Birthright: Tuornen IC

[steveflam]

Domenica and Fez, in the tavern



''Well, it's more than just clubs and knives. Somebody is bringing in iron-shod staves, crossbows, bundles of bolts, boarspears, stuff like that. Coming down the river and being moved ashore by night. Gut-ripper knows. ''

"That sounds most excellent on your part, Master Fez," she says in a soothing voice. She moves closer to him so she is within arms reach and under the table grabs his "junk", squeezing tightly, with emphasis.

"Now, just so we have it straight. You answer to me. I like what you tell me, you are rewarded depending on how good I deem your little tidbits. Now, set up a meeting with this Gut Ripper person so I can speak with him about this shipment. Do not betray me or you shan't ever use these again, understood? And don't forget about the Duke. I want to know why he left in such a hurry with the watch."

She gives an extra tight squeeze before letting go and moving back to where she once was, all the while smiling and polite.

"So, is there anything else you care to share with me or shall we part ways today. Tomorrow at the noon hour I shall be back. Hopefully by then you will have something for me."

She nods to him and flipping her hood back up, stands and exits the dive, heading back to her room where her noble outfit was. She'd change there and head back to the Inn where Devlin was with her last evening. On the way she will start up conversations and listen to others to perhaps gain some insight.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

WATCH HQ

"Sir," he replies and touches his forelock as Hotspur leaves. Renn pushes his chair back and reaches into his desk. He retrieved a worn arrowhead, its iron pitted and the wedges worn smooth. Renn twirled the iron between his finger as he thought.

There were too many unknowns. Alam made sense...Lofton had long coveted Haes' dominance of the river traffic. Even a relative newcomer like Renn could see that. But would Alam attempt such a naked act of agression? And what of the others, Dukes Avan and Boeruine? Were all the threats from outside Haes? Perhaps not, or perhaps Hotspur was right, was there treachery from within?

And there was something...pointedly unsettling about Hotspur as well, Renn reckoned. What was his angle in all of this?

He'd need to pay the new Duke a visit, that was certain. He'd met Devlin some time ago, but had little impression of the new duke beyond his philandery. Learning more about Devlin, and who would benefit most by his ascension, would be key, Renn muses.

He stands and sticks his head out of the door. "Sergeant Gilly, gather the squad."

[RocEter]

Cormac shifts his aim to the newcomer, the bandit now on the ground.

"Not sure that was entirely necessary," he mumbles. "Can I trust you long enough to put this bow down and see to that man? I'd rather take him in alive to prison than leave him hear for crows."

The hunter sheathes his longsword. "He is a bandit, he deserves no less than what he got." He says. "Do as you please with him, I have no fight with you. Know this though, he and his friends burned down a farm, and slew the family. They have taken a girl and plan on selling her to goblins but not before they have their way with her."

The hunter turns to walk away, "Well met friend, I am going to see if their donkey can lead me back to their camp." He says and starts walking back towards the bushes he came from.

[Adam]

Cormac releases his pull, letting the arrow drop.

"If you're telling the truth, then I'm with you." He says, hustling back to his horse. "I'm Cormac. Let's go see to these bandits."

[RocEter]

"If you're telling the truth, then I'm with you."

Stopping, the hunter turns back and nods Cormac. "If I am not, we will test my honor through battle and let Cuiraeccen decide my fate." He says.

"I'm Cormac. Let's go see to these bandits."

"I am, the Huntsman. First we see about donkey."

The Huntsman starts to walk back towards and to where he fought the first bandit. From there he will back track to find the donkey.

[VAN]

On the stable roof, Filbert and Jack

The kitchen boy tells the halfing, "I don't know exactly, but this morning the Head Cook told us that none of the kitchen staff are allowed to enter the Duke's Palace. Said he'd bake us into a big pie if we disobeyed."

Filbert knows the palace/keep pretty well, as his duties often take him there.
Of course, the Duke's Fool is not part of the kitchen crew.

"Bake you in a big pie ah? The High Cook should know what has happened then. Too bad I'm not part of the kitchen's staff but merely a jester."

Filbert finishes the pie, adjusts his big yellow hat and says with a big smile.

"Come on my friend, you have to return back to the kitchen before someone spots us up here. I will go to the palace and try to find out what is going on."

The halfling stands up and heads to the stairs.

[ewancummins]

Elevesnemiere hills, the Huntsman and Cormac
The Huntsman finds the bandits’ donkey drinking from the stream. The beat is skittish when approached, but he is able to calm it with gentle words and slow, patient gestures.
While the Huntsman locates and calms the donkey, Cormac has time to bind the wounds of the bandit, if he so wishes.


Filbert entering the Ducal Palace
The guards detain Filbert in the lower hall of the keep/palace.
'‘Sorry, Half-Man, you must wait here on the duke’s pleasure, or turn back. No trifles and ‘musements today, I’ll wager.”
Filbert recognizes this guard; Owen or Edwin, something like that. In the past, the hafling has always seen this man smiling and joking with the others. Now the soldier’s face looks rather sad, with bags under his eyes and a hangdog expression.


Devlin in the Ducal Suite
After Hotspur departs, Devlin has time alone with his deceased father...

Devlin’s personal chaplain arrives later (after Devlin has a chance to send out more orders, if he likes.)

The Haelynite priest bows low.
“I came as soon as I learned of this great loss, your grace. If you need more time…”
The priest points to his chest, and then waves his hand towards the door.
“If you are ready, and with your leave, there are matters of great import I need to discuss with you. “

Dominica, winesink in Riverside
Fez’s lusty smile turns to a grimace of pain as Dominica applies increasing torsion to his tender parts.
“Ah---okay, okay, no problem! Gut-Ripper--- I’ll set it up, yeah!”


Rhennalt, watch HQ
Sergeant Gilly gathers the men and inspects their kit in a quick, professional manner.
“The men are ready,sir.”

[VAN]

Filbert entering the Ducal Palace
The guards detain Filbert in the lower hall of the keep/palace.
'‘Sorry, Half-Man, you must wait here on the duke’s pleasure, or turn back. No trifles and ‘musements today, I’ll wager.”
Filbert recognizes this guard; Owen or Edwin, something like that. In the past, the hafling has always seen this man smiling and joking with the others. Now the soldier’s face looks rather sad, with bags under his eyes and a hangdog expression.

Filbert notices the guard's change and motioning to him to actually lower himself to Filbert's hight so he can whisper to him.

"It's Owen right? Why such a sad face, I have never seen you like that. You among others need a good laugh and you can ask the duke how good I'm at that. He always likes my jokes and the pranks I pull to others. So may I get in and go see him now?"

[Adam]

Cormac shuffles his horse over behind the huntsman. "I have some skill with animals, if I could be of service in calming the creature."

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

WATCH HQ

Captain Ghonallison stands in front of his squad, a look of grim determination on his face.

"I won't sugarcoat it men, the duke has been murdered. Few people know about this yet, but that's likely to change, and quickly. We need find out everything we can while we still have time to do it."

"Sergeant Gilly, take Sevet, Coll, Gatt, and Godthorn and track down whichever gatekeepers were on watch last night. Find out if anybody suspicious came into or out of the city last night."

"Hock, you know waterways better thanany of us. Take Turkell and Lamb to the Riverside Docks and find out what you can about anybody leaving from that route. Any suspcious boats came or left our ports, I want to know. Anybody reporting a stolen boat, I want to know."

"Jonacker, you'll comb the seediest taverns with Mudson, Esten, Sorrel, and Frod. Keep your ears open for any rumors. Get me information however you can."

"Understood, boys?"

[JMaytr]

"I am ready, go ahead good sir."

[RocEter]

Cormac shuffles his horse over behind the huntsman. "I have some skill with animals, if I could be of service in calming the creature."

"I think it has calmed down, for now." The huntsman says. "Tell me Cormac, what brought you out into the hills of Elevesnemeire?" He says searching the saddling packs of the donkey.

[Adam]

Cormac reaches into his saddlebag, pulling out the poisoned arrow. "I found this in a doe a few miles to the west of here." He spits another glob of chew onto the ground. "Was hoping to return it. The animals didn't even butcher the thing, just left it lying on the ground."

[RocEter]

"Can't say I'm fond of people who just kill an animal for the sake of killing, but I can't say I would go outta my way to track them down too." The Huntsman says. "Maybe one of the bandits, then you can kill two birds with stone. If not I suppose I could help you, course we have to get the girl to town first." He says as he searches the donkey.

[ewancummins]

Elevesnemiere hills, the Huntsman and Cormac

In the donkey’s saddlebags, the Huntsman finds a tarnished silver candelabra and a battered tin cup, along with a few copper pence and a wheel of green cheese.


The animal proves tractable with a little help from Cormac. If not restrained, it begins to walk north, the way that the Hunter suspects the bandits had gone…


Filbert, guarded antechamber the Ducal Palace

The guard offers Filbert a sad little smile, “Close, it’s Edwin. Look, uh, you can’t go to see the duke right now. I’m sorry. He’s…busy.”
Filbert notices that the young guardsman’s eyes have watered a little, like the eyes of a man about to sneeze-- or maybe one about to weep.

The sergeant-of-the-guard comes along and stamps his foot.
Edwin hops up.

The sergeant tells his subordinate in a gruff but not too harsh tone,
“’Right, that’s enough gabbing. Edwin, get back to doing your job- quietly so.”

The bearish, red faced soldier then places his lands on his knees and looms over Filbert.

“Important stuff is getting sorted out by the big folks. Time for you to run along, little man. Much as your antics ‘muse me, I don’t want to see you snooping around the palace today. I got my orders, so that’s that. Understand me?”




Devlin in the Ducal Suite.

The chaplain speaks in a firm but quiet voice,

“Your grace, it is imperative that you be formally invested with the ducal title and attendant dignities as soon as possible. You must surely know how divided are the loyalties of some of the confused folk of this realm—and indeed you now have reason to suspect what foul treason lurks in some corrupted hearts. Your enemies must see you as the duke, not the duke’s heir-apparent, and your friends and supporters must know that power if firmly placed in your hands. Therefore- “

The smooth-cheeked priest adjusts his silken robes and clears his throat with a dry little cough,
“I suggest that you at once summon the Patriarch and ask him to publically perform the rites of coronation. This, I believe, ought to be done with all due haste, before word of your noble father’s murder seeps from the palace and inflames the hearts of fools and traitors. I have said my part, you grace.”

The chaplain bows low and steps back a few feet to wait for Devlin’s word.

Dominica, back at the Sign o’ the Salamander, the downscale pub and hostelry where she met Devlin

The place is hopping at midday, packed with rough men and cheap women.

Over the course of a morning spent on the docks and boardwalks, she has learned the following rumors-

• A riot is going to break out soon between followers of the Militant Order of Curireacen and the more devout adherents of the Western Imperial Temple

• A wild-eyed elf with a long knife was spotted stalking the wharfs at midnight, and a murdered whore was fished out of the river this morning

• Alamie is going to invade! Boats have been spotted across the river, with armed men marching aboard…


• Someone has kidnapped Devlin Flaertes, the Duke’s heir


Rhennalt, Watch HQ

“Aye sir” is the unanimous reply.

Rhennalt’s team takes the bad news as well as can be expected--- no soft-gutted weepers in this lot. The new-minted watch captain has served with these men before—he brought most of them down from the North Country. Looking over the squad, he takes note of a few muttered curses, some hard scowls, and a readiness for action apparent in tense frames and glaring eyes.
The squad departs to carry out its assigned tasks.