Realms of Dread IC, Chapter One

[ewancummins]

Shana has been watching the recruiting with a calm and gently encouraging question only once, as the nobles are declared out of bounds, does her face betray a slight cynical amusement. As the captain approaches her she looks curious.

"yes... a cup of tea would be most pleasant sir."

Inside Watch-Captain Rask's office, adjacent to the main room of the HQ-


The office is modest in size and simply appointed. Some of the furniture is scorched in spots, althopugh there is no other sign of any fire of smoke damage anyplace in the room. A small portrait of the late king, Azoun IV, hangs behind the captain's desk. Against the wall opposite the desk is a low wooden bench that ruins from end end of the room to the other.

Rask pulls out his own chair and places it in front of his desk. Politely, he waits for Shana to be seated.

Rask engages in small talk with Shana after the tea is brought in by one of the junior deputy-recruits. He seems open to questioning, and also quite curious about Shana: who she is, from whence she came, how she knows Inovidil, etc.

''Were I to venture a guess, I'd say you had a trace of Dalelander accent in your speech. Am I far wrong, my lady?''

[Archedius]

Archedius walks over to Rardi and leans in,

"Do you remember that one warmage that didn't bother working with our unit? Left himself exposed trying to take out the enemy without us- I doubt that there are enchantments that can stop that many arrows."

He sighs and stands up for a second glancing at Inovidil before leaning back into Rardi,
"Until she can get over her pride, she'll have to be handled carefully. We can get a lot done with her, but I don't want her or someone else getting hurt because of a lack of cooperation."

"After we get our assignment I'll need to track down some...supplies."

[kintire]

Shana is pleasant, apparently helpful, and rather non comittal. She makes it politely clear that, like many Dalelanders, she is suspicious of feudal rulers, and their soldiers.

"there's no need for 'my lady'ing... i've no claim to nobility. and yes, I'm from the Dalelands. From Daggerdale, originally, although I have wandered a good way..."

As far as questions go, she is quite interested to know where the militia gets its authority from, and what happened to the old lord...

[Archedius]

Archedius asks the group, "Are we decided then? If we are then we should talk to the Watch-Captain."

[BigBadQDaddy]

Archedius asks the group, "Are we decided then? If we are then we should talk to the Watch-Captain."

Alain, who finally affixes his new badge to his jacket, looks up at Archedius with a bit of a distracted expression on his face. "Hm? Oh, yes. Let us see the Watch Captain."

[steveflam]

"Yes let's go see Rask an let im know."

[ewancummins]

Shana is pleasant, apparently helpful, and rather non comittal. She makes it politely clear that, like many Dalelanders, she is suspicious of feudal rulers, and their soldiers.

"there's no need for 'my lady'ing... i've no claim to nobility. and yes, I'm from the Dalelands. From Daggerdale, originally, although I have wandered a good way..."

As far as questions go, she is quite interested to know where the militia gets its authority from, and what happened to the old lord...

''Daggerdale, eh? I know it only from maps. ''

He's happy to tell Shana about the militia:

''Our authority derives from a royal charter. The Baron of Marsember is charged with overseeing our activities, and he makes appointments of officers- things like that. Ultimately, of course, we all answer to the throne.''


On the subject of the city's last ruler, he has this to say:

''Baron Scoril died defending the city against the awful horde which came upon us last week, I'm sad to say. He was a brave man; Marsember mourns him. ''

Of the new lord, Rask tells Shana this much:

''Young Lord Ildool is the nephew of Old Lord Ildool, who had been Baron of Marsember before Bledryn Scoril recieved the title. Young Ildool came back to the city only a few weeks before the unfortunate events of last week. He'd been away from our kingdom for years- living in Westgate, I believe. In any case, he assumed immediate responsibility for the city in the aftermath of Lord Scoril's death, and has since been confirmed by the Regent as Baron of Marsember. ''

Before the conversation can advance much further, it is interruped by someone knocking at the door.

''Excuse me, Shana. Come in.''

[Ken of Ghastria]

"Yes, yes," says Blaise eagerly. "Let's go see the Watch Captain. I'm eager to start my 'tour' of the area and harass random miscreants."

[VAN]

"Yes, lets go, it's boring stay here a little action is what we need."

Immediately though corrected herself, paying a side look at Archedius.

"And by action I don't meant battles. I don't want troubles. I just want to do something, a patrol, anything."

[ewancummins]

Watch-Captain Rask gives a briefing as soon as the team is assembled into his office, which is just barely large enough for all of you.

''We've been fishing bodies out of the canal for several days now, mostly victims of smoke inhalation and some killed in the fighting. Among the dead are a few unusual cases which bear further investigation. In the last four days the bodies of seven people who were quite neatly decapitated have been discovered in or near the city canal system. It looks more like an executioner's work than anything that might have happened in battle. The heads remain missing, and no one has been able to identify the bodies- which have since been incinerated outside the city. The strange similiarities in the killings only came to light after the bodies had been disposed of, you see. With all this death....''


For a moment, sadness and fatigue are all-too-evident on Rask's drawn face, but he soon recovers a professionally stoic demeanour.


''You are to investigate these murders, identify whomever is responsible, and bring the guilty to justice. Have you any questions about this mission?''''

[steveflam]

"No questions on me part. I think me askin' this is on the part of anyone. We's gonna be paid by tha city, ain't we?"

[Archedius]

"One blow to the neck or several? What were the bodies dressed in and were there any possessions on them?"

[ewancummins]

To answer your questions-

''Reports indicate the victims were decapitated with what appear to have been single strokes. I'd guess a heavy blade was used, likely a sword or an axe.'

'The victims were variously dressed. One young woman was in the sort of fancy dress a courtesan might favor. The others were mostly dressed in the sort of garb worn by the ordinary citizenry- nothing remarkable. None were reported to be wearing any jewelry or carring any money in their pockets or purses. None were armed. ''



Turning to Rardi, Rask says-

''As for your pay, yes, of course you'll be paid. The pay is full room and board plus one silver falcon a week. Additionally, the healing services of clerics working with the militia will be provided for any illness or injury you may suffer, free of charge. If you acquit yourselves well, Lord Ildool may reward you with a special bounty in addition to your ordinary pay.''

[Archedius]

"One blow. That's still quite a feat even with a two-hander. Would any citizens or guards have access to implements like those during the attack?" Archedius stiffens up a bit,

" I mean no offense, Watch-Captain, but is it possible that these people were beheaded for fear of them rising as walking dead by guards or militia? I've had to do such things myself when I was a soldier."

Archedius scratches under his eye with his thumb nonchalantly with a slightly audible sniff. He squeezes Rardi's shoulder, but the gesture is subdued.

[steveflam]

Rardi acknowledges Archedius squeeze with a nod. Putting on a straight face she says "Let's git this show on tha road" she harrumphs "An fin' out what's goin on 'ere."