Age of Frost: Low Fantasy RPT (PG)

[$tormin]

OOC: Let the Roleplaying begin. Keep all out of character comments either flagged (for minor ones) or in the OOC discussion.

IC:

Location:Port Elside, Queensreach

Navo watched the soldiers finger their crossbows as his ship flowed into the harbor like a dart through the air. He had a hold full of trade goods and a crew looking to relax and spend hard earned (even if honestly this time around) gold and silver, none of them were willing to break the truce that allowed trade in the cities while keeping dawn raiders from isolated villages and towns.

[Kaylen]

OOC: I'll be doing this in first person unless there are any objections.

Location: the Hard Luck Flagon, a tavern near the docks of Port Elside

With all the ships docked today, this will be a busy night. I run my fingers over the hilt of my scimitar, to reassure myself that it's still there; strapped beneath the counter. It always gives me comfort. My jambiya, which I make sure is prominantly displayed strapped to my waist, is usually enough without even having to take it from its sheath.

Things are changing, though. The regulars haven't started trouble yet, but foreigners always bring trouble with them. Trouble between them and other foreigners, trouble between themselves, just plain trouble no matter which way you look at it. Have to keep up the good face of Port Elside, though; imagining what would happen if I didn't let someone enjoy the swill I dish out doesn't settle well, especially with the way things have been. Every month, my supplies cost more. Every month, the patrons - no, the populace - becomes more unruly.

Every month, as people get more and more down, they get more and more into their cups. Drinking and feeling miserable aren't the things one would associate with logical thinking. Still, I have to remind myself that I chose this life... well, do I really have to? A smile creeps up on me as I remember last night's brawl.

[Gumblackwood]

Location: Just south of the border between Somnada and Dagadia, over a day's travel from the Queensreach border.

Alren adjusted the cloth wraps about his head so he could see better in the dust storm. He was angry; normally his father's caravans were fully traded this far north. Of course, normally, the lands were much greener this far towards Somnada, and he could trade his father's bazaar goods for plenty of grains and other necessities and head home.

Some of the caravan guards shuffled about, not particularly happy either. They had been able to move through most of the dust storms thusfar, but this one left almost no visibility, and Alren had ordered them to stop. Another issue bothered him; Alren had to hire almost twice his normal number of guards after his last caravan was nearly taken by bandits. People were getting desperate. He wasn't even sure he trusted some of the men he hired.

Alren approached his drivers, men he trusted much more than the guards, chatting away in the corridor they made between the walled carts. The drivers were brothers, very dark skinned Novasareidi who had gained favor with the Elmeni family long ago.

"I think we'll need to head to Queensreach to find any worthwhile trade," Alren said to them, loud enough to be heard over the wind, but hopefully not loud enough to be heard by the guards.

One of the brothers nodded approval.

"Bettah den Somnada," the other one spat. "Der leader's relidgis kooks eh'd be skyoorin' the lotta us."

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

Hrolder and his brother Dufniall, slowly approached the Bloody Wench, the worst tavern in Port Elside.

"Are you sure bout this brother?", Dufniall asked Hrolder, as they watched a man be thrown out of a window very bloody and unconcious.

"Aye! It's perfect! I hope to get in at least a few brawls tonight!", Hrolder yelled as he jumped into the unbroken window.

Once inside, he shook the glass off and randomly started punching people.

Dufniall looked on in dismay. "One of these days you're going to get yourself killed." he said sadly. He then ran into help his brother.

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

Once the fight was broken up by a few town guards Hrolder went to the bar. Duff was already asleep up in their room. As Hrolder looked around the tavern and wiped the blood from his chin, he remembered the seriousness of the task that had brought them so far away from his beloved clansmen. He sighed and ordered another mead.

[$tormin]

Picking a tavern at random, Navo led his men into the Hard Luck Flaggon. Nearly twenty (a few unlucky ones stayed with the ship first night in port) huge men made quite a stir in the place. The strongarm looked ready to bolt in panic as a small group broke off and went towards him before laughing and sitting at a hastily vacated table. As the men began to settle and demand drinks Navo and his second, a wirey man of Islander stock, walked to the woman at the counter.
Pulling out a small pouch he dumped a number of heavy coins on the counter and spoke. "It is a good day today, see that it remains so. If the money runs out you wait for me. If there is any trouble, you send for me at the market and use a runner faster than the city watch. Any damage to this place will be paid for and if there is no trouble with the city guards you will be given extra." With one heavy hand, Navo flashed an unusually large and thick gold coin easily worth a nights profits on its own.
The Islander, Suta, turned towards the bartender and laid his heavy steel left hand on the counter. Cut scars showed where flesh on the remainder of the arm had been sliced off long ago. With a single remaining eye he regarded the woman for a moment then turned to Navo and spoke quickly in Northen with his lipless mouth.
Turning they both left.

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

Hrolder was very drunk and bumbling around town now. Not good to be bumbling around when you're 6' 10" and 280 lbs. He stumbled past the Hard Luck Flagon and bumped into two men at the entrance leaving. He fell straight onto his arse, and stayed there until one of them men helped him up.

"Watch where you're going." he mumbled to Hrolder, and him and his scarred companion walked away.

Hrolder stared at the two for a while, especially the scarred one. He noticed the steel hand.

"Oooh, cool hand." he said out loud, although they seemed not to hear.

"I need to get Duff.",he said and then collapsed into the nearest alley.

[Rookie]

Location: Port Elside

Benton and his advisor, William wandered the streats as Thoreau, the burly bodygaurd followed close behind.

"I have heard nothing of the conflict in the north between our neighbors as of yet. This is becoming frustrating, We've come too far to yield nothing."

"The Court at Kingsreach said we would find more information in the Port, it is appearing we've learned more from those townspeople who climbed the peak."

"A few campfires mean nothing, but rumors of fighting do. So far this has been a waste of my time. I should have sent a messenger instead of going myself, but alas, i would have gone insane if another farmer had complained of shorter farming seasons as if i were a god of nature."

"Sounds like you needed a drink more than a trip. And look here, The Hard Luck Flaggon, appears to be respectable enough, what do you say?" William offered.

"I suppose, but you're buying, i don't wish to deplete the vault on this trip if i can."

William laughed, "If you insist!"

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

Hrolder awoke a few hours later and it was still late at night. He went to the Bloody Wench and found Duff angrily standing at the bar.

"Dammit Hrolder you stupid son of a cow! Where have you been?"he yelled loudly at him, drawing the attention of the nearest patrons.

"Don't yell at me, I have a headache." he mumbled.

"I don't care what you have I"m tired of you slacking when we've got a job to do!"

"Ya know what Dufniall? I'm tired of you yelling at me! I'm the chieftan not you! You can finish the job by yourself!" Hrolder hollered at Duff.

A few minutes later, while Hrolder was walking down by the docks a few thugs jumped out at him. One had a rusty knife and the other had a longsword.
"Allright matey gimme any loot ye got on ye and ye'll be ok." the one with the knife said. before he could reach out to him, Hrolder's massive hand snapped out and broke his neck, then cooly threw him into the water. The other thug threw his weapon down and ran away.

Hrolder sat down on the edge of the dock next to a large boat and nodded off.

[Rapter]

ooc: here i go.. with a headache to boot.. so there may be some mistakes >.<
gonna be going from first person veiw, may switch back to third if its easier for everyone.

Location: Port Elside, QueensReach

I looked around as I started down the street from the Beach Gate, looking for a tavern to rest at, Cien, my servent, and best friend besides, walking to my right, probally wondering why we arrived in such a place. She had misgivings to my want to travel, and my want to get away from the Venarian court.

"Really Lord Raki, why are we in such a place? Elside is no place for a noble such as yours--" Cien started to say, when I cut her off.

"We are here to immerse ourselves, and to refresh our supplies, as I've told you whenever we stop at a suspicious or foriegn town, Cien. Now lets see if we can find a tavern, shall we?" Looking to my right, I saw a tavern.

"There, The Hard Luck Flagon, we shall go in there, have a bite to eat, then we will go replenish our supplies, and be on our way. Will that be good enough for you, Cien?" She looked at the sign, she shook her head, "Whatever you say, Lord Raki, I follow." She said with a sigh.

We walked through the doorway into the tavern.

[Rookie]

Benton looked into the tavern. It was homey, a few people quietly sitting around their tables or at the bar.
"I've been here before, good ale." Thoreau said.

"When was that?" Benton asked.

"Last job." Thoreau said simply.

Benton and Thoreau grabbed an empty table while William went to the bar. He returned with three flagons and laid them about.

"So what do you make of the possiblility of them fighting to the north?" William asked.

"Hard to say, i can't even remember why they fought the last time." Benton replied.

Most nobles wouldn't have such a relationship with a subordinate, but Kingsreach Peak was a small town and reliable friends were hard to come by. Benton had met William during when Kingsreach Peak was attacked by raiders. A small quick defense was made, but the legionaires held and pushed them back and then hunted them down, ending a long crime spree in the village.
The informalities between Benton and William when in court soon became excepted by the common folk, but they tried to keep it formal in proper court.

"You were right Thoreau, good stuff." Benton said after a moment of silence.

"Its even better after being out at sea for a few weeks after a trip to the Itoril Islands." Thoreau said.

"Never been there...yet" Benton added.

"Kinda warm, humid." Thoreau said, "Miserable when you're trying to explore uncharted territory accidentally."

"So you got lost and managed to get a ship back to the mainland and your first stop was Port Elside?" William said.

"I like my version better." The bodygaurd said before taking a drink from his flagon.

[$tormin]

Two of the northmen began yelling at each other and it turned into a grappling match as they threw one another around the tavern. One threw the other into the table of two fairly well dressed local looking people who jumped away just in time.
Sputtering, one of them reached for his weapon when Navo and Suta rose from thier table. Navo barked an order to the men who were getting ready to pummel the local into the ground if he so much as twitched while Suta got the attention of the two hotheads with a sharp yell and a clearly dangerous gesture. Cowed, the two crewmen backed off yabbering something in Northern while Nave turned to the two accidental victims and spoke as clearly as he could.
"I am terribly sorry about that. My crew has been out for over a year and are too eager to relax. I can buy you a drink if you wish."

[Rapter]

"See, this tavern is nice and homey, not roudy like other taverns, stop fidgeting, Cien." I told her, looking around the tavern from a table off to the side, but still near to the middle of the room.

Cien glared at him, sipped her wine, saying nothing.


"Fine fine, we'll be back in Venaria by Summer.. if it will ever be summer with weather like this. Aei! Its cold, I could use some of the heat from our home."

I smiled, taking in the surroundings of the homey tavern, noticing a Queensreach noble. I wondered what a noble of this country would be doing here, when from what I have heard, most of Queensreach's nobles were stuck up in politics, quorling(sp?.) over the unnatural effects of the winter. From what I have seen anyway, I may be wrong. Chuckling, I got up to go get my ale from the bar.

"Hai! one tankard of ale, and another bottle of wine please." I said to the Dagadia woman at the bar.

[Kaylen]

The tension in the air was hard to detect, but it was certainly there. Fortunately, the group of northmen at least had competent leaders, and they were staying mostly in line; and it was hard to notice everything at the moment, busy as the place is. I really need to hire extra help if this keeps up.

I could at least afford it, with the rampant tipping going on. The northmen's love of plundering and drinking was making her quite the extra earnings this evening.

An islander - a rare site, even here - approaches, and my customary smile crops up. I can never stop it, though it's not all bad in this particular business. I select one of the better aged varieties for his tankard (after all, if word gets back across the water, it's best if the word is good) and frown at my supply of wine. The grapes hadn't been keeping in season for very long. I return my gaze to the islander and ask, "Would you care for some mead? I'm afraid the bees have been producing much tastier fare than any grapevine this year."

[$tormin]

Suta nodded that that would be acceptable and carried the mugs back to the table. Navo nodded in thanks and drank, watching as Suta carefully placed the fingers of his steel hand in the handle of the mug and drank without spilling a drop.
Storm season was getting longer and worse it seemed. A trading mission to the far south was sucessful but when Navo tried to sail home early storms blew his ship so far off course that he was lucky to have reached the major islands instead of being swept into the unkown open sea.
Half a year had been spent among the islands trading and adventuring. On an isolated island they had come across a people who knew nothing of outsiders. After being attacked by the natives, Navo had waited until nightfall and raided the city. There was much wealth there, a temple decorated with plates of hammered electrum and glittering with jewels was sitting on the nearby hill.
Within this temple Navo found and rescued Suta, who was given to be sacrificed slowly over the period of a month to appease the gods and bring back the fish. As he healed, Suta proved to be very quick of wit and he learned the languages and ways of the northers as well as a smattering of trade languages common on the continent.

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

Hrolder awoke early the next morning and walked to the hard Luck flagon to buy a drink. Once he was seated he heard two large men quarreling but the fight was soon broken up by an Islander. Hrolder sighed and gulped his mead in one swallow. Instead of ordering another one, he just took a table far in the dark corner. He decided to go look at the posterboard to look for a job.

"Hmm, no bodyguard requests. Guess I'll have to head back to the clan soon., he muttered to himself. If they haven't killed themselves yet."

Hrolder payed for his room then went outside to look at the sea.

"I have to find Dufniall. He wouldn't be able to survive out here in the streets by himself. Just a lil' feller." Hrolder walked into the bar and started asking people if they had seen a short, stocky northerner with a huge red beard. No one had seen anything, so he just went to his room.

"Hey bartender, he yelled. If anyone sees my brother send them to me."

[Rookie]

Benton noticed that a crowd had begun to form, some Northerners and Islanders. Islanders weren't common on the mainland, but they were not unusual, sometimes coming on diplomatic missions or just to get a taste of a more technologically advanced land.

Queensreach was certainly that, recent shortages of growing seasons due to lingering spring colds had led to knew innovations. Some farmers were attempting to grow some crops in glass buildings, but the buildings had yet to become large enough to have an impact. Others had crazier ideas. Queensreach was becoming more prone to trade with the warmer, southern nations who were having more luck with the cooling weather.
Summer would come and warm up the area, but the farmers would have to move quick.

Benton brought himself back to the real-world after thinking deeply for a moment. One of the Northerns was scarred and missing his hand. Probably a pirate from the menacing hook on the scarred stump. The company looked like weather worn sailors, maybe island raiders. Pirates had a tendency to raid the newly discovered islands and capture the riches that the natives possessed. It was profitable, but it made relations with the islands difficult.

Benton drained the last of his ale and set it down. His comrades soon followed and they began to leave, but Benton had an epiphany: piratres are magnets for news.

He walked up to the pirate leader, "Excuse me, perhaps you could enlighten me? What do you know of the struggles between Tordagral and Turvodia?"

[Rapter]

I nodded at the bartender, "Mead will be fine, My companion and I rarely get to taste it, and from what i have tasted, it has tasted quite good." he said in accented queensreach common. He took out some coins, handed them over, and waited for the bartender to get the drinks.


Cien looked around, noticing a few roudy pirates from the northlands. She shook her head, 'I shouldn't have come with him on this trip, this was a bad idea.' She thought, then went back to her drink, sipping, and hoping no one would come over here, before Raki gets back that is.

As I waited, i glanced around the room, taking in more of my surroundings, I noticed a couple of pirates from the northlands, 'Hecai! This is gonna get roudy.. or might, but that leader looks competent enough to keep his men in line.' He turned back to the bar to wait.

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

Hrolder walked down the stairs and was about to leave the tavern when a dozen huge burly men jumped on him. At first Hrolder thought they were attacking him, but after pulling them off of him he recognized them all.

"Jokull? What are you all doing here? you're supposed to be in Norvaseid!"

"Yeah I know but we missed our chief, so we came to visit ye!", Jokull said to Hrolder. "Where's Duff?"

Hrolder sighed,"Me and him got into a little tussle yesterday. Can't find him anywhere."

"Ah, well he can take care of himself. Remember he's a beserker!"

"Yeah but not a very good one."

"Well, Jokull said. He learned from the best.", he patted Hrolder on the shoulder and him and the other clansmen put two tables together and started yelling at the bartender.

"Well, sighed Hrolder, at least things're gonna be fun from now on.

[$tormin]

Navo chuckled and motioned the man to pull up a chair. "I havent been to the north for over a year and the latest news distresses me. It was a common thing for my breatheren to pick a fight but it never came to much before. Now though I have heard the entire late grain crop was lost to early frost and the raiding went from sport to deadly.
"I know what desperate and hungry people can do, I have been among their like a few times myself, and I do not like what I have been hearing. Old feuds firing up and probably more food destroyed than captured during any raid." Navo took a long drink before continuing. "I just hope that the seasons get better before the people look south."

[Rookie]

"That is one of my worries." Benton said simply.

Thoreau joined them, "That would be likely, seeing as how Turvodia is close to the glaciers. Crops aren't faring as well. They probably started raiding Tordagral for food and thats how this got started."

"Maybe, only time will tell." Navo said.

Benton stood up, "Thank you for your information, sir. I must get going i have some business to tend to."

Navo waved a short good-bye and turned back to his crew. Benton walked out the door into the sunshine. It was still cold out, winter was still clinging to its last remnants.

Benton began walking to the fortress where they were staying for the duration of their mission.
"I think we've been here long enough. We'll just have to send scouts up to the peak regularly and find out for ourselves." Benton said.

"Shall we leave tommorow afternoon?" William suggested.

"Yes, i'd rather not have to ride in the cold early morning. Or at least leave when the sun is up and head up the road and stay at Kingsreach tommorow night if we hurry." Benton said.

"Then we'd better leave right when the sun gets up and bundle up if you want to reach the capital by nightfall." Thoreau added.

"Agreed." Benton nodded, "We leave as soon as the sun is up."

[Gumblackwood]

Alren rode ahead of the caravan to a clear hilltop. The dust storm had passed, and he wanted to get his bearings as the caravan began to move again. To the west and north, he could see the foothills that marked the border with Queensreach. There were at least half a dozen settlements visible in that direction, a few had visible walls that hadn't been there on Alren's previous trips. Alren could almost make out the glow to the southwest that indicated the ocean. Behind them at the edge of the departing dust cloud a sight caught his eye, right about where the Somnadan border would be. He could see banners. Either the bandits here had managed to organize or something much worse was brewing.

Alren rushed back to the caravan

"We make one stop," he told his drivers, "we have to trade what we've got for smaller items, preferably enough that we can carry on a few horses. We'll pay off the guards, sell the carts and carry on ourselves."

"Watchoo babblin' about boss?" Mas, the more vocal of the two drivers asked, Gam, the quiet one, listened. "We be takin' a loss if we does dat."

"I know, I know. We need to get to Port Elside and try to hire a ship back home. This part of Dagadia is becoming far too dangerous to trade in and I want to get us to safety."

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

Drahir Samoth slowly walked down the road to the Unlucky Flagon. Once inside he took his hood off and sat at the bar. He looked around the tavern. There was quite a mix of folks here. Large, burly Northerners, the occasional Islander, and the Queensreach folk.

"Hmm, I wonder if anyone here would take on an extra crewmate." he said to himself.

"You might try that fella over there," the bartender said to him, pointing to a man sitting at a table with a very scarred looking Islander.

"Hmm maybe I will. Thank you young lady." he said to the bartender.
he got up and walked over to their table.

"Excuse me sir, might I have a moment of your time?"

[$tormin]

"Sit down my pasty friend. Now is a time of celebration. You may have my moments, as many as you need!" Navo was getting appreciably drunk by this time despite trying to pace himself.

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

"Thank you sir," Drahir said and sat down at the table. The man was quite obviously drunk.

"I was wondering if you would happen to have any extra room on board your ship? I don't want to be payed and don't eat very much. I'm a good listener and can handle myself with a weapon quite well."

Navo looked at Drahir for a few moments.

"Hmm I don't know. Let me think about it." he said.

[$tormin]

Navo leaned forward and spoke quieter. "I am going north and not expecting to fight. I have a couple of empty oar benches though so if whatever you are running from isn't going to cause problems with the locals, I would be willing to let you come along. I have a hard time passing by those in need." Suma made an almost inperceptable movement. "Tell me what it is you are so eager to leave behind that you would sign on with a ship such as mine?"

[Rapter]

I sat back down at our table, noticing a somnadian talking with the leader of the northmen, "Cien, maybe we could ask those northman for passage back to Venaria." I said to her, she paled a little but nodded.

"I don't like this, Raki, the north is heating up, what if they agree but take us north instead? hmm? what then, Raki?" she said, glaring at him.


"Don't worry about it, most northman i know are honorable in some way or another, why don't we both approach them." I said, drinking the last of the mead. We got up, and walked over to the Northmen.

"Hai! Would you happen to be allowing passengers on board your longboat? If you are, Myself and my companion can pay for passage to Venaria." I said to Navo, Cien standing behind me like a shadow.

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

Drahir looked around the tavern nervously.

"Well sir, if I tell you you must not tell anyone else, ok?"

"Of course," Navo replied.

"My name is Drahir Samoth, and I used to be a priest of Soma. I was the favored of the High Priest, and I probably would have been the next one but the High Priest is losing his sanity and he started this inquistion of the westlands, and when I protested he had me to be executed. My brother managed to break me out of prison and, I fled here. If I joined your crew I wouldn't attract attention to myself, and I could help you out a bit. So do you accept my offer, good sir?"

[$tormin]

"An interesting story and very unlikely. Either you are mad, a liar or telling the truth. Either way you are entertaining enough. I plan to sail tomorrow or the next day to home, making a few stops along the way."
A pair of people approached the table and asked about booking passage. Navu was about to comment on the entire world coming to him when Suma raised a finger and spoke halting common. "Our ship goes north."

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

Drahir smiled to himself. He didn't care if Navo and Suma didn't believe him. As long as got out on the ocean and away from the High Priest. Unbeknownst to him, and to Navo and Suma, the most renowned assasin in the world was currently waiting in the corner of the tavern, listening to every word that came out of their mouths.

[Rookie]

Benton walked around the towns modest fort which was meant to house the soldiers that kept the city save. It was used in this case as free accomodations for a minor noble.
Rain clouds rolled in as the sun began to fade. It would probably rain that night and possibly into the morning.
Benton sighed as the horizon became fuzzy from the distant rain.
He was reminded of a battle he had been engaged in as a young officer. He was escorting a priest across the Somnada plains to the Soma temple. It was raining and a large group of attackers had descended upon them. The priest shouted prayers and scorned the raiders for attacking a holy man.
Benton and his fellow soldiers defeated the raiders in what seemed like hours. they kept pressing, neither side gaining or losing, but when the commander gained control and brought the group together, they formed a phalanx and drove them off.
The priest was grateful, but showed it in an unusual way, scorning the 'heathens".
But that was many years ago.

Benton turned back and walked to the room he was staying at to wait out the rain and the night.

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

Drahir walked to his room and gathered his belongings. All he really had was his holy symbol, symbolizing his rank as priest of Soma. His large mace he strapped to his back, and he put on a chainmail hauberk underneath his robes. Once in the tavern he took out his holy symbol and stared at it long and hard. His childhood dream was to serve the High Priest, maybe one day become High Priest himself. But that was all different now. He took his symbol and chucked it out into the docks. It sounded like it landed on the deck of a boat but, he didn't care. As he walked down the street to Navo's boat, he was intercepted by a tall, thin, yet powerful man wearing an assasin's mask over his face.

"You're not going anywhere." the man said as he knocked Drahir on the back of the head with a large brick. It stunned Drahir, but didn't knock him out. Drahir swung his large mace at the man's face, nearly catching him in the jaw. The assasin was surprised at the man's strength and speed. He pulled out a long slender sword blocked an overhead swing from Drahir's mace.

Breathing heavily the assasin said to Drahir, "Just stop this and you won't have to die."

"I have no intention of dying you infidel!" Drahir yelled back at him.

Drahir launched his mace over his head into the assasin's shoulder, the blow was so hard it sounded as if the man's shoulder broke. He grimaced away the pain, and kept fighting. He soon found out that he could not keep up with the priest and resorted to other methods. He pulled a handcrossbow out and fitted it with a sleeping dart. Right before drahir swung straight at his his head, the assasin fired and the dart caught him in the armpit, it's potent poison effectively putting him out. He fell asleep in a matter of seconds.

A few minutes later, in the Unlucky Flagon, wearing his hood over his face he carried Drahir into the tavern. He was asked if the man was okay and the assasin said he just had a bit too much to drink, and he was taking him in here off the streets. He set him down at a table, and went to order a drink.

"I'm getting a bit rusty. That man almost had me." he said quietly to himself. He looked to Drahir and around the tavern hoping no one recognized him.

[$tormin]

There was a commotion in the streets. Newly arrived Inquisitors in grey robes of judgement were dragging a pleading man to the docks. The man was a priest of one of the more popular islander gods, and was rather unpopular because he was a moneylender to whom many owed or had owed sums of coin.
The leader of the Inquisitors was yelling to the crowd, sparking and enflaming fervor. Listing the mans unpious ways and heresies, the crowd called for the mans death while the greatly outnumbered city watch had to stand by before they found themselves faced by an angry mob.
The man was hung to great cheers and inquisitors disguised as local priests led the mob out and began to root out pre determined unpopular people.
A clever plan really. Faced by the mob, the rulers of the city would have no choice but to give into the Inquisitions demands for real trials of heritics. Control of the local army would be gained and eventually the entire city would be under their control.

The riot rushed past a couple streets away from The Unlucky Flaggon as Navo's men rushed in from revels in the city to wake their captain. Awakened but still very drunk, Navo called his men to ready the ship to depart. Half remembering his promise, he pointed out the priest and told his men to take him with them.

[Rookie]

Benton awoke to the sounds of rioting outside. He looked outside to see that they were hanging heretics. Not that he or his companions were heretics, but he decided it was best to leave the port.
He dressed and grabbed his things and knocked on William and Thoreau's doors.
They quickly dressed and went to the stables. Benton patted his black horse on the neck and saddled it up. He quickly mounted and they rode from the garrison.

"You there!" came a shout from behind. Benton wheeled around.

"What is the hurry? Is there something that you wish to hide?" the priest said.

Benton faced the priest, "I do not wish to abide here any longer. The torture of people is not something i take pleasure in." Benton replied.

"Perhaps you fear because it is your own kind, heretic?" the priest proposed.

Benton stepped down angrily, "I am no heretic! I am the Duke of Kingsreach Peak! I do not wish to be near the killing of human beings if i can help it and this is one of those times where i can help it! I am not a heretic and never have been."

"If you insist, bring in the infadels!" the priest shouted resuming his inquisition.

Benton remounted his horse and they rode out of Port Elside.

They stopped on the side of the slopes on the side of the road. Thoreau started a small fire and they went to their sleeping bags.

"The inquisition finally made it to the port. I finally broke up the inquisition in Kingsreach peak, there are only so many people in the town. The inquisitor only stopped because he judged it was time to move on." Benton sighed. He had been accused of heresy there as well.

"I don't really approve either. They should send some of those guys to the islands, that'll quench their thirst." William said.

"Its not a thirst. Not something to be fulfilled, they want to rid the entire world of the heretics. The south is going to have a fit. Their new religion is coming together quickly." Thoreau said.

Benton assumed it was at his last job that he had learned this information. So now they camped on the side of the slope, waiting for the sun to rise so they could get to the capital then home.

[Rapter]

(Here i go, thanks for jumpstarting it storm, edited in, sorry its short. =))

I woke from my slumber, hearing shouting outside, i saw a Islander priest, being shoved by inquistors, and a mob, I immediately went pale. I rushed to wake up Cien, she looked at me confused, why was I waking her up early, she was probally thinking, I explained to her the situation. She went pale as well, an islander priest being mobbed and hanged? they will soon go after every other Islander in this city.

We immediately got our armor, and went downstairs to find Navo, and his men preparing to go to their ship, "Hai! Take us with you, we do not want to get caught up in this mob. Being ripped limb from limb isnt a very enticing thought." I laughed fearfully, Cien walking behind me, keeping quiet. We positioned the hoods of our cloaks to hide our islander faces. We do not want to be noticed by this mob.

I prayed to the Goddess of the Winds for protection, and for the hope that this northerner ship caption would accept our request.

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

Jerek thought that he would be fine in the bar with Drahir, until he heard the cries and screams for death outside. He looked outside and saw the Inquisitors. They were hanging priests. Drahir was a priest. He rushed back to the table only to find some large northerner folk(the crew of some ship it looked like.) carrying Drahir away. He rushed to the men and started throwing punches, but the large and powerful men would not be overtaken by one man. Jerek drew a knife and slashed one man on the arm who responded, with a downward chop of an axe he was holding. The axe sliced through Jerek's gauntlets and removed all four of his fingers. He had never felt so much pain in his life.

"Forget the old bastard, I'll find work elsewhere if I survive this." he said to himself. The man was moving closer to him, but Jerek took off through the door of the tavern and dissapeared into the crowd. Drahir was now awake and had seen the whole thing.

"Thank you." was all he managed to say.

"It's allright," the man said, wiping his arm. "That bastard won't bother you ever again good priest. Let's get you up to the boat."

"Hold on," Drahir said. "I still need to get my things."

"Hurry up then. Just go to Navo when you're ready." the man said, then he and the rest of the crew hurried to the ship.


Outside on the streets Jerek was in pure horror. He was losing blood at an alarming rate, and getting very woozy. He knocked into a huge Northerner, who was running quite fast to get to the tavern. He bowled the man over and when he bent over to help him, Jerek responded by stabbing him in the forearm.

"You bastard!" Hrolder yelled at him. Hrolder then took him by the arms and flung him through the window of the tavern. he then jumped through the empty window. He saw a man walking up the stairs who turned to look at what the commotion was.

The man looked at Hrolder and said,"Hrolder? Is that you Hrolder?" Drahir hollered at him.

"Aye me names Hrolder. What might yer's be?"

"Me name be Drahir Samoth," he said using his best to imitate Hrolder's thick accent. Hrolder stared at him for a while then ran up the stairs to meet him. He embraced him in a huge bearhug and shook him like ragdoll.

"How have you been Father?" Hrolder asked once he stopped hugging him.

"Not to good. If those damn Inquisitors see me I'll be hanging from one of those damn poles." The tavern door was busted down and a grey robed Inquisitor walked through.

"We'd better be going. Have you still got that ship of yours?" he asked Hrolder.

"Aye me longship's out there with me crew. Why?"

"Get out of here as soon as you can. I'm leaving here with Navo and his men," Drahir explained as he rushed around gathering his things up.

Out on the streets it was pure chaos. Hrolder cleared a path for Drahir to Navo's boat. They shook each other's hand one more time, told each other good bye, and went their seperate ways. Drahir to Navo's ship, and Hrolder to his.

[Kaylen]

I hesitated a moment, and only a moment, before grabbing my scimitar sheath and all from beneath the counter. With all the mess, it was doubtful anyone would notice if I just began yelling; so I jumped onto the counter and declared angrily, "Bar's closed. Everyone out."

The Inquisitors who had just busted down my door didn't seem to like my tone.

"We come seeking heretics," the largest one said, "We hear this is quite a den of sin."

A smile came to me, then. "This is only a den of bad ale, and I'm the only heretic here you should worry about." Luckily, I had decided to wear my boots today; for if I had not, kicking a full bottle of rotten wine into the head of the big one would have hurt a lot more. I knew this day would come, sooner or later, ever since word of the Inquisition reached my ears.

The bottle had shattered on his face, blood mixing with wine on the floor. I was definitely in a spot of trouble, though being from the south I'd be in that spot regardless.

[Gumblackwood]

"What do you mean we're not welcome in Port Elside," Alren shouted up to the man at the top of the gate, "my father's a major trader in Dagadia Port and I've got some people I wish to speak with there. My companions and I have ridden hard through the night to get here and we must get in."

"Look Southerner," the captain replied, "I'm only looking out for your best interests here. There's an angry mob near the docks looking to lynch foreign looking types such as yourselves, and I don't intend to feed more people to it."

[$tormin]

With only Suma and a couple of other men with him, Navo knew there would be a hard fight if anyone barred the way to the docks. The two islanders were asking for help and the bar owner needed it. "If you wish to be out of here, come with me or not as you choose!"
Outside, the rioters who had followed the inquisitor to this place did not want to face the heavily armed band though they outnumbered them greatly. Leaderless, they were nothing and they stood away as the group made haste towards the docks.

The docks were a nightmare. This is where the inquisitors dragged the people for judgment. The hanged and mutilated were there for all to see and the crumpled bodies of those declared innocent lay where the mob left them as they tried to get away.
Navo held his group back as he surveyed the grim situation. Spotting his ship beached a ways away from the docks and guarded by his men he motioned everyone to run for safety. They sprinted towards the boat, a few of the mob saw and were about to give chase when a few arrows flew and landed in the ground ahead of them. None of the ones in the front wanted to be shafted so there was a mess as they tried to move to the back ranks while the back pressed forward unaware.
This allowed everyone to reach the boat. As they were helped aboard Navo yelled asking if everyone was with them. Getting an affirmitive he ordered a shove-off.

The longship glided through the calm water as the men jumped in and went to their oars. At the back, Navo resheathed his sword and lent on the gunwal to catch his breath. Suddenly he stumbled forward and collapsed, a barbed arrow sticking through his back. There was a rush to aid him but Navo, chieftan, pirate, raider, trader, husband and father, was dead.

An hour later there was discussion among the ships crew. A decision was reached to leave the passangers on the beach south of the city, safely far away that they were in no direct danger. Then the ship would turn north and home.

[Rookie]

Benton awakened in the early morning dark. Flames were visible near where the docks would be. Benton propped himself up. Although it was still very far away, the flames burned bright, and dark spots moved across the light. He thought he could see a ship sailing from the docks at a rapid speed.
He dropped back down in his bag to get some sleep. He would have to be well rested to reach Kingsreach before nightfall the next day.

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

"Whattdya mean Jokull and Gragor are missing?" Hrolder yelled at the young crewmember. "They're my strongest men, of course i need them!"

He grabbed the young man by the shirt collar and yelled in his face, "Where are they?!"

The man pointed to the beach at the south end. The passengers of Navo's ship had been dropped off at the south beach, but two heavily armed Inquisitors, leading rioters ambushed them. Jokull and Gragor had seen the Inquisitors moving, and were holding them off , but they were badly outnumbered by the rioters, and needed help.

Hrolder hurridley landed his boat at the the south beach and him and the ten remaining berserkers rushed to the aid of the Islanders. Although there was almost 40 rioters, a berserker in full rage mode is hard to bring down.

Hrolder rushed into battle in his full rage, wielding his axe in one hand and his broadsword in the other, he cut a deep swath into the center of the Inquisitor group. A group of them, stood up armed with javelins and threw them at Hrolder and his men. One hit Hrolder in the arm and another in his side. He was dazed but while this had been happening his clansmen had nearly decimated the Inquisitors. Now there was a chance of victory. Jokull and Gragor met up with Hrolder and they rushed the remaining rioters, led by the Inquisitors.

They ended the battle with only 2 losses. They thought they were fine and went to go check on the Islanders. Before they made it there though they heard more rioters shouting, and headed this way. There were 3 more Inquisitors this time, and the berserkers were exhausted.

"Allright men. One last battle. Take out as many as you can. And you will find a place in the heavens. May the gods smile upon us." Hrolder spoke to his men. then they charged the enemy formation.

[Rapter]

"DAMN IT! how'd they find us! KIEUA!" I yelled, cursing heavily as i unsheathed my katana, a prepared to fight my way out. Cien did the same, and we took position
with our backs pressed together, we kept turning, fending off blows. I grunted as a sword slashed my left arm, but i kept on fighting.


I heard a shout from what seemed far away, and saw a few northman rush in, amazed, I somehow got enough vigor to fight longer, we fended off the rioters. I turned to see if Cien was still alive, but I turned to darkness.

Cien saw Raki fall, unconcious, she was breathing heavily, cuts all over her body.
She yelled for help, and went to take Raki's unconcious body to the northmen warriors.

[Rookie]

Light began to rise over the highlands. Most of the city was in the shadow of the highlands still, but the light was enough to get the three travelers to move on. "I've got a bad feeling about last night." William said simply.

Benton said nothing as he rolled up his sleeping bag and secured it to his saddle. He made sure his sword slid cleanly from the sheath and mounted his horse. Thoreau was already mounted and scanning the city below. But they were too far to see if anything had happened.

"I expect pigeons will have reached the capital by the time we get there. We can find out if anything happened." Thoreau said.

"You're quiet. Something on your mind?" William said to Benton.

"Just thinking. Nothing important right now." Benton replied.

William saddled up and they followed the winding trail up the mountains.

[Kaylen]

My horse moved at an easy pace. A horse running at full gallop would attract more attention than I wanted.

Navo's offer had been tempting, but the escape of his men would draw a great deal of attention; especially with the little show they were putting together was on the docks. In all the commotion as the northmen left my bar, I went out the back; being careful to pick up some essentials. Most importantly for my escape, my hooded cloak.

One hand held the reins; the other held a crossbow concealed by my cloak. My scimitar was prominently displayed on the saddle, to give the illusion that I have nothing to hide. I received little trouble on my way to the east road, until I reached the end of town: two Inquisitors stood guard. I did not slow my pace.

They stepped into the center of the road and blocked my path. "What business do you have outside the Port?" the bigger one asked. It was hard to tell through their robes, but he seemed to be the more able of the two.

"Family to the north," I replied; attempting to hide what light accent I had.

"Let's see your face then, northerner," the smaller one said. I obliged, pushing my hood back with one hand.

"I never said I was a northerner," I said.

"And as you're not, we might have a bit of trouble then," the big one said.

I let out a sigh. I didn't want a scene. "I don't want to hurt either of you. Allow me to pass." They exchanged looks and laughed, before starting to sputter something about how silly the notion was. I wasn't paying much attention after their refusal became obvious, and had levelled the crossbow at the big one's leg almost unnoticed. I let the quarrel fly before they could react, and urged my steed into full gallop, kicking the other in the face. As I left the scene, I told myself that murderers are hunted by everyone, heretics only by the Inquisitors. That was my excuse. I tossed my crossbow to the side of the road, and took the first fork south.

As I made my way down the road, I noticed the battle on the shore, but I doubted I could do anything to help.

[Gumblackwood]

Alren, Mas and Gam were far from the south gate when it erupted and the mob went after the ship that had escaped from the docks.

"Guess no boats, sah," Mas observed.

"Yes," Alren conceded, "but I still want to get inside. My father has many eyes and ears here, and I want to find out what is going on."

The three kept alert as they approached a gate further east. This one appeared to be open and completely unguarded.

Suddenly, a commotion could be heard out of sight on the other side of the gate and a rider burst out onto the road. Alren was stunned by what he saw hanging from the rider's side.

An inquisitor limped out onto the road and leaned against side of the wooden gate, shouting at the departing character. He lifted a crossbow and took aim; the rider was still in range and was paying too close attention to the road.

A spear, thrown by Gam, pinned the man by his cloak against the wall, and the inquisitor's bolt landed harmlessly in the ground.

"Change of plans," Alren called as he galloped away from Port Elside, "we follow the rider."

[Rookie]

Current Location: fork in the road at the top of the highlands.

Benton finally got to level ground. But what he saw surprised him. A large camp had formed around the road at a fork. one road going east towards the Dagadia-Somnada border, the other going north towards the capital. This camp had formed for no plausible reason. They appeared to be travelers by the looks of them. Travel clothing, ragged tents and worn horses. The way it looked, they had just come from the Dagadia-Somnada Border.

Benton dismounted, determined to find out what was happening and why they had stopped at this fork.

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

Looking at the refugees, then to his battered berserkers, his heart sank. Eight of my brothers had died in the fight to save these damn refugees, he thought to himself. I suppose it was the right thing to do. Only Hrolder, Jokull, Gragor and Gragor and Jokull's sons were still alive.

"Allright. Get a cart. We're not having our brothers buried in this damn place." he told Jokull. They piled the bodies on the cart and started the long journey home. A few hours later about 10 miles from Port Elside, they were ambushed by a large group of raiders. Jokull and Gragor rushed to fight them, but Hrolder was far too tired to be any help, so the other two guarded him and the bodies. Jokull took a crossbow bolt in the leg, and Gragor was quickly tiring. Hrolder had to do something soon to save the rest of his clan.

[Rookie]

Benton wandered around the camp trying to figure out what was going on.
After a few moments of asking around he figured out what happened.
They were refugees from Tordagral, looking to escape the growing conflict.
They were undecided in their course, due to the news of Inquisitors at Port Elside and strange things brewing to the south-east.
Benton remounted, deciding it best he get to Kingsreach as soon as possible.

[Kaylen]

They've probably been on me for a good while, and I had just noticed. I could see their group from a large rise in the road; they didn't seem to be any sort of Inquisitor-based mob, and their clothing certainly wasn't typical Port Elside fare.

I went to the side of the road and let my mare get her fill of grass and water while I waited near the road, beside a tree. As the group crested the rise, I went round and asked who they were.

[Rookie]

**OOC: This is a biggun. :)

Benton and company rode higher into the highlands. The thin forest started on their left and a lone mountain rose from the highlands. Queensreach had the highest mountains in terms of how high they rose since most of them started on already high ground. Kingsreach would be just on the otherside of the mountain. The forest had formerly been a popular hideout of brigands, using the tree cover to hide there numbers as caravans and travelers passed by. But there was a campaign to drive the bandits from the forest. They made numerous return trips and eventually gave up.
The brigand party that raided along this section of the road was unusually large and took a company of trained Queensreach Legionaires to drive them off several times. Beginnings of permanent residencies could be seen where the bandits attempted a small series of houses for permanent fixture, but they were foiled by the legions.

They rode along in silence, listening to the casual plodding of the horses. This was one of the prettier sites south of Kingsreach, Benton thought. A modest river appeared next to the road as the road wound alongside it. The forest on the far side, the mountain there as well. Benton stared off, lost in his own thoughts, almost dreamlike.

"Halt!" came a sudden shout.

"Great, what do we have here?" William said dryly.

A pair of armed brigands stood in their way.

"I suggest you two move before you get hurt." Thoreau said drawing his Gladius.

"I don't think we need to worry about that." said the bandit with the beard. He let out a sharp whistle and men came out from the river bank. Several more came from some large bushes that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, probably blinds created by the bandits to decieve and ambush careless travelers.
It appears we were careless not to notice those, Benton thought.

Benton drew his longsword and held it in one hand. William drew his rapier and dismounted, having little skill in mounted combat. Benton held his reins with one hand and the sword in the other, having more mounted combat training than William.

"Put those away, we just want your money, highness. And if you're going to use that get off the horse, you'll hurt yourself. We can't have a noble with a scarred face."

"I am no mere noble! I am Duke Benton Foxfist, you will show respect!"

"Foxfist? Well then this is different. You were in an engagement that got my brother killed."

"Well whoopdy-do, i'm tired of your yellow talk, thief. Draw your sword and commence!" Thoreau shouted.

Benton was also growing tired of the delay.

"Let us pass or we will have your number halved. I am no novice to the sword." Benton said.

"So be it, we'll just get everything you have with you! Have at 'em boys!" the thief shouted.

Benton spurred his mount and swung his sword at a swooping angle. The bandit dived out of the way, holding his short sword up for defense. Benton wheeled around. Will was hopping backwards, trying to protect his horse from the brigands. Thoreau rode down a brigand brandishing an axe. Benton charged in and was confronted with a spear. When he turned away the spear came up and hit him in the chest sideways, knocking him from his saddle. He landed on his back and brought his sword up quickly. One brigand ran onto the blade as it came up and slid off. Benton rolled away as the spearman began stabbing at him violently. Benton kept rolling until he rolled into an unconcious man. Benton rolled the other way, still being pursued by the spearman. Benton suddenly rolled with his sword swinging. The spear was knocked away, giving Benton time to stand.

He regained his feet and faced down the bandit, holding his sword in both hands, holding his ground. The spearman lunged and Benton grabbed the shaft of the spear and pushed it back as the spearman attempted to pull it from his grasp. The spearman was thrown off balance and Benton rushed in and held his sword to the mans throat.

"I suggest you call off the attack now, or I'll end your life now." Benton said putting his swordpoint to the mans throat.

The man looked at the sword a moment then yelled, "The jig is up boys! Lets get out of here."

Benton removed his sword as the slightly smaller group retreated. In all, only two lay dead, but four lay wounded in the road.

"Leave them, their comrades will be back for them later." Thoreau advised from his saddle.

Benton grabbed his horse's reins and remounted. William shook his hand, from which a considerable amount of blood was flowing, "Bastid got my hand with a knife. Hurts like a son of a..."

"Wrap it up as best you can and hold it still. We've got a ways to go before we get to Kingsreach." Benton said interupting the unnecessary cursing.

William found a rag in his saddlebag and wrapped it around his wounded hand.

"Be careful, it'll be hard to hold on with one hand." Benton advised his comrade.

"I think i can manage, lets just go before this starts to get infected." William said uneasily climbing into the saddle.

After the brief skirmish, the companions set off again, slightly faster to make up for lost time.

[Gumblackwood]

Alren reined in his horse and motioned for Mas and Gam to halt when the rider appeared from behind a tree. She didn't seem to be an immediate threat, but it was hard to tell. The shadow of the tree hid the woman's face well.

"I had hoped I would get to ask you your name first, but it would be impolite of me not to give it since you asked," Alren answered her, "I am Alren of the Elmeni family of Port Dagadia. These are my bodyguards, Mas and Gam. Now, I should like to know your name, but first I must know why you carry a weapon that belonged to a woman I know to be dead."

[Kaylen]

As always happens, a smile came to my face.

"Is that the story my family told everyone? I would have thought they'd say I was shipped off to the church." This troubled me somewhat, meeting someone from my past; but after Port Elside, I didn't have much of a present regardless. I wasn't planning on continuing south, so perhaps we'll end up parting ways shortly.

Either way, it still troubled me. Somewhat.

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

The battle was heavily in the bandit's favor, with more coming in every second. Suddenly, a huge bandit walked from the forest, carrying a 2-handed axe as big as Hrolder. With one swipe he took out Jokull and Gragor. He moved to their son's who managed to get a few hits on him, but he obviously didn't care. He cut them down with a snarl. Hrolder picked up a dead bandit's spear and stuck him in the stomach with it.

"Oooh, that wasn't very smart." he said to Hrolder. He turned to a small tree nearby and ripped it out of the ground. He held it high above his head and swung with all his might, missing Hrolder's head, but managing to break his arm and a few ribs. Hrolder cried out in pain but, took out his broadsword and stabbed him through the bottom of his jaw, the sword piercing his skull. The large man fell down dead before he hit the ground. The other bandit's screamed and rushed him beating him with swords and clubs, and they didn't stop until he was an unrecognizable blob and flesh and blood.

[Gumblackwood]

Alren had to resist the urge to jump from his horse and hug Jaida. Hearing her voice had made him suspect that the rider was in fact his old friend, but having her mention her family and the church in such a distasteful tone clinched it.

"Jaida bint Salah," he said happily, "all these years I thought my brother was lying."

"I knew you weren't dead," he continued, "your family probably knows too, but I doubt they care as long as you were long gone."

Mas interrupted. "Sah, I ate to be spoilin' yer ryunyon, but we needsta get bacta yer fatha."

"Oh... yes, we do," Alren remembered his original goal. "Jaida, you're welcome to accompany us as far south as you wish. I don't expect you want to go all the way to Dagadia Port, but I'd really like to catch up on things."

[Rapter]

Cien carried me away from the battle, I didn't remember much, but when I woke, I was in an abandoned cabin that Cien somehow found a few miles from the beach. My cuts were bandaged, so was her's. I lifted myself up, ignoring the stinging pain of my cuts, hoping we have food to last a few days. I went to check on Cien to make sure she was ok, I saw that she was. Its a miracle, I know, us being alive after that battle with the inquistor led bandits. But I don't want to think about that, I just want to rest.

Cien looked at Raki, as he walked around, checking his surroundings, she sighed, "See.. I knew going into that port was a bad idea! Now you should listen to me more often, Rac'Ki!" she said kicking Raki on the knee. She thought back to when she was carrying him away, how more bandits came, and slaughtered the northerner fighters, she paled a little.

I grunted a little when she kicked my knee, "I know, I guess I should have listening to you, you dont have to kick me," I said, but then i noticed her going pale, "whats wrong?" I asked her.

"The northerners who saved us, they were slaughtered by more bandits, I hope they didnt see us, if they did, they could have followed us." She said with a tinge of fear.

"Well, lets stay here for a day, hunt tomorrow, then leave, head south for Dagadia, try to get a ship, and head home, OR, we can head north for King's Reach, its your choice, Cien." I said, knowing the answer already.

Cien thought it over, "I say we head north for King's Reach." She said.

My eyes widened, "Head north?" I said, surprised, as I thought she would say we should head home, not head north.

Cien smiled, "Yes, north, home can wait, we should be safe in King's Reach if anything, and we can get some support from the nobles, remember, you are a noble as well, so you could probally(sp?) use your rank to get us some nice rooms, and some protection from any inquistor." she said.

Ahh, thats why she wants to go north, its closer.

"Okay, lets head north then!" I said.

[$tormin]

Suma had gotten seperated from the others during the fight. He could handle himself in most fights but the numbers of people attacking were too much and he had to position himself away from the brunt of them. Even still he ended up with a few small wounds.
It had been to Navo that Suma had owed his blood debt, when the man died Suma had decided to leave with the others who were being set ashore a distance from the city that was supposed to be safe.
In a strange land with only a passing command of the language and his weapons he would try to make his way.

[Rookie]

They travelled slowly around the mountain. Will was pale, but was otherwise looking well. Benton knew looks were decieving though. A well looking man could die the next.

"Kingsreach is just beyond this mountain. Once we're there, we'll head to the palace and get you treated." Benton said reassuringly.

Will nodded his head slightly. The sky was clouding over but it appeared it would not rain. Benton thought for some time. He had been subject to brooding in recent times. The troubles were weighing heavy and he had little rest. He did need a break, but he could not abandon his position.

[Kaylen]

I didn't have anywhere else to go, so I agreed. I did indeed not plan on going far into Dagadia, however.

OOC: Sorry for the short post, busy day.

[$tormin]

Two Months Ago

The Eastern oceanside city of Surdat was built around the Mechaniaus Vesta, the branch of the church of Suma that dealt with mechanical and alchemical affairs. Many were drawn here from around the world for many reasons. To earn great fame and fortune, to support thier church and god and some to escape the everpresent control of the growing number of inquisitors throughout the cities and towns of Somnada. This was because the MechVesta had its own branch of Inquisitors who were known to be far more tolerant of any diversity of warship and far less tolerant of the grey and black robes of the other branches.

Inquisitor DuVarne removed his hat before stepping into the room, his red robes swirling about him as a rush of hot air blew out. "Grandmaster, you wished to see me?"
The Grandmaster had been ravaged by a plague as a child, his body left in ruins and not even able to walk. With little more than one of the cleverest minds of his time he rose through the ranks to his current position. Seated in a steam powered mechanical chair, the man looked helpless but his gaze seemed to rip a person apart. "Ah yes, Jeytan. It is good that you made it so quickly. Please sit right there and read the marked chapter of the book on the table."
An unusual request but the Grandmaster had to have a reason for it. Jeytan sat and began to read the book. It's pages were ancient and the script was long out of date so reading took longer than it should have but eventually he worked his way through it. A huge hollow had formed in the pit of his stomach. "Is this real? How long ago was this written and by whom?" He demanded.
"It is an old book and not the original which was destroyed. The man who wrote that came long before the great flood although by how many centuries I cannot determine. The man was supposedly an astrolagist, studying the stars to determine the future. The predictions he made, along with the proofs, were the only thing of importance he ever did really." The old crippled man had to stop for a bit to rest his strength before continuing. "The work I have is not complete and I have lost men searching the vaults for more information. I had lost hope in that avenue of investigation before I discovered an intersting piece of information.
"One Drahir Samoth, a high ranking researcher, was imprisoned for some unknown reason and sentanced to death. I know it is a long chance but I want you to go to where he was last known to be heading and find him if you can. Discover what he knows and if you can, have him brought to me.
"Most of all though, protect him from my fellow men of the cloth. The high priest is over a hundred summers of age and soon will pass. If the others of my ranking are wasting time and effort elsewhere it can only strengthen my bid."
The dark skinned, red robed inquisitor looked back to the book a moment before making his decision. "I will need a few men, money and provisions. If changes of horses are provided along the path I must follow I don't doubt that I will be able to catch up to the man you seek."

[Gumblackwood]

It was evening, and clouds were rolling in from the west. Alren was sure the party was near the border, but he had left the main roads fearing ambush. The tree-lined hollow they found had been a campsite before, but the ashes were old, so there was no reason to suspect that bandits had used it recently. Still, he had worked out a watch for the night. Mas and Gam were setting up three tents. Alren wasn't sure what provisions Jaida had, so he wanted Mas and Gam to share a tent.

Alren and Jaida had been catching up on the road, and Alren now sat staring into the glow of the fire.

"I will have to have words with Rhakim when I get home," Alren grumbled at the fire, "not only did he lie to me and everyone about your fate, but he was part of the reason you left anyway."

"I used to think it was so wonderful that you and my brother were in love. Everyone wanted you to get married, myself included. I thought it would be great to have you as part of my family, I always thought of you as an older sister anyway. Now I can only think of what a heartless bastard Rhakim is."

Meanwhile...
Location: Dagadia Port, a staircase leading to a parapet in the Almeni home

"Father, you said you were going to wait for Alren to return before showing us the workshop."

"I know, Rhakim," the old man replied, "but he was supposed to be back almost a week ago, and I have heard nothing. Pigeons come in from many towns reporting bandit activity and even bandit clans raiding many villages. I fear for the worst. You are the one to inheret all of this anyway, I had just hoped that you would both see my greatest works at the same time."

They came to a doorway, and Albet pulled an elaborate key out of the folds of his cloth belt. He opened the door.

All manner of mechanical devices filled the tower room. Some hung from ropes across the ceiling, some were stacked behind mounds of paper schematics. There were models of the screws that the Almeni family used to make mining easier, models of the harbor cranes that had been so useful for trade, scale ships and wagons and any number of other unidentifiable contraptions, but much of the floor was cleared for one of them. Even a stately looking desk and chair had been pushed out of the way.

A big metal semicircle stood in front of a pedestal with some sort of oily substance in it. Several other metal pieces were attached.

Albet seemed a bit disappointed that his son's eyes glued on the central contraption. "It's not one of my favorite inventions, Rhakim, none of the dangerous ones are."

"I keep the worst ones locked away," he pointed to a metal box that was almost hidden under clutter. "and if anyone were to break that open without knowing the proper way, there's a mechanism that will destroy all the schematics inside."

"Still, I suppose you want to test it," Albet said, and he walked over to the desk, pulling a number of sheets off it, "which is good, because it requires two people. Take hold of that lever, and as soon as I hit the plunger, pull it down."

Rhakim did as he was told.

The flames flickered deep in Rhakim's eyes.

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

Lord Jureem Ahten and his soldiers set out of their fort about 2 weeks ago. They were now entering Kingsreach, so that Lord Jureem could talk with the leader. They were low on supplies, so Jureem sent out three of his strongest men, including his Major General Elmdor Chamberlain, a large man of Queensreach origin to get more, while Jureem and the 2 other men went to the nearest tavern and got a room.

"So my lord, when is this Duke going to be here? We only have about two months before those damn raiders attack." asked Elmdor. Jureem looked up at him and chuckled.

"Calm down good General. I'm sure he just has some inportant business to attend to. Tomorrow I'll send Lem up to the castle to ask if he's there. If not we'll wait. Get some rest Chamberlain. If he's not there, I'm going hunting early tomorrow anyways, up in the hills."

"Sir, I don't think," Chamberlain started to say, but was cut off.

"If it makes you feel better, you can come guard me. Now get some sleep."

"Yes milord."

[Rapter]

A week later, Cien and I arrived in KingsReach, it was a pretty uneventful journey, thankfully. I smiled slightly as we passed through the south part of the city. The smile held for just a second, till I spotted the nobleman, from his clothes, I suspect he's a duke, walking past me, I hurried up, Cien trying to catch up with me as I tried to shoulder past his guards. Now let me explain, I am not well dressed, my armor is tarnished, the high quality wool on my cloak slashed and ripped, my boots looked liked they walked through a swamp a few hundred times without being cleaned, the black on my sheathes turning a slight dirt brown, due to the dust of the road, and the sand of the beach, even though i tried my best to clean it..

"Hai!" I said to get his attention, "Earl Rac'ki Tinar, sorry for interrupting your walk, but I would like to ask if I could get accomdations at the palace, and some change of clothes.. as you can see, we had a ruff time in the south due to inquisitors.." I said, hoping the noble would believe me.

Cien shook her head, this wasn't the way to do this, she thought, but she went along with it.

[$tormin]

A week passes

Many cities in Queensreach are under the full, if unofficial, control of the inquisition and many nobles who actively opposed the persecution are leaving for defendable positions or for safer places to hide.
In the north a small raid was repulsed with the assistance of the soldiers traveling with the tax collector. Enforced silence on the incident is held as the king of Turvitna calls a meeting of all his nobles.

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

"It seems the raid has been put down, Chamberlain." Jureem stated about a week later.

"Good. Now we can go home?" Chamberlain asked.

"Oh no, I actually kind of like this place, you know? Good hunting, good fishing, no damn raiders. I'm sending 2 of the men back with a letter to my wife telling her we'll be staying here, a little longer." Jureem told him.

Chamberlain just grunted and walked downstairs to the bar.

A little bit later Jureem put on his chainmail armor, and sheathed his sword, then walked out onto the streets. It wasn't a very big place, and it was much colder than Dagadia. But he didn't care.

"I wonder if there's a fletcher around here. I could use a good bow." he said to himself. Ahh looks like one over there."

Once he bought the bow and a few dozen arrows, he went out into the woods surrounding Kingsreach. He noticed a very large buck about a hundred yards to his left.

He took carefull aim, drew back the string as hard as he could, but before he let go, something rammed into the side of his head. His helmet saved his skull from cracking and he leaped to his feet. He drew his sword as he was surrounded by 3 very large bandits, they looked like.

"Allright, noble. Hand over that pretty sword of yours and you'll be ok." the leader of the three said.

"Go to hell!" Jureem snarled back, and leaped forward quickly stabbing him in the chest.

"Dammit, you stupid sand monkey! Get 'im boys!"

[Gumblackwood]

((long post, sorry))

Alren pored over his father's notebook, the cabin rocked slightly with the waves. Mas and Gam worked the small ship outside the cabin; they had to drop anchor in this thick fog. The last week had been quite eventful, but Alren wasn't about to let his guard down; he needed to know more people he could trust.

Jaida had left the party for her own reasons, Alren knew she would. He imagined he'd meet her again, though.

Upon reaching home five days ago, Rhakim had greeted Alren with open arms. Alren had no idea of his brother's newest treachery.

Rhakim led Alren up to their father's workshop and allowed Alren inside ahead of him.

"I'll let you talk with father alone," Rhakim said as he shut the door. Alren didn't hear the lock.

The workshop had been rearranged. The desk was moved into the middle, and Albet's chair faced the window overlooking the harbor. The man looked like he was snoozing.

But Alren noticed something as he approached his father from behind. Not only was Albet not snoring as he usually did when he had such naps in other parts of the house, but his skin looked pale.

As Alren came around to face his father, he was already sure of why his father didn't wake, but he still gasped. The hilt of a dagger stuck deep in Albet Elmeni's chest. It was one of Alren's favorite weapons, a gift from his father when Alren was first training in combat.

Alren jumped as he heard shouting from the other end of the house. Alren knew his brother had framed him for their father's murder, and was now bringing the city guard. He had to figure out why. That and get out.

Albet had been writing when murdered; an ink spill on his desk showed that some papers had been removed, but Alren grabbed the remaining ones and shoved them inside the folds of his clothing.

He pulled down a rope, letting some of his father's models clatter to the floor and snaked it out the window. Climbing down quietly, he dashed away from the house towards the docks.

Alren found Mas and Gam at one of their favorite portside bars, and dragged them along with him. They headed for their father's private dock.

After a generous bribe to the dockmaster to ignore the ship's crew manifest, they managed to board and ready a family sailboat that had already been readied for a week's voyage and set sail before the city guard even managed to realize he was gone. The boat was tough to handle with only three, but still manageable, and it meant that the supplies on board would last much longer.

Something about the ship bothered Alren, though. Inside the captain's cabin, he found the missing papers from his father's desk, many dealing with sinister-looking contraptions. One of these contraptions he found on board, mounted beneath the bow with a forward opening. It seemed to go with several barrels of an oily substance, but Alren couldn't figure out the point of either, even after reading his father's papers for days.

They sailed north, avoiding Queensreach as best they could, and were now off the coast of Turvitna. Ships heading the other direction spoke of fleeing strange raiders, but the fog was giving the boat safety for now.

[Rookie]

**OOC: I'm assuming the addressed Duke was myself

*IC:

Benton regarded the man, "I'm sure if you are here on foreign business you will recieve welcome, but I am only a minor lord and could not arrange such things for you, i am afraid. The Inquisitors are a nasty business to get caught up in."
With a slight nod and passing of farewells, they departed.

One Week Later

Benton was on the edge of the border, having regretfully declined an invitation from another visiting noble, to aid in defense of his country. Benton had been forced to protect Queensreach's borders from raiders from the warring nations to the north.
It was a cold dark morning as he sat atop his horse overlooking the field he had been entrusted to gaurd. Will was tending to politcal matters back at Kingsreach Peak. Thoreau was at Benton's side as usual.
Benton had had little command experience, and the few soldiers under his command were inexperienced. His legionares stood with tower shields in there posts as they awaited the oncoming assault.
Only a few nobles had been dispatched to the border. The rest had remained to deal with the inquisition. While most were not heretics, they did not approve of the torture and killing of the innocent and were often at the mercy of the religous mobs.
Benton was thankful that the inquisitors had moved on from Kingsreach Peak and was able to reinforce the border. The Northern lords had dealt with the inquisitors early on but the central and southern areas were now under deadly siege by the inquisitors in their hunt for heretics.
Benton rode up and down his line waiting for the oncoming raiders. Normally friendly relations were broken and Queensreach would defend its borders if need be. With news of an assault coming on the north, they could do little else.
Queensreach was more concerned with its current borders at the moment, but if the situation had permitted they would have aided the other countries. Inquisitions and northern raids had stopped the aid.

Benton turned to Thoreau, "What do you think the battle may bring?"

Thoreau thought for a moment, "That depends on if the battle comes. If it does come and we stay organized we can defeat them. Minimal losses at best if we stay together."

Benton nodded, this is what he also thought. But battles did not always go as planned. He turned back to the cold field and waited again.

[$tormin]

A small village north of Sharks Bay

Modan shouted to his sons to hurry up with the plow. Winter had just ended and it was time to break the soil for planting. Hopefully this year the crop wouldn't be destroyed like last. The winter was hard, many animals had to be killed and several of the oldest members of the community saw fit to end themselves to spare the food for the younger. Luckily though the cold lasted longer than it used to, the storms ended far earlier and new currents brought a bounty of fish saving the people.
A horn blew and Modan stopped his work on repairing the fence. It came from the tower overlooking the beach where the fishing boats and only blew when strange ships were coming. A few minutes of looking and he spotted what caused the alarm. "Leviathain" he whispered fearfully, invoking the name of the near legendary serpant whales that plied these waters centuries ago. There must have been a score of the monsters all heading right towards the settlement.
"KAFF! Get your mother and sisters to the woods...NOW" Modan yelled to his youngest son, a boy of five. He then ordered his other sons, ages seven to fifteen, to get the axes and go with him to the beach where the other townsfolk were gathering.

OOC: Continuing this tomorrow

[Gumblackwood]

location: along the southern coast of Turvitna

The Chaser, aptly named for its speed and job, plowed through the lifting fog. Haifa bint Rima, guard captain of the Dagadia Port Watch, accompanied it on this special mission.

She was an intense woman, and that more than made up for her small stature. It was known throughout Dagadia Port that she could take down a man twice her size without blinking. Some say she kept magic talismans and prayed to dark gods for such abilities, she shrugged it off and called her abilities "knowing where to kick".

Haifa was focused now. More than a week had passed since the murder of Albet Almeni, and Haifa's intuition told her that she was chasing the wrong man for the right reasons. The quiet woman who insisted on accompanying the chase only supported that opinion.

The Port Watch's initial suspect, Albet's second son, had escaped the port unnoticed. It would mean that the dockmaster responsible for that ship would lose his job and probably earn a good public lashing as well, but Haifa didn't care. Being in charge of the Port Watch meant not caring for those that took bribes and looked the other way.

The older brother, Rhakim Almeni, had come to the watch in hysterics, claiming that his brother had come home from a trading trip angry with their father and had locked him out of their father's workshop. When they had found the murder scene, Rhakim went on screaming that his brother had stolen valuable weapon schematics that their father wanted to show the Dagadian military.

Upon further investigation, Haifa began to suspect something was missing. Haifa's men reported Albet had been found dead with scattered papers and Alren running from the scene, but when Haifa visited the scene she knew Albet had been dead more than a day when they found him.

Unfortunately, before Haifa could question the older brother Rhakim, he had also disappeared.

A day after the fiasco, the Port watch was able to determine that Alren had escaped by ship and was headed north. As Haifa ordered the Watch's best ship ready, a woman refusing to give her real name approached Haifa on the dock and told her that Alren had not even been in the city until the day Albet was found, and that he was intent on having an argument with his brother, not his father as Rhakim had claimed.

When Haifa claimed that the watch was still intent on finding Alren because of the weapon schematics, the woman insisted she accompany the ship.

The chase had been lucky so far, it seemed Alren was happy to communicate with other ships along the way, so Haifa had a good trail to follow north.

[$tormin]

As the shapes neared they could be made out for what they really where, ships designed after the beasts of the sea. A hail of arrows flew from the ships against the defenders who took cover where they could. As the villagers retreated to the town the ships beached and a wave of horrific howling creatures poured forth.
At a narrow street Modan and several others struck at the creatures who charged howling like beasts. He swung his axe and got inside the defenses of one of them. Dropping his axe he quickly drew a long dagger and drove it into his opponents groin.
Grunting in pain, it drove its blade into Modan then fell ripping off its mask to reveal a white face with dark eyes and hair. Several of the Venkar mans comrades tried to help him but he bled to death in moments.

In the woods, fleeing, Kaff paused for a moment and looked back but could see nothing through the dense wood. He wanted to fight alongside his father and brothers but Modan's order had been clear.
Keeping away from the roads, the refugees followed an old smugglers trail towards Shark's Bay.

[Rookie]

Benton sat upon his steed as a dark mass had appeared in the distant hills. He was never one for motivational speeches, and he had nothing to say. The men knew what was at stake: the sanctity of Queensreach. The Legionaires
stood ready, the wall of tower shields formed with spears extending out that added to its already formidable appearance. The line stood bracing itself against the coming invaders.
Although there was no hostility between the two countries, Queensreach liked its citizens to be safe from raiders, and these invaders were raiding the innocent people of Queensreach.
Benton drew his sword and held it in one hand while holding his reins with the other. The young minor Duke sat as the enemy marched closer slowly at first then sped up slowly as they drew closer to the Queensreachan line.
Archers in Benton's ranks were ordered to put shafts to strings and angle up. As the attackers came within range the air became filled with the whistling of arrows. After a moment it was filled with screams of dying and wounded men.

The archers repeated the feat and more screams came as the advancing troops slowly drew closer. Suddenly arrows were shot back. Benton's horse stepped back as men in front of him screamed as the arrows rained down.

They drew closer and closer, now running for the line. The shields were braced and suddenly they were slammed into all along the line. Benton began shouting orders as he tried to hold the struggling line.

The line slowly began to fall apart and the legionaires drew their swords. Benton hacked at an enemy as he drew too close. The man fell into a heap. As Benton wheeled around on his horse he found another foe charging him with a spear. The horse reared up and Benton held on as best he could. The steed struck out with its hooves and wheeled around to avoid the spear. Benton turned the horse back around so he wouldn't get speared in the back.

His horse reared again but he was not so prepared. He fell from his mount and regained his footing. He knocked the spear down and charged in and bashed the mans un-protected head in with the pommel of his sword.
Benton made his way to his line to help get it back under control.
He fought his way through and slowly began going forward.
As his foe walked back, Benton suddenly realized he was in front of his own line. Benton began to walk backwards to safety but suddenly he was clubbed from behind and knocked out.
Thoreau shouted as Benton was dragged off into the enemy ranks. Thoreau fought to recover his lord, but the enemy forces were too deep for him to cut through. He resigned his attempts and limped off to the medical tents. He had been hit in the leg, and after losing the Duke of Kingsreach, he could not bear to fight. He was overcome with shame and grief, now Benton Foxfist was lost to an enemy that wasn't really their enemy.

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

After Jureem had made short work of the thugs, he returned to the inn and gathered his men. The two he sent off had returned and Chamberlain was more than glad to be going.

"Oh no, we're not leaving. The message I sent to my wife stated that, I have resigned as Lord of the Isle, and my 20 year old son will rule now. As for me, I'm becoming an explorer! Who's with me?" Jureem asked. The five men readily agreed, wanting some spice in their life. Chamberlain grudgingly agreed also.

"I suppose you need someone to save your ass. Sir."

Jureem smiled at his old friend." Thank you Elmdor. Let's move out!"

[Gumblackwood]

Alren was getting a better picture of his father from the notes, but he grumbled as most of them were incomplete. It seemed Albet was well in tune with the outside world, even though he spent much of his time in his workshop sending Alren and Rhakim out to run his trading empire. In one personal unsent letter, Albet lamented the breakdowns in communication between nations as well as his own.

Alren was most intrigued by a number of receipts and letters from a group in Somnada. Albet had apparently been hiring a group of mercenaries to assist powerful rebellious individuals out of the nation to safety in Dagadia or Queensreach.

This stack of correspondence ended with two letters, one sent by the mercenaries and another, unsent, in Albet's hand. The former was apologetic, saying that the group had led the priest they were protecting all the way to Port Elside, but due to their secrecy in the matter had lost him and feared for the worst.

Albet's reply letter was not as furious as Alren expected, it even seemed sad at the loss. The letter ended cryptically: "I fear that I may have lost the key to everything, and the hidden war will be lost before it is even begun."

Meanwhile, on deck, Mas and Gam watched the shore. The wind was just starting to pick up again after the fog and they would be able to move the ship again soon. Drifting in the fog had put them not far offshore near a small fishing village.

"Seem de Northrons be forteefyin'" Mas observed. Indeed, the fishing village had constructed several towers and a thick circle of sharpened logs around the village, including far out into the water.

"Least they can't get ta us ere," he added.

Gam shrugged, then stepped to the side. A lit arrow whizzed by and clattered on the deck. Gam stomped it out.

"Jussa warnin' shot, but le's get outta ere." the brothers got to work pulling the ship away.

The boat anchored further from shore. At this point they were in relatively safe waters and far away from the murder, so there was little point in moving until they could settle on a plan.

A fishing boat from the village came out midday and apologized, claiming the town was spooked from the stories of massacres further north both on land and sea. The village's representative said they had little to offer in ways of supplies, but would give them a quality net and treat them to a meal if they wished. Alren accepted, and left Mas aboard the boat.

Mas was hauling up a meager catch when a large boat pulled up beside it. Grappling lines were thrown across the gap, followed by several hooked planks. Mas just looked on and continued hauling the new net. The boarders had him surrounded within seconds; others ran belowdeck looking for more.

Mas brought the net over the side and turned around to meet the gaze of a short, stern woman.

"I am Captain Haifa bint Rima of the Dagadia Port Watch," Mas could hear the woman's capital letters, "and the Watch is commandeering this vessel. Where is Alren Almeni?"

"Only me ere," Mas replied as calmly as possible. It didn't help that Mas was almost three feet taller than Haifa. "Alla restaron sho"

It didn't take long for the Chaser to get boats in the water. Haifa left Randel in charge of the ships and landed a dozen people, including Mas and the mysterious passenger, as best as they could on the town's beach.

Alren, Gam and a number of the villagers met them there.

"Alren Almeni, I assume," Haifa said in only slightly mider tones than on the boat, "I am Captain Salah of Dagadia Port watch and I am here to bring you back to Dagadia Port, in chains if necessary."

"I doubt they will," Alren replied, "I've heard of you, and I have to assume you know I did not kill my father."

"True enough, but you still fled a crime and bribed an official to do so."

"As important as those charges are," Alren replied, "you would not have tracked me down just because of them, so I suppose you must have more reason than that to chase me all this way."

"Your cleverness is noted Alren. We have plenty of reason to believe your brother to be the murderer, but he also escaped from us. Your father, may he rest in eternal light, was a very important man and a brilliant inventor. The Watch asks that you return and any help provided with catching your brother and rounding up your father's inventions will pay off your crimes."

"Thank you, but with your permission, I must conduct an investigation of my own. There are several papers on board the ship that may help with your investigation, but I must travel by land for a time. Take my family's ship back to Dagadia Port, and I promise on my father's grave that I will be there within two months."

Haifa bowed, accepting Alren's oath. "Two months it is, Alren Almeni. You may take your attendents and anything else I can provide to speed your journey."

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

Drahir had Navo's crew drop him off on some coast about 60 miles north of Port Elside. He said his goodbyes and went on his way. He didn't know if people were still looking for him but he could not take his chances. On his way through a small forest he heard a young girl screaming for help, and a few other men's voices yelling at her to shut up. Drahir looked through the bush and to his horror, saw the men attempting to **** the young girl. Drahir had never been so angry in his life. He looked around and only saw three men. He gritted his teeth, and pulled his mace out.

"You there, dirty bastards! Leave that girl alone!" Drahir said as he smacked one of the men upside the head.

The man doing the deed leapt up and pulled out a dagger from his boot. But, Drahir smacked his hand with his mace, making a large cracking sound. The man dropped the dagger, as his other accomplice, wielding a sword, rushed at Drahir. The man managed to stab Drahir in the calf. Drahir barely held back his tears, but managed to smack the man in the side of the face with his mace. The girl picked up the man's dagger he had dropped and stabbed him in the back with it. He fell dead to the ground without another noise. Drahir rushed over to the girl.

"Are you ok, my dear? he asked the girl." She looked up from the dead man and said quietly," No, sir." She then pointed to a small cabin from which several sleepy looking men exited.

"Oi!, shouted the leader. What're you doin' wit me slave girl!"

Drahir looked at the girl. "Listen to me, he whispered. Run as fast as you can to the forest and stay somewhere they won't be able to see you. I'll come for you once I'm done." She nodded and took off into the forest.

Drahir sighed. "I'm getting pretty damn tired of fighting."

[Rookie]

Benton awoke tied to a center pole in the middle of the tent. He could hear his captors yelling outside, but the words could not be heard.
The battle had apparently gone ill for his captors, they had suffered heavy losses for their efforts and showed nothing for it, except for Benton.
Benton Foxfist looked around, trying to figure out how he could escape. He had no idea why he had been captured, there was yet no war between the countries. Even though Benton was a captured noble, he did not hold enough rank to be worth starting a war over, perhaps not even a search party.

"Prisoners from that country need not be taken! You and your man will pay dearly for this!" a tall armored bald man said as he walked in the tent with a very pale officer following close behind.
The bald man was obviously the raids commanding officer from the numerous medals and the chastising he had given the officer.

"We are only thirty miles or so from the Queensreach border, we can release him and return him with our appologies?" the officer ventured.

"You're lucky that option is still available." the commanding officer said poking the officer in the chest.

Horn bugles sounded all around the camp and sounds of fighting came moments later. "Of all the confounded luck!" the commanding officer yelled, "We'll deal with this later!"
Benton watched as the young officer hurriedly followed out the tent door and ran to where the fighting was.
Benton listened for what seemed like hours as the battle raged on around him. Suddenly the young officer came stumbling back into the tent, blood dribbling from his temple and sweat from his brow. He fell into the tent as horsemen pulled up at the entrance and dismounted. They entered, obviously Turvodian raiders, attacking the Tordagral camp. They kicked the young officer over and the captain said, "Take him captive. Who are you?" he said suddenly addressing Benton.

"Benton Foxfist of..." Benton began.

"Foxfist, i have not heard that name. You must be important if the Tordagrals have you. Why are you here?" the officer asked.

"They captured me in a fight near the Queensreach border." Benton replied, having nothing to hide from these men.

"Queensreach? The Tordagrals are planning something. Take him with us as well. Quickly, we must flee."

Benton sighed as he was cut loose then forced onto horseback. There was little he could do against a troop of fully armed Turvodian Cavaliers when he himself had no weapons. And as he got on the horse, he had suddenly exchanged from one unnecessary capture to another.
"Surely the gods must hate me." Benton whispered to himself.

[Gumblackwood]

((Please note that it has been decided that the female passenger following Haifa is NOT Jaida))

The Chaser and the Albet family's ship had turned around and were headed back to Dagadia Port. Captain Randel had decided to tow the other ship, but had put a number of his men on the trailing ship should they need to split up during the growing number of storms.

Haifa leaned against the central mast, avoiding the crewmen working the sails. The passenger that had convinced her of Alren's innocence approached her.

"Alren will make good on his oath," the passenger assured her, "I have watched him for years since his mother died; he is as honorable as they come."

"You're being cryptic again," Haifa said, "I really wish you'd stop that. What exactly do you know about this whole deal."

The passenger laighed. "A good deal. If he didn't think he had to adventure to find the answers he seeks, he might have figured out he should ask me. He didn't seem to recognise me on the beach, but he might have thought an Almeni family servant to be out of place in the landing party."

"That still doesn't explain much." Haifa was irritated now.

"Alright, Captain, I was getting to that. After his wife's death, I became dear Albet's comfort and his closest confidant within the household. He is part of a group of intellectuals spread out among the nations of the west. They are known among themselves as the Vivaeus and claim to hold a secret of great importance not even I was allowed access to."

"Great," Haifa huffed, "I've heard of this Vivaeus group. There have been reports of a group by that name performing dark rituals in tunnels beneath the city and desecrating tombs in the hills. I can only hope they weren't involved in the murder. Thank you, but that's about all I can tolerate of mumbo jumbo."

Meanwhile

Alren, Mas and Gam were just passing another abandoned farmstead on their trek inland. The coastal town was unable to offer any horses, and they hadn't found any on their way either. Horses would make the trip easier, and probably protect them somewhat, but Alren didn't mind. Far in the distance, where horse fields made up most of the landscape, puffs of smoke and dust seemed to indicate fighting. At this point, Alren felt he could enjoy the scenery.

Until a barely clothed woman came crashing out of the underbrush to the side of the road. She was breathing hard and was soaked in tears. It looked she had been hiding at the edge of the woods, but somehow trusted the men she saw passing.

"Please help! A group of *sob* they were keeping me captive*sob* killed *sob* my parents and *sob* oh please. There was a man he attacked them. I ran off *sob* and was hiding, but I saw you *sob* please help him. I saw what they did *sob* he can't take them alone. Top of the hill. Please!"

"Go," Alren yelled as he and his companions dove into the forest, "keep running, there is safety at the end of the road."

It was less than a minute before Alren, Mas and Gam could see the cabin. A man furiously wielding a mace was holding his own against a couple of the scoundrels. Luckily, others were holding back from the fight, apparently entertained. None were after the woman it seemed, happier with a bloody fight than torturing a woman.

Another whack with the mace to a scoundrel and the biggest one shouted, "All right, that's enough, no more playing around." A scrawny one next to him raised a throwing dagger and took careful aim.

Gam's spear cut off the man's hand. The scrawny man looked at the stump and gritted his teeth in pain.

"There are others!" The boss shouted, "Find them!"

A couple of the scum still focused on the priest, the others, nine of them, headed into the woods.

Alren dropped from a tree onto a few as they began to split off searching. He buried a dagger into the back of the one he landed on and quickly swiped another across the throat with hand-mounted claws as he was still off-guard. The third was able to catch a number of dagger thrusts with a buckler.

Mas rounded a tree to confront another three, catching two of them with the swing of a large branch. As they squirmed on the ground, he fought the other with his usual club-like staff. The scoundrel caught his sword in the thick wood of Mas' club.

"Goo' sword y'got." He said, as he threw the man bodily into a tree, knocking him out. He was sure to club the other two before he sauntered off and surprising the last one that Alren had been fighting.

"Where's Gam?" Alren asked.

Gam approached them, holding up three fingers. They weren't his own. The men searching were dispatched, Alren hoped they could take care of the rest before the priest was killed.

[Gramorn Soulaxe39]

Drahir was very grateful for the help the two men gave him. He might actually survive now. One of the men, wielding a sword, stabbed Drahir through his left hand. Drahir barely managed not to scream. he didn't have much strength left from all the hit he had taken, and just enough power to hit the man in the mouth with enough force to take a few teeth out, then he collapsed to the ground. he backed up to a nearby tree and managed to block another strike from the man's sword. But then to other men jumped in. Drahir grabbed a small dagger from his belt and hid it behind his back. The man stopped attacking and walked straight to Drahir's face, his snarling visage less than an inch from Drahir's own face.

"Are you finally ready to die, little priest?" then man asked smiling, revealing a row of shattered teeth. Drahir laughed at the man.

"What's so damn funny?"

"You are sir." Drahir said and with that he jammed the dagger into the man's eye, blood and gore spewing all over Drahir's face and robes.

"Damn, he muttered. This was a clean robe."

The two other men had rushed to help their friend but he had died intstantly after being stabbed.

"Now you's gonna gets it!" the larger of the two said, pulling an axe out of a nearby stump, and his friend pulling a dirk from his jacket.

Just then the man wielding the large club ran past and smacked the large one in the head. Although the man popped up as soon as he was knocked down, two more men came, the one wielding a spear stabbed the dirk-wielder through the head. The club-wielder smacked he man to the groud again, smacking his head in until it finally burst open like a watermelon. All three of them stared at the priest for a moment, till the larger of the three offered Drahir a hand. He gladly took it.

"Is the girl all right?" he asked them.

"She's fine." he heard one of them say.

"Good." was all he managed to say before he fell to the ground unconcious.

[Gumblackwood]

Gam bandaged and cleaned up the unconscious priest while the others worked on putting the dead men in the cabin. With no one else around likely to clean up the mess, Mas had insisted on at least getting the dead men out of the elements, even if they had been foes. Alren agreed it was the honorable thing to do. They weren't in much of a hurry yet and there was no signs of additional foes.

Alren and Mas came back down and talked over the priest.

"'E's na jussa priesta Soma, 'e's alsa from Somnada. Can tell by's cloak." Mas pointed out some of the intricacies sewn into the bloodstained robes.

"Wouldn't it be a wonder if this is the man my father was trying to protect? He could have gotten anywhere in the weeks since the mercenaries lost him. Whoever he is, we should try to take him with us, at least so that his wounds can be healed properly somewhere. I've heard of several sanctuaries where they train holy knights along the border here, hopefully there's one in our path. And maybe we'll find someone who knows of what my father was doing."

The group gathered what they could of the cabin's supplies and fashioned a gurney for the priest. Mas and Alren carried the priest while Gam scouted ahead. They found their way back to the road and continued on.

[$tormin]

DuVarne sat in the yurt of the Turvodian chieftan drinking the foul brew of the horselanders. An alchoholic beverage fermented from horse milk sat rather sour to the Somnadan's palate. Politeness dictated these sittings though and DuVarne could endure as long as it took until his agents finally found the priest's trail, lost entering Queensland.
A commotion caused by a returning raiding party interrupted the storytelling and tall tales. Grabbing his hat, DuVarne followed the chieftan out to overhear the news.

[Rookie]

Location: North-western Turvodian portion of the Somnada Plains.

Benton was now within a days ride of Great Fork, the capital city of Turvodia. The meals were small, cold, and sometimes tough. Benton also noticed that as they went farther north, it became colder. Great Fork was just on the edge of the tundras formed by the giant glacier to the north.

Benton had no plan of escape, he was properly gaurded day and night, confined to the stake at camps, and tied to the saddle, which was impossible to get out of without aid from a Turvodian soldier, during the rides. He could only hope that the Turvodian government could settle this and return him back to Queensreach.

Benton sighed as he rode along with the cavaliers. The bonds had been lessened slightly today, but not enough to allow him to wiggle free. Benton constantly watched the hills around him to try to figure out where he was. His map studies may aid him here.

As he glanced around and looked back to the west as he caught movement. A banner came up over the hillside, soon its holder was revealed and then another man, and another until the hillside was covered with charging cavalry of unknown origin to Benton.
Benton cursed his misfortune as the Turvodians noticed the charge only after it reached the bottom of the hill and suddenly turned to face the threat. Benton was dragged along by his guard who readied his spear and joined the cavalry charge. In an instant, Benton was being dragged into a fight. The attackers had the advantage of charging down-hill.

In a clash of horses and men the battle was joined. The two forces spread out and began to fight. Spears flew and swords were drawn as a few archers with horse-bows took position on a higher point. Benton had to lean left and right as arrows were fired in his direction.
Suddenly his horse stopped. His guard was knocked from the saddle by a thrown spear, protruding from his chest. Benton cursed, he was stranded. He tugged at the immovable rope that bound his hands to the saddle. He hopped down, his hands still tied to the saddle horn, tugging to get them to move. Suddenly a rogue arrow flew at him, but was aimed to far left and struck his horse. The animal panicked and screamed as it toppled away from Benton, dragging the Duke with it.
Benton crawled over the other side and found the fallen guard nearby with a knife at his belt. Benton got as close as he could and used his feet to pull the weapon from its sheath and dragged it closer. He got the handle into his mouth after a short effort and began sawing at the rope keeping him tied to the dead horse.

The rope finally broke and began pulling the dangling end of rope to untie himself and regain his freedom. He stood up and rubbed his sore wrists. Riders rode past as they charged a line of dismounted soldiers. Benton looked back and the Turvodian supply train had circled up in defense. The Turvodians abandoned the field for the more defensible train and the attackers followed. Benton stayed beside the slain animal and watched as the battle moved away from him.

He looked to the west, deciding he might find a ship or boat to take him down the river to the ocean where he could reach Port Elside, Queensreach. He set off at a brisk run for the west, seeking to escape capture once more.

At Kingsreach Peak

William shook his head in dismay. The party that had reportedly captured Benton had been raided and decimated, no sign of the minor Duke could be found. The worst assumption was he had been killed and left behind in the chaotic Tordagral retreat, or left behind alive and captured.
There were any number of possibilities, but he was not on his way home nor was his body accounted for. The lack of a body provided hope that maybe he had survived and escaped, but he would have reached Kingsreach Peak by now.
Thoreau was contemplating resignation. He felt he had failed greatly because of lack of ability. In his depressed and worried state, he felt he could not protect another again.
To make matters worse, the Inquisitors were reportedly returning to Kingsreach Peak after learning the Duke had dissapeared. Without Benton Foxfist to keep them at bay, they could run their inquisitions without interference. The already small population would be cut in half if the inquisitors would have their way.
William was writing letters to the current monarch of Queensreach, the King. An empty duchy would make it vulnerable