Lash looks expectantly at Kith
Noticing Lash's expectant look, Kith chuckles quietly. Then looking at the Commander he says, "You may tell your story old friend... as usual, I trust your judgment."
Closing his eyes and breathing a profound sigh Kith say, "It's been far too long since I have heard my real name."
I have several things to get out at this point, I'm working through them as I can so bear with me. I'll be sending out some e-mails later today before I begin.
"Commander, I would ask that you dispense with the drama. If the story is yours to start, then it is yours to finish, as well. If Kith, who is obviously 'the other' to which you refer, does not wish it to be told, then he can walk away right now. My deity knows that I have my own past to which I must hold myself accountable."
Thantos continues, "If you are as desperate as you say, I suggest you stop wasting time and get on with your tale, or do you need Fyird to strike up a tune for you? I am not one for playing childish games. On the other hand, if you offer an interesting adventure from which certain 'benefits' might come, I will be yours. But do not threaten me with this 'truth detector' of yours, it is an insult."
Lash leans over towards Lena and quietly mutters, "Well I see I'm in no danger of being called rude in this group."
Selena silently nods, but adds to the comment after pondering the scenario for a bit. "In my experience, men pretty much just do whatever they want to." Shrugging her shoulders, "Might as well let them."
Lash raises an eyebrow and whispers "I don't know about that."
Fyird listens intently as the tale begins to unravel. This is so important it is overwhelming, and heart begins to beat faster.
This is so important to history. He must record this event, and save it for prosperity sake. It was up to him to record this momentous event.
Still he was prepared, and confident...He could do this.
"No need to rush things". "We've waited this long...but whenever you're ready, I'm all ears".
Taking a deep breath and holding it for a few moments, the Commander lets it out slowly and says "I, too, am tired of the cat and mouse game I have played for over 30 years now."
"Thantos, you may understand a link between Kith and myself, you may also realize I am not who I am, and may even have a guess as to who I may be. But you do not know the man, Kith. You have no idea what links us and even under pain of torture you cannot, truely, link this man with me. Understand that those who seek me will have no problem killing you painfully, raising you from the dead, and killing you again for whatever information you may have. Understand that a ring of regeneration and a skilled torturer creates a lifetime of suffering you can never escape from. Whatever you think you know you have no idea the depth to which my enemies, our enemies, will go to obtain that information. It is not just the lives of the two of us who are at stake. If you feel offended understand that I couldn't give a damn. I will go to any lengths to protect myself, my friends, my people, and even you should you consider to join me after this is over."
Kilenthar then turns to address all of you.
"It is obvious to many of you that I am not as I seem. From the first introduction in the keep this afternoon through the misconceptions this evening to the confirmation you all have received now, most of you have been (hardly in most of your cases) deceived. Allow me to correct this now by telling you the truth, and the reasons behind the necessity for the deception."
Nodding to Kith and motioning him to stand up Kilenthar continues.
"May I introduce to you Dirk Deathtallon, Captain of the Kethlenican Home Guard and Son of the previous Captain of the Kethlenican Home Guard who, I must assume, died in service to the King of Kethlenica on a night almost 30 years ago."
Taking another deep breath and letting it out slowly to steady himself Kilenthar continues...
"Died in service to my Father, who, I must also accept, to be dead."
"My real name is Armand, Prince and likely King of the Kingdom of Kethlenica. By the sacrifice of my father, and his (nodding at Dirk), so many years ago, along with some quick thinking on Dirk's part, I stand before you today a living man and not a legend. For the last 30 years, Dirk and I have been in hiding, though separated, from the assassin band I suspect is behind the attacks perpetuated on Kiren's Keep, the assassin band that attacked Kethlenica so many years ago. I will let Dirk tell his own tale of that night."
"As to my tale, it all started on a night, not unlike tonight, just over 30 years ago..."
"With Dirk leading the way we made our way through the curtain wall and down a back road out from Kethlenica and across the lands to Southport. At least, that was our plan. As we made it through the curtain wall, Dirk in the lead, one of the assassin archers on the wall got lucky, he put a bolt straight through my leg and into the leather of my saddle."
With that, the Prince lifts his pant leg to show a completely white scar on the outside of his leg at kneecap height and on the other side of his leg down 2 or 3 inches at the center of the lower leg muscle.
"Most of the rest of that night is a blur to me. I remember hanging on to the pommel of my saddle for dear life, knowing that if I passed out or succumbed to the pain I would fall from my horse and both my life and Dirk's would be forfeit as we were being chased by several of the assassins. I know not how long I rode or how I managed to remain in the saddle. The next thing I remember of that night was Dirk's voice breaking through my haze of pain and the blackness of subconsciousness calling out to me and asking what was wrong."
"I remember him guiding me into a copse of trees, a small forest really, and helping me down from my horse...and him removing the arrow from my leg." Armand grimaces to himself and unconsciously rubs his knee as he lowers his pant leg again. "The wound was poisoned and would not heal, whether magically or mundanely."
"On my orders, Dirk led our pursuers on a wild goose chase back the way we'd come using a hastily created dummy lashed into my horse's saddle. That was the last time we saw each other before the war meeting this afternoon."
"When Dirk had led pursuit away, using a crutch and tying a tourniquet around my leg to halt the bleeding, I made my way the remaining few miles to Southport alone where I hopped a boat to Alpha and from there south to a small hamlet on the outskirts of Alpha. There, practically dead and surely delirious with fever and pain, with my leg useless to me (I had had the circulation cut off to it for several days by this point), I suspect I passed out in the woods on the outskirts of this village. I awoke, (I soon found out) almost a week later in the care of an elderly married couple that had seen me laying in the road and, they claimed, couldn't let one as young as me die. The old woman had been the villages apothecary for many years and her husband was a priest with the local sect of Saenrae followers."
"For the next week I was in and out of consciousness, while the old woman had managed to remove the tourniquet and find an herb (along with leaches) to cure and remove the poison in the wound, and her husband had been praying for me daily, using what healing abilities he could to help heal my practically destroyed leg, it still took me almost 3 months to recover and another month to learn to walk all over again. During this time the old man began teaching me about Saenrae and I became a follower of the Goddess myself, how could one not when witnessing miracles performed upon you almost daily?"
"When I was healed I knew that I couldn't stay in the village any longer, I had already been warned that the Assassin band that had attacked Kethlenica was looking for me and the longer I stayed, the more danger I brought to the village and to myself. As the leaves of the surrounding forests began to turn with the fall I left there and traveled south, keeping to the back ways and hiding my trace as best I could to slow the assassins from my trail. For over 5 years I made my way south, stopping here, resting there, helping this person and that and always hiding my trail. Several times a small group of assassins caught up to me and several times I escaped, or simply killed them. The mark on the pommel of Dirk's new sword, the mark on the bag we found with the note in it...that is the mark of this band."
"Dirk and I had agreed upon meeting at Landfall, but We had also agreed, however, to go into hiding and not openly look for each other if we missed each other at landfall. And missed we did, by many months. By the time I started looking, Dirk's trail had gone cold, but that didn't keep me from breaking my oath and trying for several years to find him."
Eventually I found myself at Kiren's Keep, actively struggling to survive with the townsfolk of the region. I joined the Keep guard and rose quickly through the ranks until, about 5 years ago, I was appointed Governor of the surrounding lands."
"For a time, I thought my alias and my hiding place secure. For many years I assumed that I was again a free man. Recently, I have come to learn differently. Through magical means I have detected attempts at scrying me, I have been watched, listened to, and, most of all, herded toward an encounter my enemies are hoping I cannot win. This battle, this war, this entire campaign is possibly being waged simply to draw me out down a path of my enemies choosing."
"Yet, what choice do I have? These hills are full of orcs, and goblins, and giants, and all other manor of creatures. This time it was 300 orcs, what happens when next time it's a thousand, with ogres and giants to back them? How long can Kiren's Keep hope to survive? Do I run then? Back to another hole that I will eventually be tracked to?"
"The only thing my enemies cannot have counted on will be the six of you at my back. I say to you, all of you, again. I have need of your assistance. For those of you motivated by money, know that Kethlenica is a rich nation, or was when I left it. You will be handsomely paid for your assistance. For those of you driven more by your morals than your coin purses, know that your assistance is not just to me, but to an entire kingdom of people that, at this point, may very well be suffering under the rulership of a tyrant or taken over by the very assassin band that murdered my father. It will be no small undertaking and I offer you each, again, your lands and your titles here at Kiren's Keep and the surrounding lands if you so choose not to risk your lives in my service. You have each done more than could be asked of any man already."
Drawing his hand from his pocket the Prince holds up a ring, golden and engraved with the image of an eagle, into the light for each of you to see.
"For any of you who are still unsure of my claim, know this as the seal of Kethlenica, carried only by the King himself. Dirk will vouch for how I came about this ring."
"I would know more about any of you who would choose to follow me from here on. I also welcome any questions you all may have at this point."
With that Armand returns to his seat and stares into the fire.
"There's a symbol I haven't seen in a long time."
"Liege, I am sorry for my outburst. I thought you to be a man with a more...'common' ancestry. I will tell you what I must. What do you need to now of me?"
"Wow, from attitude to sycophant in the blink of an eye. Amazing."
Lash looks at the man who would be king with deep scrutiny.
"If what you're saying is true, I mean...I grew up hearing the stories but.. if this is true, you're telling me the Kethlenica I grew up in is a lie?"
Dirk glares at Thantos with an expression of distaste before turning his attention back to the King of Kethlenica.
"My oath was given 30 years ago. I trust that those words do not need to be spoken to you, my friend. But, for the rest of you...", Dirk pauses to make eye contact with the rest of the group, "...know that I will freely give my life to protect this man. The ring he holds is the signet ring of the true King of Kethlenica. Though scratched and faint, my armor still bears the same eagle emblem on the inside collar piece."
Dirk pauses as he returns his attention back to his King, "As for my story, I am a soldier, Captain of the Kethlenican Home Guard... it's all I've ever been."
Turning back to the group Kith says, "I will stand and fight beside any of you who agree to help in King Armand's cause."
As Dirk finishes he moves to take a seat next to his old friend.
"I must see this tale through to its end". "An unfinished story is worse than no story at all". "And I might add, I'm partial to happy endings".
"I saw you those many years ago, on that faithful night". "I was on board the same boat that you made your escape on". "It wasn't till many years later that I suspected who you were, and I'm glad to see my suspicions were correct".
"I will swear to you".
Thantos shoots a barely noticeable sneer at Lash. He turns hard on his heel causing the bottom of his cloak to catch the air and ruffle. He steps purposefully to the nearest tree. Thantos borrows the tree to support his lean while he quietly listens to the rest of the conversation.
Mird wears a half-smirk as he approaches the prince. With a slight nod of his and a half bow, he addresses the prince, "Sir...I appreciate your honesty. I had thought I may have recognized you, but was not sure. That sad, I will make my intention known, both to you and the rest of the group. I am here to keep you safe as we return to Kethlenica. I lend both my bow and blades to your service.."
Selena is quiet and solemn as she formulates a response.
"It has been five years since I was last in Kethlenica. My father was in the King's army. He tried to train me as a warrior, but it seemed the fates had chosen another destiny for me."
She pauses for a moment.
"It is strange that you found yourself here, at Kiren's Keep. But it was this place that I dreamed of five years ago. I believe our destinies are tied together, Regent. I will offer my assistance as long as that is the case."
"My Father is..or was.I don't know anymore... anyway, he was the Chief Banker of Kethlenica, with a seat on the council. We had a...disagreement, and I left. That was 10 years ago. If you're for real then who's running things now? They taught us that the assasination failed and things went on as usual."
Armand goes sheet white as he hears you speak and sits hard to the ground, looking as if he might almost have fainted.
"I...you...King?"
Taking a deep and steadying breath he looks to Dirk for support then says..."It's been 30 years, we have much to tell and a night fit for discussion. Much of what little has been said is confusing, worrysome, and fills me with both hope and dread, I hardly know where to begin."
"First, however, Thantos, Lash, and the rest of you: Let us put aside our differences and our egos and attitudes, even if for a bit. Thantos, you performed admirably on the field in service to Kiren's Keep, whatever your reasons, you have my thanks. You have a right to be angry at my deceptions and my reaction did not help, you have my apologies. The only thing I would know of you is your background: who is this man who stands before me?"
"Lasciel, your story is the hardest to wrap my hands around. Are you saying you are actually the daughter of Danar Silverflame, my Father's..." Armand clears the catch in his throat "my chief banker? If this is truely the case, you know more of Kethlenica than I do at the moment. Who is in charge? Was the council still formed? The mere fact that 10 years ago Danar was still chief banker means that the Assassins did not carry the night those 30 years ago when my father was slain. Kethlenica must remain in some state of existance. As to the Kethlenica you know as a lie, I am afraid I cannot answer that."
"Selena, you too mention you came from Kethlenica? Five years ago? Same questions I guess, who was in charge? Was the council still together? You mention your father as a soldier in the Kethlenican Military...I assume this means the military still functions and the kingdom is still intact?"
"Mird, you mention 'as we return' and not 'as we return you': given the strangeness of the turn of events tonight, do I date to guess that you, too, are of Kethlenican origin? What is your background?"
"Fyird: 30 years would put you as a child of around 5? 10? I remember well the boat out of Kethlenica that morning, but there were many children." Armand gets a far away look in his eyes for a second and then snaps his gaze back to you. "Wait, I remember an older man, carrying some instruments, a bard of some renoun I seem to remember. Your father? And if so then you, too, are linked with my past."
"What say you all? How does my kingdom stand? What signs of the Assassins that Killed my Father? Who then is running my kingdom and how fairs Kethlenica?"
Voice cracking with fear and emotion you each can only barely make out "And what news of my mother? And my sister?"
Lasciel takes in Armand's words. "But there was still a King, although he never showed in public. The always said it was for security,but....I don't knoiw, I really didn't care about politics back then. But if you knew my Father then why did he stay when somebody else took over? Wasn't he loyal to you?"
Selena ponders Armand's question.
"While I was never drawn to the military, I can assure that it was still operating very well. My father wanted me to join beside him, but my life led in another direction, as I have mentioned already. You are asking me questions about the larger structure of the kingdom, though. I come from a small village, but my father did always make mention of his commanders, and when there was a local matter of legal jurisdiction... my father was immune, so it seems that the military structure is quite well, all things considered."
Fyird gently strums a soothing tune while the others speak. He has suspected this outcome, so is not quite as surprised as some of the others.
During a pause in the speech he quietly states, "Well, it seems you have followers you can trust...Where exactly do you intend to lead us"?'"What do you intend to do"?
Thantos glides into a position closer to the group and starts, "I too am from Kethlenica. I was born and raised there. My sister is a magistrate of Kethlenica. Or at least she was a magistrate, I don't actually know if she is still a magistrate because I have been estranged from Kethlenica for quite some time. See I attended the 'School of Knowledge' and was one of THEE top students in the school, until...until..."
Thantos paws at the ground with his left foot and continues, "Until my Master and mentor lost his BLOODY mind! After returning from a brief journey he was a changed man. He went from a friend and mentor to a veritable mad man. There was an incident and then a few days later I was thrown out. I have not been back to Kethlenica since that day."
"There is some strange and dark under current that is weaving together the fabric of our lives."
"Reliving the details of my younger days make me wonder what has happened to my former Master. I wonder if I will encounter my former Master again...I wonder if...I wonder..."
Thantos gasps at the air as if the wind has been knocked out of him. Sinking deep into thought he turns from the group and begins to pace.
Nodding his head in complete resignation Armand starts off slowly and says:
"The Daughter of my Father's Chief Banker, The daughter of a Kethlenican Soldier, The brother of a Kethlenican Magistrate, The son of a bard who played in Kethlenica the night of the assassination, and the son of the captain of the Kethlenican home guard and my friend missing 30 years sit before me, having all shown up on the same day in the most remote of locations to a random call for adventure. This is not fate my friends, this is not random circumstance or hapenstance. This is the hand of the Gods themselves. What say you, then, Master Mird? Are you perhaps the son of "The Shadow" himself? My mother's estranged brothers' half-sister's son? My long lost twin taken away at birth? What revilation do you have to tell? I have no doubts you, too, are from Kethlenica and have a part in this story as well, so what say you, where do you fit?"
Armand then gives a self deprecating chuckle and a helpless shake of his head and awaits the solution to the mystery of Mird.
Dirk, lost in thought, stares at several places on the ground in front of his boots, without actually 'seeing' anything, in an attempt to fit all the pieces together. Then sighs and shakes his head, "Uncanny..."
Then a thought occurs to him and he addresses Armand, "When I first spoke with you, in your office at the Keep. You behaved... oddly. I heard chanting coming from your office just before I knocked - the lighting and furnishings were unnaturally placed. You've been aware of the assassins for some time by my estimation. Do you fear them scrying upon you? Even in the safety of the center of your Keep? I know little of magic, but could they be doing so now?"
As he finishes, he glances about the surrounding treeline with a soldiers awareness, as if expecting invisible enemies to appear from thin air again.
Eyes widening in shock and fear Armand quickly snaps off the chant to a quick prayer and then settles back shaking his head.
"In all the excitement I forgot to take precautions. Thankfully it doesn't look like we're being watched but it's a mistake I...we...cannot afford to make again. Let me explain."
"Yes, I have been aware of the potential for the assassin band to attack for several years. About a year after I arrived at the keep I awoke one night to find two black clad men in my room. They had gotten in via an exterior window, despite the traps and protections I had placed, and both were after my head. Alalar, the man you and Fyird met last night, happened to be coming to my room to discuss keep business and, upon knocking, caused enough of a distraction for me to grab my weapon and attack. Between him and I we dispatched the two assassins. It was that night that I told Alalar who I was and what had happened...as far as I know, he's the only other person at the Keep, besides the 6 of you, who know my identity."
"Alalar and I destroyed and buried one of the two corpses in the cavern system we went through and drug the other to Penhaligon without notice for a priest there to commune with the dead man's spirit. While the spirit gave us very little information, we did find out that it was the same assassin band and that they were working the area on reports that I had settled in or around Kiren's Keep. It was also clear that they were unsure where I was or who I was, but that I was "of interest" to the band."
"Over the next year Alalar and I and a couple soldiers deeply loyal to Alalar foiled two more attempts to capture me. And then, as suddenly as they began, the attempts stopped. It's been at least 3 years and this is the first I have seen of any of the group of assassins since."
"The oddness of my room at the keep is intentional, the room is impossible to penetrate without my knowledge, even for some of the best rogues I could find and pay to try. The show we put on when you walked into my room was by unfortunate necessity. The spell you heard me casting was one of simple magical detection, the same as I just cast, to see any lingering effects within the room. We were being listened to. I simply wanted to make sure you did not reveal anything detrimental to our cause, I am sorry for the cloak and dagger."
Mird nods his head and gives a little chuckle.
"Well you have it partially right my Liege. No, I'm no son of the Shadow, but I am in his employ."
Mird dips into a low bow to Armand.
"Mird Sutton, member of the Kethlenican Hunters Society, top of my graduating class 11 years ago, and border patrol member for 3 years."
"You should know, my liege, that I was sent to find you by the Shadow himself the orders were signed by him and I was the only one allowed to see them. I do not know how, or why, but the hunters society knew of or found out about your escape and knew you were still alive. I have no further details and no understanding of why I was given those orders. The only other things I can tell you of the Kethlenica of 8 years ago was that it was stable, militarily growing, and that there was still a King, supposedly, on the throne."
"That said, something strange IS going on. When I left on my mission, most of the border patrol was being recalled, to work within some kind of resistance. Again, I have no idea what this might pertain to since to my knowledge Kethlenica had no enemies and no threats at the time."
"You have my swords and my bow my liege. I will bring you safely to Kethlenica if that is your will."
With that Mird goes silent, awaiting Armand's direction on where the party is going next.
Nodding his thanks to Mird, Armand goes silent for a few moments.
The sounds of battle from the field still ring through the night, though the sounds now indicate only pockets of resistance are left. Several large fires light up the darkness...you can only assume them to be the catapults, finally burning.
Armand suggests that the party break out it's food and gear and start dinner before making the decision about what to do next. The movement and the work of setting up camp for the night is cathartic. Everyone is able to relax somewhat from the bloody work of the assult and the air of tension among the party seems to lessen, if only slightly.
As the bedrolls are laid out, and the dinner comes to a close, Armand again takes his place at the now steadily burning fire and motions the party to quiet.
"First, glad I am to have the six of you by my side. In the coming days, know that we will each rely upon the others and that we seven are all we can trust. I emplore each of you, then, to stick by our common story while we are still in the Keep. Do not indicate where you are from or who you really are. Stick with your aliases and your backstories, whatever those were, and do not indicate our heritage or our shared history."
"Secondly, I am no King and no Prince at the moment, I am simply another member of this group. Please, while we are out and away from the Keep, call me by Armand or Father Armand if you prefer, save the title till we find out if there's even a Kethlenica for me to rule."
"I do not know what is going on with my Kethlenica, I cannot piece the mystery together tonight with the information we have. What I DO know is that the assassin organization that attacked my kingdom 30 years ago is alive and well, and operating in this area. This note..." and with that Armand holds up the note addressed to Kavorquian, "proves that these assassins are after something, likely myself, and that they are active in their search. For the health and safety of this man, as well as for any leads he may be able to provide, I suggest we travel to Penaligon and track down Kavorquian. From there, we see what we can do to hinder, stop or destroy this assassin band in the area and what information we can find regarding the health and welfare of Kethlenica itself."
"Know you all that am abdicating leading this party to whowever is willing to take up the reigns of leadership. It is too obvious for me to take the mantle of leadership, nor will I order anyone where I am going. Until we reach the doorstep of Kethlenica I am not your King nor your Prince, I am simply Father Armand, humble priest of Saenrae and while in Kiren's Keep, Commander Kilenthar soon to be former Governor of the surrounding lands."
"I am interested to hear any insights anyone else might have into our future plans and suggestions anyone wishes to make. Know you all that we have a short stint in Kiren's Keep yet to go through before we are on our road. I suspect that my message to Duke Stefan has stirred up no end of trouble."
Grinning mischeviously Armand goes silent.
Selena is silent for a moment, allowing the silence after Armand's speech surround her like a warm blanket. Her eyes grow wide after a few seconds of thought.
"I just realized something. The visions I had.... I thought they were of the future. They're of the past. The betrayal happened in the past. Your father.... he was stabbed in the back? With one of these black skulled daggers?"
Noting the continuing silence from the group, Dirk stands and clears his throat.
"It is obvious to me that a group displaying exceptional talents has gathered here. Whether by fate or by chance it seems a rare thing."
Dirk pauses to consider his words.
"I think each of us realizes that we are completely capable of managing our own affairs and actions. I've seen each of you in battle and that much is clear to me. This group works well as a team. Therefore, the need for leadership is limited. If, however, we have a need of someone to act as lead, if only in appearance, I would be willing to continue to take on the burden of that mantle."
Turning to look at Armand, Dirk says, "You say you are not a King, I disagree, but I will abide by your wishes."
"The way I see it, the sooner we get started, the sooner we get you back on your throne. I'm ready to go where ever that trail may lead."
"Before we depart for lower climes, I should like to take advantage of the height we have here with the nearby mountains and make a pilgrimage. It should not take more than a day or two. I hope that is acceptable?"
"Hey Kith, I am going to sit and meditate. Please rouse me when the group is ready to move again."
With that Thantos grabs his spellbook begins to study and slowly enters a trance like state.
Dirk nods at Thantos, but notices that his gesture has gone unnoticed as Thantos is already deep in a meditative state.
"It seems settled then. We will spend the night at the camp here...I am in no rush to get back to the politics of the region...and return to Kiren's Keep in the morning. It will take me a day or so to abdicate the governorship and calm the good captain of his fears, and I suspect I shall also have to meet with the Duke's military commander and give him our thanks as well."
"We will meet at the front gates of Kiren's Keep in two day's time, bring your traveling gear and prepare for the road. We will head south to Penhaligon and the home of Kavorquian and see where this road leads."
"Selena, do as you need, but be careful, the region is still awash in orcs and I am afraid that any finding a lone traveler will take out their frustrations of their defeat."
"I suspect there will be at least one dinner of state that you will be asked to attend, the Keep's way of honoring it's heroes. Fyird, with your notoriety, I am afraid you will be required to attend, the rest of you may feel free to show or beg off as you will."
"Good night to all of you and good rest. Fear not tonight for a watch, we are well protected."
With that Armand moves about his business preparing for bed.
Morning arrives and the seven of you wake fully refreshed. Each of you goes about your morning routine, a light breakfast, memorizing spells, and otherwise managing yourselves. With the camp all but completely packed and all but the last traces of use obliterated from the area, a few hours after dawn (around 8 or 9) you note a sliding, metal on stone, sound coming from back in the woods in the direction of the exit tunnel and sure enough no more than a few minutes later a panting young man, no more than in his mid teens, dressed in the uniform of Kiren's Keep steps into the clearing and salutes.
"Commander: Your presence is requested back at Kiren's Keep by Captain Garelson and General Relianer of the Duke's Knights."
With this, the young messenger blanches a bit and says "I've been ordered to escort you back through the tunnels post haste. The captain was very insistent upon your quick return to the keep. I'm sorry sir but I'm sure the Captain is simply worried for your safety out here in the wilderness."
Armand (in his role as Commander Kilenthar once again) smiles knowingly at the young man and says "So let me get this straight, you've been ordered here to order me to pack up my gear and haul myself back to the Keep, prodding me and reminding me of my duty if you must I'm sure? Were you to use your sword to encourage me if I wished to remain out here among the fresh air rather than within all the hot air at the keep or simply keep pestering me till I grew tired of being pestered?"
The young page looks agast and his mouth opens and closes several times in pure horror at the thought of drawing sword against his beloved Commander.
"SURELY..." the young man finally beings after his speechlessness starts to wear off.
Armand holds up his hand and laughs "Nay, nay, stay the explanations, I jest. I'm sure Garelson is sick and tired of entertaining the General of the Duke's military force in formal state and simply wishes me to come take the pompous man off his hands. Especially since he had no knowledge of the General's upcoming participation last night." With that Armand grins at the young man from ear to ear. "A little jest of mine I assure you."
Armand gives an exaggerated heavy sigh, obviously (to the other 6 of you at least) acting his part as the calm and controlled commander.
"Ah well, alas for the fresh air, I have shirked my duties for too long anyway. Lead on young man, let us return to the Keep and our overburdened Captain."
Nodding to each of you, all of you make your way back into the tunnels and back into the Keep's proper.
After a few hours of underground travel, as you exit the cavern complex back into the light of late morning the 6 of you are greeted by several cheering people and a treo of people.
In the center is Captain Garelson, wearing his always perfectly clean and meticulously clean uniform, but with only a dagger on his belt, the longsword having been replaced by a more conventional (and less warlike) weapon. As usual, the commander's right arm rests on the pommel and his left thumb is hooked into his belt, in his standard rest position. A large smile comes over Garelson's face as he sees the 6 of you exit the caves, a raised eyebrow the only indication that he recognizes one of you is missing.
To the Captain's left is Leutenant Alalar, quite the opposite of the well pressed and presented Garelson, Alalar looks as if he hasn't yet slept (you realize it's unlikely he has given the "cleanup" that would have had to have gone on last night to rid the region of the orcs) and certainly has just come from the walls. Several dried blood splotches adorn his uniform and a white bandage (with only a little blood on it) is wrapped around his left bicep. He too breaks into a smile when he sees Kilenthar and the rest of you and smiles even wider as Kilenthar gives a slight nod to him.
To the Captain's Right is a figure none of you have ever seen before. Tall, somewhere just over 6 feet, stands a woman with deep blue eyes and long blond hair, coming about half way down her back. She is obviously muscular and is very well built but maintains a curvaceous figure, enhanced by the slim wasted breastplate tailored to fit her frame. The breastplate shows several dents and the longsword at her hip, a blue leather wrapped hilt and the crest of Duke Stefan on the pommel, is worn prominently, and with obvious skill. It is the woman's eyes, however, that catch your attention. Crystal clear and with obvious intelligence, she seems to take in every detail of her surroundings with each glance she gives.
"We've been waiting for you." says Garelson with a slight hint of exasperation in his voice.
"Surely my message got to you and you've not been standing here all night?" Says Kilenthar a slight smile on his face. A quick clearing of a feminine throat masks a small chuckle coming from Garelson's right. This has the effect of causing the captain to go slightly red in the face and narrow his eyes at Kilenthar.
"The General here has been so kind as to move half the Duke's own Knights to our assistance to secure our borders and assist us with driving off the remaining scattered orcs in the region. Why she's here in the first place, I'm sure, is a mystery to both myself and the good General here, but seeing your ever present smirk assures me I will soon have my answers."
Doing a precision militiary about-face the Captain starts marching off in the direction of the keep when he realizes he's the only one moving. Alalar has an expression half way between Glee and Amusement on his face while the General's gaze has moved several times between Kilenthar and Garelson a bemused expression on her face.
A few steps away Garelson stops and does another about face with his own half smirk playing across his face while saying "Apologies Commander, whenever you're ready of course..."
Kilenthar laughs and shakes his head, then addresses the five of you saying "It's going to be a long afternoon. The five of you are obviously dismissed from the Keep's service and you have our thanks for your bravery of last night. Go about your business and I will meet you at the gates two days hence."
Garelson adds "There are many celebrations going on at the moment, I suspect you will want to get in on at least a few of them as many of them are in your names. There is a formal dinner tonight here at the castle that you are all invited to attend in celebration of our victory on the field. Your payments will be presented to each of you in thanks tonight or, if you cannot attend, you can stop by the castle tomorrow morning and receive our gratitude. Know you that each of you are to be given land in the area and coin to start lives of your own in and around Kiren's Keep should you be interested in doing so."
With that Garelson bows deeply to all 5 of you and He, Alalar, Relianer, and Armand turn away from you and head off toward the keep to discuss the events of last night.
"I would like to ask Lash to accompany me as my guard, if that is alright with everybody. I realize the dangers are real enough here, but the heights are perfect for purity and isolation."
Selena pauses before she continues.
"I should like very much to contact my celestial ancestors, if I can, and strengthen my pact with them. Perhaps I can purchase some incense from you, Father Armand? And would you consider blessing this healing potion?"
Armand removes a couple sticks of incense from his belt pouch and hands them to Selena with a smile and then chants a few words over the vial in Selena's hands. He then Smiles and Waves as he moves off with the young messenger back into the caves.
Lash momentarily blinks in surprise at Selena's request, then smiles.
"Sure thing Lena, I'll watch your back."
She nods to Kith,"Two days then,"turning to Armand she gives an inclination of her head that, while not quite a bow, is more than the nod to a comerade that she gave Kith.
"It will be an honor, let's see where this takes us all."
Before she leaves, Selena walks over to Dirk and reaches over carefully to tap on the black skull pommel of his new sword.
"Be careful with this. Its been crafted and used with evil purpose."
With a gracious nod to Selena, Dirk says, "My thanks Selena, I've been considering the same possibility. Do you know of any spells that may determine if the sword is truly evil?"
Dirk unsheathes the sword in a single fluid movement and presents it horizontally, "two-palms up" to the group.
"It is a beautifully crafted weapon, but I'll not risk the safety of the group to wield it."
Selena reaches out for the blade, then holds it for a moment as she concentrates on it, casting detect magic. Appraise (1d20+5=21)