Omo had been standing silently during much of the conversation seethed inwardly that Trett wasn't dead. We should have done it my way.
"Please don't let him wander free. He kidnapped and abused my sister, Councilor Khonnir's daughter. Anyone who preys upon the young should not go free."
Should not even be alive!
Altouna smiles but shakes her head Nothing you could help with. Unless you can convince the League to accept less tithes or the Blood Gars to discontinue their raids on riverine traffic south of Hajoth Hakados.
She looks at Omo with the same piercing eyes she gave Seven
If what you say is true, then he will be punished.
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"Those, might be a bit tall request for a bunch of relatively unknown adventurers mi'lady." Jarreck concedes to the ladies concerns.
"While we might not be able to do anything with the heads of those groups we will do what we can if we run into either of the groups. Is there anything we should know about the location we are heading or the route we'll be taking?"
In a moment of jest he does turn to Guaire...."Ever want to be a king? That could save the Lady Altouna here many a headache"
The jest is made to hopefully lighten the mood a bit as he can sense the younglings, Omo and Seven, both are frustrated a bit by Sanvril still being alive as the group is leaving for Scrapwall.
Altouna says The North Sellen is completely overrun with Blood Gar. The tribe steals and plunders at will...fortunately you won't have a problem. That is because you will be ON a Blood Gar barge. My contacts have set up transportation with a River Captain named Red Kris. He is an adopted member of the Blood Gars. He is a rascal and a pirate, but he has never crossed me before and I trust him.
@ Jarreck:
"Never, i serve the clan elders, i have no desire to be king."
Now there's some risky business.
..........
<Kukuku, a few bodies left and right, nobody will miss them.>
"Well that's a surprising situation, but i'm sure we'll manage."
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"Sounds like the best option in a bad situation. Thank Lady Altouna for your assistance, don't hesitate to contact us if we can return the favor someday.
Speaking privately to Lady Altouna before they leave. " If you are able please send word of Sanvril's fate to Guaire or myself. Presented to the youngling correctly, it may help to ease their troubled hearts and minds. You have our thanks"
Mort hears the others ask more questions now the silence has been broken, but still wonders something about their current destination.
"Just two more questions from me, milady, if you'd be so kind. Though this Red Kris is a Blood Gar, are the Blood Gar known for attacking their own or having bloodfeuds or rivalries amongst each other? Is there anything we should know about Aldonard's Grave, the keep you are sending us to? It has a somewhat sinister naming and I wouldn't be surprised if not only Aldonard died in that vicinity."
If I recall, the place has a sad history.
Aldronard himself was a devout paladin of Sarenrae in Andoran who traveled north to Mendev to aid in the Second Crusade. He wound up serving in the war for several years, and when the crusade came to an end, Aldronard was eager to return home to marry his beloved, a woman named Justinia. But while stopping over at the fort on his journey south, he received a letter from Justinia's father, Eredian, informing him that his love had died during an attack on the farm by raiders. Eredian's bitter, tersely worded missive made it clear that he blamed Aldronard-both because Justinia had been pining away for him and refused to leave her family home to start a new life, and because Aldronard hadn't been at the farm to protect her. Unfair as that blame was, it cut Aldronard to the soul; robbed of the only glimmer ofhope he had left in what had become an unrelentingly dark time in his life, the paladin lost his faith and committed suicide by leaping from the tallest tower of the riverside chapel where he'd received the fateful letter.
However, the place now is regularly staffed by Sarenraen Crusaders. They rotate out on their way to the Mendev Crusade.
As to Red Kris and the Blood Gars, they tend to leave him alone...you'll see why.
"Sounds like he's a bloody type."
Guaire nods politely at the woman.
"Thank you, we'll be off then, a good day to you."
In is probably her last statement before departing, Seventeen suddenly pipes up saying, "You mention the League and the Blood Gar. While they no doubt give you a headache, they are something of a known quantity. While we were in Torch we defeated an agent of Hellion who was transmitting a great deal of power north of Scrapwall for reasons unknown."
Seventeen watches her intently for any reply.
Hellion? What is that my dear? I have not heard of such a being or person...
"Hellion, the sworn enemy of Unity is a god and no friend to those of flesh and blood. Hellion's deranged worshipper Meyander almost caused the annihilation of Torch, aided and abetted by Trett. The fate of all those Souls did not trouble her even in the least way, in fact I think she would have regarded it as a cleansing."
Ah, so this Hellion was ultimately responsible for the Troubles in Torch? And you believe he is somewhere in Scrapwall? Then perhaps my small boon will assist you in stopping whatever foul plan he has for Torch next.
Seventeen wonders, 'Does she know more? Maybe, maybe not. In any event we are done here.'
After a moment she nods and says, "Perhaps it will at that. Thank you for your generosity."
The party makes its way to the docks and finds the man known as Red Kris, and he isn't at all what they thought.
Firstly, he isn't a Kellid...he's obviously Ulfen with a shaggy beard and long hair that is startlingly red. Secondly, he is missing his left arm past the elbow and it is replaced with...a metallic one. His face is also a mass of scars and he has only one normal eye. His other eye glows red...
My esteemed guests, bahaha. Get on board and we'll be underway.. I'm making this trip just for you so lets get going.
A metal prosthetical arm? That's a new to me, though it might give extra punch if you swing a weapon with that.
Guaire notices Jarreck's slight pause in speech, he shares the probable sentiment.
"Good day captain, so we've heard, much appreciated."
S'only a day and a half...mebbe less.
Mort looks at the man as well with strange eyes and shivers for a moment.
Not going to see those metal things on me. No sirree...
"G'day to you Kris. Any rumours about the 'road' before us?"
Not going to see those metal things on me. No sirree...
Seventeen notices Red Kris's prosthetic in passing saying, "These look. Efficient." And she leave it at that, spending the rest of the journey with her head buried in the book Cythrul gave her.
Red Kris gives Seven a grin You got no idea babe. to Mort he says Buncha right bastards might try and stop us...but I doubt it. and then he chuckles.
The party boards and the skiff takes off down the Sellen. Immediately you notice something is different about this boat...its much too fast..
Red Kris runs his boat with almost scary efficiency, with its six crewmembers keeping the boat moving upriver at a rapid pace.
The big Ulfen snarls and spits and curses his men, but never raises a hand to them, they all treat him almost reverently and you can tell that they are extremely loyal.
Ever seen one of these? he asks you after a few hours upriver as he pulls a sheet off of an odd device.
Seventeen looks up from her book, shrugs not knowing what the device is, and goes back to her book.
Mort looks on as the boat spees away and looks to the sides with a curious intent.
"Captain Kris? How can this boat go so fast? It moves almost twice as fast as I would've expected it to, what's the secret if I may ask?"
T'all started down in Taldor. Buncha right bastards jumped me near Cassomir. Lost my arm here from an axe blade...then someone thought my face looked wrong...so they bashed my skull in with a club. Ruined my eye it did...
The Captain touches both places gingerly.. Altouna though...she fixed me up right quick. Gave me better than before...
The weapon that Kris unveiled seems to be some sort of energy weapon. It is similar to the weapon that Jarreck carries. This here is why no one will bother us....I can punch a hole in a skiff from a hunnerd yards. Sink'em before they get close enough to do annything
In answer to Mort, Red Kris says Cain't give you all my tricks.
The trip goes by quick enough...in a day and a half you near the small fort known as Aldonard's Grave.
Red Kris points it out, laying off the western bank of the Sellen about a quarter-mile from the River. I'll wait here till tomorrow morning but no later. Whatever you need from Aldonard's Grave, get it by then if you want a ride across the Sellen.
Seventeen puts her book away carefully and says, "Oh we're here? It would be logical to find the rumors here, so we have some notion of what is going on at scrapwall before we arrive."
She moves to disembark.
Omo had kepy to himself during the trip. He had been struggling with his anger towards Trett. If the rest of the world is like Torch, than those in authority -- however well meaning -- can only do so much. Will Trett receive the punishment he deserves for harming the innocent?
"Seventeen, what did you make the the Lady? Do you think she will see justice done?"
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Seventeen's voice sounds light, but her words are darker, "She was strange. I did not like her, something assailed my mind while we talked. I could not say if Trett will see justice, but we have done all we can on that front Omo. Right now I think we should visit the taverns. Perhaps somebody with a clever tongue can find out what the news is in these parts..."
"I guess we could try to find some more clues as to what we can expect in Scrapwall. Though I don't think the animals here might be able to help us in this endeavour, I need to talk with birds to get information about Scrapwall"
Mort looks at the rest with a curious look.
"Shall we try to inquire at whatever is called room and board in this old keep?"
The party makes its way down to Aldonard's Grave, an old crumbling keep near the banks of the Sellen.
As they approach they get sight of a crumbling building four men in an odd assortment of armor stand on top of a tower. They call out
Stay back! There is a plague! Go away Crusaders!
Guaire notices the strange 'accent'.
"Who are you? What is this plague you speak of, since it looks to me YOU are in a hazardous area yourselves!"
He quickly adds to the others.
"This situations reeks, my guess is a takeover."
We are Crusaders from Taldor, come to this place. Our Captain fell to the plague and many are sick inside. Some of us had to remain with the sick.
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Walking up towards the keep, Jarreck with the others hears the 4 men call down to them.
The men on the tower all seem to have trouble with their speech.
can he remember anything about the local tribes that may have lips removed, or anything about the plague causing lips to fall off
Guaire, I agree, something's not right here but not sure what yet? Can you remember any tribes that might resort to this kind of self-mutilation?
We are Crusaders from Taldor, come to this place. Our Captain fell to the plague and many are sick inside. Some of us had to remain with the sick.
Jarreck probably believes them
Mort walks up to the front as well and stares up at the man.
"What is this plague you speak of? What are its symptoms?"
"The plague causes the muscles to stiffen and a fever. Several of us have died. Do you think you can cure it?"
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Seventeen uncharacteristically pushes forwards, and asks him "Is there something I can do to help the sick? Do they need food and clean water? Don't worry about me, I won't get sick."
"Seventeen never falls ill. That is true."
Errr. Ok. Only you are coming in? the man calls out as he motions below for someone to raise the portcullis