Serena is very happy to see Allisa up and around but does her best to hide her enthusiasm. "It is the least that we could do," she replies.
There's a general to do and Allisa clasps hands and slaps backs with the best of her peers even the towering Rutgar Dag.
Balthur Mistbreather's surviving guardsmen bundle their master into a cart looking more xenophobic in their departure than they did in their arrival from Glimmerhold. "Hurmph!"
Watching the dwarves depart, Kozen sidles up to one of the party and asks "So about those logging rights to the Narlmarches...?"
Illthir decides on the somewhat safe tactic of smiling and waving. Just smile and wave and hope someone elses back looks more stab-able ...
"I cannot join you," says Durgan.
"I do not believe that establishing a realm at this time has a realistic chance of success. I believe you will be exposing potential settlers to an unwarranted degree of danger from the various enemies we have made. We have demonstrated a constant and complete inability to perceive the plotters around us - we never seemed to know anything that was happening. I would suggest that an exceedingly competent spymaster be your highest priority.
As for me, I will go to recruit allies to destroy this lich. From what I have learned, I do not believe I have anywhere near the power, but there are those who do. I served alongside Iomedans in the Worldwound, and their church has some who have trained extensively against undead spellcasters - the Knights of Ozem. I will also consult with sages to gather information and will pass whatever I can find to you.
I believe that establishing a settlement at this time is an unacceptable risk, but if you are set on it, I will do what I can to help protect you from afar. I cannot be part of designing anything, nor encouraging people to come here, nor being here day-to-day. I wish you the best of luck."
A few weeks later back at Oleg's the outpost.
exclaims a frazzled-looking Anando Veresisi, the current proprietor. The halfling leans in on his tiptoes to emphasize the dire state of things. "There's been all sorts of trouble! Kobolds skulking about, troll sightings, some ruffian named Akiros came to the outpost with a band of ill-favored brigands demanding food for the winter. I had Captain Kesten and the outpost guard see them off. Oh, and the farmers to the west are revolting. Absolute pigs they are, and they are revolting against you and the Dragonscale Throne of Brevoy."
The party had only just arrived back in what is to be Avalon in the company of two dozen wains loaded with workmen and supplies from Brevoy to begin work building the new nation's capitol.
It was nice to be out in the fresh air again. She never thought she'd actually enjoy being on the road, but this time it had been more peaceful then the "civilized" places. The scream coming from the inn only made her more tempted to pick up her mother heritage and burrow deeply into some remote drift of snow. With a small chuckle at the thought Illthir gathered her wits.
"Glad to see you enjoying the frontier. Our journey went well, with only half a dozen attempt at our lives." she raised her hand in greeting. Wasn't quite sure how much the halfling had actually had a hand in the takeover of Oleg's inn - but some teasing was probably deserved. Maybe it'd even lighten the mood a bit.
"Have the Kobolds done anything but skulking? It'd be nice if they traded a bit or even just said 'hi'." she didn't have the best memories of kobolds - but they *had* left on somewhat shaky friendly terms. It'd be a shame if that had devolved in their absence. More enemies was the last thing they needed ...
And Akiros ..? Hmh. There had been talks about recruiting the man but couldn't quite remember how far they'd gotten. Probably because she hadn't been doing much of the talking.
The farmers was something they had to deal with. She had an idea of whom to blame - and rightly so - but hopefully they weren't the the armed rebellions stage just yet. "...They're not coming with pitchforks and torches just yet are they? That'd be a bother. Maybe the torches would be handy though ..."
"So what's this about trolls?" That was the one piece of problem one couldn't solve with words. And they were extremely dangerous. Bleh.
It was nice to be out in the fresh air again. She never thought she'd actually enjoy being on the road, but this time it had been more peaceful then the "civilized" places. The scream coming from the inn only made her more tempted to pick up her mother heritage and burrow deeply into some remote drift of snow. With a small chuckle at the thought Illthir gathered her wits.
"Glad to see you enjoying the frontier. Our journey went well, with only half a dozen attempt at our lives." she raised her hand in greeting. Wasn't quite sure how much the halfling had actually had a hand in the takeover of Oleg's inn - but some teasing was probably deserved. Maybe it'd even lighten the mood a bit.
"Have the Kobolds done anything but skulking? It'd be nice if they traded a bit or even just said 'hi'." she didn't have the best memories of kobolds - but they *had* left on somewhat shaky friendly terms. It'd be a shame if that had devolved in their absence. More enemies was the last thing they needed....
"Isn't that bad enough!? Kobolds. The very thought of it."
"Nothing more than skulking, but I've had the men on alert just in case. And no pitchforks or torches yet, but Renault's people are getting a bit antsy since he got back a week ago."
Illthir sighed a bit. At least none seemed to be trying to murder them just this very moment. Small blessings.
Are there any voiced reasons for the revolt? Lack of food? Safety? self governance? If we know the issue, its likely a simple fix. And likely it should be our first concern. Empty farms do no good for anyone after all. And until the Kobolds do something, it may be best to leave them be. Or even go speak with them, to prevent any unfortunate situations.
Fergus questions the two, before offering his thoughts on the kobold matter.
Fergus coughs, realizing this is there first meeting.
Ah. Apologies, Fergus, Fergus Bouldershoulder, of Clan Ironmug. A pleasure.
He turns to give a small bow to each as a greetings.
Are there any voiced reasons for the revolt? Lack of food? Safety? self governance? If we know the issue, its likely a simple fix. And likely it should be our first concern. Empty farms do no good for anyone after all. And until the Kobolds do something, it may be best to leave them be. Or even go speak with them, to prevent any unfortunate situations.
Fergus questions the two, before offering his thoughts on the kobold matter.
Fergus coughs, realizing this is there first meeting.
Ah. Apologies, Fergus, Fergus Bouldershoulder, of Clan Ironmug. A pleasure.
He turns to give a small bow to each as a greetings.
"Um, right. Good to meet you too." says the guard captain who looks to Alia and Illthir for confirmation that it is okay to speak in front of the newcomers.
Illthir gives a small careful nod. It felt a bit like her head was heavy enough to fall off and she didn't want to give it the chance right this moment. "Renault was at the meeting. The one that went poorly - unfortunate that he saw it as an opportunity for less cooperation, not more."
"So what are you going to do about it?" says Anando, nearly hopping out of his tailored suit in exasperation.
I think going to speak with him is the best course of action. Perhaps speaking with the farmers first, to hear their concerns. If we can pull the support of the people, he would have little room to stand on in this revolt. Fergus says, largely to Illthir and the others.
"Aye. Perhaps working this problem from the bottom up will be easier. The top hasn't been very receptive so far ... Though it could anger it further."
"I *think* Akiros and his band of brigads should be our first concern though. Or closest, if they have stuck around." Illthir shifts a little. "Any idea where they went?"
"I agree that the bandits are the most pressing problem. The kobolds are hardly a worry if all they are doing is lurking about. As to the revolt, calm words may work better than force, if they aren't to the level of a mob just yet."
Quite frankly, it doesn't matter how angry the top gets, it can't make a move if those below it do not follow. And if it still attempts to, then it will but fall. Though I feel the sooner we can quell the potential revolt the better. If it stews too long, we may not be able to keep it from boiling over.
He pauses a moment, stroking his beard before continuing.
As to this Akiros, I recall you mentioning that you had considered recruiting him at one point? Perhaps that would be the best solution for all involved considering how dangerous these lands can be. That is, if he can be trusted to not continue his banditry while under our banner. Seeing as how you all have met him before, I will leave that question to you.
Quite frankly, it doesn't matter how angry the top gets, it can't make a move if those below it do not follow. And if it still attempts to, then it will but fall. Though I feel the sooner we can quell the potential revolt the better. If it stews too long, we may not be able to keep it from boiling over."
"Oh no." squeaks the halfling. "The stew!"
He rushes back to the outpost's office.
"I believe that Akiros was returning to the fort. He and a couple of his men left three days ago."
"Well... Let's start with dinner and something to wash away the road dirt, before we set off again." Illthir suggests.
That sounds like a good idea. We can discuss our course in the morning over a hot meal. Fergus nods in agreement. Though, thanks to his magic, no road dirt or grime is an issue for him.
Retiring to the office house the party finds things have changed considerably. The clutter of paper invoices has been sorted and filed, the dining room table is set aplomb, each setting coming with more spoons and forks than most would find necessary, every shelf and container in the kitchen has been meticulously organized and labelled and the place seems spotless, though there are a number of step stools and tracked and wheeled ladders set up against most of the cabinets and wall shelves.
"Well sit down. I'll return with the meal. Come along Jacobi, you can help me pull the sour dourdough from the oven."
Even the big sweaty porter is turned out in attire worthy of a lord's footman.
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"Well... It's cleaner." She wasn't quite sure how to feel about all this. Not quite as homely as the inn used to be. More ... lordly? Perhaps it was something one got used to.
As conversation seems to slip into a coma at the table, and the only noise is the sound of people chewing sour dour dipped in gravy, Anandro attempts to resuscitate it by saying "Well, we'll need to look into expanding the bunk house." no doubt in reference to the scores of laborers and craftspeople who accompanied the party back from Restov.
"And raising more buildings..." Illthir nods. If all went well, things would change rapidly. She would have loved having an artist draw this place as it were, so they could compare it to in let's say ten years. But there were so many things to deal with! (And places yet to plot...) "A small toast to the future, may it be splendid!"
"Hear, hear!" says Kesten, captain of the outpost guard.
Serena raises her mug in salute.
"So. Tomorrow we'll try and find the 'bandits' - pray they haven't gone back to being *bandits*. Then head north for the farms." Illthir recaps their planning. It all felt a little better now. Now that they had a nice meal without the assassination attempt! Pew. "Is there anything that needs our attention here?"
Okay so that's the plan then.
The party gets some sleep in the bunk house and makes ready to leave the following day. With Illthir marching song the party (sans wagon train) catches up with once-brigands after a day's travel mid-morning on the second day.
"Where in the Nine Hells have you been!" shouts Akiros from atop his horse, as the party rides up to him and his three fellows on the rolling grass plain.
"Where bureaucrats dwell. That'd be ..."
"...Hmm. Not quite sure; Avernus maybe?" Illthir offers an apologetic smile. "It is a long story. I'll fill you in later if you'd like. But in essence - up north, with those whom promised to supply this endeavor." That was hmh not quite everything, but Akiros didn't look that receptible to her complaints at this moment.
"Not to make excuses but I think the guard is on edge, since what happened at Oleg's." Recalling the kobold incident she mentally adds: Or just really eager to try and put anyone into cages. She adds an ounce of pain to her smile. "Honestly - this is akin to spinning several plates in the air - liable to crash down whenever we turn our back to them. But we can get all this right. So we must ask you - are you still in?"
"So now what then? Hm?" Akiros asks grimly. "Why have you come back and more to the point--why are you here now, aye?"
Serena went with Illthir, she just has nothing to add at the moment.
"Because if the plates spin long enough there'll be something beautiful here for the future. Something we'll be proud of." The skald cheers up. And she would make a banging saga of it. "So we're gluing the plates back together and getting them spinning. Some broken clayware isn't the end of the world. And most can be mended. I think that applies both to this effort *and* to most people."
"In less flowery language - we think you'd still want to be part of this. And we think that'd be good. Lastly that the realm we're raising *will* be good for its inhabitants, even if the road is rocky." Speaking plainly about grand ideas wasn't her strong suite. Had more practice the other way around.
"We're looking to pick you up and head north and see if the sour plate up north can't be mended and made spinning."
Hm. Dunno if I'd call bonds between folks clayware, but. Tis true, we'd like all the allies we can get.
Fergus mutters more to himself than anyone in particular, he gives a glance over of Akiros and his band, trying to gauge them. Though such things were not his strong point.
"We're looking to pick you up and head north and see if the sour plate up north can't be mended and made spinning."
"And what about the men down at the fort?"
"Well, there's a reason we skalds usually pre-write our prose..." Illthir mumbles. She continues a bit louder, when the gears have turned a bit more. "There's supplies and workers by the outpost that should head down south. Hmm. It might be best to if we head back there together and sort things out. Then deal with Sam Renault." she suggests. "That should get things moving at the fort - and make sure there's both food and shelter for the men. Not to mention, maybe a dash of seeing things actually happening."
Still skeptical. Akiros sends two of his men back to the ruined fort to tell the men there, and with his last man turns north to the outpost.
"'Renault'? You mean to go to war with him and his folk?" asks Akiros on the way back to the outpost. "Best be careful. I believe he still has friends back in Brevoy."
"I don't think that we mean to go to war with Renault, necessarily. I hope that he will listen to reason. Still, we must be open to the fact that he will be resistant at the very least, and openly aggressive at worst. But first, to the task at hand," she says with a sigh.
As long as we can present an argument that is mutually beneficial, and allows him to keep some measure of authority in his land, I'm positive he will agree to cooperate. Perhaps a little intimidation if things warrant it as well.
Fergus speaks his quip before nodding and following behind the others, his familiar still wrapped sleeping around his neck like a scarf.
Brr. War. No, that wasn't what they needed. Hopefully never what they needed, the thought made her icky. "He's stubborn as a mule and determined to be in the way. But yeah, war would be worst of the worst case. And I do think he is wise enough to know that too - nor consider it. I hope." she sighed. "With a bit of luck - and none trying to murder us - we could come to an agreement. Even if it's just to wait and see."
The party returns to the outpost and gathers the wagon train. It takes much longer to travel with the train to the fort (especially with no roads). Finally, though the party arrives at the ruins. There are scant a dozen of the former brigand left, and while the land has been mostly cleared very little else has changed.
"So. What's the plan?"