Anevia blanches at Firinn asking for something to help heal her leg. "I could arrange that, have you heard anything from the Rift Wardens here?" At the mention of them you notice that Quendy's and Aravashnial are both missing.
"Where did they go? I thought they would be here?"
"Perhaps they went back to the Riftwardens' Tower? I can't imagine that Aravashnial and Quednys would sit idle while the stone itself is destroyed and the demonic invasion is in full swing," says Jocasta. "We should send someone to check."
"I will send a runner to the Tower, to the south right? I have not been to Kenabres in a long time, probably a good 50 years I would say.' The Queen reponds. "So Shall we head out to my army to meet your new recruits?"
”Aye. Yer will he done.” Khaz answered solemnly.
The Queen turns to Khaz, "I am not a Goddess you know, just a human who fights vile demons." She says with a smile. As you leave the room Eterrius and Nestrin go to knock on the door.
"My Liege, might I bother you for a moment? I have a simple matter to discuss and would like a word in private?" Nestrin says his wizened face smiling as he looks at your group.
The Queen nods, "We can yes, if you will excuse me I will be with you shortly." The Queen goes in and closes the door, giving you a bit if time to do what you wish till she is done.
"Guess that's our queue to get packed and ready for the road. Doesn't seem like she's much on taking things slowly."
”Nay. And ‘afore we go. Everyone there’ll be watching me. But nay ye lot. what I worry is cultists. There were so many who rose up here. When we march, a single traitor in our midst could get everyone killed. Anyone whose not a paladin will need to be watched. Can I count on all of ye to do so?”
"It sounds like it yes." Irabeth agrees looking at her wife. "Queen Galfrey will have your leg fixed then we can accompany our friends here to take back Drezen." Irabeth leads Aniva off to their room to pack their belongings.
With the City relatively safe traveling is faster as there are more patrols out there and you're less likely to be attacked. You watch as more of the civilians start to range out a bit further, they still have armed guards but they are going building to building looking for more survivors and supplies.
"Anyone who's not a paladin? Got it. Firinn, I'm watching you", Lorena jokes, trying to mask her uneasiness at the whole affair. "Well, I guess I'll go gather my gear."
"Just because I have a nice backside." Firinn replies, attempting to join in the joke. "I should prepare too, get a few more arrows if we're heading out into the wilderness."
Firinn heads downstairs and begins bargaining with the remaining shopkeepers for as much cold iron and as many good shafts as he can buy.
Having only one thing he can think of to ask, and not the nerve to bring it up, Terry watches this opportunity for a pardon go by . . ..
As Khaz makes his insulting comment, Terry just stares holes into the back of Khaz's head, not willing to let a comment escape his lips, unlike Lorena or Firinn. Paladin's fall, that was one of the visions, wasn't it? Blinded by prejudice!
As he tries to prepare, everything Terry can think of to get he realizes the waiting army must already have in abundance. Water transport. Food. Rope. He knows magics on his weapons or armor would be beneficial, but there's no time to make that happen, and nothing left to trade for it. Besides, armies have a way of shrinking, and he might come by some upgrades that way, though not the preferred option . . ..
Finally, he finishes putzing around, and meets the others, outfit the same way he would have been without delay.
Firinn is able to pick up another 40 arrows, the smiths aren't willing to part with more right now with the Wardstones down they will need all the cold Iron they can get.
The Hour passes in what feels like moments as everyone busies themselves with preparing, Nestrin and Eterrius leave the War room with the Queen as they are leaving Nestrin sees Terry. "Young Fellow the Queen would like a private Audience with you she said it won't be long." Nestrin says this quietly so no one else hears. He then smiles and walks off with his Dour looking elven Body Guard looking at Terry and scowling a bit deeper.
Once in the Chamber with the Queen you can see she is sitting but looks weary, maybe from the ride or maybe just in general. She motions for you to sit down, once you have seated yourself she pulls a scroll out of a back on her hip. Queen Galfrey unscrolls it and reads aloud.
"Terrance Of No Surname, I hear by decree that you are pardoned for your crimes of theft and disruption to the war effort. You have severed enough time in this city helping out and by the Gods you have helped to fee this city from the corruption that had taken hold." The queen furls the scroll handing it over to Terry. "That last bit isn't on there but the scroll has my signature and stamp on it, any who question it answer to me. Now go see your friends back in here I have one Final thing before you leave."
Once everyone is done and ready Terry finds you all to bring you back into the War room. Queen Galfrey clears her throat andbtakes a drink of wine. "I will be able to give you all a small sum of money to help outfit you with going into the world wound itself. It won't be much but it should be helpful, let my quarter master in the Army know what you need and he will get it for you by tomorrow. Don't question how just do as I say." The Queen smiles then leads yu all outside, one there her armed guards lead you all out of the city.
Jocasta mulls over the situation, then nods and says, "All right, given the circumstances, I understand."
She preps her gear for a trip!
His jaw drops, though he manages to close his mouth for an instant quickly afterwards.
His mouth opens and closes, his hands start moving as though trying to emphasis some point he can't manage to verbalize. Finally, he manages a "Th-thank you? Your Majesty?" The look of confusion on his face matching the questioning tone as he leaves to find his companions. He takes the scroll and puts it in his pack, unsure if he should fold it into his belt pouch or what, but having no where else handy to hold a rolled scroll of any size, really.
"Uh, guys? Queen wants another word." He waves each towards where she's resting. "C'mon. One final thing, she says."
"Of course, Terry. Thank you," says Jocasta, self-consciously straightening her sword belt.
Khaz walked over, adjusting his new belt. It had the rune of Trudd (the Dwarven god of strength) on it. Simply wearing it made him feel stronger.
”Aye?” He said, still fiddling with it. ”Let’s nay keep her waiting.”
As you all March out of the Eastern Gate a lone figure can be spotted leaning against the demolished gate house. "Good day Your Majesty, I have been through the city. Haven't found any more of them cultists but did find these two." The man points to inside the Guard House where Aravashnial and Quendrys are sitting. Quendrys comes out and greets the Queen.
"Your Majesty I am sorry I wasn't there when you arrived, I had to tend to some matters in my tower and Aravashnial and I were trying to find a scroll that may restore his eye sight." You can see Quendrys trying to to say anything to do with vision related words.
Queen Galfrey looks at Quendrys, "I see well we can remedy that along with the young woman's leg. Come with me and Aron and we will get this fixed up in no time." The Queen turns to leave but stops again turning to you all. "This is Aron Kir, he will be accompanying you into the world wound, he is a master scout and has studied the maps we have of Drezen the most of anyone on my staff." Queen Galfrey smiles then leads you out the gate and into the Field.
"Aron Kir? I'm Terry. Attacking a stronghold is bad business. Sieges deep behind enemy lines are worse, and I'm afraid that will be the default order with an army of Paladins. You've studied the map, she said. How much opportunity is there for a small force to sneak in? What kind of less direct options are there for entry?"
When Lorena shows up again after collecting her things, she's rather conspicuously missing the bulky chain shirt she'd worn in public up until then. Her demonic features, before now tucked away uncomfortably under the armor, are open for all to see: her long tail swaying back and forth with every step and little batlike wings emerging from a hole in the rear of her shirt and folding up against her mostly bare back - but that's about all of her sensuous form that she dares to reveal. She keeps the rest covered up as best she can to avoid offending the crusaders' sensibilities too much. If there are any stares or whispers, she doesn't really seem to care anymore. She knows the leaders of the crusade will vouch for her, along with the heroes she's fought alongside, and it appears that she's decided that her comfort is well worth the extra scrutiny. And, presumably, the fact that she's discarded her armor means that she's found some sort of magical means to replace it.
As the queen takes care of her business, Lorena stays silent and simply watches alongside the rest of the group. She nods to Aron as he's introduced, but considering her complete lack of knowledge regarding Drezen and armies and tactics, she doesn't have much to add at the moment.
Firinn nods to Aron as the man is introduced, the professional appreciation of one scout to another. "Good to have a fellow scout." He offers, holding out a heavily scarred hand. "Show me those maps sometime? I'd like to have an idea of the terrain before we set out."
Aron nods at Terry and Firinn, "It won't be a siege like you're thinking there Terry, we won't be able to bring a force to bear like we would like. We are hoping the Paladins will distract any large force left behind and your team can slip in and get the Sword of Valor back out."
The Party moves on as you are moving closer to the encampment you hear a voice "I told you that Sheyln and Iomedae are friends and in this crusade we are all friends to take out the Devils. You would think that someone devoted to the Goddess Iomedae would be a bit more accepting. You can detect if I am evil if you would like." From a head you can see the Queen shake her head a bit as she moves to the commotion.
A young man in armor holding a Glaive in his left hand stand face to face with another man in full plate with his visor up. Queen Galfrey rides up a head "I have told you that Sosiel is here on my recommendation from the Church of Sheyln. Stand down Solider." As Queen Galfrey orders her man to stand down you can see he does so with a bit of fear as well. The dark skinned man walks over to you.
"Sosiel Vanic at your service, healer of Sheyln and Chaplin of your army." Sosiel notices Lorena's wings "Tiefling? I always find when they are on our side they tend to fight the hardest and most devoutly."
Sometime prior
Before going out to meet the army, Khaz gathered with his comrades. The only people he fully trusted, for he had already fought and bled with them.
”Everyone. This leadership business. It doesn’t sit well with me. But I’m thinking. This city was crawling with cultists, who walked through our midst. And we be in this mess because a Paladin fell. So who can we trust?!” He sounded a bit exasperated. The idea that a Dwarven Paladin fell had truly gotten under his skin. ”Now, I don’t want to be acting like an inquisitor here. But I’ve got an idea and I want to run it by ye all first. See, a cultist. They must have magic that lets them resist their evil being detected. So I’m thinking. The entire army should wait a day. There aren’t many of us, aye? Without any magic item on us. And with nay spells being cast. Figure that should be enough to ensure that any spells run out. Then everyone gets detected. ‘Cause doing so ensures that there’s nay any traitors in our midst, for only a right evil fooker would work for the abyss. What do ye all think? Am I being paranoid?”
"I suppose it's a good start, but most run-of-the-mill people don't have a strong aura of good or evil," notes Jocasta. "Priests, sure. Powerful agents of evil, undead, demons, yeah. But your average run-of-the-mill warrior? Greedy crusader? Cowardly traitor? Their ethical convictions are too weak to register."
Terry chuckles. "Yes, you are being paranoid, Khaz, but we need some paranoia. How about something a little faster? Start with simply Detect Magic, and see who shows active magic and who doesn't. Then watch those who had magic that wasn't something 'normal' like a weapon or armor as our most likely suspects. If you want to do a more thorough check of those with magical auras, well, it still reduces the number of people to spend time on, right?"
Lorena'a displeasure at Khaz's suggestion plays over her face rather obviously. "An army of paladins and companions handpicked by the Queen. Do you really think they wouldn't catch that sooner? Besides, it's probably best if we don't tarry. I don't think everyone would be impressed by us sitting around doing nothing for a day. But if you think it's best...you're the commander."
Lorena nods at Sosiel, hiding her slight annoyance at being singled out in public. "Yes - demon-spawn, specifically, or so I've been told." She shrugs at the rest. "Perhaps they are, but the only tieflings I've seen around lately are cultists. They also seem to fight hard and devoutly, not that it does them any good." She smiles, perhaps a bit too proud of her little joke.
”She didn’t catch the traitor we saw in the vision. And she handpicked me, someone with nay a lick of experience in this.” Khaz retorted, though without any anger. He sighed. ”But yer all be right. Sorry. Off we go. There’s an army to lead..”
"I can watch where I can." Firinn offers. "I'm no mage, but sometimes you just need good eyes..."
Sosiel smiles back at Lorena, "That they probably do fight as hard but not on the right side of things. We should talk later if you wish." Sosiel says before the group moves on, as you make your way further into the camp you see there are around 1000 people here in all.
Entering the Tent Quendys takes a chair out for Aravashnial so the elf doesn't stumble on things. Quendys then sits himself. "Your majesty Can I beseach you to procure a scroll of regeneration so that I can heal my friend here? We went back to our tower but were unable to locate anything to help us."
The Queen chews on this for a moment before nodding, "I will have to procure 2 of these as we will need one for Aniva as well." The Queen calls for a runner, a young woman of about 16 shows up, she is ordered to go and bring your final companion to the tent.
After about 20 minutes a halfling wanders in, everyone is around a table with a map of The World Wound. "Sorry I am late your Majesty, I was writing something down and had to finish it before I came in." The Halfling has an ink smudge on her face and a pile of papers sticking out of a satchel. "I am Nurah, I will be your scribe and historian, I know as much about Drezen as Aron does but in a different manor." Nurah says.
"This is the Path we will take, we wills strike out north from here going to Valas gift, there we can pick up a bit more supplies as we are going to have to carry everything we need ourselves. Then we will get to Vilareth Ford, once there we will cross over into the World Wound proper, we will continue along the river as long as we can till we get to a Way Chapel. Once there we will strike west along the river bed to Drezen." Aron says before looking around for questions.
”Aye, that makes sense. River will Guard our flank and it will keep us oriented. Hard to tell what the land is like under abyssal influence, but a river should still be there. And if we have to camp somewhere a way shrine is the best bet. Good work plannin’ that out.”
"How are we going to handle scouting?" Firinn asks. "I'm happy to move out ahead and report back. Hard to say if these maps will still be accurate?" The second sentence is clearly a question, for all his skill, Firinn hasn't ventured much outside the city.
"Of course." Lorena nods at Sosiel, though she has no intention of following through with his offer. Then, as the conversation turns once again to strategy and tactics, she keeps quiet, though it's clear she's paying attention to what the others are scheming up.
Terry looks at the maps and thinks back over his time raiding shipments. "They don't look bad from what I remember, but I've never gone very far in. If we don't trust the maps, then scouting's a flat requirement. Question becomes do we scout, like Firinn volunteered, or do we send small patrols of paladins, or do we alternate, or what?"
He looks thoughtful for a moment. "Resupply at Vala's Gift. Do we know if it still stands?" He opens his hands and indicates the destruction around them . . ..
"The maps of the land will be accurate as we generally have someone making notes when we send patrols out. The Maps of Drezen will not be as we haven't been there in over 100 years." Aron says "We got word from Vala's Gift on the way here so it still stands yes, as to patrols those would be a bad idea, small 2 man groups of scouts is best."
THe rest of the day is spend planning, Queen Galfrey leaves the tent a few times to tend to matters that she needs to. At one point she comes back with a scroll handing it to Quendys and another to Irabeth.
You are taken out to meet your Paladin army, you are then escorted back into to town to rest in your rooms before you head out the next day.
The next morning you are greeted by a guard of 4 Paladins from the Army, Irabeth, Anevia, Aravashnial are all prepping to join you on your march.
"What do you mean the queen has conscripted me?" A familiar loud voice is heard, "I am to be in charge of stocks? Aren't they all carrying their own supplies?"
The voice and what looks like a runner come into the common room. Horgus appears red faced and very flustered.
Khaz took a deep breath. Of all the quartermasters...
Deciding that duty was paramount, he walked over.
”Lord Horgus. Did I hear correctly? I have heard that the Queen herself has recognized your abilities and as such has appointed you to a position of utmost importance. Is this true? I would like to hear from you yourself, rather than rely on the fawning words of others.”
Lorena shakes her head as Horgus once again appears out of nowhere. Speaking under her breath to nobody in particular, in a voice small enough that nobody out of her personal space can hear, she complains: "Not this fool again...well, at least maybe he'll have to make himself useful this time." She is very relieved to see Khaz trot over and talk to him, so that the rest of them don't have to.
Horgus turns to Khaz, a scowl on his face but you think it is more from the fact that he is being told what to do than anything.
"Yes, I will be in charge of stores and the such, we have enough supplies for a 10 day march apparently and I am to make it last a big longer if we need." Horgus rolls a scroll up and then follows the runner outside. Your escort comes in and leads back out to the camp, once there you find your army off to the north of the gate. All the men and women are finishing packing as they see you approach.
Sosiel walks over to all of you. "We are just about ready, Horgus was not happy to find that we went to his house to pack for him but he is mounted and ready to go." Sosiel turns to Kahz "Do you wish to say anything before we leave?"
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”Aye, s’pose I should. Let’s gather the men for the march. I’ll speak to them then.”
Once the army was gathered, Khaz stood in front of them. Looking over so many Paladins, he wondered once more why he had been chosen to lead them. Certainly there must have been one more experienced than he? But that was neither here nor there. The queen had entrusted him with this, and he would do his best.
”Oi! Name’s Khaz, of Clan Cloudbreaker. Paladin of the crusade, like all of ye.” He spoke loud and clearly, his voice projecting over the fifty odd men and women standing before him. ”Some might look at us and say, this ‘aint no army. It’s a platoon! To them I say, each and every one of ye is worth ten of the blasphemous curs we march against. We march on Dresden! We are the tip of the spear which is going to piece the black heart of the foe, and enact vengeance for what they did here.”
He paused, and then waved an arm towards his companions ”And know that we do not fight alone. These brave men and women, Terry, Jocasta, Firinn, and Lorena, have proven themselves to be heroes of the crusade. They have all stood firm against the horrors of the abyss, and have saved me own life on more than one occasion. Show them the respect they’ve earned.”
He finished by saying
”Now, I know that most of ye are as much a fan of speeches as I am of giving them, so let’s just say this. I’m proud to lead such a fine group of men and women. So let’s get a bloody move on and bring the wrath of the inheritor upon these heretics!”
Jocasta nods in time with Khaz's speech, hand resting on the hilt of her dueling sword. She looks to her left and to her right, to the men and women who will be marching with her, fighting beside her, perhaps dying next to her.
She had little to live for, these days... but she would not give up her life cheaply.
A cheer goes up from the Paladins, Everyone mounts up and begins their right north of the city. As you get about 2 miles out Jocasta knows the region having lived around here, she leads everyone to a decline in the elevation and you head west then start to head North along the river bed.
The ride is long, you do not stop unless it is to water the horses and even then it is only for a it.
Aliva And Aron come riding back hard around sun set. "The town has a lot of smoke coming from it. More than would be expected form a Hamlet" Aron says
”To be expected given the horde that ravaged the city. I’d imagine most locals would have fled already. I’d wager the place either is abandoned and nay anyone can put out a fires, or there is an enemy force within. Either way, this seems like a good time to scout it out.”
"Well, then, I suppose that makes it official?" Terry can't help but wonder how many people like the army of paladins here at hand have died trying to reclaim the Worldwound.
Firinn nods his agreement and spurs his mount forwards, preferring speed at this point.
"There's only one thing that can mean, demons have been here. We should be careful; watch out for an ambush." With that, Lorena follows Firinn ahead.