Sunset: 1830
- No Greyhawk Events today
6.0 Starkwall Castle
In the morning, the Company heads out from the Crystal Springs via “The Stone Road” to Starkwall. Midmorning on the 9th, the Company can see the walls of the castle Starkwell. They also can see a village set back from the castle by good ways. The Company enters the village and finds that there is no inn, but there is a tavern.
The only place to sleep or re-supply would be in the Castle itself. It looks like the company has two choices: camp out or try for a stay at the castle on Sir Yalinari’s ticket. Firena considers the two options – a comfortable night vs. putting up with Yalinari afterward – and chooses to camp out. Only another 3.5 days until Midmeadow.
Unfortunantly, Yalinari, in his usual, annoyingy cheerful mentions that he can get them roons in the castle. Morven agrees, she was thinking the same thing. Vanith and Hanar seem to like the idea. Nyra very obviously doesn’t.
The Company takes the time to clean themselves up a bit and heads for the castle. Yalinari will get to do the speaking and should to stay as close to the truth as possible. He’s a knight of Greyhawk, so he’ll have to say we’re working for the Lord Mayor. He doesn’t have to say much beyond that. If he has to, he can say they’re looking to interview one or more senior Bakluni, with an intention of gaining insights into their vetrinary skills. The Lord Mayor is well known to be an animal lover, and would like to know more about their ways with the animals. Yalinari, as a very new knight and a Bakluni was ideally suited for the role.
The Company takes some time to clean up and Yalinari puts on his best, along with his knight ring. He advises Hanar and Shasivin to put on their Protector of Greyhawk rings, just in case. They comply.
The Castle is not much too look at. It is obviously functional and not much more than a central keep. As the Company approach they are hailed and asked their business. Several archers are visible on the curtain wall.
Yalinari doesn’t bother with the spell, just relies on his storytelling and fast talk skills to overcome his stutter. He may well need the entertainment skill later.
Yalinari:
Hhhhail, ssssoldiery of Sssstarkwwwwall. I am Ssssir Yyyyalinari Ddddishine, a Knnnnight of Ggggreyhhhhawk. I wwwwould sssspeak wwwwith ththththe llllord of ththththis ccccastle.
The guard asks them to hold and leaves the window. The archers remain. After about five minutes the portcullis is lifted. Yalinari spurs his horse forward, counting on the others to follow. Firena scowls a little (hopefully internally!) and does likewise. The others follow and the man is waiting in a courtyard. From the inside, the Company can see that there is a courtyard with a well and and a stables. There are several doorways leading into the walls. The man says that the Baron Cauggan (Cayugan) will be here shortly.
Yalinari:
Exxxecellent. Wwwwill yyyyou kkkkindly shshshshow mmmmy hhhhandler [indicates Vanith] whwhwhere shshshshe ccccan ttttake our animals?
Guard:
um … you’re planning on staying?
Yalinari:
Yyyyes. ... Whwhwhwhy? Is ththththat a pppproblem?
Guard:
Nnnot for mmmmme tttooo say. Mmmost see nnnno reason.
Yalinari [looking around]:
Nnnnow whwhwhwhy wwwwould ththththat bbbbe? Llllack of hhhhospitality? I ggggenerally ffffind enterttttainment is whwhwhwhere yyyyou mmmmake it.
Suddenly a voice calls out:
And what entertainment would you make?
The voice belongs to a young man about 23, dressed in rich clothes, but not foppish. He wears a sword at his side.
Yalinari:
Ddddo yyyyou hhhhave a ppppreference, mmmmy Llllord?
Yalinari [continues]:
I fffflatter mmmmyself ththththat I am a ssssomewhat sssskilled entertainer, in addition tttto bbbbeing a knnnnight. Artistry, sssstorytelling, jjjjuggling, acrobatics, hhhhorsebbbback ddddisplays. Whwhwhwhat is yyyyour ppppleasure?
The man looks a little surprised at first and then looks a little more carefully:
Bakluni?
Yalinari [obviously a little surprised by the question]:
Oooonce, mmmmy Llllord, bbbbut nnnnow ssssolely bbbby ancestry.
Man:
Once Bakluni…always Bbakluni … We have no need of your type here.
Yalinari:
Thththen wwwwe hhhhave nnnno ddddesire tttto llllighten yyyyour hhhhall wwwwith unssssaught rrrrevelry. Llllive wwwwel, mmmmy Llllord. Llllive wwwwell.
As Yalinari wheels his horse (perhaps putting a little extra showmanship into the maneuver than strictly necessary, Firena interrupts.
Firena:
Now wait just a minute. Sir Cauggan, what offense can we possibly have given to drive you to greet a Knight of Greyhawk so disfavorably? Whatever it is, I am certain we can resolve it to your satisfaction.
Man:
Sir Nat. And we have no need of vagabonds and liars at our doorstep.
Yalinari ignores the man, and rides out the gate. Firena:
Sir Nat, then. You speak out of ignorance. I doubt not that some Bakluni are as you describe. I’ve also met more than enough Oeridian and Aerdish liars and vagabonds that I could equally well paint all in this region with that same brush, were I disposed to do so. But I am not, for I prefer to accept a man for what he is, not for what his relatives might be. We go, Sir Nat, but be advised, the Lord Mayor will hear of this insult.
She also turns to go. He watches as the Company leaves the castle. Firena catches up to Yalinari, who has ridden a little ways down the road, but then stopped to wait. Firena:
Are you all right?
Yalinari:
Yyyyou mmmmust undersssstand – I’ve llllived wwwith thththat all mmmmy llllife. I llllearned, yyyyou ccccan’t chchchchange ththththeir mmmminds. Yyyyou jjjjust hhhhave ttttto accept ththththat ththththere wwwwill always bbbbe ignorance, and llllearn tttto llllive wwwwith ththththat.
Nyra: I’m surprised that you don’t stand up for yourself.
Firena:
I don’t buy that for a moment, Yalinari. Even after a lifetime of living with the jibes, it has to hurt. In fact, I know it does. You can pretend it doesn’t, but it won’t go away.
...
Yalnari [to Nyra]:
I ddddo sssstand up ffffor mmmmyself. Bbbby pppproving ththththem wrrrrong whwhwhwhen I ccccan. Bbbby ttttrying tttto pppprove ththththat I am bbbbetter ththththan ththththey ggggive mmmme ccccredit ffffor. Bbbbut whwhwhwhen mmmmost of ththththe mmmmembers of ththththe “ccccivilized ssssocieties” ttttreat yyyyou, wwwwith impunity, as a ssssecond cccclass ccccitizen ffffor yyyour entire llllife, yyyyou ddddo sssstart tttto wwwwonder if mmmmaybe ththththere isn’t ssssomething to whwhwhwhat ththththey say.
Morven:
You have a right now … a right … to demand a room … and decency. You are a knight.
Yalinari:
Bbbbesides, whwhwhwhat wwwwould yyyyou hhhhave mmmme ddddo, ddddear Nnnnyra? Ppppull mmmmy ssssword and chchchcharge at hhhhim in hhhhhis own hhhhome? Assuming I wwwwasn’t kkkkilled outrrrright, ththththere’s nnnno ququququicker wwway ffffor a Bbbbakluni tttto ffffind hhhhimself at ththththe end of a rope. Llllegally. ... Ah, whwhwhwhat yyyyou ssssay is ttttrue, mmmmy ddddiminutive bbbbeauty. ... And mmmmaybe ththththe ttttime wwwwill ccccome tttto sssstrike ssssuch a bbbblow ffffor Bbbbakluni everywhere. Bbbbut ccccould I ddddrag yyyyou into ththththat? [Here he looks directly at Nyra] Yyyyou almost kkkkilled mmmme wwwwith evil llllooks jjjjust ffffor ppppushing yyyyou into a ddddance!
Nyra mumbles something about thickheaded men and walks away shaking her head.
Firena:
Yalinari, I can’t force you. But if you want to push this – take him to task on this, we are behind you. We will stand with you. As I’m sure you are aware, there are aspects of your behavior that I cannot abide, but I would not have you dismissed for faults that are not yours.
Yalinari looks around at the group, obviously thinking deeply (something nobody can really remember him ever doing before). Hanar nods, as does Morven … Nyra watching intently. Vanith nods as well.
Finally, he apparently makes up his mind, spurs his horse once again, and rides full tilt back toward the castle, whispering his prayer as he goes. If the gates are still open, he enters. If not he pulls up outside them. Either way, he stands in his stirrups and says in his loudest oratory voice:
Sir Nat, I am Sir Yalinari, Order of the Ram, Knight of the City of Greyhawk, in the direct employ of the Lord Aphic, Baron of Stillwater, and Lord Mayor of Greyhawk. I have and hereby do invoke the right to lodging in this castle. To deny me this right is tantamount to a direct insult to his honor the Lord Mayor and a dereliction of your duties as a Baronet. As the gods are my witness, you will not deny me in this.
The gates open and the Company rides with triumph. A new man stands at the window that Sir Nat stood at. He addresses them as they enter the courtyard:
Welcome to Castle Starkwell. I am the Baron Cauggen. You must forgive my impetuous young Knight. Sir Nat does not understand what Greyhawk is to the world. My men will conduct you to your rooms.
The man talking isn’t much older than Sir Nat … if he is older at all. Yalinari smiles and bows (though it is likely obvious that he is still hopped up on adrenalin!):
Forgiven, your Lordship, completely. As evidence thereof, I will reinstate my offer of entertainment for the night, and will even profer a personal invitation to Sir Nat, just to show there are no hard feelings.
Yalinari [whispering to Nyra]:
Mmmmoral hhhhigh gggground, yyyyou knnnnow.
Baron Cauggen:
I think not. Though my man may have been rude, we are a working castle; here protecting Nyrond from invaders. All are on duty and we do not need the distraction of travelling gypsies distracting us. You have asked for lodging you shall have it. We will provision you as is your right. Sergeant. Guern, please show these people to their rooms and accord them the honor and priviledge that their rank deserves.
at that the baron leaves.
...
A man in his late fourties comes up to them and asks if they can take their horses.
Yalinari [quietly, to whomever of our party is within earshot]:
Fffffriendly ssssort. I wwwwonder if wwwwe hhhhave tttto ffffeed our ssssupper tttto ththththe hhhhorses ffffirst tttto ttttest ffffor ppppoison!
When the man arrives, Yalinari leaps off his horse dramatically:
Ccccertainly, Ssssergeant. As yyyyou wwwwill!
The seargent calls for the handlers to take the horses leaving Vanith to look at Firena questioningly.
Firena [half under her breath]:
Not the sort of hospitality I was hoping for.
Vanith:
Shall I?
Morven:
It’s a dry bed, though.
Nyra:
The stars would be safer!
Firena:
Yes. Take Edmund with you.
Edmund and Vanith leave witht he animal handlers
Yalinari:
I ddddon’t ddddisagree, mmmmy ddddear. I wwwwonder whwhwhwhich wwwwill tttturn out tttto bbbbe mmmmore ccccomfortable.
Seargant Guern leades Hanar, Firena, Morven, and Yalinari toward a door in the wall. Firena takes special note of the directions from their door to the stables and to any visible exits (if there are any besides the main door). He then goes up some stairs to a series of small rooms overlooking the village. Each Company member has their own room
Firena:
Tell me, Sergeant, are the owners of this castle always so warm and welcoming?
Sergeant. Guern:
‘At’s nawt fer me ta say, m’lady.
Firena:
There’s no m’lady here. [Indicates Yalinari] He’s the knight. I’m just a healer. [Continues] Call me Firena. [Continues again] So tell me about life at Castle Starkwell.
Sergeant. Guern:
All roight. Firena. These here’s yer rooms. Cookie serves meat at foive bells, ‘o th’ loikes of ye kin eat ‘en ye wishes.
He looks suprised at the request.
Well, naught much happen’ mostlies, anywoiy. Watch da walls, every noi an’ then we hun’ a raidin’ party or two.
Firena:
Sounds like easy duty. Beats riding across country for days on end. My butt feels like scrambled eggs.
Sergeant Guern:
Noght real easy loikes. Da ‘obgolins’ fight real tough loike ya know. Da bandit’s aren’t as bad.
At that Nyra scowls deeply.
Firena:
Hobgoblins? That doesn’t sound easy. Do they attack the castle, or do they only bother you in the woods?
Firena chats with him for a while, trying to establish a raport. It may be useless, but it never hurts to have a friendly face in an unfamiliar place, and if that face bears the appelation “sergeant” all the better. Toward the end of their conversation, if the opportunity presents itself, she will again attempt to turn the conversation toward the Baron and his Knight. What sort of people are they, etc.
He seems a likable sort. Much more like Drathon and Hanar. Basically, there are outriders who watch the borders as do lookouts on the walls. If they find someone they go after them. She’s able to get the impression fairly quickly that this man has benn and will always be a seargent. he knows his place and who not to piss off … and who not to talk to. It’s probably why he was selected for this task.
Firena offers to swap tales and what news they have with whomever is off duty and is not forbidden to speak with them. She doesn’t want to interrupt the guards on duty, and won’t volunteer “entertainment”, as the Lord of the castle has specifically forbidden that, but even a change of conversation topics might be welcome to soldiers stationed in an outpost castle. She can also offer a game of Tonk if any are willing. They also have some of their own stock of wine, though their food stores leave a little to be desired, being travel fayre.
He tells her that most off-duty soldiers go to the Wasted Wyvern tavern. There will be more than enough tonk games there. Any within the castle are either on-duty or on-call. Yalinari’s ears perk up at the mention of the tavern:
Wwwwe nnnnotice ththththat in ttttown. Wwwwill yyyyou bbbbe sssstopping ththththere ttttonight? I mmmmay hhhhave tttto mmmmake an appearance.
Since they don’t seem to want to visit the Company, the Company will visit them. They’ll hang about their rooms until suppertime, then after supper, they head to the tavern. There they get involved in games of Tonk, buying drinks as the night goes along.
All except for Nyra, who asks if she can walk around the village instead of hanging in the castle. Firena says that Nyra can certainly walk around the village, but she still doesn’t want her to go alone. If anyone would rather go with her than either stay here or go to the tavern, they are welcome to. In any case, Firena will willingly go with Nyra. She doesn’t really fancy a night in the tavern. Yalinari’s definitely going to the tavern. Morven, Vanith, and Hanar will join Yalinari.
As Firena heads out with the others she thinks about her latest espisodes. More accurately, she thinks about the lack of visions recently. Hmm. Strange. Maybe the Kemet have limited range! Or maybe Wolsig ran away. Whichever, she’ll obviously be paying attention in the future for any repetition. ... She doesn’t feel any different after the ceremony. Nothing to show that maybe Wolsig is gone. No different after the ceremony than before it. At some point she’ll have to try to make contact again. Hopefully he’s gone….
She then shakes off her reverie and the pair walk through town. As they walk through what passes for a town and chatting intermittently, Firena mentions to Nyra:
Gods help me, but I actually felt sorry for Yalinari this afternoon.
Nyra looks a little surprised:
You, really?
Firena:
Odd isn’t it? I hate just about everything about him, most of what he does. Yes, I recognize he has a talent, and if I’m correct, it is a talent beyond this world. But something he said touched me. Deeply. He’s obviously hurting in a way that I can identify with.Since he was little, he has been ostracized because of his race. In a similar way, I have always been ostracized by my looks. It’s one small similarity in a world of differences, but it’s a similarity that runs very deeply. To my very core, and, I suspect, to his.
Nyra:
Hmmm … I think you may be seeing beyond your world of pain into others. That’s a good sign. I’ve had many talks with him about his beleifs and attitudes. You know the Bakluni are matriarchal? I cannot beleive his mother raised him thusly.
Firena:
Not all behaviors are taught by parents – nor are all behaviors accepted by them. There are some things in every person that their parents do not approve of, yet cannot change, no matter how they may try. I do not know if Yalinari’s parents ever tried to change his behavior. I suspect they probably did – what mother wouldn’t?
Nyra:
That’s my point. I’m sure his mother didn’t approve. I’m sure he talked to him about it … that kind of behaviour despite a mother’s intentions only draw from some deep-seated wound. I suspect a stuttering Balkuni would be great fun to poke at. Besides, I get the feeling that there is at least one woman in his early childhood he wishes he still had. Someone he’s punishing through his treatment of other women ….
She falls silent
Firena:
What you say makes sense. Especially so in a matriarchal society. What does that tell us?
She laughs.
That he’s as screwed up as all of us!
Firena:
We are an … unusual … bunch, aren’t we. Perhaps that’s why, despite our differences, we get along so well. ... Are you familiar with this area at all? You are from near this area are you not?
Nyra gets tight lipped and hisses:
Yes, my … grove is near here.
Meanwhile, back at the tavern, the Company is engaged in drinking and playing tonk with the regulars. Plynsen is fending off rough advances by the soldiers picking on him for his stoutness and general lack of conditioning. On the other hand, as the few women in the place, Vanith and Morven are busy fending of the drunken, amorous advances of those same soldiers. Yalinari, for his part is doing the usual; storytelling, drinking (though not too heavily), entertaining. His stories are all be rooted in heroic stories of the battlefield, unless he gets alternate requests.
Somewhere about 10 at night Drathon approaches Yalinari and pulls him aside.
...
Drathon:
Firena and Nyra are still missing. Been three hours. It’s not like them.
Yalinari:
Thththey wwwere ssssupposed tttto ccccome ttttonight?
Drathon:
Don’t know. Figured they’d check in. I’ll take Hanar. Be back soon.
Yalinari:
Kkkkeep yyyyour eeeeyes open. I knnnnew I ddddidn’t llllike ththththe ffffeel of ththththis pppplace.
As he says this last, he is fingering something in his pocket.
Drathon eyes him and walks off. He gather Hanar and the pair leave the tavern. Yalinari thinks of them leaving for a romantic walk at night, but then shakes off the thought.
Yalinari takes stock of whom from the Company is in the tavern and who may have stayed back at the Castle—a rare moment of responsability from him. Maybe this knighthood thing is good for him? Yalinari, Vanith, Plynsen, Morven, and Edmund are all there, none stayed behind.
“Not a lot of leadership left in the pub!” thinks Yalinari. he attempts to maintain a calm front and continue what he’s doing. Basically, he’s a bit worried though. Even though Nyra and Firena have spent a lot of time together lately (meetings in the woods and such), it’s never been this long before. ... He spend some time examining his fellow revelers. Does anyone seem to be inexplicably out of breath or sweaty or nervous or anything like that?
There are more than a few that have had too much to drink. Yalinari can’t remember if anyone came to the tavern while they were there. He thinks not, but can’t be sure
Yalinari then changes tack a bit. He transitions into a story of underhandedness and intrigue where the villain attacks unsuspecting victims. He also looks for an obvious reaction to the story. However, nothing obvious occurs. At lest no one jumps up shouting, “That’s it. I can’t stand it anymore. yes, that’s right, I did it!” Yalinari doesn’t see anyone who seems guilty, in which case, he just hangs on ‘til Hanar and Drathon comes back. After about twenty minutes after departing, Drathon and Hanar come back. They head straight to Yalinari
Drathon:
Didn’t go back to the Castle.
Yalinari:
Ththththey wwwwere ggggoing tttto wwwwalk around ttttown – whwhwhwhat ththththere is of it. Wwwwe’d bbbbetter hhhhave a llllook.
Drathon nods:
Hanar can gather the Company.
Yalinari:
Thththen llllet’s ggggo.
Yalinari heads for the door. When they get outside, he won’t do much until the others arrive.
Drathon looks toward Hanar, who in turn signals to Shasivan and then heads toward Vanith and Plynsen. In a matter of five minutes are all gathered around Yalinari outside the tavern.
Yalinari:
It sssseems NNNNyra and FFFFirena hhhhave ccccome up mmmmissing. Hhhhas anyone sssseen ththththem ssssince wwwwe pppparted at ththththe ccccastle?
All look stunned and look around at each other. None has.
Yalinari:
In ththththat ccccase, wwwwe nnnneed tttto mmmmake a ssssearch. Wwwwe ssssplit up – nnnno lllless ththththan ththththree in a ggggroup. Ththththere’s nnnnot mmmmuch tttto ththththis “ttttown”, sssso it shshshshouldn’t ttttake llllong. Llllook ffffor ssssigns of a sssstruggle. Bbbblood on ththththe gggground, bbbbroken items, arrowhhhheads, anything llllike ththththat. Wwwwe’ll mmmmeet bbbback hhhhere in hhhhalf an hhhhour at mmmmost. [He looks at Drathon] Any advice?
Drathon:
Stick to roads and paths. Won’t wander off the paths.
Hanar:
Look for isolated spots where they could have been ambushed.
Yalinari:
Yyyyes. Ggggood. I thththink Ddddrathon shshshshould llllead one ggggroup; Hhhhanar ththththe other.
Drathon selects Plynsen and Yalinari. With Hanar are Morven, Shasivan, and Vanith.
Yalinari nods, and the groups split. Yalinari lets Drathon take the lead, but does his best to look for any signs of anything odd.
Drathon, Yalinari, and Plynsen head off in the night. It’s nearly a full moon, so it is fairly bright. After about fifteen minutes of searching, Drathon suggests that they head back to see if the other group found anything.
When they get back, they don’t see the other group. After waiting a short amount of time, they can hear the sound of a group moving quickly.
There appears to be four people.
That should be good…
Shortly, the other group appears and Morven excited blurts out:
I think we’ve found something!
Yalinari moves toward her, with a questioning look on his face.
Hanar:
From the looks of it, there was a scuffle. A lot of footprints. Someone went down and was dragged off the path.
Yalinari:
Ttttake us ththththere.
The group heads out and at one point there is a section where the road goes up a small hill. A stand of trees is to one side. Sure enough there look to be a lot of foot prints and what looks like drag marks of something about two feet wide. The drag marks go into the woods. Morven, then points to the larger set of footprintg heading off Northwestrly from the grove (away from the castle and town).
Yalinari:
Llllet’s ssssee whwhwhat ggggot ddddragged ffffirst.
With which, he moves to follow the signs of dragging.
Yalinari wonders what Firena and Nyra were doing there?
The thing was dragged into the woods, coming out of the woods was a bunch of things. Also, a bunch of things were on the road.
So the assumption is they came out of the woods, ran about the road for a bit (fighting?), then dragged something back the same way they came?
It sounds plausible to him.
Yalinari checks out who has weapons and who doesn’t.
Hanar, Drathon, and Shasivin always carry theirs. Edmund has his dagger, but no sword or bow.
Vanith and Plynsen have their daggers, but they don’t really count
Yalinari has his daggers, but nothing else. Yalinari, judging that we are suitably well armed, calls for us to follow the dragging trail without delay.
Edmund wouldn’t bring his bow to a game of tonk
The Company wants to be cautious to avoid an ambush, but move quickly enough so that they don’t lose the trail. Medium fast.
Drathon in the lead, Hanar, too, if the path is wide enough. They are most experienced at spotting ambushes. Shasivin in the rear as a rearguard.
Vanith and Plynsen are middle, behind Yalinari and in front of Edmund.
The Company heads out as described and the Company heads out fairly quickly. The path the crowd took is off the road and stays the far side of the hill. This close to the hill, watchers in the Castle would not see them. As the hill recedes, the path heads straight West. At this point the Company can see some distance. Edmund calls for a halt quietly. As the Company huddles up, he mentions that he can probably see farther than most…his eyesight is exceptionally sharp. It was why he was recommended for the Lord Mayor’s retinue. Drathon agrees and he and Edmund take the lead. Hanar takes Edmund’s place. After ten minutes of walking, Edmund calls for another stop.
He waves for people to get down and looks behind him. He then crawls back to Yalinari. Drathon and Hanar poke their heads in.
Edmund:
There’s an encampment just out of bowshot, maybe 400 yards. at least one guard. No tents. No fire.
Yalinari:
Anyone visible?
Edmund:
At least one guard.
Yalinari looks around for a way to sneak up on the camp. There are small hills and swales, but it’s a plain. The river is to the North.
Yalinari offers the following plan, but looks to Drathon for advice. The Company approaches from the north, counting on the sound of the river to mask any sounds they might make. They move slowly, looking for any sign of the missing people. They don’t want to attack them until they’re fairly certain either Nyra or Firena or both are there, and unless they know they can do so without endangering them. The Company takes the time to try and flank the Group from the North. Yalinari is the only member of the Stealth crew here at the moment. It will be up to him!
Yalinari will have one of his throwing daggers in each hand. If the alarm is raised, he’ll be ready to use them immediately.
The Company moves as slowly as they are capable. Stop often. Take their time. Yalinari takes some time to assess Morven and Edmund. They joined after the formation of the stealth and action teams. Neither have any skill. Morven is light enough so as to not be too bad at it. Edmund is strong and bulky, but not very graceful. Seems that upper body strength is good for archers, but they don’t need to be too quick of feet
Yalinari:
Mmmmorven, ccccan yyyyou ddddo ththththat sssspell of yyyyours qqqquietly and unobttttrusively? It occurs tttto mmmme ththththat if wwwwe ccccould “cccconfiscate” ssssomething of Nnnnyra’s or Ffffirena’s, wwwwe’d bbbbe ppppretty ssssure ththththey wwwwere in ththththere.
Morven:
No. It has to be contraband. Something that someone is not supposed to have. Their weapons will be contraband if they have Nyra and Firena, otherwise ….. well, nothing would happen.
Yalinari:
Whwhwhwhat if ththththey’ve ttttaken ssssomething ffffrom our ppppeople?
Morven:
Of course, if they stole something of theirs … I’d still have to be closer.
Yalinari:
Rrrright. In ththththat ccccase, yyyyou’re wwwwith me. Sssstay llllow. Pppput one ffffoot ddddown ccccompletely bbbbefore llllifting ththththe other. Ddddon’t pppput any wwwweight on ththththe ffffirst until yyyyou’re ppppositive ththththere’s nnnnothing bbbbeneath it tttto rrrroll or ssssnap. Abbbbove all, mmmmove sssslowly. Ssssudden mmmmoves are rrrridiculously easy tttto spot.
To Yalinari’s ear, her footfalls are very loud. If the guard is paying attention it is unlikely that she will be able to sneak up on him.
Morven bends down and reaches her hand out to the guard and then stops and looks at Yalinari.
Morven:
He will know something’s up when his weapons fly away. If I don’t get them all they’ll be alerted.
Yalinari tells Morven to put a lot of energy into the spell. If they grabbed Firena and Nyra, they’re kidnappers, so their weapons would be contraband. She should get most of them. If they have a few left, well, maybe we can convince them to surrender by outnumbering them, especially if most of them are suddenly unarmed. At least that’s the plan.
Morven:
Ok, let’s get a little closer. You may have to carry me out.
Yalinari:
Yyyyou’re vvvvery ssssmall. I’ll ccccarry yyyyou mmmmyself.
Morven nods and inches forward again. Then she stops and reaches out hand and says:
Smuggler’s bane
Sword in a Cane,
All matter illegal,
Fly and begone!
At begone she whips her hand and points to the ground by her feet. As a pile of weapons appear at her feet, she sinks to her knees. Yalinari can see the sheen on her brow and hear her ragged breathing. She willl not be going anywhere for a little while. The guard makes a startled cry and starts to yell.
Yalinari waves for the others to come forward, then puts on his best orator’s voice and yells:
Surrender now, you brigands! You are surrounded and unarmed. No one who surrenders immediately will be hurt!
The Company surges forward, weapons drawn. As Drathon rushes he makes a horrible sound that Yalinari understand as a war cry. The guard spins around and looks hard at the the Company rushing down and raises his hands. As the Company gets closer, they count 12 bandits.
Yalinari:
Everyone, on the ground! Arms out. No sudden moves. Believe me when I tell you that your lives depend on following these orders to the letter.
As they get closer, Yalinari tells Vanith and Plynsen to gather the weapons from the bandits. If there’s a longsword in he wants to look at it. If there’s a bow and arrows, Edmund can look at it, and so on. Everything else goes into the river.
The bandits follow orders and get to the ground. When the Company gets closer they can see Nyra and Firena staked to the ground. They both appea unmolested. Nyra is definitely awake. Firena however is not.
Drathon and Hanar move around, ensuring that the bandits are obeying. Shasivin will go with them for intimidation. Yalinari will approach Nyra and Firena and free them, checking to see if they are hurt. If he has nothing else to do, Edmund is to watch over Morven for now. Yalinari will make good his promise to carry her as soon as it is savfe.
Drathon, Hanar, and Shasivin, when they’re sure there will be no resistance, will begin tying up the bandits. When they’re done, the animal handlers can help out.
Yalinari gets closer and sees a very deep gash is both of Firena’s legs. She’s had a lot of blood loss and is not looking too good. Nyra is unharmed.
Yalinari frees Nyra:
My dear, you’re our next best healer. Can you help Firena?
Nyra looks at Firena closely and then begins to clean and bind her legs. Nyra:
She’s had a lot of blood loss. I think she’ll be fine. We need to get her to a real healer quickly. I’m sure that the castle will have one with experience with injuries like this. Damn Bandits! Shouldn’t have left the lot alive!
Yalinari:
WWWhhhhh-wwwwhhhhh-wwwwwhhhh. What hhhhhhaaappend?
Nyra:
They surprised us. First thing I saw was a flash of steel, low. Instinctively I jumped. It was a pike, the blade barely missed me. When I came down, I reached for my mace. I glanced over at Firena and saw her lying on the ground, both legs sliced deeply. When I looked around, there they were. Twelve of them. Now, I’m one for a good fight and I wanted to kill them deeply. I was even thinking of going down fighting. They’re bandits, for gods sake. They deserve to die. I would have taken three or even four of them. Twelve and at least two with pikes were unbeatable odds. I’m just glad that you found us.
Yalinari (With a smile):
YYYYYYou c-c-c-c-c-c-c-an ppppppay me lllllllaaater!
Nyra:
Very funny.
She stomps off and kicks one of the bandits on the way past them.
Yalinari chuckles and instructs Drathon to march them to Castle Starkwall. When the Company returns to the Castle, they are greeted by the duty guard and a squad of archers standing at the parapets. They are challenged for their purpose and Sir Yalinari announces that they have captured a squad of Bandits from Iuz and have returned to hand them over to the authorities. There is a gasp of surprise and the duty officer quickly has the doors opened. Another squadron of soldiers, armed and armored quickly gathers around the Company and their captives. Quickly and efficiently they take the captive and march them, none too politely off toward a barred entryway that the Company has not seen before. Beyond the gate, the Company can see a trapdoor set into the ground…obviously the dungeon entrance.
The officer in charge, Lt. Goan asks the Company to follow him to a more comfortable palce to talk. Yalinari agrees, but informs him, that one of his Company needs to be seen by a healer as soon as possible. The Lt. looks past him and sees Firena lying upon the makeshift gurney. He blanches noticably and calls for a Seargant Tarken to take her to the infirmary and calls for Ennard to roust the healer and tell him that he has an important patient to tend. Ennard immediately turns and runs to the right, disappearing into a doorway set into the right curtain wall. Seargant Tarken guides Plynsen and Vanith to the same door. Morven seems torn. She wants to follow Firena, but also wants to hear Yalinari’s conversation for the journals. She is emmensely releived when Nyra states that she will accompany Firena, since she was the last to tend to her wounds.
Yalinari nods his assent (as if it was needed) and now, Lt. Goan ushers Yalinari, Morven, Shasivisan, Drathon, and Hanar into a ready room near the main gate. He asks Yalinari how his party came upon a full squad of bandits and how they were able to overcome them with only one wounded.
Yalinari initially mentions that he is used to larger crowds, and would so love to tell the whole tale to the Baron himself, but he is willing to sacrifice temporary glory for lasting fame, then takes a second to compose himself into “oratory mode,” then launches into the spine-tingling tale of how Tar’s Company risked life and limb to rescue two of its number who had been unscrupulously ambushed, injured, and kidnapped. Obviously, there is much more; the details are essentially accurate, though dramatically told.
As Yalinari is explaining, a man of obvious wealth and standing walks into the room. Dressed in a deep crimson red silk blouse and black riding pants of an expensive fabric, he stands well over six foot. He holds himself with an air of authority and power, that when combined with his looks and dress would cause most women to stir. As it is, he wouldn’t be Hanar’s type and Morven has seen his kind before. She chuckles to herself that if this man and Yalinari were loosed on the same tavern on the same night, the wine girls would be running all night, none knowing which was the better catch. She suspects that this man has the edge because of a family background.
The effect on the Lieutantant is immediate. He jumps to his feet and salutes quickly, “Sir Morghatur, I was just debriefing the Knight’s party for what has happened.”
The man, who apparently is Sir Morghatur turns from the man and scrutinizes the Company. His eyes roave over all the Company and spends a significant amount of time on Morven. Finally, his eyes rest back onto Yalinari. Apparently assessing him and the Company. His cheek twitches and then he speaks.
Sir Yalinari, I welcome your acquantaince. I am Sir Rowan Morghatur, Guardian Knight of the Protectorate of Nyrond and heir to the Woodverge Border Orchards
Yalinari bows dramatically: Well met, Sir Morghatur! I am Sir Yalinari Dishine, Order of the Ram, 4th Class, Knight of Greyhawk, in the employ of the Lord Aphic, Baron of Stillwater and Lord Mayor of Greyhawk. If you would hear our tale from the beginning, I would so dearly love to begin again. I am at your service!
Sir Moghatur:
Then, by all means, please begin Sir Yalinari.
Yalinari does so in the same style that he did before. When finished Sir Morghatur looks at Lt. Goan.
Sir Morghatur:
I thank you, on behalf of the Baron, for your correction of the oversight of our watchers. I will ensure that our Guard is reminded of their jobs to ensure that such an incident does not happen again. My only consolation is that this happened to a group so well prepared for such an encounter than one of the caravans that pass this way.Yalinari, tryies not to look too disappointed at the blatant lack of appreciation for his storytelling ability. He thanks Sir Morghatur and mentions that his travel plans obviously do not now include moving anywhere tomorrow morning. Perhaps late in the day or the following morning, but certainly not until Firena is sufficiently healed. He requests an audience with the Baron at his liesure tomorrow. He also asks Sir Morghatur what diversions are available for Knights who are not on duty.
Sir Morghatur:
I am indeed sorry for your delay. We have little in the way of entertainment. As you are aware, we are a working installation, not a common village. Those off-duty, be they knights or commoners find themselves at the Pike as you yourself were so recently. As for meeting with the Baron, I will inform him of your request when he breaks his fast.