A Pair of Messengers, A Message Received, Pensive and the Bullies, Syd's Story
Subject: Two Wizards about town; a pair of messengers
After the prayer of divination, the Sunmaster looks very pale. He begins preparations for the sending, but Dominic stops him. "No, master, you must rest now. You will not exert yourself further this day." Across the table, Colin nods. Fellus gives in with a heavy sigh. "Yes, you're right of course. I will sleep a bit before sending the message." He turns to the two wizards. "I'm sorry, but so much of my strength has left me. I will send your message as soon as I am able. Return to me tomorrow, and we will discuss our preparations for the trip to the demons' temple. I will have Dominic and Colin begin gathering what we will need."
Sa'id and Farron take their leave of the Sunmaster, and begin walking through the city. They are silent, each lost in his own thoughts, and not paying attention to where they are going. Almost without deciding to, Farron begins leading them toward his apartment. There is no where else to go right now, and other than finding lunch somewhere, no other plans for the day. Farron makes the last turn onto his street, and can see the steps to his apartment just a few yards away. A young boy sits on the steps playing with a copper coin and looking bored. Farron realizes sadly that after the events of the last two weeks, even the appearance of this boy makes him nervous. He stops Sa'id when they are ten feet from the boy. "Can I help you?" he asks.
The boy bounces to his feet. "I have a message for the gentleman Farron Underhill and his companion Zed." It takes Farron a moment, but he realizes that the boy is probably trying to say "Sa'id".
"I am Farron Underhill. What is the message?"
The boy strikes an odd pose, and places one finger against his left ear. Farron guesses this is probably a mnemonic device. The boy must be an apprentice to the Criers. "Syd Fallows, guardsman of the town of Overlook, seeks to meet with the gentlemen Farron Underhill and Zed, at their earliest convenience, at the Inn called Seaman's Haven."
The boy then resumes slouching and looking bored. He is clearly waiting for a tip.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; a pair of messengers
OOC: Tell him to buy low and sell high.
From: Ty
Subject: The Exodus; The Evening of day two, and a message received
Garyth sits eating almost flavorless stewed beans from a cast iron pot. Osred and Pensive have just returned from their evening ministrations, and the Falcon's are sharing the evening meal with their commander as well. Melani is strapping on the last of her gear to scout ahead and find the Kalama before the city shows up on their doorstep. Garyth watches Melani grip hands with Rennik once, then dart off through the underbrush. In the twilight air, made dimmer by the heavy clouds, she seems to vanish from sight after only a few steps. Rennik comes back over to sit by him, and begins dishing beans out of the pot into a hunk of hollowed out bread crust.
Around a mouthful of food, the Halfling says, "Don't worry, Garyth. Even if the woods were filled with ghouls and Murrkat, no one has a better chance of getting through to the Kalama than that scout."
Garyth starts to reply, when a strong voice suddenly begins speaking in his head. "Garyth Tel'Arden. Farron says, demon solution found. Must return to temple with Pelor cleric. Leaving Nesalin soon. Meet at Gully's. Glad you're all well."
As suddenly as it started, the voice stops. But there is a feeling of lingering contact. Garyth feels like if he wished to reply, his words would be heard.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Exodus; The Evening of day two, and a message received
OOC: Oh sure, just as I leave. :)
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; a pair of messengers
I thought my name was Farron Uphill. My how my social status has fallen.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; a pair of messengers
Farron is the one character not on Sakeriver.
From: Mark
Subject: Farron
Karl
Is Farron trying to escape the Shire with his three friends? :)
Mark
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; a pair of messengers
If Ty will send me an up to date copy of Farron's sheet I'll put him on there. :P
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; a pair of messengers
Someone give the kid a penny, and go see the soldier already!
:)
GOSH!
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; a pair of messengers
Hahaha!
Ummmm....
The guardsman got it wrong! Yeah, that's it!
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; a pair of messengers
Farron fishes a coin out of his pocket and flips it toward the boy, saying "Thankyou boy!" Only as the coin is flying toward the boy does he notice it was a silver one. No matter. Perhaps it will buy the lad some joy before the coming storm.
"Well, we need lunch anyway," he says to Sa'id. "To the Seaman's Haven?"
"Maybe this is good news about our friends. I can't guess who else would have sent someone." He pauses at that though. "Perhaps we should be extra-cautious." Images of Cadfael caught unawares in the street flash to mind as he leads Sa'id to the Inn.
(Ty, does Farron know or know of Syd Fallows? I'm assuming he knows where the Seaman's Haven is, being a seaman of sorts himself.)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; a pair of messengers
Farron does not know Syd himself, though the last name is vaguely familiar. He does know of the Seaman's Haven. It is in a well used area of the docks, and is not the sort of place one would expect for an ambush.
From: Mark
Subject: Melani on her way
Checking her equipment one last time, Melani looks at her companions one last time. She hopes that they will still be alive when she sees them next.
With a short wave, she heads off into the grasslands, taking the fastest route she knows to where her people are. It shouldn't take her too long to get there now that the mob is not slowing her down.
How is she going to convince Nukaru to take in all those humans? The guardsmen might be useful, but the old men and woman? The children? What good would they be in the forest? No good. Probably a liability. It would take warriors to keep an eye out for them. Of course most of the forest animals would give them a wide berth; there was some strength in numbers.
No, this had gone beyond the petty squabbles the two races had had in the past. There was something much darker and deeper involved. She would have to get the Belneth involved. Between him and her, they could make Nukaru see the right thing to do.
So she keeps running, thinking about her brother. Wondering where his spirit is. Did it find its way back to his bow? Was he with her now? She touches her bow and says a quick prayer to her brother's spirit to guide her, just like he guided her in life. She then touches her armband, asking the spirits of her dead ancestors to help her as well.
When she gets to the area that she knows her tribe is patrolling, she slows down and starts looking for signs of other scouts.
OOC: She is keeping her eyes open for anything, but will put more effort as she gets closer to where she knows her tribe is.
Mark
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; a pair of messengers
OOC: Karl, how's the list working for you these days? (I'm still copying [address removed by editor] on my messages.)
IC:
"Certainly, a hot lunch would not go amiss." Sa'id will follow Farron's lead to the Haven.
From: Scott
Subject: Pensive and the Bullies
OOC: LOOOONG post below. :)
Pensive finds himself suddenly amidst a rush of young men scrambling for the edge of camp. He allows himself to be caught up among them, swept away from Osred. Despite their rush, they were all speaking in whispers, jabbing each other in the ribs and concealing laughter behind their closed teeth. Pensive drifts to the edge of the group, with the smaller, younger boys.
"Bastorien gonna get it now," wheezes a plump boy running alongside. "Did you hear? He kissed Tella! On the lips, she said! Yancy's gonna pound his fat head into the dirt!"
"Keep your voice down, fatty!" growls one of the older boys. "You want one of the guardsmen come 'round? Spoil our fun, they hear us."
"Won't be no fun for Bastorien," the fat boy giggles when the other boy turns away.
And so Pensive allows himself to be jostled along with them. He is curious about this talk, but there's a hollow in his stomach. The wind blows from the center of the island--
He smells Bastorien before he sees him. A mixed scent of fear and anger and pride-- and pain. There. In the dim light, Pensive sees three boys slapping and tumbling a tall, thinner boy between them. No, not boys, he amends. Young men. There is a girl standing off to the side, tossing her hair, holding her hand up to her mouth and giggling, and every once in a while protesting insincerely against the bullying.
"You wanna kiss a lady, then, Bastorien?" says the short, muscular young man nearest to the one being bullied. "I got two here what wants to meet you-- Martha," he plunges a fist into the tall boy's stomach. "And Marigold!" He hits him in the small of his back with his other fist. Bastorien sinks to the ground, coughing.
"Marfa and Marigold!" cackles another bully. "Didn't know you had a lady's parts, there, Yancy!"
Yancy hauls Bastorien to his feet. "Back off now, you two, back off!" He shoos the other two back. "Now, we're going to have a proper bout of fisticuff, like as gentlemen do. You've offended my lady Tella for the last time, Bastorien, and my honor demands that you make amends in battle."
"Offended your honor did I?" says Bastorien, spitting. "Easily done, as it is small and pathetic, flaccid and easily mocked. Isn't that what you said, Tella?"
The three bullies are quiet for a moment, trying to work out the sense of scorn and double meaning. Pensive cringes a moment before Yancy slaps him. Bastorien gives a sharp little cry, and pitches down again.
"Haul him up," Yancy says. "No more of your words, Bastorien, speak with your fists!"
"But my fingers have already spoken to your lady's lips, and oh how she sang!" Bastorien says. "They are for her lips only, alas, as your tongue is of too middling speech. Small speech as it were, so that it must go 'round the backside of the house-- mayhap Jondie there will entertain your tongue for the night?"
Yancy barrels into him then, bawling and raging. Whatever talk there had been about a gentleman's battle, there is nothing civilized about Yancy's rage. The 'lady' in question-- Tella stands idly by, giving a clap every now and then when Yancy strikes Bastorien particularly hard.
And the wind from the mountain blows all the time. Pensive shakes himself, looks to the center of the island, toward the shadow, and then back at Yancy. His friends have hauled Bastorien to his feet, and Yancy is plunging his fists into his stomach again, and again. . .
"Stop!" Because the circle of onlookers is trying to keep quiet amid their jeers, Pensive's tenor voice echoes in the twilight. "Let him go!"
He puts every ounce command into his voice-- so Yancy stops hitting Bastorien and turns to look at him. And Pensive feels a slick dread in his stomach-- Yancy's eyes are as savage as Rennick's. Insane, almost. Sand and shadow.
"Lookit, Bastard-ien has hisself a little champeen!" mocks one of the boys holding Bastorien.
The crowd mutters, and several of the boys around him tug at Pensive's clothes as he steps beyond their ranks. Pensive guides their hands away from him. He is not facing boys. He is not facing Yancy. This is Kor Garesh, a little piece of him anyway. This is Sand and Shadow, and Blood and Stone must stand and abide. "Leave," he says. He feels a thrill of heat on the back of his neck.
Yancy laughs. The sound grates against Pensive's ears. "Leave? You leave, boy. You. I was here," Yancy pauses, and his face gives a little twitch. "You better run on, boy. Run away, now."
He has turned away from Bastorien. Pensive moves closer, feeling the warmth of the thistle tatoo spread down his arms. Blood be Stone. Flesh be Stone. He takes a breath and tastes the pain and fear and wind from Mount Kessel. "Blood and Stone will abide," he says. He realizes he has spoken in low Elvish.
"Whatsat?" says one of Yancy's bullies.
The other one snorts. "Baby talk."
Yancy turns away from Pensive, and slams a fist into Bastorien's guts.
"Stop it." Pensive says again, drawing nearer.
"Look, boy," says Yancy turning on him, "Get on back now. 'Less you want me to pull your britches off and give your dimpled pink arse such a tanning you won't be able to sit on your mama's lap for a month."
Pensive is so near to him now, he can smell Yancy's breath. "Enough." The tatoo on his neck is aflame.
And then he comes to his senses.
He is about to kill Yancy. The thought trembles throughout his body, like the stonesash shivering. He is about to commit murder. To do the work of sand and shadow. Part of him, a secret hidden, chaotic shard of his soul longs for it-- and Yancy deserves it doesn't he? Yancy deserves to be struck, deserves to be humiliated, deserves every strike that Pensive would lay on him. But Pensive knows that he wouldn't stop there. No, the wind from the mountain is strong. He would keep on striking until nothing filled Yancy's body but broken bones and blood.
There is another way. A better way. A Path of Blood and Stone. "Get out of here," Pensive says again, and lets his voice tremble a little. "Or I'll shout for the guard."
He is ready when Yancy strikes out at him, and whips his head to the side quickly so that the fist only grazes his nose. But Pensive cries out pitifully as he falls, and turns his face to the earth, and tugs his nose hard as he rises. He welcomes the pain, and the blood that follows. He holds his hands out, looking at them in suprise, how covered they are in his own blood, and shrieks like he's been run through.
"Yancy! You lout! You damn coward!" cries someone from the crowd.
Yancy steps back, the satisfied look on his face draining away. More people are crying out now, and even Yancy's mates are backing away from him.
"Maybe it's your dimpled arse what needs tanning, eh!" cries an older boy, and his cry is taken up.
"Tan his arse!"
"Tan his arse!"
But no one is to be tanned this evening-- a thunder of hooves and the guard arrives. The crowd disperses immediately-- leaving Pensive alone and bleeding.
"What the seven hells-- oh, sorry, lad. I didn't realize it was you," says one of the guards. "Uh-- don't tell your lord I cursed, awright? I, uh, didn't mean nothing by it."
"I won't," Pensive agrees. Even Bastorien is gone-- but Pensive thinks he sees him limping off toward a campfire.
"What happened here?"
"Yancy-- I'm sorry, I don't know his surname-- was fighting. . ."
The other guardsman speaks up, "Ah, Yancy Benardi. I'm not suprised. Was he fighting over Tella?"
"Yes, he was."
"It figures. Every once in a while, she goes and finds some poor soul to make him jealous. He's a bad sort, you best stay away from him, lad." The guardsman looks at him a bit more closely. "Looks like you could've used that lesson a bit earlier, eh? Sorry, boy-- you want us to strap him for you?"
Pensive shakes his head. "I'll manage myself."
"Ain't right to let him get away with this, boy."
Pensive considers. "He was shamed tonight. Either he will learn from his shame, and devour it, or it will devour him. That is enough for me."
The guardsman shrugs. "Pity, then. I felt like beating someone tonight, and I can't think of no one better to beat on than Yancy Benardi. Ah, well. Listen, you better get something to plug your nose up with boy, else you're going to bleed to death. You can find your way back to camp all right?"
"I'll manage. Thank you."
"Get on back then, it's getting dark."
Pensive follows the guard back to the center of the camp. And on the way, he feels something soft. He looks up-- a fat boy is staring at him. He looks away from Pensive quickly, and then back. Gives him a little smile and a wave. And Pensive waves back.
And as he walks, he can feel shoots of emotion, binding him to these people. Binding him lightly now-- but there was strength in it. The strength of Blood and Stone.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Pensive and the Bullies
I was going to say, "Stop, you're making us look bad."
But then I don't actually want you to stop. So I am instead giving you a fate point for have worked in a wonderful side story to show the growing threat coming from Kor Garesh's draw on evil minded people, and also finding a way to bind Pensive into the plotline even further. So, here's a fate point that will hopefully help keep Pensive alive to star in future excellent game turns.
Good job man.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: Pensive and the Bullies
He is making me look bad, but I don't mind. I just want to read and learn how to do it myself.
Mark
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Pensive and the Bullies
You're doing fine. I'll be sending a Melani turn fairly soon.
From: Ty
Subject: Two Wizards about town; Syd's story
Farron leads Sa'id to the dock district of town. It is an area both familiar and exciting to the young wizard. Most of his previous adventures began here. There are those who are frightened by the rough men who work and socialize here. But Farron knows these men. Has spent weeks and months with them on the open. He knows they are hard because their work requires it. And the tight confines of the ship call for a strict code of conduct from the men who sail them. Farron notices Sa'id putting one hand over his purse, and laughingly says to him, "Don't worry. Thieves usually stay clear of the docks. One shout of 'Thief' and a dozen longshoremen will beat someone to death."
The Seaman's Haven is one of the nicer taverns on the waterfront. It is not uncommon to find rich merchants and sea captains striking deals over a pitcher of the house ale. To keep this good reputation and frighten away the riff raff, the owner pays goodly sums to hire the largest and most frightening doormen. A scarred giant stands next to the door scowling, but when Farron walks up, he pushes the door open with one hand and says, "Welcome to the Haven, gents." Farron places a copper in the man's hand and replies, "For your trouble, Otto." The giant grins, "Always a pleasure, Master Uphill."
Farron pauses a moment. "Otto, my friend and I are meeting someone here on business. It is barely possible that the business could turn ugly. We would greatly appreciate a watchful eye on our table." He hands another coin to the bouncer.
Otto straightens up to a frightening height, and places one ham sized hand on the cudgel at his belt. "No one will cause problems for you in the Haven, Master Uphill."
Farron smiles, "Not that we expect trouble, but it pays to be careful when meeting new people."
Otto nods, and holds the door open while the two wizards enter. Inside, the room is more brightly lit than is usual in a dockside drinking establishment, but the floor is clean, and the bar well stocked. From the kitchen come the smells of roasting meat. Sa'id says, "I will remember this place."
From one corner table, and young man in a uniform similar to Garyth's waves at them. When they approach, he stands up and says, "Pleased to meet you. My name is Syd. Syd Fallows. I served in the guard with Garyth in Overlook. Captain Bragga sent me to bring word of the attack on Overlook to the city. Garyth wanted me to pass word to you gents as well. Please sit. I've a pitcher to share, if you like ale."
Farron and Sa'id sit, and the guardsman pours them glasses. "I had a bit of trouble sneaking past the undead army to get here, but they are badly organized. Didn't even have pickets or outriders. And honestly, if they had spotted me, I doubt they'd have given chase. They just don't seem to act like a normal army."
He shudders, "Though, from what I've heard since I got here, I guess they don't have to. If they can summon that demon to help out whenever they need to, no reason to enforce discipline in the ranks."
Farron interrupts, "Please, give us word from Garyth. What message does he send?"
"The city of Overlook is being evacuated. When I left, they were moving everyone out of the city, and heading for the forest. They had some Halflings with them, and it seems they expected the forest folk would take the refugees in. Seems sketchy to me. The forest folk have never been over friendly with us in the past."
"Did they tell you anything else?"
"No, just wanted to make sure you knew where they were going, and what happened to the town."
Farron pauses a moment, then says, "What about my aunt and uncle? The Uphills. Do you have word of them?"
Syd shakes his head, "No, didn't see the Uphills. But I would assume they left with the rest of the town."
After a few more moments of talking about the evacuation, Syd excuses himself by saying he has to report back to the barracks for reassignment. The city watch is talking siege, and all able bodied soldiers are being put on the walls.
The two wizards eat lunch at the Haven, and talk a bit about where Rennik and Melani might try to lead the town. The Kalama seem like the only choice. If that is true, then they would only be a few days travel from Gully's trading post. Sa'id says, "It seems possible that we might actually meet up again, gods willing."
After lunch, the wizards decide to return to Farron's apartment and wait for messages from the Sunmaster. It is a short walk from the docks to Farron's neighborhood. He selected the apartment for its proximity to the merchant offices that provided so much of his work. On the way back, Sa'id stops several times to browse the local shops. His clothing had mostly been ruined by the trip to Kessel and back, and even though he had cleaned them, they were still in a sad state of disrepair. He is able to find a few pairs of pants and shirts that are not too uncomfortable. Though, they are not the light fabrics of his homeland.
Sa'id stops at a shoemaker not far from Farron's apartment to look for new boots. Farron looks down the street, and spots a fellow loitering near the stairs to his apartment. Sa'id comes out saying, "I had forgotten the poor quality of leather goods in this city-" Farron stops him. "Look at that man. Does he seem odd to you?"
Sa'id watches for a moment. "Yes. He watches the street as though waiting for someone, but he himself is trying hard not to be noticed. He turns his face away from those that pass closely by. He is very bad at it. Clearly, he is not well practiced in the art of looking inconspicuous. Do you think he is waiting for us?"
Farron shrugs. "It seems like everyone is waiting for me at my front door these days. But that's no messenger's boy. Look at the size of him. He's half again as big as Garyth. He looks like a fighting man to me, but he wears no insignia or badge of station. Why would a big bruiser like that be waiting outside my front door, trying not to be noticed, and dressed like a laborer?"
Sa'id can't help but grin at this riddle, "I do not know. Why?"