Birthright Chapter Nine

[Varrus the Ethical]

WATCH HQ, ROALD


"Thank you, Captain. And you too, Lord Filbert. It'll be good to have you two watching my back."

Roald turns back to Foerde and Cormac.

"All right, If you both help with the raid into Lofton, then I'll join you in the on your quest into the Rhuobe."

He begins to rub his hands together.

"Everyone should get ready to cross the river. Lofton's guards are going to be distracted with Riegon's spectacle, so I suspect it'll be relatively easy for us to get in through the gates. I figure we can either use Safana's magic, or perhaps simple disguises to sneak in." He nods towards Foerde, "Though he'll stand out."

"Once we are in the city, I think we should check out the brothel that Torthur found. I expect the women would've been moved, but we may find clues. Otherwise, we strike any targets of opportunity that may arise. If things are not to hot, I think we should try leave through the gates. If things are too hot, we enlist the use of Filbert's special skill to get out."

[Adam]

Cormac's back stiffens as Gunnar enters the room, but he tries to keep his expression neutral.

"I'll help wi' whatever ye have planned," he says, "but, as a rule, I prefer to know why I'm raidin' an' maybe killin' rather than just goin'. Would someone care to fill me in on wha's goin' on? I just got here."

[Varrus the Ethical]

"Ah, my apologies. I had assumed you've already been told. An associate of mine, who has since gone missing, discovered a...rather disturbing operation in the basement of one of Lofton's brothels. There were several women, almost all pregnant, being held in chains there. What we know seems to indicate that Riegon, Duke Carlion's younger brother, is the one running the operation."

[RocEter]

"I might be to help locate these women before we even leave for Lofton." Foerde says.

[ewancummins]

DUKE DEVLIN



The soldiers form up, spilling out into the street because the practice yard is too small for the whole company, but keeping good order. The men stand at attention before the Duke, great swords resting on their right shoulders, long blades glinting in the warm sunlight.
The officers approach the duke, bowing.

"Your Grace", the captain says, "We have received your orders. The troops are ready now, if you wish to move out. But would you care to address the men?"

A small crowd of civilian onlookers has gathered, perhaps curious about the duke's appearance at the barracks.

[Varrus the Ethical]

"I might be to help locate these women before we even leave for Lofton." Foerde says.

Roald shrugs. "I'll take whatever leads I can get. Be my guest."

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

WATCH HQ

Renn's investigative gaze doesn't miss Cormac's sudden change in posture when Gunnar arrives. Never noticed that before. Got to keep an eye on whatever that's about.

"Roald, may I suggest a different course? On our last raid, we found no trace of those...poor girls. I think we have to face facts. Whatever was going on there has moved. I'd bet Riegon has moved his whole operation--if it was ever there to begin with. I've no taste for more blind alleys."

"But maybe there is a different path. My sources tell me Riegon plays bread-and-circuses with Lofton's smallfolk. He's got an arena where he likes to put on his little gladiator shows. Mostly bear-baiting. I'd advise we start there."

"I've also heard there's a rift between Riegon and Carilon. Perhaps we can find something at the bear arena to exploit that rift."

"And there's also the matter of the Jewel of Sarimie." He looks to the Foerde, Cormac, and Gunnar. "Have you heard rumblings of those merchant-priests in the North?"

[ewancummins]

WHAT FOERDE SEES

VIEW CONTENT:

You see a handsome man with iron-gray streaks in his brown hair. The man leans over you, a torch flaring behind him on the dark stone wall.
“Please, please don’t do this! I won’t tell anyone, not the duke’s men, not anyone!” It takes you a moment to understand why the man’s lips haven’t moved; the pleading, womanish voice is your own.

Now his lips do move, “I know.”
He seizes you by the shoulders and shoves you backwards.

A brief glimpse of a stone vault spinning overhead, the edge of a circular pit rushing past, and then you feel a soft impact. Something cold and slimy envelops your legs. In a moment, the loathsome grime has reached your chin, your lips, and your nose. The last thing you see before the gray, sticky mass engulfs you is the face of another woman, floating a few inches away, melting like a stick of butter, strands of gray slime creeping over the dissolving features.

The last sound you hear is Riegon’s voice,
“It devours its own young. How fitting! HAAAHAAAAAAHA! ”

WHAT THE OTHERS IN THE ROOM WITH HIM SEE


The cat-man's eyes shimmer and gleam, metallic pupils expanding till each eye has become a solid gold orb radiating soft aureate light. His breathing slows and his muscles seem to relax.
For a moment, Foerde remains perfectly still.

A violent tremor wracks his body. His eyes pulse with blazing golden light. He falls to his knees, screaming! The light in his eyes fades as tears run down his cheeks.

[VAN]

Filbert looks at Renn with curiosity clear at his face.

"The Jewel of Sarimie? What is that Captain?"

When Foerde's eyes change and start glowing the halfling instinctively gets few steps back. At the screams and the tears he looks at the others unsure of what to do.

"Is he ok? Is he suffering or is it what he sees?"

[JMaytr]

Devlin Flaertes, Duke of Tuornen-

Devlin stands before the men, looking into their faces and trying to read their eyes. He sees proud Tuors and he is prouder still to stand before them.

"Men, this morning the enemy has struck again, this time murdering innocents and civilians who were doing nothing other than enjoying fine Tuornen beer and living as any proud Tuor would. They mean to demoralize us with their fiendish and brutal attacks. But today I say this; no more!

Our agents have discovered that my cousin, Regeion, the Duke Across the River's brother has been stealing maidens from nearby Endier, imprisoning them, subjecting them to horrific, debased, dishonor-arable acts, and worse, forcibly impregnating them with his murderous seed. To this I say again, NO MORE!

To see Tuornen again under his rule Carilon Alam would rather burn us to the ground and reign over our ashen corpses than see us live as his loyal subjects. This monster has thrown his nobility into the Tuor river and deserves Tuor Justice!

We are gathered here today to march to battle. Regrettable isn't it? I didn't want to be here myself, but on my way to see you fine warriors, I stopped at the statue of Talaena Flaertes and my grandmother told me in spirit that I had a grim chore ahead; a terrible fight, and a responsibility I must accept.

Fighting is easy, what is hard is the look on your woman's face when you are a weakling. But I do not see anyone here who deserves to be called that. It's a good thing I live on THIS side of the river where strength of character still exists. One of you is worth more than any number of them! They are worth less than the dirt beneath our toenails!

Men! We face adversity, a band of brothers, dedicated to the warrior's code of strength and victory. But we will never know defeat while we stand together! This day we add another triumph to the history of our people!

I do not go into this fight with a cool head today, I admit it. My eyes see only a red mist. I do not want them to run from battle, I want their heads on our pikes by evening!

The gods have surely smiled upon us! The omens are so numerous and so in our favor that I cannot describe them all and still have time for a battle today! What we do today, we do as servants of the gods. Ask them for courage and strength! Honor them in your hearts, and they will aid us all! Look to your weapons, but also look to the heavens and raise a mighty shout in praise of the gods! Let us offer prayers for victory, and then let us arm ourselves to the teeth, just in case the gods aren't listening. Now, to battle!"

Devlin pulls his sword and raises it high.

"Tuornen Forever!"

[Varrus the Ethical]

Watch HQ, Roald

Roald arches an eyebrow at Foerde's thrashing.

"Well, that looked unpleasant."

He turns to Lord Filbert.


"The Jewel of Sarime is the Temple of the Goddess of wealth. Think me, but without a sense of duty. The only value money. Rumor has it that they've been giving out loans to Duke Carlion to help him finance his war."

[ewancummins]

DUKE DEVLIN






Two hundred great-swords lift, points thrust towards the blue sky.

Two hundred voices shout in reply to their duke,
"TUORNEN FOREVER!"


The officers issue marching commands, and soon the whole company tramps down the street towards the gate.

[ewancummins]

STREETS OF HAES, NEAR THE WATCH-HOUSE

The great crowd moves down the street, feet pounding on cobbles, voices raised in a chant-

"PEACE WITH HONOR, BREAD FOR THE POOR, NO MORE FIGHTING, END THE WAR!"

Curious servants, housewives, children peer out windows to watch the procession of laborers, apprentices, and even a few red-robed priests pass.


"PEACE WITH HONOR, BREAD FOR THE POOR, NO MORE FIGHTING, END THE WAR!"

[Adam]

WATCH HQ

Cormac rushes to Foerde's side, helping him up.

"'e's pitchin' a fit," he shouts, turning the man over and pulling a strip of leather from his shirt, keeping it ready to jam into the cat man's mouth if it looks like he's going to seize and bite his tongue.

"Foerde! Yer alright!" he shouts over the cat man's screaming.

[RocEter]

Foerde breathes heavily, anger in his eyes and face. He is a bit wobbly but Cormac's help he manages to stand up. "He's killing the women.." He says.

He recounts the all details of his horrifying vision to the others.

VIEW CONTENT:

You see a handsome man with iron-gray streaks in his brown hair. The man leans over you, a torch flaring behind him on the dark stone wall.
“Please, please don’t do this! I won’t tell anyone, not the duke’s men, not anyone!” It takes you a moment to understand why the man’s lips haven’t moved; the pleading, womanish voice is your own.

Now his lips do move, “I know.”
He seizes you by the shoulders and shoves you backwards.

A brief glimpse of a stone vault spinning overhead, the edge of a circular pit rushing past, and then you feel a soft impact. Something cold and slimy envelops your legs. In a moment, the loathsome grime has reached your chin, your lips, and your nose. The last thing you see before the gray, sticky mass engulfs you is the face of another woman, floating a few inches away, melting like a stick of butter, strands of gray slime creeping over the dissolving features.

The last sound you hear is Riegon’s voice,
“It devours its own young. How fitting! HAAAHAAAAAAHA! ”

After recounting the his vision, Foerde finds a place to sit and rest a moment while the information sinks in. "Riegon is a monster, and tonight that monster will be put down."