"It's a lake? How hard can it be to get to the other side of? I really want to kill him," she pouted just a little, but had to admit that Kevlar was probably right. "I guess we should probably wait a little longer," she sighed.
"My brutes would eagerly set upon the sailors for you. I cannot spare any to help you cross the lake and truly, we are not fond of the open water. If you wish to kill them now I will aid. For a price. This is not out of greed. I want all of all their weapons and armour for my army. The more equipped we are the better." Sakkarot will let you decide whether you kill them now or later.
"We all have our scars. But I chose mine long ago." He says when Kelvar shows his brand. Sakkarot pulls aside his breastplate to reveal a holy symbol of Asmodeus burned into his chest. "I have known Thorn for some time. What are you to him? How did you each come to serve Asmodeus? Where did you get your scars?" He asks in turn, making conversation but seeming to be leading towards a point.
"Help how? I don't want to kill anyone. And I don't have my sword. It was taken from me when I was captured. Who are the bad people?" Timeon doesn't seem very brave, mostly he is feeling sorry for himself.
"It's my home. But I haven't been there for a few years since I was Sir Balin's squire. My Father convinced him to take me on. I never wanted to be a fighter but if I could become a knight it would increase my family's standing. Why are you going to Balentyne? I hope you aren't going to hurt anyone else."
"He is my father." Rose said with pride. "Serving Asmodeus was what I was born to do."
"Timeon, I need you to listen to me. I know I have been hard on you. That's because I want you to stand up for yourself. I keep hoping that eventually you will get mad enough to say enough is enough."
"People who cannot not fight will always find themselves forced to serve those that can. The power to kill is the only thing that really matters. Everything else is secondary. If you are not willing to fight, you will be a slave all your life." Rose said sounding genuinely concerned.
"Is that what you want?"
"I came to serve Asmodeus through a book, hidden under the floorboards of a place I lived in the city of Daveryn. I had already decided Mitra's teachings were lies, and the book taught me the ways of Asmodeus, of how I could serve him. After the Mitrans caught me as I eliminated their lying priests to clear the way for the First's teachings, I expected I would be executed. The Mitrans branded me in their famed, inescapable prison. I believed I had failed in my work, and would face my eternal punishment. Instead, Thorn granted me a second chance. Thus do I serve him."
Kelvar rarely talked about his past, but this Sakkarot was urious. Besides, Kelvar was curious about Sakkarot. How did one of the bugbears come to worship Asmodeus. "But what of yourself? How did you come to worship our Lord?"
-------------------
"I have never seen the Watch Wall. I was curious what it was like."
Talia answers Sakkarot's question by reaching into the fire and shifting the logs with her hands. When she pulls them out she isn't burned. "Hell is in my blood. I was sworn to Him at birth. My devotion gives me speed, it protects me and gives me a blade of divine wrath."
She looks at the leader, eye to eye. "I see a day where Mitra's church is overthrown. A day where Asmodeus' firm hand rules all the lands. His will enforced by His most powerful mortal agents."
------
As people look over Timeon, she growls in the infernal tongue, <<Why do we bother with this whelp? He still holds Mitra's ideals, but he doesn't even have the spine to hold up. Even when he is broken, he will be too weak to be of any practical use to us. Should he escape for some reason, he knows enough to inconvenience our plans.>>
Rose gave a small shake of her head to Talia.
<<We can talk about it later. Just go with it for now, alright?>> she responded in the same infernal language.
"We came together through a mutually beneficial arrangement. Cardinal Thorn, unlike certain other fools, clearly recognized the potential benefits of my research and isn't one to stand in the way of scientific progress. As for what I am to him, I'm afraid you'd have to ask him that. He clearly has many plans, not all of which I have earned knowledge of, so who am I to say what part I play in the grand scheme just yet?"
The good news was that with Sakkarot's shared (or at least shared with some of the group) faith, he was less likely to try to kill them in their sleep, so long as they had a part to play. The less good news was that he had found that many were quite fanatic about their faiths, and often ill-inclined towards those who were, shall we say, less ardent in their feelings.
"That surprises me. I did not know he had any family left." He listens to your stories as if trying to piece together all of the information like a puzzle. "Thorn's plan is far reaching and we are each just pieces on a board with a part to play. And Balentyne is the next move."
He retrieves a carefully wrapped signal rocket from a box. "Tomorrow you must depart this camp. It will never be truly safe for you here. Over the next week, more tribes will rally to my banner. I will promise them blood and give them steel. Then at last I will be ready to march. A week after that – I will be poised to strike. I will move my horde to the valley just north of Balentyne. There we will wait for your signal. Fire this rocket into the air. Within the hour, we will attack. Make sure that the way is ready." He hands the signal rocket to you.
"After we gather, my horde will be idle and start to grow anxious. I can hold them together for another two weeks. After that, I expect desertions and squabbling. Get your work done before then. You have one month to infiltrate and destroy Balentyne." Suddenly the bugbear warlord gets very serious and stern. He stares straight into each of your eyes in turn. "Can you do this? In one month can you break the Watch Wall?"
"The wall is important to the defense of Talinguarde. It cannot be broken. Whenever a threat is detected, ravens are dispatched and reinforcements from other garrisons are soon on their way. Lord Thomas Havelyn is in command at Balentyne. He has been blessed by Mitra and won many battles. I met him once with Sir Balin when I became a squire. We had to go into the tower of Balentyne for it to be official."
"If we have failed to break the Watch Wall, we shall have died in the doing of it. Balentyne will fall."
---------------------------------
"That is interesting, Timeon. This Lord Havelyn must be quite the warrior. I know all barracks are prone to gossip. Did you hear anything interesting while you were there, or meet anyone besides Lord Havelyn?"
"I didn't go to the barracks area and most everyone went silent when Sir Balin walked past them." A look on his face like a light of realisation dawning appears. "About a year ago I saw Captain Eddarly sneak into Captain Mott's house but Captain Mott was on duty and only his wife was home."
Sakkarot grunts and nods. "Thorn has faith in you. If you weren’t his best, he wouldn’t have sent you. Do this and your names will be legend. Now go. Hail Asmodeus!" He dismisses you and you make your way back to the Frosthamar. She has been ready to depart for hours and Kargeld is not one for staying here the night. "I almost left you all behind. The bugbears are eyeing us like a juicy meal." He tells his men to cast off the moment you are all on board.
As they were leaving, Rose asked the Bugbear Chieftain about Grumblejack. "Sakkarot, do you have room in your horde for our wayward Ogre? He's not going to be able to join us on the next leg of the mission. We can collect him again once the gates fall."
"He is quite fierce, and loves to smash 'little 'uns' as he calls them. He may prove to be an asset to you."
If Sakkarot says yes, Kelvar will go over to Grumblejack and tell him to stay with the horde - it would give him the opportunity to smash little 'uns once they invaded.
-----------------------------
"Such scandal, Timeon. Hardly becoming behavior of an officer on the Watch Wall." Kelvar knew exactly what this Captain Eddarly sneaking into Captain Mott's house when only his wife was home meant - he'd had a Sergeant who was doing the same with another officer's wife when he was in Daveryn. This was information that could be used to weaken the Watch Wall. After all, men without leadership tended to be disorganized, and panicked more easily in battle.
Sakkarot nods, "He would be welcome in my horde. As you have seen, more than bugbear have rallied to my call. Bears, goblins, hill giants and even some ogres also have the hunger to fight. He will fit in here where Balentyne would be unwelcoming."
Grumblejack is fine with staying. In fact he barely says a work as he is enjoying the barbaric festivities all too much. "Grumblejack stay. Like it here." Several goblins are already intent on keeping him fed so that they do not become the next meal. He seems right in his element.
Walking back to the others, Kelvar says, "I think Grumblejack will be fine. He seems to be enjoying himself."
---------------------------------
With that solved, Kelvar returns to the ship and says, "I doubt they would be so foolish as that. Still, it is your ship. Besides, this is all almost over."
Kelvar then away from Kargeld and kneels down to pray.
"So we signal between 2 to 4 weeks from now, got it." Since no one else made a move for it, the Doctor accepted the signal rocket, putting it in his backpack along with his other things. Really must get myself one of those magical bags...
----
"Given that they just ate, Captain, it seems bit unlikely that they'd actually eat you. They probably just wanted to test out their new toys."
As Kelvar prays, he makes his own preparation for the days ahead. Once done, he finds the rest of the group to plan quietly with them. "Any thoughts on getting in to the city? We could pose as traders. I, at least, am interesting in seeing what wares I can procure back in civilization."
"Alternatively, I could try whipping up some papers for us based on the ones we got off the captain of the patrol ship we encountered earlier. Might help with infiltrating the guard."
"Let's learn more about the lay of the land, first. I'm on board with the idea of entering Aldencross as traders. While we may need to infiltrate the guard in the end, we should see what information can be found in town. There may be something which can help us with our task."
Talia salutes Grumblejack, "Be mighty, my friend. Listen to Sakkarot, for he shall lead this army to victory."
She will then head with the group to the ship in preparation for leaving and preparing for the endgame coming soon.
The Frosthamar moves away from the dock as soon as you are all on board. Kargeld is not sorry to see Grumblejack not return either. "Can't trust any of those shaggy overgrown beasts. One trouble after another. Thorn better give me a sizable bonus for all of this." The sailors work to maneuver the ship through the contrary wind. You are able to rest through the crossing if you wish.
The mist-covered shore comes into view late the next morning revealing you have safely made it the the southern shore of Lake Tarik. "You're naught but a couple hours walk from Aldencross. The patrol doesn't ever come by here so you won't be spotted until you find the road." He orders his men to release a longboat. One of them will accompany you so he can row it back to the Frosthamar once you are on land.
Map
Finally. Rose thought to herself as they neared the edge of the lake. She sat on the bow with her feet dangling over the water, talking quietly to the Mephit who'd been her constant companion for a while now.
"Hey Frosty, you want to cut a deal?" she said quietly. "I've decided I like you. I don't want to kill you. I made you a promise and all, but a girl is entitled to change her mind, right? I've been thinking about that deal you and your brother were trying to work out. It's not really our fault that we didn't know you were protecting your master's territory, but it isn't really your fault either. We should have been allies, and it was just bad luck that set us at odds. We were both just trying to do our jobs."
"Since this ship was the one that sailed through your master's territory, and Kargeld over there is the captain, how about we help you out by killing him and his crew? Then you go free and get the prestige of dealing with the trespasser ship."
"In return for helping you out here, and letting you go, all I want from you is a favor later. How's that sound?"
"That sounds like you are turning on your own people?" he says as if accusing you. "Why would you suddenly want to kill them?" Whatever reason or excuse you give him he realises his only good choice. "It is a choice that I cannot refuse."
"Oh, it isn't sudden. I've wanted to kill him the whole time I've known him. I've been waiting for a chance to do it, and thought you might want to be in on it. It seemed like a way to get us both on the same side, the way it should be."
Rose beckoned Kevlar over. "I want a witness on this. Kiliketz and I are making a deal. Kargeld and his ship are what he wants for the whole trespassing thing. I told him we'd help him take out Kargeld, sink the ship, and let him go free. In return, Kiliketz owes me a favor later for helping him out, and he'll make sure his master knows that our Knot aren't his enemies."
In the hours before the end, Talia will brush against each of the Knot and weave a little psychic energy to ensure that Kargeld and the crew have no idea.
When we're ready to do the ambush, ske'll thicken her skin and begin offensive precognition. It shouldn't be necessary against Kargeld and the crew, but there's no point in risking a good plan to bad luck.
"That sounds like a fair agreement. Allow me to make it official."
Kelvar draws up a contract, making 2 copies, and offering them to Rose and Killiketz to sign. He will sign as a witness. Kiliketz keeps one copy, and Rose keeps the other.
This contract puts forth an agreement reached between the Lady Rose Thorn (hereafter referred to as the First Party) and Kiliketz the ice mephit (hereafter referred to as the Second Party), and shall last until such time as fulfillment of terms by both associated parties. The First Party agrees to free the Second Party from her captivity, allowing him to return to his home territory. The Second Party, in exchange for his freedom, agrees to assist the First Party and her allies, those known as the Ninth Knot, in slaying the captain and crew of the Frosthamar. In the process of this assistance, the Second Party shall not, through direct action, cause harm to either the First Party nor any member of the Ninth Knot. In addition, the Second Party agrees to perform one favor for the First Party at a time of the First Party's choosing. The Second Party agrees to respond to the First Party's summons to fulfill the favor with all possible haste, and the Second Party will perform that favor to the best of his ability.
Signed by,
Witnessed by,
Kelvar Mylan, Priest of Asmodeus
Kelvar speaks a word of Doom, intent on filling Kargeld with dread that will make it harder for him to fight.
Kelvar utters a prayer to Asmodeus, and a barbed chain suddenly bursts from the deck, attempting to slash at Kargeld.
He then creates a duplicate of himself and steps closer to Kargeld, grinning malevolently.
The Doctor is in a good mood as he attempts to find a suitable place to stand for their little party. He briefly considers climbing the mast for a good vantage point, but then decides it would be too suspicious. It's the the subject of some minor debate what he should drink to fortify himself for the fun to come. But eventually he settles on just drinking his mutagen. After all, if need be, he could brew another dose with some downtime.
Resisting the urge to whistle, the Doctor lines up a clear shot. Let's see how these new crossbow bolts stand up... Rapidly shaking one of his new, smaller vials to start the chemical reaction, he quickly places it into a neat little slot in one of his crossbow bolts and fires it at the captain.
He then takes a split second to decide his next course of action. He remembered that in the last battle, vs Frosty the Ice Man, the captain had shrugged off the accidental splash damage from his bomb. He had heard of men going in to such a rage that they could ignore minor injuries before, so hoping that was only the case in the heat of battle, he quickly loads another one of his modified vials.
Kargeld was much more serious than the crew. He needed to be taken down first. Preferably before he could even raise his weapon.
As they got ready to take on the captain, Rose's muscles shifted beneath her skin.
Once they were near the captain, she stepped forward with Talia and reached out with a hand wreathed in Hellfire.
Then she drew her axe and swung it at Kargeld's head.
Talia moves first, summoning a blade from her mind and slashing at Kargeld to draw blood. He looks surprised only for a moment. "You want my ship, do ye? I killed my brother to take her and I’ll kill all of you to keep her!"
Next Kiliketz flies up into the air deciding it best not to freeze his new 'allies'. He breathes his frost breath at the sailors near you.
Timeon somehow summons some courage and goes after a sailor with his longsword. He manages to catch him off guard thanks to Kiliketz softening him up and stabs him through the chest.
The Doctor loads his new experimental explosive-tipped bolts and fires. They are quite effective and burn Kargeld badly.
Marvin comes for Kargeld too, imbuing his staff with lightning to strike Kargeld.
Rose's fiery hand pushes on Kargeld's mind but you feel him resist your command. Your axe leaves a brutal wound on the side of his face. He is heavily wounded and should not be standing! But somehow he is.
Kelvar feels his doom spell ineffective but the chains wrap around Kargeld's feet to scratch at his ankles making him shaken.
Kargeld coughs up blood, "Is that all you got!" He yells, filled with rage and brings his axe to bear on Kelvar, swinging through to hit Marvin and Rose. "Fight men! Kill them all!"
The sailors pick up bows or swords. Only Timeon is lightly wounded from their attacks.
Talia steels herself as Kargeld's blade cleaves through her allies. "You are all already dead. Struggling like your Captain only prolongs your pain."
With that, she thrusts for his heart.
Kelvar grunts as Kargeld deals him a vicious blow, then grins in triumph as Talia slays him. Stepping forward, he says to a sailor, "Lay down your weapons, and this will be quick." He then studies and strikes the sailor.
The Doctor raises an eyebrow at the sailor attempting to attack him. "Really now? You know, I don't like your attitude, so I'm afraid you're going to have to die in flames now." He then smiles sweetly as he steps back and fires another explosive missile in to the man point blank.
Talia finishes off the captain with a quick thrust. "My love..." He falls arms spread and face first to hit the deck. A final embrace with the only thing he seemed to care about, the Frosthamar. Rose watches him fall, savoring the moment, ignoring the rest of the battle raging.
The sailors don't seem to be laying anything down, realising they have all been betrayed.
Kiliketz sends a volley of magical missiles into the chest of the sailor that wounded Timeon. The sailor collapses at Timeon's feet. Timeon collapses himself, leaning against the mast and holding his wound, his longsword dropped. He is out of this fight.
The doctor's target burns to death and jumps overboard at the last moment covered in flames. He sinks motionless beneath the water.
Marvin advances towards the front of the boat to confront the two sailors there. They both fire at him and two arrows pierce his chest. Marvin looks down in surprise. His heart has stopped and a moment later he and his staff lay fallen on the middeck. The ninth Knot's first casualty.
Kelvar delivers a brutal wound to the sailor who tries to retaliate but fails.
Talia spends a moment contemplating the sailor next to the edge. She focuses on the perfect cut and then executes it.
Kelvar swings his axe to finish off the one he had previously struck.
Having finished him off, Kelvar turns to move towards the front of the ship to deal with the two there as Morvan falls.
Rose moved toward the other end of the ship. She saw Marvin go down and raised an eyebrow, fairly impressed.
Assuming that Marvin could wait for a little bit, the Doctor reloads his crossbow, takes a step forward, and aims it at one of the sailors further away.
Talia's focused strike goes through leather and skin, opening up his gut letting his insides fall out. He drops his weapon and tries to hold them in. He dies sitting against the edge of the ship, holding handfuls of his own intestines.
Kiliketz dashes through the air and gets up in the face of the sailors, with his claws. One gets his shortsword to cut Kiliketz down but he is too nimble. The other fires his arrow wide after taking a bolt in the leg from Genade.
Kelvar moves closer to the front of the deck, then speaks a word of Infernal and lets his axe fly through the air to strike the sailor before returning to his hand.
Talia races to the rear of the ship with the speed of a stallion. Crossing over to confront the one that the captain called Sailor Tu.
[ooc]Even with the ladders, I can get there in a double move. Gotta love the 50' movement."
The Doctor continues to slowly edge forward after reloading his crossbow. He the fires once again at one of the remaining sailors.
Rose continued to move forward towards the sailors. She spun her axe in a lazy circle.
"You there. If you kill him, I'll let you live."
Talia's superhuman speed carries her quickly across the whole length of the Frosthamar to get in the face of the enemy. The doctor's bolt cuts into his flesh and so does Kelvar's axe leaving him heavily wounded and barely standing as he succumbs to Rose's spell and swings at his former ally, cutting him. The other sailor shouts at him, trying to defend himself at the same time from Kiliketz who is trying to scratch out his eyes and his own ally.
Timeon looks to have passed out from shock.