Erik ate his breakfast companionably with anyone who stayed to do the same, then went out to get his horse and join those headed to see the local lord.
Squelching through the mud, he took stock of the surroundings, judging the relative wealth of the area as well as the damage from the storm.
When you reach the stables, it seems the boy tending them is gone. You're horses survived the night, but aren't very happy at you. It seems that the roof caved in, flooding much of the floor.
As you travel through the village, you seem a village in shambles. Many of the crops and fields surrounding are flooded, as are the streets. Many of the houses are in shambles, but some of them seem to have happened on other nights. What was once a prosperous village now lies broken and on the verge of collapse.
Many of the villagers are trying to repair the damage but as you pass on house, you see a man crying in front of a house that a tree has fallen into.
The manor can be seen for most of the trek over. It seems humble compared to some, but it is the largest dwelling you have seen in the area. A guard stands calf deep in the water at the wall.
I sniff as we approach the manor as if smelling something foul but keep my thoughts to myself.
"Oi!" Guy called to the guard as his horse waded through the water. "Here for the work."
Erik's mood soured considerably as they made their way through the disaster area of the village. When he passed the crying man, he paused to throw him a few coins, then hurried on.
The flooding had him pondering what could have angered God so much as to destroy this place. The answer, he suspected, he would find not among the commoners, but with the lord of this place.
When Guy spoke to the guard, Erik added, "And to pay respect to the lord. I am not from here - what might his name be?"
"Oh great. More of you to try to "solve" our storms. It seems every charlatan, priest, and mercenary in all of France has been knocking on our door as of late." He turns to Erik. "It is rare, however that they don't know the lords name. It is Lord Charles of Risieaux."
Charlatan you say! well, perhaps a friend from the east will be a pleasant change of pace?
Akio greets the guard.
"One would think you would be more grateful for so many to be trying to aid your village, and keep a more civil tongue in your head," Erik growled. He rode past the guard into the courtyard, where he surrendered his horse to a stableboy.
"You may announce the arrival of... guests to Lord Charles," he told a servant as he approached the front doors. "I am Erik Løvendal of Roskilde, from Denmark, and I come to pay my respect on behalf of my house." He glanced at the others to see how they would introduce themselves.
He calls out to a guard further inside.
Go tell the Lord that there are more "saviors" to aid us!
Go right on it, but I'll warn you. So far anyone that's tried to help us has turned up dead in some way or another.
fear not. I have no plans to die anytime soon friend!
He walks on through.
"We're all living on borrowed time," Guy says as the foreigner makes his boast and guides his stubborn mount into the courtyard.
I follow the group, not even sparing the guard a glance.
The inside is decorated with all manner of finery. At the end of a long eating hall is the Lord. A short, but fat, man dressed in purple clothes sits eating away at some sort of pie. A taller, gaunt man stands beside him stating reports of the villages state to the lord and several others in attendance
"Another farm is completely flooded. It will take time to drain, but the crop is lost. Five houses are destroyed. Some livestock lost. 15 dead from the three villages, but more leave every day. At this rate, there will be noone left to work the fields."
When the guard interrupts him, he gives a disdainful look at the party. He bends down to whisper into the lord's ear.
My lord, there are more mercenaries to see you.
Maybe this group can help us, Pierre. No, no. We need all the help we can get.
The lord stands up and introduces himself.
I am Lord Charles. My guardsman tells me that you are here to help us. Might I know our potential saviors names?
"Berrain," Guy said simply fixing Charles with a steady gaze. The livery and rich foods did not seem to draw his attention for a moment but his gaze did fall upon the attendant for a moment before returning to his potential employer.
Erik gave the servant a narrow-eyed look, but introduced himself pleasantly enough. "I am Erik Løvendal of Roskilde, Lord Charles," he said, adding, "I have heard terrible things about the troubles that plague you, and would only be happy to aid you. Perhaps you could tell us more about your woes?" And what happened to the others who came to help, he thought.
"I am Damion of the Enlightened Minds. I have come to see what knowledge I can garner from your storms, they seem... abnormal."
Akio bows.
No mere mercenary am I Lord I am but a wanderer from the east. going where the wind takes me. Usually finding places in need of my aid along the way. I happily offer you my aid
He then speaks in Japanese.
Sore wa meiyo,-nushi ni narimasu.Kagiri, anata no atai ga shindearu yō ni
Translation
let us ease the suffering of your people.