Agnar sends two arrows flying in swift succession at the nearest guard pressing the attack on Katerina, drawing upon the blessings to steady his aim.
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"You and your allies attack Hartsland and you do not expect retribution? You are a fool. By Erastil, there will be a reckoning!" Agnar touches his holy symbol, raising his other hand in benediction over the group as he utters a prayer, then unslings Skybolt.
Agnar pats Prazil's shoulder. "I understand. You must admit she makes a bit of sense. No one close to the Baron seems to want to defend him. Can you imagine a chief whose mate would not be loyal to him? The only ones who seem loyal are his soldiers--to a point--and this mistress of his, and I'm starting to wonder how such a man commands the loyalty of giants when he can't do the same of those closest to him." Agnar frowns, tugging at his beard, worried that something in this situation is escaping his notice, but not certain what it is.
Agnar pulls out a small piece of dry beef and gives it to the dog. "You give your word that you will come to Thronehold in Hartsland and meet with our ruler, Jon Surtova. Work out a peace treaty between your land and ours. That will be a good first step. Considering most of his Council are standing in this room with you, your oath will be taken seriously."
Agnar stands listening to the exchange. Finally he turns his attention to the small canine in the lady's lap, issuing what sounds like a long growl. Speak with Animals: "We are not going to hurt you or your human unless you attack us. If you stop barking right now, I'll give you a piece of meat. Perhaps more than one, but only if you stop right now."
Agnar keeps a wary eye on the man until the rest of the group exits, then gives him a polite nod before shutting the door to his room. "You sure have a way with people, Marcelline," he says.
Agnar nods at Prazil, keeping his bow at the ready and an eye on the other doors while Marcelline and Kereek go about their work.
"Fang, guard," Agnar says to the wolf as he nocks an arrow, eyes moving from door to door. "So much for our quiet entrance. Things will be a bit harder from here on out."
"Maybe that's for the best," he says with a nod. "And then I must find my daughter. I don't know what happened to her after I was imprisoned." "She's in Tatzylford, in Hartsland, Lord Numesti. Safe and sound. It was her that brought warning of the Baron's attack on our lands."
"Some fresh air would do you good, m'lord," says Agnar. "I suggest you leave this cell and take a stroll after we're done speaking. The way we came in should be clear."
Once both cell doors are opened, Agnar will, with Lord Terrion's permission, examine his state of health and see what can be done to help him, aside from getting him out of the dungeon.
"We're the delegation from Hartsland, here to speed negotiations with Baron Drelev." says Agnar dryly. "Seem to have gotten a bit turned around. Pleasure to meet you, my lord. That's a bad bit of a cough you have there. You should have that seen to."
Darkvision could be handy for one of us humans. Agnar can always use extra arrows. Lesser restoration should go to a front-liner for those times when I can't get a spell off when it's needed. I'd like one of the potions of fly.
"Out one of these ways, or up?" asks Agnar.
Agnar breathes a sigh of relief, stowing his bow and arrow and retrieving the fallen rope. He moves toward the gate, keeping a cautious eye out for any other creepy-crawlies as he ties the rope to the gate before taking the other end over to Prazil.
"I'm all out of booms, Kereek! I'll try something else. Fang, stay!" Agnar, looking a bit crestfallen that one of his most powerful spells has proven ineffective, steps back behind the spot where Marcelline has vanished. He casts a spell on himself, feeling a surge of power through his muscles as he pulls Skybolt free from his quiver and knocks an arrow.
Agnar steps back from the nearest creature, calling down Erastil's wrath on the things.
Agnar slings his pack off his back and unties the large coil of rope attached to it. Then he moves to Prazil and helps him attach it to the gate and then to Spike's saddle. "People ask 'Why do you have to carry that rope around? We have a magical kobold that can make people fly.' Well, here's one of just many reasons why. Rope is an important tool," Agnar mutters, mostly to himself.
"Still very impressive, Kereek. Now how about casting it on someone large enough to carry people, not to mention my wolf, down there." Agnar makes sure his weapons are secure and prepares to make his descent down the cliff, one way or another.
I'm for keeping on.
It has been one hell of a week. Sorry for the delay, but I think the worst is past. Yes, I'm aware of blessing of fervor. I can prep it for the group if you guys want.
"We're here to help. We told Kisandra we would. We'll not jeopardize your safety, but anything you can do to make our task easier will be welcome. We'll do what we can to restore some sanity here, one way or another. If we can take him alive, it may be best if we let the people here mete out the justice of their choosing."
Agnar will let the ladies take the lead on this, but will keep the flower with the ring on it in hand, readily visible.
Agnar feigns disinterest in the townsfolk, moving with the others towards their destination while keeping an eye out for trouble.
Agnar shrugs. "Most of us stand out no matter what time of day it is. If we get into the keep, we can get to the Baron. If he's willing to talk, so much the better. If not, we don't have to fight through giants and any troops outside to get to him. We've still got Kisandra's ring. I can find us a pretty flower on the way into town if we wait until day, and we can look up her friend Satinder and take whatever aid she can provide."
Agnar shrugs. "Most of us stand out no matter what time of day it is. If we get into the keep, we can get to the Baron. If he's willing to talk, so much the better. If not, we don't have to fight through giants and any troops outside to get to him. The only other idea I have is to wander in during the day, perhaps without Spike and Fang with us, and go to the local watering hole and see what sort of information we can pick up."
Agnar looks at Marcelline. "You think you can convince one of those guard patrols that they should escort us into the keep, like you convinced those soldiers to stop fighting?"
With a smirk Katerina replies to Agnar, "I was assuming the wisdom had come with age. And of course not; you'd have to catch me first." The cleric gives a snort. "I garnered my wisdom the old-fashioned way. I made mistakes and learned from them. Then when I was wise enough, I started learning from the mistakes of others and saved myself a heap of trouble." Agnar gives a wolfish grin and ruffles the fur on the nape of the great gray wolf's neck. "And I wouldn't have to catch you. Fang loves a good chase and he'd even fetch you back for me," he says with a wink. As to Kereek's question: "I think we need to see the Baron, one way or another. Perhaps if we offer to return with his hostages, he'll be willing to deal with us."
Agnar looks over at Katerina, eyebrows raised. "Thirty winters is old to you, is it? My hair might be a bit bleached and my skin a little brown and leathery from all my travels in the sun, but if I'm old, then yer still young enough to be taken over a knee for impertinent remarks toward yer elders, girl," he says, losing a bit of the practiced formality found in his speech when dealing with matters of state. "Anyway, sounds like we need to move. We'll see what there is to see when we get there, and act accordingly."
Agnar will ask about the following:
He'll instruct the mayor to hold the prisoners for three days after the party leaves before releasing them, so we have time to get a head start. "Hopefully Drelev doesn't see us coming and mount a defense. We don't exactly blend in with other travelers."
Agnar will have the militia round up any surviving enemy wounded while the battlefield is cleared. They'll be bandaged and held somewhere secure until we've treated our own. Agnar will make them an offer: any information they can provide on Fort Drelev and its leader and/or the Tiger Lords, in exchange for their lives and freedom to return to their homes. The alternatives: Sending a message to Fort Drelev to see if the Baron will ransom his captive soldiers. If ransom is refused, they'll be summarily executed by hanging as enemies of Hartsland.
Agnar looks over at Marcelline, raising a bushy eyebrow. He's reminded of stories of Ulfen raiders his grandfather used to tell him. "You are useful in a fight, that's for certain. This was a declaration of war, and sadly there's little in war that's disallowed. You pull your weight, you get your fair share. That's how we've always worked." Agnar stares off in the direction the beaten foes retreated. "We should finish what we started. This Baron Drelev needs to understand that he can't attack Hartsland and expect it to go unanswered. He's sure to have more troops at the Fort. How do we want to handle this?"
Agnar frowns. "How about we not kill any more of them until we know if Trask is one of them? Also, a prisoner might be good to get more information about Drelev and any other plans he might have."
Agnar clambers down from his perch and begins helping the injured, calling for anyone in the town with healing skill to help collect and minister to the wounded troops, and for anyone who does not to begin collecting their dead. "Well, that should send a message. Perhaps we should consider traveling to Drelev's fort and discussing his surrender? Speaking of leaders, did we get Trask, or did he get away?"
Agnar shouts orders to the militia, focusing fire on this or that knot of enemies, or having others move to provide cover fire so those in melee can withdraw. He then casts a spell on himself before pulling Skybolt from his magic quiver and nocking an arrow. He casts an eye over to where Fang lies in wait under the eaves of a nearby building, ready to defend should any enemies break through the lines.
Agnar calls down the wrath of Erastil upon these interlopers for defiling the sanctity of the community. A roaring column of flame rushes down from the sky to envelop the trolls.
Agnar gives the newcomer an appraising eye. "We'd welcome any additional swords. As for plans, I believe we've got one in the works, but I won't turn away any advice, should it seem useful." "As for the kobolds, they're not typical. Kereek burns things to ash and can turn into a dragon. Prazil will be engaging the enemy from atop Spike, who's over there," he says, pointing to the triceratops. "And you are...?"
Agnar thinks a moment. "I don't know much about them, but any group that would take hostages of their allies to ensure loyalty doesn't seem very honorable to me."
Agnar addresses the people gathered around. "People of Tatzlford, we need to organize the defenses against the oncoming enemy. All militia members should gather their gear and report here for orders. Anyone wishing to volunteer to assist in the defense, or to aid the town as runners or firefighters, report to the mayor, and we'll organize how best you can serve. The more help we receive, the easier it will be to send this rabble packing." "If you're a traveler just passing through, or you don't wish to stay for the fight, I suggest you head to Thronehold. We'll send word when the threat is dealt with, and then you can return safely."
If they're coming from that direction, then yeah, that should work. The militia can line up behind the walls, or station themselves on the rooftops, and pepper the enemy from a distance while we move in. If they come through the woods that will break up any formations and let us pick them off easier in combat, even if it provides them with cover from the archer fire.
Man, that bundle deal is really wreaking havoc on connectivity. Anyway, I suggest we raise the militia and then ask for volunteers to bolster defenses (and maybe get Marcelline to come forward that way). If the attackers are coming from across the river, we should have defenders at the bridge, that way they can only cross so many at a time, or get bogged down wading through if they use the ford. I'll need to familiarize myself with the mass combat rules so I know how we fit into the equation.
Agnar looks visibly relieved. "Without the trolls and barbarians attached, we'd just call that a big group of bandits, not an army. I think with the town militia to hold them at the bridge and secure the ford, we can provide enough force to send them running back to their master quick enough." The cleric raises a bushy eyebrow at Kereek's words. "You can actually do that? Turn into a dragon? This I have to see."
"Do we have any scouting reports? Any idea of their numbers? I'm certain we can put a few dents in their troops with our magic, provided they have none of their own to counter it, but you need an army to fight an army." The cleric continues to tug on his beard as if he expects to pluck it from his face. "If Drelev's officers have given hostages to the barbarians, then they're fighting under duress. If we could get there and free the hostages, they might turn, perhaps even ally with us. Do we know where the Tiger Lords lands are, and could we get there in time?"
Agnar stands by, listening and absorbing the information. As the discussion continues, his frown deepens and his tugging on the end of his beard grows more frequent, especially after hearing about barbarians and trolls.
I'll just pack a bull's strength or two when I need it, for now.
Agnar gives the captain a friendly nod."We'd appreciate the tour. Last time we were around this way there wasn't much more to see than the ford." He taps his heels to the sides of his mount, setting horse into motion. Behind him, the great, gray form of Fang rises and pads silently in its wake, the wolf nearly as big as the horse now. Agnar turns to answer Prazil's question. "Similar, yes, though the Mayor is only responsible for the town and its territory. He's like a subchief to the chief of a large tribe."
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