Birthright: Chapter Seven

[RocEter]

FOERDE, HILLS SOUTH OF THE ABBEY

''Of course.''
She listens attentively as Landen/Foerde tells her more.
‘’Good job!’’
She turns in the saddle, first to the north and then to the south, surveying the country.
''We must be especially wary in this territory. Scouts report a large force of goblins and armored horsemen headed more or less this way. I need your best assessment. Do you think the Abbey is defensible now, if I lend you some of the Spears--or should it be evacuated? "


Rain begins to fall.

Foerde thinks for a moment. "There are several civilians with out proper training to hold out against a large force. Supplies are limited and nearly exhausted. While I have no doubt a few would fight, especially if they knew Alamie is responsible for this goblin incursion, however many wish to return home." He says.

"Yet if were are to fight a large force here in the mountains I would much rather have the abbey walls to protect and help defend. Especially against armored horsemen. They abbey isn't to far north of here, if wish we can have look for yourself and decide what is best."

[ewancummins]

LOGGING CAMP

CORMAC, RENN, GUNNAR

LOGGING CAMP

Once in the camp, Renn sees a man he recognizes. "Sir Ranald! I thought I might find you here. I'm looking for men who want to fight. And for the one called Gunnar."

Sir Ranald motions across the tent, to where a mountain of a man fitted in plate armor looms over a reedy fop. The smaller fellow has his hand out before Gunnar, palm open, as if expecting to be handed something.


The knight, Ranald, tells Captain Renn-
''His Grace has laid claim to our prisoner, Baron Lynwerd, overriding your father’s pledge, it seems. That man there before Gunnar says that we are to also yield up certain arms and armor-- a difficulty, as that sword there is now Gunnar's property, given him by me after I took it from Lynwerd's tent when we rescued the Lady Beatrix.... "

[ewancummins]

FOERDE, HILLS SOUTH OF THE ABBEY

''Of course.''
She listens attentively as Landen/Foerde tells her more.
‘’Good job!’’
She turns in the saddle, first to the north and then to the south, surveying the country.
''We must be especially wary in this territory. Scouts report a large force of goblins and armored horsemen headed more or less this way. I need your best assessment. Do you think the Abbey is defensible now, if I lend you some of the Spears--or should it be evacuated? "


Rain begins to fall.

Foerde thinks for a moment. "There are several civilians with out proper training to hold out against a large force. Supplies are limited and nearly exhausted. While I have no doubt a few would fight, especially if they knew Alamie is responsible for this goblin incursion, however many wish to return home." He says.

"Yet if were are to fight a large force here in the mountains I would much rather have the abbey walls to protect and help defend. Especially against armored horsemen. They abbey isn't to far north of here, if wish we can have look for yourself and decide what is best."

''Yes, let's go up and take a look.''


Fhylie rides on...

[RocEter]

Foerde turns his mount north and rides..

[ewancummins]

THE LOGGING CAMP


Not long after Gunnar has sworn fealty and Sir Ranald has begun to set up the armor auction, a messenger from the Duke arrives.

The man, a curtier dressed in the long cloak and ruff collar fashionable at Haes, steps into the tent and declares that Baron Lynwerd has been claimed by His Grace, Duke Devlin.

Sir Ranald coughs.
“What? Count Robin gave me his word —“


The courtier shrugs—“I don’t know anything about that. I’m just following my lord’s orders.
You are to immediately surrender his ancestral arms and armor."

The man stares hard at Gunnar.

“That sword is not your property. Hand it over.”
He holds out his hand to take Gunnar's new sword.

"That's interesting, do you have writ from the Duke ? And this sword was lawfully taken in combat against of an enemy of the Realm as spoils of war ." Turning to Sir Ranald :"Do you know anything about any of his arms and armor being ancestral, this sword certainly does not bear the crest of the House of Sorellen ."Gunnar says as he use a whetstone on his Sword and exams it more closely . Gunnar looks at the courtier and raises an eye brow wondering what he is going to do next as he make no move to give the man his sword .

''I don't need a writ.''

The man pokes Gunnar's breastplate.

''Duke Devlin has given a command. You will obey it.''

[Lord Skybolt]

THE LOGGING CAMP


Not long after Gunnar has sworn fealty and Sir Ranald has begun to set up the armor auction, a messenger from the Duke arrives.

The man, a curtier dressed in the long cloak and ruff collar fashionable at Haes, steps into the tent and declares that Baron Lynwerd has been claimed by His Grace, Duke Devlin.

Sir Ranald coughs.
“What? Count Robin gave me his word —“


The courtier shrugs—“I don’t know anything about that. I’m just following my lord’s orders.
You are to immediately surrender his ancestral arms and armor."

The man stares hard at Gunnar.

“That sword is not your property. Hand it over.”
He holds out his hand to take Gunnar's new sword.

"That's interesting, do you have writ from the Duke ? And this sword was lawfully taken in combat against of an enemy of the Realm as spoils of war ." Turning to Sir Ranald :"Do you know anything about any of his arms and armor being ancestral, this sword certainly does not bear the crest of the House of Sorellen ."Gunnar says as he use a whetstone on his Sword and exams it more closely . Gunnar looks at the courtier and raises an eye brow wondering what he is going to do next as he make no move to give the man his sword .

''I don't need a writ.''

The man pokes Gunnar's breastplate.

''Duke Devlin has given a command. You will obey it.''

"How do I even know you work for the Duke without some form of proof, I would be fool to just believe that the Duke would want to take lawfully gained spoils of war from their rightful owners ."Gunnar Replies as he keeps Sharpening his sword .

[ewancummins]

MID-DAY, THE ABBEY


A mountain rainstorm has blown up, washing the abbey grounds clear of the last few traces of battle.

The smallfolk and monks left behind come out into the courtyard to great the acting abbot and his friends. When the people realize who the half-elf woman with ‘Abbot Foerde’ actually is, they erupt into cheers and excited chatter—even the two monks.

One of the men rushes forward to kiss Fhylie’s right boot before the Grandmaster can dismount.

[ewancummins]

LOGGING CAMP TENT
GUNNAR, CORMAC, RENN, TWO NPCs

Stuttering with exasperation, the courtier repeats his demands. When Gunnar ignores him, he snatches at the sword hilt...

[Lord Skybolt]

Gunnar looks at the fool that tried take his sword away from in amusement and says to him :"Please is that all you the strength you have to take a man's sword away from him ."With that Gunnar finishes sharpening his sword and sheaths it . After he does so he goes back to what he was doing namely training the men of the camp .

[ewancummins]

Haes, Roald


Roald's grin is predatory. "Good. Because tonight will be especially dark." He points up. "No moon tonight. We'll be ghosts out on the river. Rich ghosts when we come back, I have no doubt."

Atli tells Roald,

''The boat we want is still tied up on the wharfside below the bluffs, looked after by a detail of city watchmen with torches and lanterns. My spies say maybe a dozen. Probably no crew aboard at night, but we don't know for sure. I've arranged from some ruckus elsewhere in the city, to keep some of the other watchmen busy well away from the river. That's all I have for you.''


The gang gathers round to hear the plan from Roald or Torthur.

[ewancummins]

LOGGING CAMP, TENT

Gunnar looks at the fool that tried take his sword away from in amusement and says to him :"Please is that all you the strength in you to take a man's sword away from him ."With that Gunnar finishes sharpening his sword and sheaths it . After he does so he goes back to what he was doing namely training the men of the camp .

The courtier throws up his hands in disgust.
''This isn't over. ''

He stalks toward the tent flap...

[Varrus the Ethical]

Haes

''The boat we want is still tied up on the wharfside below the bluffs, looked after by a detail of city watchmen with torches and lanterns. My spies say maybe a dozen. Probably no crew aboard at night, but we don't know for sure. I've arranged from some ruckus elsewhere in the city, to keep some of the other watchmen busy well away from the river. That's all I have for you.''


The gang gathers round to hear the plan from Roald or Torthur.

"Much appreciated, Atli, I like a man who knows the art of preparation." Roald address the men. "We should aim to be on the Alamie-side of the Tuor around midnight. I'll explain what our target is once we're on the water. No point in having more dry feet know the specifics than we need to."

[ewancummins]

Haes

''The boat we want is still tied up on the wharfside below the bluffs, looked after by a detail of city watchmen with torches and lanterns. My spies say maybe a dozen. Probably no crew aboard at night, but we don't know for sure. I've arranged from some ruckus elsewhere in the city, to keep some of the other watchmen busy well away from the river. That's all I have for you.''


The gang gathers round to hear the plan from Roald or Torthur.

"Much appreciated, Atli, I like a man who knows the art of preparation." Roald address the men. "We should aim to be on the Alamie-side of the Tuor around midnight. I'll explain what our target is once we're on the water. No point in having more dry feet know the specifics than we need to."

Nods all round the table...

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Rennault watches the scene play out with a look of confusion, then disgust toward the courtier. Then he reigns in his emotions, and speaks calmly, with one fist clenched very tight, nails buried into palm.

"I'm afraid Sir Ranald is correct, citizen. His Grace knows full well that dealing with the sword, the armor, and the prisoner are my lord father's by rights. Sir Ranald made the capture in Ghonallison as Count Robin's sworn man. Now his grace wishes to countermand that most lawful and just order. His grace wishes us to treat with mercy a man who broke The Holy Truce of the Western Imperial Temple by raiding our lands. Surely Duke Flaertes would not wish to force his most loyal bannerman to go back on his word just for the sake of that bastard Lynwerd? His grace wishes us to return the arms of a man who beat and nearly raped a high-born woman. If His Grace so wishes, then he must seek recourse with the laws of Ghonallison."

A trickle of red drips from his palm as he speaks. "With all due respect to His Grace, of course."

[ewancummins]

THE TENT, LOGGING CAMP


"Oh! Lord Captain! I don't know anything about His Grace extending mercy to the...uhmmm...well...yes, the Temple...ahh...I’ll inform His Grace that the local laws may present some complications. Farewell, My Lord."

The reedy courtier bows and stumbles out of the tent.