With the planning that is going on, Felton turns to speak to Valeska.
"Lady Valeska, I believe you all have more and less time than you think."
Seeing the confused but interested look on the face of his subject, he continues, "You have more time than you think before the others may leave their camp. It takes a day and a half of travel from their camp to here, assuming you aren't in too much of a hurry. We were supposed to be here this morning, take time to load everything up and then head back toward the Narlmarch Wood where we would hopefully be at the edge of it before evening. We would camp there and then spend the next day moving south through the wood toward their camp."
"Kressle won't even be expecting the others to arrive back at their camp until tomorrow afternoon or evening. She will give them some time in case they were late before she gets worries. She's crazy, but I can't imagine she would want to leave the camp and move through the woods at night so they wouldn't send anyone until morning of the next day. Again, another day and a half of travel before they would reach Oleg's. Again, assuming they aren't in too much of a hurry and even then it doesn't cut down too much time from that."
"So, you have another day before they even become aware of the group missing and then another day before they could even make it here."
Felton pauses and takes another drink of his ale, hoping that his words are helpful. He then adds, "As to making a stand here... well, I'm sure you don't need me to warn you against the dangers of that. Kressle is crazy she would readily set it on fire and joyfully watch everyone burn to death if she believes you had anything to do with Happs' death."
Bella of the Everlight wrote: As Jon covers the bodies with dirt, Bella prays for them.
"Say not in grief that they are no more but say in thankfulness that they were.
A death is not the extinguishing of a light, but the putting out of the lamp because the dawn has come."
I take no credit for that line, but I don't know who wrote it.
"Nice words," replies Felton, "though I don't think they deserved them but then again, I guess that's the point of them, right?"
As the pair stand over the fresh graves, their shadows stretch out long before them getting closer to being absorbed by the growing darkness.
"Well, we'd probably better get back."
Felton takes the shovels and tosses them into the cart. With Bella walking alongside him, the pair make their way back toward the eastern wall and the gate. As they draw closer Celyne and Fronar make their way around the southern wall with the five renegade horses in tow.
"Looks like that will be one less thing to worry about," Felton comments as he holds the gate open for Bella and the others.
Bella of the Everlight wrote: Bella picks up a shovel and digs with him until all the bodies are buried.
"You know, I wasn't always a priestess of Sarenrae." She starts
"I suppose none of us were at some point what we are today," Felton muses as he continues to dig. The man works hard digging the graves in the hard soil; working to dig them deep enough that animals won't find and dig them up.
"What were you before Sarenrae called you?"
Jon pauses in his work of digging the first grave. Breathing heavily, he wipes sweat away from his forehead. Despite the chill in the air, the steady work of digging has brought a sweat to him.
"I would appreciate that assistance," he says eagerly.
Jon has found a suitable spot some distance from the fort in which to bury the bodies. He is about half-way through the first when Bella approaches him.
Oleg Levetn wrote:
Turning to Felton he continues, "Jon, you would do well to remember that an hour ago you were facing a death sentence."
As Oleg reminds him of his place, Felton clasps his right hand into a fist, places it over his heart, and bows his head. "My apologies, Master Oleg," he replies with head still bowed. "I meant no disrespect to you or your house." He then drops his hand to his side. Ignoring Numalar he looks at Oleg once more to ask, "By your leave I will see to burying the bodies. Do you have a cart to transport them as the wagon is burned at this time?"
"In the stable," replies Oleg, "and that would be helpful."
Felton moves over to stand before Celyne, "My lady, I will be more than happy to discuss the little I know about the camp of the bandits with you later, after I have buried this lot. I have nothing to hide from you and will tell what I know." He then inclines his head once more before moving to the stable to secure the cart.
Jon Felton is a tall man as well, though standing a few inches short of Oleg. He is stout of body but also moves with a fluid grace. He appears to be somewhere in his mid-to-late twenties but it is difficult to determine more than that.
As he watches Felton move away to secure the cart, Numalar tries to recall anything he can about his family but he comes up with nothing. He can't remember any Felton family name associated with any of the noble houses of Brevoy or anyone else for that matter. A spark of recollection pops into mind however when Felton clasps his fist over his heart and bows to Oleg. Although that was a symbol of respect and servitude across many lands, there were certain guards of House Lebeda that clasp their hands in a certain configuration instead of just a fist. Felton makes that sign as he bows to Oleg.
Numalar Knowledge Local check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Numalar Auritonius wrote: ... "Do not speak to me of honor!" thunders Felton. "You know nothing of me. You think because you grew up in House Garess that makes you noble or honorable? What? You didn't think that one such as I would know who you are?" Fenton could see the surprise on Numalar's face.
"You stink of House Garess and their arrogance but more than that I know the stories of your father. You don't like my words then burn me with your cowardly for like you did the others.
The Bleaching take you and all your line!"
Felton pulls himself from the discussion he was having with Oleg about the wagon to answer Valeska's question.
"Nothing to them," he replies, "at least not that I'm aware of. My understanding was that he had only been with them for a little over a month. He was from Pitax, I believe. An orphan."
Having nothing else to offer, Felton turns back to Oleg.
"I wouldn't exactly call them 'companions'," begins Felton, "but yes, I can point it out on a map and tell you what I can of the place. I'd tell you to steer clear of them for as long as possible but seeing as you killed Happs, either way you'll be facing Kressle. She and Happs were... well, I wouldn't call what they had 'love' but they were together. She'll be bent on revenge for sure."
"As to working here, yes, I'd be glad to help out. I have some skill in carpentry and such so I can lend in hand getting this place more stable. If Master Oleg will have me, that is."
"Thank you, my Lady," Felton says with a smile and a bow. "I have coin though... and food, and a sword, bow, and arrows," he says with a look toward the pile of items taken from Felton and the others.
"Or does the good gnome consider that his spoils from his attack on me?
As Celyne reaches out and touches Felton an inverted gold key with a city in the ring, the symbol of Abadar, floats in the air above Felton's head. His body is bathed in a bright white light as he begins speaking.
"I, Jon Felton, swear to avoid violence except in the defense of myself or the innocent. I swear that I will continue shunning evil in all its forms and that I will tell this group all that I know about the camp of the bandits."
Felton then looks at Celyne, "Is there anything more you require?"
Wasn't saying that to Numelar he wouldn't be a 'boy' but wanted to be clear because there was one of the bandits who by human terms might have been called a 'boy'.
Numalar can't think of any current house that would have a rightful claim to this land. Old Taldane houses might but they are probably long gone. There are lots of houses that have a stag in their sigil so that does him little good here.
Felton looks up at Numalar as if the gnome is crazy. "Every day on this world men willingly die for Lords they have never met. Who am I to demand to meet this Stag Lord before agreeing to go along with this group? Some times in life, gnome, you have no choice in mattes and you do what you must do to survive. I'm sure in your privileged life you've never had to face that. But you will, gnome, mark my words, all men must face it some day."
As it appears that his life will be spared, Felton stands once more. "You have what you hold, gnome. You would do well to remember that considering where you are. If this Stag Lord says that he is the rightful lord to this land and he has the strength to hold it, then he is. And nothing other than force is going to change that."
"Cast your spells if you wish. I will forswear violence except in defense of others and pledge to continue forswearing evil in all its forms, and whatever else will help you sleep at night but I will pledge fealty to none of you here. So far I have seen nothing worthy of such fealty."
Jon Felton looks to Valeska, Bella, and Celyne. "Which of you is Lady Celyne?" he asks politely.
"I've never met the Stag Lord!" replies Felton. "Yes, I'll do honest work, whether for you or Oleg matters little to me. I just want the chance to live out my days in peace."
Before heading inside to get away from the interrogation, both Oleg and Svetlana admit that they have never seen the man before.
The man kneeling before the group is in his mid-twenties, certainly not a boy. The only one that could be considered a 'boy' was Bren who was about 17 years old. He has thick brown hair and mustache and, at the moment, scared brown eyes. He looks at each of the companions before him, searching for hope in the faces of any that he might believe would take his side.
"Crimes? What crimes? Falling in with the wrong crowd? If you remember, I was the one who said that perhaps we should just surrender!"
The man certainly feels that he has a case here for mercy. "I was told that we were coming here to accept this couple's tribute to the Stag Lord, the rightful ruler of this land. I knew nothing of bullying, extortion, or anything like that. If was you lot who fired first on us, remember? I was doing nothing other than defending myself. I wanted no part of any of this!"
As Fronar leans in and speaks to him, the man has his first spark of hope. "I can't admit to things I didn't do," he whispers to Fronar. "They will kill me for what I admit to. Whatever you want, I'll work for you, but I don't want to die." The man's pleading eyes hold to Fronar's.
The man then speaks to Bella, "My lady, it is clear that you are a priestess of the Dawnflower. May the light of sun look within my heart and show that there is no evil there! Please don't let them kill me."
"My name is Felton, Jon Felton," he finally answers to Numalar, hoping that knowing his name will make it more difficult to murder him.
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