A Leader Among the Ruins
Subject: Re: Testing?
OOC: Let's try this again!
Holn regards Buchek with sadness at the tortured soul. Revenge still consumed his mind, and Holn could not blame Buchek for his pain.
"We will catch him yet. His tricks are finite, and our determination infinite. We must press on into the Tall Grass. Come with me to find Bermid."
The pair move off to find the soldier.
From: Erik
Subject: Re: Aftermath
"I understand, Elotai. I too feel the need to travel with this band. It seems to be what my father had wanted me to do." Holn toes a prisoner, checking that his bonds are secure.
"He told me to find Lyssande in the Tall Grass. He said she was a powerful Druid, and would guide us through the wilds.
"I feel that you too, must join with this band. Your skills are incredible, we could use you. We must find Bermid. We must press on. Stay and watch the prisoners, I will find our leader, and confer with him."
Holn wonders what Elotai thinks of him, a lettered man in the wilderness, clothed like some barbarian Shaman. Holn smiles at this, and reflects on the irony that shapes his destiny.
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Testing
Buchek shakes himself from his reverie, stands, and follows after his friend.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Test
Erk does what he can for the wounded. He is only a very minor priest for Clangeddin, and he has drawn heavily on his god's favor this day. He feels drained, and empty. His connection tenuous at best. He does what he can with his limited skill and the supplies in his kit, cursing the dependence he has developed on his own small connection with divine grace. When it weakens, he is left with little aid to offer.
The soldiers curse the grass peoples as he puts salve on their burns, or binds their cuts. They cast dark glances at Buchek when he walks by. The citizens just cry, and ask why the gods curse them. Erk does what he can to tend their spiritual, as well as their physical hurts.
When he has done what he can, he will make his way back to Bermid. "My lord captain, what have we learned from the prisoners?"
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Test
Just a check in from Clara and Mike, and I'll be set. Also, Raja, I managed to misplace the file that had Elotai's premonitions in it - could you perhaps send that list back to me? That'd be a help. Thanks.
From: Clara
Subject: Update
My last one simply had Kayla waiting around for any conversation then shuffling off to bed. So for all intents and purposes, she's fast asleep by now.
Muff.
-Clara
From: Matt
Subject: A Leader Among the Ruins
The fires have been extinguished, but a thick smoky haze hangs in the night air. There is no wind to cut the cloud, and its blackness chokes the lungs and makes the flickering lights of the torches fuzzy and indistinct.
Holn, Buchek and Elotai seek out Bermid among the cots set up in the inn, to no avail, though they do see the prone form of Kayla huddled defensively, with an arm tightly wrapped around her fiddle case. The halfling must have been exhausted, but the three wonder at her self-imposed isolation. None remember her being involved with the fight at all, once they left the tower. Had she simply slunk off into the shadows? Or hid somewhere in fear? Her reluctance to talk to the party begs many questions, but the trio is more intent on finding Bermid.
In the inn, they come upon Telwyn, doing what he can to keep the mass of people organized and settled. He has had some experience sleeping in cramped quarters, and some of his habits have provided some of the sleepers comfort and peace of mind. He had been watching Bermid direct the relief effort, but had not seen him in some time. The three become four as the ranger joins the search for the young soldier.
Asking around, they find that he has gone with two men to inspect the damage to the tower, and reunite with Erk, who is heading in the same direction. The townspeople all seemed impressed with Bermid and thankful for his leadership and kind words, though most are too much in shock to recall even minutes before. The wailing of the mourning women has dulled to shuddering sobs, and the men have fallen to drink to drown their sorrows and toast the memories of fallen comrades.
Two torches bob gingerly alongside the tower in the dark and smoky gloom, and the form of Bermid and the two guards takes shape in the dimness. The young soldier has a spear, which he is using to poke and prod at the loose stones in the tower's foundation. As he presses, larger chunks of stone jar loose, and cracks begin to form in the mortar.
"...salvage the stone to rebuild. I believe some dwarven stonesmiths are in Segreda for the festival that we can convince to stay around and begin work immediately. If..." He stops as he notices the party approaching.
?My lord captain, what have we learned from the prisoners?? Erk's deference is not lost on Bermid, but he does not shy away from it.
"Nothing as of yet, good dwarf. We have been surveying the damage." He motions to the ruin of the tower. "It seems the barbarians have wounded us deeply, but there is much here that can be saved and reused for a new tower. The upper walls are intact; it is only the foundation which is destroyed. A skilled mason can use the undamaged portions to refortify without needing to start from scratch, I believe. I plan to send a runner to Segreda in the morning to ask for the aid of your stonemasons."
Bermid has fallen so easily into the role of leader that Erk has a hard time believing this was the same man who was practically dumbstruck only hours earlier. Elotai recalls then that Dohn, the commander of the outpost, had been in the inn before the fight began.
"What of Dohn, Bermid? Where is he?"
Silence fills the air for a moment before Bermid responds. "Dohn fell to the raiders in the courtyard. He had led a small unit in an attempt to flank the main raiding party, but they did not count on the barbarians' numbers..." There is sorrow in his voice, but also conviction. "Leadership of the outpost has fallen to me, as the next highest ranked officer."
The tone of his voice is strong, but still somewhat hesitant. It is as if he is play-acting a general - it is a convincing performance, but still a facade.
Again silence hangs between the party, and a moment passes when no one wishes to speak. Erk breaks the silence.
"May he be granted good journey by the grace of Clangeddin, having fallen in valiant combat defending his people." He bows his head for another silent moment before continuing. "There was great wrong done tonight, but there are also those who may be able to provide us information on the attackers - and possibly on the settling party we seek."
He pauses, taking into account Bermid's current status.
"If no one has yet questioned the prisoners, I beg leave to do so. Our mission and charter was to find the settlers, and these raiders may hold some clue to finding them."
Bermid sighs, the weight of his responsibility seeming to press harder upon his shoulders.
"Please, friend. The formalities are unnecessary. If you would question the prisoners, you would be doing us a great service. I don't want any of the guards interrogating them for fear of more bloodshed as they settle scores, and my... duties do not permit me the time to do so at the moment."
"I place the prisoners into your custody and care, good dwarf. See that they are not harmed."