Mird, still wearing his hood low over his eyes, approaches Selena and pulls the hood back slightly, exposing his eyes and forehead. He offers Selena both a salutation and his hand, "My fair lady, I must wonder what grace I was given to be allowed to enter your dreams...What, pray tell, did you dream of me and my friend, here?" Mird questions with a nod of the head and slight smirk.
He looks around to the others present in the room..."I mean not to alarm...but...me and the lady Lash have been scouting...and it serves you to know to be prepared...a horde of vile orcs are about."
Thantos interjects, "I too saw you, though my visions were not that of a dream." Thantos explains, "The Captain summoned me forth the evening last to conjure with him a scrying pool. Through this pool we witnessed your mission."
As Thantos reclines into a nearby chair he says, "I think the Captain was quite impressed with you"
Selena nods, feeling strangely more wise than she thinks she actually is.
"It is the same as I saw in my dreams. It was a dangerous scouting mission of some type. Lash and Mird performed well.... that still does not explain why I'm needed here."
Lasciel looks around the room at the others. Seated in a chair in the corner of the room, her black leather armor blending with the shadows around her. Her green eyes sparkle with a hint of amusement.
"Scried by a Wizard and dreamt of by a Mystic," she raises an eyebrow and grins at Mird, "Looks like we had quite the captive audience last night."
She walks over to the table, a slow effotless example of fluid movement, and picks up a pear, biting into it and taking a moment to savor it's juices.
"It's obvious the Captain knows talent when he sees it, and it's also obvious that we're here to get to know each other before we get sent on some kind of mission. So.....I'm Lash, good with a blade, better with my wits."
She smiles at each of the others, a sort of roguish grin that seems to come to her naturally.
At the mention of a mission, Selena thinks silently for a moment.
"It is no doubt something.... something dangerous."
She does her best to block out the unsettling images that flitter through her mind: angel wings and heavenly fire. A fire she can sometimes control.
"I'm not entirely certain what I can do, but I'll do what I can. I'm... not used to combat, except what my father forced me to learn. I can defend myself, usually, but I am definitely unused to fighting."
She turns to Lash.
"From what I dreamed, though, it is apparent you know your way around a blade."
Leaning back against the wall, Kith's well-worn, banded mail armor creaks softly as he shifts to find a comfortable position. Though the armor would seem heavy and cumbersome to most, Kith seems to wear it as easily as one might wear a leather jerkin. Protruding over his shoulder is the pommel of a scarred and notched two-handed elven sword - obviously not a show piece, this sword shows the signs of frequent use.
A closer inspection of the man would reveal that his face, hands and arms carry the scars of a warrior who has seen many battles. Perhaps too many. The top half of his shoulder-length, light-brown hair is pulled back away from his face and held in place by a leather band near the top, back of his head. A slight graying of the hair near his temples hints at his age, but his body still seems as solid as granite.
Initially content to observe the others as they introduce themselves and discuss the situation, Kith uses his years of experience to judge the merit of each of the people in the room - and he's impressed with what he sees. Noticing a pause in the conversation he speaks up -
"My name is Kith Tol'Andread. I've been asked to lead a group on a mission concerning the safety of the Keep."
Kith pauses and makes brief eye contact with each person in the room.
"Based on the experience I see in each of you, I assume this to be the group."
Fyird grabs a plate of food (Mostly Protein, and bread) Then takes a moment to observe the others gathered here. Some of them he knows, and acknowledges with a nod, others are strangers to him, but seem competent from a quick glance.
Those who had seen him the day before would hardly recognize him. Gone are the flamboyant robes, and big floppy hat. Instead he has his long blond hair in a single braid down his back (Widow Schonir's fingers are very skillful in more ways than one). He is outfitted in his old style, well oiled studded leather armor (It was his fathers), and leaning in the corner are his shield, Battleaxe, and shortspear. He has also taken the time to paint unusual swirls, and patterns on the right side of his face, and all the way down his right shoulder and arm, including his hand in a vivid blue.
"Greetings to all". "Some of you I know, and some I have not yet had the pleasure yet, but something tells me we will soon all know each other very well indeed".
He then raises his mug of Mulled Mead and holds it up..."I am Fyird Olaffson!". "Live large and when your time is done die boldly". and holds up his tankard waiting for a corresponding toast.
"Hmm...leader huh? Well, I'm willing to bet the people who left you with those scars aren't still breathing, and you look the part, all stony silence and weathered, yet noble bearing," Lasciel speaks with only the slightest hint of sarcasm, though wether intended or simply out of habit is unknown.
Selena turns to look at their "leader" also, then looks back down at her food. She takes another bite from the roast boar.
"I didn't know I was to be... included... in this group. But whatever meager magical skills I have, they are at your command."
Selena's face glows for a second, her alabaster skin radiating a golden light faintly and quickly before fading again. A gentle wind whips around her head, whipping her hair into a slow-moving storm before setting it down again.
The beautiful woman calms herself, as though she herself were disturbed by the transfiguration. She lifts another bite to her mouth and chews thoughtfully.
"I am a follower of our Lady Desna. Dreams, portents, and astrological signs are not unknown to me. And the circumstances of my birth and childhood... have brought me mysterious powers that I feel pressed to use now."
Selena pauses for effect.
"I have been led here... to this place... from a distant kingdom in the North. I still do not know why. But if it is the will of Lady Desna, than I will gladly follow my heart and my dreams, and place both hope and faith in the skill of this group."
Lasciel helps herself to food with an amused look on her face, broken only by the mystic's display.
Thantos helps himself to a light breakfast and returns to his seat. Once seated Thantos opens his spellbook. Thantos begins to quietly study his spellbook appearing entranced to the others.
Mird nibbles at the small amount of food he has picked up and held in his cupped hand. His posture and demeanor while eating belies someone who has had to spend many a nights alone, making no noise, and leaving even fewer traces.
He offers a smile as the people introduce themselves, and an even bigger grin as the cleric appears to "accidently" have shown off her divine power.
Mird delicately wraps what's left of his food and places it in his pocket and approaches Kith.
"Ah, so you're our leader? You look to have known a battle or three...I eagerly await to fight along side you..."Mird pasues for a minute, and with a large grin and a wink continues, "Although, to be honest, I eagerly await any oppportunity to rid the world of another orc."
Lasciel snickers and shakes her head
Selena becomes sad at the mention of the Orcs.
"They are... pitiful creatures. Orcs, I mean. I wonder what evils they suffered in this world to become the way they are?
Death can be a noble goal for them: a chance to be reborn, perhaps, or to face their evil and transmute it."
Selena nods to her new companions.
"Sometimes that death must be hastened, if only for our own survival."
She raises her goblet of wine in a friendly salute.
"Well met, one and all."
Fyird smiles as someone finally returns his toast with raised tankard.
Mird raises his goblet to the toast with a grin on his face.
With a nod to Fyird, Kith raises his mug.
As the chatting and talking within the room dies down a bit the other door to the room opens and the Captain re-enters.
Short and burley, with an angular and hawkish face framed in a black goatee, his uniform STILL looks freshly pressed and still meticulously clean, despite the fact he seems not to have slept from the night before. The silver scabbard holding his ever present black handled longsword shines and flashes in the light of the room, all of you marvel at how much polish must have gone into keeping it that way. Every inch of this man looks professionally put together.
He walks up to the table, pulls out a chair and rests his left foot on it, leaning over and sliding his arm down the pommel of his longsword to rest lightly on it. Leaning forward the Captain Garelson nods at each of you in turn again.
"It seems you have all been busy getting to know each other while I was gone. This is good. Let me introduce each of you and help you all understand why you stand in this room before me during these times. Shortly, I will formally introduce you to the Keep's Commander, Captain Kilenthar, who will be here shortly and will fill you in on the rest of the details."
Nodding toward Kith, Garelson says "First, we start with your Mission Leader, Kith. Surprisingly enough I have had an exceptionally hard time learning much about you Kith, though the men at the garrison speak highly of your fighting prowess, and you come highly recommended from Alalar, which is surprising since he has a reputation among his men as a bit of a slave driver. Still, your obvious military background should serve you and your team well."
Motioning to Mird, Garelson continues "Next we have your woodsman, Mird. Again, a bit of a mystery to figure out but he's been in the area a while, many of the local woodsmen and even some of the nature priests we periodically run across have spoken highly of your skill in woodslore and your extreme hatred of orcs. Your scouting job last night was superb Mird, you will make a great asset. Then we have Lasciel..."
Smiling, Garelson says "I recommend you watch your purse. Word on the streets of Landfall say there's very few better at relieving you of it. But I make light of a serious situation and degrade one without whom Kiren's Keep would be in much worse situation. Your "scout" has very keen abilities and should make an excellent addition to your team."
"Thantos here" says the Captain motioning with his hand, "is spoken of highly by my magical associates and would seem to be a good addition to any mission." Looking directly at Thantos he says "Hopefully your ability to keep my scrying pool open translates into some magical ability to keep your companions alive, or make the orcs very very dead. While not a fan of magic myself, I understand wizards to be quite...effective...in dealing with problems."
"Then we have our Bardly friend Fyird here with some interesting songs to sing. If your songs are as inspiring as my garrison says they were last night we shall be lucky indeed to have you."
"Lastly, Kith, we have Selena from the North." A wide smile plays across the Captain's face as he nods at Selena "Quite the performance my dear, quite the performance indeed with that little healing stunt you pulled in Bloody Mary's hospital. I must say you are QUITE the talk of the town right now. And while I must say I am quite surprised by your dress and lack of holy symbol adorning you, your healing ability might just prove helpful to all involved. Either you are the most modest priest I have ever met, and let me tell you how refreshing THAT would be, or you are quite different from what you seem. Either way I suspect you will be a welcome addition to this party."
As the Captain finishes his last statement the door opens again and another man walks into the room. You see a very imposing man, somewhat over 6' tall, looking like he's spent most of his life hard at work. While older, his salt and pepper black hair has more than a little black and not quite as much gray. While his physical makeup reminds you of a soldier or day laborer, there is a keen spark of intelligence in his deep green eyes. Because of his age, or perhaps in spite of it, he carries a friendly but knowing look on his face. His skin is somewhat leathery, a factor of his age and his obvious rugged lifestyle, but it maintains a more pale hew, with only a light tan. He's wearing a well designed suit of banded mail and seems to be very comfortable in it, wearing the armor like he was born in it. A heavy mace is carried at his hip, the head of which, while shined, shows many scratches and dents, it is certainly well used. A sliver holy symbol is worn around his neck, giving open praise to Sarenrae, Goddess of Healing.
"What's this I hear about you looking for a modest priest Garelson?"
Shaking his head in disbelief Captain Garelson throws his free hand out wide and says "Might I introduce you all to Captain Kilenthar, Commander of the Keep, Governor of the Surrounding Lands and Priest of Sarenrae.
Smiling all the while Kilenthar says "Please, continue defaming me Captain, my Goddess loves a good blasphemy, don't let me stop you."
Kilenthar steps back against a wall and starts scanning the room. As Garelson opens his mouth to continue with the mission briefing.
Check E-Mail.
Something about this man strikes you almost as a physical blow. You are unsure why but there is something.
The man standing in banded mail armor before you is extremely familiar to you in some ways yet not so in others. Something about him though strikes you as odd.
Something about this man is odd and triggers an odd feeling about you.
Well, I don't think I have much of a chance of perceiving anything with this roll. Perception (1d20+2=3). I swear, invisiblecastle gives me more 1s and 2s in my d20 rolls than are humanly possible.
Well, I can try to see something... lol.
I look at his clothing and try to distinguish if there's anything unusual about them, or if he has any marks or scars that might indicate anything.
DM
Roll(1d20)+3:
20,+3
Total:23
Invisible Castle is down right now, I rolled here http://www.wizards.com/dnd/dice/dice.htm if you want me to roll again when IC is up let me know.
Only the most astute observer would notice that Kith seems to stiffen as the Commander walks into the room - a moment later he's leaning back against the wall and once more seems at ease.
Roll(1d20)+0:4,+0 Total:4
I have you at a +5 on perception checks: Roll(1d20)+5: 10,+5 Total:15
A distant memory filters through your mind, a document you read a long time ago.
You don't recognize anything odd about the man, you thought you might have seen a momentary widening of the eyes but you are certain it was just a trick of your imagination. No scars or birthmarks are visible but the eyes...something about the eyes...
The only thing you notice about the man is his holy symbol, gleaming on his chest, and you cannot get around the fact that this man, this obvious priest of a goodly God, may be able to help you learn about the power you have inside you.
Your time on the streets of Landfall, gaging people, determining motive with a surreptitious glance, determining ability with a mere judgment pays off. While everyone else seems to be laughing at the joke and relaxing a bit, surreptitious reactions around the room seem to speak otherwise...and you catch them all.
As the man enters the room and starts scanning those of you present you notice his eyes pass over Kith and very briefly widen in what you take to be ABSOLUTE SHOCK, there is a CLEAR sign of recognition in his eyes, but only for the briefest of seconds before he continues his gaze around the room, had you blinked, you'd have missed it. You also notice the man's breathing increase and a bead of sweat appear on his forhead that wasn't there before.
Looking quickly at Kith you see him stiffen and visibly then try to relax though he's not doing a very good job of it in your estimation.
The Captain, Garelson, also seems to take note of the quick glance between Kilenthar and Kith, a look of confusion and what? Worry?Calculation? Fear? crosses his face. As he shifts slightly you also notice his arm brush off the pommel of his longsword for just a second giving you a better view of the entirety of his weapon, and the entire weapon looks odd to you. The crosspiece is too ornately designed to be "standard issue", the black hilt seems different: wrapped in leather and small chain, adding to it's grip, not the normal beaten leather/cloth wrapping of most standard issue military swords. You can't see the blade, but the scabbard made of what looks like some kind of silver is also confusing to you for some reason, looking out of place on a soldier from a backwoods military base. Adding to your growing opinion that at least this weapon is not from the area is the flash of design on the pommel of the longsword you see before his arm moves back over it. From across the room you can't make out the design, but in that brief second you do realize the pomel cap has been hand carved into some kind of fairly intricate design...something NO military smith would ever take the time to do. If your perception is correct and the blade is as well made as the hilt, the sword and scabbard combo is likely worth at least the annual salary of the man wielding it if not more.
Lastly, you notice a facial twitch and a deep look of concentration on the face of Mird as he stares, unblinkingly, at Kilenthar. You've seen this look on people's faces on the streets of Landfall, it's the look of the person who wanders into a dark ally and gets an inkling that he might not be alone. The look of a man who turns his fortune over to a con-artist moments before realizing he's been had. The look of the lost as they just begin to notice and recognize their surroundings again.
Looking past Mird you also notice a similar look on Fryid's face.
"Say you look familiar to me for some reason". "You never spent any time in Kelthencia did you"?
I simply observe the interactions around me
Selena is silent a moment. She blinks as her eyes take in the commander, but she remains quiet. She looks around, wondering why everyone else is so intrigued in the man.
As you observe Commander Kilenthar looking around the room the image of this man brings to mind past times, past places. Almost as an afterthought you ask into the chuckling around the room at the joke whether the man has spent time in Kethlenica.
As the word "Kethlenica" comes out of your mouth, a mental image of a portrait, hanging on a wall in a dusty library many years ago strikes you. As do the eyes of the man, the same eyes in the portrait, the same eyes on the boat out of Kethlenica. Calculating the years, the age, the look, adding a little weight here, coloring the hair there, it strikes you that the man standing against the wall COULD, very well, be the lost Prince of Kethlenica thought dead for all of these years.
Silence descends on the room like a bucket of water dousing a flame. For a moment, all conversation stops as Captain Garelson looks back and forth between Fyird and Kilenthar. An unreadable expression on his face. Even Thantos, still studying his spellbook and listening in silently to the conversation looks up for a second at the descended stillness in the room before going back to his book.
Clearing his throat Commander Kilenthar steps forward with a smile and a small laugh. "My dear man, I have NO idea what you're talking about. I do know of Kethlenica: most of us from Alpha have known people from that small Kingdom being that they are our closest tradeing partner to the north. But no, in all of my years out from Alpha I have never once stepped foot into Kethlenica." He gets a wry smile on his face as he says "of course, a man such as yourself, traveling from one place to another constantly, must have seen more than a few tall, green eyed, salt and pepper haired old men. I expect you're seeing friends around every corner ey?"
Captain Garelson chuckles at the joke made at Fyird's expense shanking his head. Kilenthar puts a hand in the air, signaling to hold any responses you might make and gives a short bow to Garelson. "My apologies Captain, I seem to have caused a bit of a disturbance to your well planned briefing."
Turning to address the room at large, Kilenthar says in an exaggerated whisper that clearly carries to all in the room, including, and you suspect especially, to the Captain. "The good Captain here has a dislike when things don't go as planned, a bit of an 'inflexible' one if you know what I mean." Kilenthar then puts a finger to his lips and makes a shushing sound at all of you, grinning all the while and barely controlling his own laughter.
Garelson, a VERY sour look on his face, clears his throat for attention and in a rather louder voice to "shout down" any more forthcoming comments says "As...I...was...saying..."
"Kiren's Keep is perched on the precipice of disaster at the moment. My scouts report about 300 orcs of several different tribes of the area having crawled out of their holes in the mountains to join in this attack against the Keep. Man to monster, they wouldn't stand a chance, and the in previous years these same orc tribes have thrown themselves against the Keep's walls only to break and be washed away with very little effort on our parts. This time is different, this time, someone, or something, is organizing them, holding the tribes together to keep the infighting to a minimum and providing tactics and engineering to the horde, specifically seige weapons that they've never had before. Our scouts from last night," and with this Garelson nods at Mird and Lasciel "saw one of these men in conversations with an orc leader and have lead us to our current strategy."
"The orcs are holed up about 12 miles from here at the edges of the mountains, they suspect they are undiscovered and will be able to attack us tonight with a measure of surprise. Their intent, as far as I can discern from the conversation, is to move their siege weapons into range and fire an initial volley that they hope to undoubtedly take down our walls. Without our walls breached the orcs will outnumber the keeps defenders around three to one, and our 'soldiers' are no where near capable enough to withstand that kind of attack. If our walls are breached the keep is lost."
"Again, thanks to the efforts of Lash and Mird, we know there are 8 total siege weapons being brought to bear on the keep and we have set a plan in motion to reduce these siege weapons to piles of kindling and thus take away any advantage the orc horde might have over Kiren's Keep. You, all of you, are part of this plan. Seven other groups of our elite soldiers are being prepared for a strike against the siege weapons, our job will be to strike against the eighth. The seven of us will be moving against the most fortified position, likely where the orc leadership will be, to hit the largest of the siege weapons and burn it to the ground."
Kilenthar takes a step forward and clears his throat, again interrupting Captain Garelson. "I'm sorry Captain, but the plans have changed slightly. By all reports Kith is a competent leader, your presence is needed to strengthen your troops here in the castle, and my healing abilities may come in handy with this group especially considering the challenges we face. The keep already runs itself and my steward is more than capable of replacing me in the governmental duties of the keep should I fall and you already have control of the military. I am sorry but in this case I believe I'll have to pull rank on you and insist I go in your stead."
A dark look crosses the Captain's face replaced shortly thereafter with a pondering, thoughtful look on his face. To the obvious surprise of Commander Kilenthar, Garelson slowly says "Yes, yes, I believe that IS the best course of action in this case. Very well Commander, turn over your duties to the steward and be prepared at the gate at 14:00 hours. I will finish the briefing here."
With that Captain Garelson gives a salute to Kilenthar who returns the salute and walks out of the room.
"Back to business."
Garelson turns to look directly at Kith as he says "Kith, you will lead your team to the back tunnels in an hour's time. Behind the castle here up against the hill wall is a tunnel that leads down into the depths. We have most of those who can't wield a blade holed up back there now. The cave system in the hill goes down a ways underground and links up with some mounds outside the keep walls, several miles distant. You are the first keep outsiders to be told of this and I impress upon you that knowledge of these tunnels in the surrounding lands would be a secret most prized by the Keep's enemies. Upon pain of death, the secret goes with you to your graves."
"The tunnels should lead you up behind where I expect the orc army to station as they roll up to the gates. The faudder will be driven forward at the vanguard of the army to engage the walls and keep the defenders busy. Once that happens, the orc commanders will move up the siege engines, uncontested, and prepare them to take down the Keep walls. When the catapults are taken off their wheels to be prepared to fire you and the other strike teams will attack. Each team is being given several firepots we have stored away to take with them...toss them at the siege engines and they will ignite. This is a precision strike, get in, destroy the siege engines and get out. Without the ability to take down the walls the orc army will be simply decimated by our archers and position."
"You should meet little resistance since your strike will come as a complete surprise to the orcs, all of whom, according to our scouts, still think we have no idea they're coming."
"Any questions? You will meet Kilenthar at the tunnels in an hour."
DM
Thinking hard, Mird realizes he is staring and brakes his gaze. With a furrowed brow, his eyes dip to the side, lost in contemplation and completely removed from the situation. The instructions wash over him and with a jolt Mird brings himself back into the room...
"Questions...yes...but not for now..." Mird pauses and then grins, "For now...let us see to this delightful mission..."
Selena didn't have any questions, she barely understood why she was there or how the commander knew about her. And that she was going to go into a dangerous situation with these other... people. Her new friends, it seemed.
She closed her eyes and whispered a prayer to Desna, hoping that she was where she was supposed to be.
"No, no questions. Just show me where I am to go. I'll use my powers the best that I can."
"I suggest we all return to our quarters to prepare our gear for the journey through the caves. I'd recommend traveling light. By the sounds of it, we'll need to be moving fast."
After a slight pause Kith says, "We meet at the tunnel entrance in an hour."
That said, Kith abruptly leaves the room.
Selena watches their leader depart, then turns to Lasciel.
"Lash, may I speak with you a moment? I hope you don't mind if I use your nickname. You can call me Lena if you want."
Selena stands from the table and moves closer to a distant corner, waiting to see if Lasciel will join her.
Thantos patiently waits for everyone else to leave the room and then slowly rises and saunters back to his room to prepare for their departure.
Fyird already had everything ready to go. He was used to making quick getaway's and traveling light. He simply rides Cobweb to the meeting place, and gently sits aboard the horse entertaining it with a gentle melody.
Selena watches their leader depart, then turns to Lasciel.
"Lash, may I speak with you a moment? I hope you don't mind if I use your nickname. You can call me Lena if you want."
Selena stands from the table and moves closer to a distant corner, waiting to see if Lasciel will join her.
"Ok Lena, what gives? And Lash is fine"
Lasciel walks over to the beautiful woman curious as to her words. Perhaps she'd noticed something interesting.
Selena waves her hand vaguely toward the table.
"What was.... all that? I feel like I'm missing a huge piece of info. Also, what's your take on the commander? This is all rather strange to me right now."
His head still spinning from the previous nights scrying and the suddenness of their announced departure, Thantos returns to his meager accommodations. He grabs his backpack catching the scent of recently tanned leather mixed with the food rations purchased the previous afternoon. Thantos double and triple checks that he has all of his belongings. He keeps a tight grip on his spellbook as he loads that last into his pack, "After all", he thinks, "What is a Wizard without his spellbook, but Orc fodder?"
Thantos leaves his resting place heading towards the meeting place ready to begin the mission.
FYI, I did consider role playing it and putting in some perception checks, etc. but thought you seemed eager to get the show on the road and I didn't want to slow things down.
So, if Kith walks out of the room and there is no indication of where the Commander went - besides feeling a great disappointment - Kith will attempt to seek out a Keep servant, guard or other Keep regular to point him in the direction of the Commanders quarters. If that proves fruitless (i.e. he is unable to glean the info, or the Commander is not in his quarters) Kith will simply return to the barracks, pack his bag, and head to the tunnels with hopes that the Commander will show before the others arrive.
It strikes you as interesting that there is something almost strained between Kilenthar and Garelson. At the beginning of the meeting the two seemed rather friendly with each other, as you would expect from two men working so closely together in such a dangerous setting. The last exchange, however, was different somehow. Nothing obvious to you, and likely it was nothing more than nerves at seeing his friend and the Keep's commander heading out in the open behind orcish lines. Still, you noticed a marked change in demeanor of both men as Kilenthar walked out of the room.
Practically jumping out of the room when the Captain is finished you move past him and out into the hallway...the empty hallway. As you stop in the hall looking around you hear Garelson come out of the room and come up behind you, chuckling to himself.
"If you're looking for the Commander, you'll likely find him down the hallway, around the corner and third door on your left, his quarters are right next to mine. Honestly Kith, you'd think you'd seen a Ghost. And I've never seen Kilenthar so agitated, he's usually of very calm demeanor. Got to say though, Kethlenica's a pretty far piece to be traveling to end up in a hole like Kiren's Keep, I think your Bard friend's been playing a bit too much music...or imbibing in a bit too much drink."
Winking at you the Captain moves off in another direction, not toward his office. Stopping in mid stride he turns back to look at you with a wide grin and say "Maybe the old man's gotten a vision from his Goddess or something and that's what's got 'im spooked. Whatever, just watch him out there, we want him back in one piece."
With that the Captain continues moving off down the hall.
Giving the captain a slight bow, Kith quickly follows the given directions to the Commanders quarters. As the door comes into view Kith can hear his own heart pounding in his ears and notices that his hands are trembling. As he gets closer to the door, memories flood into his mind of that fateful day 30 years ago.
"30 years...", he whispers as steps up to the door and knocks lightly.
At your knock you hear the soft sound of chanting from behind the closed door. It lasts only a few seconds, with a few seconds more of complete silence before you hear "Come".
As you open the door, there, standing behind the desk is the Commander a look of quiet resignation on his face.
"Kith, I was wondering when you'd show up? Has your master, Nelbert, finally sent you to pay me that which he owes me?"
Staring at you intently he drags his hand across his throat.