The Reclamation of Zahvroma (Inactive)

Game Master Signore di Fortuna

The voice then falls silent.

The departure of the party brings an air of staidness to the fort. Godrick tends to the spiritual welfare of the paladins during the day and takes to solemn contemplation in the evening. He remains a steadfast paragon, though Harakhty can sense a turmoil within the man. The next day brings admonitions, imperatives, chests of gold and more supplies that drive Godrick into a dark mood. Though he remains cordial with Harakhty, presenting the vanara with a deed to the fort and some of the immediate area, he approaches his tasks with a resigned grimness.
In the meantime, Harakhty finds nothing of use in the fort or the surrounding area to aid in his study of common, which gives him little to do. The other paladins take to their assigned labor with the same gusto that Godrick puts forth, duly occupied. The elder paladin has less time for ministry on this second day and that seems to dampen his spirits further. At night, he proposes a project to share with the vanara: renovating the fort. As long as Harakhty is willing, he takes to fixing up the fort; installing proper rooms and bathing facilities. The task keeps him content enough to discuss his fears with Harakhty. What he ultimately fears is being unable to complete the divine task he was given: Aroden's murderer was to be found and judged.
During the night, he attempts to give Harakhty a hand in his study of common. While Godrick is a valuable tutor, it soon becomes apparent that education and civility were secondary to his mastery of tactics and war. The old paladin is apologetic, but still offers his aid. Before their work is through for the night, Godrick confides something else: he is dying.
The third day comes, the day Godrick announced that he would be departing, but that day brings agents of the Lords of Covington. Presented with far more paperwork than one man could deal with in a day, Godrick is confined to his room in the fort, tending to business. At this point, Harakhty meets with a congenial young man named Michael Andimus. Michael is lithe, astute and almost annoyingly deferential. He came to Zahvroma to open a new school for arcane studies, but, given the requests and proposals by the Lords of Covington, he is left to spend most of the day in the fort waiting. But Michael raises no fuss and attempts to engage the vanara in conversation.

Feel free to add anything at this point, Harakhty, before I continue.

More than willing to help Godrick around the fort, Harakhty empathized with the man somewhat. An impossible task lies before him. The labor kept his mind off his own problems, and Godrick's proved a decent distraction as well.

But not as well as this Michael. One bright like him should be able to provide him with the needed help. "It's quite a step to take, coming to a land like this, Michael. I'm Harakhty. Your passion must be great for your academy." The vanara extends a furry hand.

Michael takes the proffered hand eagerly. "There is much mystery here, Harakhty, and there is little left to learn in civility and comfort."

He is quite open with himself, revealing that he is, in fact, one of the Lords of Covington. Yet his disdain for the title is more than apparent. Rather than focusing on coin and influence, Michael was always drawn to the arcane and the mysteries of life. He had earned some fame as a traveling scholar. Instead of using his clout to bully his way, he is rather reserved and indifferent.
Michael invites Harakhty for a meal with the rest of his retinue, which consist of a loyal manservant and an apprentice. His retinue also bear the humility that Michael exudes and they are welcoming toward the vanara. The apprentice asks a multitude of questions of Harakhty, most of them superficial, inoffensive and indicative of a curious mind. Michael seems to enjoy the exuberance of his apprentice, but also seems to be quite enthralled by Harakhty.
If Harakhty reveals his desire for help with written common, Michael offers his aid with no hesitation. Otherwise, Michael extends an invitation to spend time with him and his apprentice. The young man excuses himself, hoping to gain Godrick's ear in the twilight hours. The rest of the night passes uneventfully, Michael finally succeeding near midnight.
Godrick's apologizes profusely to Harakhty, weariness apparent in his voice, in his gait, in his eyes. Godrick attempts to make amends by working on the fort a little, but soon goes to bed. The old paladin doesn't look well, the role of bureaucrat wearing him down worse than his battle with Reinhardt. The next day comes quickly for the elderly man and, with it, further complications.

I'll post more tomorrow.

It provides a constant Guidance effect when worn.

The end of the week brings a drastic change. After overhearing several conversations and rumors, Harakhty finds out that a war has broken out between the Lords of Covington. The bureaucrats and retainers summarily leave, as migrants from Jin Zhao arrive. Michael remains behind as he is uninterested in political battles and is somewhat relieved at their departure. Godrick seems in better spirits and in better health as they leave.
The Jinzhi quickly take to building and farming, more polite to the vanara than anyone else had been, with the exception of Michael, Thomas and the manservant. In a few days, the town looks as if it is coming together well. Godrick reluctantly decides to stay behind, crediting some unsubstantiated rumors that Cardinal Renford had actually started this crisis between the Lords of Covington. The elder paladin resumes his ministerial duties, much to his pleasure.

I want to try and break this up, so another part will be forthcoming. As usual, expand on anything you'd like to, Harakhty.

However, any aid to the Suntooth's mood was completely undone by the offer of the amulet. The similarities of a young companion hunting with him, extending a neckpiece to him were simply too much to bear, bringing back the memories of his estranged mate, a wound best left undisturbed. Losing his composure, he hurriedly apologizes, pushing the amulet back to the young man before wandering off into the fort, the stone walls' stability comforting in his time of insecurity.

Nursing his emotional recovery indoors led to little information escaping his ears - especially that of the Convington conflict. The agent tracks down the more-salubrious Godrick soon after hearing of the events. "It is good to see you improving, commander. Many of us had feared for your health. Yet ... your well-being seems to come and go with the reverse of these politicians. Is there anything I can do for you?"

Timothy looks ashamed as Harakhty runs off, holding the medallion in his hand. When Harakhty manages to find Godrick, the elder paladin shakes his head.

"I am ill-suited to the task of being a paper-pusher," Godrick says, with a bitter smile. "I think the best thing to do is relax for the time being. If the rumors circulating have any truth to them, I fear the worst is to come."

Michael appears shortly afterward, looking concerned. "Harakhty, I apologize for Timothy and anything he may have done. Please forgive him and me."

***

Harakhty sighs with Michael's apology. "Hold him blameless. There was no way for him to know that would be a sore spot for me. He has been good to me - it is really I who should apologize to him."

***

Fences mended, the next week arrives and the party has still not returned. Clara seems to be in a dour mood, but ever-present. While she does not pester the vanara for information, she often looks in his direction. Progress is made on the building of Valwick, the Jinzhi and paladins eagerly setting up houses. Even Michael lends a hand in construction.
The end of the week brings ill tidings. A ship of Icathian survivors arrives and tell of Horace the Red's final push and triumph in Cabernaum. Icathia is no more, Talathel prepares for an assault against Horace and the orcs have united to fight for their independence, siding with the elves against Brannum. The Green Circle, The Icathian Royal Army, the Explorer's League and the last of the survivors are set to arrive in a few days.

Haven't slept much. More later.

The next few days are tense as more survivors arrive, the final ship bearing Elder Sister from the Green Circle, Battlemaster Verrin from the Icathian Royal Army and the rest of the Explorer's League. For better or worse, Maximilian Vonder is not among them. The head of the Explorer's League was reportedly slain during the invasion.
The Icathians look to this savage land with trepidation, but Godrick takes charge and comforts them, directing them towards the half-finished tasks of the Lords of Covington. Clara, still depressed, takes to training some of the newcomers in the art of war. The Green Circle moves to the abandoned village the next day, while the remnants of the Royal Army bolsters Godrick's fellows.
The second week ends and the beginning of the third week brings several newcomers from the north. A vanaran huntress, a sickly-looking elf cleric and an oread druid arrive, explaining that they had been told of this place by a paladin named Gregario. The news comes as welcome to Clara, knowing that the rest of the group is still alive. However, the good tidings are marred by the arrival of one of Cardinal Renford's private ships and the paladin Sessaly.
Michael is instantly on guard after she appears, muttering about theocracy. Elder Sister and Verrin are likewise leery of this new development but are too occupied with getting settled in to make much of a fuss. Godrick, however, immediately confronts the paladin on the docks, creating a public display. Harakhty does not fail to catch a single word of the conversation and it seems that Michael's suspicions are true, as were the rumors of the Cardinal's involvement in Covington.
Sessaly presents Godrick with formal paperwork demanding his return to the Church, meaning that Sessaly would assume control in Valwick. After a moment of thinking, Godrick quickly reaches for his sword and points it at the paladin.

"Take your leave, Sessaly," Godrick says icily. "This isn't a matter of the Church's anymore. The interests of the Lords and the Cardinal are not mine, nor are they concerns for these people here. This isn't a settlement, this is a refugee camp."

"Godrick, you risk excommunication," Sessaly growls, her hand nearing her blade. "Nothing would give me greater satisfaction, I'll admit."

Upon those words, Godrick struck at her. "I may be excommunicated from your church of decadence and sin, but I am still a servant of the Goddess. Who in the Nine Hells do you serve?"

Sessaly draws her sword and attacks Godrick, who parries with expert skill. Godrick cuts across her face with a deadly strike. The gash is horizontal and deep, one that would mar Sessaly's beauty for all time. It is more than a wound, it is a mark of enmity. This enrages Sessaly, who makes many mistakes, allowing Godrick to easily defeat her.

"This isn't over, Godrick!"

"Get on your ship, get off this island. The only reason you live is by the fragile mercy of Iomedae," Godrick declares, sheathing his sword.

"You are hereby excommunicated from the Church of Iomedae. You are an enemy to the church and you shall be punished as one, so help you Iomedae," Sessaly says, spitting blood at his feet. "Paladins! You are to return home at once!"

The dwarves, Hadrinn and Kierk, emerge from the crowd of paladins who are murmuring among themselves. "Seeing as you left us for dead twenty-odd years ago, this is our home now. An' as far as we see it, Godrick's our commander."

The paladins disperse, leaving Godrick alone with Sessaly. "You can send Barclay, you can send your armies and you can send that thrice-damned Cardinal of yours who you've consorted with for your position. I will be here and I will drive them all back to the depths of the ocean and into the pits of the Abyss. My mission is divine, my faith absolute and my conviction unwavering. We no longer stand on the same side...I will kill you if I see you again."

Sessaly departs from Valwick soon after, many breathing sighs of relief. Godrick, however, does not relax. Despite consolations, Godrick seems not afraid, but resigned to future conflict. Elder Sister takes to tending to the old paladin in the evenings, knowing that Godrick is their best chance at outlasting the Church of Iomedae. This knowledge, given the disaster that happened at Ashford, begins to spread fear of Reinhardt and his eventual return.

One more and this will be done.

"You must know you did nothing wrong, Timothy. We all have wounds that have yet to heal; that offer simply hit a sore spot on one of mine. Let's break our fast and move past this, yes?"

As the good news trickled in, Harakhty took a glance at the huntress to see if she was from his or Saviv's tribe. If not, he moved to the others to cast a quick observation of them to memory, yet he did not speak directly to them. Better to keep that car for later.

However, the development with Sessaly struck Harakhty as bizarre. I expected her to be stubborn, yes, but openly hostile? Granted, it was Godrick that spurred her, but the lack of restraint was telling for someone of her expertise; something was a foot. Though he dare not involve himself in this combat ... yet ... Harakhty did need to know her intentions. While the two had their swordplay, he elbowed himself to the front of those watching and gazed through her ambitions.

Detect good on Sessaly.

In his black and white robes, he looked as an outsider here. Perhaps precisely what this place needed. So many refugees, so many moving people ... but nobody to take stock of the events from a fixed point. There was nobody truly beyond the pot-stirring going on. Not even Harakhty - though he was as close as they came here. Between the xenophobes, his particular talents, and his aloofness, he'd formed few close bonds by default. This made him flexible. Combined with his authentic neutrality in this conflict, that spelled opportunity.

But first, some loose ends to tie up. The vanara sought out and refugees from his church - and then finally Clara. She looked like she wanted to see me. Maybe now I can see what for.