"I know a traitor when I see one. We have killed quite a number of them already. And it's that kind of lying and backstabbing that brought Kenabres to the point where the Storm King could take it without significant resistance." Lynn replies through clenched teeth. "So if you meet someone who spreads such lies, about us being traitor, please tell that person to come and repeat that to my face. Or answer that person yourself with Iomedae's just sword between their ribs."
"As for Drezen. Of course I will go there to take it back."
"It is a noble and just cause. I will carry out this task with all the abilities I have at my disposal." Iko says with a short bow.
Time to head into the Worldwound and deliver the hammer and bolt of fury!
Standing in the corner, Tink is running a cloak through his fingers, inspecting seams and magical anchors woven into the fabric. His fingers stop their inspection, with Tink saying "I look forward to the opportunity! Imagine the relics to be recovered!" He is obviously far too excited to be going into the worldwound. To him the prospect of finding marvelous magic from years past drives all thought of danger out of his mind.
When Lynn speaks Tink replies, "I wonder what those who call us traitor's would have preferred be done? Our options where to stand by and watch the stones be corrupted, or to do what we did." He stops for a moment before continuing, "Was anywhere else attacked when we were?"
SteelGate shifts, formulating a reply "You honor us with your words, and actions. I am eager to assist where I can."
The Queen stands, as the beer and food is brought in, a mug is handed to each living being the room.
"Master SteelGate I am sorry but I do not know if you are able to ingest food or beer." The Queen smiles politely.
"You are all in agreement then later today we will meet the 3 I have chosen to be your aides on this. Who will take command of the army?"
"I will." Lynn blurts out.
Lynn is a fine commander
Azrael goes down to where the two prisoners are being kept, the guards bring out the alchemist and chain him to a table.
"What do you want oh holy one?" The Alchemist hisses at Azrael
"I can imagine she will be a fine commander, if you have any further questions please ask other wise you Are dismissed. I must get my host turned around and heading back south in the next day." The queen smiles politely turn towards the maps as a few of her aides move back into the room.
"I'll do my very best." Lynn answers and with a hinted bow she leaves the room.
Going through the Defenders Heart she searches out Arashnival. "Sir, would you accompany the small army to Dezren."
Aravashnial smiles as Lynn asks him, "I would yes, the Demons took my eyes and prevented me from defending the city, today I will help strike back." Aravashnial puts his hand out to shake Lynn's then heads off to gather his stuff up.
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Azrael goes down to where the two prisoners are being kept, the guards bring out the alchemist and chain him to a table.
"What do you want oh holy one?" The Alchemist hisses at Azrael
I want to talk with you. I am interested in you and would understand the reasons you serve who you did. My hope is that I can convince you of an error in your understanding so that you might consider other paths. Our army could use someone with your skills and I would not see you suffer in captivity needlessly. Also you surrendered to me so I feel a responsibility to make sure you are treated well. Do you have complaints?
The Tiefling eyes you suspiciously, "You need my services? One who corrupts and poisons? I must have heard you wrong holy one. I have no complaints you have caught me and another of my kin."
Don looks into buying those special crossbow belts that were being offered. He has a feeling that he will need plenty of ammunition for this mission
The Alchemist seems to ponder what Azrael has to say, his face doesn't not convey that he is overly convinced but maybe given time.
Later that day Lamm comes to visit the group in their room, he is trailed by two other Mongrel men.
"Good day, The Chief has brought together many clans and has send many of us to the surface to help with retaking your place in the wound." Lamm makes eye contact with everyone but the others do no others do.
Iko finds the archer from before sitting along the upper battlements, "So yer goin' inta that?" He points towards the west and the ugliness of the World Wound. "Ye all must be pretty crazy."
Lynn and Don are taken out of the City with the Queen to meet the 3 advisors the Queen is sending with you. You are introduced to Nurah Dendiwhar a Halfling woman, Aron Kir a crusader who has experience fighting in the World Wound, and Sosiel Vaneic a Cleric of Shelyn.
Lynn smiles as she sees someone else of her faith.
Sosiel approaches Lynn, smiling as he recognizes her Holy symbol.
"Greetings, I am glad to find another follower of the Eternal Rose, I am Sosiel Vaniec, I shall be your spiritual support along this journey." A smaller man comes over to stand at Sosiel's side, "This is my partner Aron Kir, he has scouted for some of the armies and other Mercenary groups in the World Wound. He will help us get to Drezen in the safest possible way." The shorter man's light skin makes Sosiel's look that much darker.
Aron's face doesn't break into a smile like Sosiel's, it remains hard and focused. "Aron is right we can make good time even with all the mounted grumblers there are." Aron looks at some of the Knights that will be joining you.
Lastly approaches the Halfling Woman, she has blonde hair tied back in a tight braid and is dressed in a green tunic. Her feet are bare and the Hair on them is thick and blonde. "Nurah is my name and Chronicling is my game, I am here as the historian and the verify the Sword of Valor once we find it. The Queen has put a lot of faith in your group."
"Hi, I'm Lynn. I'm not really sure about my role in this. If I understood Queen Galfrey right, then we'll again do the tactics of attacking on a big scale to cover up small assaults on specific points to get the sword of valor." Lynn replies. "As you are covering for spiritual guidance, scouting and chronicling, we seem to be missing strategy and leading. First, I'm not best at that. And second, I will not be there to do that when the army attacks on large scale, because we are probably doing the small stuff then. If you don't have someone for that with experience to cover that, I'd like to ask Irabeth to come along to for that."
"I'd also like to have her as a paladin check every single man and woman of that army, if they are still true to the cause. I don't mean to offend anyone here, but I've seen too many cultists of Baphomet or that other demon in Iomedae's armor in Kenabres to take any risk here."
"Your thoughts about that?"
Pleased to meet all three of you, perhaps we will have the chance to fight together in the future.
Sosiel ponders for a moment.
"I do not know this Irabeth, I do agree that your team at times will not always be with the Army, if you feel she can lead then do ask her my friend." Aron nods at Sosiel's assessment.
Nurah has a funny looks on her face at Lynn's statement of having Irabeth look over the Army.
"The Queen has choosen these men and women herself, she has assessed them as sufficient but if you have issues with that then you are welcome to do as you wish." Nurah pulls out a little harb and starts to play a bit.
All Three nod to Don at his greeting.
"If Queen Galfrey assessed every single one herself, that is all the confirmation I'm looking for." Lynn answers, looking at the queen for confirmation.
I think we can take them at their word for now, checking everyone will have us here all week
"The queen Tells me there is one of your party that is a great crafter? I do wish to meet him before we leave." Sosiel says, Aron just smiles and shakes his head. "Always painting and making things, he did make me this." Aron indicates his armor and how masterfully it is made.
Yes, his name is Tink, he has great potential as a master craftsman. I'm heading back to where he is staying with the rest of us if you want to follow. Don will head back.
"What numbers are we talking here? How much warriors are there under our command now?" Lynn asks.
"The Army consists of 500 Paladins of Iomadae, they will be in your or Irabeth's command I guess when you are not around. They all volunteered to undertake this mission." Aron says cutting off Sosiel, Sosiel elbows Aron in a playful manner.
Iko speaks to the archer. "Crazy. Maybe. Or possibly the sane ones in a crazy world."
Iko walks to a window and looks out at the disaster they have come from but continues to speak. "A wise ranger once said that in each of us there is a battle is between two 'dragons'. One is Evil and filled with anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego."
He pauses for a second and turns to look at the archer and continues...
"The other 'dragon' is good and full of joy, peace, love, , serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.'"
He then walks back over to the archer and stands before him with soft but stern eyes. "We need your help. So, I ask you archer..."
Iko pauses for a moment. And then asks...
"Which dragon will you feed today?"
"Welp ye see that I have always been workin' for money, about me whole life. No yer asking me ta feed a dragon and go into the craziest place in all the World?" He chews on it for a bit, "It may not be quite the craziest since I have been to Riddle Port and a few o' the other places like that. What will be in it for me?"
The Archer hops down from sitting on the defense's, picking up his pack and bow.
"Name is Samuel Hogkins, I know a stupid surname but me pa was a fat ol' bastard and raised hogs fer a livin', me mum taught me ta hunt and show this ol' bow here." Samuel offers his gloves hand to Iko
"It was a pleasure to meet you and I have great hope that we will make a difference and make Drezen a better place again." Lynn states. "But for now I'll see if Irabeth is willing to come a long too. See youlater."
Moving back to the Defenders Heart Lynn searches out Irabeth. "Hello Irabeth. Do you have a moment?"
"Are you interested in sharing a job handed to me by the Queen? It seems this is a great army and everything, but they really have no commander but me at the moment. Which is not the best as I will probably be away for times when we'll go on special missions like here in Kenabres." Lynn offers and adds mumbling "And I have no experience how to lead 500 knights."
Irabeth is a bit taken a back at your asking her to lead this army, "I was going to lead the rebuilding of the city but I cannot pass up the Chance to finish Staunton." Irabeth's voice raises and anger fills her eyes as she talks about Staunton.
"I would like my wife to, I just got her back and I do not wish to loose her again. I don't have experience commanding this many people, a couple dozen at most. We shall learn this together and lead them to victory."
While Lynn is talking With Irabeth, Horgus is working as fast as possible to gather provisions for the Knights going into the World Wound and your group.
Don spends his time reviewing the troops and getting ready to leave. Counting his coin, he ponders his future prospects on askign Tink to make things for him
"Why not take her along? Even if only for moral support of you it would help, but I guess now that her leg is healed she could help in other ways too. Are you going to ask her or shall I?" Lynn offers.
Seeing Horgus making himself useful Lynn waves Azrael over. "I'd like to get any support I can get. And now that he stopped whining about wanting to go home Horgus seems to be really helpful. But I and he are not on best terms. Would you go and ask him if he'd extend his service to our army and come along?"
As Don heads back into the city, he finds Azrael with a group of Eagle Knights doing a patrol of the eastern gate. They have cleared away some rubble and laid out the bodies of citizens and Defenders under bits of cloth. Any they don't know or suspect of being aligned with the demons have been piled into a heap and a fire is about to be started outside the gate.
"Welp ye see that I have always been workin' for money, about me whole life. No yer asking me ta feed a dragon and go into the craziest place in all the World?" He chews on it for a bit, "It may not be quite the craziest since I have been to Riddle Port and a few o' the other places like that. What will be in it for me?"
The Archer hops down from sitting on the defense's, picking up his pack and bow.
"Name is Samuel Hogkins, I know a stupid surname but me pa was a fat ol' bastard and raised hogs fer a livin', me mum taught me ta hunt and show this ol' bow here." Samuel offers his gloves hand to Iko
Iko takes the Samuel's hand and shakes it. "Well met Samuel. We shall make a hero out of you yet." Iko says then add's "We should meet up with the rest of those travelling with us."
Then Iko, heads out to meet up with everyone else, hopefully with Samuel in tow.
Samuel shakes his head as he watches Iko head downstairs, after a few moments he gets down off the battlements following Iko.
"Just so were clear, I dunne wanna be a Hero I just like gold and not dying."
Iko and Samuel get to the eastern gate after Don has been there for a bit, seeing the same scene but Nestrin, Eterrius and the Queen are all there as well.
"Why not take her along? Even if only for moral support of you it would help, but I guess now that her leg is healed she could help in other ways too. Are you going to ask her or shall I?" Lynn offers.
Seeing Horgus making himself useful Lynn waves Azrael over. "I'd like to get any support I can get. And now that he stopped whining about wanting to go home Horgus seems to be really helpful. But I and he are not on best terms. Would you go and ask him if he'd extend his service to our army and come along?"
"I will go with you, Aniva wanted to go into the World Wound before all this happened to just say that she has done it before. She is a bit of a strange woman but I do love her." Irabeth shakes Lynn's hand then walks off to find her wife.
A page arrives at the room that was set aside for you group, a light knock on the door alerts SteelGate to someone's presence. SteelGate clangs over to the door opening it to find a young woman in torn leather armor.
"A message for Master Tink and yourself... um.. I have it here somewhere" The page fumbles through a satchel of papers, she finally produces a one and reads it. "Master Tink you have summoned to the eastern Gate to see the army that will be assisting you in retaking Citadel Dreznan, your companions are already there." The girl hands the letter to SteelGate, bows then leaves quickly
SteelGate inspects the letter as he grinds his way across the room to Tink.
"This sounds important." he says handing over the letter
"They couldn't have chosen a worse time though. I am nearly done with this..." Tink says. "It can't be helped." he says standing, putting things in their places, before opening the door for Blue to fly out.
Tink and SteelGate make there way outside. As Tink steps out the door Blue alights on his shoulder.