Page 165 of 289
Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 11:22 pm
by Master K
"So you recruit wizards into your wizard hating scheme to persecute other wizards?" Lynda says "And you thought you people could stop that colossus on your own? Had we not intervened, that beast would have mauled Vyones and you know it. Don't bother to convince me otherwise and say you didn't need our help, because we ourselves barely managed to fell the damn thing. I had to scale the beast and nearly climb down its throat. Even then, by the time it ceased functioning it was steps away from the city's wall."
"As for your gleeful assumptions of our trial, your master already informed us that we would've been tried and then lynched. I just feel like the higher ups want us dead, and are not addressing the real issue...though if it even is an issue to them. I appreciate you being much more co-operative then your compatriot, Francis. We've met a fair share of people on our travels who utterly refuse spoken word, and prefer either dismissing us, or attempting to murder us."
"And us? Suspicious? Absolutely, but that's quite odd, considering Averoigne has apparently seen enough of 'our kind'. Take one good look at me. I'm an elf. Averoigne has no native elves, I'm told. We're adventurers who came here from the castle. What constitutes us being any more suspicious then any other group of adventurers?"
"I'm content with letting you go, but it's not really up to me alone."
Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 12:43 am
by BMR
Kalar looks them over and says:
"I say let them choose between themselves which one goes, which one stays. One will remain as our guest and be well-fed, well-treated, and protected in exchange for answers about this land. Of course, we wouldn't attempt to force him into divulging secrets about the Inquisition, but instead general information about the sociopolitical atmosphere, the geography, and so on and so forth. The other, we allow to go to his probable death at the hands of the Inquisitors. But of course, we allow them to choose who goes to what fate, certain life, or probable death."
Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 1:41 am
by Bob the Hamster
Rob sighs audibly. He wants to throw this fish back. They are much too small.
Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 2:39 am
by Gizmog
Voulton looks up to Kalar "I don't think these guys know anything about the lay of the land that Rob wouldn't. Keeping one prisoner's just gonna give him a chance to escape and look bad on our part if we have any more trouble."
Lookin back to the prisoners, he tries to clear the air: "If there's politics involved in this, it's goin' on over my head. All I'm doing is trying to get back home. I don't wanna be here any more than your church wants me here. I've got nothing to hide either, and as soon as I find a way out of this country I won't be any more trouble. I just couldn't sit by and watch while a city gets destroyed, nothing any other decent human being wouldn't have done. I wish your people would've listened to us, the monster we were chasing, the monster responsible has gone too far north for us to track. Their fear of politics lead them to be political. All it would've taken to save a bunch of lives and get the real bad guy was one voice of reason. Don't be afraid to be that voice, next time."
"I don't think you guys had any say in what went on, and I don't think us holding you is gonna do any good for us, you, Averogne or anyone else. Hopefully we'll be parting ways soon, but I do have one more question." Voulton produces one of the holy symbols. "We found these cool little toys in your saddlebags. Either of you two know what it is? Know what it means?". Voulton walks it back and forth across the wagon rail making sheep noises.
After their answer, Voulton will nod to Rob, and if no one else objects he'll give 'em his best directions back to Vyones ("You probably won't listen, but it'll be best for you to regroup there first. Wandering the woods alone can be dangerous."), advice ("I wish you'd go home and lay low, but if you've gotta go back, keep your eyes open. If they're doing something that isn't right, say something."), a warning ("If you ever run into guys with gear like mine, lead by a shrimpy little bald dude, don't trust 'em! They're not forgiving like I am!") and reassurance ("It might not seem like it, but we're on the same team. And one way or another, we won't be troubling your people for much longer. Good luck!")
Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 3:16 am
by BMR
"Very well, if that is your choice, I will abide by it."
Before getting back to work on his feather token, Kalar looks over at Hrulgin and gives him a nod and a tilt of the head towards the prisoners.
Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 3:17 am
by BMR
Hrulgin nods back at Kalar and heads out. He vanishes into the woods and makes ready to trail the Inquisitors after they leave.
Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 4:49 am
by Spoonweaver
Francis explained, "It's the symbol of the god of our order." Then he held his hands up in an attempt to be unshackled. He looked very relieved when Voulton freed him. He rubbed his wrists a bit as he exited the wagon. Paul-Henri on the other hand ran as soon as he was released. He never looked back as he ran back to town. Francis shrugged, "Sorry about him. Anyways, if you're interested in the symbol or our god the higher ups know more about that stuff then I do. I remember seeing a more detail version of the symbol where the cross was actually a dagger. That's all I know though." Francis waves as the wagon rides off, "Thank you for freeing us!"
The party headed north. It was unclear exactly how long the journey would take and so they all restlessly tried to find ways to pass the time.
Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 6:05 am
by Gizmog
As the ride goes on, Voulton ponders over what the guy said. "So, we upset the plan. That doesn't mean the orchestrated the attack, but it sounds kinda like they did? The guy with the hat shot me a hateful look when I mentioned an Archbishop of Vyones."
He holds up the (un?)holy symbol. "A more detailed version where the cross is a dagger. What does that mean?" he tries to imagine what that would look like.
Eventually, he announces to the others: "You know something? I should've asked Francis what this God of theirs is called."
If a convenient water supply comes along, Voulton will take a quick dunk to get some of blood off of him. Outside of that, small-talk and pondering.
Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 8:24 am
by BMR
Before the two leave, Kalar calls out to Francis:
"If you ever desire to serve under someone with more honor than your previous commander, seek out Kalar Kess. If you come to your senses, I will welcome you gladly."
With that, he gets back to work on his feather token for the rest of the trip.
Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 8:25 am
by BMR
As soon as he sees one of the men bolt, Hrulgin chases after him. He makes sure to keep under cover of the trees though, as it wouldn't do for them to know he's following. He counts on the fact that they will tire and eventually have to slow down and rest, whereas he will have no such problem.
Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 3:31 pm
by Spoonweaver
The party road on. The battle of the early day wore on them. Travel was slow and study. The party used this time to relax and reflect on everything that had taken place and everything that was to come. As they road on, they saw only wildlife. Lynda managed to spot a few bears but they were off in the forest and likely nothing to worry about.
Hrulgin followed the two inquisitors back to Vyones. He watched them as long as he could but the suspicious eyes of the guards caused him to loose track of them very quickly once in town. Hrulgin decided to return to Kalar then.
As the party exited the forest, the large clouds of mist became clear on the horizon. The party looked at the mist clouds, reminded of how even though they were out in the wilderness, riding freely down the road, they were trapped. Day became night and the party settled in for a much deserved rest. Hrulgin rejoined the party then as the night past by.
EXP
6800 if level 10
8200 if level 9
Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 4:05 pm
by Bob the Hamster
Rob dismounts Stumpy, and throws a rock in the general direction of the distant wall of mist.
"Well, I think your beastie may be gone." he says to Kalar.
"What are we going to do now? Turn back to Vyones?"
Rob points west, "...or if we go that way we will get to the village of Touraine."
Then Rob points East, "...or if we go that way, we will get to the ruins of Chateau Ylourgne and the headwaters that feed the river Isoile."
Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 4:27 pm
by BMR
Hrulgin enters the camp, walking up behind Rob and tapping him on the shoulder as soon as he's done speaking. Before Rob can react though, he continues on into the camp and tells them what he found.
"They went back to Vyones. Seems like they weren't even challenged when they entered, so chances are the Inquisition has a larger force there. Might be a good idea to get out of here as quickly as possible. If you don't mind pushing the animals, you can all sleep in the wagon while I keep us moving. I don't need sleep and I can see in the dark well enough, so I can make sure we get some distance between us and them. Might be a good idea, seeing as how they're not slowed down by having a large wagon."
He thinks a while, and then says:
"Also, might be a good idea to get word to Gaspard, boss. Those two will definitely be spreading all sorts of stories about us."
Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 2:29 am
by BMR
"Excellent work."
Kalar manifests his sword in his hand and focuses on it.
"We've made some distance, let me see if I can locate the saddle on Bill. It should at least give us an idea which of those places to head towards, if any."
Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 1:33 am
by Spoonweaver
The sword did in fact give Kalar a location. It told him that his saddle was in the same direction Rob had just said the ruins of Chateau Ylourgne were. Could those ruins be Nathaire's lair? Even Rob could neither confirm or deny this.
According to the map, the ruins were more than another day of travel away and sat deep in the mountains close to the border of the kingdom.
What would the brave adventure encounter in such a place?