Ivy, remind me to visit this village near a Kronstein castle
Johenric opens the closet...
Solaric steps up, notches his arrow and draws it back to his ear. Concentrating, on the target, Solaric takes aim and fires.
Longbow.
However, the shot goes astray. Drawing forth the first of his golden arrows, Solaric redraws the bow and shoots again.
Longbow.
"Blessed Iomedae, forgive my failings. I humbly ask for your guidance that I may fullfill your will! If you would have me win, open my heart to your strength and glory!"
Drawing the second of his golden arrows, Solaric takes aim and fires!
Longbow.
After a short prayer, Solaric's aim greatly improves!
The more polite ones among the knights clap, they know that this is going to be a round where many of them won't make it.
------
The man stumbles backwards and falls over his chair - he does not dare to shout again and just looks at you with a mixture of fear and hate.
--------
As you open the closet, you feel a strange icy gust of wind coming out of it. Suddenly there is also a certain dampness in the air - the closet itself is empty and consits only of an oval black hole - most probably some kind of portal.
"Start talking, or he moves to the sharp edges." Victoria demands...
Intimidate
Johenric closes the closet open and investigates the complete room (bed, desk, carpets and an other item he might find)
Prescience
Perception
@ Jo:
There is nothing else of interest, actually it looks like the room was cleared out.
-------
The terrified guard looks at the blade again and gulps, then he slowly rises again
Ok, ok, why are you here?
------
Narumek draws his cross bow, takes aim and shoots, however, in the darkening night, the shot goes astray.
Crossbow
Johenric takes one of his torches and touches the black hole...
Aramis grins and while he locks his bowstring again in place, reamrks cynically
Narumek?! What happened - oh I see, your visor blocked your sight, eh?
The judge leads Narumek to the other knight who haven't managed to hit the last target and now only Solaric, Aramis and Stephen Livgrace remain.
The bale is put even further away and the next round starts
300 ft, AC 19 - 17 for Solaric
------
The blackness of the oval form is absolute and cold to the touch. It feels soft as you touch it - a membrane of some sort you think, since you think you can stick your hand into it with just a bit more pressure...
Solaric pulls forth his arrow, takes aim and fires.
Longbow
However, the shot goes astray.
"That shot is nearly impossible. How am I going to possibly hit it?"
Pulling out his last golden arrow, the drow looks at it carefully and then holds it up in prayer.
"Blessed Inheritor, I hold this arrow up before you and ask that you bless it that it may guide me to victory. Open my heart to your guiding light and let me be at one with you."
With that prayer said, Solaric places the arrow on his bow and draws it back to his ear. The golden arrow is released!
Longbow
Johenric tries to press the torch into the black oval form, without his hand touching it.
Aramis grinds his teeth and spits a tiny piece of tooth out
Pah...
He takes his bow, aims carefully
but misses tghe bale by an inch.
Argh! Gimme the gilded arrow!
See that!?
Now Livgrace takes the archer's position and tries his best
and he hits also!
Again the bale is put further away - 300 ft, AC 20 - 18 for Solaric
-----------
The torch is extinguished with a hiss as soon as it touches the black form.
Solaric takes aim at the distance target and releases the arrow.
Longbow
The arrow falls short of its target.
"Well, I have given all that I can. The rest is left in the hands of the blessed Iomedae."
@ Jo: You can try to press it through, I just told you that it was extinguished as soon as it touched it.
---------
Well Zekkaran, I still have one gilded arrow and I'm the better archer - I guess you know what will happen now?
Aramis smirks and takes aim
argh! - the arrow, quick!
for a second Aramis is thunderstruck, then he begins to curse like a madman and tries to break his bow
eesrtftvtzdfzbrgwnopkdxlqplwkpükdqw!
Ahem...Sir Stephen Livgrace is next... the judge says and tries to calm the situation.
and since the cousin of the countess also misses, there will be a final round in which everyone fires at a target 300 ft away - the best shot will be the winner of the contest.
-----
@ Vicky and Harl: The man asked you a question. :)
Narumek waits in silence as the others fire their arrows.
"Harl, he just took the liberty of asking us a stupid question when he knows full well why we are here. Next time he does that, kill him and I will simply use necromancy to pull the answers from his entrails"
"Time is short, my patience shorter, and you are running well out of both. You work for Aramais, that is well understood, and you have been drawing your fellows into the guard. Now you are going to tell me the whole story from the top, starting from when you first took a coin from Aramais right through to now, and what the future holds. I feel for a moment you are withholding then I will simply find a less pleasant way of satisfying myself I have the correct version. You will simply be another dead mercenary, another body found face down, floating by the docks"
When the fire has extinguished Johenric moves to the painting and removes it from the wall.
"eesrtftvtzdfzbrgwnopkdxlqplwkpükdqw!"
Solaric sincerely tries to give guiding advice that may serve Aramis in his future.
"Relax, de Voisseur! There is no need to get yourself all worked up. This is a difficult shot and there is no shame in missing. Even I have missed on several occasions and I am a servant of the Holy Inheritor!"
Diplomacy
"Here let me show you how to stay calm under pressure. Start with a prayer and you usually cannot go wrong."
Lifting his bow and his arrow into the air in prayer, Solaric blesses them with the following words, "Oh mighty Iomedae, although the arrow is not your favored weapon, we recognize that it is still a tool that may serve to fulfill your will. I humbly present these to you that you may work through me and use them for your realm that is to come. Here am I send me, use me. Let your kingdom come to this realm and may I hasten it through my deeds upon this ground that I tread. Let your glory continue with the sending of this arrow through the dark shadows to its target just as your justice and glory will swiftly strike the heart of the evil that threatens this land!"
Solaric then places the arrow on the string of the bow and draws it back to his ear. Allowing the spirit of the Inheritor fill his heart, he takes careful aim, and fires.
Longbow
The Ulfen looks fearfully at Harl again, then he decides that telling the truth might be the only option to survive this evening
de Voisseur, I know him from a mercenary company we both served in. By chance we met some days ago and he was most surprised to see that I became sergeant of the guard her in Karcau. Then he asked me to enlist some "friends of him" for the city guard, but only for some days...and to make sure that they will be amongst those that are part of the "Defend the castle" competition tomorrow.
-----------
Removing the painting from the wall is not a problem. But it's surprisingly heavy and a bit unhandy.
-----------
Pray?! Aramis' face colour becomes a radiant crimson You will have to pray, when... as your arrow nearly hits the centre of the target, he just rolls his eyes sure...ok, I'll pray! Ahem...dear Iomedae make that my Arrow splits the elf's one in two!
he grins and takes aim, the bow creaks a bit - the weapon has obviously taken some damage during Aramis' fit of rage.
Pah! Prayers...
But before he can moan any longer, Livgrace takes his place and fires
his shot is even worse and so the judge calls out
Sir Zekkaran is the winner!
Solaric raises his hands and gives a prayer of thanks.
"Iomedae, I thank you for this moment and giving me the opportunity to be a channel of your will! As your humble servant I give thanks for all you give. May your glory reign forever!"
Solaric bows and raises his hand in thanks to his fans and friends.
"See now that wasn't so unpleasant now was it? What were the instructions for those men, and how was Aramais to know they were yours? a sign? a symbol? How were they to be provided instructions?"
"I'm a woman of my word, and if you cooperate and play nicely you shall find yourself laughing and smiling as you leave the city gates not long from now. Otherwise, face down, floating past the docks."
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Only these men will take part in the competition. There task is to attack the miniature castle the competitors are expected to defend. When Aramis is the defender they won't do very much...but I had to tell them that they should attack with extreme effort when Sir Zekkaran defends. You see, I speak the truth, you don't have to do anything you and I would regret.
-------------
The judges take some notes and then one of them proclaims:
Wealday:
Joust (Completed)
Bardic Performance (Completed)
Archery (Completed)
Current Rankings:
Solaric Zekkaran 16
Narumek 8
Aramis de Voisseur 8
Stephen Livgrace 4
Sir Zekkaran ended this day as the winner - he is granted the special honour to wear the silver laurel wreath tonight.
The knights clap friendly (except Aramis) and soon you are surrounded by friendly faces - only the countess is missing.
"Thank you! I am honored to wear this silver laurel. I count myself fortunate to surrounded by such exceptional people."
Solaric then looks around to find the Countess. Unable to find her, he proceeds to look for Tanor Veredan or Gregori Dumitru. If he finds either one, the priest asks, "Captain, have you seen Countess Livgrace. I am surprised to not see her here. Do you think she is safe?"
"Hmmmmmm...sounds like you are in no position to make claims like that, manling. Only person regretting anything around here is going to be you."
Johenrice investigates the painting, searching for a paper or something hidden in a secret niche.
Perception
While you cannot see the academy masters, you spot Dumitru amongst the assembled knights and judges. He nods slowly as you ask for the countess and explains
The countess had to leave her seat...and I fear she also missed your winning shot. She is in a secret conference with the academy masters now. Grave news from the north have just arrived. Large contingents of our troops have been annihilated by bands of ice trolls, snow goblins and frost giants. They are pouring into our lands now, fleeing from something that is ravaging their homelands.
-----------
Even though you have the eyes of a hawk you can't spot any secret compartment or the like.
-----------
Oh please, I didn't want to make any claims, I just wanted to underline that I'm speaking the truth. I can give you the men's names and whereabouts if you want.
"The countess had to leave her seat...and I fear she also missed your winning shot. She is in a secret conference with the academy masters now. Grave news from the north have just arrived. Large contingents of our troops have been annihilated by bands of ice trolls, snow goblins and frost giants. They are pouring into our lands now, fleeing from something that is ravaging their homelands."
"As long as she is safe, that is all that matters. I wonder if we should discontinue the tournament. Perhaps it is time for Karcau's Chosen to return to our duties of fighting evil upon the land. I knew such evil was brewing and that it would only be a matter of time before it came to a head such as it has. Could you get us into that meeting Dumitru? For indeed we are here to serve the people of Karcau, and the Inheritor willing, we will play our part in the entire matter!"
Johenric puts the painting back on the wall. He moves threes steps...stops and views at the black oval in the closet.
I want to know the secret of this place; Ivy all hands on deck...
By saying this Johenric plucks up courage and touchs the oval, ready to advancing through the membrane...
"You have been remarkably cooperative, you can do the right thing here and reverse the order of play - with Solaric having an easy path and Aramais having a hard one, and in exchange you may resign your position here and go on a lovely trip, somewhere, anywhere, with not a word said...or I shall make you a counter offer you might find interesting...but will involve you losing a friend."
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A bit perplexed by the events of this night, the guard slowly shakes his head
Not much of a choice, eh? I wonder what my ancesteros will say when we meet, but for today I will do what you want me to. I will instruct the guard to change the plan - Aramis won't have a chance and Solaric will win. But I won't be here when this will happen, I'll go to the north...heard there's plenty of work for a mercenary at the border.
-----------
The black oval is cold to the touch and somewhat soft - as you press your hand through it, there's an instant sensation - a strange prickling. As soon as you have forced your head through the membrane you are totally sucked through it. You feel as if you were pushed through a misty grey, very narrow corridor. This strange experience ends as fast as it had come and you stand on top of the round platform of a castle keep. It's misty and colder than in karcau but at the foot of the castle you can make out small houses and an inn. The castle itself is huddled against a massive mountain ridge behind you.
You can make out some soldiers wearing tabbards with the coat of arms of Sinaria in the castle yard.
----------------
Dumitru lets his gaze wander to the north
And what could you do? Solaric, you are a fearsome warrior, a great tactician and powerful cleric, surely worth ten foot soldiers, but ten foot soldiers won't win us this war. We need a new count, we need someone the poeple can look up to - that should be your first aim, the war will only come closer to us...
Solaric reflects on what Dumitru says. "You are right of course! The people need to be guided. As these events unfold I begin to see my path clearly. Clearly I will need to finish this tournament to the end. I will trust to Iomedae, and the Inheritor willing, I will win this tournament and we will win this war!"
Johenric wondering about the magic carefully investigates the place to identify tracks or indicators of the magic or a possible way back.
Perception
Shacking his head Johenric wonders and says more to himself
Well, this is interesting...how is such artifact called and is there a way back?
Knowledge Arcana
Spellcraft
Further Johenric asks himself about the relationship of the Jarovich Family to Karcau and her countess Livgrace.
Knowledge Local
Knowledge History
Meanwhile Johenric moves lost in thoughts to the inn...
"Dwarven diplomacy, lass.", Harl says with a wink to Victoria.
"Then perhaps you have one job available to you already. Aramais will have a desire to meet with you at the end of the tournament, probably to express his dismay at what took place. I have a hundred gold coins for the location of where this rendezvous will take place, and the hundred is also to ensure you aren't there and neither are your men when it happens"
"Oh and I rather like the Dwarven version of diplomacy, some days one simply needs to get to the heart of the matter by the most direct route"
Dumitru nods, he seems a bit relieved
Sir Zekkaran, I hope I will soon adress you as Count Zekkaran of Sinaria, Lord of Karcau.
he waits for a moment to let his words make an impact and adds
Now you should get some rest, even though you're the leader, tomorrow could change everything.
--------------
Meanwhile at a distant place north of Karcau:
Johenric finds a small ladder at the side of the castle keep. The hatch on top of it was closed and so he has to climb down the ladder to get to a gallery where he finds a door that leads inside the tower.
The nature of the artifact is beyond his knowledge, surely it must be some kind of strong gate. Musing about the relations between the countess and the Jarovich's he nearly stumbles right into a guard
Hey, you...? Mhm...who are you, haven't seen you here before?!
the young man isn't aggressive, but surely a bit surprised.
---------------
You think he will want to meet me? I doubt it, really he laughs dryly I don't want your gold, this man is an old brother in arms of me, I just do what you want me to, to save my life - nothing else.
"Go then." Victoria bids him goodbye.
"Come Harl. lets go see if the man was true to his word. Suppose he wont be hard to find if he needs to be spoken with again"
"I would reckon not, Vic, I would reckon not."
As Johenric not expected to be fetched back from his thoughts is scatterbrained, but when he has recognized the sympathic man a friendly smile occurs on his face.
Diplomacy
And so he tells the truth...
Thank Nethys...I apologize...I was lost in thoughts and now I reached this place. I do not know how I came here. It is ashaming but...could you please tell me where we have met and why you are surprised to see me?
This is the castle keep of Jarovich castle in the former demesne of Count Alexandru Jarovich. The new onwer is a female noble from Karcau I think. Umm...I'm surprised to see you because it is my duty to control who enter the keep - and I didn't see you coming in...so...uh...how did you get here - you can't remember, eh?
The poor guard seems highly confused and even unable to cope with the situation right now.
-------
Flofer peeks up around the stands and eventually comes up to Solaric.
You did it! Nice job! Hey, do you have any golden arrows left? Can I have one?
Johenric waits a few seconds, then he answers.
Well to be honest, I can not explain how I get here and I see you the first time...but this is bad manner.
Johenric steps one steps back and bows.
My name is Johenric. I am in attendance of Countess Livgrace and my duty is to solve a mystery. Well, do you know this region quite well?
"Sir Zekkaran, I hope I will soon adress you as Count Zekkaran of Sinaria, Lord of Karcau."
Solaric smiles as he hears the words and let's them sink in. "I certainly hope that some day it will be true, but I must patiently walk that path that leads me there one step at a time. Today has been a remarkable day and the Inheritor has certainly work through me at every turn. I think I am on that path!"
"Now you should get some rest, even though you're the leader, tomorrow could change everything."
"Perhaps you are right! Today has been a long and busy day, but there is much that will need to be done tomorrow. As soon as I stop and rest, I will soon be fast asleep! Good night, my dear friend. I will see you tomorrow!"
"You did it! Nice job! Hey, do you have any golden arrows left? Can I have one?"
Thank you, Flofer, my lad, but I am afraid that I do not have any arrows left. The last round of the tournament was very difficult and I needed to use the last golden arrows to win the event."
Solaric returns to the House of the Vigilant Flame to get a good night rest before the next day dawns.
The guard grins and relaxes a bit
No sir, my unit was only send here a week ago. We hardly had time to check out the castle and the village. Strange things have happened here during the last months and the villagers are pretty...let's say...cautious. But back to your case - so you reached us by some kind of magical transport?
-------------
In Karcau the next morning dawns after a night during which a former sergeant of the guard fled the town on a very fast horse...The sun is a bit stronger today and the sky is clear - maybe a good omen for the competitions to come...
According to my understanding I coincidentally have discovered a secret transport from Karcau to ... this castle. Do you know anything about the "strange things" which have happened here and sourced the cautious of the villagers?
and after a few seconds before the guard could reply, Johenric adds overhasty:
As we serve the same Countess: Did you respective your unit search through this castle?
Solaric spends his morning in deep prayer and meditation as he opens himself to the divine will of the Inheritor.
"My dear Iomedae, I thank you for filling my heart with your grace. May this day always be rembered for your gloy. May it ever be so!!"
Flofer rubs his eyes, his stomach already rumbling.
mmhph what's for breakfast?
"This should be rather entertaining Harl, it always warms me through to see a fair and just competition."
Victoria carries herself politiely and in fine fashion, a fine example of a well bred courtier.