Sir Mattias Returns, Melani's Hot Words, Rennik the Diplomat
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
At Rennik's declaration, a look of surprise comes over Garyth's face. Then he nods. "I will do what I can to get you an audience," he says. He pauses, remembering Sir Mattias' and Kenis' suspicions about Rennik. "I should warn you, though, there are some people here who may think you are a spy. This may be a risky undertaking. I will do what I can to protect you, but I don't have much influence here."
"Still," he continues. "Sir Mattias is a good man. I think he wants to do what is right. I hope so."
OOC: If there is no further conversation, Garyth will retire to his room, though he will want to make sure that everyone has quarters before he does.
From: Ty
Subject: The Butchers Bill
Mission wanders off to his room early, a sleeping Promise in his arms. It brings a smile to Garyth's face when he realizes that the boy will get his very first bath, and his first night's sleep on a bed. He is almost jealous of Mission, bathing his firstborn son. His attention is pulled back to the group by Rennik's speech. The halfling had changed, there was no doubt. Where the berserker? Now there was a complex man, struggling to find the greatest good for his people. Garyth wondered if they were all watching a great future chieftain being forged.
After a time, Cadfael approaches him, and hands him his shield and mace. Garyth doesn't blame him for wanting to sleep in his own church. How long had the priest worn that ring? It may have been years since he had a restful night, embraced by the peace of his god. Cadfael wants to go home, and that is a sentiment Garyth understands very well.
Then it is just himself, the two halflings, and the two wizards. Farron seems unwilling to break their fellowship further, and decides to stay in the keep instead of going to his home. Though, surely they would lose both wizards in the morning when they went to the college. He is about to ask Farron is he has magic to check on his own family as well, when the door to the hall bangs open, and Sir Mattias enters.
"Sit, my friends, sit." He waves the company back down after they stand suddenly, and ignores the fact that Melani and Rennik did not stand. "Duke Valhelm is very worried about Overlook, Garyth. You needn't have worried. He is a good man, and more than many at his station genuinely worries for the good of his people. And, even if that were not true, he has a strong interest in protecting his lighthouse. The waters around the bay are treacherous, and trade with his city depends on that light. Even an evil lord will guard his treasure."
Sir Mattias stomps over to the table, and sits down with the group, grabbing a cup of wine for himself. He begins speaking to Garyth, "A force of nearly two hundred men leaves for Overlook at first light. Fifty light cavalry will ride ahead of the main force, hoping to harass the enemies rear, and cause them to turn their army. The main force of twenty five heavy cavalry, one hundred pikemen, and a few companies of archers and Blood Falcons will be following as quickly as they can. It is our hope that the cavalry can delay the attackers long enough that our main body of troops can engage them in open field, before they reach the town. We will be outnumbered, but the Duke does not wish to leave the city undefended, and I don't blame him. Also, his magical advisor said that archers would be of limited use against the undead, so we are leaving most of them here. But I do not think this will be an issue. Our men are trained soldiers, not a rabble of zombies and sell-swords. I think our enemy will break quickly if we can force them to stand and fight.
"I am not going. My place is to guard the city itself, but Under Marshall Darius will lead the expeditionary force. I had assumed you would want to join in the defense of your home, so I offered your services to Sir Darius. He readily accepted. Ready your gear this night, and meet his staff in the marshalling grounds tomorrow before dawn. He will give you your assignment then."
He stops and looks at the others at the table. "I did not speak for the rest of you, since I did not know your minds on the matter. But I am sure the Under Marshall will gladly accept the help of those who have defeated this enemy once already."
From: Mike
Subject: Test
As requested, a test:
If one train leaves Chicago at 10:07 PM heading east at 194 mi/hr and another train leaves Talahassee at 10:48 PM heading west at 481 mi/hr, does anyone care whether they pass each other?
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Test
42
From: Mark
Subject: Re: Test
Only the chicken when he tries to cross the road.
Wow, Garyth is a Captain now. Does that mean he gets a nicer horse? :)
Mark
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Test
You'll have to define "pass each other". By my definition, no they would not pass within 1500 miles of each other.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Butchers Bill
You know, just in case it isn't clear. I'm pausing for conversation.
*nudge*
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Butchers Bill
I will get there. I just got dumped on with some work. I really need to know if Rennik is staying. However, if we are riding out to fight the undead army, Melani is up for it.
Only a few hours sleep again tonight.
Mar
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Butchers Bill
Ummmmm....
Rennik appears to be staying. That's certainly the impression Matt's last post gave me.
From: Mark
Subject: Out of the frying pan and into the ......
Melani listens to Rennik's comments and finds herself in agreement with him.
She finds the guardsman a decent enough fellow, if a bit on the tall side. He seems to have the respect of the members of his group and Rennik defers to him. Good signs of a good leader.
She keeps eating as Sir Mattias enters the room and speaks. When he is done she gets up and marches over to where is his sitting. Even sitting he towers over Melani, but that does not seem to phase her.
"My Lord," she says with a slight sneer on her voice. " I am glad that you have decided that I am not a spy. I, who have already lost family to this menace, have pledged to fight this evil. I would go back to my tribe in the forrest if I thought it would do any good, but I feel that the battle has passed beyond them for the moment. I have fought the undead of this army as they persued the guardsman and those with him. I have sworn vengance on the evil that leads this army and if going to this human village will allow me to fight then I will go."
She turns around and goes back to her spot at the table to eat some more.
OOC: This is assuming that Rennik stays and decideds to go with the army.
Mark
From: Mark
Subject: Rennik and Melani
OOC: This would be a consersation that Melani would have with Rennik sometime before they leave.
IC: Melani goes up to Rennik and motions him over to a secluded corner. She then talks quietly.
"Chorrdath, I need to ask you some questions. I ask you this because you have been in the company of these humans longer than I have and know more of them. I speak of your travelling companions and not of the other humans in this city.
I am torn between going back to my tribe and going with these people. You know the tribal loyalty that I feel, since you come from a tribe that is similar to mine. However there are many things that trouble my mind. First, all of my family in the tribe is dead. The tribe would adopt me into another family, but it would not be the same. I have sworn vengance against the dark ones and am not sure what the best way to fight them is. If the army has bypassed my tribe, I would not be able to exact my vengance.
I have also had worries about my tribe for a long time. At times I think we are too isolated from the world around us. We stay in our forest, thinking that nothing outside of it affects us. This has shown to me that we are wrong.
I have meet outsiders before. I would lead trading missions and woudl talk with those that I met. I have developed some curiosity about the lands outside of my home forest. Even this city, with all its people and strange buildings strikes me as something I should know about. If I knew more about the humans I would be able to help my tribe better when we have dealings with them in the future.
Chorrdath Rennik, I ask for your advice, as a member of a tribe that we have considered an honorable foe in the past. Should I stay and help these humans or return to my tribe?
Mark
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The Butchers Bill
The food make Sa'id feel alive. He devours all he can stomach, with little regard for the rules of decorum -- utensils, for instance. When Mattias arrives, Sa'id is already slouching comfortably in his chair and has to stifle a belch. He wipes his hands and mouth on his napkin before standing up, to maintain some semblance of respectability before someone so obviously important. Sa'id remains quiet throughout the warrior's briefing. Part of him wants to go straight to the wizards' school and immerse himself in its library, and in the writing of a long dissertation on the ancient unified halfling tribe. Part of him wants to see what destruction he could wreak on the undead army. And part of him needs a boat, passage home to Ammar. But the debt of his life is not paid, Pelor's work is not done -- especially if Mission's Promise-imparted vision was true.
The necromancer had spent the last several mornings searching for that connection with the divine that Cadfael had once felt and now sought anew. And while prayer brought him a measure of peace and comfort, just as with the study of arcane spells, Sa'id did not have any clearer sense of a bond with Pelor than when he had despised and resented the god. Of course, such things were hard-earned and took much time and devotion... ostensibly, but Sa'id found himself still unable to shake the feeling that anyone who subjected themselves to the writs and rigors of religious practice for years would ultimately arrive at some form of belief, even if it was false, simply so they could feel that the effort hadn't been for nothing.
But did it even matter? The existence of the gods was undeniable; the powers the clerics gained directly through prayer made that much obvious. Whether the structures and practices of organized religions were meaningful wasn't relevant provided they could bring a measure of comfort to those in need of it. And Sa'id was -- somewhat -- comforted.
Pelor existed, and Sa'id still owed the god his life. That, for now, was enough.
That, and... something darker. For now, their goals were unified. If that were to change... but Sa'id brushes that thought from his mind. Pelor needed his enemies destroyed, and Sa'id would do the god's work. If he should happen to enjoy his labours... well, what was the harm?
A measure of his manners return, then. "Shuk'ran, Sir Mattias, and salaam aleik -- thank you, and peace be with you." He pauses. "I am no soldier, but I am possessed of certain minor powers, having studied here in Nesalin at the wizards' school for some years. I will lend what aid I can -- advice or magic -- to the defence of Overlook. I believe this is Pelor's work, and I owe the sun god the debt of my life. Tomorrow I must visit my colleagues and betters at the school, but beyond that I am at the disposal of your commanders. And again, I thank you for your hospitality."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Butchers Bill
The army will leave for overlook at dawn the next morning, so if Sa'id goes to the college, he will not be able to join the defense of the town.
Not that there's anything wrong with that. Just sayin'.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Butchers Bill
Can't Farron and Sa'id just teleport to the army when they are done? ;)
They also will not get a full nights sleep and will be down a spell or two because of it.
Mark
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The Butchers Bill
Aw, crap. Well, slaughter before conferences I suppose. It's a good thing Pelor wants so much killing done in his name, otherwise Sa'id might have to switch sides. ;)
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Butchers Bill
Fierce pride flashes through Garyth's eyes at Sir Mattias' words. He knew that the Knight Commander would come through. Come morning, he'd ride out with the rest of the troops and crush the undead army.
"Thank you, sir," he says. "I won't let Under Marshall Darius down."
Just then, Melani speaks up. Her sharp words and tone make Garyth wince internally. When she finishes, Garyth speaks up. "Sir, these are Melani and Rennik," he says, indicating the two halflings in turn. "They are both skilled warriors and trackers, and if not for their help, none of us would have made it back alive. I trust both of them with my life, and I'm sure that if they are given the chance to prove themselves that they will be a great help in the coming fight." When he finishes, he looks over at Rennik. If he wishes to say something to the Knight Commander, now is the time.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Butchers Bill
Rennik watches the human casually stroll in with the ease of a soldier, but without any of the grace of the elvish swordsmen. He seems very competent and handles his body well, knowing its strengths and its limits, but the way he clomps he feet as he walks mark him as a fighter used to using size and force, rather than finesse. He would be a worthy adversary on the battlefield... but Rennik knows that his battles with this human will be far more one-sided, and not in the his own favor.
Trying to calm his breathing and tramp out the hesitation in his voice, he falls back on the meditative techniques of the elves for calmness. A knot forms in the deep parts of his chest, as he tries to find the words that will help him.
Before he can stand and address this Mattias, Melani rises and brashly confronts the man. Inside, Rennik winces and the knot tightens, as he realizes that the feral ranger is even less experienced in this arena than he, and making a note to speak with her about the importance of what he is going to try to accomplish, Mielikki willing.
With her speech done, he stands immediately, not wanting that impression of halflings to be lasting in the human soldier's mind. He proudly walks forward, stopping a short distance before Mattias' chair, and bows his head slightly, his arms splayed wide and empty.
"Mattias of Nesalin, I am Rennik, warrior of the Chorrdath." He searches for words. "Forgive my companion Melani of the Kalama. She is the first scout of her people and more at home under the forest canopy than in a human city... her words were..." he pauses, his brow furrowed, searching for the word. "...harsh." He pauses, wondering if that is enough. "Please do not hold them against her."
"I wish to speak with you as a warrior, and as a representative of my people. I have been told by Friend Garyth that you fear attack by the tribes. This saddens me. It is not our desire to fight you. The halflings who fight alongside the undead are our common enemy. Stories of their tribe of feral wildmen were told to me as a child, and I always believed them to be legends meant to scare children."
He presses on, not wanting the momentum to stop, but tries to keep himself from speeding up and getting overly excited.
"Until I met them in battle with these companions. They are called Murrkat by my people," he spits off to the side before continuing, "and are called the Nameless Ones by the superstitious for fear of calling their evil. They have forsaken their souls to dark powers and worship gods of decay, corruption and power. They have abandoned the forest and live in fetid caves at the base of the great mountain."
His words speed up some as he presses forward.
"I know you distrust me. I would not trust you either, if you came among my tribe in a similar situation. But your lack of trust is caused by a lack of knowledge. You fear the unknown, as do we. The humans and the halflings know little of each others' customs, and avoid each other's company. You do not trust what you do not understand."
"And this is wise. But lack of trust should not become talk of war. We mean you no harm, and need you as allies if we are to defeat the armies of the dark god. If we fight each other, we both weaken and become prey to the undead. This is my greatest fear, and why I stand here speaking with you rather than running back to my home with all haste to defend my people against the dark army surrounding their villages."
He pauses again, feeling almost lightheaded. He hasn't spoken this much in a long time, and he feels like his argument is getting away from him. What was it he wanted to say? Something about knowing your enemy... something...
"I wish to tell you all I know of the halfling culture, so that you do not have as much to fear. I know you do not trust me, and that you will take any of my words with wary eye, but even if you think me the representative of the enemy, it is wise to hear my words. If you insist me an enemy, than as a soldier you know you must know your enemy and understand him in order to gain victory. It is foolish to attack without such knowledge."
"Every minute I stay here, another of my people dies. My axe is useless to them in this city... but I hope my words are not. With understanding of my people, I hope you will not be so intent on conflict and war can be avoided. If not, I fear for the existence of both our races on this island."
"What say you to this?"
He waits for Mattias to respond, staring boldly into the man's eyes and trying hard to control his breathing, and his racing heart.