Elisile raises an eyebrow at Camlo. “Undressing is optional with me,” she says. “Perhaps you should leave the rest on for now, for the slight chance that we do not end up where we plan. Ready Illes? Take hands please. Sefayll, I will be aiming for just outside the inn at Turtleback Ferry if you know it? We shall see you soon, all going well.”
When Camlo and Illes are ready, Elisile intones her spell.
The armored woman nods, "I am familiar with it." Turning her eyeless helm toward the latest to join their band, she adds, "Keep your shirt on. Be prepared should my command of the magic lead us to land somewhere unexpected. When you two are ready, we will form a circle facing outward, each holding his neighbor's hand. "
Nodding, Tikrok gently grabs Sef's hand then Asher's. As the words of the spell are spoken he tenses slightly. He is much more used to the nature magic from his clan to magically travel.
Elisile raises an eyebrow at Camlo. “Undressing is optional with me,” she says. “Perhaps you should leave the rest on for now, for the slight chance that we do not end up where we plan. Ready Illes? Take hands please. Sefayll, I will be aiming for just outside the inn at Turtleback Ferry if you know it? We shall see you soon, all going well.”
When Camlo and Illes are ready, Elisile intones her spell.
Camlo can't contain himself any longer, and bursts into rawcus laghter. He does manage to take Elisile's hand though, and nod his readyness as he wipes a tear from his eye.
There is a momentary vertiginous feeling of falling through silver light, and suddenly the group have left behind the workshop and instead are standing in a rustic town square, Grundar's anxious face just a rapidly-fading after-image. A church, partly collapsed but propped with scaffolding and alive with rebuilding activity, stands to one side. A few of the local burghers blink with surprise as the adventurers arrive out of thin air, but looks of consternation are rapidly replaced with smiles of delight as they realise that the heroes who drove the Kreeg ogres from Fort Rannick, slew Black Magga and rescued the town from the floods.
A robust-looking middle-aged man with a salt-and-pepper beard emerges from the church and hurries over. "You have come back!" says Father Sheed. "We heard you had headed into the wilds from the fort to reach Jorgenfist overland, and heard nothing from you since. We are so pleased to see you are alright!"
Sefayll remains back as the others re-establish relationships with their friends.
She scans the area, taking in the sights of the small community, before relaxing a bit and removing her helm. If introduced, she will step forward and exchange greetings with the locals, but she's not concerned one way or the other.
She murmurs to her 'passengers' after the helm is off, "I hope you found the transportation adequate. Welcome to the village of Turtleback Ferry, where you may be greeted as saviors by association." Nodding at the church under repair, she adds, "That was the work of our friends, but preferable to the alternative. You should ask the bard about it over an ale tonight."
"Right. Might do that. Thank you for..." Asher moves his hands about, from left to right, mimicking an explosion, "...you know, not doing that."
Camlo looks a bit uncomfortable at this point. The last time he was here he ended up in a barrel in the fort, and you all know how that ended....
He sticks by Sef and lets the others take over again.
Sefayll looks at the unusually quiet bard with an eyebrow raised, wondering to what that faraway look in his eye is in reference, before she steps forward with a bow. "Greetings, Father. We did indeed endure quite a trek into the heart of the lands of the giants and found both friend and foe. Fortunately, our exit was on our terms and we made it in much the same way as we have returned to your lovely town." She nods at the rebuilding efforts, "How go the repairs?"
Asher gazes up at the construction efforts. "What in the...what happened?"
"Hudak... I wasn't here at the time either, but from what I'm told. The mighty Hudak brought that building down on some mythical beast. Of course, Hudak is the real mythical beast."
"The repairs go well," says the father, beaming before looking concerned. "Where, indeed, is the mighty Hudak?"
"As many near-mythic heroes before him, he has chosen to retire to a life of raising livestock and children and sharing tales tall and truthful. When last we saw him, he was as hale and hearty as ever, rest assured."
Father Sheed smiles with relief. "Excellent! A fine ending - the hero lived happily ever after. So, what brings you back to Turtleback Ferry?"
Seeing that his companions are friendly with the fellow, Tikrok sees no reason to be dodgy. "We are here to make preparations to get to an unpleasant place from what I hear. Kaer Maga holds an item we need and this was as close a place we could start from." He remembers to introduce himself as an afterthought, "Oh, I am Tikrok. Nice to meet you."
While preparations are being taken care of, Tikrok wanders around town trying not to frighten the locals. He understands he is larger than most people and does his best to be non-intrusive.
Sefayll nods and smiles, "Indeed we hope so - the happily ever after hero bit. As for us," she listens to Tikrok's quick summation, "As our new companion says, we have cause to visit the City of Strangers and our fastest route was to come here magically before traveling overland. I'm afraid this time we are merely passing through."
As an afterthought, she asks, "Do you know of anyone that knows the best route from here?"
"Kaer Maga?" Father Sheed rubs his jaw. "Not had any reason to go there myself, nor has anyone much I know in the village. By my reckoning it's not a difficult route to take - climb up to Skull Crossing and keep going east. But there's plenty of things would like to stop you on the way. I think your best bet would be to go up to the fort and ask the remaining rangers there - they might know.
"Which reminds me - there's a contingent of hellknights came through here a few weeks ago to take control of the fort now the rangers were all but wiped out. They had letters from the Lord-Mayor back on Magnimar, so it all looks above board. Beging your pardon, ma'am" - he nods deferentially to Sefayll - "but the situation maybe isn't quite the same as it was before up there."
Asher eyes the man, curiosly. Glancing at Sefayll, he lowers his voice a hair. "Hellknights in Varisia? Why would they be outside of Cheliax?"
At the news of the hellknights coming to take control of the fort, Sefayll's face goes still, impassive. It's a sudden reminder that her armor is not just for show - it's the armor of a Hellknight.
Not looking at Asher, but answering his question, she says, "They have their reasons and those reasons will be based on the law. The question is which law and how they choose to enforce it. Depending on the order in which they have membership, those reasons can vary."
"Father, did you notice any insignia on the hellnights' equipment? Preferred weapons? Did you hear if any provided a name or a title?"
"I didn't pay that much attention. But the papers said they were from the Order of the Nail."
Asher eyes the man, curiosly. Glancing at Sefayll, he lowers his voice a hair. "Hellknights in Varisia? Why would they be outside of Cheliax?"
"I didn't pay that much attention. But the papers said they were from the Order of the Nail."
Sefayll nods, "As I expected. When... before..." She sighs and starts again, "There was concern about the situation at Fort Rannick. They have no doubt some to fill the void. Whether they will ever leave, I cannot say."
”As much as none of us like dealing with hell onights, the fort seems the best choice. Let’s get some mounts and then get it over with and hopefully get out...”
"We're going to deal with them? Why - " Asher scoffs, "why are we going to go poking our noses into some Hellknights arse? Let's get some horses and ride around them"
"You think we should just wander into the plateau with just a vague idea of where we are heading, and what we may encounter? That's, ah, bold of you."
"We've all had run ins with the Hell Knights. They tend to do what they think is right without thought for how it affects everyone else. But Sef usually gets us out of the most sticky situations, and the remaining rangers owe us a favor."
Sefayll exhales slowly. "I am not sure how well I would be received. That depends on which Hellknight is in charge. Going to see the rangers is wise, however, and I believe the worst-case scenario would be a delay - or possibly your having to proceed without me."
She looks at the friendly priest, "It appears we have reason to obtain horses. Who would you recommend as having good mounts in the area?"
"Dev Carser raises the horses around here - I'd look for him at the inn," replies Father Sheed.
About an hour later the adventurers have purchased their mounts and some supplies are riding out of Turtleback Ferry. It is late summer, gradually turning to autumn, and the warm sun lends a buttery glow to the occasional leaves which spiral from the trees over the road. Birds twitter and the ripening berries and crab apples hand from boughs by the path.
The pleasant ride is disturbed after a few hours as they approach the fort. Presaged by a stench of rot, they come across three corpses by the side of the road, held upright and spreadeagled on crossed planks, wrists and ankles secured by bolts punched through flesh and wood. The flesh is blackened and scavengers have clearly found them. Around the necks of each is a wooden placard which reads 'Lawbreaker'.
Tikrok (as a horse) walks up to the corpses and examines them. He casts a spell then speaks. He sounds exactly like he normally does in human form.
"These poor souls look like they were slain by swords then hung up as a message. These hellknights intend to rule the area through fear it seems. Who knows what law they broke to endup like this"
"Sefayll, would they just...create laws, and then charge people with crimes? Or does it matter who rules this area, and what laws apply? Do they have to obey the local laws themselves?
Without looking at Asher, she offers, "Hellknights are not brigands, out to take advantage of a situation and changing the rules to suit themselves for their own gain..." Her voice trails off and she mutters a mild curse as she suddenly stops and turns to face the others. "I cannot go to Fort Rannick. Remember the last meeting with my superiors? On pain of death, I cannot contact former comrades - I don't know if any are on duty at the fort."
Was this really five years ago?
No longer moving forward down the trail, she looks at Asher, "I am no longer a Hellknight. I am disgraced, an outcast, because of my failures. But my former comrades-at-arms are not bloodthirsty murderers killing for the thrill of it. They see the law as black-and-white, to be obeyed without question. They have been sent here to the frontier to maintain order in the absence of another force that might do the same." She looks at the corpses alongside the trail, "If they execute a lawbreaker, they certainly find it reasonable to use his mortal remains as a warning for others seeking to follow the criminal's path." Looking back at Asher, she adds, "If you have done nothing wrong, meeting with Hellknights should hold no fear for you. Although they do find it advantageous to intimidate those they encounter as it makes them easier to control."
"Could we leave you to circle around the fort and meet us on the other side? Or should we just all bypass? Is there no leaway in your orders in asking for help as a person?"
”Do we really want to risk her defying her orders? Breaking the law...” Asher emphasizes the word, nodding at the bodies, his voice brimming with frustration, ”and giving them a reason to exact an arbitrary judgment on her that lacks the context of anything more than they’ve decided she needs a spanking?”
He reigns up his palfrey, which dances, feeling it’s riders agitation. ”They’ve been sent to the frontier to maintain order. Who’s order? The king of this land? There is none. Does that king intend to impose his order in a foreign land? That’s not enforcing a law. That’s imposing a rule.” He points emphatically at the bodies splayed on the crosses. ”That’s subjegation. They have laws. Whether it’s magistrstes, or judges, or local sheriffs, or a city council. This region governs itself. And anyone from another country who punished citizens, innocent or guilty, isn’t enforcing the law.” He swings down from his horse, drawing a dagger, and begins to pry at a bolt to cut the first body down. ”It’s an invading force, oppressing people to an arbitrary will they have not agreed to.”
”Do we really want to risk her defying her orders? Breaking the law...” Asher emphasizes the word, nodding at the bodies, his voice brimming with frustration, ”and giving them a reason to exact an arbitrary judgment on her that lacks the context of anything more than they’ve decided she needs a spanking?”
"By avoiding the fort, Sef would keep to the letter of her orders, but allow us to gain the informtion we require from the rangers. That seems the best of both worlds?" worried by how het up Asher is getting, Camlo continues. "Perhaps you could stay with her?"
"We are on the frontier and we are far from any civic centers, but we are not in a land without laws. We are in a land without law enforcement. Other than the rangers and now, the Order of the Nail. They did tell us - seems like a lifetime ago - that they would send a contingent of Hellknights to fill the void created by the loss of so many rangers. There are laws common to most realms that they can certainly rightfully enforce - those against murder and thievery, to name two."
"Camlo's solution is wise. Another would be for me to remove my armor, as it presents me as a Hellknight, and remain with the animals. If I speak to no one, I cannot request their aid and I cannot portray myself as something I am no longer. There is no need to take the unnecessary risk of waiting without or dividing our group - the sudden realization of my predicament clouded my judgement. If you will allow me a moment to change my attire, we can continue." She looks at Asher worrying over the 'warning'. She thinks better of making any further suggestions, takes some items from her gear, and steps into the trees to achieve a modicum of modesty.
Camlo grins at his idea proving useful...then decides to attend to his new pony rather than wait with Asher.
Asher takes the time to lower each of the bodies off the crosses, and bury them.
Tikrok watches the back and forth and Sef's agonizing on how to not break orders. He assists Asher the best he can as a horse.
Asher nods to Tikrok appreciatively.
Sefayll emerges from the trees, dressed in ordinary attire rather than the armour and helm of a hellknight signifier. Once Asher and Tikrok have finished with the bodies, they continue towards the fort. After about an hour's travel they breast the rise and see Fort Rannick a few hundred yards away. Building work remains ongoing, with scaffolding in place as the damage inflicted by the ogres is repaired. A pennant flies from the top of the keep - the emblem of the Order of the Nail.
Asher surveys the reconstruction. "Let me guess...more of your guys handy-work?"
"Well, not so much ours as the ogres that were chasing us... We stopped them before it was totally destroyed though..."
Camlo looks out for a friendly, ranger shaped face as they approach.
Asher surveys the reconstruction. "Let me guess...more of your guys handy-work?"
Sefayll tensely adds, "Before my time," as she scans the area, also.
Tikrok opts to stay with the horses. He speaks to them to make sure they are calm in the intimidating presence of the hellknights. He also intends to make sure nothing is done to them while separated from the group.
Camlo doesn't see anyone he recognises at the gate. Instead, two armoured hellknights, faces and bodies enclosed in spiked armour, man the nearest gate. They stand and watch as the group approach before one steps out once they are close.
"Please explain your business at Fort Rannick."
As he speaks there is an explosion of noise and swearing behind him. A familiar strongly-accented dwarven voice yells, "I've told ye fookin' hell-fools before, if ye build it like that it'll fall down on ye heads! Ye've got tae use the right materials! Not this shoddy sh!te!"
Through the open gate in an the bailey, a dwarf stands hands on hips, facing down a female human hellknight who glares back at him, arms folded and a look of intense irritation of her face.
Uncharacteristically, Camlo steps forward. "We, ah, wanted to ask some advice of the rangers here. About our onward journey. It would be nice to ah, catch up with our friend Dravite over there too.
The guard's face is invisible behind the visor of his helm. However, Dravite catches sight of them at the gate. "Ach, it's me wee chappie, Camlo! And Elie, and the rest!" He marches over and begins distributing hugs. "Wait - where's all the others? Hudak, Alwyn?"