.
Dot!!!
Doddity.
Between the grasping branches of oak trees, the autumnal morning sun glares down on the sere and yellowed sign that reads, "Nearheath Hall." Beneath the building's wooden awning stands a grizzled man. His tunic barely covers the knots of old scars, and despite his pronounced limp he moves forward to acknowledge you. You recognize him as James Hawthorn, the reeve of this hamlet — and the one who, through your friends, asked you to come here prepared for a week-long journey.
As his eyes alight on each of you in turn, James begins to speak. "Before we begin, I need to remind some of you who came from outside the village how important our autumn harvest is. Even after Lord Greenfast's levy, it's what keeps us fed and clothed. That's why I sent the Gerse boy to Foresthaven."
"But the lad and his wagon hasn't returned. I know his kin — Kevan isn't the type to shirk his duties, even when he was here training with the militia." James' brows furrow further as he continues, "To be honest, the Imperial Highway isn't as safe as it was back in the day. The caravan that passed through a month ago told us that the bandits are getting bolder. I thought if Kevan traveled light and kept to his militia training, we could slip through; now, I'm worried that I was wrong."
"That's where you come in. I can't send Lucatiel on her own, and she's assured me that you can all handle yourselves in a fight and that I should keep an open mind about some of you." His eyes linger on Vizper. "If the bandits took our goods and Kevan, they're probably desperate — they won't be easy to intimidate like last time."
"So, I need you all to track Kevan's wagon down the Imperial Highway, and rescue them both. Can you manage that?"
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Vizper sees James eyeing her and she smiles, she always like making others uncomfortable... didn't she? of course she did! " oh, don't worry," she hissed out, her voice like water and smoke, "when I'm done with them, the bandits won't bother anyone for a while."
she turns to the others, she recognizes some of them from around town... but she never really bothered meeting them... well if she was to work with them... Guess I'll have to keep the murder down for a while ... hehehe. she thinks to herself. making sure the connection is still there, Vizper taps into her power, feeling the dark power, once she is sure that is still around, she waits for the others to introduce themselves or some other such prattle.
Rribak blinks several times blankly.
So I'm not in trouble? They actually want me to do something for them?
He looks around at the big people assembled around him. He barely tops the knees of some of them.
"Yes, I'll help," Rribak croaks.
"I don't know about killing bandits," he continues, "my knives are a little small to do much, unless my enemy is not watching out for me. But when you are small like me it is easy to move without being seen. If you want I could scout their camp for you."
"But... I do not know the way. I know the wetlands, but not the dry parts. Do you have a map to where we are going?"
Kravar had put on freshly cleaned robes for the meeting, and washed. As he understood it, James held a position of high office, relatively, in this community, and so the balance would expect him to be shown respect. The bright orange of Kravar's robes contrasted neatly with his dull grey feathers and black claws.
"I will give my help in returning this Kevan Gerse, yes."
Kravar said, deliberately.
He shifted his footing, looking at the people gathered in turn. Quite a strange crowd, in a community such as this. Deliberate, or a coincidence? This was the sort of thing that Lucatiel was usually entrusted with, so he could see why he might be invited along. The rest of them... They were sending their outsiders. Their expendables, perhaps? But no. Not to think ill of people.
"We should not kill needlessly - excessive revenge will invite retribution."
"Yes sir," Lucatiel answers, adding a military salute. She tried to be as formal as possible in serious situations. He still didn't like that she was using a different style from their ancestors nor getting tutelage from a "bird-brain" as he called them. So she stood straight, spear pointing up and shield on her back. Now she just waited to be dismissed and prayed Vizper didn't add any more than that.
"At ease," James nods curtly. "I know some of you've never been as far as Foresthaven, so let me tell you: maps've been pointless after the Thalassan scum poisoned Eventyr with their magic. I've heard tale of trees engulfing villages overnight, water falling upwards, houses on floating boulders... we're lucky Moorside is far away from all that chaos. Nevertheless, we make do with landmarks."
"The winding path south of town leads to a massive road — the Imperial Highway. I don't know how the Thalassans did it, but the Highway's been ensorcelled to outlast us all. It's crumbling in some places, but it cuts right through the Wyrwood: if the bandits are hiding anywhere, it's in the woods."
"Talk to others on the road, too. Some of them might be wayward, but they've most likely traveled the way you're headed. Always respect the rules of hospitality."
"Like I said, I'm trying to keep an open mind about how you've done things different in the mire and the mountains," James sighs, his face contorted with either concern or disappointment as he addresses Kravar and Rribak. "But don't be reckless. And if you've got to be, at least stick together. You're both bright: I'm not asking you to butcher a stronghold full of bandits. If the enemy doesn't fight fair, no point hamstringing yourself to do otherwise, fancy monastery training or no." James' face darkens.
"If anything, I want news of Kevan and the wagon and you all to return alive, without losing an arm and a leg. Any more questions?"
Your father's face is fraught with worry as he limps towards the stables. James Hawthorn is a man who never frets, but he is obviously concerned. "Come, Luca. I've groomed and saddled Abigail; you should check again before you leave." Once somewhat out of earshot, he continues, "Don't let bird-brain's mystical ravings get in the way of what you've trained for and you'll be fine. Lance down, shield raised, trust Abigail with your life and you'll both come out alive, come hell or high water."
"And for the love of the gods, girl, do not drop the lance." He pauses, then sighs while going over Abigail's barding. "But the most important advice I can give you is this: killing people isn't like hunting or training. It changes you, haunts you. Don't let it change you for the worse — and for that matter, don't let it change Selina for the worse, either. Even in her face tainted by foul magic, I can still see the girls you both once were. Don't let her throw herself away to some... thing."
As he checks Abigail's saddlebags for the third time, James leaves the rest unsaid in silence.
This will be a nice change of pace.
"No questions. Find Kevan, find wagon, return alive and unharmed."
Geoffrey eagerly looked at others.
"When we depart?"
Geoffrey eagerly looked at others.
"When we depart?"
"I am ready now. I have little to gather up in any case."
Rribak looks out to the road leading out of town.
"I... I have never walked on a highway before. Heh heh," Rribak laughs nervously. "It will be a story to tell."
Rribak turns back to James the Reeve.
"If I might ask something... I have been waiting for some of my people to stop by here. It is strange that none have come by in the last three months. But if they come while I am away could you please tell them where I have gone, and that I mean to be back soon?"
"This man, what does he look like? And if they've taken the things that were in his wagon, which things were they?"
"I..." Luca starts but cannot finish. She looks at him, momentarily stunned. Worry? Concern? He'd never been an emotional man, even before the war. After, he had become extremely hard. She understood now it was the stress he'd been under, but as a child, it made her very angry sometimes. It felt like he didn't care.
"I don't use a lance anymore." She winces and looks away. She didn't mean to say that but her mind was in a haze. Now he was walking away. She couldn't leave it like that. "Father," just as he turns around she hugs him, hard but quick. She turns quickly, sniffling softly and checks over Abigail's saddle and packs.
Rribak looks away as Lucatiel embraces her father, embarrassed to have witnessed a personal moment.
"I... I just need to attend something. I'll be back."
Rribak heads back into town, and goes down to the river to where he keeps his coracle. He pulls it up from the shore and hangs it from a tree stump. He tells one of the local fishermen that he can give it to his children if Rribak is not back in a month, and they can use it in the meantime.
Rribak returns to the hall and the group.
"So... are we leaving now?"
"I don't have too many things. Won't be long to grab them." Geoffrey quickly grabs his stuff from the house and returns back to the group.
"I'm ready."