[WFRP] The Bloody Crown XIII

[LCP]

The Bloody Crown - Continued

In that dread desert, beneath the moon’s pale gaze, dead men walk.

They haunt the shifting dunes of the breathless, windless night, brandishing weapons of bronze in mocking challenge and bitter resentment of the life they no longer possess.

And sometimes, in ghastly dry voices, like the rustling of sun-baked reeds, they whisper the one word they remember from life. The name of the one who cursed them to their existence of more than death but less than life.

They whisper the name, Nagash.

OOC (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?630739-WFRP-The-Bloody-Crown-OOC-XIV)


Elsa

<We brought the priests with us, Holt,> said Sforza. He turned and waved some men behind him forwards. <But yes, we brought oil too.>

It didn't take long for the last of Valdes' men to re-emerge. Two were carrying a heavy, iron-bound chest that jingled when they put it down. Two more were escorting a single filthy, terrified-looking Rivermouth man, so lean that Elsa could count his ribs through the rags of his shirt. The others carried no more than haunted expressions.

At Sforza's orders, the Iron Company moved into the tower with lit torches and jars of oil. Soon smoke was billowing from the darkened doorway. Nahorek's fortifications had been built from scavenged stone, but the core of the old tower itself was clay brick, and its supports were timber. More than that, Elsa had seen the tinderbox of shelving and musty scrolls that made up the library. Soon enough, flames were licking out of the high windows, consuming the boards with which the Jackal's followers had blocked them up. The army held their position in the square, watching as the flames grew brighter.

To Elsa's eyes, the flames were a beacon in the darkness. The acrid smell of smoke banished the damp of the fog in her lungs, and the warmth of the fire soothed away the chill that still lingered in her bones. Behind her, the Iron Company standard billowed out on the warm breeze that sprung up from the burning tower - and beside it, Sforza sat mounted on his borrowed horse, his face alive with the reflection of the flames. If she had been a painter, it would have been a scene for the brush.

There was a crash from high above, and the top of the tower sagged inwards, smouldering bricks cascading down on its far side. Flames belched out of broken windows, consuming the last of Nahorek's works.

<We're done here,> said Sforza. <Sound the recall. We return to the camp.> He looked back out into the night. <Myrmidia willing, tomorrow we leave this gods-forsaken place behind.>


All

The four trackers followed the ridgeline back to the camp, rather than returning by way of the valley. The fog was beginning to lift as Ludo and Hanna reached the edge of the encampment - looking down into the valley, Ludo saw an ruddy glow rising through the mist that still lingered there. The Jackal's tower was smoking like a chimney, long flames leaping up into the night.

They found Sieghard in the care of Sister Ioana, weak but recovering. No messenger had yet been sent back to Manann's Keep - no-one particularly felt like braving the wild country of the Dead Hills alone before sunrise. They would send one in the morning, they assured Ludo, as soon as it was light.

Perhaps half an hour after Urgrim and Jarla had made it back, the sound of marching feet announced the return of the army from the ruins. Sforza rode at the head of the column, his banner flying proudly behind him. Elsa was riding a short way back, behind Valdes. She looked pale and shaken, but alive.

[-Sentinel-]

Elsa reined in her horse and dismounted. The moment she hit the ground, her legs almost gave way under her from sheer exhaustion, both physical and mental. She hardly had a scratch on her, yet felt almost as close to death as the time Nahorek had practically torn her arm out of its socket. She was glad to see that both Ludo and Urgrim were back from the hunt. Jarla, too; that girl was growing on Elsa already. She wanted to run straight to the healers' tents to see Sieghard, but since she was too tired to run in any case, she might as well address her other friends in passing.

"Oh... I'm guessing from your faces that your hunt did not go well."

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla nodded. "She got away," the highwaywoman said, gloomily. Her grey-blue eyes studied Elsa and she managed a weak smile. "You look as bad as I feel. Here, let me help-"

She moved over to Elsa and offered a shoulder for her fellow redhead to lean on. Jarla wasn't particularly broad shouldered but she was tall, strong and healthy.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

With some effort, Sieghard pushed himself upright as the two women entered the tent.

"Morr's breath, you look as bad as I do," Sieghard said. "What happened?"

[-Sentinel-]

"She got away."

"Hmm. Unfortunate," said Elsa. In truth, with all of the other Rivermouthers apparently dead, she was now more concerned about the staff than its current wielder. "Don't beat yourselves up. If Ludo, the Thorns and Urgrim couldn't track her down, then I'm sure nobody on Rhya's green earth could've done better. We'll bring her to justice... or justice will come to her, one way or another."

Elsa politely declined Jarla's offered shoulder at first, as she was reticent to show weakness in front of the menfolk. She waited until they had put a tent or two between themselves and the returning soldiers before accepting her support.

"Much appreciated, Jarla," she said with a wan smile.

Her smile widened into a grin when Sieghard greeted her. "Oi, god-slayer." She sat down by Sieghard's cot, gripped his hand, and planted a quick and dirty kiss on his lips. "I only killed one banshee and a few ghosts tonight. I know that looks paltry by comparison..."

She told him in detail the events of Nath.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"Oh, but I imagine the ones you slew were still moving at the time. Go on, tell me more," Sieghard replied, still holding Elsa's hand in his. Almost as an afterthought, he glanced towards Jarla. "You didn't see that, understand?"

He layed back down and listened as Elsa recounted what she had seen. "Ludo was in earlier. Told me that Mala slipped away. We'll have to hunt her down yet, but there's only so much damage she can do on her own. Maybe the Reaches will be able to enjoy a bit of peace now. Maybe the dead can rest." He paused, something clearly on his mind. "I saw them, when I was lying out there after I stabbed the Jackal. Surrounding me, staring at me, wordlessly judging me for what I did. What I failed to do... Ottilda and Goran and the rest who died at Rivermouth... Astoria and priests the Nahorek killed... Those who fell to his ghosts the last time..." He trailed off until he noticed Jarla again and his attention snapped back. "I saw Adelbert too."

He switched to Tilean. <We have to tell her.>

[-Sentinel-]

Elsa looked down in sympathy as Sieghard mentioned his fallen friends' souls. "That was the vampire's evil magic toying with your mind. You know Adelbert wouldn't want us to feel guilty on his account." She squeezed Sieghard's hand harder. "Just because we couldn't save everyone doesn't mean we didn't do our gods-damned best. If the dead are watching us, they know this, too."

Sieghard switched to Tilean. <We have to tell her.>

Elsa pursed her lips. Oh, right, she remembered, poor Jarla still doesn't know who's truly behind her brother's murder.

<Can this wait? I think we've all had enough emotion for one night.> She paused. <But if you think it's best to cut away the gangrene now, I won't stop you.>

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"That was the vampire's evil magic toying with your mind. You know Adelbert wouldn't want us to feel guilty on his account. Just because we couldn't save everyone doesn't mean we didn't do our gods-damned best. If the dead are watching us, they know this, too."

"I wish I could believe that," Sieghard said. "The Jackal was already dead and his mask broken. Maybe killing him helped, but they aren't satisfied. Not yet."

<Can this wait? I think we've all had enough emotion for one night. But if you think it's best to cut away the gangrene now, I won't stop you.>

<I guess you're right. This is hardly the place for it, surrounded by his soldiers,> he replied after considering her words. <It can wait until we're away. No longer.> He didn't look happy about it, but he knew it was probably for the best.

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla shook her head. "You might have thought you saw Adelbert but I know my brother and he wouldn't blame you."

Sensing the couple needed some alone time she took her leave to attend to her own wounds and check on Countess - it had been a long and disappointing day and Jarla was very tired.

[Thragka]

Like Ludo, Urgrim's feelings were mixed when the trackers returned. It felt like a supreme disappointment for Mala to slip through their fingers, at the very end, despite the simmering pride at the blow they'd struck against Nahorek. When the pair of them visited Sieghard, Urgrim didn't know what to say. "Sorry we let her get away," was all he managed.

A bout of self-consciousness took him, and he excused himself from the Shallyans' tent. He stepped out into the night air, and decided to wander over to where the Dwimmulsons were congregated. Even seeing the dawi react to his approach lifted his spirits, as they began shouting questions at him. Through the sea of intensely curious faces, he sought out Grunlok. —Þegn, he called by way of greeting. He paused a few moments, letting the clansfolk surround him, before announcing loud enough for them all to hear.

—Varag Kol is laid low! We ambushed him outside the city. Commander Sieghard struck him with Zonbrynaz. His body is destroyed, and his crown is broken. The grudge has been satisfied again!

Urgrim joined the cheer that went up. At a less theatric volume, he told Grunlok the rest of the details, and answered the dwarfs' questions. —His uzkular minions are destroyed, too. Most fell with him, and we hunted down the one that didn't. It isn't a total victory yet, though. His witch servant escaped – we believe she took his staff. We tracked her from the battle site up into the hills, but she eluded us in the fog. So, we must hunt her down. But this chapter of the war is over.

—The witch went north, it seems. The umgi rangers know those woods well, though – they're named for the forest, and Sieghard is its lord, in the Prince's name. They'll snap at her heels until they catch her, I've no doubt.

—Zonbrynaz holds true – the shaft was broken when it struck the zangunaz, but the blade looked as sound as I've ever seen it. The Prince's men have it, along with the broken crown.


~

After satisfying the Dwimmulsons' curiosity, and permitting himself a short time to soak in the victorious atmosphere, Urgrim took another wander about the camp. He found Jarla attending to her horse, and approached.

"Lady Schreiber," he said. He held out his hand to her. "It's a great honour to have fought alongside you. Yours is an upright and noble clan. It'd be a privilege to count you as friends."

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla laughs pleasantly and accepts Urgrim's handshake, removing her riding gloves to show a pair of pale and delicate looking hands with clean, well cared for nails. Clearly this was not a woman who wanted to mar her appearance even in the most dangerous of fights.

"Lady Scheiber is a title I could get used to. Thank you Herr Urgrim, it was a pleasure to fight alongside you too. Tell me, how does your friend the younger dwarf fare? I don't believe I ever caught his name."

[Thragka]

"Berki," Urgrim said, struck by a pang of guilt. "I haven't checked in on him yet – there's been so much going on ..." Guilt swept his face. "Young fool was acting the hero, chasing after me into battle ..."

He sighed, and postponed those thoughts. "Will you walk with me?" he asked Jarla, gesturing away from the centre of the camp. "There's something I'd discuss with you."

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla raised a copper eyebrow but nodded her assent. "It would be nice to have a gentleman escort. This camp is not so bad but it is not quite the Prinzheinrichstrasse in Nuln."

[Thragka]

Urgrim and Jarla

Urgrim smiled politely. "No, nor is it the Piazza dell'Aguila in Luccini," he responded. But the humour was a little forced, and he didn't speak again until they were out of earshot of any of the soldiers.

"There's something we – Sieghard, Ludo, Elsa and myself – didn't have time to tell you before the battle. About your brother. You've not been told the full truth of Adelbert's death. It was the Princess, Irene, who ordered the attack on him and Ludo."

[RossN]

Jarla & Urgrim

Jarla actually laughed, at first thinking it a joke. "I know Irene can be catty but murder? And I thought Nuln gossip could be vicious!"

Her smile disappeared as she registered Urgrim's expression. "Murder," she repeated, the colour beginning to drain from her already pale face. "Why? How? Do you have proof?"

[Thragka]

Urgrim and Jarla

"Adelbert died because of Irene's personal dislike of Elsa, at the end of the day. Have you heard anything about Holt's trial?

"To cut a long story short, the first time we came to Nath, a daemon was released. It made its way to Savonne, and tried to steal the book. Holt was blamed, because of ... actions she was not entirely innocent of, but she had nothing to do with this daemon. But when Sforza arrived from the city to the town, Manann's Keep, he had Holt put in irons. She argued she had the right to a trial, and asked for Ludo as her advocate.

"Ludo and Adelbert were in the west, hunting down the Jackal's pet necromancer. Successfully, in fact. So Sforza agreed to wait for their return. But Irene had acted through a pet of her own, her chirurgeon, Bianco. I m'self stumbled across Bianco whispering with one of the Prince's mercenary captains, Gunda. We thought it was odd, but didn't have any idea what was about to happen. Weren't 'til a few days later, when Ludo turned up half-dead on the edge of town, that we learned what came next.

"Gunda and her hirelings found Ludo and Adelbert and their company on the road back. The sellswords turned on them. According to Ludo, Gunda told them Irene sent her regards. That's where Adelbert died. Ludo was the only one who made it back.

"Sieghard and Ludo told the Prince in secret. At Holt's trial, then, we revealed to him everything we knew. He was furious. Gunda's entire company was put to the sword. And her commander's head was put on a spike in the town. Gunda herself was dead by this time, mind – after the ambush, she fell afoul of some cannibals in the woods. Different story there. Not sure what became of Bianco. Sforza had his wife sent back to Savonne. For her health. The campaign didn't suit her.

"The others can confirm what I've told you, and correct anything I've misremembered. But other than the names I've mentioned, there's maybe two living souls left who know those details. My friend Berki, and the Dwimmulson clan elder. So I wouldn't go telling the story."

Urgrim stopped walking, and turned to face Jarla head-on. "We want to see right done by your brother, those of us who knew him best. We'll find a way. Justice will be done."

[-Sentinel-]

Time-split - On the way back from Nath


Elsa cast one last look over her shoulder at the burning tower, then brought her horse closer to Sforza's. "A great victory, sire. We should find that theater troupe and commission a new play from them, so that all of the Reaches may hear of how Muzio Sforza defeated the Jackal and saved our land from the restless dead."

She then steered her horse towards one of the swordsmen who had gone downstairs in the tower. <Anything interesting down there?> she asked him. <Such as, I don't know, evidence of what happened to the Jackal's remaining mortal cultists?>




Healers' tent


"I wish I could believe that," Sieghard said. "The Jackal was already dead and his mask broken. Maybe killing him helped, but they aren't satisfied. Not yet."

"Know what will satisfy them even more than revenge?" said Elsa. "When their sacrifices are honored, and the Reaches are peaceful and green for the first time in living memory. And I think we're well on our way to achieving that."

Of course, they still had winter to go through. It would be a hard one; the last harvest had been a disaster. Hunger, discontent and strife would continue for some time. Nevertheless, peace was now a possibility, not just a dream... provided Sforza did not ruin it with his short-sighted ambition.

At this moment, Tatiana poked her head into the tent, having no doubt guessed where Elsa would go first upon her return.

"Oh! Tattie!" grinned Elsa. "Glad you're here. Come sit with us, we'll tell you everything." She turned to Jarla. "Jarla, this is my apprentice, Tatiana. She wields Ghur, the amber wind... meaning she's good with animals."


OOC
Obviously this takes place before the Jarla-Urgrim conversation. Sorry to force RossN to be in two places at once.

I hope I'm not overstepping by having Tattie come over; it was either that or having Elsa get up and go fetch Tattie from her tent, and I figured this was less hassle.

[RossN]

Healers' tent

Jarla smiled down at the small child. "Greetings Tatiana. My that sounds a wonderful gift! I'm fond of animals to. I must introduce to my horse Countess at some point."



Jarla and Urgrim

Jarla was silent for a long moment, absorbing Urgrim's story. With her usual wry smiles and animated gestures the woman suddenly seem much colder, still beautiful but pensive turned inwards. Dangerous. Adelbert had been similar in similar times, growing in dark intensity.

"I see," she said eventually. "I... I'll have to think about this, but if what you say is true..." She took a shuddering breath and tried to blink back tears. "The daemon, what became of it?"

[Thragka]

Urgrim and Jarla

Urgrim frowned, trying to recall. "They said they killed the goat ... it had moved between creatures, controlling them. They killed the form it took when it tried for the book. But we've no way of knowing if it's truly destroyed. Wouldn't bet on it," he added, sour.

[RossN]

Jarla & Urgrim

"Well," Jarla said, clearly struggling with the implications. "I suppose that it will have to wait then."

She looked down at Urgrim, expression very uncharacteristically grave and serious. "Thank you for telling me. I... I have a lot to think about but I am grateful. I think I need to... want to be alone now, but Ill talk to you and the others later. Thank you."

[LCP]

Elsa at the tower


Elsa cast one last look over her shoulder at the burning tower, then brought her horse closer to Sforza's. "A great victory, sire. We should find that theater troupe and commission a new play from them, so that all of the Reaches may hear of how Muzio Sforza defeated the Jackal and saved our land from the restless dead."

Sforza gave Elsa a searching look, as if trying to decide whether she was giving him cheek. In the end he seemed to let it slide.

<Yes,> he said, turning his face back towards the flames. <Perhaps we will.>


She then steered her horse towards one of the swordsmen who had gone downstairs in the tower. <Anything interesting down there?> she asked him. <Such as, I don't know, evidence of what happened to the Jackal's remaining mortal cultists?>

The man Elsa had picked out looked a little unsettled to be addressed by the wizard. He looked to Valdes, who nodded.

<Bodies,> he said, simply. <Many bodies.>

He didn't seem keen to elaborate.


The healers' tent

Tattiana approached hesitantly, never too sure of herself with more than one or two people. She looked at Jarla with a wary air.


"Greetings Tatiana. My that sounds a wonderful gift! I'm fond of animals to. I must introduce to my horse Countess at some point."

"The dappled mare?" said Tattie. "She's very handsome. I'd like that."

Still not moving from where she stood, her eyes moved from face.

"Is it really over? Are we leaving soon?"


Urgrim with the Dwimmulsons

The Dwimmulsons had marched down with the Iron Company into the city, and were now setting down their axes again without having had opportunity to lose them. Grunlok nodded at Urgrim's news, listening closely to the specifics.

"Skorgrund will be pleased," he said. "Not many grudges you get to strike out twice." He slapped a meaty hand on Urgrim's shoulder. "There'll be a celebration when we bring this news back to the hold. Along with Zonbrynaz, of course." He looked over towards the healers' tent. "Does the ugly one still have it?"

[-Sentinel-]

Nath


Realizing with some embarrassment that Sforza had mistaken her strategic suggestion for a clumsy attempt at flattery, Elsa clarified: "Propaganda is cheaper than feeding every mouth. Sometimes the people need to be reminded of who's protecting them."

Sorry, I just desperately don't want Elsa to come across as a brown-noser! :smalltongue:

Charm 54 to clarify what she meant: [roll0]
Fortune: [roll1]

Edit: Damn. :smallsigh: Elsa sucks at this, for someone who's about to become a Border Courtier.



<Bodies,> he said, simply. <Many bodies.>
Elsa nodded glumly. <Much the same as upstairs, then.>

This place certainly deserved to burn.



Healers' Tent


"Is it really over? Are we leaving soon?"

"I imagine we strike camp tomorrow," said Elsa, smiling. "Or the day after. Can't blame you for being eager to leave. This is a horrible place and I hope never to return."

[RossN]

Healer's Tent


"The dappled mare?" said Tattie. "She's very handsome. I'd like that."

Jarla smiled. "That's her! She's a great horse and after the battle and the chase I think I owe her an extra few apples."

At Elsa's hope that they would strike camp soon Jarla enthusiastically agreed. "Here's to getting back to civilisation. Or Savonne anyway."

[Thragka]

Urgrim and the Dwimmulsons

"The grombolg, Stubbs, has it," Urgrim told Grunlok. Quietly, he reflected that this was a convenient compromise for the moment; Skorgrund thought well of Ludo, at least. Urgrim wasn't looking forward to the settling of the question of the spear's permanent ownership. Ideally, Skorgrund and Sieghard could just shout at each other until one of them died, and he could sit that conversation out.


~

Urgrim and Jarla

Urgrim simply nodded politely, and troubled Jarla no further. He hadn't been looking for praise, or gratitude. It was simply right that Adelbert's clan knew the full account of his death, so that honour could be pursued.

[LCP]

Urgrim with the Dwimmulsons

“Aye?” said Grunlok. “Well, better grombolgi than umgi. Keep an eye on him, will you?” He patted Urgrim on the shoulder again. “The zonbrynaz is a precious thing. The elders won’t want it wandering off.”


Backertag, 24th Kaldezeit

At dawn the next morning, the camp was already a riot of activity. Soldiers headed this way and that, rolling up tents or filling rough-spun sacks of supplies. The smell of cooking wafted across the ridgeline, as provisions that they had thought would have to last for weeks were thrown with abandon into a hearty breakfast.

The clouds were lifting, and as the sun heaved itself above the hills, the smoking wreck of the Jackal’s tower was visible in the valley below. In the sunlight, it seemed to have lost all its majesty and menace. Now it was only one more ruin, in a land full of them.


~
Sieghard

After a fitful night’s sleep, full of dreams of ghosts and jackals, Sieghard woke to the sight of the Prince’s face looking down at him. Sforza was no longer wearing his armour, but he made up for that with an imposing Iron Company guard to either side.

“So,” he said, “the jackal-slayer wakes. How are you feeling?”

Sieghard could tell that he wasn’t really interested in the answer.

“We’re breaking camp today,” said Sforza. “Heading back to the Vale. If you’re strong enough to walk, you can come with us. Otherwise, you can go with Esteban. I’m leaving him to command the rearguard, with the machines.” He looked out in the direction of Alvarr’s trebuchet. “We drag that thing all the way from Alvarran, and in the end all we needed was a letter. Myrmidia likes her little jokes, eh?”

Sforza looked around the tent, taking in the details of Sieghard’s surroundings. “What’s become of the spear?” he asked. “I don’t see it here with you.”

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"Broke," Sieghard replied, groggily. "Shattered when the vampire died. I think Ludo gathered up what was left of it." He shifted himself upright and tried to suppress a groan as he did. "What about the Jackal's remains? He was brought back from the dead once, we'll have to do something to make sure it doesn't happen a second time."

[-Sentinel-]

When Elsa awoke in the healers' tent, she had little or no physical pain from last night's injuries, but every nerve and muscle in her body tingled like crazy and felt a bit weaker than it should be. Perhaps she should ask Ioana for some more of the same medicine as last night. At least the ringing in her ears from the banshee's scream had faded almost to nothing. She wolfed down a hearty breakfast with the soldiers and went looking for her early-rising apprentice.

"Hey, Tattie. If you're feeling bored, I have a suggestion for you. Go on a ride with Jarla—you can borrow Bastard. Look for the Prince's white horse, Vedenzo, and see if you can return it. Him. Return him."

She shrugged. "Again... only if you're bored. It's an idea, not a request. But just think about that poor, terrified animal, lost in the Dead Hills where there's no grass to chew, still saddled with his... saddle."

Elsa was probably not going anywhere today. As she understood it, the army would split between a fast half and a slow half, and Sieghard's injuries would likely keep him in the slow half. Much as she despised this place, she did not intend to leave him behind.

[LCP]

Sieghard

"All that was left of him was his mask," said Sforza. "And some rags. The mask, we have. The rest of him," - he gave a shrug - "dust on the wind, by now."

"You say Stubbs has the spear?" he said, returning to the question at hand. "Very good." He turned as if to leave. "The Iron Company marches at noon. Join us then if you're well enough to ride."


Ludo

Ludo was just finishing his breakfast - Rudi had given him an extra helping, 'for heroes' - when two Iron Company men came beelining towards him. They were tall, broad-shouldered Tileans; one of them had an ugly scar below his eye.

"You are, ah, Stubbs?" said one of them, in strongly-accented Reikspiel. "Prince Sforza asks that you, ah, return him his spear."


Elsa

Tattie looked over to where Bastard was chomping down a bag of fodder. "I can take him?" she said, expressing more enthusiasm than Elsa thought she'd ever heard anyone have for her particular horse. "I'd like that. I mean... if it would be useful."

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla had slept very poorly but even in the worst of times she had appearances to keep up so she had washed had thoroughly as possible, dressed in her fine riding clothes a plumed hat and after eating breakfast attended to Countess. She'd sourced a few apples from somewhere and fed them to her loyal mayor.

In the morning peace, and by herself she could almost forget the news Urgrim had given her. But only almost. She watched Countess nibble another piece of fruit and wondered just what in the names of all the gods she was going to do now.

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo had little patience for being intimidated. "Where is the Prince?"

He stood, and strode off in the direction indicated. "I'd like to talk to him about this."

[-Sentinel-]

"I can take him? I'd like that. I mean... if it would be useful."

"Of course you can!" said Elsa. "Also keep an eye out for any other horses that ran away last night. If you return Vedenzo, be sure to ask the Prince for permission to keep another of your choosing. I don't think he'll refuse you."

"Ah, there's Jarla..." Elsa waved at the Schreiber sister.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"A moment, please," Sieghard said as Sforza turned to leave. "What about the dead that the vampire had enslaved?"

[LCP]

Sieghard

Sforza paused on his way out of the tent. "What about them?" he asked. "They're dead."


Ludo

Ludo found the Prince supervising the packing up of his command tent. "Ah, Stubbs," he said, as he saw the halfling approaching. "My men found you?"

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"Where are the bodies?" Sieghard asked. "They gave their lives fighting the vampire for you. Died trying to rescue your subjects from him. They deserve to have their remains brought home and buried properly."

[LCP]

Sieghard

"A little late to save their souls, aren't we?" said Sforza. There was a beat, then he sighed and turned back to face Sieghard properly.

"We saw the bodies in the square under the tower. More than a hundred. Even if we wanted to, we couldn't carry them with us." He paused. "If you want to take charge of burying them, I can leave you the hammer-priest and the labourers. But graves or no graves, the army leaves today."

[RossN]

Jarla

Seeing the two approach Jarla smiled and waved. "Good morning. Out for a stroll this vampire free morning?"

Taking one of her apples in one hand she gracefully threw it to Tatiana. "For you; Countess loves them especially the greener ones. Oh I spoke with your friend Urgrim last night Elsa. He told me a few things we should discuss. But that can wait."

[LeSwordfish]

"They did, mio principe," Ludo said. "I wanted to ask if you would consider returning the spearhead to the Dwimmulsons. They created it originally, and consider it theirs. I think it might be more valuable as a gesture of goodwill, now we no longer have a vampire to kill with it."

[LCP]

Ludo

"That had certainly crossed my mind," said Sforza. "You have it with you?"

[LeSwordfish]

"I do." Ludo said. "Herr Jotunsson was asking after it."

[LCP]

Ludo

"Really?" said Sforza, looking over Ludo's head to see if he could catch sight of Urgrim. "Signor Jotunnsson does not speak for the Dwimmulsons, I believe."

He returned his attention to Ludo. "Such decisions are not taken lightly, of course. And this is is a precious thing. I wish it to travel with me, back to Savonne." He held out his hand, palm open. "If you please, signor Stubbs."

[LeSwordfish]

"But he does speak to them." Ludo said. Still, he drew the spearhead from his pack and handed it over to Sforza. "I hope you'll consider what I've said, mio Principe. They were...unusually flexible in allowing Commander Sieghard to keep it before, and that was one of the things that won us the day yesterday."

OOC
Not really much I can do but throw a Charm test at this I think, [roll0] vs 92

"If I may, your highness, might I ask if you have a duty in mind for the Thorns, when we return to the Vale?"

[-Sentinel-]

"Oh I spoke with your friend Urgrim last night Elsa. He told me a few things we should discuss. But that can wait."

"Hmm. For sure," said Elsa. There were not that many topics for Urgrim and Jarla to discuss, so she had her suspicions. "Did you have any plans today, Jarla? I was just telling Tattie that some of our horses ran off during the battle with the vampire. She has a way with animals, and you saw which way they ran, so I'm thinking the two of you could try to round them up. Horses are precious in these parts."

[RossN]

Jarla

"That honestly sounds a nice way to clear my head," Jarla said. "I didn't have any plans for today, especially since the prince couldn't be bothered to send thanks for saving his life yesterday so a little ride would be just want I want. Besides I'd like to see if wildflower girl here really can talk to animals. What do you say Tattie, will we ride?"

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"And the empty carts as well?" Sieghard replied. They had lost one of the trebuchets and gone through much of the food they had brought when they marched south. It might not be enough to carry all of the dead, but there was surely enough room to carry those who could be identified as his own men. Kleinrabe's people and the Caerfort dead would have to be buried closer - though still a good distance away from Nath itself if he could help it.

"I'll see to it," he said, forcing himself to his feet and then pausing to steady himself. "I owe them that much."

[LCP]

Sieghard

"For Morr's sake, Sieghard, most of them have been dead for a month or more," said Sforza. "Your men won't thank you if you make them carry that cross country." Seeing the determination on Sieghard's face, he relented. "If Abdul thinks we can spare any carts, we'll leave them. But bring them back in one piece. You know Abdul will keep count."


Ludo

Taking the spearhead, Sforza weighed it in his hand, turning it over so it caught the light. For a moment, his attention was so wholly occupied by it that it seemed as if he'd forgotten Ludo was there. Then, at the sound of Ludo's voice, he looked up.

"As a matter of fact, I spoke to their commander just now," he said. "He's volunteered them for grave digging duty." He gave Ludo a curious look. "After that... is there something you were going to request?"


Elsa & Jarla

Tatiana didn't seem to take to being called 'wildflower girl', but nodded. "If you please," she said.

[RossN]

Elsa & Jarla

Jarla privately felt that someone who voluntarily answered to 'Tattie' had no business being picky about nicknames but she bit her tongue on that. Instead she introduced the girl to Countess.

"This dappled dame has carried me all the way from Averland, and she's probably my best friend. Countess this is Tatiana".

She mounted her steed in a practiced yet graceful motion. "Ready when you are wizardess."

[LeSwordfish]

"I was going to volunteer them for patrolling the south of the Thornwood," Ludo said. "It's their home territory and most familiar ground, and if the Rivermouth Witch wants to leave the desert, she'll be passing through there or into the Vale. And frankly, I think after everything the regiment has been through over the past month, they'd appreciate something more, ah, straightforward."

[-Sentinel-]

OOC
Just remembered we still had our friend Meskhenet. We don't want to forget about her. I want to know if she has anything to say about Nahorek's defeat.


Shortly after Ludo's talk with Sforza, Elsa sought out the halfling and asked permission to borrow Meskhenet. "I'd like to talk to her in my tent. You can come, if you like."

She carried the box gingerly to her tent and opened it.

[LCP]

Ludo

“Sieghard is steward of the Thornwood,” said Sforza. “When they’re done here, that’s where I’d expect them to return.”

Turning away to direct the soldiers carrying his luggage, he got briefly sidetracked into a brisk conversation in Tilean. Seeing Ludo still standing there, he turned back towards him.

“The campaign is over, signor Stubbs,” he said. “And winter is almost with us. All the men deserve some rest, and, Myrmidia willing, they will get it.” Two soldiers laid down a heavy chest beside him, and he passed them the spearhead to lock inside it. “We’re heading home.”


Horseback Adventures

Tattie looked up at Countess with obvious appreciation. Countess seemed very at ease in her presence as well - lowering her head, she allowed the girl to stroke her long snout.

Elsa’s stallion was another matter. Snorting and stamping when Jarla rode near, the big black horse looked like sixteen hands of trouble. Countess shied away from him at first, but when Tatiana heaved herself up into the saddle, he seemed to calm down. It was a peculiar sight, seeing this slip of a girl mounted on such a powerful steed - but still, she seemed to take to it naturally enough. Weaving through the lines of soldiers that were busily disassembling the camp, the two of them rode out into the hills.

The thick clouds that had lingered over the valley since before Jarla’s arrival were beginning to break up, and ragged patches of sunlight could be seen racing over the stony hillside, moving as fast as Countess could gallop. Following the line of the ridge until they had left the camp well behind, they gave their horses free rein, and soon found themselves dipping down into one of the gulleys that ran down towards the north. Ordinarily it would have been a dry ravine, but with the recent rains, a fast-running stream gushed and gurgled along its bottom. The water was dark with the grit and dust washed down from the rocky heights.

Bastard drank greedily from the stream, though Countess turned her nose up at the muddy water. Following its course north, the two horses took up a leisurely pace, only breaking into a brief canter whenever Countess felt the need to put more distance between herself and Bastard. Between the work of keeping her unruly mount in check, and perhaps a degree of intimidation at riding with this well-dressed stranger, Tatiana didn’t talk much. She kept her eyes on her surroundings, alert and watchful.

It was getting on past noon, and Jarla was beginning to wish she’d brought some lunch, when they sighted what they’d been looking for. Three riderless, still saddled and trailing their reins, were munching on a hardy thornbush that had taken root in the gully ahead. They were so covered in dust that it was difficult to tell the true colours of their coats, but Jarla felt pretty sure that the nearest of the three was Sforza’s white horse.

“We shouldn’t startle them,” said Tatiana. “I’ll go on foot. Will you hold this one?”

Turning his head, Bastard gave Jarla a baleful look.


Back at the Camp

By noon, the bulk of the army was on the move. The Falcons took the head of the column, leading the way for the Iron Company and the Dwimmulsons. Most of the camp followers were going with them too, including Rudi and his cooking. Only the Brotherhood and the Maneaters remained behind, along with the Thorns and a rough gaggle of civilian labourers.

A couple of hours after the Prince’s vanguard had disappeared from view, Valdes poked his head into the tent where Sieghard was recuperating. “The ogres have got the last of Alvarr’s catapult packed away,” he said. “We’ll be leaving soon - we need to strike this tent if Sister Ioana is going to come with us.” He examined Sieghard with a careful eye. “Are you going to be alright, holding down the command here? You still look like death.”

[RossN]

Jarla and Tatiana

Jarla gave Bastard a doubtful look, but dismounted and after giving Countess a reassuring pat moved to take Bastard's bridle. Kick or bite me and you will take a pistol ball through that thick skull...

Jarla had to admit she was curious to see the magic girl in action. She'd no magical training herself but it was hard not to feel a thrill of excitement at it's use.

OOC:
Animal Care: [roll0] vs 51
FP re-roll: [roll1].

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"And I feel like I've aged a decade or two overnight," Sieghard replied, his tone light. "I'll manage - I don't plan on staying any longer than needed."

He headed out into the valley to find his men and see what Sforza had left behind for him to work with.

[LCP]

Jarla & Tatiana

Almost as soon as Jarla had taken his bridle, Bastard reared up on his hind legs, doing his best to force her to either let go or be dragged off her feet. The animal was testing her, she knew - if she let him get what he wanted by throwing his weight around, he would have established that he was the one in charge.

OOC: Can I get a Strength test to see if Jarla can keep her feet?


Sieghard

The Thorns' tents still remained behind, along with the overcrowded handful of spares that had been handed out to the labourers. One empty wagon and a pair of battered handcarts had been set aside for them, standing apart from where the Maneaters were loading up the heavy parts of Alvarr's trebuchet. Father Hechsler was sitting on one, squinting into the bottom of his hip-flask.

The men Sforza had left behind to help numbered about twenty-five in total. Dirty, hungry and thin, they looked confused and a little discontented at being left behind. Sitting on rocks or pacing idly between the tents, they watched the massive figures of the ogres tying down the last of the catapult pieces with uncertainty in their eyes.

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla hissed in pain as the animal reared and she hung on. Maybe she would have to shoot it after all!

OOC:
Strength: [roll0] vs 40.

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo and Sforza
"That's good to hear," Ludo said, watching the spearhead vanish into the lockbox with an uneasy feeling.

"Might I ask if you have any plans to organise a search for the witch?" Ludo asked. "We don't know what the artefact she's carrying is capable of. I'd be very keen to take part in that."

Ludo and Elsa
Ludo willingly acceded to Elsa's suggestion, opening the box containing Meskhenet's head carefully, like a jewellery box. He was partially unsure if she would even be present.

OOC
Ludo and Elsa crowded around Meskhenet's box, like your parents making a zoom call on the family laptop.

Whether Ludo remains in the camp or travels north depends on how the Sforza conversation goes so I'm holding off on that for now.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"Did the prince tell you why we're still here?" Sieghard asked Hechsler. "Grim work, but it needs to be done." He glanced north at the tracks left behind by the Iron Company, lowered his voice and muttered contemptuously "I guess his own men must've had something more important to do." He wondered if Sforza would've cared if it had been his own men's bodies left behind in the ruin. "Elsa tells me the darkness hanging over the ruins has settled, but I'm not taking chances. If you could get started blessing the swords and quarrels, we can get to work. If nothing else, I want to have the bodies out of there by nightfall."

He turned towards the workers Sforza had left behind. He knew that they hated him. That he had done what he could to minimize the suffering in the war with Alvarr or that he very well may have saved them from the same fate the people of Caerfort suffered didn't matter. All he could do was try not to give them more reason to hate him. "We've one job left before we're done here," he explained, doubting that anyone else had, "Once it's finished, we'll return to Manaan's Keep and I'll personally see that you're all given warm meals and found new homes and work - in the Vale or otherwise if you prefer." He paused knowing that if any of what he was going to say would cause a stir, it would be what was coming next. "The vampire Nahorek, sometimes called the Jackal or the Drinker is slain. His victims, who he enslaved in death still lie unburied in the ruin that he made his lair," He kept his tone neutral, his words an explanation rather than a rebuke. "We will see that their remains are removed from that dark place and given over to Morr properly."

[LCP]

Ludo & Sforza

"The peasant woman at the parley?" asked Sforza. "If she had any witchcraft of her own, I didn't see her use it." He gave an order in Tilean, and the soldiers began carrying the lockbox off with the rest of his effects. "When we get back to civilisation, I'll put out an order naming her and any others that slipped the net testa di lupo, outlaw. If you or Sieghard want to hunt her down, you have my blessing."


Ludo & Elsa

Meskhenet's eye-sockets were dark and empty. It took a good minute before any spark of light could be seen there - and even when it was, the ancient skull did not speak.


Jarla

Digging her heels into the stony ground, Jarla pulled back hard on Bastard's reins. Seeming almost surprised at the strength of her resistance, the big stallion fell back to all fours. He snorted and shook his neck, but no further acts of rebellion ensued. Jarla felt a quiet sense of triumph.

Tatiana had stopped in her tracks when her mistress' horse started misbehaving; now she resumed her quiet approach towards the grazing horses by the stream. They paid her no more attention than if she had been a small bird, continuing to merrily munch away on the thornbush. Eventually, she was so close that she could reach out and stroke the mane of the white horse closest to her.

If this was magic, it didn't seem to come with any flashing lights or coloured smoke. Tatiana stayed where she was for a good few minutes, murmuring softly to the animals. Then, gently taking the white horse's trailing reins, she began to lead it back towards Jarla and their two mounts. The other two grazers raised their heads and followed, seeming drawn by curiosity as much as anything else. Bastard snorted again. Jarla could sense he was excited by the prospect of new herd-mates to bully, but as long as she kept held of his reins, he would remember that she was the master.

"I think they'll come with us, if we lead them slow," said Tattie. "The poor things must have been frightened half to death."


Sieghard

"It's a good cause," said Hechsler. He squinted up at the position of the sun. "A lot of bodies to move before nightfall, mind. We'd get more daylight if we waited 'til tomorrow."

The labourers received Sieghard's address in stony silence. It wasn't that they weren't listening - they simply had nothing to say. They certainly didn't look pleased to be there.

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo and Sforza
Ludo didn't have the confidence that Sforza did - but then again, he didn't have the army. He nodded. "Thank you, Mio Principe."

Ludo, Elsa, and Meskhenet
Ludo cleared his throat awkwardly and spoke in Classical. <"The vampire is defeated. We shot him with silver bolts and ran him through with the spear of Ptra. He turned to dust."

"It was...invaluable to know what you told us. We were able to trick him because of what you let us know. The people of these lands are in debt to you.">

[RossN]

Jarla

"They weren't alone in that," Jarla replied with feeling. Even now she could only picture the battle with a shiver.

Her arms hurt (she'd have a bone or two to pick with Holt about this later), but she seemed to manage and Jarla knew Countess would follow if they did indeed move slowly. She looked at her companion curiously. It was hard to picture this shy peasant girl being trained by the (literally) fiery Elsa.

"So Tattie how do you find working for Mistress Holt?"

[-Sentinel-]

Elsa and Ludo


Hmm. Odd.

Perhaps the area had been so drained of necromantic power in the past night that it was much harder for an undead creature to remain "alive", so to speak.

<Meskhenet,> said Elsa softly, in Classical. <Nakht-Horeb is destroyed. Is there anything we can do to... end your curse of undeath? We have priests who can send your soul into an afterlife of peace and rest, though they serve no god of yours.>

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard


"It's a good cause," said Hechsler. He squinted up at the position of the sun. "A lot of bodies to move before nightfall, mind. We'd get more daylight if we waited 'til tomorrow."

Sieghard squinted upwards and realized he had been resting longer than he had thought. "Tomorrow then. For now we'll find somewhere suitable and get started digging."

What Sieghard defines as suitable depends a bit on factors I don't have OOC knowledge of, but in general he wants it away from Nath (limited by how many bodies he estimates we can move at a time with the carts and wagon and how many trips back and forth it will take). He doesn't want to spend more than a day in Nath itself even if we have to finish the actual burying part the next morning. And of course there's Nahorek's rainstorms to consider - nowhere that was so thoroughly drenched that any hole we dig will just fill back up with mud right away.

[LCP]

Ludo & Elsa

As Ludo spoke, the glimmers of witchlight in Meskhenet's eye-sockets grew steadily brighter.

<Debt...> came the bone-dry whisper in reply. <My debt... is not one that can be repaid.> She trailed off. <Is he really... gone?>

A long silence followed, Elsa's words falling into it like stones into a deep well. Ludo wasn't sure if Meskhenet was contemplating her reply, or falling back into slumber.

<Nakht-Horeb may be... defeated...> she said at last. <He... is only the hound. The master's... work... endures. What I did... my people's curse... cannot be undone... until it is destroyed...>


Jarla

Tatiana looked a little thrown by the question. "Oh," she said, as they began to lead the horses back along the gully. "It's, um... it's fine."

OOC: I think a Charm test would be appropriate for trying to get Tattie to open up.

Sieghard

Sieghard still felt so drained of energy that walking along the ridgeline left him exhausted. His scouting for grave-sites told him nothing he hadn't been expecting. The earth was hard and stony: it would be backbreaking work to dig more than a shallow pit. The upper slopes were drier, at least, and had plenty of stones with which to build a cairn. It would be a lonely grave to cover so many, out here in these desolate hills - but better than nothing.

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla smirked in amusement at the girl's shyness, looking at her with her grey-blue eyes. "If you're worried about Bastard gossiping about you I don't think Elsa has quite your gift with animals. It's alright Tattie, I was just curious. I haven't worked with wizardesses before - though I played one once or twice when I was with the travelling players."

OOC:
Charm: [roll0] vs 64

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

Sieghard took a moment to catch his breath. If this was all the strength he could muster, things could easily grow dire if anything malicious did still haunt Nath.

"Up there will do," Sieghard told the workers. It will have to. He pointing to the spot he had chosen. "There are tools in the back of the wagon. We start digging tonight and at sunrise we'll start fetching the dead. Dig as best as the ground here will allow and dig wide - there'll be a lot to bury. Any there aren't tools for can start gathering up stones to cover them with when we're done."

As they shuffled off, he sat down against a large rock and turned to Hechsler. "Can I ask a favor? Could you find a woman called Hannah and tell her I want her to gather up the men and bring them here?" He briefly described her. "I'd find her myself, but the fighting last night took more out of me than I thought."

Orders for the Thorns will be the same as for the rest, he just wants them to help with the digging. Probably worth throwing a command test at.

[roll0] vs 64 Command
[roll1] Reroll

Not sure what time it is, but if it's early enough he'll also call for a break about half-way between now and sun down.

[-Sentinel-]

Elsa was silent for a moment. The master's work... she meant the Book of Nagash?

At last she said: <I have just returned from Nath, a city ruled by the dead. Built long after your time, I think. I destroyed the most powerful spirit that dwelt there, and upon her death, I had a vision. A vision of her while she was still alive, using the Book of Nagash in a great ritual to kill everyone in Nath and bind their souls to her. When I came to, the curse seemed to have been lifted from Nath.>

[LCP]

Ludo & Elsa

The skull in the box said nothing. Meskhenet must have heard her - but her fleshless face was not able to show what, if anything, she was thinking.


Sieghard

The workers looked at one another, as if seeing who would be the first to raise an objection to Sieghard's orders. When no-one did, a lean youth with a week's stubble on his face wearily picked up a shovel, and led the way over to the spot Sieghard had indicated.

Hechsler fetched the Thorns as Sieghard had asked, and soon almost fifty men and women were at work, digging the pit or carrying stones. The clink and scrape of picks and shovels carried over the hills, a peculiarly lonely sound after so long in the bustle of the crowded camp.

Sieghard called a break in the late afternoon, sharing round some of the food and water that Abdul had left behind. Their supplies weren't plentiful - he would have to make sure that they kept enough back for the return journey. Once the work was back underway, he sat down on a stone to watch, soaking in some of the fleeting autumn sun.


Jarla

"Travelling players?"

Tatiana listened with rapt attention to Jarla's descriptions of life on the road, in Nuln, and everywhere in between. Jarla wasn't sure whether the girl had been living under a rock, but even the concept of an acting troupe seemed to be exciting and exotic to her. Gently, Jarla steered the conversation back where she had intended.

"I haven't really known Mistress Holt for long," she said. "She came looking for me, in Nachgeheim. She took me to the city." She glanced back to check on the horses trailing sedately behind them. Apart from the animals, they were alone within the rocky walls of the ravine.

"She's, um, she's very busy, I think, being the Prince's wizard. She's not always around. And when she is..." She looked at Jarla, seeming to decide on impulse to trust her. "Sometimes I feel like she thinks I'm a child. I miss my friends, sometimes, from before. They made me feel more useful."

Tatiana fell into silence, perhaps feeling she'd crossed some line in criticising her mistress to this relative stranger. Clearly finding the subject uncomfortable, she clumsily tried to steer the conversation back to Jarla's adventures.

A little less than an hour later, they emerged back into the valley where the ruined city stood, a few miles from the site of the camp. Leading the horses back up along the ridge, they saw the Prince's forces there much depleted. The Iron Company and most of the tents were gone. A small force of dirty, un-uniformed men were digging a pit under Sieghard's supervision, while down in the valley, thin fingers of sunlight played over the bones of Nath. The blackened ruin of the tower remained in shadow, as if even the sun's rays wished to give it a wide berth.

"I suppose we'll have to give his Highness' horse back another time," said Tattie, seeming a little deflated at the sight of the empty camp. She looked back at the horses. "We should find them some food and water, and get them cleaned off. I'll take care of it."

Tying Bastard back up at the post where Elsa had tethered him, she led the rescued horses off in search of feed.

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo & Elsa
<"We will keep trying to destroy the book,"> Ludo promised. <"And keep trying to break it's power."> He couldn't help but wonder if Meskhenet was right about it's power.

<"What would you like us to do with you?"> he asked. <"There are learned men who would want to learn about your time and your people.">

Later
His work with Meskhenet done and no prospect of travelling north that day, Ludo wearily set to digging. It was things like this that made it hard to feel like a victory.

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla was touched and amused by Tatiana's gauche interest in her adventures and cheerfully supplied as many anecdotes as needed, refraining from those which might be a bit much for a country girl's mind.

"It's been nice talking with you Tattie," she said cheerfully as they arrived back at camp and as the girl went off to find feed. "We'll have to do it again back in Savonne. If they have a theatre there I'll bring you."

The highwaywoman gave a doubtful look at the burial duty, then down at her fine quality doublet and hose, then led Countess in the direction of her tent. As far as she could see nearly getting her arms removed via wild stallion was hard work enough for today.

[LCP]

Ludo & Elsa

It was a long time again before Meskhenet answered.

<My people are gone,> she said. <The only thing... your scholars should learn from us... is not to follow... our example.>


Bezahltag, 25th Kaldezeit

The next morning, Sieghard felt some of his strength had returned to him. A broad band of blue sky was showing in the east, tinging to pink as the dawn brightened to its full glory. Ludo already had the Thorns together, priming them for the grim work ahead.

The labourers needed a little more convincing, but the presence of the soldiers seemed to give them some reassurance that their lives were not about to be carelessly thrown away. Gathering their tools, they began the careful work of getting the carts down the steep slope into the valley, the shadows shrinking as the sun rose above the hills. As the air warmed, Sieghard could see kites circling over the centre of the ruins.

Elsa trailed behind the work party as it passed down through the streets of Nath, keeping a wary eye on the darkened doorways of the empty buildings. Shyish still hung thickly here, whispering in the wind as it breathed between broken walls. She still had the feeling of being watched that she had felt the first time she had come to this place - but the sense of keen, hungering malice that had possessed the shadows of the dead city seemed to have faded away in the sunlight.

In the square under the tower, the bodies lay scattered, their numbers no longer obscured by the merciful fog. Kites and buzzards had gathered in their dozens, flying up with powerful wingbeats when the grave-diggers came close. The smell rising from the carrion they had been feeding on was overpowering, but at least there were not many flies. One had to thank Morr for the small mercies.

Steeling himself, Ludo walked over to one of the nearest bodies. Its skin had blackened and putrefied, but it still wore the stained and faded uniform of a Thorn. Something about its rotting face took him aback - it almost looked like Ortwin.

OOC: I think this work justifies WP tests against insanity (let's say at +20) for Sieghard and Ludo. If Thragka and Sentinel feel that Urgrim and Elsa ought to get in on the Insanity Point action too I'll leave that to their discretion; Jarla at least doesn't really know the dead and already took an insanity test w.r.t. their general corpse-itude.

I'll break here to give you guys a chance to roleplay, but when you're ready to move on, let me know.

[Thragka]

Urgrim
Morning, Backertag 24th Kaldezeit

Urgrim dreamed of rockfalls and collapsed tunnels. When the morning came, he felt uncharacteristically anxious about his conversation with Jarla the previous night. He was no less sure he'd done the right thing, but with the passage of the intervening hours, he'd remembered humans could be funny about that kind of thing. He hoped he'd not offended Adelbert's memory in some obscure manner – though he felt sure he'd hear it from Sieghard soon enough, if he had blundered.

He slipped away from the camp as soon as he'd pulled his clothes on, heading back for the foothills overlooking Nath. Some time alone would settle his mood; besides, though he didn't expect much, he wouldn't feel right if he didn't return to round about where they'd lost the witch's trail, just to see what the scene looked like in the light of day.

Hope this timesplit is okay. Urgrim will willingly spend several hours retracing the route the trackers took the previous night, and searching for anything that could indicate where Mala went from there, even if following the trail is impossible. I expect he'd return to the camp and the burial team in the mid afternoon. A Follow Trail roll against 54, with a Fortune re-roll if necessary: [roll0], [roll1] – well, I guess I'll use that fortune point to push the first roll to a raw pass, though I don't expect that actually wins Urgrim very much.


~

Evening, Backertag 24th & Morning, Bezahltag 25th Kaldezeit

Urgrim found his way to Sieghard and the labourers on his return. He got to work organising the collection of cairnstones, selecting out the broadest and flattest specimens that would serve well in the base layer. When the edges of the basin began to be sketched out against the earth, he started putting the largest rocks in place on the prospective border, to form the outer ring. More pointed and angular stones were destined to form the middle of the cairn. It was simple work which harkened back to a simpler time in his life, and it was easy to do in silence save for simple directions and assessments.

In the evening, he spoke to Hechsler. "Strength to your arm, Jurgen." After the measure of polite and sombre small talk appropriate for the circumstances, Urgrim asked the Sigmarite if he could ask him something. "How d'you find it, serving your god far from his own lands, among the unfaithful? It seems ... unrewarding, to be a priest of the Hammer so far from your Empire. Yet, your faith now's helped strike down a great enemy of all civilised folks. Is it ... do you still feel he listens to you?"

Might be appropriate to test Urgrim's Trade skill here, to help planning the cairn. [roll2], [roll3]

Since Urgrim has taught some of the Thorns ranging, I think it's also appropriate for him to be a bit upset while clearing the bodies, so I'll test against Willpower on the 25th. [roll4]

[LeSwordfish]

"Bad business, huh?" Ortwin said to Ludo, looking down at the body. "Doesn't make it better, does it? Killing the vampire won't make them all come back."

"I know," Ludo said. He grabbed the body by the arms, and Ortwin took the ankles: it was still impossibly heavy, and scraped along the ground as they moved. Odd, given how burly Ortwin was. "I didn't really expect that."

"Begging your pardon, boss, but you sort of did, didn't you? Apparently that's one of the things you think about when you've lost someone. You get stuck thinking you can make it right. Like you can make a deal with Morr. Doesn't work that way."

With great effort, Ludo hefted the body onto the cart.

OOC
Ludo's WP roll: [roll0] vs 57

EDIT: oh whoops this is IC let me put a post around it

[-Sentinel-]

<My people are gone. The only thing... your scholars should learn from us... is not to follow... our example.>

Elsa smiled bitterly. <A lesson every generation of scholars has to learn anew, it seems.> She inclined her head. <Thank you, Meskhenet. If I cannot destroy the Book, I will at least work to keep it out of the hands of anyone who would use it. Sometimes, it seems the most good a person can do is just give the world a short respite from evil.>

She closed the box.





Bezahltag, 25th Kaldezeit


Since there were apparently no ghosts in Nath on this fine day, or at least none that were both visible and hostile, Elsa mostly kept an eye on the workers to make sure the Thorns were the only ones gathering the weapons of the fallen. She tried not to think too hard about whether Kleinrabe's original plan, which involved staying out of Nath, would have actually worked. She also tried not to look at the dead's rotting, half-eaten faces.

This is why I want my body burned. There's more dignity in being ashes than vulture food.

She still deeply respected Sieghard for being willing to go to such lengths for his fallen men. Though the living Thorns may hate this task, they would remember henceforth that their commander would do the same thing for them, if they too fell in battle.


OOC:
Got nothing especially important to do or say.

[Thragka]

Bezahltag, 25th Kaldezeit

"Ludo," Urgrim said, making his way over to the cart, "what're you doing trying to drag them around by yourself? Here, I'll give you a hand."

"By the way'" he said, when they were moving the next body, "Grunlok, the foreman, was asking after the spear. Seemed happy enough when I told him you had it. He might come looking for you when you're back in Manann's Keep, though."

[RossN]

Jarla, Bezahltag, 25th Kaldezeit

Jarla spent the day with Countess, keeping a distant patrol of the camp and the burials, obviously avoiding Nath itself. It was boring, lonely work but it beat grave digging and it also gave Jarla time to think her thoughts to herself. She hadn't realised how much she needed that after the last few days.

OOC:
Unless we're actually attacked or Jarla stumbles across evidence of Mala I'm okay with pushing on.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

Sieghard done what he could to prepare himself, but found the day's work incredibly disheartening all the same. Still too weak to even help carry the bodies, there was little to keep his mind from drifting back and wondering what they could've done differently, how he could've minimized the losses among the living and if there had been any way to save Nahorek's prisoners. As much as he dwelled it, he could think of nothing and blamed himself all the more for not being able to figure anything out.

"Pile up the weapons over there," Sieghard said, "We'll pack them up when we've finished moving the dead."

When the work was under way, he approached Elsa. "You should apologize to them," he suggested. "For... before. Maybe not now while they're working, but after we've made it back to town and put this behind us. I don't know if they'd forgive you, but I think they'd at least give you the chance to earn it. And I'd rather there not be bad blood between them and you."

Fitting as it would be for this to push Sieghard over the edge, I'm going to hope he clings to his sanity.

[roll0] vs 69 (49 WP +20)
[roll1] Reroll

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo blinked, as if confused, when Urgi took the other end of the corpse, and seemed about to say something.

In response to the question about the spearhead, he sighed. "Two of Sforza's heavies came by and demanded it. I went and spoke to him in person and told him it was the Dwimmulson's property, and all I could get him to say was that he'd consider giving it back to them. I'll try talking to him again but didn't really have much choice."

[Thragka]

"Hrmph," Urgrim grunted, but otherwise looked undisturbed by the news. "Well, can't say I didn't expect some squabbling over it. Almost better that it's the Prince. This way, it's not personal, we're not in the middle of it. Thanks for saying that to him – you've already helped, you don't need to get on his bad side over this."

When Jarla patrolled past their eyeline, Urgrim nodded towards her. "I told Schreiber about her brother's death, when we got back from chasing the witch."

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo was surprised by Urgrim's equanimity: he had mentally prepared an aggrieved justification. Perhaps that would have to be saved for Grunlok. As for telling Adelbert's sister...

"Probably for the best. I just had half the lies I've told over the past year thrown back in my face with a knife to my friend's neck so wasn't looking forward to maintaining another one: It might make things more complicated fast but... was the right thing to do."

[Thragka]

Urgrim nodded. "Aye. The truth's the simplest thing there is. It's people that get all mixed up." His gaze turned to Sieghard as he spoke.

"Hey," he said, after a pause, "we've really done something here, hmm? Paid a heavy price, and the job's not finished yet, but I honestly can't tell you if I really believed we'd be able to strike back against the Jackal like this, before that night."

[LCP]

Urgrim, 24th Kaldezeit

The wind across the hilltops was freshening as Urgrim went in search of last night's tracks, making him glad for his cloak. Around noon, he thought he had found the place where they had followed Mala through the fog. Now he could see the broad crest of the hill spread out in front of him in the patchy sunlight - a landscape of bare earth and wind-scoured rocks, the runnels carved by the rain still lingering like fresh scars.

Searching over the barren ground with a keen eye, Urgrim hardly noticed the hours slipping by. Much of the earth was too stony to take a print, but here and there, where the water and loose grit had accumulated into grey mud, he found the prints of heavy hooves. It looked like Mala had taken another sharp turn soon after gaining the heights, cutting north-west across the hills. That would put her on a course for the western edge of the Thornwood, if she held to it - but that 'if' seemed far from certain. These frequent changes of heading seemed to Urgrim like the choices of a woman consciously evading pursuit. Mala clearly knew a thing or two about being hunted.


In the evening, he spoke to Hechsler. "Strength to your arm, Jurgen." After the measure of polite and sombre small talk appropriate for the circumstances, Urgrim asked the Sigmarite if he could ask him something. "How d'you find it, serving your god far from his own lands, among the unfaithful? It seems ... unrewarding, to be a priest of the Hammer so far from your Empire. Yet, your faith now's helped strike down a great enemy of all civilised folks. Is it ... do you still feel he listens to you?"

Hechsler seemed a little surprised to hear such a question from Urgrim. "There was a time when I questioned that," he said. "But I'd say all this shows he has his reasons." His voice assumed a scriptural tone. "As He smote Nagash on the banks of the Reik, so He sends his servants to root out the evil of the Great Necromancer wherever it takes root... or something like that."

He looked over to the small scattering of campfires that remained, the Thorns and Sforza's labourers huddled close around them. "Way I see it, Sigmar named his kingdom the Empire of Man. Not of the Unberogens, or the Reikland. He was the Heldenhammer, the goblin-smiter. He wanted to drive out the monsters, and make the world a place where men and women could raise their children not to fear the dark." Taking a swig from his flask, he wiped his mouth and picked up a stick to stoke the fire. "That's something that everyone deserves, no matter what tongue they speak, or who they pay their taxes to."


25th Kaldezeit

It took three trips to get all the bodies back up the hill, even stacking them high on the back of Abdul's carts. The soldiers and labourers worked with handkerchiefs or strips of cloths over their mouths and noses, the carrion birds squawking and shrieking their complaints as their feast was carted away. Their noise was the only sound that broke the morbid quiet hanging over the company.

The bodies were laid head to toe and shoulder to shoulder in the pit that had been dug at the top of the hill - and when the space began to fill up, on top of one another. There were Caerforters, Morrite men-at-arms - Ludo suspected even some Rivermouthers among the dead they interred. Most were in such a state of decomposition that unless they wore a uniform, it was difficult to tell.

Only the remains of the Thorns and the Knights of the Raven were kept separate. The living Thorns seemed to treat the bodies of the fallen templars with a mixture of respect and fear. Sieghard could understand where they were coming from - even now, he had to fight the feeling that if he came too close, an armoured hand might jerk up to seize him by the throat.

Once the last bodies had been laid down, Hechsler opened his dog-eared old prayer book, and spoke a brief service to consecrate their souls to Morr. "So we return their flesh to Rhya's earth, oh Lord of the Gateway, in the sure and certain knowledge that their spirits shall dwell in peace in Your Garden," he concluded, "and in time, we shall meet them once again."

A scudding cloud cast its shadow across them, and a few half-hearted raindrops fell against the stony ground. Hechsler stepped back, and the Thorns and workers began to close the heap of stones over the cairn.

OOC:
Let me know when you're ready to move on - and whether you want to cut straight to arriving in Manann's Keep, or break for the second burial in the Thornwood.

[Thragka]

Urgrim
Backertag, 24th Kaldezeit

Urgrim listened, nodding at Hechsler's words. "It's a good creed," he assented. "We – dwarfs – don't worship our gods the same way as you humans do. We have temples, in the holds, but they're more like chapels than the grand temples I've seen umgi build. But our gods tell us to do their work out in the world. That's a calling I respect."

Urgi fell silent for a short time, wrapped in his own thoughts. Then he shrugged. "I've been feeling ... disconnected, I suppose. From my people, and their ways. I try to ... live with honour, even without guidance. I'm just unsure of myself, sometimes. And I wondered whether you'd ever felt similarly. Thanks," he added sincerely.

[-Sentinel-]

"You should apologize to them," he suggested. "For... before. Maybe not now while they're working, but after we've made it back to town and put this behind us. I don't know if they'd forgive you, but I think they'd at least give you the chance to earn it. And I'd rather there not be bad blood between them and you."
Elsa looked distinctly uncomfortable. "You know me, Sieghard. I'm not a person of words. I'm a person of deeds. And it might be best to... not stir up the past."

But the truth was that apologizing was just not her thing. Even when an apology was warranted.

"...I'll think of a nice little speech for when we eulogize the fallen. Alright?" She gave Sieghard a pat on the shoulder. "You've made some damn fine soldiers out of them. And I intend to let them know."


OOC
I think I'm ready to write Elsa's speech, but TheSummoner/Sieghard should get the first speech. (Both chronologically in-story and in the thread.)

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

Sieghard nodded. "Neither of us have Ludo's gilded tongue, but I don't think it would take much. Maybe you're right about stirring up the past, but I still think it's better than letting it fester."



"Morr watch over them," Sieghard said once Hechsler had finished, "Safeguard their souls and help them find the rest that the foe tried to deny them." Protect them better than we could.

Ready to move on to the Thornwood, Sieghard will have a bit more to say there. Better to keep it brief here both there's only so much he could say about the villagers and men at arms that he didn't know as well and he doesn't want to say the quiet part out loud when it comes to failing to rescue them.

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo kept his expression stony, and carefully clamped his hand over his face, biting down the sudden temptation to laugh hysterically.

Meet them again? That was the problem! We already did that! And they tried to kill us!

He joined in the murmured entreaty to Morr, and helped as the labourers began to pile the stones over the bodies. The face of the little girl from Caerfort who's name he hadn't been able to remember vanished under a smooth flat stone.

[LCP]

The cairn grew higher as sun sank down towards the west, its shadow stretching out longer and longer across the barren ridge. By the time Urgrim laid the final stone on its summit, the sun was grazing the tops of the western hills.

The wind that evening was keen and cold, making them shelter behind the lee of the ridge to keep their fires going. A couple of Thorns with torches were posted to keep watch over the unburied bodies and scare off any scavengers - but as the sun disappeared, the carrion birds disappeared with it. Huddling close to a campfire, Jarla overheard two of the peasant labourers talking.

“Why’d we leave those ones out?” the younger of the two men was saying. “Doesn’t make any sense to me.”

“Too good to be buried with the others,” croaked the older. “Don’t question ‘em, lad. It won’t do any of us any good.”

“That’s not what Armin would have said.”

“Aye, and where’s Armin now?”

A long silence followed.

“You think they really did it?” asked the younger man. “Killed the Drinker?”

“I don’t know what they killed down there,” said the older man. “But I don’t reckon it was the Drinker. You can’t kill a god.” His voice grew so soft that Jarla had to strain her ears to hear him. “Don’t let them make you think they can.”


Konigstag, 26th Kaldezeit

They broke camp the next morning, heading north on the same track that Valdes had taken with the war machines. It was slow going, dragging their dead behind them over the rocky ground - but by sundown, they had passed down out of the heights and into the fringes of the Thornwood. Here the wind was not so sharp, nor the air so cold. Exhausted by the arduous descent, soldiers and labourers alike slumped down under the shade of the trees to take the weight off their feet.

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla mulled over the words she'd overheard, though she lacked too much context to know exactly what the peasants were talking about. She was pretty sure you couldn't kill a god though, she was inclined to agree with the speaker that he hadn't been the Drinker.

Trying to move closer to the fire for own warmth she wondered just what she was doing here. Oh the burials were important work and she was sure Adelbert would have approved but she had no connection with the dead here.

She really should have left with the army.



Konigstag, 26th Kaldezeit

Any hopes Jarla might have had that they'd finally be back in civilisation were ground into dust as they crawled along the track. Several times as she rode Countess at barely a trot the highwaywoman, never at her best at times of tedium, found herself tempted to just race off ahead.

But as boring and difficult as it was Elsa and Sieghard and Ludo and Urgrim were her only friends here so she stuck with them, scouting and keeping guard.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

The next morning, while the others were preparing a breakfast and breaking camp, Sieghard took one of the horses Jarla and Tatiana had recovered and scouted out the surrounding area. As he was turning to head back to the others, he found a suitable spot - a clearing in the trees with a large stone laying off to the side. There was space enough to dig and the rock would serve well as a marker.

[LeSwordfish]

As the digging began, Ludo gathered the quivers of bolts he had taken from the dead, and from what of the company stores they had on the carts. Sombrely, he planted a line in the ground around the grave, ringing the dead with thorns, before tying a bundle with twine and leaving them in the centre of the stone like a bouquet.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"Morr, we give the fallen into your care," Sieghard as the last of the dirt was put over the grave, "Safeguard the souls of those who gave their to protect the Reaches. Protect the men who fought and sacrificed to stop the shadow of undeath from sweeping over the land. We return fallen home and lay to rest, may they find the peace they deserve."

He let the silence linger as he gathered his thoughts. He had never been a great speaker and it was hard for him to decide what best to say. "Songs and stories would have folk believe that victory is all glory, but it's often hard won and paid for in the lives of men. We have ended a great evil. Left alone, the Jackal, his pet necromancer and his ghouls would've swallowed the Reaches, slaying and enslaving all in their path. It wouldn't have stopped with one village. Like a blight, the Nahorek's shadow would've spread across the land until all men knelt before him, either in life or in death. We've prevented that. You prevented that and the Jackal will trouble the living no more. Nothing can bring back those we have lost, but we can honor their sacrifice. Remember why we fight and know that the fallen gave their lives for something greater than themselves."

[-Sentinel-]

Elsa quietly waited for the end of Sieghard's eulogy before offering her own, which she had been mentally rehearsing for most of the day.

"When the Jackal first rose, thousands of years ago," she said, "the mightiest human civilization of the time waged war on him and put him back into the ground, at great cost. They engraved their victory in the walls of their city Kheneb-Ptra-Urush, now ruined. Yet they congratulated themselves too soon. After they were long gone, the Jackal returned. The Broken Reaches, bled dry by centuries of war and banditry, were unprepared for him. And yet you rose to the occasion and destroyed him. For good, this time."

She paused for dramatic effect.

"You, the Thorns, with crossbows and courage, succeeded where a great empire of old, with their priest-kings and their sorcery and their vast armies of war chariots, failed. You did it not for gold or king or glory, but for home and love and family and friends and all those who will come after you. Your victory may never be immortalized in stone, but it will echo across the ages. Entire generations will owe their existence to your brave deeds. If the Broken Reaches ever one day know peace and plenty, it will be your doing. You, and those we've buried today, have pushed back some of the shadows that have been darkening this land since long before your great-great-great-grandparents were born. And that's worth more than any number of carvings in the walls."

She could have said more, but decided not to steal Sieghard's thunder by speaking too long.


OOC
I lack Public Speaking, but let's try a Charm 54 anyway: [roll0] Yaaay, go Elsa! :smallsmile:
Fortune: [roll1]

[LCP]

The Thorns stood by in respectful silence while Sieghard and Elsa spoke. Some puffed themselves up with pride at the praise that was layered upon them; others seemed too tired to do anything but nod. One or two seemed not to appreciate Elsa’s contribution - Ludo saw Hanna’s face darken and turn away when the wizard spoke.

Hechsler spoke the same rites he had spoken in the hills, and the listeners drew back to where they had made camp. The boulder remained behind, ringed with Ludo’s crossbow bolts - a mute monument beneath the crooked trees.


Angestag, 27th Kaldezeit

Late on Angestag afternoon, Sieghard’s straggling column arrived at Manann’s Keep. The streets of the town were thronged with soldiers and civilians alike, and a festival mood seemed to be in the air, the new-built fortifications all but forgotten. Sforza’s banner flew proudly from the fort, and the sound of music drifted from the Star of Marienburg, a good score of Iron Company men staggering merrily around outside the doors.

Still carrying the bodies of the four Raven Knights, the Thorns and labourers passed into the town square without seeming to draw much attention. There, Armin’s emaciated body still hung in its gibbet, now motionless and silent. A glossy-feathered crow was pecking at his toes where his leg dangled through the bars, to no visible reaction. Some of the labourers turned their eyes away.

[LeSwordfish]

"Something I've got to do first," Ludo said to Elsa, shrugging his pack off. "But I wouldn't say no to drinks at yours again."

Leaving his baggage at the barracks, Ludo went in search of Sforza's surgeons, and Rike.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"Some welcome for the men who killed the vampire," Sieghard grumbled. The fact that he had enough energy to complain was probably a good sign of his health improving.

"Kaspar, Hagen, take the knights' remains to the temple. The drinks are on me tonight - you've all earned it." He turned to the laborers. "And I remember promising you lot warm meals. Ingwald, see to it that they're fed - however much they want and let the owner of the Star know I'll be by to pay for it shortly." He turned to follow after Ludo.

[-Sentinel-]

"Something I've got to do first," Ludo said to Elsa, shrugging his pack off. "But I wouldn't say no to drinks at yours again."
Elsa nodded distractedly.

She addressed Sieghard: "I think I'll also pay our workers a bit. Should keep them from resorting to theft straight away and getting in trouble. If you can contribute, I'd appreciate it a lot; you're the one who insisted on getting all those bodies out of Nath."

She was not expecting Manann's Keep to still be full of soldiers, and hoped this would not prevent her from getting a hotel room at the Star—with either a twin bed or two beds that could be pushed together. She had some needs that had gone unfulfilled for too long.

"I'll see if the Prince is still in town. We need to return him his horse."



One or two seemed not to appreciate Elsa’s contribution - Ludo saw Hanna’s face darken and turn away when the wizard spoke.
Awww. :smallfrown:


Not sure what's a reasonable amount to pay the workers. I think it should cover their work for the entire siege of Nath, not just the few days they spent burying bodies.

[LCP]

Ingwald gave Sieghard a smart salute. "Right you are, sir," he said. "However much we want." With a spring in his step, he took off for the Star, leading a mob of Thorns and labourers with him.


Barracks Business

Ludo found Rike looking much recovered, sitting on a bench outside the barracks. She stood up when she saw him coming, and offered a salute when she saw Sieghard.

"I heard from the Tileans what happened," she said. "Is it - is he really dead?"


Fun at the Fort

Evatt's fort was crowded with Iron Company men. Forging a path through them, Elsa went in search of the Prince. She found him in the old map room, where they had planned their opening moves against the Duke.

"Holt," he said, not looking up. He was sat in a large upholstered chair, reading a letter. Sussman and Valdes were beside him, while Al-Makir leant against the wall, closely examining his fingernails. "Sieghard's burial duty went well, I trust."

[RossN]

Jarla

After the road and the seemingly endless burial detail it was an unbelievable relief to reach Mannan's Keep. Jarla made straight for the Sar, praying for Ranald that she could find lodgings and a bath and something cold to drink.

It had been hard to find the right time to talk to the others; they were so clearly wrapped up in the business of mourning for there dead that Jarla felt ill at ease even as an observer far less interrupting them. Even so on the journey back she had found a moment to say to Elsa: "I'll be at the inn trying to win a drinking contest against myself if you and the others want to talk later."

[LeSwordfish]

"Seems to be," Ludo said, allowing himself a smile. "And without another casualty on our part. Gustaf's the hero of the hour - put a bolt in the vampire's neck and pulled one of the dwarves out of the fight."

He sat down gratefully on the bench. "We put those who died in Nath to rest on the edges of the wood."

"How are you doing? Good to see you haven't lost the hand."

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

Sieghard nodded. "We lured him into an ambush and filled him with silver bolts," he said. "Then when he was down, I drove a spear through his skull. I hope the Iron Company hasn't been trying to steal all of the credit for it."

He sat down. "Looks like you're doing much better than when we set out. Do you remember any more of what happened?"

[-Sentinel-]

"I'll be at the inn trying to win a drinking contest against myself if you and the others want to talk later."

"Hmm, I'll try to be quick, then," said Elsa. She had the distinct feeling that Jarla was not a happy drunk.




"Holt," said Sforza. "Sieghard's burial duty went well, I trust."

Elsa saluted. "It was as unpleasant as it was uneventful, sire. Oh, and I have glad news. My apprentice has recovered your horse and a couple of others. Poor Vedenzo had the fright of his life, but seems otherwise in good health."

[LCP]

Sieghard & Ludo

Rike shook her head. "It's all still a blur, sir" she said. Smiling faintly, she nodded to Ludo and, with difficulty, flexed her bandaged hand. "It's still a bit stiff, but I think it's on the mend."


Elsa

"Ah, excellent," said Sforza, looking up at last from what he was reading. "Give her my thanks."

Getting up from his seat, he handed the parchment back to Sussman. "I'm taking the Iron Company back to Savonne on Wellentag," he said. "I take it you'll be coming with us?"

[-Sentinel-]

"Ah, excellent. Give her my thanks."

Your thanks? Really? That will surely feed her through the winter.

"She's grown fond of one of the other two," said Elsa, casting the dice. "May she be allowed to keep it? None of them would've been found, let alone recovered, without her talent with beasts."

That was probably a lie, but non-wizards tended to take a wizard's word for it when it came to what magic could or could not do.

Untrained Haggle 22: [roll0]
Fortune: [roll1]

Hmm, I don't know if it'll earn us a horse, but it might get us *some* reward.


"I'm taking the Iron Company back to Savonne on Wellentag. I take it you'll be coming with us?"

"Absolutely," said Elsa, who by now had not been in Savonne in over a month. "It'll feel good to go home."

She paused. Her next question would obliquely reference the trial, which she was loath to bring up. "I need to ask... My, ah, letters, described the location of a few things I hid not far from here during the war with Alvarr, and which I'd now like to recover. Did you by any chance have them retrieved? Just making sure I won't be wasting a trip..."

She also glanced hopefully at Al-Makir, who she deemed more likely than Sforza to have taken care of this kind of minutiae.

[Thragka]

Urgrim

Once the company reached Manann's Keep, Urgrim told the others he'd catch up with them later. He made his way to the barracks the Dwimmulsons had moved into, looking for Berki.

"How are you? I'm sorry I never came to see you after the battle, before you came back here. We tried to track the witch right after, and then there was so much on my mind the next morning ..." It was a weak apology, and Urgrim looked abashed. He didn't know what else to say.

"I don't think it would have happened without the expedition to Zaraz Irkul," he added, in time. "Might not have been the most honourable thing, goading Varag Kol to meet us outside the ruins." Urgi didn't want to say the word trick in Khazalid; the connotations were too severe. He shrugged, a dissatisfied but determined expression on his face. "But I would not suffer his evil to harass us any longer, either."

After speaking to Berki, Urgrim sought Grunlok, hoping Skorgrund might also chance to be near. He'd picked some words carefully, but still stumbled over the bad news he had to deliver. "There's been a bit of a ginit with Zonbrynaz. The princeling sent some of his brutes to seize it from Stubbs. Stubbs went to the princeling and told him the spearhead was the Dwimmulson's by right, but Sforza still demanded it, and Stubbs is sworn to him by oath. I'm sorry, elders," he finished, mentally kicking himself. He'd intended not to apologise, but it still had slipped out.

Going to throw a Charm roll at this, to try to make it sound like it's all the ufdak umgi's fault and nobody else's: [roll0], [roll1]

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"Just give it more time," Sieghard said. "I'll let the others know you're awake and doing well. I'm sure they'll be eager to tell you about the battle themselves."

In a way, he was relieved that Rike couldn't remember Irene's role in the ambush. The more who knew, the harder it would be to keep quiet about it. And the more likely some complication would arise before he could put a dagger into the princess's back.

[LCP]

Elsa


"She's grown fond of one of the other two," said Elsa, casting the dice. "May she be allowed to keep it? None of them would've been found, let alone recovered, without her talent with beasts."

Sforza frowned. "Who do these others belong to?" he asked. "I doubt you'd take kindly to someone asking to keep your horse because they found it."

"They belonged to the Falcons," said Al-Makir, quietly. "We commandeered the surplus animals."

"Warhorses, then," said Sforza. "Not suitable for a slip of a girl. Not to mention valuable." He shook his head. "If she wants a horse - if she needs a horse - Abdul can find her a suitable one. She deserves some kind of reward. Otherwise - " - he looked round at his lieutenants - " - I don't know, what do peasant girls like?"

A room full of blank male stares greeted him.

"Fine," he said. "A horse, then."


"I need to ask... My, ah, letters, described the location of a few things I hid not far from here during the war with Alvarr, and which I'd now like to recover. Did you by any chance have them retrieved? Just making sure I won't be wasting a trip..."

Sforza was starting to look a little irritated. "No, Holt, I did not set my men to digging up your possessions." He paused, a thought seeming to cross his mind. "Is there anything buried there that I should know about? Any more... unusual books?"


Urgrim

Berki was sitting in the late afternoon sun, looking fully recovered - the effects of a dwarfish constitution and several days to recover from the spirits' freezing touch. He smiled broadly as he saw Urgrim approaching.


"How are you? I'm sorry I never came to see you after the battle, before you came back here. We tried to track the witch right after, and then there was so much on my mind the next morning ..." It was a weak apology, and Urgrim looked abashed. He didn't know what else to say.

"You didn't catch her?" he said. "The others told me you were tracking her. She must be cunning as a rat, to have given you the slip."

He squinted up at the sun, stretching in a way that still betrayed some stiffness in his limbs. "One umgi won't get far. We got him, that's what matters. Thrunrik and the others... all avenged." He couldn't seem to keep himself from smiling. "It'll be a story to tell, back at the Rock."


~

Urgrim found Grunlok and Skorgrund cloistered in a noisy and noisome corner of the Star, packed in tight behind at least a dozen Dwimmulsons. Squeezing his way through, he managed to make himself heard over the continuous chorus of complaints about the proprietor's beer.

"Sforza has it, eh?" said Skorgrund, scrutinising Urgrim's face intently from under his beetling brows. He was nursing a tankard with both hands, a few suds clinging to his white moustache. There was a long, heavy silence. "Aye, well," he said at last. "Little the grombolgi could do about it, as you say. It'll be between the umgi princeling and the Rinn, now." He slurped down another gulp of his drink. "I'll make sure she knows."

"Jotunnsson here went down with the... hunters," said Grunlok. Like Urgrim, he wouldn't say the words ambush party if he could avoid it. "He was there when they shot the zangunaz down."

"So I've heard," said Skorgrund. "Clan Dwimmulson owes you a debt of thanks."

[-Sentinel-]

"Fine," he said. "A horse, then."

"Thank you, sire. I'm sure she'll be grateful."



"No, Holt, I did not set my men to digging up your possessions." He paused, a thought seeming to cross his mind. "Is there anything buried there that I should know about? Any more... unusual books?"
"Oh, no!" Elsa assured him quickly. "If I had those, I'd have told you. It's, uh... some money. At the time I buried it, the situation in the Reaches was such that it seemed unwise to keep all of one's gold in one place."

Feeling that she needed to end this meeting on a positive note, she added: "Another bit of good news, sire. Evil magic no longer dwells in Nath, as far as I can tell. One day, Rhya willing, the Dead Hills may be green enough to graze goats and sheep."

She saluted again and left the room.



Elsa and Jarla


Elsa quickly headed over to the Star to make conversation with Jarla before she got too drunk to be agreeable company. In passing, she informed Tatiana that Sforza had refused to part with any of the three horses, as they were warhorses and therefore very valuable, but that another horse could be found for her. She also asked the proprietor of the Star if there was, by any chance, a spare bedroom.

If not, Elsa will try to see if any customer with a bedroom is willing to part with it. She'll offer them the price of the room plus a premium.

Untrained Haggle 22: [roll0] :smallcool:


Finally, Elsa sat down next to Jarla and ordered the lightest ale the establishment had; she was thirsty from the road and needed something not too strong.

"So. Urgrim told you, eh? It's... a thorny situation."

[Thragka]

Urgrim


Berki was sitting in the late afternoon sun, looking fully recovered - the effects of a dwarfish constitution and several days to recover from the spirits' freezing touch. He smiled broadly as he saw Urgrim approaching.



"You didn't catch her?" he said. "The others told me you were tracking her. She must be cunning as a rat, to have given you the slip."

He squinted up at the sun, stretching in a way that still betrayed some stiffness in his limbs. "One umgi won't get far. We got him, that's what matters. Thrunrik and the others... all avenged." He couldn't seem to keep himself from smiling. "It'll be a story to tell, back at the Rock."

An honest smile burst across Urgrim's face, destroying his worries. "It will indeed. Aye, there's no denying, we've done right by them." He copied Berki's gaze, looking out into the afternoon sun – towards the west. Perhaps what had started leagues away in the Pale Waste would finally be finished.

"So," Urgrim said, turning back to Berki. "How's your strength? Good enough to handle some manling barley water?" He cocked the eyebrow.


~


Urgrim found Grunlok and Skorgrund cloistered in a noisy and noisome corner of the Star, packed in tight behind at least a dozen Dwimmulsons. Squeezing his way through, he managed to make himself heard over the continuous chorus of complaints about the proprietor's beer.

"Sforza has it, eh?" said Skorgrund, scrutinising Urgrim's face intently from under his beetling brows. He was nursing a tankard with both hands, a few suds clinging to his white moustache. There was a long, heavy silence. "Aye, well," he said at last. "Little the grombolgi could do about it, as you say. It'll be between the umgi princeling and the Rinn, now." He slurped down another gulp of his drink. "I'll make sure she knows."

"Jotunnsson here went down with the... hunters," said Grunlok. Like Urgrim, he wouldn't say the words ambush party if he could avoid it. "He was there when they shot the zangunaz down."

"So I've heard," said Skorgrund. "Clan Dwimmulson owes you a debt of thanks."

Skorgrund's aplomb was a relief to Urgrim. That could have gone a whole lot worse. "It's been an honour," he replied to the elder, glancing around the room as he looked for the right words. "If anything's owed, it's ... I've not felt as, uh, welcomed, with a clan, nor a hold, since I set out from Barak Varr and took up ranging." Don't go soft in front of these longbeards, Urgrim! He cleared his throat. "I'm proud to have been witness to this noble chapter in Clan Dwimmulson's history," he finished.

He quickly thought of a way to change the subject, by quaffing the rest of his drink and planting the tankard on the table. "More manling barley water?" he asked theatrically to the small throng.

The other PCs will find Urgi at least two beers deep when they make it to the Star – I presume that's where we'll be rendezvousing :smallbiggrin:

[RossN]

Elsa and Jarla

Jarla had managed to find a corner of her own in the Star and was leaning against the wall in a stylish manner. At Elsa's approach she looked up from the ale she had been partaking in - with her future income uncertain she was not going to go for wine - and laughed without humour.

"That... would be an understatement. I haven't spoken to the boss since before the battle, which is probably a good thing since I've no idea what I'd say to him. Or her. I can't help but notice my presence wasn't requested for a 'thank you for saving my life Signora Schreiber' talk. I suppose he doesn't like thinking about how he had to be rescued."

Jarla raised a copper eyebrow as she looked at Elsa. "I take it is all true about my brother and how he died. The wrong place at the wrong time because Irene hates you?"

[-Sentinel-]

"That's the essence of it, yes," said Elsa in a low voice. "Just make sure you keep it down. I'm not sure how many people are in the know."

She drained a third of her mug in one go, then gave a sigh. "I'm... not sure what should be done about this. I don't want her dead... or rather, I don't think her death would bring me satisfaction. If it were up to me, I'd settle for banishing her from the Reaches with only whatever she can carry. But I think she'll go unpunished for now, unless we do something reckless. And I don't want to do something reckless. Enough blood's been spilled on her account."

She brought her mug to her lips again.

[RossN]

Jarla


A dark expression flashed across Jarla's face, though with visible effort she managed to bite back on whatever she was going to say. The copper haired woman stared down into her half empty glass. After a long moment she said, in a low voice: "I see. Well if you are not going to help me do what needs to be done can I at least ask that you and your other friends not interfere?"

[-Sentinel-]

Elsa was silent for a moment.

"I can't make any such promise," she said at last. "I sympathize with your goal, Jarla... but my friends and I have worked hard and risked life and limb these past two years to help the Reaches gain some semblance of stability. If whatever you're planning may threaten this stability... then you and I may find ourselves in opposition. So you'd best plan it without my knowledge."

She gave Jarla a long look. "Revenge is always a selfish pursuit, Jarla. Always. You can pretend you're doing it for your brother, but that's a lie you're telling yourself."

[RossN]

Jarla

If Jarla had looked angry and upset before she looked murderous now. "Gods, for all you hate each other you can rival her for arrogance Holt. I can see this talk was a mistake from the start. Good day wizardess and I'll see you in Savonne. Rest assured I won't be doing anything 'reckless'."

Donning her cap and dumping her ale on a nearby table Jarla strode away in the direction of the door.

[Thragka]

Urgrim wandered across Jarla's path, a little unsteady, as she was walking to the door.

"Schreiber!" he announced, having forgotten everything about the last time they'd spoken. "When you shot that walking uzkular ..." He pointed a finger up into her face. "You stole my victory!" He made a sour face, but broke into a snigger almost instantly. "C'mere," he said, slapping Jarla on the shoulder, "I owe you a drink!"

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla shot a glare at the dwarf, but seeing his happy drunken face she hesitated, softening a fraction. "Fine. I've never said no to a bought drink before and tonight isn't a reason to start. Just don't mention Holt, Sforza or his wife."

[-Sentinel-]

Elsa sighed sadly. She had not expected her mere refusal to cooperate to get Jarla so angry, but she did not regret her words or her decision. This was bigger than themselves. She just could not go to war over a dead man. Especially not now, with the Reaches having attained a very fragile peace.





Elsa and Sieghard


"Oh, Sieghard," said Elsa the next time she saw him alone. "I got us a room at the Star."

Her cheeks took on a slightly pink hue. "Did you want to... I don't know... hire one of Filomena's girls? Spice things up a bit?"

[Thragka]

"Ra-hey!" Urgrim called at Jarla's acceptance. "It's just umgi pisswater here, but it'll do," he added as he led her to the bar. "Oh, begging your pardon."

"Holt?" he said, while they were waiting for their drinks, after Jarla's words had percolated through his brain. "Look – she's an idiot. Saved my life a couple of times, aye, I'll fight by her side, don't get me wrong," he added, nodding effusively. "But she's ... set in her ways. Not very imaginative." Urgrim eventually realised he shouldn't be striving to find more ways to say that same thing. "Anyway. The zangunaz is dead!" he announced to the Star at large.

[LCP]

Elsa & Sforza


"Oh, no!" Elsa assured him quickly. "If I had those, I'd have told you. It's, uh... some money. At the time I buried it, the situation in the Reaches was such that it seemed unwise to keep all of one's gold in one place."

"Mm," said Sforza. "And you are planning to retrieve it now?" He arched an eyebrow. "A woman travelling with large sums of money should have guards. Esteban will give you two of his men."


The Star


"Anyway. The zangunaz is dead!" Urgrim announced to the Star at large.

The corner that was thronged with Dwimmulsons erupted in hearty cheers. Most of the human clientele looked confused as to what a zangunaz was, but a good number of them cheered anyway.

OOC: Haven't written a section specifically for continuing the conversation, but yes, Berki has joined you in the pub.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard and Elsa

It wasn't normal to see Elsa blush, even when drunk, and Sieghard couldn't help but smirk.

"Filomena and her girls are up in Savonne," he told her. "Besides, I think tonight I'd rather just celebrate with you," he replied. "We slew a monster that could've been the end of all of us. I want to enjoy that he's dead and we both still live... Like when we killed the orc king." He glanced around to make sure there was still no one in earshot. "You said Sforza plans on celebrating the victory when he marches back north, right? If you still want to when we reach the city, we'll see about it then."



Later that evening, the two of them laid awake together, enjoying each other's warmth. "With all that's been happening, I never had a good chance to ask," he said, breaking the silence. "Do you know what happened to those letters you wrote,"

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla joined in Urgrim's toast and happily greeted Berki, pleased to see the ranger was still on his feet. "A battle for long stories and longer toasts."

[Thragka]

"The Slayer!" Urgrim nearly shouted with a raised vessel when Sieghard arrived to the Star. "The hero who struck the vampire low – with Zonbrynaz! No other umgi could wield it!"

[-Sentinel-]

Elsa


"Mm," said Sforza. "And you are planning to retrieve it now?" He arched an eyebrow. "A woman travelling with large sums of money should have guards. Esteban will give you two of his men."
Elsa suppressed a sigh, not only at the imposition but also at how transparent Sforza's intent was. He knew she had her own friends who could protect her. His excuse was almost more insulting than his mistrust.

"Yeah, sure. Thank you."

And when they return, they'll tell you the same thing I told you: it's just gold.

She also resolved to take at least one of her friends. She trusted Esteban's men, for the most part, but one hundred and fifty crowns was a large enough sum of money to make gears turn inside men's heads. Especially in the wilderness.





Elsa and Sieghard


"You said Sforza plans on celebrating the victory when he marches back north, right? If still want to when we reach the city, we'll see about it then."

"I'd like that very much," said Elsa, her blush deepening.





Later that evening, the two of them laid awake together, enjoying each other's warmth. "With all that's been happening, I never had a good chance to ask," he said, breaking the silence. "Do you know what happened to those letters you wrote?"
Elsa stiffened a bit in Sieghard's arms. Evidently this was not a topic she liked to discuss. "I'm not sure, but I imagine Sforza destroyed them after the trial. Why do you ask?"

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"And the ranger who put a quarrel between his ribs!" Sieghard shouted back, walking over to sit next to Urgrim. He glanced over at Berki. "You're the dwarf who joined the crossbowmen, right? Charged into the battle with an axe once the spirits showed up. Very brave of you." Very reckless as well, but Sieghard was hardly one to talk. "Urgrim, introduce me to your friend."



Later, with Elsa

"Well..." he began, also finding the topic a bit awkward. "One of them was meant for me, wasn't it? I'd like to have it."

[-Sentinel-]

"One of them was meant for me, wasn't it? I'd like to have it."

Oh. That's touching, I suppose.

"That letter was meant for if I was found dead," said Elsa. "To tell the truth, I don't even remember what I put in it. It must have been sappy, though. And it likely didn't say anything about us that you don't already know."

She nestled her head in the crook of Sieghard's neck, with her ear against his chest. "Death was heavy on my mind when I wrote those letters. Tonight death is the last thing I want to think about."

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard with Elsa

"That letter was meant for if I was found dead. To tell the truth, I don't even remember what I put in it. It must have been sappy, though. And it likely didn't say anything about us that you don't already know."

"Even so, I want to keep it," Sieghard replied, his tone unusually sentimental. "If he didn't destroy it, at least."

"Death was heavy on my mind when I wrote those letters. Tonight death is the last thing I want to think about."

He made a tired noise. "No thinking about death tonight," he agreed, resting his head against hers. "Only life." He drifted into the most restful sleep he had since the first attempt to dislodge Nahorek from Nath.

[-Sentinel-]

"Even so, I want to keep it. If he didn't destroy it, at least."

"Hmm, I'll ask. But don't get your hopes up."

Elsa felt guilty to lie to Sieghard while in bed with him, but she had no intent to talk to Sforza about the letters, for a variety of reasons both emotional and pragmatic. She fell asleep shortly after Sieghard, and her slumber too was undisturbed by dreams.

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo joined Sieghard, Urgrim, and Berki at the bar. "How're you feeling, Berki?" he asked a little more mutely.

[Thragka]

The Star

Urgrim nodded enthusiastically at Sieghard's praise of Berki. "Berki's one of Clan Dwimmulson's rangers. He was part of the expedition to the Red Pyramid," he said, letting his tone become a little more serious. "He and I were saying earlier, it feels like we've finally done right by the others who didn't make it back from the Pale Waste." Urgrim drew a sharp breath, and smiled, moving on from what could be a sticky doldrum in the conversation. "Anyway, I've kept dragging him into trouble ever since then, and he's not turned me down yet! And Berki, this is Commander Sieghard. He killed Varag Kol, and so on, but his most impressive feat?" Urgrim raised his tankard with another mischievous smile. "He had a long conversation with Skorgrund, and walked away still holding Zonbrynaz!"

To be utterly clear, this is entirely in good humour – Urgrim thinks Sieghard and the dwarfs can all laugh and bond over that.

I've no more plans in Manann's Keep either, so I'm happy to move on.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard at the Star

"And he was far more fearsome than any vampire too!" Sieghard said. "I've fought men and greenskins and worse, but none of them worried me half as much as him scowling and weighing every word I said"

[LeSwordfish]

"Would have liked to have got him talking to the vampire," Ludo joked. "If anyone could have got it to leave..."

[LCP]

The Star of Marienburg

Berki gave a nervous laugh at the others’ jokes about Skorgrund. The white-bearded elder was still sitting in the corner behind the other Dwimmulsons, and though there was a wall of noise between them, the old dwarf’s hearing was sharp as a needle when he wanted it to be.

Skorgrund showed no sign of having heard. Evening faded into night, and still the festival atmosphere in the town centre showed no sign of ebbing. Some of the Iron Company had constructed a large bonfire at the foot of the fort, and were gathered around it, drinking and singing. The Maneaters roasted a trio of hogs that it wasn’t clear whether they’d paid for. The wine-casks of the Star of Marienburg ran dry.

Leaving the warmth of the fires a little before midnight, Urgrim saw that the last scraps of cloud had shredded away over the hills, leaving a clear sky full of stars. The six stars that made up Cacklefax the Cockerel were shining brightly, while Rhya’s Cauldron twinkled close to the horizon. A southerly breeze was blowing down off the heights, making the smoke from the fires trail out towards the woods. The air it carried smelt cold and sharp, the first fangs of winter in its bite. It smelt like change.


Festag, 28th Kaldezeit

Elsa had to rise early the next morning to begin her treasure hunt out in the backwoods of the Vale. The two Estalians Valdes had given here at least appeared not to be hungover from last night’s revels - their names were Bernardo and Fidel, and they were already waiting for her when she emerged from the Star.

Accompanied by Tatiana and Ludo, they set out as soon as the five of them were assembled. Visiting all three hiding-spots in one day was a tiring business, but the weather remained fine, if a little chilly. Elsa was pleased to find the first two troves undisturbed; she was less pleased to find that the third had been dug up.

Who or what had done it was not clear. Tatiana noted that there were signs of pigs foraging nearby, and that perhaps they had smelt the leather of the purse and grubbed it up. There were no scraps or stray coins, however, and the digging did not look recent. Fidel made some kind of joke in Estalian, and Bernardo stifled a laugh into a bout of coughing.

The sun was getting low, and the warmth of the day was dwindling fast. With aching legs, they headed back towards the town.


Wellentag, 29th Kaldezeit

The next morning saw Manann’s Keep swarming like an anthill as the army made ready to depart. Sforza was back on Vedenzo, riding down the length of the marching column as the different companies assembled. The Prince’s horse was looking clean and white again, tossing its mane proudly as it trotted down the line.

“Signora Schreiber!” Sforza called out, as he caught sight of Jarla near the Thorns. “Good to see you still with us.” He brought his horse up alongside Countess. “Are you accompanying us back to the city? I’m sure my wife will be pleased to see you again.”

If he noticed any cloud passing across Jarla’s face at the mention of Irene, he didn’t remark on it. “We still have the matter of your reward to decide, yes? Even more so after the... situation you helped me out of in the valley.” He gave her a searching look. “Have you had any thoughts?”

A little further down the line, Abdul’s man Rahim had come with the gift of a horse for Tattie. A warhorse it certainly wasn’t - instead, he had found a shaggy Uplands pony with a slightly haunted-looking expression. To Elsa’s eyes, it looked a little too small for her apprentice, but Tatiana seemed pleased with it all the same.


Bezahltag, 33rd Kaldezeit

The army had passed through Painford and Arrow Heap on its steady march back to Savonne. In Painford, the tiny village had strained to contain the hosts of Sforza’s soldiers within its wooden walls. For Elsa, heading out to the border of the Mere felt like a welcome escape from the noise and crowds, as she made to return Morrslieb’s bones to the marsh. There was little she could do about the symbols Nahorek had cut into them without defiling them further. By the light of her torch, she watched as the incomprehensible Nehekharan writing vanished beneath the murky water.

At Arrow Heap, Urgrim saw an early morning frost gleaming on the fields of dried-out stubble surrounding the settlement. The rains that had swept the Dead Hills had not reached this far north, and the rolling plains of the Downs still seemed fully in the grip of the summer’s drought. In the Bull’s Horns, the ale was more expensive than Sieghard remembered - and the price of food had been marked up to such an outrageous extent that one of the Iron Company pikemen almost got into a fight with the publican. A quiet conversation with Al-Makir seemed to straighten things out.

It was late on Bezahltag when they drew back into sight of the city walls, though the black bulk of the Rock had been visible over the horizon for most of the day. Marching over the old dwarf bridge, they entered the city through the river gate, kettle drums rolling and bugles blowing. Sieghard could make out the Thorns’ old tents, still in use in the extensive shanty town that had sprung up at the north end of the docks - though it looked like many new structures had sprouted up there too.

Once inside the city, the Prince and his retinue made straight for the keep. The Dwimmulsons were one of the first regiments to peel off - stopping in the North Market square, they clearly intended to return direct to the Dwimmulhold.

“You’re welcome to come with us, Jotunnsson,” said Grunlok, as Skorgrund eyed the steep climb up to the gates and mumbled something about cobblers these days not making boots as supple as they used to. “If you want to have a proper drink, that is.”

[-Sentinel-]

Karst


"Hmm, I suppose I should be happy for the richest pig-herder in the Broken Reaches," said Elsa dryly, upon discovering her empty cache.

That was two months and a half's wages all gone, but she found she did not mind too much in light of everything else that had been going on. Besides, she now had proper business ventures that may soon make fifty crowns look like a piddling sum.




Painford


"Again, I'm sorry," Elsa whispered to Morrslieb's bones as they sank in the dark water under his namesake's green glow. "Sorry I used you recklessly. Some days I treated you like I made you, while in truth, I met you. I hope you find rest in the Mere. You were as good a familiar as any wizard could wish for."

She reached into her pocket to touch Khalida. "You, I intend to keep much longer. Let's find you a mouse to eat... Maybe Tattie can help."

Elsa turned back towards Painford.




Savonne


"If there's nothing official to conduct tonight, sire," said Elsa, riding beside Sforza, "I'll be looking into personal business."

By which she meant her dealings with Suzana the merchant. The food prices at the Arrow Heap inn had been alarming... but they clearly heralded some profit for her.


OOC:
I don't know how late in the day it actually is. Is it rude to visit someone at this hour? If so, I'll just go to the castle and visit Suzana tomorrow.

Elsa will inquire about her share of the profits. Back in Erntzeit (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?610487-WFRP-The-Bloody-Crown-OOC-XII/page2&p=24462120#post24462120), she made a return of 8gc and 11s on an investment of 40gc in a single week. Sforza later resolved to pass measures against price-gouging, though given the food prices in Arrow Heap, clearly their effectiveness was limited.

[RossN]

Jarla - Wellentag, 29th Kaldezeit

Jarla had in fact seriously considered just pointing Countess in the direction of the Empire and heading home without a backward glance but something kept her loittering in Mannan's Keep until the army marched. Even as she sat on horseback waiting for Sforza she thought she might have left at any time. Yet she didn't.

"Your highness," she said politely bowing in her saddle even if her tone and expression gave little joy. "Congratulations on your victory. As for my reward, your highness is most kind. I, ah, have thought much on it."

She looked at the prince, her large blue-grey eyes flashing. "My prince I ask you this: make me a noble."

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard in Painford

Sieghard stood silently as Elsa lowered Morrslieb's remains into the Mere. When she had finished, he put a hand on her shoulder and walked back to the village with her.

If Elsa would rather be alone, let me know and I'll edit it out. I figured since she stayed with him when he buried the dead from Nath, he ought to return the favor.



That evening, Sieghard had dinner alone in the village's hostel (or as alone as possible, given how crowded Painford had become). He stayed at his table long after he had finished eating and waited for things to begin to quiet down.

"Rhadegund, you should sit," he told the girl. "There's something.... difficult.... that I have to tell you." Strange as he found it, Sieghard felt a certain sense of obligation to her. She acted strong for her age, but she was still a child. It had been Adelbert that led her here and even though the two had fought, he was ultimately been responsible for her. Since he had passed, Sieghard felt he owed it to both of them to at least try to look out for her. "I know you weren't fond of the place, but Caerfort..." She would learn the truth eventually. All he could do was try to soften the blow. "... It's gone."

Untrained charm to try to handle this gently.
[roll0] vs 27
[roll1] Reroll

Subtle as always, Sieghard. "So anyways, everyone you knew before a year ago is dead"



Arrow Heap

Sieghard ate and drank lightly at the Bull’s Horns - The prices were ridiculous. He noticed Jarla sitting by herself, quickly downed what was left of his meal, and walked over. "Did you pass through Arrow Heap you your way south, Frau Schreiber?" he asked. "There's a great view from the walls. If you're finished, I could show you."


~

"Earlier in the year, we fought the battle that all but ended the war with Duke Alvarr out there," he said, pointing in the direction of the mill. "The Duke escaped, but his strength was broken. The couple who owned the mill got caught in it when the fighting started. I thought their chances of making it through would be better with my men protecting them than if they tried to run from a battle that was already beginning. The fighting was fierce though, and there was nowhere to hide." Maybe they could've survived it if he had just told them to run. "The mill still stinks like blood. I can smell it from here."

"Elsa told me that she talked to you. About Adelbert." He saw Jarla's confusion turn to anger and cut her off before she could respond. "I'll help you."



Savonne

"I'll see that the knights' remains reach the temple," Sieghard told Sforza. "If he's still there, like to speak with the high priest anyways." He paused. "The broken mask that the Jackal wore was stolen from their vaults. If you wish, I could return the pieces."

[LeSwordfish]

Savonne
"I think we should split the pieces up, your highness" Ludo said. He was finally getting used to his pony, and it helped him feel less literally underfoot when talking to people on horseback. "Make it difficult to find again. Keep half in the temple, and give the other half to a runebearer or trader, get them to stuff it in a midden as far away from here as possible. If we'd just buried the staff, Nahorek would never have found it."

[LCP]

Manann's Keep, 29th Kaldezeit - Jarla

Sforza raised a solitary eyebrow at Jarla's request. "Planning on settling here for a while, then, signora?" he asked. "What kind of nobility did you have in mind?"

OOC: To a large extent Sforza makes his own rules, but going off widely-established precedent, there are a few different models of what Jarla could ask for.
She could be given a title and a position at court without having a fief. That would bring all the status and privileges of being a noble, but not the responsibility or the long-term financial + dynastic security of being landed.
She could ask to be made lord of her own parcel of land - a bigger ask, with more responsibility for actually governing it, but giving her a landowner's income and something concrete she could pass down to her family line. For this she and/or Sforza would need to identify some suitable land whose tenants will accept her.
As the others mentioned in the OOC, she could marry into the existing structure that Sforza has set up - a lot of his lords are bachelors, and if she could land Valdes or Carraciolo she would be getting a foothold much higher on the ladder than if she set up independently as lady of a single village.

Painford, 31st Kaldezeit - Sieghard

Rhadegund had had a tiring night, serving and sweeping up after the crowds of noisy Tileans. When Sieghard tried to get her attention she turned away and rolled her eyes - but she didn't really have anywhere she could escape to.


"I know you weren't fond of the place, but Caerfort..." She would learn the truth eventually. All he could do was try to soften the blow. "... It's gone."

She gave Sieghard a long, blank stare. "What do you mean," she said, "gone?"


Savonne, 33rd Kaldezeit

"I doubt we have anything to fear from a broken mask," said Sforza. He looked to Sieghard. "Don't concern yourself with it. I'll speak with the priests myself, soon enough."

Once the Prince had gone inside the gates of the keep, Ludo split off from the army, passing among the merchants and traders of the North Market. The day was coming to a close, but there were still enough people around for him to find a few who had come down the river from Putbad. The news from the north seemed unremarkable, which Ludo supposed was good.

"Aye, it's all a bit murky since that Falkenwald feller ran afoul of the Prince," said a man who was trying to sell casks of beer from the Azrillite monastery. "At least as far as who's officially in charge. Unofficially, 'course, the guilders are running things the way they always did. Those that kept their heads through the war, of course." He broke off to gesture energetically at the young lad helping him, who he seemed to think wasn't making the buyers haggle hard enough. "The young lady Groz, she's one of them, and that little boy of her's still set to be lord. With no Lord Protector, who's he going to listen to more than his mother? She's got her feet well under the table there, that's what I reckon." He shrugged. "For what it's worth."

About Roth and the other soldiers Ludo had left behind, the ale-seller seemed less sure. "Not sure I'd know any of those fellers by name," he said. "Seen some guards around the old Groz house, though, up in the high town. Suppose that'd be them."

[Thragka]

Urgrim, Bezahltag 33rd Kaldezeit

As the Dwimmulsons diverged from Sforza's column, Urgrim bid the others a temporary goodbye. "There are some folks up the Rock I want to see. And it's been a while since I had my head below ground, you know," he added with a smile. "I'm sure I'll find you again in the next few days."

"As it happens," he said to Grunlok at the base of the hill, "it's my hewing-day today. So I'll not turn down that chance." Despite his good mood for the day, now that the throng had returned from the south, Moragina wasn't far from Urgrim's mind. He resolved to pay his respects to her, and to her and Thrunrik's remaining family, while he was in the hold.

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo nodded, satisfied at least that Roth and his men had evaded the fate of the rest of the Falcons. Successfully getting Groz's old soldiers assigned to guard his wife and child was... a small measure of recompense.

"What's it like up in Bunthafen?" he asked the ale-seller. "Looks like there's even more refugees here than before. Have any headed that way?"

[RossN]

Manann's Keep, 29th Kaldezeit - Jarla

Jarla seemed surprised to have even gotten this far. For the first time a flicker of warmth attached to her smile. "Uh, well my lord it may not have escaped your notice that I am a woman and if you and your ladywife would perhaps favourably introduce me to the unmarried gentlemen of the court matters might take an agreeable course for all concerned. There is perhaps one other favour it may be in your power to help me with first however..."

She carefully removed her left riding glove, revealing a slender white hand with a plain golden ring on her fourth finger. "My maiden name is Schreiber, but I am no longer a maiden. My husband, Morr take him, is a miserly oaf of a merchant in Nuln... but he is still my husband. But you are a prince my lord. Could you annul this?"

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard - Painford, 31st Kaldezeit

"When my men marched south, we were hunting a terrible monster," Sieghard explained. "It had had been hiding in the Mere, but my patrols had spotted signs of it moving. We were able to slay it, but we weren't fast enough to save the village. I'm sorry."



Savonne, 33rd Kaldezeit

"Of course, your Highness," Sieghard said. He picked a small escort from his men and headed for the temple with the cart bearing the knights' remains.

If Hieronymus is around at this hour, Sieghard will talk to him. Otherwise, he'll hand the bodies off to the senior-most Morrite he can find, give a quick summary of the events in Nath, and call it a night.

[-Sentinel-]

Before running off to inquire about her stake in Suzana's business, Elsa handed Sieghard one of the scroll cases she had taken from Nath.

"Give this to Hieronymus and tell him it's a gift from me. It's a Nehekharan to Arabyan translation. I don't know if he can get any use out of it, but he surely knows someone who can."

[LCP]

Jarla, 29th Kaldezeit

Sforza looked mildly surprised at Jarla's request. "I don't see why not," he said. "As you say... I am the prince."

He looked back over his shoulder towards the head of the column. "The high priest in Savonne belongs to the cult of Verena. I'm sure he'll know the formalities. When we return to the city, I'll see it done." He smiled as if at some private joke. "As for introductions... I'm sure Irene will have opinions to offer. Come find me again when we reach Savonne," he said, turning his horse about, "and we'll talk of it further."


Sieghard, 31st Kaldezeit

"A monster in the Mere," said Rhadegund. Her tired and unimpressed tone was changing quickly to real distress, mixed with frustration at Sieghard's vagueness. "What are you saying? That they... they were all eaten by toad men?" She looked at him with a wide-eyed, demanding stare. "They always had a watchman in the tower. They knew how to keep themselves safe from the greenskins in the hills. If you couldn't find them it's probably... probably that they took themselves off somewhere safe."


Savonne, 33rd Kaldezeit

Ludo

"Haven't been up Bunthafen way myself, lately," said the merchant. "I've seen a fair few folk heading upriver though, through Putbad. Downs people, mostly. They say this's been the worst year for crops that anyone can remember." He shook his head. "When I was a lad these were always the fat lands, south of the falls. People've got to be desperate if they're braving the World's Edge roads to get out."

Sieghard

Hieronymus was not at the temple when Sieghard came calling. Brother Cezar received the bodies of the Templars, and offered to take the scrolls Elsa had given him for the high priest.

"You did well to bring them back to us," he said. "Morr grant that their spirits can find rest, now."

Urgrim

It was a tiring climb to the gates of the Dwimmulhold, after a tiring march from Arrow Heap. Once he was inside, however, with rock over his head and the sounds of Khazalid conversation all around him, Urgrim felt a sense of belonging that he had sorely missed. News had already run ahead of them, and the Dwimmulsons were celebrating.

In the long, low-ceilinged ale-hall, he looked across a sea of cheerful, noisy faces and made out Grunda, the runebearer. She looked wind-blown and tanned. Seeing him, she waved back and hurried over.

"Jotunnsson!" she said. "Your letter. I've got the reply." Rummaging in a sturdy leather sling bag, she brought out a sealed sleeve of waxed canvas and handed it to him. "I hear we're celebrating?" she said, as a great roar of approval went up from the other side of the hall. It sounded like the Rinn had made her appearance.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard - Painford, 31st Kaldezeit

Sieghard has hoped he could spare her the worst of the details, but he could see that trying to was only making things worse. "It wasn't toad men," he said, "It was an undead beast in the shape of a man - a vampire. It murdered the high priestess in Savonne and fled into the swamp. We weren't able to go after it, so we set patrols around the edge to keep watch and marched after it as soon as we realized it was on the move. It passed through Caerfort before we could catch it, though."

"We did find them. We buried the bodies," he waited a beat and then repeated. "I'm sorry. Sorry that we weren't able to reach them in time."



Savonne, 33rd Kaldezeit

Sieghard nodded. "Their spirits and the spirits of the rest who died by the vampire's hands," he said. "A word of warning about the scroll... We have no idea what's written on it, but given where we found it, it's likely nothing good. Maybe the high priest can learn to translate Nehe- Neja... The dead language... from it, but once he's finished, it may need to be burned."

[RossN]

Jarla, 29th Kaldezeit

"Father Hieronymous? I've met him... actually he was the one who warned me about the vampire. I really must pay my respects there," Jarla said. She donned her glove and smiled at Sforza. "And thank you your highness."

As he road off Jarla sat back in the saddle and thought of the future - and her place in it.



Arrow Heap

Jarla had been lost in her own thoughts and was taken aback when Sieghard joined her and offered his invitation. "I you like, vampire slayer," she said, shooting the soldier a flirtatious look and letting him escort her on a stroll.

Her coy smile departed as it became clear that this was not exactly a romantic interlude. "No, I wasn't here, though I do remember Adelbert mentioning the Duke in his letters," she lowered her eyes sadly. "As I recall he was quite fond of the man. I suppose things would have been different if you'd fought on his side right?"

At the mention of Elsa she bristled, but let Sieghard finish. "It's complicated. Oh yes I'm still angry at Elsa and Sigmar knows I'd have clawed her eyes out then and there... but maybe she didn't want me to get myself killed doing something stupid." She sighed, turning on a rueful smile. "I fully intend to have my revenge, but I need to find my feet first. Can we talk later? In Savonne?




Savonne, 33rd Kaldezeit

Weary from her journey Jarla offered to accompany Ludo on his rounds. She had not had much occasion to talk with the halfling and since it seemed like Savonne, or at least the Reaches were to be home for her in the foreseeable future she could do worse than taking an evening to discover the town with a native.

"Ludo, do you know anything about the prince's courtiers? What manner of men are they. Besides Sieghard I mean."

[LeSwordfish]

"Um," Ludo said, and took a bite of the pie he had purchased to buy himself some time. "You'd do better to talk to Elsa or Sieghard about them really? I've only met them occasionally."

"I like Al'Makir. He's twisty as a corkscrew, as they say, but... oddly straightforward for all that, and always seemed to take me seriously. Valdes seemed like a proper gentleman when I met him in Mirino. I'm not sure I've ever had a proper conversation with Carrociolo. Barbaro is... well. I'm sure he meets the captain's spiritual needs."

[Thragka]

Urgrim, 33rd Kaldezeit

Urgrim's heart skipped a beat as Grunda bore down on him. He'd imagined she'd be here, but he hadn't dared expect anything in particular to come back from Barak Varr with her. She practically had to force the canvas into his hand – he was frozen in something like shock, with his mouth hanging open.

"I – thank you," he managed. Thankfully, the cheer from the crowd cut through his reverie, and provided an excuse to stow the letter away for now. Later, he thought to himself. You couldn't open that now anyway, in front of everyone, even if you wanted to. He turned to see Elmendrin's entrance, ready to immerse himself in the festive atmosphere.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard - Arrow Heap

"I rather like Elsa's eyes," Sieghard said flatly. "I'd appreciate it if you left them where they are." She had already seen Elsa kiss him, there was no point in denying their relationship.

He kept looking towards the mill. "I said I'll help you, but I won't start another war," he said. "The Reaches wouldn't survive it. If we hadn't killed the vampire as quickly as we did, the Reaches might not have survived him. I think that's what worries Elsa as well. Not that she doesn't want Adelbert avenged or Irene to get what she's earned, but that she knows how high the cost might be."

"If I help you, then whatever we do, we have to be smart about it. Anything else, we can figure out later, but I need to know if you agree to that."

[RossN]

Jarla and Sieghard

Jarla nodded her assent, before adding "I agree" for emphasis. She turned and walked back inside.



Jarla and Ludo

"Ah? Well thank you," Jarla replied, tucking into a pie of her own. "That's honestly helpful and I suppose I shall meet the gentlemen properly soon enough."

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo looked awkward for a moment and then continued in a low voice. "Urgrim tells me he spoke to you about... what happened to Adelbert. I was there with him when he died."

[RossN]

Jarla and Ludo

"Yes, Urgrim told me... I'm sorry that must have been awful for you," Jarla said, looking sad yet sympathetic. She reached over and dropped a consoling hand on the Halfling's shoulder. "Look, don't worry, I don't blame you at all. It's not your fault. I'm glad you survived."

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo accepted the comfort and smiled ruefully. "I wish I could tell you it was a better way to go. But the last thing he did was to save the life of one of the soldiers accompanying us. He was an excellent healer."

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard and Jarla

"Good," Sieghard replied, not taking his eyes off the mill. "As hard as it is, stay close to Irene. Give her no reason to suspect you know what she did. It'll make things easier if she trusts you."

[RossN]

Jarla and Ludo

Jarla smiled, though her eyes were still damp. "Thanks, that's good to know. Oh, and don't say this to Father Hieronymous but I'm glad the killers were eaten by cannibals."

[LCP]

Sieghard, 29th Kaldezeit

Rhadegund’s look of confusion and distress only deepened. “Vampire? What… the thing brother Schreiber was always… no, no, you’re wrong.” Getting up, she backed away from the table. “You’re wrong!”

Turning on her heel, she ran for the kitchen. As the door banged behind her, Karolina poked her head out from where she had been cleaning up after the night’s guests.

“You alright there, sir?” she said, seeing where Sieghard was sitting. “Hope you haven’t been upsetting our girl.”


33rd Kaldezeit

Urgrim

The cheers died down as Elmendrin climbed up on a chair, holding her hands out for quiet. She was not particularly dressed for the occasion, but she still had a way about her of commanding the hall. Urgrim noticed that Skorgrund had found his way to her side.

“Dwimmulsons!” she called out. “The warriors we sent south with the umgi prince have returned.” She paused for effect. “Varag Kol is dead!”

The cheers returned at deafening volume. “The manlings drove zonbrynaz through his black heart!” bellowed Grunlok over the din.

Waiting for the noise to subside again, Elmendrin continued. “One of the oldest grudges of our clan has been settled. And soon, the blade that settled it will be back within these walls. The work of our ancestors will be restored to us.” The assembled dwarfs hammered their tankards against the long tables in approval. “For tonight, though, we celebrate. A wrong put right!”

The whole clan shouted the words back - or at least, as many of them as had crammed into the crowded hall. Elmendrin stepped back down off the chair, and the drinking began in earnest.

After a short while, Urgrim heard a disturbance in the crowd behind him, and looked round to see the Rinn approaching, with Grunlok and Berki in tow. “Master Jotunnsson,” she said. “I believe some thanks are in order.” Grunlok slapped him on the shoulder and passed him a fresh tankard of beer. “We are honoured to call you a friend of our clan.”

“Not only did he put a quarrel in the zangunaz,” said Berki, “it’s only his hewing-day too!”

“Drinks for the birthday beardling!” roared Grunlok, turning around and coming back with two more tankards in each hand. He slammed them down on the table and then turned back for another three. “One for each decade! Come on now, drink up!”


~

Sieghard

“Don’t worry, commander” said Cezar, turning the scroll over in his hands. “We’ve handled such things before.”

He paused, something clearly weighing on him. “...It’s all true, then?” he said at last. “The Jackal. He’s really gone?”

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo nodded grimly. "As best we can tell. If they turn up, you'll be the first to know."

He gave Jarla a sidelong look. "Not related to anything, I hear the Lady Irene and Filomena, the madam of the Happy Serpent, always despised each other. If someone was looking for an ally against her ladyship..."

[RossN]

Jarla & Ludo

Jarla shot Ludo a startled look, before a sly smile slipped across her face. "Okay, I am not going to ask how and why you became so intimate with a madam but thank you, that is very good to know. Where might this... ahem... establishment be located?"

[LeSwordfish]

"I couldn't say at the moment," Ludo said. "Here in Savonne somewhere."

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard - Painford, 31st Kaldezeit

"Wasn't trying to," Sieghard told Karolina apologetically, "There's was some bad news from the village she came from. I thought it would be better to try to break it to her softly than for her to hear rumors and stories from the next caravan to pass through. It didn't quite go as I hoped..."

"She mentioned Adelbert before she ran off," he said. "She's still upset about that?"



Savonne, 33rd Kaldezeit

"I drove the spear through his face myself," Sieghard replied. "All that was left of him was robes, armor, and black ash that blew away on the wind. He's gone, at least so far as I can tell." Of course, dying didn't stop him from coming back before...

[LCP]

Sieghard, 29th Kaldezeit

"Don't know that I can rightly say," said Karolina. "Father Schreiber, those kids looked up to him. It hit her hard when he ran off." She paused, setting down the tray of empty cups she'd been collecting. "Suppose they'll never get the chance to talk it over now."

"I need to be getting on," she said, breaking out of the morbid train of thought with a brisk air of business. "Good to be seeing you again, sir."


Sieghard, 33rd Kaldezeit

Cezar nodded gravely. "Raqiyah's spirit will rest easier," he said. He looked down at the earth of the graveyard. "So many people believed... believe, in the name that creature took. I'd like to think, with him dead, maybe something good might be left behind."

[RossN]

Jarla & Ludo

"Well, another day perhaps," Jarla said, yawning. "I better go to bed. I'll have to face La Principessa in the morning looking my best." She smiled at Ludo. "Thank you again, it was good to talk. We'll have to meet up for drinks soon."

[Thragka]

Urgrim, 33rd Kaldezeit

Urgrim bowed to Elmendrin, and beamed as he straightened up. Already, the convivial ambiance was buoying his mood. "It's my honour to be welcomed into such esteemed company," he replied. He would have said more, but Berki and Grunlok interrupted with the delivery of drinks.

Urgrim laughed. "Well," he announced, raising a tankard, "I think I can manage, with a little help from my clan-friends." He looked around, waving to call over anyone he recognised – Grunda, Lunn, Rollik, Uthgar, Throndin. "Hearth and home!"

[LCP]

Konigstag, 1st Ulriczeit

Jarla had found no welcome party waiting for her in the keep. The soldiers had plenty of work to do seeing their arms and war machines properly stored, and the Prince and his wife had retired to their private rooms. Finding her way unnoticed to the room Irene had given her, she had slipped quickly into an exhausted sleep.

She woke to a cold draught from the window, the first sliver of sunrise tinging the roofs of the town below with gold. Smoke was already rising from chimneys and cooking fires as the streets of Savonne began to stir. After the desolation of the Dead Hills, it was a welcome change.

Making her way down to the kitchens, she found herself some breakfast - despite the conditions in the city outside, the larders of the keep seemed extremely well-stocked. Chewing on a dried pear, she wandered back up an echoing hallway, and stopped when she heard a familiar voice coming from the great hall.

Irene was giving rapid-fire Tilean to Mouna, the wizened head of the castle’s servants, who was listening and nodding with an impression of utmost attention. The Princess’ two handmaidens trailed behind her as she walked down the length of the hall, indicating with expressive gestures how she wished things to be arranged.

“Ah! Jarla,” she said, catching sight of her though the door stood only slightly ajar. “You’re back! Muzio said you had ridden with the army - why didn’t you come to see me?” Her tone was one of playful reproach. “I hear Holt’s monster is dead, thank the gods. Maybe we’ll finally hear the end of her lectures.”

Beckoning Jarla over, she gestured around them at the cavernous hall. “Muzio agrees that a ball is a splendid idea, to celebrate his victory. We were thinking next Konigstag,” she said, “to give people from the backwaters time to arrive. Mouna here has been helping me plan.” There was a beat, and then she looked at Mouna as if the elderly servant had overstayed her welcome by several thousand years. “You can leave now, Mouna.”

Mouna scuttled off, and Irene fixed Jarla with a very direct look. “So,” she said, “what’s this I hear about you wanting to get married?”

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla had changed into one of the palace dresses Irene had supplied her with, and a pair of matching heels. She still felt like she probably needed an hour in front of a mirror with a battalion of hairdressers, makeup artists and perfumers to properly look her best for court, but her time as an actress had at least allowed her to hit presentable easily and quickly. Fortified with breakfeast she felt as ready as she could to face the universe today.

Jarla had no idea how she'd react to La Principessa once she met her face to face again. She'd expected anger she'd have to hide and there was that. What she hadn't expected was to fall straight back into Irene's aura. The other woman was so beautiful, so regal as to be overwhelming. For a moment Jarla was simply stunned, before her wits travelled back to her and she curtsied.

"My apologies my lady, but I fear after the travel I did not appear at my finest, and did not want to embarrass you by appearing less than respectful," she said, her grey-blue eyes tracking the departing servant. The moment she was gone she relaxed into a playfully smile. "Also my lady I thought you and your husband deserved a little... privacy."

It was hard to fight against Irene's charm when you were actually friends with her. At her question Jarla actually blushed a little. "Yes, it is true. Technically I am still married to that swine Heinrich in Nuln but his highness has said he can free me and then... Well, my lady I am still a young woman. I have not entirely given up the idea of marriage, and should there be a handsome man of name and means, at court...?"

She paused and added. "I know I am your lady-in-waiting your highness and I wish to continue being so. Would you grant me permission to wed?"

[LCP]

Irene gave an odd sort of half-smile. "Well," she said, "I suppose it really depends who you had in mind." She looked down, idly inspecting her hands as if it made no difference to her. "I would have thought after what you told me about your last husband that you might want to be free of them for a while."

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla laughed lightly. "My lady I am not proposing to marry the first half wit in breeches who comes through the door. In fact I may not find anyone to my tastes at all. But I do rather want to see fish in their stream before making my mind up whether I shall have one for supper. Besides, I was rather hoping to stay here in the Reaches, and as generous as you and your husband have been I am too proud to live off another forever even, maybe especially, from a friend."

She smiled mischievously, and turned her profile to Irene, lightly gesturing at her own long neck and cheekbones. "And... not to be vain, but I do have some charm of my own and would like to use it. There is sport in being desired."

[LCP]

"Mm," said Irene. There was a hint of reserve in her voice. "As long as they don't make sport of you."

Taking a seat on a bench, she indicated that Jarla should do the same. "Most everyone who's anyone should be attending our little victory celebration, once the invitations have been sent. If you want a stream to fish in, the ball should be well-stocked." She met Jarla's eyes again. "I would be sorry to lose your company, Jarla. But maybe that won't have to be the case." She smiled. "I'm sure any husband worth marrying wouldn't keep you from coming to court, would he?"

[-Sentinel-]

Elsa


Despite just returning from a long and exhausting trip, Elsa rose early that morning. She had a lot of catching up to do, having not set foot in Savonne since departing with the Morrite knights for the doomed attack on Nath. She first visited Suzana the merchant and inquired about the state of her food import business.

"Oh, and with winter around the corner, I imagine you'll want to expand?" She dropped the two bags of coins she had recovered from the karst onto Suzana's desk. The heavy clink they made upon hitting the polished wood was a beautiful sound. "I wish to increase my stake by a hundred crowns."

Almost as an afterthought, she dug into her purse and counted another ten. "Make it a hundred and ten. For a nice, round, hundred and fifty total."

This is contingent on business still going well, of course.




Elsa's next stop was the clothier who had made her first set of fancy clothes. She was certain that Sforza had some festivities planned and she wanted to put in her order before anyone else. She requested a set of clothes that did not have the previous one's military style, in keeping with the Reaches' (hopeful) new era of peace, and which would be warm and comfortable for the winter—snug-fitting in contrast with the ample dresses of summer, lined with fur, without any metal buttons or buckles, and integrating long warm gloves and some simple but elegant headgear. She also wanted it functional enough to easily ride a horse or climb a castle's steep stairs. She left it up to the clothier to pick the colors which he deemed most appropriate to go with her hair and skin tone, her only requirement being "not white or anything that will make dirt or mud stand out too much".

Please don't update my character model this time, as she won't be wearing these clothes on an everyday basis.

[RossN]

Jarla

Despite herself Jarla felt a tiny bit touched by Irene's concern. She smiled warmly at the other woman as she sat. "I should think so! My lady, where would I be with out you? Which reminds me, I shall have to rely heavily on your judgement on my clothing and hair for the ball. I fear it has been a long time for me and you always look so elegant."

Jarla was content to while away the the morning gossiping and offering to play a hand of cards with Irene should the princess grow bored. She liked to think she was studying her enemy but a tiny part of her was a little afraid she liked the impossibly glamorous other woman.

[LCP]

Jarla


"I should think so! My lady, where would I be with out you? Which reminds me, I shall have to rely heavily on your judgement on my clothing and hair for the ball. I fear it has been a long time for me and you always look so elegant."

Irene smiled. “Time spent with soldiers will do that to you, my dear,” she said, rising to her feet again. She looked Jarla up and down, taking in the clothes she was wearing. “Muzio told me about your exploits. We’ll have to get you something new - we can’t have the woman who rode into the monster’s lair turning up in a second-hand gown.”

OOC: Irene is happy to get Jarla fitted for a new dress at the crown's expense - if Jarla's happy to play along and let Irene tell her what suits her then that'll be a free Noble's Garb ready by the end of the week.

No need to continue this scene unless you have anything more you want to add to it.

Elsa

Suzana’s storehouse was looking a little different from how Elsa remembered it. A couple of burly guards now stood outside the gate, and a pair of new carts were being unloaded in the yard.

“Ah, Magister Hildebrand,” said the merchant on seeing Elsa. “I was wondering when I’d see you again. We agreed on an eighth cut for seven weeks, yes? You’ve still got one week to go.” Producing a heavy ledger, she took a seat and began to run her finger down the columns of figures. “Still, if you want what you’re currently owed, I believe that would come to… fifty-two crowns… eleven schillings… and fivepence.” She looked up from her sums, seeming quite confident in the calculation. “I think we have that much in the strongbox. I can have Henrik count it out now, if you want.”

When Elsa brought out her offer of renewed investment, Suzana raised her eyebrows, looking down her nose at the heavy bags of coins. “That’s quite the sum,” she said. “We could certainly use it. I’ve been looking at hiring more guards, and my suppliers in the north are starting to realise they can raise their prices too.” She looked back to Elsa. “What are you asking in return? An extension of our current arrangement?”

[-Sentinel-]

Elsa was quite impressed with her share of the profits. Her initial investment had been more than recouped, and she now made a lot more per month as an investor than as a court wizard. Which... did not seem fair to hard-working wizards everywhere, but she supposed she should not complain.

"What are you asking in return? An extension of our current arrangement?"

"Correct," said Elsa with a quick nod. "More guards does seem like a good idea; hungry people will do desperate things. Oh, and of course I'll want everything on paper and notarized, with a copy for me and another in the care of a third party. As you can imagine, I lead a dangerous life, and should something happen to me, my inheritors must be able to take over my shares without having to come over here and leaf through ledgers."

Though she left it unstated, she also could not fully trust a merchant. She would not be cheated—she was the court wizard, and people rightfully feared her—but if she died while still owning shares in the business, Elsa could easily imagine Suzana "misplacing" some important paperwork.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard - Savonne, 33rd Kaldezeit


Cezar nodded gravely. "Raqiyah's spirit will rest easier," he said. He looked down at the earth of the graveyard. "So many people believed... believe, in the name that creature took. I'd like to think, with him dead, maybe something good might be left behind."

"The best that could come out of that beast is a warning," Sieghard opined, "The hound that tried to rise up against Morr and was struck down. Or something like that..."



Sieghard woke early and made his way down to the docks. With winter on its way, the scale of the shanty town was concerning. People would need better than tents by the time the the first snows began to fall. His first bit of business was to check on the people who had been housed in the properties he had claimed from Dragos. Part of the deal he had made when he sent lumber north from the Thornwood was that they would be given first access to any new housing that was built, but he still expected there would be some who had yet to move out. He needed to know how many.

He found Burhan next and delivered the good news about Nahorek's death. After assuring the merchant several more times that the vampire was truly gone, he turned the conversation towards trade. "Before all the ugliness with No-Nose, you were saying something about wanting to grow your business. The Azril River Trading Company, I think wanted to call it. Have you put any more thought into that?"

[LCP]

Elsa

"I know a scribe who can draw up the papers," said Suzana, "if you'll split the cost of his fee. It shouldn't be high."

She looked back down at her books. "A hundred and ten crowns... that would be enough to continue our current arrangement through to... the end of next Pflugzeit, I think. Yes... the twenty-seventh." She closed the ledger. "How often would you be wanting to collect?"


Sieghard

Sieghard found the buildings by the river almost as crowded as he had left them. The Greenapple house was looking more run-down and dirty, while makeshift structures had been erected inside the warehouses, trying to give the inhabitants some measure of privacy and shelter from each other. The overall effect was to make their interiors into a dark warren of scavenged timber and stretched canvas. Thinking back to that choking night that Elsa had nearly burned down the Old Town, he looked around at the candles and lanterns that lit the dingy space. It would not take much for this whole place to go up in flames.

Outside the close air of the warehouses, he found Burhan - something of a changed man since his brush with death. No longer quite so full of ebullient energy, he seemed surprised and a little frightened to see Sieghard again.

"Oh! Ah, nice to see you too, old, um, friend," he said, shuffling some papers to try to look busy. "Well, I mean, we're making ends meet. Still got the boats, you know, still got the boats. Still... moving cargo." He cleared his throat, which seemed to have gone dry. "Did... you... have some thoughts?"

[-Sentinel-]

"I know a scribe who can draw up the papers, if you'll split the cost of his fee. It shouldn't be high."

"Yes, absolutely," said Elsa, with a pang of sadness for Adelbert at the mention of a scribe.

"How often would you be wanting to collect?"

"I'm thinking the end of each month," suggested Elsa, "provided my duties don't take me out of Savonne too often. Thank you again. From my return on investment, I see this business is in good hands."




Later that day, Elsa sought out Jarla in hopes of mending their relationship.

"Jarla. Our last conversation ended badly, and I don't want you to give me the cold shoulder from now on. At the time I didn't think of how much hurt you carried over your brother's murder." She offered a hand. "Will you go on a horse ride with me? I have many stories to tell about Adelbert."

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"Something troubling you?" Sieghard asked. He hadn't missed the merchant's manner or the hesitation before the word friend. "Seems like there's something on your mind."

"Did... you... have some thoughts?"

"Well, the war is ended and the vampire slain. There's no more need to send supplies to the siege lines, but there's rebuilding to do. A chance for the Reaches to heal and grow." he said. "Trade is more your area than mine, but I know the city has need of lumber and food. And with the shift of power, there may be opportunities with the Putbad guilds as well... Moving materials and goods for them to and from Savonne or even beyond the Reaches." He thought for a moment. "I know the Prince is planning something to celebrate our victory in the south and I have a few acquaintances in Putbad. If you think there's a chance something could come of it, I may be able to introduce you."

We'll throw untrained charm to see if we can get Burhan to open up about whatever it is that has him acting this way.
[roll0] vs 27
[roll1] reroll

Nice. :smallsmile:

[LCP]

Elsa

"It's a pleasure doing business with you, Magister," said Suzana. "I assume we can find you at the castle - I'll have Henrik bring you the papers once they're ready."


Sieghard

"Oh no, you just, uh, took me by surprise is all. That and you know, the last time I saw you I, um... nearly died."

Despite his nerves, Burhan was listening to what Sieghard had to say. "Friends in Putbad, eh? That's certainly interesting. If we had a vessel north of the falls that would double our reach." He raised his eyebrows. "And if you could make those introductions, you'd be looking for some kind of... stake in the venture?"

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo
Ludo had been in Savonne for a few days before he went to visit Adelbert's grave. He had always been uncomfortable with this, and had been to the small plot of land on the edge of Sermena where his mother was buried shamefully rarely, but it felt like it was an appropriate time now. The tenders of the garden had done a good job covering the damage dealt to the ground on Geheimisnacht, but it meant that Adelbert's plot didn't stand out as new. His grave marker had a verenan owl carved on it, and Ludo realised that the news of Adelbert's loss of faith probably hadn't been communicated to Hieronymous.

He had - shamefully - chosen a time to visit shortly before his appointment, so after awkwardly informing Adelbert that they had killed the vampire - and apologising, because Jarla had probably already let him know and it was old news by now - he had only a few minutes before heading into the temple to meet Hieronymous and those of the priesthood of Morr that remained, Meskhenet in her box in his hands.

"I imagine you've heard the news by now," he began, once they were all gathered. "The vampire is... as best we can tell destroyed. He was turned to dust by the dwarven spear that killed him before. We lured him into a trap."

"Have you been informed as to how we knew how to trick the vampire?"

OOC
Let me know if I'm making up too much about the garden of morr or adelbert's grave marker or whatever

[RossN]

Jarla & Elsa

Jarla had spent the morning with La Principessa, gossiping, playing cards and providing general entertainment. She wasn't sure whether it was a good or bad thing to be good at being a lady's companion but she was evidently quite good at it.

After a light luncheon she departed from her mistress and made her way to the stables to check on Countess. While brushing her steed's mane (she had no faith whatsoever in the castle stablehands) Jarla realised she had a visitor.


Later that day, Elsa sought out Jarla in hopes of mending their relationship.

"Jarla. Our last conversation ended badly, and I don't want you to give me the cold shoulder from now on. At the time I didn't think of how much hurt you carried over your brother's murder." She offered a hand. "Will you go on a horse ride with me? I have many stories to tell about Adelbert."

Jarla hesitated, but after a moment took Elsa's hand. She even smiled slightly.

"As it happens I was planning on a ride to clear my head, so if you are taking that great black beast of yours you can join me. If we're careful Irene won't spot us and if she hears we've been spotted together I'll fib and say I was seducing you to learn your schemes."

[-Sentinel-]

"We can depart a few minutes apart and meet just outside the north gate," suggested Elsa, beginning to saddle her recalcitrant horse. "Let's go halfway to Selsan and back. That road's quite beautiful."

During the ride, she entertained Jarla with anecdotes involving her brother, such as the time she had hired a lady of negotiable affections to seduce Adelbert in hopes of getting him to loosen up a bit, only for the paranoid Adelbert to draw a sword on the poor woman; and also the time Adelbert had endeavoured to recover Father Hieronymus' two runaway owls and actually managed to find and bring back one. She spoke highly of Adelbert's bravery in the face of mortal danger, in spite of his middling combat skill. However, she carefully steered clear of mentioning the trouble his stubbornness had gotten him into on at least one notable occasion, his bitter and rather one-sided enmity with then-Captain Sforza, his scheming to support Duke Alvarr, or his falling-outs with Rhadegund and Aisha.

"I want you to know," she said at last, reining in her horse, "I do want justice for Adelbert. But please understand that it took Sieghard, Ludo and I a couple of years to attain the kind of status that you've achieved in mere weeks. It's a lot harder to wager ten shillings you've earned by the sweat of your brow than ten shillings you've won with a good hand."

She cast a long gaze at the brown, autumnal fields on both sides of the dirt road. "Not to mention that the Reaches finally have a shadow of a hope for peace and stability. None of us is keen to throw it away."

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"Oh no, you just, uh, took me by surprise is all. That and you know, the last time I saw you I, um... nearly died."

"It ended very poorly for the man who tried," Sieghard said sympathetically. "If that's not warning enough for anyone who might think to lay a finger on you, I wouldn't hesitate to teach him the same lesson."

"Friends in Putbad, eh? That's certainly interesting. If we had a vessel north of the falls that would double our reach. And if you could make those introductions, you'd be looking for some kind of... stake in the venture?"

"Of course," he replied, grinning. "We'd all be very rich men - that was the plan, wasn't it? I know the late Count Groz's widow and met a few of the other guilders, some of them her family. We're not close enough that any of them would call me a friend, but I could certainly take you to meet them and see if any of them are interested in talking business. I'll make sure word of the Prince's ball reaches them - I'm sure some of them will come down for the celebrations. Come as my guest and I'll introduce you then."



When Sieghard finished his business with Burhan, he went to find Filomena and explained that he was finally ready to arrange the sale.

"Gods willing, we'll have a bit of peace now," he said after giving a quick summary of events involving Nahorek (one that Filomena didn't seem particularly interested in). "Give me a couple of days and I can have the Greenapple house empty and ready. The warehouses may take a bit longer, but I have time to work on that now."

[LCP]

Ludo

Brother Cezar was waiting for him, but Hieronymus was a little late, having apparently been somewhere else out in the town. The old priest seemed happy to see Ludo again, apologising for his tardiness.

"Prince Sforza has given us an... abridged account, I suppose you might say," he said, "of the details he feels are important." He took a seat. "I must say, after Geheimnisnacht, everything we've learned and lost... it's difficult to believe that the creature is really dead." He gave Ludo a weak smile. "But Verena could not ask for more credible witnesses."


"Have you been informed as to how we knew how to trick the vampire?"

The two priests exchanged glances.

"No," said Hieronymus, after a pause. "I don't believe his highness mentioned that detail."


Sieghard

Burhan chewed his lip and looked away, wheels turning in his head. "The Count's widow?" he said. "Alright... alright, yes, count me in."

A little of his old enthusiasm seemed to be coming back to him.


~

Filomena took some finding. At last, Sieghard tracked her down in the Old Town, in a nondescript building on a newly-rebuilt street. Pietro stood outside the door, just as he'd used to in Mirino.


"Gods willing, we'll have a bit of peace now," he said after giving a quick summary of events involving Nahorek (one that Filomena didn't seem particularly interested in). "Give me a couple of days and I can have the Greenapple house empty and ready. The warehouses may take a bit longer, but I have time to work on that now."

"About time," said Filomena. "I'm ready to buy as soon as you're ready to sell, Sieghard."

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo
"We made use of, ah, psychological advantages," Ludo said carefully. "We looked into how he was previously defeated - a trap that appealed to his sense of superiority - and repeated that. But the method by which we got this information was... Father Hieronymous. I hope, after everything we've been through together, you trust me now? You trust my skills and my... my moral judgement, and the value I put on knowledge in all it's forms."

He sighed. "We discovered many of the things we know about the vampire by speaking to another member of the undead. She was a member of the Nehekeharan society that killed the vampire before, and later attempted to use the Book of Nagash to defend her people from the greenskins. This... went wrong somehow, and condemned her and them to undeath."

"Until recently, she was a prisoner in Kheneb-Ptra-Urush. We recovered her, recently. She's in this box."

OOC
Charm test to try and get them to be chill about this: [roll0] vs 92

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla had appeared on Countess shortly, looking resplendent in her custom riding clothes and hat. Elsa may have been starting to take note that here was a woman who would never appear at less than her best.

Jarla listened to her companion's anecdotes, occassionally interupting to clarify a point or laughing lightly at a particular adventure, notably on the recovery of the owl and her brother's ill-starred encounter with the prostitute. "I shall have to ask the girl myself when I speak to Filomeana," she commented dryly.

"I understand your points," Jarla said at last after Elsa had finished. "I can't claim to have worked as hard as you or your friends... but without casting doubt on that we all work with what we have, and I'm sure others have asked much about you. You have your magic. I have my beauty, my wits, my skill with the pistol and my horse. Between the two of us who do you think could do more damage to a kingdom?"

Jarla turned her grey-blue eyes to look at Elsa directly. "You may as well know; among much else I am a highwaywoman. I'm not a crazed killer but I've robbed sufficent gentlemen and ladies I'd be looking at a noose back in the Empire."

[-Sentinel-]

"I shall have to ask the girl myself when I speak to Filomena."

"She's called Nuri," said Elsa, "though I must warn you she certainly didn't find the incident amusing, and won't have anything kind to say about your brother. Or me."


"You may as well know; among much else I am a highwaywoman. I'm not a crazed killer but I've robbed sufficient gentlemen and ladies I'd be looking at a noose back in the Empire."

Elsa was startled by the admission. "Huh. I see. Well, maybe I owe you a secret in return... I'm wanted in the Empire, too. Magic duel that ended badly. A witch hunter and his goons came for me, once. One day there may be others. Or, worse, a College agent; those don't bother with a show trial, they just kill you with as little fuss as possible. For a time I was using a false name, Beatrix Hildebrand. I still use it for some purposes."

She cast a glance over her shoulder. The rock of Savonne was still visible, though it looked quite small. "Shall we turn around? It's mid-afternoon already and the days are getting short."

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla smirked at Elsa's description of Nuri. "Maybe I'll have to hire her myself to honour Adelbert's birthday." It wasn't entirely clear whether this was a joke or not.

Elsa's confession was met with a laugh. "Clearly we women of the Empire are not to be trusted! Your secret is safe with me 'Beatrix', but my point was more that while I might end up stealing Irene Sforza's tiara, or her husband's principality I have no desire to plunge the reaches into war."

At Elsa's suggestion they start the trek back she nodded and tugged at Countess' reins.

[-Sentinel-]

"Hmm, well. Doesn't take much to start a war around here. So be careful."

She spurred Bastard to a light trot. She had talked enough and now wanted to go a bit faster.


I'm ready for the update, I think.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"As I said, things have been busy in the south." Sieghard replied. "I should have the place ready for you by the third. Meet me there that morning, and we can make everything official."

The conversation quickly turned to coin and soon they arrived at a price of 2,100 crowns. He was pleasantly surprised he had managed to haggle her higher than what Ludo had estimated the building was worth.

"I do have an offer that could make the deal better for you, if you're interested," he said. "You'll do more with the house than I ever could, but that doesn't mean I don't have use for it. If you'd be willing to set aside a room - private and reserved for me when I need it, I can shave a bit off the price in return. Of course, I'd also expect you to keep as quiet as Pietro about my coming and going."

How about 2,075 if she agrees to the other condition?

[LCP]

Ludo

The two priests had been listening closely, but Hieronymus looked confused as Ludo came to his conclusion. "...In the box?" he said, squinting at the box in Ludo's hands. "Is she, ah... very small?"


Sieghard

"A private room? In perpetuity?" said Filomena. She raised her eyebrows, but her eyes looked amused. "Rooms are revenue, Sieghard. If you want me to keep it vacant, that's money out of my pocket every night."

She paused for a while in thought, idly tapping one of her fingers. "Four crowns a month, to hold the room," she said at last. "That's a very favourable rate. And as for keeping quiet," she added with a razor-thin smile, "you can rest assured that we treat all our clients with the utmost discretion."

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"I trust that you do, it is the nature of your business," Sieghard replied. Seeing that he had caught her interest, he threw out a comment he knew would only make her more curious. "Still, it never hurts to have assurance. I wouldn't want word reaching the Prince's wife."

"Month by month it is, then." He explained the hidden trap door in the cellar. "I'll have need of the room on the ninth, once whatever the Prince has planned is finished. My guest had some ideas of her own, so she might pay you a visit before then."

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo
"She is... all that remains of her is her skull," Ludo said. "The other undead were keeping her prisoner and they... damaged her. She speaks Classical. Her name is Meskhenet."

OOC
I'm on a train today, but let me forestall at least one round of posting by saying that unless Hieronymous and Cesar start talking about how she has to be destroyed or something, Ludo will open the box and introduce Meskhenet.

[LCP]

Sieghard


"I trust that you do, it is the nature of your business," Sieghard replied. Seeing that he had caught her interest, he threw out a comment he knew would only make her more curious. "Still, it never hurts to have assurance. I wouldn't want word reaching the Prince's wife."

"Ah, I see why you'd be concerned," said Filomena, completely deadpan. "La Principessa and I are very close. I'll try not to mention it to her at breakfast."

She rapped her knuckles on the table. "Festag, then. I'll have my people ready to take possession. I trust you'll have the place properly cleaned out. Once I have the key, you'll have your gold."


Ludo

Hieronymus leaned in as Ludo opened the box, wide-eyed and expectant. He waited for a few moments for something to happen, but Meskhenet's skull showed no signs of life.

"Were you hoping we could inter her - " Cezar began to ask - but then jumped back with a start as the witchlights in her eye-sockets kindled into life. Hieronymus didn't flinch, instead looking fascinated.

<Can you understand me?> he asked, in loud, slow Classical. There was a long wait for the reply.

<Where... have I... been taken?>

<You are in the high temple of Savonne,> said Hieronymus. <My name is Hieronymus. I am one of the priests here.>

Another long silence reigned.

<The temple... of Psaphon...> whispered Meskhenet. <Will you... take me out of this box? I would like... to see...>

Hieronymus looked to Ludo, not certain whether he should touch the ancient skull himself. When she had been lifted out, Meskhenet let out a low hiss that might have been a sigh.

<It has changed... so much...> she said. <But it is still... the same.> The lights in her eye-sockets drifted back towards Hieronymus. <Do they allow... men... to serve Asaph now?>

Hieronymus looked blank. <I am a servant of Verena, Goddess of Wisdom> he said. <Asaph is not a name I have heard.>

"I'm sorry, revered father - what are we doing here?" said Cezar, cutting abruptly in. His face was grey and grave. "Herr Stubbs, you know I have the greatest respect for your, um, efforts... but this is one of the undead. More than that, one that you say committed acts of necromancy in life." He paused, letting the words sink in. "Have you brought it here to be destroyed?"

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo
"When we've spoken," Ludo said, "She's referred towhat happened to her and her people - she did this to an entire fortress's worth - as a curse. Destroying her might be a kindness, if something could be done for her people as well. She believes a spell cast using the book of Nagash is unbreakable. I wasn't so sure."

[LCP]

Ludo

"Returning the undead to rest is certainly the province of the cult of Morr," said Hieronymus, looking to Cezar. "But an entire fortress full of them... I don't believe I've ever heard of such an act of faith." He scratched his chin. "I believe during the Sylvanian wars of the Empire, there was a Grand Theogonist who tried to unbind the army of the von Carsteins... but even then, not with faith alone, but a litany from the Liber Mortis."

"I know the prayers to consecrate a body or a burial site," said Cezar, "but I would not be so arrogant as to think myself capable of so much more. Until Mother Raqiyah passed beyond the gate I was only a village priest." He looked down at his feet. "I wish she were still with us."

[LCP]

Urgrim

The revels under the Rock had gone on late into the night. In the slightly hungover quiet of the morning that followed, Urgrim found enough time alone to open the waxed canvas case and read the letter that Grunda had brought back from Barak Varr.

Dear Urgrim,

It’s good to hear from you. We hadn’t heard here that you’d taken to the ranging rather than the umgi music. I’ve told your father and he agrees that ranging is a respectable trade. Your great aunt Fimbula was a ranger in the Storm Wardens, though I believe she retired on account of her leg. I’m sure you could speak to her if you wished to find work closer to home, though it’s very creditable that you are helping our cousins in the east.

I’d not heard the name of Dwimmulson until I met your messenger, but I have found them in the records of the port. They used to come here more often when the trade routes still ran to Karak Drazh. It’s good to hear that they are still there, though the danger sounds great.

Things are much the same here as they ever were. There was an accident with an ironclad at the Sea Gate, and your father is supervising the repair of the quay, which is bringing great pride to the clan (though the poor captain has gone to Grimnir’s temple to take the oath). Othrun Lunrunsdotr was asking after you last week, and I’m sure she would be pleased to see you again as well. I always thought she was a sound young woman. They say she is doing very well for herself at the shipmasters’ guild.

Please write to let us know if you receive this letter, and that you are still safe and healthy. And know that there will always be a bed and a warm hearth for you here if you choose to return.
- Dagmar.

Festag, 3rd Ulriczeit

Turfing out the occupants of the Greenapple house caused a fair deal of wailing and gnashing of teeth. Sieghard had brought along a handful of the Thorns in case of trouble, but he didn’t need them - he was an intimidating enough figure to begin with, and Filomena had brought along some men who looked like hired muscle of her own. Pietro was among them.

“Please, sir,” said one of the women being turned out. In one hand she had the coins Sieghard had given her to find new accommodation; in the other, she held onto a small sack of belongings. A small boy clung to her leg, hiding from Sieghard behind her as if he were hiding from a wolf. “We don’t have anywhere else to go.” She clutched the coins tightly in her closed hand. “I know you gave us money but… there’s no work, and the days are getting colder.”


Still, out they went. When the last of the residents had been turned out, and the house had been swept clean of the few odds and ends they had left behind, two of Filomena’s men brought forward a heavy iron-bound box, which they dropped with a thud at Sieghard’s feet.

“Your money,” said Filomena. “There’s more where it came from too, if you can clear those other buildings out. How long do you think that might take?”


Konigstag, 9th Ulriczeit

As the week wore on, more and more people had been arriving for the ball. Sieghard had seen a carriage-full of elders from the Vale arriving by the south gate, Steffan Sussman among them. A large riverboat had brought the guilders of Putbad, the abbot of the Azrillite monastery and Leona Groz. The only person missing from among all the great and good of the Reaches - in his own estimation at least - was Odo Stubbs. Ludo knew that Last Water was too far for Sforza’s messengers to have reached in time for his father to have attended, but at the same time, he was sure that the idea of there having been a Grand Occasion that he couldn’t attend would eat away at Odo like an ulcer.

On the afternoon of Konigstag, the walls of the great hall had been hung with banners, and a forest of candles were standing ready for the lighting. The smell of roasting meat was wafting from the kitchens, the servants of Sforza’s household scurrying this way and that in frantic preparation for the arrival of their guests.

Jarla was making her own preparations in her room, when one of Irene’s handmaids summoned her to her mistress’ chambers. There, she found the principessa trying on a new gown in front of a floor-length mirror. It was made from lustrous blue-green satin, with a deep Bretonnian neckline and a bodice of black and gold brocade. The colours were very like the dress she had had made up for Jarla - though Jarla suspected the cost was in a different league altogether.

“Ah Jarla, there you are. What do you think,” she said, “too much?” She turned to look at herself side-on. “Or not enough?”

Turning at last to look at Jarla, she beckoned her closer. “You know tonight’s the night for landing your fish,” she said. “Or at least for inspecting the stocks. Come and find me after the first dance, and I’ll make the introductions.” She looked Jarla up and down, seeming satisfied with the tailor’s work. “Though really I think they’ll make themselves.”

[-Sentinel-]

Elsa spent most of her week catching up on Tatiana's magical training, which she had not had much opportunity to attend to lately. She also asked her apprentice if she wanted to come to the Prince's feast, but assured her that she was under no obligation to, as the hated Irene Sforza would be there as well. Tatiana would not have forgotten the sneering contempt Irene had heaped upon her in the basement in Manann's Keep.

"If you do want to come, I'll get you some nice clothes. If you don't... well, you can spend some time with your new horse. Better company than Lady Sforza, that's for sure."

Her new winter gown, dark slate-grey in color and with brown fur around the neck, was ready on the 7th. It was elegant without being excessively ornate or flashy, and designed to be taken off quickly in an emergency. And it included a deep pocket for Khalida. Fun as it might be to spring the snake on Irene when she least expected it, a scared noblewoman was not worth a dead familiar, so Elsa mentally vetoed that plan early on.

One day I'll see fear in your eyes, Irene. One day.


I've got nothing planned for the 9th before the ball.

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo, 2nd
Ludo nodded sombrely. "But do you think it could be done for this... this woman alone?"

Ludo, 9th
Ludo had spent the week, largely, enjoying a well-earned rest, developing a routine of a late morning stroll through the city, a pie for lunch, and spending the afternoon training with the Thorns - "marching" out to a patch of scrubland outside the city, practicing gunfire with their new rifles on the same old straw targets as before, and returning for a drink in the evenings. The marching had crept later in the day over the week, as the drinking left it's mark, but Ludo felt no particular need to correct

The thorns had taken to their weaponry like ducks to water, largely, and thanks to Steffan's careful instruction, nobody had lost more than an eyebrow yet - although the first time Ludo had fired his rifle, he'd been knocked clean off his feet. There were a few fewer guns than soldiers, and so some were instead taking the opportunity to continue crossbow drills. Rike had demurred from the rifle duels, citing her injured hand, but something in her tone of voice had indicated to Ludo that, perhaps, the memory of her friends being gunned down by these same weapons was too fresh: he had resolved not to push it, and she had spent the week sat on a rock by the edge of the group, watching with detached interest and bantering gently with Ingwald, who had been her squad leader until Nath.

As the day of the ball approached, he took the chance to pull Hanna, Ingwald, and Gustaf aside. "Seems to me that any celebration of the vampire's death should include the people who did the actual work to take him down," he offered. "How clean do you think you could get your uniforms by the ninth?"

OOC
Unless they refuse, Ludo wants to get Ingwald, Hanna, and Gustaf invitations to the ball, probably by speaking to whoever is organising it below Irene's level - her handmaidens? idk i dont go to balls, lockdown you know - and trying first to persuade them that the command echelons of the Thorns is five people rather than just two, and then secondly trying to charm them into making an exception. If it's a handmaiden perhaps offer to introduce her to some strapping young soldier boys, that kind of thing. [roll0] Charm vs 92, re-roll [roll1]

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard - 3rd Kaldezeit

"I'll see to it that you aren't stuck out in the cold," Sieghard told the woman. He kept his expression stern, but he realized that it might mean paying for more than just one month's rent. "What do you mean that there's no work? What skills do you have?" he asked. "I'll help how I can, but you'll need to find some means to provide for yourselves. I'm one man - I can't keep everyone housed forever."


~

"When the people in them can be dealt with," Sieghard replied to Filomena. "There are far more in the warehouses than there were in here and I won't have them dying in the streets come winter." He showed her the inside of the building and scratched Sighrd onto the paperwork in the closest imitation of what Ludo had shown him that he could manage.



Accompanied by the same men who he had brought with when he had sold the Greenapple house, Sieghard spent much of the next few days speaking to the people who had lost their homes to the fire, learning what he could about their situation. He assured them that the Prince would hear their plight, though in truth he had his doubts Sforza would care. Some were willing to cling to what little hope Sieghard was able to offer. Others were more skeptical, but had resigned themselves to their current circumstances. At one point, he had lost his temper with a man who was more belligerent than most and reminded him that he was the only one offering them any help at all and could easily walk away. While speaking to those in the warehouses, he made it clear that he wasn't going to permit uncovered flame and that anyone who objected could trade places with the men stuck with the Thorns' old tents.

On the 7th, he spoke briefly with Al-Makir about trying to find work and relief for the homeless. He knew that if there was any chance of the Prince himself listening, it would have to wait until after the upcoming celebrations.



9th Kaldezeit

I look ridiculous, Sieghard thought as he examined himself in his new clothes. The outfit fit quite well, but he was still uncomfortable and while he liked that the color was similar to the Thorns' uniforms, it was far finer than anything he had ever worn. He couldn't help but find it rather ostentatious.

100xp spent on Read/Write. Sieghard is now barely literate enough to scrawl something that, with some squinting, might be interpreted as his own name.

Rolled haggle for the clothes in the OOC thread (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=25044248&postcount=273) and got 3 DoS. I'm assuming 35gc based on the roll and 10% per DoS, but if needing it in about a week brings the price up, let me know. The outfit includes a hat because Sieghard wants everyone to know his role in killing Nahorek and everyone knows that if you kill a dangerous monster, you get a nice hat.

[RossN]

Jarla

Being a princess's confidante/companion/lady-in-waiting was not the hardest job Jarla had ever had and Irene made for a far livelier person to live with than Heinrich but it had it's share of exhaustions and struggles. Every day Jarla was paying court to the principessa and every day required different strengths; how to flatter without seeming like a mindless toady, how to weigh when was the time to discuss gossip and when was the time to turn to more serious matters, how to dress appropriately, what perfume or eyeshadow would see one of Irene's graceful eyebrow's inch aloft in disapproval...

Jarla remembered her travelling player days, in some ways the happiest era of her life. She'd played a variety of roles and sometimes when called upon to act for her audience of one she felt like she was channelling the loyal and faithful Ingrid in The Desolate Prisoner of Karak Kadrin or the doomed Celine in Barbenoire: The Bastard of Bretonnia (though at least unlike with Celine she was not required to compensate for a Bretonnian accent you could fry frogs with with an exceptionally tight bodice.)

Her feelings were hard to put into words. On the one hand that cold anger over Adelbert still burned within her. On the other hand... well she wanted Irene's approval, her praise. The woman was so glamorous, and could be so witty and compelling in close quarters. It was impossible to have just one feeling towards her.

In the lead up to the ball Jarla had spent her 'free time' exploring something of Savonne. She had paid visits to the temple to lay flowers on Adelbert's grave, had inquired after jewellry and had ridden Countess to give her horse some needed exercise. She had once or twice approached Elsa about letting Tatiana join her for the ride; as a horse lover herself Jarla found the young apprentice's connection with beasts intriguing and rather liked the girl.



Jarla had made haste to answer her mistress's summons and not for the first time was at once appalled and impressed at how striking Irene could look.

"My lady," she said clapping her hands together in visible delight. "You look radiant! Simply everyone will be talking about you. I can already hear the jealous gossips starting now."

Moving closer she found herself smiling at Irene's comment. "Thank you my lady, I owe it to your taste - and your tailor." She glanced around, largely to add drama and said: "Is there anyone particular her highness would rather not talk too tonight? I can pre-emptively strike up a conversation with them so as to avoid any po-faced burger who might dribble on your shoes or attempt assassination by boring you to death."

[LCP]

Ludo, 2nd Ulriczeit

“We could… break up the bones and give them a consecrated burial,” said Cezar. “But you said yourself, Herr Stubbs, this woman committed a heinous act of necromancy.” He shook his head. “Morr will not take her. Her soul will wander in the Grey Vaults before his Gate.”

Hieronymus bit his lip. “I believe the good brother is doctrinally correct,” he said. “More than that, we still have the book to deal with ourselves. If she read from it - used it, even - she may be the best source we have on how it can be contained. It would seem a little premature to, ah, banish her.”

Cezar looked concerned. “She is one of the undead,” he said. “It is our duty.”

“In a narrow sense, yes,” said Hieronymus. “But in a broader sense, if it helps us combat the greater blasphemy… well, we must think of the greater good, must we not?”


Sieghard, 3rd Ulriczeit


"What do you mean that there's no work? What skills do you have?" he asked.

The woman looked a little frightened to be put on the spot. “Uh, working the land,” she said. “Sowing, reaping, working a plough…”


When the people in them can be dealt with," Sieghard replied to Filomena. "There are far more in the warehouses than there were in here and I won't have them dying in the streets come winter."

“Aren’t you Shallya’s own saint?” said Filomena, the hint of a smile on her tight lips. She looked over to where her men were throwing open the windows of the house to let it air. “Well, as I said before - when you’re ready to sell, I’ll be waiting. But not forever.” She folded up the deed and turned away. “I’m sure there are other people in Savonne with property I can use.”


Jarla, 9th Ulriczeit

“I think I can handle myself on that account,” said Irene. She turned away from the mirror with a sigh. “Though I suppose Holt will be there, boring everyone with how terribly important it all was. You met her on your trip south, yes?” She touched Jarla’s arm lightly with her hand. “My condolences.”

[-Sentinel-]

9th Ulriczeit


Walking down the stairs from her room in her new fur-lined gown, Elsa salivated at the smell of roasting meat, but seriously wondered if Sforza had an inkling of the situation in the Reaches, even in the most abstract numbers-in-a-ledger sense. For someone who had campaigned for years in deserts and wastelands, he did not seem too good at managing resources. Perhaps he was so used to pillaging and taking tributes from the vanquished that he simply did not know what to do once he ran out of towns to conquer.

We'll need a serious chat about this before the common people decide to roast and eat us.

But that could wait until another day. The next council meeting, maybe. Tonight the taste of Prince Sforza and his wife for conspicuous consumption had to be indulged, hopefully for the last time until spring. And Elsa had to admit... she could definitely get used to this sort of life. Was material comfort not the whole point of building a civilization?

[LeSwordfish]

Ludo, 2nd
"You can see that this is a complicated doctrinal issue." Ludo said. "If I may, father Hieronymous, I'd like to render her into your care. As a... a relic, or a primary source, however you wish to see her. It seems irresponsible for me to take her back to Painford, and you would know much better than me how to question her."

[RossN]

Jarla, 9th Kaldezeit

Jarla felt her cheeks flush at Irene's light touch on her arm and the word 'condolences' coming from this woman. Her head swirled with confused feeling but she managed with an effort to show the complexity of emotions on her face.

"I met her your highness. She is... a peculiar woman under any circumstances," Jarla said, expression thoughtful as she tried to find the right line. "Then again she is from Altdorf and all that fog probably softens the brain."

She smirked. "I played a sorceress once on the stage once. And two or three princesses. I can certainly say that meeting them in real life has given me cause to re-evaluate my performances, and in your case your highness, I intend that as a compliment."

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard - 3rd Kaldezeit


“Aren’t you Shallya’s own saint?” said Filomena, the hint of a smile on her tight lips.

"Nothing of the sort," Sieghard replied. "If letting them squat in a drafty warehouse keeps them from burning down the rest of the city, it's a small enough price to pay."



9th Kaldezeit

Sieghard sighed, put on his new hat, and made his way to the ballroom. More than a little self-conscious, he glanced around the room, trying to find someone he knew among the guests. He spotted Jarla first and acknowledged her with a nod, but decided not to approach her while she was at Irene's side. When he noticed Burhan, he walked over to join him. "See that man with the black beard? Over there speaking with the Countess. He's the head of the Cooper's guild," Sieghard told him, trying to subtly indicate who he was talking about. "And the younger man with them is one of her cousins. Not the guildmaster himself, but he has some influence among the wheelwrights. We'll wait until they've had a chance to have a few drinks and then I'll introduce you."

[LCP]

Ludo, 2nd Ulriczeit

Cezar’s frown deepened. “We cannot keep one of the undead in the house of Morr,” he said, to Hieronymus as much as to Ludo. “It’s out of the question.”

“Yes,” said Hieronymus, stroking his beard. “That is very true. We’ll have to keep her somewhere else.” That solution didn’t seem to have struck Cezar, who looked caught off-balance. “My house, perhaps. I have a little library there.”

“That… forgive me, father, but I must follow my god here. This is not some… rare book we are talking about. Her existence is a blasphemy against the word of Morr. A blasphemy we have it in our power to end.”

Hieronymus put a soothing hand on the younger priest’s shoulder. “I understand, brother,” he said. “But if Herr Stubbs’ story is true - and he has never given us reason not to trust him - then there are hundreds of other blasphemies still walking the Mere. Not to mention the one buried under the keep. Her knowledge might help us put all those to right. If we destroy her, that knowledge dies with her. Knowledge that might now exist nowhere else in this world.”

He patted Cezar’s shoulder. “Destroying that would be just as much a blasphemy against Verena as preserving it is against Morr. I hope the Lord of Dreams will yield to his wife on this occasion - at least, until everything this ancient knows can be transcribed. In the meantime, we’ll make an offering, and have the initiates say orisons for our sins.”

Cezar still looked disgruntled, but seemed to yield to Hieronymus’ judgement. Hieronymus turned back to Ludo.

“Thank you for bringing this to us, Herr Stubbs. You can trust she will be safe in our keeping.”


Sieghard, 3rd Ulriczeit

Filomena paused for a moment, then turned back towards Sieghard. “That’s the face you want to put on it? Keeping order for his highness,” she said. “I have been following him for a lot longer than you, Sieghard. Trust me, he won’t thank you.”

Her advice given, she headed back towards the house. “It looks like I have plenty of work to do,” she said. “We’ll see you next week, yes?”


Jarla, 9th Ulriczeit

"You'd better," said Irene, shooting Jarla a look of mock warning. "You're right, though. I hadn't thought of it that way. A sorceress ought to have some style."

She gave an exasperated roll of her eyes, and did her best to calm herself. "Go on, you should finish getting ready. I'll see you in the great hall."


The Victory Ball

Konigstag evening saw Ludo and the three Thorns joining the steady stream of Savonne’s well-to-do heading into the keep. The Thorns had washed their uniforms and starched their collars, but they still seemed more than a little nervous to join such distinguished company. Gustaf in particular was sweating profusely. By all accounts he had been something of a poacher before he joined the army; perhaps it was natural that he had an aversion to mingling with the landed gentry.

Inside, a crowd was gathering in the great hall, lit by glittering constellations of candles. The main part of the floor had been cleared for dancing, while the smell of food wafted tantalisingly from some of the neighbouring rooms. Ludo could make out Hieronymus in his white robes, and Rinn Elmendrin at the head of a small Dwimmulson delegation near the head of the hall. Skorgrund was with her; he had brought the book.

Trumpets sounded in the gallery, and the loud hubbub of voices died away. Every head turned as a troop of Iron Company men formed up in front of the door, heralding the arrival of their hosts. Resplendent in a tunic of black and gold under a sable-trimmed cape, the Prince struck almost as dazzling a figure as his wife.

“My friends,” he said, addressing the crowd from about a pike’s length away. “My subjects. My people. Three months ago, I promised you peace.” He looked across the sea of silent faces, taking in their rapt attention. “That peace was broken by the monster who called himself Nahorek the Jackal. He blighted our crops, attacked our temple, and tried to raise his own stronghold against us in the wasteland.”

A servant came hurrying forwards, holding an iron-bound box. When it was opened, it revealed the two halves of Nahorek’s onyx mask, resting on a velvet cushion. Sforza took one of the halves and held it high for all to see.

“I have brought you here to tell you this: the Jackal is dead!”

Taking their cue, the ball-goers broke into cheers. At first they were rather scattered and ragged. It took the Iron Company men joining in to instil some volume.

“Struck down by our own soldiers!” said Sforza, gesturing emphatically to Sieghard through the crowd - though he did not summon him forward. “This is the promise I made to you when I assumed the crown. No matter who comes against us, man or monster - as long as a Sforza sits on the throne of Savonne, you will be protected.”

This time the cheers seemed a little more heartfelt. Sforza held up his hands for quiet.

“We all know it will be a hard winter ahead. The wounds this creature dealt us will take time to heal. But this shows that we are strong, together. And none stronger than our allies from the Rock.” Now he gestured open-handed to Rinn Elmendrin. “It was their weapon that returned the beast to the grave. It is my great pleasure to return it now to their keeping.”

Elmendrin came forward, and another servant brought out the spearhead, wrapped in a silk cloth. She received it with a simple bow of her head.

“Clan Dwimmulson thanks you, Prince Sforza,” she said. “It gives us joy to see the work of our ancestors returned.”

Sforza bowed back, not quite as low. He clapped his hands together. “And now!” he said, continuing in the same oratory tone. “You have not come here for long speeches. So please, dance, drink - and let us celebrate a victory hard earned!”

This time the Iron Company didn’t wait for the cheering to start - instead, they started stamping their feet and chanting their ruler’s name. The crowd joined in with a will, and the Prince stood with a broad smile on his face, drinking it in. He took Irene’s arm and gestured up to the gallery, where the musicians began to play.

“Bloody umgi,” Urgrim heard Skorgrund grumble, making no effort to keep his voice down. “All flash.”


~

The first dance was a bourrée, long lines of dancers weaving up and down the hall in a stately fashion. Those who weren’t dancing gathered around the edges, or congregated in the side-rooms where food and drink were being served.

Jarla could not get hold of Irene after the first dance, or even the second - the principessa’s attention appeared too occupied, or perhaps she was just enjoying herself too much to remember. After the third dance, however, she found the Sforzas at last emerging from the intricate whirl of dancers.

“Ah, Jarla!” said Irene, catching her eye across the hall. She beckoned to her across the hall. “Come here. Have you met Giovanni?”

A tall, square-shouldered Tilean met her gaze with a cocky smile and what he probably thought was a dashing twinkle in his eye. “Giovanni, this is Jarla Schreiber,” said Irene. “The heroine of the hour, you know.”

Sforza knitted his brows for a moment before he caught onto what his wife was doing. “Ah, yes,” he said, clearing his throat. “Signora Schreiber carried our message into the Jackal’s jaws.”

“Myrmidia be praised that you returned unharmed, signora,” said Carraciolo, giving a deep bow. “It would have been a crime as monstrous as any of his others if that beast had scarred such a pretty face.”

“Giovanni, I told you you had to behave,” said Irene. She turned back to Jarla. “Giovanni is Muzio’s longest-standing officer. And what is it now... lord of the north?”

“Lord-lieutenant, your highness - and very grateful I am too,” said Carraciolo. He thumped a closed fist over his heart. “But always a brother of the Iron Company first.”

The Prince put an arm around his lieutenant’s shoulder, saying something in Tilean that made them both break out in laughter. “Come on!” said Sforza. “If I’m paying for all this, I want a drink!”


OOC: Rather than write the whole evening out in prose, I’m going to summarise here Jarla’s first impressions of each of the people Irene introduces her to, and what Irene says about them in a private aside. You can choose which you want to roleplay further interactions with, if any.

Giovanni Carraciolo
First Impressions: Obviously taken by Jarla’s looks, but not so interested in her as a person. Seems to see himself as a charmer/ladies’ man, but his manners are a bit more common than the Sforzas’ - his brand of smooth talk would be better suited to chatting up more impressionable young women. Still he’s not bad-looking, and has a very powerful position.
Irene’s Take: Giovanni’s a brute, but he’s our brute. I’m sure he wouldn’t treat you poorly, if Muzio and I made it clear.

Esteban Valdes
First Impressions: Valdes’ manners are more refined than Carraciolo’s, but he’s also stiffer and more formal. He treats Jarla with chivalry and respect, remembering her role at Nath, but it’s a bit difficult to strike up a conversation with him. His position as Lord-Lieutenant of the South is probably the second most powerful after Carraciolo’s, but more remote from court.
Irene’s Take: A real officer, from a good family, but a bit of a romantic. You know how the Estalians are. I think for a while he was pining over a Magrittan girl. Holt’s monster tore her throat out, though, so you should be in the clear.

Abdul Al-Makir
First Impressions: Abdul is significantly older than Carraciolo or Valdes, but he’s friendly, chatty and polite. He’s very happy to swap stories and hear about Jarla’s adventures on the road - but you suspect he’d be that way with almost anybody. As Lord Treasurer he wields a lot of influence, but doesn’t have any lands.
Irene’s Take: You know, I’ve never got the measure of that old daemon. Muzio picked him up from one of the nomad tribes, when he was working for the Emir. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen him with a woman.

Steffan Sussman
First Impressions: As in Manann’s Keep, Sussman is very solicitous towards Jarla, without being quite as blatant as Carraciolo. He’s very impressed to hear about her role in Nahorek’s defeat, and thanks her profusely on behalf of Manann’s Keep. His position is a lot less powerful/prestigious than the others - but the Vale is supposed to be rich.
Irene’s Take: He helped us with the mad old fish that was in Manann’s Keep before Muzio. Clever, for someone of his breeding. You ought to be careful of that, Jarla. It’s no good marrying a man who’s cleverer than you.

“Of course,” Irene said, as she whisked Jarla away through the crowd with her head whirling with introductions, “our Warden of the Thornwood should be somewhere around here, too. So common his family don’t even have a name, but that doesn’t worry some people. Oh Holt, I didn’t see you there.” Jarla felt the temperature of the conversation drop several degrees. “I love your dress. Where did you get it?”


~


"See that man with the black beard? Over there speaking with the Countess. He's the head of the Cooper's guild," Sieghard told him, trying to subtly indicate who he was talking about. "And the younger man with them is one of her cousins. Not the guildmaster himself, but he has some influence among the wheelwrights. We'll wait until they've had a chance to have a few drinks and then I'll introduce you."

Straightening his jerkin and smoothing back his hair, Burhan followed Sieghard over to where Leona Groz was standing once the moment was right. As he came closer, Sieghard saw the man he had taken for Tobar was not, in fact, Tobar - though there was a strong resemblance in his thick black hair and beard, this man was a fair bit younger, and lacked the old guildmaster’s round belly.

“Sieghard,” said Leona, looking up at the two of them approached. “Did I take the Prince’s meaning right? You were there at the death?”

[-Sentinel-]

“Of course,” Irene said, as she whisked Jarla away through the crowd with her head whirling with introductions, “our Warden of the Thornwood should be somewhere around here, too. So common his family don’t even have a name, but that doesn’t worry some people. Oh Holt, I didn’t see you there.” Jarla felt the temperature of the conversation drop several degrees. “I love your dress. Where did you get it?”
Elsa put on a brittle smile. Good thing she had chosen to remain sober until she was out of the ballroom. She would let nothing spoil her night, not even having to be polite to Adelbert's murderess.

"Thank you, principessa, you know how much I value your opinion. I have Jérémie to thank for my dress." There were not many fine clothiers in Savonne, so giving Jérémie Mercier's full name would only give the impression that Elsa did not shop for luxury goods very often. Which, granted, would be the correct impression. "I know it's on the plain side compared to yours... I made my order late and poor Jérémie was in a bit of a rush. I haven't had the luxury of ample leisure time in Savonne this past month," she said, her lips curling into a subtle sneer.

She turned to Jarla, her manner still formal; it would not serve Jarla's interests for Elsa to act too familiar towards her in Irene's presence. "And you, lady Schreiber... I am told you are looking for an eligible bachelor? Moving up in the world, I see. And deservedly, too. Some of your potential suitors have already witnessed your courage firsthand. Take my advice, you want a husband who knows that a woman like you belongs in the thick of things, not locked away in a boudoir to keep her out of trouble. You're only young once."

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"Not only was I there, I was the one who struck the final blow that brought the vampire down," Sieghard replied, already feeling more in his element. "The high priestess and the beast's other victims will rest easier now that he's gone." He glanced towards the man he could only assume was guildmaster Tobar's son and offered a handshake."I'm Sieghard and this is my friend Burhan. He proved quite helpful back during the siege of Alvarran. It was his boats that carried the Prince's supplies the first leg of the journey up the Azril"


Filomena paused for a moment, then turned back towards Sieghard. “That’s the face you want to put on it? Keeping order for his highness,” she said. “I have been following him for a lot longer than you, Sieghard. Trust me, he won’t thank you.”

Ain't that the truth

[RossN]

Jarla

The great hall of Savonne keep would never give Countess Emmanuelle von Liebowitz any sleepless nights but as Jarla glided into the makeshift ballroom in her new dress and shoes she was impressed. Evidently the staff had worked wonders. The Imperial woman had been a little nervous about appearing in a dress of such similar colour to Irene's but the sheer quality and beauty of the clothes washed those fears away and blue-green was rather her colour, given her pale complexion, copper hair and grey blue eyes. She'd arranged her hair in fashionable ringlets to better frame her face and her eyes and tightened her own bodice just so to suggest the shape of her chest without giving some of the older gentlemen convulsions.

She had curtsied before the royals and taken part in the early dances, pleased to see her skill had not deserted her. Later she'd have to mingle with some of the great and good beyond just those Irene introduced her too. It was time to make her mark in public life.

"Incantato, Signor Carraciolo," Jarla said upon her introduction to the lord of the north, offering her hand for him to kiss. Irene had certainly been apt with her description of the man, he did seem a powerful brute and Jarla's blue-grey eyes widened slightly as she took in the physique she suspected was more at home in armour than anywhere else. Carraciolo was probably not the most sophisticated in the bedchamber but she'd be lying if she said there wasn't an attraction to muscles and sheer power and his immense... status.

Valdes was on some level more interesting with his courtly ways and dignity and Jarla did find beards rather dashing. Still the man seemed to have walls around him, a reserve not simply due to his collected nature. "I fear I know little of your homeland my lord," she said, trying to make inroads, "though I hear it is beautiful and famed for the gallantry of her diestros. I am practiced in fencing myself, and know it takes grace, skill and dedication."

After Irene's aside Jarla began to feel she had more of a grasp on the man, and felt sorry for him. She didn't quite share Irene's feelings about things being 'clear' however - a dead lover could be far more problematic an opponent than a living one...

There was a genuine pleasure in conversing with Abdul Al-Makir, that garrulous individual but she also found him difficult to read. In some ways he seemed almost the opposite of Carraciolo. The towering Tilean would be a fun tumble but she had a difficulty imaging more with him, while the Arabyan seemed far more pleasant company... but she wasn't sure if he was even interested in women. Still, at least she wouldn't go poor if she chose him. "Tell me more of your country Abdul," she purred. "I know so little of it's ways."

Steffan Sussman of course she already knew, and there did seem a little bit of a spark there. Where she struggled in conversation with the dour Valdes and talking beyond direct flirting with Carraciolo Sussman had polish and wit she warmed too. "It is a pleasure to see you again Steffan," she said, truthfully. "I hope the Vale fares well."

As Irene drew her aside after the meeting with Sussman Jarla laughed lightly and winked at her mistress/best friend/enemy. "I have to admit I like a man with something in his head and not just his codpiece, but thank you for the warning your highness."

Jarla reflected that Sussman and possibly Al-Makir did perhaps have more brains than she did, but she liked to think she was cleverer than Giovanni Carraciolo.

Jarla accepted dances from all the gentlemen who offered, feeling it best to get to know them a little better on the ballroom floor.

She did not have much time to think on this further when Irene was whisking her away to that strained encounter with Elsa Holt. Jarla stood next to her mistress feeling desperately uncomfortable as battle commenced.

"Thank you Signora," she replied to Elsa's comment directed directly at her. Looking to shift the subject and hoping to avoid a bloodbath between princess and wizardess she followed that up with: "Have you tried the wine? I believe it is exquisite."

[LCP]

Jarla found Valdes much more forthcoming on the subject of fencing than he'd seemed at first, and Al-Makir happy to regale her with stories about the wonders of Araby. Sussman thanked her for her interest in the affairs of the Vale and assured her she'd be welcome to visit again. Only with Carraciolo did she find no easy foothold for conversation, perhaps in part due to the presence of the Prince. The two old soldiers seemed to share some private jokes that left her feeling very much the outsider.

Still, the real limit to her time with these men was Irene. While she was very happy to make her gracious introductions, one couldn't keep a queen waiting on the sidelines, and so Jarla found herself pulled around the great hall like a comet orbiting the sun. No doubt there would be time to continue the more interesting conversations later, when the principessa had found something else to distract her.


"Have you tried the wine? I believe it is exquisite."

"It's acceptable," Irene corrected her. "How adorable, though, Holt, that you know the name of your tailor." She gave a brittle smile. "I suppose that's what they call the common touch."

Looking through the crowd, Jarla could see that the Prince had spotted the encounter, and was disentangling himself from a conversation with Hieronymus and the dwarfs with a concerned look on his face. Irene seemed somehow to have noticed it too, though Jarla could have sworn she hadn't broken eye contact with Elsa since the wizard had begun speaking.

"I'm sorry Holt, I believe Muzio wants me," she said. "Come along Jarla - the next dance will be starting soon."

Practically towing Jarla away, she murmured under her breath: "I do believe that's the most hideous dress I've ever seen."

OOC: Irene's going to continue gliding around Irene-ing it up, but if you want Jarla to detach from her and go do her own thing feel free to cut to that!


~

The men with Leona took turns to shake Sieghard and Burhan's hands, murmuring variations on "pleasure to meet you" one after the other. Seeing that no-one was volunteering their names, Leona took it upon herself to make the introductions.

"Uh, this is Uto," she said, indicating the young, black-haired man. "And this is Maximilian and Jorg. Commander Sieghard is an officer in the Prince's army."

The three guilders seemed much more interested in Sieghard than in Burhan. "So there really was a vampire?" said Jorg, the oldest and roundest of the three. "I hardly believed it before we received the invitations. Nahorek, you know... that was something my old nursemaid used to talk about when I was a boy. Putting witchroot over your door, and leaving a bowl of cream out for the Jackal on the first night you have a newborn in the house. All that sort of thing."

"The murder of the High Priestess was real enough," said Maximilian. "Didn't you hear about that?"

"Oh yes, of course," said Jorg, "but you know, killings are one thing... an actual honest-to-Morr blood-drinking monster is quite another! I thought there was some northern fellow involved - Jon of the Jackal?"

[-Sentinel-]

"How adorable, though, Holt, that you know the name of your tailor." She gave a brittle smile. "I suppose that's what they call the common touch."
Elsa gave a curt nod of acknowledgement. Was 'common' truly the most biting insult Irene could come up with? That must have worked well in Tobaro high society, but this was not Tobaro, and nor was this society particularly high; three out of six 'lords' in this room had likely dug a few latrines in their time and were not ashamed of it.

"I just find it wise to be polite to those you depend upon," she said, idly wondering just how many servants' spit Irene had ingested with her meals over the years.

Disappointed by the lack of effect of her earlier jabs at Irene's sidelining, Elsa considered going for the throat by directly asking what in the world had happened to Doctor Bianco, but before she could find a way to work it into the conversation, Sforza's approach made her back down. She parted ways with Irene and walked over to Sieghard, Burhan and the Putbad people, not striking up conversation immediately but ready to answer any questions they might have about the events of Nath.

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla smirked at her mistress's comment about Elsa's dress. "Perhaps she's bewitched it so it appears stylish to the weak willed?"

Truthfully Jarla rather liked Elsa's style even if she herself tended to favour blues and greens but she wasn't being paid to have alternate opinions on Irene's rivals so she had to summon her inner bitch for these conspiratorial whispers. Maybe it was like being in Nuln again...

Jarla waited until Irene was actually distracted enough by her husband to break away gracefully and move fill her glass of wine. She had a full dance card and now that she was momentarily outside Irene's direct orbit she was wondering who would be the first to ask her to twirl around the dance floor (or she suspected in Carraciolo's case look to slip away for a discrete tumble.) She made certain to flutter her eyelashes appropriately.

While she waited for one of the gentlemen to make his move Jarla glided over to Hireonymous and curtsied before the venerable high priest. "How are you enjoying festivities Father?" The young woman had to fight off an amused smile at his presence here. She had taken a liking to the old codger, despite her theological preference for Ranald, but he hardly seemed the sort for a party.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"That's the name folk around the city started calling him," Sieghard said. "The man's real name was Klammenberg. The Dwimmulsons' records say the vampire was an ancient evil that had already been slain once long ago. Klammenberg revived him and with him when they attacked the temple. He's as dead as his master now, though. After they fled the city, they parted ways and my men hunted him down."

He smiled at Elsa as she approached. "Ah, Elsa, let me introduce you. Jorg, Uto, and Maximilian," he said gesturing to each man in turn. "Elsa here is the Prince's wizard. I faced Nahorek three times, and each time she was there fighting by my side. The third, he had hidden himself away in some cursed ruins and set the dead to building a tower for him. We launched stones at him and drew him out, and when he came..." He made a gesture like raising and firing an imaginary crossbow. "Even filled with quarrels, he was as tough as he was ugly. And he was an ugly bastard, wasn't he?" he added, glancing towards Burhan and Elsa.

[-Sentinel-]

Elsa nodded. "Very tall and thin like a crane. I mostly remember his claws..." She peeled back the sleeve of her gown to show the parallel scars on her arm. "That was on our first confrontation. It's only thanks to the Shallyans that I still have this arm."

She accepted a cup of wine from a passing servant. "It was his magical power that was most formidable, though. I think even my order's patriarch, the famous Thyrus Gormann, would have had a hard time against him."


OOC
Sieghard actually faced Nahorek and his minions 4 times (counting the attack on the temple, during which Elsa was at the Shallyans' hospital).

[LCP]

While she waited for one of the gentlemen to make his move Jarla glided over to Hireonymous and curtsied before the venerable high priest. "How are you enjoying festivities Father?"

“Oh - Fraulein Schreiber!” said Hieronymus, turning to Jarla in surprise. “Well, I suppose, passably well.” He looked around at the dancers and musicians. “Though I must confess, when I pictured the vampire’s defeat… this was not what I had in mind.”

Somehow the old priest seemed a little sharper than he had been when she met him at the temple, his gaze a little more penetrating. “I saw you passing by with the principessa, he said, pleasantly. “Your brother would have been pleased to see you making friends in such high places.”


~


"It was his magical power that was most formidable, though. I think even my order's patriarch, the famous Thyrus Gormann, would have had a hard time against him."

“Then may the gods preserve us from such creatures,” said Maximilian, looking away from Elsa’s scars with a shudder.

Uto nodded. “The war was bad enough,” he said. “The Reaches can do without its old monsters rising up to join the new ones.”

Clearing his throat, Burhan leaned forwards. “My friend Sieghard mentioned that you gentlemen might have some, uh, contacts upriver of the falls?” he asked.

“You’ll want to talk to Jorg” said Maximilian. Jorg stepped forwards, and the two fell into earnest conversation. Up in the gallery, the musicians struck up a new tune.

“Ah,” said Uto, looking up. “This is one of my favourites. Lady Groz, would you care to dance?”

“Why not?” said Leona with a smile, and they headed towards the assembling dancers.


~

In the centre of the dancing, Jarla was showing off her skill without the least atom of false modesty. The dance involved repeated changes of partners, growing more frequent as the music grew more lively, and, with the notable exception of Al-Makir, she passed one by one through all the gentlemen to whom she’d been introduced. The Arabyan seemed not to be taking part in the dancing - perhaps it wasn’t his style.

Steffan Sussman seemed hardly able to keep up with her, though he gamely did his best. Valdes was better matched, and complimented her grace while exhibiting some flawless footwork of his own. Carraciolo now gave her his full and undivided attention, no longer seeming to treat her as a pretty diversion.

The music changed, and Carraciolo moved on, his eyes lingering on her as he took the hand of the woman who was next in line. Jarla found herself dancing with a black-bearded young man in the attire of a merchant or guilder. She didn’t know his name, but he had a handsome set to his face.

OOC: The ball scene can go on as long as you guys want to keep it going, or conclude as soon as you want to wrap it up. Don’t hesitate to cut forward in time to later in the evening/conversations with other NPCs if that’s what you want to do.

[-Sentinel-]

Elsa was not much of a dancer, but nevertheless made an effort to dance with a few men in the room. The time for being the aloof magister was behind her; now was the time to seem approachable and put the court in court wizard. She used the opportunity to try to charm some of the Putbad merchants while name-dropping Suzana. Let them know that Suzana had a partner in the Prince's own court, and perhaps her business would improve.

Charm 54 (64 if Etiquette applies): [roll0]
Fortune: [roll1]

When she had the chance, Elsa took a minute of Hieronymus's time to inquire: "Can you make something of the scroll I sent you? Even with the vampire dead, having someone in the Reaches who can read Nehekharan may prove useful."

She also asked Carraciolo—briefly distracting him from Jarla—about the situation in the Raven Hills. She preferred to ask these things here and now than at a council meeting; if the matter were brought up in front of Sforza, Elsa wouldn't put it past him to start planning a winter campaign, just to taste victory again as he had in Nath.

"Do we know who now rules in Morr's Seat? Are they likely to be trouble?"

Lastly she paid her respects to Lady Groz. "You're well rid of Falkenwald," she said. "He already had a reputation as a backstabbing opportunist, and there was always something a bit off about his associate Gunda. Why my employer trusted them with your safety is beyond me. I trust young Eberhard is well?"

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

As Burhan and Jorg left to talk business and Uto and Lady Groz headed to the dance floor, Sieghard turned to Elsa and offered his arm. "Join me?"

As the song went on and the dancers switched partners, he found himself dancing with the woman who had been Esteban's partner next, then with one of Irene's handmaidens, and then a trio of guilders' daughters from Putbad, each in turn. At the end of the song, he found himself dancing with Jarla. Though he lacked the fencer's grace that came so naturally to Esteban, he managed to keep rhythm with the song fairly well and was confident enough in his footwork (and unlike Carraciolo, he had gotten through the dance without spending half of it trying to look down the front of her dress).

"I'm too sober for this," he joked as the music slowed and the next song began. "How about a drink?"

Presumably this is after Jarla is done speaking with Hieronymus. Let's hear this scheme of yours.



When he had finished speaking with Jarla, he headed back into the main hall and spotted the Thorns still standing off to the side of the room. "Hanna, Gustaf, Ingwald," he said as he approached, "What are the three of you doing just standing there? It's a party. Have a drink. Enjoy yourselves. It's not every day you shoot down a vampire."

Following up on this...


If it's a handmaiden perhaps offer to introduce her to some strapping young soldier boys, that kind of thing.

Does it look like there's anyone whose caught any of their eyes?

[RossN]

Jarla


“Oh - Fraulein Schreiber!” said Hieronymus, turning to Jarla in surprise. “Well, I suppose, passably well.” He looked around at the dancers and musicians. “Though I must confess, when I pictured the vampire’s defeat… this was not what I had in mind.”

Somehow the old priest seemed a little sharper than he had been when she met him at the temple, his gaze a little more penetrating. “I saw you passing by with the principessa, he said, pleasantly. “Your brother would have been pleased to see you making friends in such high places.”

Jarla smiled, a trace of sadness in her expression and handed the priest a glass of wine. "Adelbert was as stubborn as a dwarf, and so am I in my own way. I miss him terribly but I'm glad he found a mentor he could appreciate." As the music started up again she shrugged, drained her own glass and leaned in to give the high priest a chaste peck on the cheek as if he were a favoured uncle. "Duty calls. I may lean more towards Ranald than Verena Father but you and the Temple will always have a friend at court while I'm here."



Winking at Carraciolo as he spun off (she had to admit he was rather impressive up close) Jarla turned to her new partner, the handsome merchant whose name she had not yet heard. She had to admit she was having a lot of and as she leaned in a little closer to the stranger she admired the jut of his jaw and his rakish beard (they did rather send her dizzy). "You dance well my lord," she said breathlessly. "Who are you?"

Another change and to her surprise she found herself with Sieghard. Jarla wrinkle her nose and giggled at his joke, then nodded at his offer of a drink. Even her stamina was not invincible and her shoes, though utterly gorgeous were not built for this constant punishment anymore than her feet.

Another glass of wine, far from her first for the evening, and she sat down, next to Sieghard. "So," she said, lightly touching his arm with her fingers and favouring him with a exhilirated smile. "At Arrow Heap when we talked you said you liked Elsa's eyes. Are you and she... more than just comrades?"

[-Sentinel-]

Sieghard turned to Elsa and offered his arm. "Join me?"
Elsa smiled and took his arm. "Oh, is this the wielder of the spear? Magister Elsabeth Holt, court wizard to Prince Muzio Sforza, deems you worthy of a dance."

As they danced, Elsa whispered to him, a gleam in her eyes: "I think... I think I'm in a good place in my life, right now. Maybe the best I've ever been. I don't usually stop to think about these things, but it's clear to me tonight. I can't remember a time I ever felt as fulfilled in the present, and as hopeful about the future."

A glimpse of Irene reminded her that there was always more trouble on the horizon, but she did not let that spoil her happiness. The Border Princes were a place where you had to learn to enjoy the present, because you never knew what fresh hardships the next month or year had in store. This was true of life in general, she supposed, but especially in the Border Princes.

[LCP]

Elsa


When she had the chance, Elsa took a minute of Hieronymus's time to inquire: "Can you make something of the scroll I sent you? Even with the vampire dead, having someone in the Reaches who can read Nehekharan may prove useful."

"In time, I'm sure," said Hieronymus. "My Arabyan is a little rusty, and the dialect is archaic - but it's readable, very readable. That really is a precious document you found, Magister." He leaned on his stick, studying Elsa's face. "It came from the ruins, yes? A shame more couldn't be saved."

The high priest's manner seemed livelier and more alert than Elsa remembered, as if his years were weighing less heavily upon him. Even his eyes seemed clearer, a keen, inquiring light in them that Elsa hadn't seen before.

"Of course," he said, lowering his voice, "there is... another Nehekharan text that we should still be keeping in the forefront of our minds," he said. "Do you know if his highness has any plans regarding it, now that the Jackal is gone? He hasn't given any indication to us."

She found Carraciolo taking a break from the dancing, refilling his cup of wine to recover from his turn about with Jarla.


"Do we know who now rules in Morr's Seat? Are they likely to be trouble?"

"Why, signora Holt?" he asked with an insouciant air. "Are you planning a trip there soon?"

Taking a sip of his drink, he looked around the hall, as if searching for someone else. Elsa felt her hackles rise at the Tilean's obvious lack of respect. "Prince Sforza rules in Morr's Seat," he said. "The villages up there take care of their own affairs, but what do we care who they call their head man, as long as they pay their tribute?"


Lastly she paid her respects to Lady Groz. "You're well rid of Falkenwald," she said. "He already had a reputation as a backstabbing opportunist, and there was always something a bit off about his associate Gunda. Why my employer trusted them with your safety is beyond me. I trust young Eberhard is well?"

"Very well, thank you," said Leona, giving Elsa a courteous curtsey. "He's with the nursemaid. I don't think her highness would have appreciated an infant at the ball."


~
Jarla


Winking at Carraciolo as he spun off (she had to admit he was rather impressive up close) Jarla turned to her new partner, the handsome merchant whose name she had not yet heard. She had to admit she was having a lot of and as she leaned in a little closer to the stranger she admired the jut of his jaw and his rakish beard (they did rather send her dizzy). "You dance well my lord," she said breathlessly. "Who are you?"

"Uto Varrel, my lady," said her dance partner, smiling as he mirrored Jarla's formality. "I don't think I've had the pleasure of making your acquaintance before, either."


~
Sieghard


When he had finished speaking with Jarla, he headed back into the main hall and spotted the Thorns still standing off to the side of the room. "Hanna, Gustaf, Ingwald," he said as he approached, "What are the three of you doing just standing there? It's a party. Have a drink. Enjoy yourselves. It's not every day you shoot down a vampire.

"That's all - it's all very well - you can say - for you to say it, sir," said Gustaf, barely raising his voice above a mumble. "You've got practice, like, talking to the nobs." He practically shrank into his shoes as the small solar system of would-be courtiers orbiting the Prince passed them by. "I can't help it, every time I hear 'em talk I think they're going to set the dogs on us."

"The way his highness talked about it," said Hanna, who seemed more composed, "you'd think it was him who did the shooting."

[-Sentinel-]

"It came from the ruins, yes? A shame more couldn't be saved."

Elsa smiled wryly. "The Prince really wanted that tower burned. We were fortunate to save that much. Why is it that libraries always get burned? It seems like an inevitability of history. Whenever there's a library, someone will burn it to the ground."

"Of course, there is... another Nehekharan text that we should still be keeping in the forefront of our minds. Do you know if his highness has any plans regarding it, now that the Jackal is gone? He hasn't given any indication to us."

"He's mentioned having it sent to a Myrmidian temple in one of the western realms," said Elsa, glancing at the Prince, "though I'm not sure when. The sooner it's out of the Reaches, the better. It's done enough damage to this land already... some of which may never be undone."

She sighed. "I once wanted to keep that book where I could see it. Now I'll settle for making it someone else's problem."




"Prince Sforza rules in Morr's Seat," Carraciolo said. "The villages up there take care of their own affairs, but what do we care who they call their head man, as long as they pay their tribute?"

Elsa shrugged. "I like to know who my neighbors are." She also wondered what had become of the two Norscan survivors, but found it best not to ask about them directly.

"Have a pleasant evening, Giovanni. And good luck with Lady Schreiber." She winked and took her leave.




"Very well, thank you," said Leona, giving Elsa a courteous curtsey. "He's with the nursemaid. I don't think her highness would have appreciated an infant at the ball."

"Hmm, she doesn't seem like the motherly sort." Elsa paused, then dared to voice something that was likely on everyone's minds but that no one was discussing out loud so far: "The Prince will want an heir soon, I imagine."

Not for the first time, she wondered about Irene's bout of sickness. A maid had been dismissed over this, but accusations may well have been fabricated to hide something else. Perhaps Elsa's initial suspicion had been correct. If Irene was fertile but actively trying not to have a child... Elsa could not fault her for this, really, but it would have consequences.

Or maybe it's best not to make too much wild speculation over someone vomiting.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard


"So," she said, lightly touching his arm with her fingers and favouring him with a exhilirated smile. "At Arrow Heap when we talked you said you liked Elsa's eyes. Are you and she... more than just comrades?"

Sieghard glanced around and was relieved to see that those around them seemed sufficiently distracted. "Oh, I think you've already figured out the answer to that," he said, taking a drink from his glass. "You were there in the tent with us after the battle." He smiled. There was something refreshing about being able to be honest about it. "I'll ask again that you keep quiet about it. It could cause... problems... if people knew how things are between the two of us."




"I think... I think I'm in a good place in my life, right now. Maybe the best I've ever been. I don't usually stop to think about these things, but it's clear to me tonight. I can't remember a time I ever felt as fulfilled in the present, and as hopeful about the future."

"We've done well for ourselves," Sieghard whispered back, losing himself in her eyes. "Better than I ever dared to dream. A year and a half ago I never would've thought it possible. There's still so much more to do, but now that there's peace we've really got a chance to build something great."

A part of him knew that he was perhaps being too optimistic, but he didn't care. He was more satisfied than he ever remembered being and didn't want the moment to end.


"That's all - it's all very well - you can say - for you to say it, sir," said Gustaf, barely raising his voice above a mumble. "You've got practice, like, talking to the nobs." He practically shrank into his shoes as the small solar system of would-be courtiers orbiting the Prince passed them by. "I can't help it, every time I hear 'em talk I think they're going to set the dogs on us."

"The way his highness talked about it," said Hanna, who seemed more composed, "you'd think it was him who did the shooting."

"Ah, but he was always going to act that way," Sieghard replied. "We serve him, so our victory is his victory and all that. No reason we can't let them know who it was that actually did the deed. Just as long as we leave out the part about him falling off his horse."

"And you," he said, turning his attention to Gustaf specifically. "You're the one who shot the vampire in the chest, aren't you? You ran out there even with all those ghosts around to save that dwarf's life, didn't you? Don't try denying it, Ludo told me the whole story. Them?" he said, gesturing towards the rest of the room, "They're nothing near as bad as that. You're far too brave to act so nervous. I'm sure there's some pretty lass out there who'd love to hear that story. Find her and tell it."

Inspire roll?

[roll0]
[roll1] reroll

[RossN]

Jarla


"Uto Varrel, my lady," said her dance partner, smiling as he mirrored Jarla's formality. "I don't think I've had the pleasure of making your acquaintance before, either."

"Jarla Schreiber," Jarla purred. "Her highness's lafy-in-waiting. Well I know a merchant when I see one Herr Varrel... even an unusually handsome one, but I fear I have not come across your name before. Are you not from Savonne?"




Sieghard glanced around and was relieved to see that those around them seemed sufficiently distracted. "Oh, I think you've already figured out the answer to that," he said, taking a drink from his glass. "You were there in the tent with us after the battle." He smiled. There was something refreshing about being able to be honest about it. "I'll ask again that you keep quiet about it. It could cause... problems... if people knew how things are between the two of us."

"Don't worry your secret is safe with me," Jarla said, smiling. "Actually I was going to suggest that if you and Holt are looking to keep it a secret at least make a show of courting other people, in public if nothing else. Who was thatwoman you were talking to earlier? She looked rather pretty."

[LeSwordfish]

The Temple
"Please inform me if you change your mind," Ludo said. "I would like the opportunity to say goodbye to her."

He spoke briefly to Meskhenet in Classical, explaining how he would be handing her over to Hieronymous's care, before bidding farewell to Cesar and walking with Hieronymous through the temple grounds.

"I'm sorry I was unable to visit you after the attack," he said to Hieronymous. "I was tied up defending Elsa down in Manaan's Keep and, well, you may have heard the rest. I hope you're recovering well?"

The Ball
Ludo had left the Thorns to their own devices for a while, and instead made an approach to the Dwimmulsons, bowing as he approached the Rinn and speaking in his faltering Khazalid. <Rinn. It is good to see that Sforza returned the spear, though he definitely made sure everyone saw him doing it, didn't he? At least he didn't try and exchange it for some kind of favour.>

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"I've made efforts to," Sieghard replied, though in truth they had been fairly halfhearted and only for the sake of appearances. "The woman I spoke with was Leona Groz. Her husband was the ruler of a part of the Reaches up river of here, but was killed earlier this year. It's a rather sad story."

[LCP]

Ludo, 2nd Ulriczeit


"I'm sorry I was unable to visit you after the attack," he said to Hieronymous. "I was tied up defending Elsa down in Manaan's Keep and, well, you may have heard the rest. I hope you're recovering well?"

"Well enough," said Hieronymus, brushing it off - although Ludo could tell from the pace of their walk that the high priest's legs weren't serving him as well as they used to. "A nasty business, that trial. You know poor Father Schreiber's sister has come looking for him?" He shook his head. "I'm afraid all we could show her was the body."


The Victory Ball

Ludo

<Rinn. It is good to see that Sforza returned the spear, though he definitely made sure everyone saw him doing it, didn't he? At least he didn't try and exchange it for some kind of favour.>

<Yet,> said Skorgrund. Elmendrin shot the white-bearded elder a look.

<It's good to see you back safe, master Stubbs,> she said, in a much more diplomatic tone. <We're very glad to have the spear back in our keeping.>

Jarla


"Jarla Schreiber," Jarla purred. "Her highness's lady-in-waiting. Well I know a merchant when I see one Herr Varrel... even an unusually handsome one, but I fear I have not come across your name before. Are you not from Savonne?"

"Putbad," said Uto. He saw the lack of recognition in Jarla's eyes. "Upriver? The Silver Falls? Ah, but I can tell from your voice you're not from these parts." He smiled. "You'd be very welcome to come and visit."

[LeSwordfish]

2nd Ulriczeit
"We've spoken to her about it," Ludo said sadly. "I think it's helped."

He had been tempted to ask Hieronymous about the fight with the Daemon but it seemed inappropriate here in this setting. It also seemed oddly tempting to ask the Verenan for advice on what to do about Jarla and Irene... but he quashed the temptation.

The Victory Ball
Ludo had to pause for a moment to find his Khazalid vocabulary. <"My condolences to the family of Moragina. The information we got from the priest was what allowed us to kill the vampire.">

<"I also wanted to apologise on behalf of me and my friends that we didn't inform you about the spear before. We... should have shown more trust to the Dwimmulsons.">

[RossN]

Jarla


Sieghard

"I've made efforts to," Sieghard replied, though in truth they had been fairly halfhearted and only for the sake of appearances. "The woman I spoke with was Leona Groz. Her husband was the ruler of a part of the Reaches up river of here, but was killed earlier this year. It's a rather sad story."

"Ah yes I think Irene has mentioned her before and I danced with a guildsman from up there. " Jarla said, smiling to herself. "Very good looking. I adore a handsome man with a dashing beard."

She seemed lost in thought for a moment before coming back to earth. Taking her glass she took another sip. "Well anyway it was a thought, help keep principessa guessing and a little unbalanced on her gorgeous feet. Talk it over with Holt."

She reached over and patted Sieghard on his arm before getting to her feet and returning to the dance floor.




"Putbad," said Uto. He saw the lack of recognition in Jarla's eyes. "Upriver? The Silver Falls? Ah, but I can tell from your voice you're not from these parts." He smiled. "You'd be very welcome to come and visit."

Jarla wrinkled her nose in mock dismay. "Awfully far, but I'll see if can talk her highness into a state visit... or a holiday."

She had a discrete look around to see if her other would be suitors were still around. Al-Makir seemed to have vanished but she was increasingly of the belief he had scant interest in women. Unfortunate - he seemed a pleasant, urbane man and undoubtedly richer than Handrich - but there you went. So, Giovanni Carraciolo, Esteban Valdes, Stefan Sussman and perhaps even this pleasant stranger from Putbad. She'd made her impressions for the evening, time to see how they acted over the next few days.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"Hold a moment," Sieghard said, reaching for Jarla's hand. "Why would I need to keep principessa guessing?" he asked.

She knows, Sieghard realized after Jarla had explained the comment Irene had made. Or at the very least, she suspects it. "Tell her... Tell her that you think you made a good impression on me," he said. Anything more he'd need to talk to Elsa about first, but that was enough to lead Irene around while not being so much that it couldn't be passed off as being polite later. "Whatever else you say about tonight, say that. And when you get a chance, let me know how she reacts. I wouldn't mention anything about me and Elsa, but if she brings it up, do you think you could find out how much she knows or how she figured it out?"

[RossN]

Jarla


Sieghard

"Hold a moment," Sieghard said, reaching for Jarla's hand. "Why would I need to keep principessa guessing?" he asked.

She knows, Sieghard realized after Jarla had explained the comment Irene had made. Or at the very least, she suspects it. "Tell her... Tell her that you think you made a good impression on me," he said. Anything more he'd need to talk to Elsa about first, but that was enough to lead Irene around while not being so much that it couldn't be passed off as being polite later. "Whatever else you say about tonight, say that. And when you get a chance, let me know how she reacts. I wouldn't mention anything about me and Elsa, but if she brings it up, do you think you could find out how much she knows or how she figured it out?"

"I don't know if she knows," Jarla said, glancing down at her hand. "But she did mention you and that you were terribly common, a fact which doesn't bother 'some people' as she put it, so I think she thinks you might be involved with some woman. Still, I'll tell her you seemed to enjoy my flirting. Most men do, and some women. Just be careful, both of you."

[LCP]

Ludo

Elmendrin didn't contradict Ludo's assessment. <What matters most is that it has served the purpose it was forged for,> she said. <Valaya grant us that we won't need it again.>

All

The dancing, drinking and feasting went on late into the night, until gradually the guests began to depart. With the exception of the Dwimmulsons, those whose absence would be noticed took care to pay tribute to the Sforzas before leaving. By the time the musicians finally stopped their playing and the hall began to clear in earnest, it was well past midnight.

[-Sentinel-]

Elsa did not drink much that night, but claimed a still mostly-full bottle of red that remained on a table at the end of the feast. Though the party was starting to wind down, it was not nearly over; not for her, at least.

"Let's leave separately and meet again at the place," Elsa told Sieghard, an excited little smile on her lips. "I hope you'll like my choice."

She said all the expected pleasantries to all the important people, then headed back to her room to drop off Khalida, as she doubted snakes were welcome at the Happy Serpent despite the establishment's name.



By the time the musicians finally stopped their playing and the hall began to clear in earnest, it was well past midnight.
I imagine Elsa and Sieghard will be leaving around 11pm, then. I'm paying 5 gc, I want my money's worth.

[LeSwordfish]

<"If we do, it's in the best place,"> Ludo said. <"How is Berki? The men who pulled him out - Gustaf, over there - were asking after him.">

---

As she was leaving, Ludo caught up with Leona Groz, and after as much small talk as he had deemed appropriate, asked after Roth and the remaining members of Groz's soldiery. "I'm sure you heard what happened with Falkenwald... I was very worried that they were caught up in it."

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla thoroughly enjoyed herself dancing, drinking and eating and getting to be the second most glamorous woman in the room (and unlike the first she was available.) She tripped the light fantastic once more with her earlier dance partners and one or two more for good measure and in between she was able to snatch conversations with those of the great and good she had yet to formally meet, such as Leona who she had Sieghard introduce her too ("A pleasure to meet you your Grace, I hope to visit your city someday.")

As the evening drew to a close she gave demure kisses on the cheeks to Giovanni Carraciolo, Esteban Valdes, Abdul Al-Makir, Stefan Sussman, Uto Varrel and even Sieghard and thanked each for their dances and kind words with many a fluttered eyelash.

In between all this exhausting flirting she remained 'on duty' just in case Irene had a hair emergency or cracked a nail and finally retired to bed well after midnight, tipsy and exhausted but happy and hopeful she had won the affection of at least one admirer.

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard


"Let's leave separately and meet again at the place," Elsa told Sieghard, an excited little smile on her lips. "I hope you'll like my choice."

"I'm sure I will," Sieghard replied as a mischievous smirk crept onto his face. "If you're ready to go now, I won't be far behind."

After Elsa left, Sieghard found Burhan again and they talked briefly about what had come of his conversation with Jorg. When he had finished, he said his goodbyes to Leona Groz and wished her and her son well, gave his respects to the prince and princess, and slipped out into the night, making his way towards the riverfront.

[LCP]

Ludo


<"How is Berki? The men who pulled him out - Gustaf, over there - were asking after him.">

<Well recovered, thank you,> said the Rinn. She looked over in the direction Ludo had pointed. <The clan owes those men a debt of thanks.>


As she was leaving, Ludo caught up with Leona Groz, and after as much small talk as he had deemed appropriate, asked after Roth and the remaining members of Groz's soldiery. "I'm sure you heard what happened with Falkenwald... I was very worried that they were caught up in it."

"I did," said Leona. "Though it all happened very fast. But no, Axel and his friends stayed in Putbad at my request." She looked over to where the Putbad guilders had wandered off. "That's where they are now, guarding the house. I didn't think I'd need protection, travelling down in company."


Angestag, 10th Ulriczeit

Jarla

The next morning, Jarla found herself summoned to breakfast with the principessa. Irene was eating smoked fish in the solar, with no other company except one of her maids and the two Iron Company men on the door. Mouth full, she motioned with her knife for Jarla to sit down.

"So," she said, when she had swallowed what she was chewing. "What did you make of them?"

[RossN]

Angestag, 10th Ulriczeit

Jarla

Not for the first time Jarla thanked Ranald for her experience on the stage. She could twist her copper hair into something manageable, dress and even apply a little light makeup at enviable speed. Taking a seat she smiled at her mistress, determined not to show that some of the affects from last night had lingered.

"Giovanni spent the evening peering down my bodice so intently I surprised he didn't tip over. He is as you say a brute, but I'd be lying if I said there was nothing there. The man can fill out a cuirass." Jarla said, pausing as she reached for the water jug and poured herself a glass.

"Esteban... ah. A gentleman, and a splendid soldier. You'll probably think me odd my lady but I am fond of fencing and we spent time discussing the art of the blade. I did find him a little stiff however, a little cloaked in dignity. I remember what you told me about his past love and I did think there was a sadness there that I couldn't quite break through."

"Abdul was and remains a mystery. He certainly lacks Giovanni's animal appeal or Esteban's elegance but he is a clever and kind man with so many wonderful stories and I think I liked him a great deal. I never got a spark of lighting from him though... oh he was very pleasant to me but I don't think he saw me and thought of the bedchamber. I think he may just not care for women, which is a great pity."

Jarla looked a little wistful for a moment before continuing.

"Steffan I had met in passing before. A born flatterer that one, and as you say perhaps a little too clever for me but he had his charms."

"There was also a young man from Putbad I danced with, a merchant who had accompanied Countess Leona down here named Uto. A very handsome man with a rakish beard - I never could resist a man with one - and a good dancer. Of course he is only a merchant and I know nothing about Putbad."

"Finally there was that Sieghard. Not the best dancer and you told me dreadfully common, but he was interested in me, and more subtle than Giovanni."

[LCP]

Jarla, 10th Ulriczeit

"A merchant?" said Irene. "I thought you were looking for someone with a title, Jarla. Not someone in trade." She shook her head. "Besides, there's nothing interesting in Putbad."

She handed her plate to her maid, got up and walked over to the window. "Most of them will be leaving soon," she said, looking out over the city. "After they've had the chance to bother Muzio over whatever their latest problem is, they'll be going back to their lands. If you're really serious about this you might want to... how do you say it? Strike while the iron is hot."

Looking back, she arched an eyebrow at Jarla. "Are you? Really serious, I mean. Now that you've seen what's on offer."

[RossN]

Jarla, 10th Ulriczeit

Jarla's blue-grey eyes widened in surprise. This was very much at odds with how she'd expected Irene to react. While Jarla knew full well her mistress probably had favourites, she'd rather assumed the princess would get a kick out of playing matchmaker.

After a second she found her voice. "I am serious your highness. I want a title, and I want to be somebody people admire and people envy. More like you my lady." She rose from her chair, a sudden look of determination on her face. "With your permission my lady I am going to go and speak straight words with Abdul. I want to know if there is anything there at all, or if I should look somewhere else."

[-Sentinel-]

Since LCP has jumped to the next morning with Jarla, I guess he's leaving it up to us to roleplay the fade-to-black thing.

When Sieghard entered the private room at the Serpent, he found Elsa already seated there, next to a slender girl with long raven hair and light-brown skin. Both were still dressed. The pyromancer was fidgety, by stark contrast with the calm and professional-looking stranger.

"Ah, there you are." Elsa grinned at Sieghard. "This is Roxana. Roxana, this is Sieghard."

She raised her bottle. "I brought us some wine. No cups, so we drink from the bottle. Roxie and I already got started." That was an understatement; the bottle was now almost empty. And from the look of her, Elsa had done most of the drinking. "You, uh, can have the rest if you want."

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

Sieghard looked from Elsa to Roxana and back.

"She's pretty," he said. Without another word, he approached Elsa, grabbed the bottle from her and finished the mouthful that was left, then grabbed her and kissed her.



The next day, the two of them stayed in bed in far later than was typical for either. It was approaching noon by the time Sieghard rose. Roxana had left them a few hours earlier and Elsa was still lying under the covers nursing a rather severe hangover.

"I'll probably stay in the city a few more days and finish my business here before heading back to Painford," he told her. "I don't have much hope that he'll listen, but I'm going to talk to the prince about the homeless folk still in tents... Probably tomorrow." He figured it would be better to give it another day after the ball before bringing it up. "It'll get for them bad if something isn't done by the first snowfall. If you could keep an eye on it for me, I'd be grateful."

"There's one other thing," he said as he tried to find wherever his hat had ended up. "I spoke to Jarla last night and she thinks Irene might be onto us. She said she'd try to throw her off if she could, but it still worries me. The trapdoor's pretty well hidden from the outside, but be careful when you leave... And just be careful around Irene in general."

I was assuming the fade was after leaving the party, but this gives as good a reason as any to bring up IC something that otherwise was probably going to just be glossed over in summary.

[-Sentinel-]

Elsa kissed Sieghard back, running her tongue over his teeth to greedily catch some of the wine's flavor still lingering there. Her skin was unnaturally hot, as it always was during times of passion. When she came up for air and reopened her eyes, her irises glowed like embers.

"I've, uh, never done this before," she admitted with a nervous smile. "Not this exact thing, that is. I'm... not sure where to begin."

Good thing there was someone in this room who knew what she was doing. Roxana slowly and wordlessly started to unbutton the front of Elsa's gown from behind her. Elsa's breath caught in her throat.

"Hmm. Yes. This does seem like a good place to begin."


And now we've got our fade to black.





Elsa emerged from her bedsheets and absentmindedly stared at her fingernails, which she had trimmed before the ball in anticipation of what came after. She nodded in approval when Sieghard spoke of doing something about the homeless, but looked irritated when he mentioned Irene.

"So what happens if Irene knows?"

She looked up at Sieghard. "Why, pray tell, should we concern ourselves with what she knows about us?"

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

Sieghard stopped suddenly, still only half dressed and turned towards Elsa. "Because she tried to have you killed," he said bitterly. "Because she did have Adelbert killed. And because she's not going to stop. Anything she knows is something she'll use to try to hurt us. Even if she's nothing more than a cruel woman with a face painted to look nice, her husband has power enough to do something. One slip up or misunderstanding and she'll start whispering in his ear."

He walked over to her and took her hand. "Elsa, we've worked so hard," he continued, his tone softening. "We've fought and we've bled and we've done so much and even so I'd give it all up if I had to. You're the love of my life, the only woman in this world mad enough to challenge an orc king or stand by my side in a burning building against an undying, blood drinking monster. If I had to leave everything behind for you, then I'd grab what I could carry and we'd be gone before nightfall."

"But I'm not going to pretend that it wouldn't be painful. Everything we've done and everything we've helped build... Losing it all would hurt. After all of our work, don't we deserve to enjoy what we have? We can't just sit by while she tries to take it all away."

[-Sentinel-]

Elsa was a bit surprised at Sieghard's impassioned speech, and alarmed to be called the love of his life. She hoped he was not about to get down on one knee, as she was not the sort who gladly said yes to lifetime commitments.

"If Irene knows, she knows. She can't un-know it. But we can keep it quiet if you prefer." She began pawing around for her clothes. "I don't think her husband will be leaving her much freedom to make another attempt. If it becomes known that the Prince's own wife is having his men murdered behind his back, his position will be weakened. His commanders will demand that something be done. But don't worry, I'll be careful. We both know what Irene is capable of. And now we've got an ally keeping an eye on her."

She paused. "And maybe we shouldn't be discussing these things in this establishment."

[LCP]

Jarla, 10th Ulriczeit

"What? Abdul?" Now Irene raised both her eyebrows. "No. Stay here. I want to talk to you."

"You know I didn't marry Muzio for his money," she said, returning from the window, "or a title. My uncle was Prince of Tobaro. Muzio's family were practically exiles." She sat down. "I married him because… because I could see where he was going. And because he understood what I wanted."

"If this is really what you want, then I'll help you. I'll tell… whoever it is to host you as a guest, as my personal wish. But you know Muzio can create a title for you here at court, if that's what you want." She looked genuinely concerned. "I don't want you throwing yourself away on another old man."

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla looked at Irene, her grey-blue eyes widening. Just when she thought she understand this woman the principessa flummoxed her head and her heart.

"My lady... Thank you, yes," she could feel the first flicks of tears at the edges of her eyes, and took advantage of a curtsy to look away for the moment. "Thank you. I think, perhaps I can wait to marry then."

She tred to rein in her emotions and blink back those tears. "In that case perhaps I should go and look for a maid of my own," Jarla managed a smile. "It would not do for a noblewoman to do without."

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

Sieghard watched Elsa's expression shift. Now you've gone and done it, you fool. He could tell that he was making her uncomfortable. He took a deep breath and tried to steady his nerves.

"We've kept it quiet for over a year," he replied. He reached under the bed for one of her shoes that had rolled under it and handed it to her. "It was exciting at first, sneaking about like that, but it can get a bit tiresome. No one needs to know our business, but sometimes I wish we could just be together when we want and not have to worry about whose around." He sighed in frustration and sat down next to her. "You're right, though. If Irene knows, then it's too late and there's no reason she wouldn't have told the prince. He never would've allowed it before. I don't see how things would be any different now."

"And maybe we shouldn't be discussing these things in this establishment."

"Maybe not. We can worry about it later." Filomena may have promised discretion, but he doubt that extended to conversations that bordered on treasonous. He turned to her, some of his normal demeanor returning. "Last night was fantastic," he said before planting a quick kiss on her cheek. "Thanks for setting everything up." He got up and headed towards the trapdoor and out into the city.



11th Ulriczeit

Sieghard waited until Festag to ask for an audience with Sforza. He bowed when he was received and began. "Prince Sforza, I wish to bring attention to the plight of many of the people of your city. Many are still without homes after the fire that ravaged the district where the vampire Nahorek had made his lair before being driven into the Mere. I've spoken with them and worked with Abdul to find them new homes and work so that they can afford them, but many still go without. Winter is upon us and while it's been mild so far, I fear that if something isn't done, many will freeze to death in the streets when the first snow begins to fall."

[LCP]

Jarla, 10th Ulriczeit

"Perhaps," said Irene. She didn't seem very invested in the subject of Jarla's servants. "I'll tell Muzio, then, that we should talk about your position. I'm sure he won't mind."

She seemed on the point of dismissing Jarla, but hesitated. "I'm not saying you mustn't marry again. I'm just saying... you should think it through. You've made an impression." Her troubled expression snapped back to a smile. "Don't sell yourself short."


Sieghard, 11th Ulriczeit

"There will always be beggars on the streets, Sieghard," said Sforza. "What is it you want me to do about it?"

[RossN]

Jarla, 10th Ulriczeit

"I won't your highness, you are wise," Jarla said, and when dismissed she curtsied as went to leave. Before she exited she smiled back affectionately at her mistress. "Thank you again. You've given me a lot to think about."

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard

"There always will be," Sieghard agreed. "But usually not so many as there are now. Most of them are farmers and I understand we've already had a lean year because of the war and the drought. If nothing is done, it threatens next year's harvest as well. Can we afford another year like this one?"

"The biggest problem is lack of proper shelter. The tents they're using now won't be enough, but perhaps the rest of the city can be encouraged to open their homes," he said. "If you offer to forgive some of their taxes until spring, I imagine many would be willing to open their doors in return. What it would cost now would be less than the cost in a lesser harvest later. And if tax forgiveness doesn't work, then perhaps the threat of levying a tax on buildings with more rooms than people sleeping in them will."

Rolling Sieghard's worst skill seems appropriate here.

[roll0] vs 27 untrained charm.
[roll1] Reroll

Yep, that's about what I expected.

[LCP]

Sieghard, 11th Ulriczeit

Sforza gave Sieghard a cold look.

"You want the crown to pay these peoples' rent," he said. "I think you've forgotten where you are, Sieghard. The Shallyans are outside the west gate."

With a sigh, the Prince stood up. "Come with me," he said. "I want to show you something."

Escorted by two Iron Company guards, the two of them made their way up the time-worn spiral stairs to the very top of the keep. The sentry on the parapet was not expecting them: he stood suddenly straight as he saw the Prince, scanning the horizon intently for non-existent threats.

The wind up here was keen, carrying with it a taste of ice from the World's Edge mountains to the east. Leading Sieghard up to the edge, Sforza looked out north over the town, to where the refugees' shanty town huddled along the banks of the shining river. Beyond the fringes of the city, the open landscape of the Downlands rolled away, a patchwork of brown and yellow in the austere winter sun.

"You see that, Sieghard?" he said. "That's what they call the bread basket of the Reaches. This year, you and I set it on fire." He looked across to Sieghard, studying his face. "It's a choice I'd make again. It was Alvarr's bread basket, and if he'd kept it, soon he would have been too strong to fight. But what it means this year is that there is not enough food for everyone."

"By Abdul's count, there are almost as many people on these plains as the rest of the Reaches put together. Bring grain in from the south, there is still not enough food for everyone. Bring grain in from the north, there is still not enough food for everyone. You understand me? Somebody has to go without." His eyes flicked down to the tent city that huddled beside the water. "Why should it not be them? People who have nothing of value left to give. People who will not thank us for our help, when we are the ones who burned them out of their homes to begin with."

"I've given you lands to attend to. If you can offer them work or shelter there, without taking food out of your people's mouths, then by all means do." His tone and expression hardened. "In the meantime, leave the Downlands to me."


Wellentag, 12th Ulriczeit

Jarla

Two days after her conversation with Irene, Jarla found herself called to the audience chamber. There she found both of the Sforzas in conference with Father Hieronymus, who had come with a young initiate - really just a boy - to help carry some books and papers.

"Signora Schreiber," said Sforza. "We have been discussing the subject of your request with the revered father. He agrees it is perfectly within the powers of a prince to dissolve a marriage."

Hieronymus nodded. "It's certainly in accordance with many traditions," he said, turning and taking a roll of close-written parchment from his over-burdened assistant. "I have assisted their highnesses in drawing up a decree."

The decree stated that Heinrich Schaeffer of Nuln had offered unacceptable insult to the dignity of his wife, and, being derelict in his duties as a husband, the marriage was hencewith dissolved by the authority of the Prince. Hieronymus had made two copies, identical in all details. Hieronymus had witnessed them both, and in front of Jarla, Sforza applied his signature and seal.

"This copy is for you," said Hieronymus, handing one to Jarla. "I will take the other for safe-keeping at the Temple, should you need it. A very good day to you, my lady," he said, with a stiff bow of his head. "And to you, your highnesses." Handing the document back to the boy, he made his humble exit from the hall.

"Now," said Sforza, turning to Jarla again. "My wife tells me you have changed your mind about marrying one of my lieutenants?" He held up a hand to forestall objections, smiling. "I don't blame you, they are a sorry bunch. So, we return to the matter of a title. Irene thinks you should be made prima cameriera, lady of the royal household. I think, given your recent service, that you might like something more active. How would you like to be our royal herald?"

[RossN]

Wellentag, 12th Ulriczeit - Jarla

"Thank you Father Hieronymus," Jarla said, clutching the parchment like it was a magical talisman. In a way it was. It freed her from a soul sucking daemon. As the priest left she waved at him, and smiled sweetly at the boy acolyte. In one of his last letters Adelbert had said something about taking on students. She wondered...

Turning back she curtsied before the royals, but scarcely begin her thank yous when Sforza spoke up. Jarla quickly straightened up, looking from Irene to Muizio and focusing first on the prince. "Thank you my lord, that is a great honour. I admit you have read me correctly my prince, there is a streak of adventure to me and I find myself drawn to the exciting, dangerous life, but at the same time your good wife is my friend and patron and I must repay that kindness she has shown me."

She turned to look at Irene. "My mistress, I am your servant... and you gave me great advice about not selling myself short. I think I should like to be the royal herald but if you would prefer me at your side I would be honoured and will accept your wishes."

[TheSummoner]

Sieghard


"Somebody has to go without. Why should it not be them? People who have nothing of value left to give. People who will not thank us for our help, when we are the ones who burned them out of their homes to begin with."

You're no better than a bandit. They have nothing left to give because you already took it all.

Sieghard was far from blameless in that. He had burned as many farms as much as the other officers under Sforza, but he was able to rationalize it as being an unfortunate reality of war. Alvarr was dead now and the war had been over for half a year. Nothing was gained by letting so many suffer, the prince just wasn't willing to lift a finger to do anything about it. He doubted the cost would be more than one of Irene's overpriced dresses. All Sieghard could do was clench his teeth and fight the urge to lash out.

"As you wish, my prince," Sieghard said, keeping his tone even with some effort. "I had already planned on heading back south in the morning."


~

He found Ludo and told him how the meeting had gone.

"The bastard doesn't care. He wouldn't piss on them if they were burning," he grumbled. "We have some empty space in the barracks back in Painford, how many do you think we could squeeze in?"

"I want you to go to the riverfront and let the folk still in tents know that if they want coin and a roof over their heads, then I'll have work for them at least through the winter. As many as we can take, I'll put them to work cutting wood or moving supplies for the manor. It'll be hard work and there's not space enough for all of them, but it's the best I can do."

Sieghard isn't planning on rooming them in the same building as the soldiers, but multiple were built (four I think) and they were made for more men than we have now. We should be able to split them between soldiers and civilians. He'll also try to convince people in Painford to open their homes (and if he has to offer a small reduction in tax as incentive like he proposed to Sforza to get them to do it, he will), though we'd need to figure out how many more we could take before extending the offer for that.

This isn't meant to be a permanent solution and he wants that to be clear from the start. It's just a means to get them through the winter and earn enough money to feed themselves and save up a bit. If any of them do really want to stay, we can worry about that come spring, but they'd have to build/rent their own homes.

Sieghard also will expect anyone who takes him up on the offer bathe and have their clothes cleaned (which he'll front the cost for, but will be covered as part of their pay) - they've been in filthy conditions and he's not bringing that with them into Painford.

Also, just gotta say,

"My mistress, I am your servant... and you gave me great advice about not selling myself short. I think I should like to be the royal herald but if you would prefer me at your side I would be honoured and will accept your wishes."
Seems like about the best answer you could've given to someone like Irene. Jarla's good at this.

[LCP]

Jarla, 12th Ulriczeit

Irene opened her mouth, then stopped herself, glancing at her husband. "Serving me means serving my prince also," she said. "I'm sure that if Muzio thinks it wise, then it's the best course." Sforza himself looked a little surprised. "And I'm sure you will still have plenty of time to spend here with us."

[RossN]

Jarla

Jarla immediately felt a pang of regret at her choice as she looked at Irene. Swallowing, she turned back to Sforza.

"Forgive me your highness but I think I made the wrong choice just now. I think I am best placed with continuing to serve your wife directly... I owe her a great deal," she said, flicking her grey-blue eyes back to her mistress. "If the offer still stands I would be happy to accept the position of lady of the royal household."

[LCP]

Jarla, 12th Ulriczeit

Sforza looked more surprised. Irene gave a small smile.

"Alright, well, uh..." began the Prince. He looked to his wife.

"You should speak to Al-Makir about the accounts," said Irene, gliding forward to put a hand on Jarla's shoulder. Jarla found herself moving away from Sforza, once again caught in Irene's gravitational pull. "And Mouna will give you the keys to the keep. Oh, and we'll have to find you some more suitable rooms. A lady of the court shouldn't be living like a glorified maid..."

OOC:
Jarla immediately felt a pang of regret at her choice as she looked at Irene.

she got you! she got you with her puppy dog eyes!

No need to continue this scene unless you want to - Irene is taking Jarla off to get set up in her new position. I'll have a think about what Jarla actually needs to do as part of this job and get back to you in the IC - remind me if I don't.