NationStates Jolt Archive

Here it is, the IC thread for the low-magic fantasy RP. Now, get posting!

OOC: Well, I guess I'll start off in this thread.

IC:

"But Master!"

Althamas let out a long sigh as his young ward began to whine again. This had to have been the two hundreth time she whined today. Taking a sip of hot water, he let his amber eyes skim over a wanted poster that he had picked up on the way to the tavern.

"Female half-elf wanted for stealing from Baroness Richelle," he mumbled before taking another sip of hot water.

"Master, do you think we could go practice some combat moves now?" inquired Kylia.

Rubbing the bridge of his nose, Althamas replied, "Not yet Kylia. Remember what I told you last time?"

Noting her confusion, he continued, "I thought not. Regardless, you won't be practicing for some time. You need to finish practicing today's evasion tactics first. We'll do that after I'm finished reading."

Sighing loudly, Kylia muttered something under her breath before grabbing a rag and a small jar of some substance. Giving her master one last pouty face, she focused her attention on polishing her great axe.

"Kids these days," Althamas muttered.

Watching Kylia polish her great axe, he wondered once more why ,in the name of all things pure and holy, and how this petite girl was capable of using such a...messy...weapon. Shaking his head, Althamas took a quick look at the other tavern patrons. Blinking in surprise at a pair of dark skinned elves sitting at a table, he briefly wondered whether or not they were dark elves before realizing that dark elves didn't usually come out in broad daylight. Allowing his gaze to survey the rest of the tavern, Althamas focused his attention on one particular patron. A female. Half-elf if he was correct. Quickly glancing down at the wanted poster, Althamas wondered whether or not that half-elf was the thief. Sighing softly, he decided he'd figure it out later. Afterall, he was but a priest not a bounty hunter.

Bria wasn’t sure what brought her to the Barony of Ost-land other than it happened to be an out of the way place after she had nearly been caught trying to steal a pair of diamonds from the petty Baroness Richelle. She had made it unnoticed to the Baroness’ room when the Baroness decided to return early with her latest paramour. The good news was that she heard them in time to get out of sight and slip by them after they stormed past her into the bedchamber. The bad news was that one of the guards noticed her before she could leave manor house entirely and called out after her.

One of the reasons why Bria had chosen this target was that the Baroness let the forest grow close to the manor house so her paramours could slip in and out more easily. Outrunning the more heavily armored guards, Bria made her way into the forest and using her instinctive awareness of the woodlands from her elvish side managed to lose them in short order. Left with nothing but a simple silver necklace she had idly tossed into her pocket before being interrupted, Bria made it to a few other villages before she pawned the necklace for some coin.

Making her ay here, Bria wondered what to do next, her money was running low so she would probably have to start stealing again t make ends meet and she was no closer to finding her mother’s people that when she set forth two years ago. Looking around as she nursed her ale and munched on the small chunk of bread and cheese sent along with the half finished bowl of thin venison stew she saw a few others here. Seeing a few mixed breeds like herself the most notable exception being one that she could swear looked like she was part orc sitting next to a human, one of the few pure humans here from what she could tell. She paused briefly at the sight of another woman carrying a great axe and looked away quickly lest she attracted undue attention. There she saw the other pair. Dark skinned and keeping to themselves at the moment but Bria knew and elf when she saw them.

Having run across few pureblooded elves in her travels Bria knew she couldn’t afford to miss any chance however slim to find out about her mother’s people. Her own skin was much fairer, though by now well tanned from her time spent away from home these past two years, so it was a slim chance they could direct her properly but nothing ventured nothing gained. Draining her ale she made her way over to the pair and stopped at their table causing them to look up at her warily.

Expecting that this might turn out to be difficult, Bria spoke in her below average elvish “Hello, my name is Bria, can I buy you both a drink?”

((ooc- i tend to be on at different times from most people so i'll most likely be making just one or two larger posts per day to catch up with everyone else's RP if that won't be a problem))

((ooc 2- moved this post to the proper thread from the other one))

The inn was the best around, but if one thought that was saying anything important, well they needed to go outside and take a look around. It was the ONLY inn in several days travel, in a back water 'kingdom' that held that title only because the local strong arm said so. Tempest smiled to himself thinking about how humans bred like the rats that could be found where ever that decrepit race lived. Though he'd met a human or two that might have been worthy to be considered a Sidhe freeholder. Not a Sidhe noble, never a noble, it just wasn't possible. But then again sheer numbers count for much, particularly upong a battle field. And that is what cost us our Empire. He looked at the other patrons of the inn and this time a frown crossed his noble brow. One of those that sat downing a mid day meal was a half orc, and that was a cross breeding that the mere thought of made him turn away in distaste. And then there was the small human woman who was polishing a great axe, one that stood nearly as tall as she was - and whining loudly. He wondered briefly if she had been assigned such a incongrous weapon as punishment for daring to desire to take up weapons at all. Humans were funny that way, seeking mostly to lock their women away from anything that might be dangerous. As if child bearing isn't hazardous enough, they demand that they start barely out of childhood and breed again and again and again before the first is barely out of swaddling clothes. Monsters! His thoughts were sour.

He disciplined his thoughts harshly. Keen silver hued eyes took in the Sidhe half breed as she neared their table obviously intent on speaking with them. She'd been giving them small glances for some time as she drank the half way decent ale the inn offered. He missed nothing of import about the woman. Noting brown hair, grey eyes, the way she moved with a fluidity that spoke of certain...uncommon trainings, the various weapons she carried, and the decided lack of majic.

“Hello, my name is Bria, can I buy you both a drink?”


Discerning nothing that felt 'wrong' Tempest sat back, he was going to let Cynn handle this. She didn't much care for other females, especially good looking ones. Not that he was interested, Cynn was a handfull enough. Events she had spoken of in her past had given him a good idea why she was distrustful, a not unreasonable reaction to said past.

Cynn looked the woman, noting her obvious part elvin heritage, as well as the lack of skill with the elvin tongue. 'More "oh help me find the lost Sidhe throne I am heir to?' Cynn stomped hard on her tart thoughts and sighed inwardly. She was well fed, warm, dry, clean and comfortable...and just a touch bored. 'Her sad tale can't be any worse that the hundred others I've heard over the years but you never know' Cynn kept her thoughts hidden behind deep blue eyes that held just a trace of warriness.

She made a minimal gesture to one of the two empty chairs. "Sit, and thank you for the offer of the drink but we just refreshed ours." She used the common tongue, her voice a warm burnished alto. "I am Cynn, and this is Tempest."

Tempest gave her a casual nod, making a slight move so that the matching armbands, clasped about their right upper arms were clearly visable. The heavy silver bands, deeply incised and set with fine gems winked in the amber light of the hearthfire. The exquisitely wrought weapons the pair wore as if they were a part of themselves were warning enough to disuade any thinking to make the couples wealth their own.

Bria nodded gratefully at the offer to join the two elves at their table. She hated being so forward and possibly make a spectacle of herself but she knew sitting quietly wasn't going to help her find her mother's people. She noted the obviously expensive styled armbands that she instinctly sought to appraise at a glance as she saw the many gems set within. But if the display of weaponry along with it, cared for by those who trust their lives with such things weren't enough to banish any thoughts of thievery from Bria's mind, the fact that she might need these people's help confirmed that she would be very polite.

Besides she thought to herself these are true elves, they could probably turn me into a hummingbird if they wanted. Of course her only knowledge of elvish ways came from a few contacts with their kind in the last couple years and some early secret teachings from her elvish slave nanny who cared for her after her mother's death. Other than a poor smattering of the elvish tongue and a few basic customs Bria's knowledge of her mother's people was still scant.

"Thank you, i hate to bother you unannounced like this and all." Bria began in the common tongue secretly glad these elves spoke common not trusting her own grasp of elvish. "but i was wondering if you might be able to help me." She paused as an odd look crossed Cynn's face but continued on. "I've been trying to find my mother's people for the past two years. My father never wished to discuss the matter with me and after a ...disagreement, i left to find out on my own. I had to study my mother's tongue in secret, that's how little he wanted to speak of her, i'm sure you noticed i'm not very good with your language. The only problem is i'm not really sure where to begin. I was wondering if either of you might know where her kinfolk might live, if any do. Her name was Allianya. I know its a shot in the dark but i've been asking any of your people i've run across with little luck so far."

Looking away slightly embarrassed by her words; her early days spent being seen but not heard so it always took a bit of an effort to assert herself still, and avoiding the actual relationship between her parents, Bria briefly caught the glance of the man sitting next to the axe wielding woman studying her before looking away in apparent unconcern. Sitting back Bria hoped against hope that perhaps these two were the ones who held the key to finding her mother's folk.

Maiyr sat a table, a knife in one hand and a chunk of cheese in the other as she looked around the tavern. She noticed she was receiving a number of looks. She'd have found surprising if they weren't any as in the four years since she'd left her parents every person, human, orc, elf or dwarf had stared at her.

Cutting strips of cheese, she 'stole' her friend and travelling companion's loaf of bread and cut six slices off the bread, where he'd been ripping chunks off for his stew. "Ugg." She thought as she looked at the stew, something she'd never seen before coming into the human lands, and that which was completely unappatizing to her. Stew was a nasty mess of mushy vegtables in her opinion. Finishing making her thick cheese sandwiches, she began eating while drinking the cup of ale.

Karnak lifted a spoonful of stew to his mouth as he went over the wording of an incantation committing it to memory. He noticed Bloodblade was getting a bunch of looks and hoped it wouldn't lead to bloodshed again. Maiyr was an absolute savage when annoyed, and with her lethal skills it was not a good idea to piss her off, something many unfortunate thugs, brigands and general 'toughs' had found out the terminal way.

He noticed a couple elves talking with a half-elven woman, a girl with a battle-ax that almost matched her in height and some others, he was more concerned with the group of somewhat unwashed thug like men at the bar who were drinking and shooting looks at Maiyr, something that usually lead to trouble.

I know its a shot in the dark but i've been asking any of your people i've run across with little luck so far."


'Thank the lord of the leaves, no crowns no lost kingdoms.' Cynn thought with a wash of relief greater than she thought she'd feel. And a greater spark of interest than she'd thought she'd feel as well.

"Allianya is not a name that is traditional among the Sidhe." Cynn frowned and surprized herself further by adding "Tell us all you know of your mother. Her description, customs and traditions she might have spoken of. Some things are kin to kin, and I know enough for the lines to perhaps..."

She let her voice trail off as she took a sip of her ale. it wasn't as ruinous as most human brew were, but she longed for a large flagon of elvin brewed meade, or cider tart from the pressing. She shrugged inside, but dedided to travel on come the next day. Their mounts had needed reshodding and the only blacksmith in the area held court just three shops away from the inn.

Arriving before noon had allowed them to lay claim to the inn's largest room, though the prices had been usurious and the largest room had been only in relation to the others that crowded the small second floor.

Tempest listened with but half an ear, more concerned about keeping an eye on the possible trouble brewing near the half breed ork and her companion.

Eyes widening hopefully, Bria felt a faint sign of hope at Cynn's words, most of the elves she had met couldn;t even be bothered showing even curiosity in the matter. Of course she had to watch her words carefully as she replied, she didn't want her mother's true fate to be known to chance met strangers, even if they were elves or "sidhe" as Cynn referred to herself.

"I don't really know that much . My mother died giving birth and i was raised by one of her friends until she left when i was only seven. I think my father had her sent away because he thought she was 'corrupting' me. She had told me my mother came from the old kingdom before it fell.I didn;t even know of the 'Sidhe' until you spoke of it. My mother had travelled far before she met my father. My nurse told me that they had both followed Virya- the goddess of the forests and told me stories about the old forest cities from before the fall. Her people had scattered when the empire fell so they could be just about anywhere." with a resigned half grin she added, "not exactly the most to go on is it?"

As she spoke she paid little attention to the others so intent was she in finding any scrap of a clue for her quest. She noted as she finished the apparently bored Tempest who watched the room with the air of a practiced guardian or protector ensuring nothing bad would happen to his charge. Flickering a glance where Tempest seemed to be most paying attention Bria noted the half orc and the slender fellow who was sitting with her and wondered idly if she was going to find herself in the middle of a brawl.

Temerius sat at the bar surveying the situation. Earlier he had noticed some kind of orc sitting at a table, but it seemed that she wasn't all orc. Some form of elf/orc hybrid, interesting, he thought, how did that happen? Also he noticed a half elf talking to some dark skinned elves, now that was strange. Normally, elves didn't associate with half elves at all. Some regarded half elves with contempt, strange indeed. What he really found interesting was the girl with the enormous great axe. He chuckled to himself no room for finesse with that, he thought.

He had hoped to raise an army here, but it seemed that the people of Ost-lund were less than enthusiastic to helf an Underthian noble. I wonder why? he thought sarcastically. He was beginning to get frustrated, when would he make a name for himself without an army to command?

Tempest was far from bored, but he could affect it with ease. And haughtiness came naturally to the Sidhe.

"Virya, thats not an aspect of the Lady that I have heard mention of in many a turn of the seasons." Tempest said, never taking his taking his attention from the rest of the room. "And the great forest cities are gone as long and those who resided there equally forgotten."

He glanced over at Bria and gave her a strangely sympathetic look. "And if you'll tell me whom your father was I'll make sure he doesn't come away alive if ever our paths should cross."

That had Cynn raising her eyebrowns but she said nothing. Tempest often resembled his name, but if he spoke it he meant it even if decades had passed.

'No it's not the most to go on, but don't give up trying. Like I said her name was not a common one." Cynn addded not unkindly as the serving wench brought over a tray of fresh fruit and cheese for their desert. 'Please help yourself" She added as she selected a pear and unsheathing a small blade began carefully peeling it.

After the two finished their meal, Karnak headed over to the tavern keeper to pay for the food and drink they'd purchased. With him gone, if only temporarily, a few of the men at the bar who were swilling ale decided to torment the orc, who just had to be a slave or whore, they reasoned.

"Hey, come here, I've got something for." One called as he grabbed his groin to make his obscene point. Maiyr's hand twitched to a throwing knife before Karnak's 'How many times do I have to tell you not to kill people' lecture ran through her head, halting her for a seconds. Seeing the 'whore's' appearent pacifity, one of the bolder drunks decided to try and grope her chest.

Walking over, at the same time Karnak walked back and saw the situation which caused him to smack his forehead, the drunk made a grab at her breast. Before the man's hand had crossed half the distance, it was suddenly sent sailing. As the man blinked, looking down at his stump, he didn't have long to consider as suddenly his throat was spurting blood.

Karnak quickly rushed over. "Please calm down, for once can we get through a town without you denuding it off half the drunks?" He asked in a voice that said he didn't expect much.
"If they don't try and molest me, I don't bisect them." She replied in a surprisingly melodious voice, ignoring the looks she was getting from the rest of the tavern.

"In every life a certain number of brawls must falls...or something equally unpoetic" Tempest growled to himself as blood spurted its coppery tanged vivid scarlet blazon across the taverns sawdust coverd floor. He didn't move however. It wan't his fight, and he'd be damned to take the side of an half ork, even if she hadn't started it.

However if even one other of the drunks made a single move they'd find themselves spitted on one of Cynn's razor edged throwing crescents. Brought from the lands of the Dragon far to the east, she was nearly adept with them as she was with the powerful bow she carried.

As none of the drunks seemed to want to end up like their companion, she grabbed a cloth out of a bag at her waist and used it to wipe the blood from the dagger she'd used to remove the man's hand and open his throat. Finishing the maintence, she sheathed the knife, and reached up to brush her hair back, tucking it behind an ear that could be nothing but elven.

Grabbing the last of the bread, she looked around one more time as she prepared to head up to their joint room. She noticed that one of the two elves who'd been talking with another half-elf was completely relaxed, almost indifferent, but the other was armed and looked like she was skilled with the as yet unidentified weapon, thought who she intended to use it on was uncertain. With a faint shrug she grabbed the cheese and began heading up to the room.

Karnak had shaken his head as he saw Maiyr sizing the room up. She's getting better at not killing anyone who annoyed her. He thought as he followed her toward the stairs.

The cat continued to watch the humanoids and grin...so much activity with but so few words. He stood and stretched. The sun had moved. He moved with it. Invariably, one may find a small demon at the warmest or at least the most comfortable spot in a room. He sauntered over to the spot of sunlight and regally sat down to groom his royal personage.

<Sniff>

Humanoids!



<bumpage/tag/interesting response to a few lines Danteri!>

"By the Light!" shouted Althamas as the half orc effortlessly killed the drunk.

Forcing his apprentice back into her seat, he rose out of his own seat, his white robes swishing at his haste. Walking over to the dead drunk, he crossed himself and the corpse before whispering the last rites.

"Through this holy unction and His own most tender mercy may the Lord pardon thee whatever sins or faults thou hast committed by sight, by hearing, smell, taste, touch, walking, and carnal delectation."

The rest of his words became inaudible as he quickly whispered them. Glancing sorrowfully at the now dead and cooling corpse, Althamas focused his attention on the half-orc and her human companion. Despite knowing full well that the man had provoked her, he wasn't able to keep down the surge of righteous anger raced through his veins.

Seeing the two head up the stairs, he was about to call out to them before he decided that it would be best to avoid further conflict here. After all, there's no knowing what damage to the tavern may result from it. Looking around for some people to help him carry the body to the local church, Althamas headed over to the table where the half-elf and the two dark skinned elves sat, having decided that the man's friends were to inebriated to help. Standing in front of the three, he bowed low before speaking.

"Pardon my intrusion, but if you don't mind, I have a request for you three. Would you mind helping me carry this man's body to the church so that he might at least receive some sort of decent burial?"

Bria looked over in approval as she watched the half orc deal with the over-eager drunk. Having faced similar treatment herself to some degree in her travels she knew how important having a quick blade was to convince the drunks that she wasn't interested.

She was however surprised by the sudden interest Tempest showed about her father. She didn't even think he was paying attention after a her first few words. Knowing he expected a reply she answered. "I know the cities are just legends or ruins now, my father was more than happy to tell me that detail. But don't worry about him, part of the reason i left was because nothing i could do would satisfy him or live up to the standards he set. I plan to show him he was wrong one day when he wakes up with my knife at his throat after i find my mother's folk." she finished with an intense look as she stared down at the table A master thief father? When i slip by all your guards, you forgot Darlok showed me the secret passages of the castle, or did he never tell you, into your chambers you'll see just how much i've learned then you and that bitch of a wife who made my childhood a living hell will learn what revenge feels like

Looking up and turning back to Cynn she added, "I know it seems impossible sometimes, a needle in a haystack seems simpler than this but i have time i suppose, living longer than most can be an advantage sometimes. And thank you for your time and this." she added reaching for a piece of fruit.

Nibbling on it she saw the show had ended, the drunk was dead and the half orc and her companion headed back to their rooms. Bria blinked slightly as she thought she caught the surely impossible elvish looking ear on the half orc as she brushed her hair back idly. She then saw a white robed man, a priest no doubt after hearing him mutter over the body, approach the table. It took only a second to recognize that this was the one sitting with the woman with the big axe.

"Pardon my intrusion, but if you don't mind, I have a request for you three. Would you mind helping me carry this man's body to the church so that he might at least receive some sort of decent burial?"

Bria wasn't even aware this tiny place even had a church but its not like she really had paid attention either. She paused considering, her companions kept their own feelings to themselves though Bria privately doubted that Tempest was the sort to lower himself to manual labor like this. However, she realized that first, the man might have some coin on him in his money pouch, she could always donate a part of it to whatever church this was and keep the rest to make things look good and second it was always a good thing to have a priest on your side if things got unpleasant. So she replied.

"I suppose i'll help. Can't be good for business here if bodies are lying all over the place, ruins the appetite." getting to her feet and bowing slightly to Tempest and Cynn, "Thanks again for your help, i'll let you both return to whatever you were doing before i bothered you."

Temerius watched with detached interest as the drunk made a pass at the orc. He had known something like this would happen, and he wasn't at all surprised by the man's immediate death. No one crossed an orc like that and lived. He shrugged and turned back to his ale; sometimes he missed fighting, this was one of those times. The man that was with the girl with the great axe got up and walked to the elves. Apparently they were going to carry that dead man out, why was beyond him but some people weren't comfortable around bodies. But, it left the girl alone. He walked over and asked if he could buy her a drink.

Tempest nodded approvingly at Bria's declaration concerning her father, but said nothing more.

And thank you for your time and this."

"It is good to have a goal, and no giving up easily means the goal is valueless. May the winds guide your searching" Cynn nodded. She didn't seem to mind Bria's staying. She watched as the half orc climbed the stairs, obviously she had taken a room for the night.

She fell silent as the priest approached, a frown creasing her high forehaed for a moment. Cynn twitched her fingers and the throwing crescent vanished back into its hidden sheath. She didn't look up as the priest spoke.

"Pardon my intrusion, but if you don't mind, I have a request for you three. Would you mind helping me carry this man's body to the church so that he might at least receive some sort of decent burial?"


Nor did she give any reply to his question. The drunk had earned his death and she could care less about the fate of one sotted human. Nor would she dirty herself to assisst in clearing the body away. The tavern staff was there to handle such occurances.

Tempest spoke low, his voice hard. "No god chanter, we will not. Let the one who made the debris do the clean up, or the taverns staff, they are paid good coin for such garbage removal."

He looked over at Bria as she stood, and just shook his head slightly, a faintly amused smile crossing his lips as she agreed to help.

"Thanks again for your help, i'll let you both return to whatever you were doing before i bothered you."

"Perhaps we will see you tonight at dinner." He replied to Bria as he stood himself. "Cynn I am going to check with the blacksmith." he stated in the liquid vowled Sidhe language. She took a bite of her pear and looked up at him, giving a small nod.

"I suppose i'll help. Can't be good for business here if bodies are lying all over the place, ruins the appetite."

Althamas bowed slightly in appreciation and spoke a word of thanks to Bria.

"No god chanter, we will not. Let the one who made the debris do the clean up, or the taverns staff, they are paid good coin for such garbage removal."

Bowing respectufully to Cynn and Tempest, Althamas replied, "If that is your choice. Thank you for your time nonetheless."

Walking over to the tavern entrance, he pushed open the door before returning to the now cold corpse. Grabbing hold of the man's upper torso, Althamas lifted his body with Bria's aid, some of the blood splattering onto his formerly pristine white robes.

As they neared the door, Althamas called out to Kylia, "Be good and maybe we'll have some combat training later."

Kylia head popped up at the words "combat training" but a small pout graced her face at the words "be good." Sighing softly, she turned her attention back to polishing her great axe. Sensing someone approaching her, Kylia looked up to see a man walking toward her. Looking at him expectantly, she paused for a moment when he asked whether he could buy her a drink or not. She smiled innocently belying the rather mischievous ideas running through her mind.

"Master did say to be good....but he didn't say anything about drinks. " she thought.

Rising from her seat and dusting off her skirt, she bowed slightly to Temerius and replied, "Thank you kind sir. I would be most grateful for a drink."

OOC: Thanks for the tip off - edited prior post

Cynn watched Tempest leave, her eyes openly admiring her Bonds powerful but graceful movements. She'd found a happiness with him that she knew she'd never have in a formal, arrainged for the good of the family, marriage. He let her be herself and she knew that wasn't always easy for she was hot tempered and 'difficult' more times than not.

Still nibblng leisurely on the cheese and fruits she pulled out a slim tome from the small pack at her feet. The room may have been clean, the shutter's latch properly working and the door's lock had seemed solid, but she didn't want to leave certain items sitting in a room that was theirs only temproarily.

The tavern didn't stink too badly, being cleaner than many she'd experienced, and people were mostly leaving her alone. And there was a cat comfortably ensconsed in the brightest patch of sunlight. Another good omen. She didn't let herself become completely engrossed in the treatise on the merits of various herbal remedies -Tempest knew more about this than she did but she was determined to learn all she could.- It wasn't safe to become completely absorbed in the learning, and part of her kept an awareness of what was going on about her at all times.

Maiyr realized she'd left her ale down at the tavern, and headed back down. Not trusting a drunken human from spitting in her drink during her absence, she headed to the bar. The majority of the drunks opened a path for her, wanting to spare themselves their compatriot's fate, one who was either stupider, drunker or braver than the rest waited until she'd gotten her drink.

As she stepped back after paying the bartender, "Go back to your master, orc slut. Go do the only thing your good at." He shouted as he spit at her face.

With the hand not holding her drink, a dagger was drawn. The blade flashed, slicing into the man's flesh in numerous places, cutting in a manner that did not kill, but would ensure an exceptionally painful and slow death. Kicking his feet out from under him, she headed back toward her room.

"No child, clean up your own messes!" The voice was cold and commanding, the language Orcish, but with the fluidity of the Sidhe softening the harsher tonality of the other language. And with out being loud it carried clearly across the room. Cynn was on her feet and moving with the stalk of a great forest cat, her dark sapphire eyes narrowed in exasperation.

"They may both have deserved it, but the others of us here peaceably enjoying the day don't. Now others have cleaned up your first mess. You clean up this one."

Maiyr turned in surprise, not expecting anyone to speak orcish. When she noticed who'd said that, she was even more surprised as the average elf would sooner cut out thier tounge than learn orcish.

Replying in the same language, "I'm surprised one of my mother's people would bother learning orcish, thought he isn't mine, you can have him if you want, otherwise his people can handle it. They saw what happened last time, if that didn't teach them, then perhaps dealing with the results will."

While Kylia was chatting with Temerius, her eyes briefly focused on the returning half orc. She was about to return to her conversation when she heard one of the drunks call out.

"Go back to your master, orc slut. Go do the only thing your good at."

Mentally grimacing, she wondered how badly this poor fool was going to be injured. Within a blink of her eye, she saw Maiyr's dagger flash momentarily and then gasped softly as the drunk fell over, bleeding out from multiple wounds. Wincing slightly out of sympathy for the poor fool, she instinctively hurried over to the wounded man. Carefully examining his many bleeding cuts, she realized that without a quick healing, he'd die a slow painful death. Pulling up her sleeves, she mouthed a prayer to God, calling upon his divine mercy and grace to heal this drunk before laying her hands on his body, channeling divine energy through body.

Slowly but surely, the wounds stopped bleeding, the skin slowly stitching itself back together. After a minute or so, Kylia barely caught herself from falling over from exhaustion. Despite her healing, many shallow cuts and scars still littered the drunks body, though no longer life threatening. As she regained her bearings, she made a mental note to ask Althamas for a better way to heal people. Smiling softly, she called out to Cynn, "It's alright. He should regain conciousness in a little bit and I'm sure he learned his lesson from this incident."

They saw what happened last time, if that didn't teach them, then perhaps dealing with the results will."

"They're drunken humans, they are never going to learn. You have the greater responsibility as instead of leaving him to die slow you could simply have broken his jaw. You made the mess, and have disturbed the general peace now twice. Learn some restraint and about being responisble for what you cause." Cynns voice was adamant as she closed on the younger woman.

"or perhaps their stupid insults had some merit? Or is there nothing of your mother in you?"

If the half breed turned on her she'd get a vast surprize, for Cynn was more than ready to return violence with violence. And she hadn't survived three hundred years by being slow, unprepared, or unobservant. The first blow would be parried or blocked and the response would be eye blink swift.

Cynn nodded at the little priestess's words. She didn't care wether he lived or died.

"It looks like the fates have given you a reprieve." She said to the half ork.

"It doesn't matter how many times it takes, they do learn eventually, or die trying. I take responsiblity for what I cause, for what others choose to bring upon themselves, I hold no onus. I do not cripple nor maim." She replied, "My mother would have approved whole-heartedly. She had the same views of racism that I do."

Maiyr heard the priestess comment that the man would live. "Let's hope he learned something from this." She muttered in the common tounge as she departed.

As Bria expected neither Cynn or Tempest was going to help with the cleanup, though she was unexpectedly warmed by Tempest's apparent approval of her plan for her father.

"Yes i'll be happy to join you for dinner later." she replied to Tempest's invivtation as she stood to leave the table. "Not like this would take too long."

Turning to the priest she said, "Ok let's get this over with, i'll take the legs, they're lighter."

It'll make it easier to get to his money pouch that way too, as long as the church gets some of it they won't complain if i took a small fee for my work. Bria thought as they began to take the body away.

"Thank you kind sir. I would be most grateful for a drink."

Temerius walked with her over to the bar. Once there he asked, "And what will you be drinking Miss...?"

He was about to ask about why she was in Ost-lund when the orc woman came back. He watched as she took her drink. This time another drunk insulted her to similar reesults. He shook his head, it seemed men like that would never learn. The girl had gotten up and muttered something, quickly healing the man. She had pacified the situation and taken control, he smiled. He liked that in a woman. "You have quite a talent there. Where did you learn it?"

"What brings you to Ost-lund?"

While the body was being taken care of, the dwarven bar tender whispered something to a human child who was polishing the pewter mugs. With a nod, the child ran off.
Later, when everyone was back, the child returned, this time with four members of the town guard, all wearing chain mail and carrying pole-axes. One of the guards also had a sheathed short sword, and that appeared to mark him as the captain. He looked around the tavern, then called out:
"Alright! What's all this about murders?"

The stagecoach raced down the hill, rattling noisily as it passed over rocks and rough patches in the ill-maintained road. It was an elegant carriage, especially for the baronies, made with dark, almost jet black wood that shimmered in the failing light. Inside two men sat on the expensive leather couches, talking quietly.


"I grow tired of these fools, and their petty disputes," said one in the melodius language of the elves. His voice was smooth, cunning and had the air of mild contempt which almost always accompanied great wealth, "If the baroness of Ost-Lund wants access to my trade roads, she will have to take them from me."

"Ha, I would like to see her try." replied the other, his Elvish was fluent but marred by a heavy Khandian accent, "Baroness Richelle can't even keep theives out of her castle- if it can be called that. She was more concerned with stolen necklaces than trade roads, I think."

"Indeed, but such is to be expected from the Baronies...these 'nobles' wouldn't last a second in the Elven Houses of Underth. Soon though, Rahzuul, this petty squabbling will become irrelevant." stated the first.

Rahzuul chuckled nervously and then fell quiet.

The diligence charged quickly through the muddy main road of Ost-Lunds largest town. The driver's whip cracked as he urged the horses on at breakneck speeds, peasants scrambled to get out of the carriages way.

There was a loud crack as the stagecoach's front wheels struck a rock just beneath the muddy road. Wood tore from metal, hinges and axels tore asunder and the driver was thrown from his perch into the road. The carriage tore free of the horses and came to a creaking halt in the town square.

All was still for a moment, before the side door burst out in a shower of splinters. A man with the dark skin and light armor of Khandia emerged, a sneer etched on his narrow face.

"What happened?" he barked in the rough language of the Baronies. The driver, recovering from his nasty fall, shrugged despondently.

"Rahzuul, it is clear that we won't be making it to Durnham tonight, not with my coach damaged as it is," a melodious, subtly mocking voice cooed. A tall elf with dark hair, bright eyes and flowing red robes emerged from the broken stagecoach, stepping gingerly onto the muddy roads, "There is nothing more we can do... tonight we are the guests of Ost-Lund."

Rahzuul nodded, "Shall I send for the Baroness, Lord Velim?" he asked.

"No, I would rather sleep in the mud then in Richelle's company." the elf responded curtly; several of the peasants gathering around the accident sniggered, "Find the best blacksmith in town, have him fix the coach and pay whatever he asks. Ill make arrangements at the nearest Inn."

"Yes, Lord Velim," the Khandian muttered and, after telling the driver to watch the coach, went off in search of a blacksmith.

Velim watched his bodyguard walk off and smirked, hunting for a blacksmith was not quite a fitting job for a warrior of his skill... but Athalus Velim hardly needed security in this tiny burg. The High Elf walked away from his ruined diligence in search of an Inn. As he approached what appeared to be a bar the local town guard rushed past him and burst into the tiny establishment. Athalus smiled to himself... a drunken brawl between humans, no doubt. The scum were constantly bickering.

It was then that he saw Tempest walking away from the Inn, Velim raised an eyebrow in suprise...

"And what would a dark Sidhe be doing this far north in the baronies?" he called out in Elvish, "I have not seen any of your kind since my time in Underth."

Tempest watched the town guarda enter the tavern out of the corner of his eye. Neither he nor Cynn had been involved and he trusted her to take care of anything that involved them in the matter.

The blacksmith had once again promised with many protestations over hwo much work he had. Oh he had little enough that the board for our mounts over night was not something he'd willingly lose, of course he is busy Tempest has norted to himself. Though it didn't really matter to him, as they had more than suffecient funds to buy the finest house in the small city should they decided to stay awhile - not that there was the slighest chance of that happening. Cynn loved her little luxuries too much to spend any thim in so backwater a place as Ost-lund.

However the small store appeared to have a supply of honey comb, and Cynn favored that with her breakfast cakes. He turned back to head into the small store.

The carriage could be heard coming a mile away, for carriages are inherently noisy thing and this one was moving fast Tempest paid little attention to it however undil he heard the distinctive crack of a metal shod rimm shattering. He snorted to himself at the drivers carelesness, but continued away.

"I have not seen any of your kind since my time in Underth."


The voice, laden with every tone Tempest despised, turned him slowly about. One eyebrow arched in elegant and subtle insult as he took in the speaker. His face was impassive, but his voice held distain. "And perhaps, that is a good thing for thee." Temepest replied in tones that still, after all these years, held the accents of the highest families of the vanished Sidhe empire, the constructions and accents of the high court.

Tempest had his own, personal, differences with the nobles of his race. He was five hundred and more years, having grown up in the Sidhe courts, long before humans had destroyed the Empire. A past he had left behind when the Empire fell to the unwashed hordes of humans that once would have not caused the Sidhe any trouble to send fleeing for their lives.

Athalus smiled with mock friendliness, subtle contempt still lingered in his cunning green eyes.

"A warrior... by the look of your weapons." the High elf said, ignoring Tempest's comment, "I could use a good sword, if you are interested in making some gold. I would value the skill of a fellow elf in my humble army."

Though he had said "fellow elf," it was clear that Velim did not consider Tempest an equal. Indeed, he scorned warriors inwardly... brutes without learning, without knowledge. Useful, but essentially worthless.

As the guardsmen nervously adjusted their chain mail, the bar-dwarf frantically pulled the bottles of "good stuff" - by local standards, at least, from the shelves, looking as though he anticipated a fight.
The surviving drunkards clustered together, and began, all at once, to wail about how the "orcish slave" had slaughtered and maimed their friends. They screeched so that one would think that that "orc" had cut her way through a legion of good honest men - as opposed to a few drunken ruffians.
As they made their exagerated statements, the guardsmen seemed to shrink back, seemingly even more nervous than before, clutching at their pole-axes and seeming to shrink in on themselves.
Finally, their captain spoke, changing the subject in an obvious attempt to avoid a confrontation:
"Well, you're pretty much the only people here who aren't native to this little town. Have any of you seen a half-elf thief? One's supposed to have stolen some diamond necklaces, and there's a big reward for his capture..."

OOC: They just heard the thief was a half-elf. Like typical back-woods barony types, they assume that no woman could accomplish so great a theft...

Temerius raised an eybrow at the uards and turned away from the girl for a moment. "I saw no half-elf man," he said.
"What I want to know is what you intend to do about the orc?"

This is annoying Bria thought as she carried the body along with the silent priest. It turned out the church was much further away than she thought so the trek turned out to be longer as well. Finally reaching the small church Bria dropped her end of the body at the foot of the stairs. As the priest looked back questioningly Bria said. "We don't want the blood getting all over the church do we? Just go get a priest from inside and we'll be done, i'll keep an eye on this one."

The priest nodded and stepped inside as Bria sat down on the ground by the road. The moment the door closed behind the priest Bria's hands busily undid the drunk's money pouch and found a few silver and copper coins in it. Looking around to be sure no one was watching, she quickly took a few of the silver coins and put them in her own purse while putting the copper and a couple silver coins back in the pouch and tied it back up.

Always make things look believable Darlok had said. By leaving the copper and a few of the silver in the purse, no one would think that I put 5 other silver coins into my own pouch. If i took all the coin or even all the silver people might have gotten suspicious with just copper left but leaving a few silver in with the copper just made it appear the man spent too much time at the inn drinking.

A few moments later the priest appeared with one of the local priests who looked shocked to see a dead body on the stairs and Bria sitting nearby. Getting to her feet Bria said, "Not sure who this guy was but that priest thought he should be brought here so here he is. I'll be heading back to the inn now, i got my exercise for today."

Turning around she made her way back, stopping at the sight of the town guard stepping into the inn. Did the baroness track me down? I was sure i lost everyone in the woods. Maybe they;re just here for the drunk. Bria wondered as she weighed the situation mentally. Well Darlok always said when it doubt brazen it out and so Bria continued on to the inn, hoping to slip in and get to her room and out of sight of the guard until she found out what they were up to.

As she stepped into the inn...
The guard captain nervously cleared his throat, then replied:
"Well, ummm... orc, would you please let us um... arrest you?" he seemed genuinely terrified as he said that, as he knew just what would happen if he had to fight that orc who had just so graphically proven her combat ability...

Laying her book aside as the loudly voiced tale of defending themselves resounded throughout the tavern, Cynn stood and quietly walked closer. She listened to the local drunk's lies with growing annoyance. and the capatin's willingness to change the subject - in her eyes little more than cowardice - just made her angrier.

"You all are liars and fools. Your weapons..." She snorted in disgust, eyeing the handfull of low quality belt knives the drunks sported " Haven't been drawn in so long they have tannin stains along the edges from the ill cured leather of the sheaths." Her voice, as it had earlier when she had exchanged worlds with the half ork, carried clearly without her having to raise it.

"And no, good captain." The contempt in her voice was clear that she thought him no good, and unworthy to be an officer. "no one here has seen some scrawny thief gloating over his haul of ill gotten jewelery. A thief clever enough to take that sort of prize, would scare stay close to his victim, wouldn't one guess?'

"What I want to know is what you intend to do about the orc?"

Cynn looked over at the man- Temerius- though she didn't know his name- who'd joined the little priestess as soon as the girl's mentor had left, and her eyes were flinty. By his accent and clothing she placed him as some born into one of human highly places houses of Underth, and briefly wondered what he was doing here, and why he was pressing the issue.

She made a prominent issue of looking around the tavern, making it very apparent she was looking for an ork...and finding none.

"First off, there is no ork here, though I have seen several half Sidhe, and what is it to you?

She gave Bria a wolfish grin, as the half Sidhe returned. Catching her eye, Cynn's fingers flicked discretely and expertly over various sheaths, losening peace ties and readying weapons to be drawn in an eye blink should it become necessary.

Tempest's face didn't change, but the word he chose next was an insult. "Kinsman..." The word - in the adaptable, flowing language of the Sidhe- meant:"one the speaker claimed any relation to only because of race, and the offense of being part of the same race would be rectified one day by the spilling of blood."

"I am particular whom I chose to work with. I work for no one but myself."

His left hand rested easily on the hilt of he long dagger at his his hip, and he showed no inclination to reach for the bastard sword across his back, but he didn't let himself relax either. The insult he had offered was ambiguous for those so inclined to let it pass for the nonce, but many didn't. And he held some slight interest in the way the newcomer would respond.

"First off, there is no ork here, though I have seen several half Sidhe, and what is it to you?

Temerius blinked in surprise at the elf. Why was she covering for the orc? An interesting development. He would play along just to see what would happen. "I know the orc isn't here; I have eyes. I was wondering what they would do when they found her."

“The High Elf laughed smoothly, as though Tempest's insult was a friendly jest. His eyes, however, flashed dangerously... House Velim was famous in Underth for its ruthless tactics and unscrupulous members, Athalus was no exception.

Black-elf fool, inbred savage...

"Well, if you ever find yourself in need of gold, my barony is Durnham... South of here, much more prosperous and civilized than this pathetic burg." he said with false politesse and poisoned undertones. With that he walked away towards the Inn, a smirk etched on his face. An unnaturally cold wind howled down the street for a moment, blasting Tempest painfully, but harmlessly, in the face.

Mild annoyance flashed across Velim’s face when he saw that the town guard was still bumbling around the Inn. He stepped inside the bar and smirked when he heard the captain ask about the necklace...

"I saw a half-elf man by the church on my ride into town... no doubt that is the culprit?" he asked the captain, his voice both mocking and magically persuasive "Why don't you go there, and stop wallowing lazily around here... looking for free drinks, no doubt. Or perhaps you should tell the Baroness that if she spent less time with her jewelry and more time governing that she might make something more of Ost-Lund than a rest stop on the journey to better things."

...what they would do when they found her."

Cynn just shook her head in utter disgust. Humans! she thought wearily.

"Given their greater interest in free, and their open dismay at the thought of anything resembling a confrontation, I'd have to say they'd run away."

She would have said more but a lazy, mocking voice, who's accent she knew well interupted.

"I saw a half-elf man by the church on my ride into town... no doubt that is the culprit?"

Cynn turned on her heel, and looked the newcomer up and down with a politely remote expression. Oh by the Leaves that accent is from no where but... and I think I recognise him...the last thing I need is one of the family's long lost - and he should have stayed lost- friends wanting to chat up old times and commiserate how far we have fallen. Blasphemy! I hope he leaves soon She thought as she silently agreed with his comments regarding the Baroness. As far as she had been able to discern that "noble" woman hads spent for more interest on her string of lovers and her jewels than on ruling her lands with any effectiveness.

However, just to make sure he knew his presence annoyed her- she had the sudden sure knowing that he was the sort to buy the tavern entire so as to get the best rooms it had. Well Tempest and I paid for them a couple of hours ago oh tall, pale, and skinny...

"I know it's fashionable these days to be generally ignorant, but if you had the slightest thought rolling round in your head, you might have noticed that tha half Sidhe by the church is a cleric of the Reformed Church of Tyralia. One can pretty much identify them by their vestments, and their blessed symbols. Those do tend to keep just any one from wearing them. I saw a very nasty curse take effect once." She gave a exagerated shudder, pleased to be both mocking the Underth Sidhe, and at the same time scareing the towns guarda even more.

There might be an interesting evening ahead as well. One human noble and one Sidhe noble, both from Underth. Neither of the nicest sort and there were always long simmering resentments between the two races. Humans hated the Sidhe for stepping in and becomeing the favorites of the Emperor, and the Sidhe hated the fact that they had lost their own Empire, and had to mingle with humans.

Unnoticed by all save those with the keenest senses, the temperature dropped slightly as Athalus Velim turned to face the dark elf.

"Ah, there is more to this town than meets the eye... a dark Sidhe sharing a drink with a half-breed while defending the Human church... will the wonders never cease?" he asked rhetorically, his eyebrow arched in mock suprise, "Your accent betrays you, daughter of d'Marr.... I hail from House Velim, but it has been a long time since I've seen the mansions of Underth. If I may venture a guess as to your origins... you escaped the infamous marriages of your House and... 'Bonded' with the warrior I met outside? Surely you two are connected, even a mage's apprentice could feel that vibration in magicka."

OOC: If you want Cynn to remember something about House Velim here's a brief description: It's wealthy, xenophobic, conservative, violent and produces some of Underth's finest wizards. It's rumored to have connections with the Xandu, and some of its members almost openly practice necromancy and other illegal types of magic. If you have a problem w/ him figuring out Tempest's and Cynn's relationship Ill edit it out.

Karnak had headed downstairs from napping to find there were milita asking questions about an orc. He frowned as he'd be willing to wager a spell for immortality or the secrets of alchemy against a copper penny that they were talking about Maiyr.

Walking over to the guard captain he asked, "Why do you want the orc, and for what purposes?"

**************

Maiyr had stretched out under the window, many, but not all of her weapons stored in a careful pile as she slept peacefully, dreaming of her parents, and of gutting enemies.

The guard captain snapped his head back and forth as all the contradictory advice was shouted out to him. Finally, he ordered two of his men to go check the church, while he and the last other would stay behind to question the tavern patrons.
In response to Karnac's question, the guard captain replied:
"Ah, well, she apparently murdered and maimed, good sir..."

"Well she was attacked and insulted." He replied with a smile. "It's not smart to attack or insult an orc afterall."

"You have quite a talent there. Where did you learn it?"

Kylia looked up at Temerius. Blushing slightly at his praise, she took a few breaths before replying.

"Well, back in Tyralia several years ago, my father and mother,Sir Rylthos and Lady Sildori of the noble House of Ialdris, entrusted me to the Church of Tyralia. It was there that I met my master, Althamas Ilderin. It was he who guided me in the arts of healing, though I must admit that I still have much to learn.

"What brings you to Ost-lund?"

Standing up and straightening her skirt, Kylia paused for a moment, wondering whether or not it was wise to be telling so much to a man she just met even if he was rather handsome. Mentally shrugging, she decided that there wasn't much harm in informing him, after all, their reason for being here was innocent enough.

Swallowing briefly, she replied, "Well, my master and I have been traveling throughout the continent so that I might learn more about the world and be able to apply what I've learned from him. Now that I've told my life's story, why don't you tell me something about yourself."

The sound of the tavern door opening caught her attention. Turning to see what was going on, Kylia was slightly surprised to see the town guard entering, though she soon realized that the news of the murder must have gotten out.

"Well, you're pretty much the only people here who aren't native to this little town. Have any of you seen a half-elf thief? One's supposed to have stolen some diamond necklaces, and there's a big reward for his capture..."

Listening to the guard's words, Kylia's thoughts wandered back to the wanted notice that her master had taken with him. Though her master was a half-elf male, there was no way that he could have stolen it, especially since he was busy dodging her axe slashes all day a few days ago.

Soon after the guards had entered, an elf entered the tavern as well, a noble no doubt judging by his expensive looks and air of arrogance and self import.

"I saw a half-elf man by the church on my ride into town... no doubt that is the culprit?"

At this man's casual statement, Kylia was ready to slash his head off with her great axe, murder or no murder. Fortunately for both of them, as Kylia was eyeing her axe that lay only a few feet from her, Cynn spoke up, defending her mentor.

Making a mental note to thank her personally later, Kylia was about to leave and search for her master when the that woman who left to help her master returned. Pausing for a moment, she wondered where her master had wandered off to, feeding the bunnies no doubt. Another figure soon appeared on scene, catching her attention. It was that man with that half-orc lady! Soon after catching sight of the man, she watched as he and the guard captain exchanged words regarding the half-orc. Deciding that now might be a good time speak up, she spoke. Though her words in Common, they held a sense of nobility that was ingrained in her ever since she learned to speak.

"Master Captain, I apologize for my intrusion, but I must side with this man here even though I healed one of the drunks a few minutes ago. These men here clearly provoked this man's companion, though she did respond in a rather violent manner. As for the guard you sent after my master, you need not worry as my master is most certainly innocent with regards to the jewelry theft, especially since he is a master priest of Tyralia's Church."

While all this had been going on, Althamas had been clearing everything with the local church regarding the body and had left several minutes earlier, heading back toward the tavern. When he was but a few minutes away from the tavern, a guard intercepted him and asked him politely if he would follow him back to the tavern. Readily agreeing, Althamas had returned with the guard just enough time to catch his apprentice's statement.

Clearing his throat, Althamas spoke up, "Yes, I must agree with my apprentice here. I most certainly did not steal anything."

Turning in surprise, Kylia hurried over to her master and quickly filled him in on what had happened. His amber eyes gazed impassively as he let his mind absorb the information. Flicking his eyes over to the high elven noble, Althamas narrowed his eyes at the noble's previous comments. There was something about that noble that troubled. Something...dark or impure.... A poke to his ribs broke him out of his own little world as his ward spoke to him in excited tones.

"Master, you still have that wanted notice with you right? The one that you got from the Baroness's knights right?"

Nodding slowly, Althamas reached into his robes and pulled out a scroll of cheap parchment, a corner was crimson as it was stained from the man's blood that soaked through his robes. Handing it to her, he looked at Kylia puzzled.

"Now what might you need that for, Kylia?"

Walking over and pressing it into the guard's hands, she turned and faced her mentor.

"Why to set them straight of course."

The guard captain nervously cleared his throat, then replied:
"Well, ummm... orc, would you please let us um... arrest you?"

"WHAT?" Bria exclaimed as she faced the nervous looking guatrd captain. "Do I LOOK like i have ANY orc blood in me! I've never been so insulted." she concluded slapping the captain across the face before storming by with her head raised at a somewhat haughty angle. Storming towards the stairs she caught Cynn's glance out of the corner of her eye than turned to face her winking briefly before heading up the steps, ignoring everyone else who was in the midst of the arguement.

Fortune favors the bold, an insulted lady won't be suspected of thieving even if they seem like they;re after the half orc she thought to herself having missed the part about the male half elf thief also being sought out. I supposed being raised in some sort of noble surroundings pays off, might be about the only useful thing i did pick up from my father. she mused thinking back to her father's oft arrogance with those he felt to be beneathe him.

Having no intention of being locked in her room during this matter Bria paused at the top of the stairs to let the half orc's companion head back down the steps before turning the corner and leaning against the wall quietly to listen in on the discussion below.

The captain obviously now wished that he had went to the church and left this discussion for one of his underlings. He gingerly touched the place on his face where he had been slapped, then took the wanted poster and read it, stumbling over any lengthy words, mouthing as he read...
Once he was finished, he nodded his thanks to the young acolyte. Finally, he cleared his throat, and spoke:
"Well, we... sort of have a policy against murder here in Ost-Lund... we, um... try to keep the peace and all... I mean, the orc'd get a trial..." he seemed to be genuinely afraid at this point, and clutched his pole-axe nervously, so tightly that his knuckles whitened.
His remaining comrade did likewise, and they both looked as though they expected trouble.

"Is it still murder if it's self-defence?" Karnak asked, "But either way, we don't want to bother anyone with the hassels of a trial, so how about we just forget all about it and everyone goes home without a problem?"

Now that I've told my life's story, why don't you tell me something about yourself."


"Well I hail from the kingdom of Underth, but I left because I was getting nowhere fast. Right now I am trying to get myself a barony of my own. I may be able to make a difference in the grand scheme of things if I do. Get in the history books maybe."

"Well, we... sort of have a policy against murder here in Ost-Lund... we, um... try to keep the peace and all... I mean, the orc'd get a trial..."

Temerius moved his hand down to one of his sabers, "I think it may be time to leave, Captain, and stop bothering these innocent townsfolk. We wouldn't want this to get ugly."

"I think it may be time to leave, Captain, and stop bothering these innocent townsfolk. We wouldn't want this to get ugly."

The captain's only remaining underling looked like he would have been glad to take the elf's advise, but the guard captain looked like he would keep asking questions - he actually touched the amulet around his neck which had on it the holy symbol of the god of watchmen before he spoke again:
"I can't do that. I have a duty, to keep the peace. Even if it was self-defense... what threat did a drunk pose to her? Did she have to kill him? Please, I have a job to do..." he trailed off, fear and dedication warring in his eyes.

"If you give her a jury of her peers, then Maiyr might choose to let you run your trial, if not..." He commented

The captain's only remaining underling looked like he would have been glad to take the elf's advise

OOC: I'm a human... lol

"I can't do that. I have a duty, to keep the peace. Even if it was self-defense... what threat did a drunk pose to her? Did she have to kill him? Please, I have a job to do..."

"I respect that you need to do your job, but frankly that drunk got what was coming to him. And, you are begining to try my nerves, good captain."

Bria listened from her spot atop the stairs and negotiations seemed to be breaking down. She continued to listen knowing that in a barroom brawl no one pays too much attention to their coin purses.Every coin counts after all.

OOC: Sorry - I got a little confused...

The guard captain glanced nervously at the floor, then muttered - "Alright. We'll go... but this isn't over." with that, he and his underling made their way to the door, glancing nervously over their shoulders.
Just as he made it through the door, he turned back, and looked the room over, a look on his face that spoke of both defiance and fear.

'Bonded' with the warrior I met outside? Surely you two are connected, even a mage's apprentice could feel that vibration in magicka."


Cynn smiled a deadly smile and her look to Athalus said she'd take it up later. She had more important things to tend to than a scion of the infamous House Velim. She had no liking for Necromancers, and this one was too...oily to be anything but.

She watched the Guarda Captain leave the tavern, noting his look quite carefully.

"Well" She spoke in her command voice once again. "Now that between us we've made enemy of the town. " Cynn gave the dwarf behind the bar a long look, then turned it on the drunken towns folk. "I think it might behove us to make plans." Her grin was calculatedly evil as she approached the bar.

'Dwarf, do you own this tavern?" She querried the bartender. She trusted the towns people not to let them sleep unmolested through out the night. Well I'll buy the damn place and then abandon it in the morning...or we're going to have to ride well into dark to get far enough away from here. And I don't think most of the others have mounts. I'd hate to leave them to the locals non existant mercy. Even if one is a Velimish necromancer, another an equally ass human, and an ork.. an ORK! ...oh by the Leaves what a mess. Even if the Ork doesn't have the discipline the gods gave humans...the drunklen louts did deserve what they got... She wondered where her strange mood had come from as she waited for the Dwarf to answer her.

"I think it may be time to leave, Captain, and stop bothering these innocent townsfolk. We wouldn't want this to get ugly."

Althamas grimaced as the tension in the air grew heavier. Eying Temerius's movement toward his saber, he let a small stream of divine energy flow through him, no one would detect it unless he or she had been trained to detect such minute manipulations.

"I respect that you need to do your job, but frankly that drunk got what was coming to him. And, you are begining to try my nerves, good captain."

Carefully reaching into his robes, Althamas had just grasped a small thin strip of paper when he felt Kylia nudge him gently in the ribs. Diverting part of his focus to her, he whispered, "What is it?"

"Just what do you think you're doing, master?" she whispered, her voice as tense as the situation itself was.

"Just getting a little life insurance ready," he whispered back, his casual tone revealing nothing of his own tenseness.

Having been prepared to invoke the power of Seal of Binding, Althamas was pleasantly surprised when the guard left with as little trouble as he did.

"Now that between us we've made enemy of the town. I think it might behove us to make plans."

Frowing slightly at Cynn's words, Althamas turned toward his apprentice. He knew that the villagers posed no danger to himself, but for the young acolyte.....things might not turn out so well.

"I believe you are right, noble lady," he said, "Kylia, if you would go inform the tavern owner that we will pay for the two rooms we rented, but tell him that we'll be spending our night at the church."

"Right," replied Kylia.

Watching his apprentice leave, Althamas sighed softly. This had been one troublesome week. Perhaps he should go find some bunnies to feed... Shaking his head, Althamas headed up the staircase, off to grab their supplies left in his room.

Hearing Althamas' steps on the stairway Bria left her listening post and headed to her rooms to gather her things. If the others were leaving then she probably should too since it was a bad idea to be the last stranger left in town when something bad happened. Besides you could never trust a dwarf anyway.

OOC: What should I do? I kind of provoked that guard.

'Dwarf, do you own this tavern?"
The dwarf looked up and nervously smilled, before replying:
"Well, yes, I do..."

Meanwhile

Castle Ost-Lund wasn't too impresive - it was only awarded the title of "castle" because no one had come for it with siege weapons yet. Still, against raiders and small bands of bandits, it was a good defensible position. It was also the home of Baroness Ost-Lund - although until a few years ago she had been a land-less mercenary who happened to have put together a small mercenary band.
Even now most of her former mercenaries served her, along with some locals. (such as the ones you saw...)
Right now, she was feeling very, very, angry... and was making plans of her own for what would happen that night.
"Some might try to take refuge in the church," she said to the Captain of her guards, "I want to prevent that - not because I particularly care if the gods are offended, but because it would look bad if we had to drag them from the altar." she thought for a moment, then spoke:
"Take four men, go and secure the church in case they try to run there. Go now - we'll move in a few hours, though, after it's dark."

"Well, yes, I do..."

Cynn shook her head. "No not any longer, not if you wish to live till the morning. Here..." She undid the knot securing a heavy, chairmail lined belt pouch and brought forth 20 thick wheels that gleamed golden in the light. One by one she laid them on the bar, letting the weight be heard in the solid,unmistakeable sound they made. A full ounce of gold each. The best room in the tavern, with meals and baths - for two - came to two silvers and there were ten silver to the gold.

"I'd advise you to take them and leave. Come the morning you might be able to return and find it still standing, and me gone - or dead and keep all that gold. Or I might be the new Baroness win which case you can give me two of those wheels back as taxes and again, have your tavern back. But as of now it's mine and you would be advised to leave."

"You see they're probably going to come for every one here, as the captain is a fraudlent coward, your current Baroness a bitch and a piss poor noble...and most of all we are a threat to her."

Cynn looked over the drunks, and her cold eyes made it clear that they were to leave at once if they valued their lives.... "Or I can kill you all now." She threatened aloud, though she had no intent of killing them unless it became necessary. She'd much prefer to just knock them out, hog tie them and leave them some place for later release.

She'd paid more attention to other conversations than one might have guessed, and she had the keen hearing of any Sidhe. She turned to the pirest and gave him a bit of advice.

"Priest, I'd not suggest on counting oneself safe in a church, tis none to reliable a sancutary these dsays. There is more safety in numbers. I think that we lot can hold this place enough to sleep in shifts. And the tavern is a money maker for the Baroness, in the taxes it brings in. She's likely to be loathe to burn it down just to discommode us. Stay here and be safer."

She made sure she caught the eyes of all of the non locals - the human warrrior and the mage from Underth, the Ork's companion, the Priest and his charge... She'd speak to Bria in a moment...to let them know she was including them in on the deal.

And the tavern is a money maker for the Baroness, in the taxes it brings in. She's likely to be loathe to burn it down just to discommode us. Stay here and be safer."

Bria caught the tail end of Cynn's comment as she was coming down the stairs with her gear with a quick glance at the pile of gold on the bar that the dwarf was no doubt going to greedily stuffing into his own pack. Sighing briefly at the lost opportunity as there were far too many witnesses to make a play for thme herself, Bria looked over to Cynn and nodded.

"I don't plan to be caught outside alone with a bunch of local guards who know all the ways in and out of town. If everyone's staying i'll stick with the numbers thanks. Oh and someone should go keep an eye on the back door, and maybe check out the cellar to see if there's another way in, there usually is in a place like this."

And the dwarf might keep whatever coin he has down there too, dwarves like being underground all the time so what better place to hide his wealth.

"Priest, I'd not suggest on counting oneself safe in a church, tis none to reliable a sancutary these dsays. There is more safety in numbers. I think that we lot can hold this place enough to sleep in shifts. And the tavern is a money maker for the Baroness, in the taxes it brings in. She's likely to be loathe to burn it down just to discommode us. Stay here and be safer."


Temerius joined in, "I agree with the dark elf. We should make a stand at this inn. I'm confident we can fight off any guards that the baroness is willing to throw at us. If not, I think I can round up a few volunteers to fight for us. I'll watch the front door tonight."

"My, my, what an unusual turn of events..." Athalus stated to no one in particular, "We should make precautions... knowing the Baroness, she is likely to throw her entire band of thugs at us at once, and she would be more than happy to have my head on a pike after I denied her access to those trade roads..."

The elven noble eyed the others boredly before settling on Cynn...

"I would feel remiss if I did not compensate you for my lodgings," he said, throwing her a large gold coin with a flick of his wrist.

It was pity he'd given Rahzuul (his bodyguard) instructions to ride back to Durnham (Athalus' barony) after speaking with the blacksmith... it looked like the situation would require a good sword.

Karnak had missed the look, and most of Cynn's speech as he'd already departed upstairs. Arriving at their shared room, he stripped down to a pair of shorts and crawled into bed, Maiyr having taken the floor. He smiled, remembering when he'd first met her and attempted to take the floor himself while insisting she slept in the bed. He'd awoken to find thier positions reversed and when he'd asked, found out she couldn't sleep on soft mattresses, even when it wasn't actually that soft.

The dwarf nodded nervously, but eagerly too, and grabbed up the gold before rushing behind the bar, where he rummaged around for a few moments before coming back up with a small one-hand battle-axe, a leather sack and a flask of some liquid.
As soon as he had all three of those items, he stuffed the gold into the pounch, and then ran for the door.
At the door, he called back to the drunks:
"Oi! You lot - you gonna stay here and die, and ruin me buissiness?" at which point the drunks as well vacated the tavern, leaving the party on its own.

The baroness loved how easy it was to manipulate the common folk. They hated her with all their hearts and minds, but all she had to do was show them blood and they would go and get their pitch-forks for her.
Right now, she had some fifty commoners with clubs, pitch-forks, wood axes and scythes, all ready to fight for the woman they hated, plus twenty guards and... and herself, with her sword.
Of the guards, forteen had pole-axes, and the other six had cross-bows. Once night fell, there would be a slaughter.

Tempest was pleased with his purchases, but his good mood fled as he saw the bartender flee out the door to the tavern. "What now?" He wondered aloud as he entered the building.

He sighed when he saw Cynn stepping around to the back of the bar.

Cynn looked at Bria after the dwarf fled "If you want to take first shift on the back door this evening, thats fine, and sure you can check out the cellar. It is like ly that a dwarf would have such a hide hold or escape hatch. And it would behove us to know of it.

Nodding to a frowning Tempest with a smirk and a twinkle in her eye she turned to the human, Temerius. "You can have first watch on the front."

She looked at every one "Meals are on the house if some one heldp cook them."

Cynn caught the heavy gold coin that the Velnim sorcerer tossed her way and set it on the counter. "There's three free rooms upstairs...I think ...I saw that there were five and two are taken - they are the ones at the end of the hall, but you may have any of the other three. If you want hot water for a bath you'll have to heat it and carry it up yourself."

She quickly explained to Tempest what had happened. He nodded with a sigh. "Bout what one would expect. Our room over looks the street. If you are up there after dark, in a darkened room with a bow, you should have a clear field of fire down below"

She nodded, that she'd already planned on. "We've got a few hours. Any one tired ought to catch a nap now. I'm going up to talk to the Ork and her companion, they need to leave or do their share since she caused most of this."

This was not exactly a new experinces for either Cynn or Tempest.

"Sure i'll take the first shift on the back door. I guess that means i'd better go check out the cellar now then before it gets too late."

Making sure all her daggers were in place, Bria scampered into the kitchen where she figured the stairway to the cellars would be and prepared to take a close look around. a secret escape route might come in very handy, the dwarf's treasure even more so.Being up late wasn;t too unusual in her profession after all, that's when she got most of her work done anyways.

Athalus sighed and went around the bar, his eyes scanning the liquor bottles disinterestedly. Finally he found what he assumed to be the most expensive bottle of wine and, pouring himself a glass, walked into the kitchen.

"Looking for something?" he asked Bria, his lazy, melodius voice both mocking and bored, "I think he took his gold with him, my dear."

As Cynn headed up to see them, Karnak awoke due to pressure in his bladder. Getting up, he headed to the privy out of respect for Maiyr and the orcish traditions of not mixing sleeping places and the toilet.

"Priest, I'd not suggest on counting oneself safe in a church, tis none to reliable a sancutary these dsays. There is more safety in numbers. I think that we lot can hold this place enough to sleep in shifts. And the tavern is a money maker for the Baroness, in the taxes it brings in. She's likely to be loathe to burn it down just to discommode us. Stay here and be safer."

Althamas halted at the top of the staircases. Mentally calculating the risk, he remained motionless for a few seconds.

"I suppose...." he muttered.

The elf was right in that the church wouldn't offer much protection, though, he wasn't so much concerned for his own safety.

"I agree with the dark elf. We should make a stand at this inn. I'm confident we can fight off any guards that the baroness is willing to throw at us. If not, I think I can round up a few volunteers to fight for us. I'll watch the front door tonight."

"Hmm...." mused Althamas.

He supposed that the two were right in saying that the group possessed a higher chance of fending off the attackers, assuming there would be any.

"In that case noble lady and noble sir," he replied, "I will yield to your judgements. I do see what you mean."

"Meals are on the house if some one helps cook them."

Chuckling softly as he made his way down the stairs, he said, "Milady, no worries about finding a cook. I'm an able enough cook in my humble opinion of course."

Turning to face Kylia, he called out, "Kylia, go to the kitchen and see what you can find."

With a slight nod, Kylia headed into the kitchen, intent on finding something edible in this tavern. She was sure her master find some way of putting something appetizing together or at least she hoped so, especially since that stew she saw earlier looked........interesting to say the least.

Walking over Temerius, he spoke, "Before I get to work on our evening meal, I'd like to set up a few Seal of Binding traps first. It'll take a few of them out of commission I should think."

Heading out of the tavern, Althamas drew a few of the thin slips of paper he had inside his robe. The slips were about seven inches in height and three inches in width with intricate designs and the celestial word for "bind" inked in a pale lavender. Scattering a small stack of them around the front, he whispered a silent prayer over them, channeling a minute amount of divine energy into them. If they worked as they were supposed to, they would activate the moment someone stepped near or over them. Cautiously, he covered them over with a thin layer of dirt, hiding them from casual glances. Mumbling a prayer to God that they would work, Althamas pointed out to Temerius where the traps were set before he headed toward the back entrance where Bria was to set up a few more.

Entering into the tavern kitchen, he chuckled softly at the sight of his apprentice struggling to support several rather heavy looking pots. Easing their weight off her, he suggested that it would be best if she were to help set up the remaining traps while he cooked. Heartily agreeing, Kylia nabbed a small stack of the binding seals and heading into the cellar. Seeing Bria down there, she called out, "Hi there my names Kylia. Did you find any back entrance or some secret exit? Cause my master sent me here to post up these binding seal traps."

As night fell, the mob came down the street towards the tavern, holding torches in the air, while the guards came with them... save for the eleven who waited at the church.
Upon reaching the tavern, they encircled it, and then they began waiting... waiting for something...

"Looking for something?" he asked Bria, his lazy, melodius voice both mocking and bored, "I think he took his gold with him, my dear."


"Don;t be too sure of that. After all the dwarf took off as soon as he got Cynn's money, he didn;t come backto get anything else. Probably means what he has hidden away is less than that but no point in having it all locked away whgere no one can get it."

Goin back downstairs she looked at the cellar, simple and dimly lit with no obvious hiding places. Of coruse Bria relaized that dwarves were master stonemasons so she began tapping her way around the wall with the pommel of one of her daggers about 4 feet high in the hopes of hearing the hollow sign indicating a hidden chamber. She was at it for a little while when she heard steps coming down the stairs.


"Hi there my names Kylia. Did you find any back entrance or some secret exit? Cause my master sent me here to post up these binding seal traps."

"Hello, i'm Bria, no i haven't found anything yet, been trying to find a hollow area along the walls but nothing has turned up yet. Once i finish the walls i'll check the walls for a trapdoor. I'm certain a dwarf would have some sort of hidden escape route."

Second floor of the Inn late afternoon to early night fall

Cynn spied the Ork's companion as she came up the stairs.

"You'd better know that there's probably going to be trouble tonight." She explained quickly what all he'd missed and that the others were going to be defending themselves with the Tavern as their 'fortress'.

"Your room over looks the back, will you at least stand watch over that? Though it'd be damned helpfull if your friend would take her temper out on some of our attackers when they come." She told Karnak before leaving to see to the rest of the upstairs.

Once she had finished she checked the shutters in the unoccupied rooms, making sure that they were tightly secured, with the ladder back chair that each room was provided with jammed under the catches to prevent them from being 'lifted' with a knife blade slid in from the outside.

She made sure that her bow and arrows were ready, the shutters opened. She wouldn't need any light, what wouls come in from out side would be enough for her Sidhe senses.

When darkness fell she was ready, hidden within the rooms deeper shadows. Her first target would be the Baroness if she showed up, or if not, the leader of the guards.

She knew that Tempest would deal with the torches the moment his keen eyes took her first arrow spitting which ever of the two main targets she chose.

The sudden and unexpected loss of their illumination should spook the mob down below.

Main floor of the Tavern from late afternoone to early night fall.

Tempest spent part of the afternoon readying the ground floor for a fight.

The Tavern had only two entrances. The main one that led directly into the tavern from the small front stoop that was three steps up from the ground, and the back one that entered the kitchen and scullery. That door had a wider stoop but like the front was raised three steps off of the ground.

There were no windows in the side of the building that the bar ran along, but ther ewere some on the front wall and on the other side wall. The kitchen and scullery each had a window on to the back garden and garbage pit. He closed the shutters on the kitchen and scullery windows. "Tie them shut." he had advised Althamas "So they can't throw lit torches through them, or climb in through them. If there is just the door, one person can hold it for a time, then be relieved by some one fresher."

He had Temerius help him move the tables over and tip them on their sides , blocking the windows in the side walls. They were thick wooden tables and were too heavy to be pushed aside from the outside.

Tempest left the three front windows alone

He reminded Temerius where the priest had scattered the binding spells, so he wouldn't inadvertantly trigger them. I'd rather not let them get inside, but the lighting would be better with in as I am going to, in one way or another , make the street very dark. The pesantry is usually very afraid of the dark, and I would have that fear as a bonus for us."

Then he unbent enough to discuss his magical strategy with Athalus. "I'll take care of their light sources, or blind them if they are bold enough to come with out. I know that Cynn will target the ranking officers, and that will be our signal to begin dealing with the rest. When they begin to close can your magery deal with some of them? I can deal with some should they get in with spell or sword as need be."

As night fell he watched with interest from the shadows. He'd propped the front door open, and stood ready to cast the spell that would douse the torches the peasant mob huddled about. Once Cynn's arrow had skewerd the leader, be it the Baroness or a guardsman he'd remove the fitfull illiumination and let the terrors of the dark scatter them.

"If anyone tries to get in our room, they'll be dead before they blink." Karnak replied, "Other than that, if you haven't heard the expression to let sleeping orcs lie, well it applies to Maiyr."

He then headed to the privy and relieved himself before returning to the room. He wasn't that concerned because he knew if there was any serious fighting, it would wake his cimpanion up and she'd get to have some 'fun'.

Athalus nodded in quiet consent to the dark-Sidhe's plan.

So the warrior knows the ways of majic? A spellsword... perhaps he is of more value than I thought...

"Extinguish the torches," the wizard said with a smirk, "I'll extinguish their will to fight."

Leaving Tempest to ponder his vauge message, Velim headed to the second floor and let himself into the room where Cynn sat waiting.

"Hello my dear," he cooed in his sarcastic, taunting tone, "I hope you can shoot in the rain."

With that the High Elf sat in the rooms opposite corner, his green eyes staring intently at the cloudy night sky. His lips moved quickly, but no sound escaped... if Velim were actually to speak the words of the incantation he and everyone within a mile would go deaf.

Distantly, lightning flashed followed quickly by a rumble of thunder. A moment later lightning flashed again, this time much closer, and was followed by a gunshot of thunder. Cold, icy rain began to drizzle, and then pour steadily, from the night sky, which was now lit spastically by flashes of bright thunder.

Elven mages of old would commune with nature, plead with it to aid them in battle or in harvest. The Earth was their friend, their partner in warfare... it worked with them, not for them. Athalus seemed to be doing the opposite of his ancestors... bending the sky to his will, subjugating it.

"Hello, i'm Bria, no i haven't found anything yet, been trying to find a hollow area along the walls but nothing has turned up yet. Once i finish the walls i'll check the walls for a trapdoor. I'm certain a dwarf would have some sort of hidden escape route."

"Hmmm..." mused Kylia, "In that case, once you find the trap door, would you mind posting these seal on and around it? Make sure not to touch them once you set them down as their very sensitive to touch and nearness. I'd say you'd have a good two seconds to set them all around and then get out of here if you don't want to set them all off."

With that, she handed the small pile of seals to Bria and headed back into the kitchen. After all, she didn't care how good Althamas was at cooking, sometimes a woman's touch was needed.

Althamas ,meanwhile, had just tied the kitchen windows and every other nearby window shut, slapping a binding seal on each of them for good measure. Returning to the kitchen, he frowned as he checked the number of seals left over.

"Only thirty left...guess I'll need to craft some more later," he muttered as he made his way to the kitchen stores.

With the help of his returned apprentice, he and Kylia managed to rustle some decent looking foodstuffs. With the skil gained from helping to feed a massive temple, Althamas had a pot of savory smelling beef stew with a two chickens, or something that looked like them at least, roasting over the flame pit. Checking several of the small loaves of bread he had baking he walked over to Kylia and whispered, "You take care of the kitchen right now. I'll be out in front with the rest. Somethings going to be happening soon and I'm sure we'll all enjoy a nice meal afterward. Make sure to keep you and Bria safe and also put out the main fire in a few minutes. We can't let our dear invaders have the luxury of seeing us. After that, head down to the cellar where Bria is and you can light a candle or two down there."

Pouting slightly, Kylia whined, "Awww....Althamas...you take all the fun out of life!"

Sighing loudly, she turned and went back to work on the stew. Chuckling sheepishly, Althamas replied, "Thanks. I'll make it up to you later."

Grabbing a few loaves of freshly baked bread, he exited the kitchen and headed up to the second floor where Cynn, Tempest, and Athalus were positioned. Walking over to each of them one at a time, he handed them a loaf of the sweet smelling bread before heading back down to where Temerius was waiting.

Handing a loaf to him before taking a bite from his own, Althamas whispered, "Sir, I don't believe we've been properly introduced. My name is Althamas and ,if you don't mind, I have a small favor to ask. Currently Kylia is stationed with Bria, I think that's here name at least, in the cellar and kitchen areas. Safest part of the whole tavern I'd guess. Anywho, if I should be taken out for some reason, please be kind enough and escort my apprentice back to the main temple in Tyralia. Thanks."

After he said this, Althamas finished his meal and muttered a soft prayer for safety and protection. Stationing himself further back from the tavern door, Althamas prepared a few heal and binding spells. Allowing his eyes to adjust to the low light, courteousy of his father's elven heritage, he expertly flicked his wrists, causing two three-foot long bright steel chains with small weights at their ends slip into his hands.

The six crossbow men moved into firing positions - four in the upper floor of the only other two story building around, the one directly across the street, and the other two behind a flipped-over wagon, where they could cover the back door of the inn, which faced into the alley (the front door was on the street, so it was covered by the other four).
The forteen guards with pole-axes dispered with four joining the two crossbow men on the ground and the other ten moving into the mob, which formed into two main groups and a few smaller ones.
Then, the magic struck, and they began their attack...

The peasants went in first, attacking the first-floor windows with axes, trying to force the doors. At the begining, the guardsmen held back, keeping to cover. The baroness and her ten other men were nowhere to be seen...

OOC: Just a quick info Temepest was down stairs but we can certainly say that he had momentarily gone up to confer with Cynn...( it all be cool )
*************************
Distantly, lightning flashed followed quickly by a rumble of thunder. A moment later lightning flashed again, this time much closer, and was followed by a gunshot of thunder. Cold, icy rain began to drizzle, and then pour steadily, from the night sky, which was now lit spastically by flashes of bright thunder.


"Nice touch Sorcerer" Cynn commented as she took aim, and her arrow punched a hole in the throat of one of the crossbow men across the way. She easily targeted the body heat he gave off. His body fell into away from the window.

The rain soaked the torches the peasants had carried into uselss, smoldering sticks, but they tried to cahrge the tavern any way.

Althamas binding spells - the ones that he had preset earlier - flashed into activation as the peasants tried to cross them. They found themselves held and helpless. Though those attacking from the side were spared such ...emabrrasement...and their axes made loud thumps agains the heavy wooden table tops that Tempest had placed as barriacades earlier. The wood wasa old, well aged and very dense oak. It should take them some time to get through.

Cynns bow string hummed again and another arrow flashed towards another cross bow man, but this one merely screamed and dropped the slower to fire cross bow as her war head peirced home in his shoulder. "Bah, he moved." Cynn counted as she drew another arrow from her quiver.

Below Tempest let Temerius hold the front door for a time. He stood back from the window, but where he could still see out of it, and cahnted softly. With Velim providing the rain to douse the torches he could turn his spells to something more..

"Hmmm..." mused Kylia, "In that case, once you find the trap door, would you mind posting these seal on and around it? Make sure not to touch them once you set them down as their very sensitive to touch and nearness. I'd say you'd have a good two seconds to set them all around and then get out of here if you don't want to set them all off."

"Um sure, if i find anything." Bria answered looking at all the odd seals pressed into her hands. She still hadn;t found anything yet but knew in her gut there was something down here. With the magic seals set in the kitchen enterance she felt she could spend the extra time down here continuing her search. Besides a few daggers aren't going to do much good in an all out assault.

When Kylia returned downstairs to take up a position here Bria told her.
"I don;t find anything but that doesn;t mean there's nothing. You can have these wards back i suppose. I do have an idea though, i'd like to keep this as dark as possible down here, if you need the light stay close to the kitchen so you can keep an eye on the back door, i'll be able to see them if they do come through a hidden door and i have a little trick that works pretty good."

Thinking that a demonstartion might be appropriate Bria concentrated and a pulsing semi transparent faint oddly humanoidish shaped light appeared in the room. Smiling that the cantrip worked she tried again and a faint moaning sound came from the image.

"Unfortunately it dissolves on touch but i can recast it quick enough. I've found that even guards tend to shy away from 'ghostly spirits' they run across in dark rooms. It should delay them enough for the others to get over here and help out. Knives aren't the best things to use in swordfights."

Looking at the big axe Kylia had Bria added, "Axes work good against them though"

Slipping into the darkness Bria drew her daggers and waited, dual weapon style with knifes wasn't going to help her reach disadvantage but most people were a bit wary of facing two blades when they only had one. Besides, if they do come in i'll find out where the secret door is at least.

The frozen peasants screamed silently, all twenty of them, while the other thirty smashed with their axes, screaming in terror.
The crossbow men, actually just the last one of them on the second floor to still alive, fired his bolt, then ducked into cover, reloaded and repeated... he weren't very effective, but his main purpose was to make the defenders nervous, not to hurt them.
The guards with pole-axes continued to hold back, uneasily examining the trapped peasants...
And the baroness and the other ten guards were nowhere to be seen.

Temerius unsheathed both of his swords and prepared to stem the tide of peasants. He knew it was only a matter of time before they broke through the wooden door. As it was he stabbed blindly throught the existing holes in the door. He thought he got one, but he couldn't see. As the door smashed to the floor, he slashed with his right sword and cut a man in half. His blood began to spread across the floor as more jumped over his body. Temerius worked his swords feverishly until the first wave was stopped. He slashed about 8 men, who lay on the floor dead or dying. He hoped the floor wouldn't become slippery. He called into the back room, "Does anyone have sand for the floor? I may need it very soon!"

Athalus smiled and walked over to the window, ducking the occasional bolt with grace only the Sihde were capable of. He let out a feathery laugh as a crossbowman ducked behind a barrel, evading Cynn's arrows.

"Watch," he said, his tone still mocking and lazy despite the bloodshed below. He muttered something quietly and the barrel the archer had been using as cover exploded in a burst of flame, sending the crossbowman sprawling and several of the peasants around him ducking for cover.

"Better than arrows, isn't it?"

Bria heard the sounds of combat and explosions of magic from above.I bet the guards weren;t expecting that she throught to herself as she waited in the dark. There's bound to be something down here, no dwarf worth anything wouldn;t keep a secret hidey hole somewhere down here. I hope the others are ok. she thought as she sat quietly waiting for the first signs of body heat to show up in her elven sight. There was no sign of smoke so Cynn's theory that they wouldn't burn down the town's main source of income seemed valid.

Clenching her hands around her dagger hilts Bria continued to wait.

Dozens of the peasants fell, their blood staining red the already ugly wooden floor, but there always seemed to be more...
Meanwhile, some clever guard, clearly forgetting the order to not burn the place down threw a torch onto the roof, igniting the dry thatch...
The baroness and her other ten men remained unseen, as the back door (into the kitchen) was forced open, as well as several windows... the fighting would soon grow fierce...

Those damn peasants just keep coming, how could so many want to kill us? Temerius thought. He smelled fire and looked around to see where it was. The roof! He thought. Sure enough, he saw smoke beginning to waft down the stairs. "Fire!" He yelled, "Someone put it out!" He shouted as he slashed another hapless peasant. He would have to move to a different room soon because he was slipping on the spilled blood and tripping on the numerous bodies. He bagan to back into the kitchen when he heeard the door crash in there. Great, he thought, now I'll have to get upstairs. He began to run to the stairs and bounded two steps up before making his stand. It was always better to hold the high ground, but the smoke was impairing him greatly. He knew he would have to flee soon, maybe even jumping out a window, but he would hold the peasants as long as possible.

OOC: The thatch should have been soaked with the same rain brought in to put out the torches ( by Old Atlantia/Athalus ) - and 50 commoners, and 20 guards minus the 8 at the church, and minus the 10 w/ the baroness minus the three that Cynn and Athalus took care of in posts minus the 20 in magical bindings = 30 odd left and there are more of the majicka bindings around back ( per Tynelia/Althamas's posts), but what ever.

************************

Tempest struck those that managed to enter the Taverns main room from their sides, from the shadows. His long blade flickering in the faint lights of the tavern's lamps, as he kept the invaders from spreading out too much He was keeping them pinned against the bar, and from the best use of their weapons.

The damp thatch was smoldering badly but the rain the sorcerer had brought in kept it from truly catching hold.

"I am so going to kill that idiot who managed to keep one torch alight through your rain and used it on my inn" Cynn snarled to Athalus as she leaned out the window to catch a guardsman with an arrow in his heart.

Maiyr's sensitive nostrils caught the scent of smouldering thatch. Her eyes popped open and she was out of bed, so to speak, and headed down the stairs in an instant. In that scant time she'd managed to fully arm herself, but failed to cover her self with anything more than a somewhat scanty night-shirt.

"So where's the fighting?" She asked, excitement in her voice.

Karnak was woken by Maiyr's bounding downstairs and got up to find out what had tweaked her.

Cursing softly, Kylia whirled her great axe as soon as the windows burst open, catching one of the guards by surprise and cleaving him in half with sickening ease. The few binding seals placed near the windows crackled as they were activated, freezing two of the guards in place. Fluidly dodging a slash by another guard, she swung her axe upward, causing him to squeel in pain before darkness claimed him. Swearing loudly as a spear thrust nearly impaled her, Kylia swiftly made her way to the pot of boiling stew. Grinning widely, she threw the scalding contents of the pot into the air. Watching two of the guards clutch at their burned faces, Kylia smoothly knocked them out with the flat of her axe before readying herself for their next assault.

'Let's see now,' she thought, 'Two paralzed, two dead, and two currently out for the count. Still four guards and that freaky lady left.'

Calling loudly, she shouted, "Master! I could use some help in here!"

Not waiting for her master to answer, she whispered the prayer of Minor Blessings, relishing the warming and comforting feeling of God's grace and strength empowering her.

----------

Althamas didn't bat an eye as the door was slammed down. Chanting softly, he called upon the divine barrier of protection to protect Tempest, Termerius, and himself.

"Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison," he whispered, even as he carefully observed Temerius cut down the peasants with ease. Even though he knew this had to be done, Althamas's soul wept in sorrow for the loss of lives. Despite this, he did not falter in his prayers to God for protection and occassionally sent a burst of holy energy when an opening presented himself.

"Fire! Someone put it Out!

Grimacing as Temerius dashed up the steps, Althamas let his chains whirl into a blur of consecrated steel. Althamas let his chains weave around the peasants, nimbly dancing among them with his father's elven grace, his amber eyes and long golden hair gleaming eerily in the low and flickering light. When enough of the peasants entered within his web of chains, he quickly jerked his wrists back, causing the chains to suddenly tighten around the necks of those unfortunate enough to be caught in them. Waiting until they had fallen unconcious, Althamas cursed as heard Kylia calling for help.

Frowning slightly as he noticed the binding seals in the front wearing off, he called to Tempest, "Hurry and get to the stairs! I'm going to seal this area and move back to help Kylia!"

Not waiting for a response he began to chant, his voice starting off low and soft, eventually rising to a loud, echoing chant, "Oh great God of Heaven and Earth. Oh most merciful one, hear my plea! Answer your servant's desperate cry. Let Thy divine law reign supreme!"

Swords of light seemed to rain from the ceiling, impaling the invaders, though none seemed to take physical injury. Despite this, Althamas smiled. Whether they knew it or not, the spell, Lex Divina, the Divine Law, had weakened them severely and the next spell would buy the defenders some time.

Crossing himself swiftly, Althamas reached into his robes and pulled out the remainder of his binding seals. Flourishing them with such speed that his chains passed dangerously near his head, Althamas began chanting anew.

"Oh blessed Father. Oh great Lord. Hear the plea of a simple servant. Great God, I beseech of Thee. Save my soul and hinder my foes!"

Scattering the seals into the air, Althamas quicky hurried into the kitchen to help Kylia. The seals, rather than landing and sealing everything nearby, instead hovered in the air, dancing in the breeze, and glowed brightly before letting out a blinding light. The peasants in the room found that none of them could move. They could do not so much as blink for rather than using a single target binding seal, Althamas chose instead to use all his seals at one time and instead make the room itself into an extra large binding seal.

Turning his attention to the combatants inside the kitchen, Althamas cheerfully said, "Well hello milady. What might you being doing here so late at night and with so many ruffians as well?"

Bowing with mock courteousy, he continued, his amber eyes dancing with eery light, "Surely you know that it is incourteous to attack a priest of Tyralia. Also, I would think that attacking one of the Church's master priests would at least incur some retaliation from Tyralia don't you?"

Bria heard the fighting from the top of the stairs as Kylia jumped into the fray against the intruders from the back and heard her cry for help. Surprised that the intruders hadn't come through the basement passage, for the first time Bria realized that there might not be a secret passage here after all. If that was the case then Bria realized that she really needed to get out of her before she was cut off because she had no idea how long Kylia could hold out.

Moving quietly up the stairs she found one the the guards near the stairway clutching at his face and crying out in pain. Deciding to put the poor fellow out of his misery Bria crept up behind him and slit his throat with her dagger.

"Oh blessed Father. Oh great Lord. Hear the plea of a simple servant. Great God, I beseech of Thee. Save my soul and hinder my foes!"

Bria heard the priest's cries and ducked back down the stairs in time to avoid the blinging light of the seal Althamas cast on the intruders in the kitchen. When the light dimmed she peeked out to see Althamas regarding the Baroness she assumed based on the other's rich attire.

"Surely you know that it is incourteous to attack a priest of Tyralia. Also, I would think that attacking one of the Church's master priests would at least incur some retaliation from Tyralia don't you?"

Looking over to the priest and Kylia who seemed fine Bria added to them, "Guess i was wrong about the secret passage, not a soul tried coming through the cellar the whole time. I'm sure she would have taken that route if it was available." she said gesturing to the bound Baroness.

Temerius jumped back down onto the floor after the priest had said his spell, but he couldn't bring himself to cut down the frozen peasants. They were defenseless, it just wasn't fair. He was glad the smoke had subsided, but he wasn't too happy about the sheer amount of peasants here that he couldn't kill. He didn't know what to do as he waited for the spell to wear off. He looked into the kitchen and asked the priest, "When does this spell wear off?"

Tempest had backed away from the attackers as Althamas called his warning.

"Excellent job" he commented cheerfully as they were frozen in place by the greater binding. He didn't follow Althamas all the way into the kitchen, however, but lounged against the door way, a smirk crossing his lips as he watched the Baroness fume, her invisibility magery canceled.

"Well that looks like every one outside accounted for. You can leave my bedroom now" Cynn told Athalus curtly as she laid her bow aside and closed the shutters, latching them asa she did so.

"It's been a pleasure, my lady," Athalus purred caustically, and made for the doorway.

Once downstairs the mage, stepping gingerly between frozen peasants, made his way towards the kitchen.

"I suggest we either slit their throats or leave... I don't know how long the priest's curse will last on them... And the Baroness is a renowned warrior. Right my dear?" he said, standing the doorway- his green eyes drifting from Tempest to the frozen Richelle.

Cynn wondered where the Baroness was at, but she guessed that the woman had thought that sending her guardsmen and peasants after them would be enough. Slowly she followed Athalus down the stairs, giving Maiyr a hard look as she passed her to go to Tempest's side.
*******

And the Baroness is a renowned warrior. Right my dear?"

Kylia's throwing of the stew had done more than just blinded two guardsmen, as could be seen in the slow dripping of the hearty dish off the head and shoulders of the previously invisible Baroness.

Tempest snorted at Athalus's words. "Maybe ten years ago, but she put too much faith in magery." He looked pointedly at the stew dripping off of the enraged woman. "It looks like your stew was most tasty. I'm just sorry that it was wasted in the revealing of her.

Cynn slid an arm about his waist as she looked in to the kitchen and gave the bound Baroness a taunting grin and addressed her "You are going to pay me back for my expenses, and a tithe to the church, and payment to these other fine folk for an unjust attack upon their persons. Why they might have been wounded."

Looking a little... ill, she managed to speak:
"Kill me. Kill me if you want to. If you do, then you will be hunted murderors. Of course, you have already murdered many of my people... and now, will you kill me? Go ahead - make yourselves outlaws..." she trailed off, seemingly defiant.

OOC: I'm assuming you're allowing her to speak.

With the baronesses capture, the survivors are running like heck, and not looking back. It appears that they're headed for Castle Ost-Lund.

Maiyr, in her quest to get to the fight, ran smack dab into the Baroness sending them both flying. Shaking her head, she realized the state of dress she was in*, blushed deeply and bolted upstairs to get dressed.

Karnak saw her run back up, almost bowling him over as well, before spotting the others. "So what's up, and who's that?" He asked pointing at the prone baroness.

ooc: The equivilant of a shirt and panties

"Murdered? Is that what they call defending yourselves against torch waving mobs outnumbering us over ten to one who are out to kill you because someone didn't roll over and play dead when one of your guards looked at them funny? ." Bria said incredulous that after being the aggressor the Baroness wanted to paint them out as murderers and then gesturing to Cynn she went on.

"Besides, she owns the inn now so we were just defending a friend's property from a bunch of robbers and arsonists.Too bad you and your guards didn't get here in time to stop them before we were forced to defend ourselves.Oh that's right that's because you were busy trying to raid the kitchen for free food. Sorry i don't think the pastries were ready yet so your guards were just going to have to go without." Bria concluded drily.

OC: I'll be out for nine days on vacation w/o web access. It would be helpful if someone would take over rping for my two characters until I get back. Thanks!

IC: "When does this spell wear off?"

Althamas paused for a moment, pondering the answer to Temerius's question.

"Hmmm....I never really think about that. I suppose the lesser ones last about ten to fifteen minutes or so. The stronger one I employed earlier should last about a half hour to an hour, though I suppose I could dispell it."

Noticing her teacher burst into the kitchen, Kylia relaxed slightly. With her master here, if things got out of hand, Kylia was sure that she and her master could handle the baroness.

"Excellent job"

Smiling impishly, Althamas rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. Taking a glance at the paralyzed figures, he replied, "It was by the grace of God that I was able to get them all in the binding seal, though, I hadn't expected to catch our dear baroness as well."

Althamas tensed slightly at Athalus's presence. Kylia's eyes narrowed, barely catching her masters tenseness. Making a mental note to ask him about it later, Kylia barely held in her laughter at the sight of the baroness with the now cool stew dripping off her.

"It looks like your stew was most tasty. I'm just sorry that it was wasted in the revealing of her.

Althamas chuckled softly at Tempest's words. It was a shame that the stew was wasted, but he was sure that he could scrap together another meal.

"Murdered? Is that what they call defending yourselves against torch waving mobs outnumbering us over ten to one who are out to kill you because someone didn't roll over and play dead when one of your guards looked at them funny? Besides, she owns the inn now so we were just defending a friend's property from a bunch of robbers and arsonists.Too bad you and your guards didn't get here in time to stop them before we were forced to defend ourselves.Oh that's right that's because you were busy trying to raid the kitchen for free food. Sorry i don't think the pastries were ready yet so your guards were just going to have to go without."

"Now now," chimed in Althamas, "There's no need to rub in her defeat. Let's tie the up and clear them out of the kitchen. Give me a few minutes and I'll have something nice and hot ready for all of us."

Making shooing motions, Althamas had turned to head back to the food stores before halting a moment later.

"Pastries you said? I haven't tested my new pastry recipe yet."

Chuckling softly, Althamas's amber eyes danced with amusement as they rested on the bound prisoners.

"Perhaps they wouldn't mind being my guinea pigs."

Gesturing for Kylia to clean out the guards and the baroness, he grabbed another pot from the shelves and began working on another meal. Kylia grumbled slightly as she grabbed the bound figures and dragged them out of the kitchen, tying them with rope afterwards.

Several minutes later, the fire in the kitchen burned happily and gave the room a cheerful aura, despite the broken remains of a table and windows. Althamas slowly exited out of the kitchen, delicately balancing a pot of hot steaming soup in one hand, several loaves of bread in another, and several bowls on his head. Struggling to keep them from falling over, he called out, "A little help?"

Grinning at her master's silliness, Kylia grabbed the bowls off his head as they were about tip over. Placing them on a table, she called out to the others, "Soup anyone? We can clean up the rest later."

The surviving peasanst and guards were stripped of their weapons and any armour, then kicked out of the tavern as the binding ended.

"You owe me recompense for the damange done on my end. If you and your freinds don't show up in the morning with materials to fix it..." Cynn reminded them before they fled, letting her voice trail off in a menacing quiet. The peasants paled as their imaginations worked over time.

Tempest looked at the Baronees whose bonds majical had been replaced with those most physical.

"Murder you? My dear, I wouldn't waste the energy in that, though we have adequate wittnessex to prove self defense. You took this Barony by right of might. Well, you have just lost it in the same fashion."

He looked over at Athalus "Perhaps you want a second barony to go with your first." He then turned his silver eyes to Temerius "Or perhaps you would like to be a Baron."

She paled as he spoke, but managed to at least try to be dignified:
"Well, then you will have to kill me. I will die honorably, I guess... although I'll still be dead. Will you let me make my confessions, or will you murder my soul as well?" she seemed bitter and withdrawn, someone who knew they had been beaten, and she no longer seemed so sure that she would be avenged... now she merely wanted it to be over soon.

"You seem to be very insistant on dieing. " Cynn commented to the Baroness,as she took one of the loaves of fresh bread for her and Tempest to share.

She smiled at the two clerics. "Thank you, that soup smells as wonderful as the stew did." then she turned back to the bound woman.

"Personally I'd be happy if you just took off and made yourself scare, while some one who cared more about the land and the people took over. Sending terrified peasants against us...." She snorted in contempt

Tempest nodded in agreement with his mate as he served them up bowls of the delicious smelling soup.

"Why don't you give her barony back and give her another chance, then turn her out on the street when she misbehaves." Karnak suggested as Maiyr came bounding back down the stairs, this time more appropriately attired.

"I say we bleed her dry..." Athalus said airly, "And burn this filthy town."

Something crazy and sadistic flashed in the elf's lazy green eyes for a moment, and then was gone.

"But do what you like with the whore, I'm getting another glass of wine."

"If we just let her go she'll just run off and hire some more thugs to try and kill us again, she seems the petty type like that. I mean look what happened after we made a couple of her guards look stupid- she sicced the whole town on us. What do you think she'll do after this?" Bria asked taking a bowl of the soup. Before brightening with a thought and added.

"You know, the Baroness here was awfully eager to get rid of us all. I wonder what she's hiding here that she doesn't want us to find out about. Maybe she knows something about the stolen necklace... Your know these nobles are when it comes to setting the latest fashion trends and all that. I bet we might find all sorts of questionable items in her castle if we were to look around."

The thought of looting the Baroness' castle seemed to be a great way to recoup her own dwindling funds. Coin was coin no matter where you went, jewelry it was now made far too clear to Bria, was something that would cause trouble.

"Why don't you give her barony back and give her another chance, then turn her out on the street when she misbehaves."

Tempest snorted. "That would mean staying around this back end of nowhere. Sorry I have better things to do, and she's not trustworthy enough. If youy want the Barony, you take it. But sorry I'm not giving it back to her. She effectively killed her own peasants in sending them against us. She doesn't care about ruling well, just about the money she can tax out of it.

"And burn this filthy town."

Cynn gave Athalus a hard look. "No burning the town. And if you try it sorcerer you and I will have words."

"I bet we might find all sorts of questionable items in her castle if we were to look around."

Tempest gave Bria a knowing smile. "I was just about to suggest that. I know Cynn here believes on a goodly return on ones investment."

Cynn turned her attention from Athalus. "Agreed and she can't buy an army if she has no funds. If she had real monies she'd have had more competent guards. So while we might well find some recompense for our efforts I doubt we will find anything overly interesting."

Tempest finished her soup and stood. "I saw the half hand full that survived head in the direction of hte castle. I would gues that they are going to try and hole up there. Any one interested in going with me to take a look?"

Temerius was unwilling to become involved in the discussion of what to do with the baroness, but he was interested in taking her tiny barony. Maybe he could make it powerful, he doubted it, but what other chance would he get? He decided to wait out the decision, and see what hapened from there.

As soon as the last of the fleeing remains of the mob (and the few surviving guards) reached the castle, they sealed themselves in, barricading the big heavy oaken double door that was the primary entrance, then checking the food supplies (which were good), and making sure that the small kitchen door was bolted.
As soon as they were sure, they slunk off to their bunks, intent on forgetting the matter... and on making sure that, come morning, when their exhaustion wore off, they would be able to protect themselves. After all, they still had a few cross-bows...

"I saw the half hand full that survived head in the direction of hte castle. I would gues that they are going to try and hole up there. Any one interested in going with me to take a look?"


"Yeah i'll go along, we don't want these guys coming back again to save their baroness, someone with a clue might be in charge this time. Better to get them while they're still scared of us. And better yet make sure they;re in no position to chase us after we leave here. If no one here is taking this place oiver then eventually miss 'kill me already' will be running things again and be hiring assassins to chase us no matter where we go. Can't do that though if there's no money to pay them." Bria said preparing to join Tempest.

((ooc- oops sorry that was my puppet))

"Aztiluth, could you and Kylia keep an eye on the exBaroness and the tavern while we go check out the" Tempest snorted at the presumtpion inherent in the word. "castle? We will certainly bring back a tithe for the church."

While he and Cynn in no way believed in Aztiluth's god, he was willing to give them more than a little respect, for all the good they attempted to do.

Cynn nodded as she stood and stretched. "Athalus would you care to come with us? I'm sure your sorcerous abilities will be needed." Sarcasm was definitely heavy in her tones. She didn't want him left unwatched and she didn't want to burden the cleric with one as untrustworthy as her fellow Sidhe.

With a light step she trotted up the stairs and returned with her bow in hand.

"Lets go. If you want in on the chance to have your own Barony Temerius, you might want to come with us as well."

The pair didn't wait for the others to reply but turned and headed out of the tavern.

Athalus sneered, he was not used to taking orders... but there were several... articles... in "Castle" Ostlund that he wanted to retrieve now that Richelle was out of the way.

He turned on his heels, his elegant robes twirling about his legs to reveal expensive boots.

He gave Aziluth, Kylia and Richelle one last mocking smirk before walking out of the door after Cynn.

"The filthy inbreds will no doubt try and prevent us from getting... leave the persuading to me..." he said, walking alongside Tempest.

The concept of treasure was more interesting to Karnak than Maiyr. With a look at the other and the baroness, the mage-thief followed the others to the castle while the elven/orc cross took a seat beside the baroness, after propping her up so she was sitting semi-comfortable. "Are you hungry or thirsty?" She asked companionably.

"The filthy inbreds will no doubt try and prevent us from getting... leave the persuading to me..."

"You know" Tempest remarked as he stretched out his long legs, speeding the pace up and moving next to Cynn "Athalus, such boundless contempt is going to get you killed one day, when you undersetimate some one you shouldn't have." Tempest didn't generally like human, but to underestimate them was the last thing he intended to be guilty of.

"This miserable wilderfort is a castle?" Cyn laughed softly as she looked over the towering manor house (http://www.faefolk.info/castle1a) with its curtain wall. The cutain wall stood little more than twice the height of a tall man, and was embraced by a dry motte. The motte was a wide grassy ditch that had numberous pointed stakes driven into the ground at an ouward angle, to stop those on horse back, but provided no noteable defense against a small group afoot.

"There is no one guarding the walls." Tempest commented keeping his voice to a whisper after he studied the walls for a long moment with keen Sidhe sight.

"So who wasnts to go up and over and open the door for us?"

looking at the group Bria figured the others would make too much racket trying to scramble up so sighing slighty she stepped forward.

"I suppose i'll go up, i'm wearing the least metal so i'll be the quietest climbing up. Who wants to give me a boost?"

He was tired, wet and freezing. The rain hadn't been expected, and he huddled nervously under his cloak, shivering. His pole-axe rested against the wall as he rubbed his hands together, taking cover in a little alcove just next to the gate, where the wind wasn't as bad.
It wasn't fair - he had worked hard to be a guard, and now some petty agents of the Undersh Empire were coming to take the barony... he shivered again, and this time it had little to do with the cold.
The border between the Baronies and The Empire was marked by the burned remains of castles and the cold ash-heaps that had once been villages. It was just the way things were when the baronies were so decentralized and weak - they lacked any proper organization, and so whenever an Emperor felt like making a name for himself, some petty sub-commander took a few companies and sacked a hill-fort.
In the Undersh Empire, victories were marked by triumphant sieges, but the little forts of the baronies were hardly those of the rich eastern empires. Those fortresses in the east were supposed to be huge, with quintuple walls many times his hight, and clever siege engines, to slaughter the unwary invader... a siege in Undersh might take years.
The baronies weren't that rich - castle Ost-Lund was only a small wall around a few wooden buildings and a single fortified tower that could charitably be called a keep... it was nothing compared to the mighty citadels of the eastern lords. But... for him, it was home, and so he worried about it as much as any eastern lord, cunning with elven blood, might worry about the state of his citadel's defenses... even when it was only he who stood guard, shivering in the icy rain.

OOC: Managed to get access to web for tonight. Will post this and be silent until Sunday.

IC:
"Aztiluth, could you and Kylia keep an eye on the exBaroness and the tavern while we go check out the" Tempest snorted at the presumtpion inherent in the word. "castle? We will certainly bring back a tithe for the church."

Bowing low, Althamas replied, "Thank you for your generosity. We'll make sure to keep an eye on our dear baroness while we clean up the inn."

Kylia groaned inwardly at the word "clean". If there was something she hated more than sewing, it was cleaning. Sighing softly, she took her master's hint and went to go find some rags and two brooms.

As the others the left for the "castle", Althamas calmly made his way around the room, picking up broken shards of tableware and putting them into a pile. Noticing Maiyr approach and seat herself comfortably near Richelle, Althamas paused for a moment in his cleaning, wondering what the half-orc desired. Listening for a moment to her, Althamas shrugged inwardly. As long as the half-orc wasn't going to set her free, there wasn't much harm in letting her stay near the baroness.

In fourteen minutes, the common room was transformed from a wreck into a cozy, decent looking room, the fire burning cheerfully in the hearth. Taking a glance around the room one more time, Kylia sidled up to her master and asked in a low voice,"Do you think the others are alright?"

Taking a seat near the hearth, Althamas looked thoughtful for a moment before replying, "I would think they are alright....but perhaps they are in need of assistance. I would go myself, but I should stay here and keep watch. Why don't you go after them. I'm sure they could use some support."

Smiling in delight, Kylia burst into a flurry of movement, grabbing her axe and checking her robes once more.

"Thank you master!" she shouted as she burst out of the inn.

Chuckling softly, Althamas watched as her for vanished into the evening night. Walking over to a window, he glanced outside for a moment, soberly watching the cresent moon traverse the darkened sky that was lit only by its dim light.

"God grant her your divine grace," Althamas whispered. Turning to the half-orc, he decided to introduce himself.

"Evening milady. I don't believe I've learned your name yet. Mine is Althamas. That girl who just left is my apprentice, Kylia. What might your name be?"

Maiyr watched the interactions between priest and apprentice with a detached interest as she awaited the Baroness's reply as to whether she wished for food or drink.

Hearing herself being addressed as 'milady' brought a chuckle out of her. "I am not your lady by either relation or title." She commented, "And my name is Maiyr Bloodblade."

She nodded, and suddenly seemed less sure of herself, less filled with false courage and "blood-and-iron" certainty of the rightness of her cause... suddenly, she seemed to understand that they were considering not killing her not because they feared her, but because they were merciful.

Maiyr simply nodded and got the baroness a bowl of stew and some bread. "So what is your name?" She asked

"I suppose i'll go up, i'm wearing the least metal so i'll be the quietest climbing up. Who wants to give me a boost?"

Tempest nodded in reply and eased toward the wall, moving as quietly as a wraith in the beneath the nosie of the rain pounding down. The downpour had started up again with no warning - surely the result of Athalus's sorcerous manipulations earlier.

"No there is no one guarding the walls, but look, Athalus, there is one lone fool on guard at the gate" Cynn could barely see him through the down pour, and the bad angle they were at, but his small movement caught her eye.

"Can you send him quietly into slumber arms? We don't want to rouse those inside." She querried as she looked at the once elegantly, now soddenly dressed sorcerer.

"If he can not, I certainly can." Came a whispered voice from behind as Karnak stepped forward, silent as a ghost. "Sleep spells are a bit of a specialty of mine, especially sleep spells on guards."

"Yes put the guard asleep first, i'd rather not pull myself to the top of the ledge and see a sword swinging down at my head" Bria agreed

The baroness took the food she had been offered, then answered:
"Margret Cooper Ost-Lund. The Ost-Lund isn't really part of my name - it's the title you get if you're a Baron - or baroness. I was a mercenary, until I seized power in this barony... now, I guess I'm not much more than your prisoner..."

"Actually you're they're prisoner, not mine." Maiyr commented, "So why'd you attack the inn Margret?"

"I am not your lady by either relation or title. And my name is Maiyr Bloodblade."

Grinning sheepishly, Althamas replied, "While that may be true Miss Bloodblade, it is always proper, I believe, to treat anyone with respect, be they noble or otherwise."

Taking a seat next to the fire himself, Althamas remained silent as he basked in the flames warmth.

"Margret Cooper Ost-Lund. The Ost-Lund isn't really part of my name - it's the title you get if you're a Baron - or baroness. I was a mercenary, until I seized power in this barony... now, I guess I'm not much more than your prisoner..."

"Margret Cooper, you say," mumbled Althamas, his tone hinting at his interest, "And here your name was spread around as Richelle."

Listening for a moment to Maiyr's reply, he added, "Yes, Miss Bloodblade is right in a sense. Though, I wouldn't say you are a prisoner. I'd say something more along the lines of...temporary guest."

Glancing at the bloodstained portions of his formerly pristine white robes, Althamas wondered whether or not he should go wash them. Finally deciding to do so after a minute, he said, "Please excuse me for a while, I fear that the bloodstains on my robes will turn it pink if I don't wash them off soon. I'll go heat a bath of warm water to cleanse both my robes and myself. Afterwards, I'll draw another bath for you two as well."

Bowing low, Althamas excused himself and left.

--------------------

Kylia darted swiftly through the night, which was rather amazing considering she was dragging a rather large axe in tow. After a several more minutes of running, she caught sight of the rest of the party. Hurrying up to them, she tapped Tempest lightly on his shoulder before whispering, "Sorry for coming so late, but I thought you could use some help. Master Althamas said that he could hold the fort back at the inn, so I came and join you. Hope you don't mind. "

She shook her head in silent despair as her only reply, accepting the food and eating it, but not seeming to really care what happened at this point - she had lost, and she knew that, but that didn't mean that she had to be happy about it.

OOC: OK, either someone posts soon, or this thread dies...

OOC: This thread is dead, I guess... too bad really...