the living room, and when you open her door, you find her reading a book quite intently.
 

Jonos

 
"Agreed," Redscar said. "The other, more pressing matter is of baron Bernard himself. He wanted to attack Norvera instead of Atrekara back when you first hired me. Then he suggested Norvera as the next target instead of Mescor. He leaped at the opportunity to lead the army that will go near the border of Norvera and, though I wasn't eavesdropping on your conversation with him, I'm going to guess that he was asking permission to attack Norvera. I don't know who his grudge is with, but he is clearly a man who has been slighted in some way.
 
"Thankfully he's not as stupid as some of your other vassals, though his alliance with Otterberg - and likely the count's subsequent betrayal over something petty - was a blunder that even you probably caught onto. With any luck he'll realise that he'll get a chance to settle his debts with Norvera eventually and will wait, but even the smartest men are idiots when their emotions get in the way. I'd like a letter, written and sealed, with orders for him to not attack Norvera if I or some other neutral judge of your choice objects to it on strategic grounds. I'd have said to give it to var Capvering as he's your sworn vassal and I am but a mercenary, but that man's an idiot."

[Duck14]

(Oof, yeah, it’s been a little slow recently. But I think we’ve all been pretty busy lately. I’ve been doing a bit of writing for the local media the last week so that’s why I responded a little late. Once I get round to writing this it just comes out, sometimes too much as in that pm I sent you a few weeks back, I just put it off for a little longer this time round.)

Alfred

I chuckle. “Lucky you. Just wait though, I’ll make you Captain someday then you’ll be the one dedicated to the numbers.” I tucked the letters and documents into ,y jacket pocket and nodded to my first mate. “I might go and check in on Artie. See how he is after the visit from that Brother Norrin. I want to say it was just an ordinary storm that came at the wrong time of year but all the evidence suggests it wasn’t.”

————
Verous

“Oh really? That’s rather interesting, would probably cost quite a bit as well. Make sure it’s all secured someway. If you’ve got all that handled Perrin and I might head to the cathedral.” I didn’t want to waste any time though talking to Prue was never really a waste of time. It was nice to be able to talk to her without her father around.

————
(Oh, the burning tree is back.)

Arthur

Most people had different dreams every night. I had different dreams too, sometimes but I had never heard of someone with recurring dreams lasting six years. Why had they started? What had prompted them? Why me? I had never told father, he would only worry and I hated to worry him. He didn’t need that, least of all now.

I made my way downstairs after getting myself ready for another gruelling day at the anvil. I wondered if father was around still. What of that Accovres, he said he would head down to the blacksmith today as well.

[Tikobe]

Othan

"Understood. It seems that we'll need to be leaving then," I say as I stand up. "Get everything ready, we won't be coming back if you forget something."

Kainer

"Oh? And how does one kill them?"

I already know the answer but why not ask?

Arelia

I smile a little.

"Are you having a pleasant time, Reiselle?" I ask, interrupting her.