Birthright Chapter Nine

[VAN]

Filbert, Watch HQ

At the waiting room Filbert spots a man he has seen at the battle against the goblins and another one he has never seen. Trying to make a small talk till Captain Rennault arrives he gets closer to the two men and announces himself:

"Hello, I'm Lord Filbert. I think we have met up North few weeks ago when arranging the attack at the goblins."

[RocEter]

"Obliged, son," Cormac says, turning and following the directions. He makes certain that all of his weaponry is safely stowed away in a non-threatening manner.

Once he reaches the watchmen, he inquires as to the nature of the cat-man's charges.

"Haven't been charged with anything, so no need to worry not yet." Foerde says from behind Cormac.

Filbert, Watch HQ

At the waiting room Filbert spots a man he has seen at the battle against the goblins and another one he has never seen. Trying to make a small talk till Captain Rennault arrives he gets closer to the two men and announces himself:

"Hello, I'm Lord Filbert. I think we have met up North few weeks ago when arranging the attack at the goblins."

When the half-pint approaches in his fancy clothes and announces himself as a Lord, Foerde can't help but laugh. "Beg your pardon m'lord if I don't rise and cause offense but seriously your a Lord?" He says. He will wait a moment for Filbert to respond before speaking again.

"We didn't meet, but I did see you following the Duke around. So what brings you to the city watch?"

[ewancummins]

"Obliged, son," Cormac says, turning and following the directions. He makes certain that all of his weaponry is safely stowed away in a non-threatening manner.

Once he reaches the watchmen, he inquires as to the nature of the cat-man's charges.

"Haven't been charged with anything, so no need to worry not yet." Foerde says from behind Cormac.

Filbert, Watch HQ

At the waiting room Filbert spots a man he has seen at the battle against the goblins and another one he has never seen. Trying to make a small talk till Captain Rennault arrives he gets closer to the two men and announces himself:

"Hello, I'm Lord Filbert. I think we have met up North few weeks ago when arranging the attack at the goblins."

When the half-pint approaches in his fancy clothes and announces himself as a Lord, Foerde can't help but laugh. "Beg your pardon m'lord if I don't rise and cause offense but seriously your a Lord?" He says. He will wait a moment for Filbert to respond before speaking again.

"We didn't meet, but I did see you following the Duke around. So what brings you to the city watch?"

The watchman seated at the desk across the waiting room, sipping at a mug, spits out his ale.

"Hey, Catnip, your speak with respect to Lord Filbert or we'll take you out back and drown you in a bucket, got me?"
The man stands and glares at Foerde.
"Get on your feet and bow to Lord Filbert!"
The man drops a quick bow to the Halfling himself.

[RocEter]

The watchman seated at the desk across the waiting room, sipping at a mug, spits out his ale.

"Hey, Catnip, your speak with respect to Lord Filbert or we'll take you out back and drown you in a bucket, got me?"
The man stands and glares at Foerde.
"Get on your feet and bow to Lord Filbert!"
The man drops a quick bow to the Halfling himself.

At first Foerde only stares at the guardsman with a questioning look on his face, as he if was asking the guard if was serious about the half-pint being a Lord. When the guard himself rises and bows, he realizes just how much of error he made.

Standing Foerde bows to Lord Filbert, then takes his seat. "Like I said, m'lord beg your pardon for any offense."

[ewancummins]

The watchman seated at the desk across the waiting room, sipping at a mug, spits out his ale.

"Hey, Catnip, your speak with respect to Lord Filbert or we'll take you out back and drown you in a bucket, got me?"
The man stands and glares at Foerde.
"Get on your feet and bow to Lord Filbert!"
The man drops a quick bow to the Halfling himself.

At first Foerde only stares at the guardsman with a questioning look on his face, as he if was asking the guard if was serious about the half-pint being a Lord. When the guard himself rises and bows, he realizes just how much of error he made.

Standing Foerde bows to Lord Filbert, then takes his seat. "Like I said, m'lord beg your pardon for any offense."

The guard harrumphs a bit and then goes back to sipping his ale.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

WATCH HQ

"You may have heard the rumors by now," he tells Lud, "of the murders at the Gorgon's crown. If you haven't, something nasty iced a bunch of patrons and some orphan whelp. Brutal stuff. Inhuman stuff. I need men who know how to deal with brutal stuff." He gives an appreciative nod, to show he does not mean the implication as insult. "I want you and your men to put your ears to the ground. Find out what you can about whatever happened the night of the murder, especially around the Crown itself. Somebody targeted those poor fools--somebody was trying to send a message. But what? Do what you need to do to get me answers. And you know I reward hard work."

Hearing conversation outside his office, he stands and excuses himself. He moves to the receiving room where he sees Filbert, and to his surprise, the druid from the Battle of the Long Vale, and someone else stranger still.

"Lord Filbert," he says with a flourish. "It seems I've kept the lot of you waiting. Do forgive me, it's been a hectic morning already. And about to get stranger still, I'd wager. Cormac, it's good to see you...what brings you from Ghonallison?"

"And who might this be?" He says in an incredulous tone, looking at Foerde.

[Ben]

Roald turns to face the new arrival and looks him up and down. "I assume you're the specialist I was told about? I don't suppose you see any clues as to what did this?" he waves at the carnage with his hand.

"We'll start with the animal." Morgan says.

Morgan removes his pack and sets it on a nearby table. From the pack he produces a bowl, a pouch of powder, and a water skin. Morgan sets to work mixing a white paste in the bowl. Once the paste has thickened, he walks from corpse to corpse smearing the substance on bite marks where the flesh has not been shredded or torn too badly.

"This will need time to set. Once it is hardened we'll have a better of idea of what type of beast we're dealing with. In the meantime, I'll sweep the room the for any other indications of what we may be facing."

[RocEter]

WATCH HQ

"You may have heard the rumors by now," he tells Lud, "of the murders at the Gorgon's crown. If you haven't, something nasty iced a bunch of patrons and some orphan whelp. Brutal stuff. Inhuman stuff. I need men who know how to deal with brutal stuff." He gives an appreciative nod, to show he does not mean the implication as insult. "I want you and your men to put your ears to the ground. Find out what you can about whatever happened the night of the murder, especially around the Crown itself. Somebody targeted those poor fools--somebody was trying to send a message. But what? Do what you need to do to get me answers. And you know I reward hard work."

Hearing conversation outside his office, he stands and excuses himself. He moves to the receiving room where he sees Filbert, and to his surprise, the druid from the Battle of the Long Vale, and someone else stranger still.

"Lord Filbert," he says with a flourish. "It seems I've kept the lot of you waiting. Do forgive me, it's been a hectic morning already. And about to get stranger still, I'd wager. Cormac, it's good to see you...what brings you from Ghonallison?"

"And who might this be?" He says in an incredulous tone, looking at Foerde.

"My name is Foerde, I fought in the battle of the Broken Bell, m'lord Captain." Foerde says, standing up and then bowing. "I've come to provide information about the slayings of the Gorgon's Crown. To be more specific, to provide a description of the killer."

[VAN]

Filbert waves his hand as Foerde bows:

"No need for that, I'm a lord yes but not way back was just Duke's fool that's why was with him in Ghonallison. I'm here to see Captain Rennault and offer my help to investigate the cruel and disgusting attack at the inn."

When Renn arrives Filbert stands and says:

"Good morning Captain, I heard about the deaths at the inn how I may help you?"

When Foerde says that can provide the description of the killer the halfling turns and looks at him.

"You do? That's very important."

[RocEter]

Filbert waves his hand as Foerde bows:

"No need for that, I'm a lord yes but not way back was just Duke's fool that's why was with him in Ghonallison. I'm here to see Captain Rennault and offer my help to investigate the cruel and disgusting attack at the inn."

"I see, that would explain why I wasn't aware you were a Lord." Foerde says.

When Foerde says that can provide the description of the killer the halfling turns and looks at him.

"You do? That's very important."

"Yes, I just hope it will help. The figure was wearing a cloak with a deep hood, its face was protected by the shadows within the hood." He says. "It wasn't human, and had long sharp teeth."

[ewancummins]

SAFANA


The magician's latest scrying from the POV of Lofton's west-facing walls has revealed...

VIEW CONTENT:

a large crowd of people gathering in a wooden enclosure near the castle/palace of the enemy duke. The people press through a big open gate, in a mood of apparent excitement.

[kintire]

Safana sets down her pen, and re-reads her letter;

To His Grace, Devlin, by the grace of the Powers and the Right of his Blood, Duke of Tuor, lord of wisdom and mercy, champion of righteousness, scourge of the goblin hordes, triumphant in battle, foremost in wisdom, envy of the lords of the world; From his most humble and insignificant servant, Safana.

In your illimitable mercy you turned your inestimable gaze upon me and commanded your lowest servant to determine by means of her simple and fumbling arts how many of your miserable, disgusting and honorless enemies are currently in the city of Lofton, cowering and soiling themselves at the very thought of the unsheathing of your invincible sword, that carries death like lightning into the very heart of your foe's power.

I have determined that there are two forces currently in the city. The first is the city guard, a pitiful force, poorly armed and equipped, shaken and terrified, with many injured and in low esteem. While at present they represent a mere slightly delay to your invincible armies, they might be brought to a higher pitch given some effort, though there is no sign of this at present.

The second is a force some hundred or so at last viewing, although they are not mustered so an exact count is difficult. This is a more significant group of about half mounted warriors in full armour and half footmen with long bows. A steady stream of reinforcements is entering the city almost constantly, not in any great numbers at a time but persistantly. This force may be contemplating a treacherous attack, or they may simply rightly fear the ferocity of your august vengeance. I will attempt to find a command point and determine more details.

While not military, I have today observed a gathering at the fortress in the city in which many of the deluded civilian pawns of the vile usurper and murderer are entering his lair with every evidence of foolish happiness and deluded enthusiasm.

I present this simple report with no hope that it will meet the standards that your tremendous and elevated mind has set, but in the hope that your miserable subject's honest effort will ameliorate the punishment she deserves for her fumbling and inadequate effort."

She reads it again, uneasily. It seems very flat and informal, but she has observed thaat the northern lords prefer an absolute minimum of flattery and praise. Still, wincing at the brevity of her admiring phrases, she cannot but wonder if she has gone too far. nervously, she seals it, and sends it up to palace...

[ewancummins]

THE INVESTIGATION OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY

Information from Foerde seems to coincide with what Morgan has gathered from the tavern.
Lud and his goon squad returns later in the day to report that at least three people saw a tall, cloaked figure that ‘walked funny’ leaving the vicinity of the Gorgon’s Crown tavern late on the night of the murders, before the two drunkards broke the window but after anybody in the neighborhood remembers having dropping in for a pint. Lud adds with a lopsided smile “We didn’t have to bust heads to get that, but I did need to shake a few wine-sots till they got talkative.”

Morgan, after checking the dry molds, is able to follow tracks and signs that to lead towards the River Gate. The trail isn’t hard to trace, in fact.

If questioned, gate guards who had been on duty last night report a ‘hulking, robed and bandaged leper’ who walked though just after sunup, when the gate opened for the day’s traffic. One of the bleary-eyed men adds “He must have been far gone, poor bugger. His head was kind of lumpy and long, like it was deformed real bad. He kept laughing, but it weren’t a normal, healthy kind of laugh. More like a crazy animal sound. We put him through real quick. Didn’t want to catch what he’s got!”

Roald’s contacts in Riverside report that a person matching the description of the gate guards climbed into a rowboat and just rowed across the river, free as you please, this morning. A note was found nailed to the mooring post where the little boat had been tied.

All spies and agents of the false duke are hereby advised: you are not safe from justice. We can strike you dead at will. The simpering boy whose elvish arse soils the ducal chair at Caer Haes, Devlin, is too busy with his harlots and wine and fancy dress parties to defend you.


Scrying on the note turns up nothing useful. It’s written in what appears to be blood on cheap rag cloth that could have been obtained almost any city or large town.

[Varrus the Ethical]

RIVERSIDE

Roald reads the note with a deepening frown before passing it along. "So, It looks like the Alamie were involved. This at least makes our next action simple. We retaliate."

[Adam]

CORMAC

The Rjurik man is thankful, not for the first time, for his thick beard to disguise the wry smile on his face as he bows to the halfling lord. City folk, he muses as he turns back to Foerde.

"Well, there's a first time fer everythin'," he chuckles to the cat man. "I'm just happy not to be pickin' ye up off the floor after another beatin'."

He catches his old friend up on events prior to his receiving his letter.

"Then I got yer note, an' I came to do what I can ter help. Figure we've saved each other's lives enough times, it ain't worth keepin' score no more. Just assume I'm in yer debt an' come when asked fer, an' hope this adventure don' end cooped up in a bell tower with an army o' goblins beatin' down the door."