Quietly to the others, "looks like we walked into the middle of a rebelion."
The man in priestly vestments steps in front of the other two and asks, "What is going on here? Who are these people?"
Galstak steps forward, welcoming. "We were only sent from Magnimar to discover what was happening here. We mean no harm."
Some laughs can be heard, as if the idea that the group was going to do harm was ridiculous.
The heavily armored warrior says seriously, "Then perhaps you should come inside and discuss the situation."
"Yes, come in side, please.", adds the priestly fellow.
Juco watches the priestly man and the armored one with hidden caution and disdain.
"Y nodt keil stiher."
He taps the kender on his shoulder.
"Hi hys norem falir."
I try to gauge the three humans that approached us. Do they mean us any harm?
Ilantes sends a warning glance to her companions.
"Skalun estharas nymph skletonis."
"It is best not to anger the awakened nymph. A sylvan proverb."
Juco watches the priestly man and the armored one with hidden caution and disdain.
"Y nodt keil stiher."
** spoiler omitted **
He taps the kender on his shoulder.
"Hi hys norem falir."
** spoiler omitted **
The kender nods, but he seems subdued by the proceedings. He smells keenly of dead flesh, the gnome notices.
Ulm follows the knight and priest inside.
"Can you give us a report of the situation?"
Ilantes hesitates, watching the dwarf follow the warrior and priest with a silent shake of her head.
Sergeant will follows Ulm's lead and heads inside.
Sergeant will follows Ulm's lead and heads inside.
Galstak does likewise.
Realizing that both Sergeant and Ulm are slower than she is, Ilantes finally joins them, but she stays light on her feet in case flight becomes a necessity.
I try to gauge the three humans that approached us. Do they mean us any harm?
As for the armored warrior, you get the sense he is a bit relieved from your presence.
The priestly fellow seems unsure of your group, but willing to give you the benefit of the doubt.
One the fellows that lead you here speaks up, "Not forgetting your hurt friend are you?"
"Hurt friend?", asks the priestly fellow.
Sergeant will follows Ulm's lead and heads inside.
The kender hesitates, then follows.
"Not a friend just a stay we picked up on the road to here, he was attacked by some kind of inhuman undead creatures...." Sergeant trails off realizing he probably said too much, heads back to the cart and picks up the unconscious man and brings him inside.
With one last nod of thanks to the mules, Juco follows Sergeant.
Ilantes grimaces and turns back...
"Yes, for a moment we were. A warrior of some type, his horse followed us here. He fell in a battle with fiends from beyond."
She moves back to the wagon and looks in at the unconscious man.
"He needs a healer badly."
The priestly fellow comes over and glances over the hurt warrior. A look of serious concern passes over his face and he looks at some of you for a moment with concern. He then seems to regain his composure and turns to the woman who came out with them, "Petra, would you please go and tell Otto to prepare some rooms for a friends here. Also see if you can catch that horse over there", he waves towards the edge of the town square and you see the warrior's horse nervously pacing, "and take it along with the wagon over to the Steed and Stable and ask Elena to care for them." The woman stalks off.
"Now let's get this poor fellow inside immediately. This rain isn't going to be good for his condition." The priestly fellow takes off his cloak and draps it over the hurt warrior, covering him from head to toe. "That should help, until we get him inside." He then quickly moves inside and motions the armored man to get inside as well.
Once in side he speaks to a few others here, asking them to leave some wine and food and then give them some privacy. He indicates a cot that the warrior can be placed on. He examines the warrior for a moment, shaking his head, and then turning back, "Well, I think he is in no danger at the moment."
Ilantes grabs the man's longsword and takes the silver dagger from her belt.
"These are his. He dropped them in the combat."
Ulm nods with satisfaction at the treatment of the unknown man.
"Now that he is taken care of, what is the situation here?"
Ilantes turns to the priest and the armed warrior.
"If we could dry and warm ourselves by a fire, I'm sure we can find the time and ears to listen to the story of the events here. It seems as though a revolution is at hand."
"Please, make yourselves comfortable here and sit near our fire."
"Thank you my friends for saving this young man's life. This is Helmut Staufen, youngest child of the Staufen family, returning from his years of training at the Windsong Abbey. If that crowd out there had learned who he was, I doubt he would have been allowed to live. I think it best if we keep his identity secret for the moment.
I am sorry, I should have introduced myself. I am Bergen, a simple priest of Irori. This gentleman is the former commander of the watch, Kyle Rosen. I know you want to understand what is going on here. The story is a long one and I hope when you hear it you will agree to aid us.
My friends, it seems a shadow has fallen over the land, and the source of the evil is Kirsvald's masters. I hesitate to speak of it, but circumstances demand action. Eight years ago, I came to serve the Staufen lords as their spiritual advisor, to guide them to become the best rulers they could be, instruct their children, and lend divine perspective on the matters of justice. At first, all was well and the family welcomed me into their home. They treated me as if I were another member of their household, a beloved uncle, and it was a role I embraced, for i was not long before I loved them as if they were mine own kin. But despite my affection, I must remember my holy purpose. Th escalation of violence at their soldiers' hands and the uprising in our own village has pushed circumstances beyond control and now is the time for desperate measures.
I knew this family had a dark history, one famous for dabbling in the occult. Long ago, the Staufen name was sullied by the actions of seven foul children, remembered in the ancient journals as the Black Seven. It's said they personified mortal corruption, and wherever they went, they blackened the land. But they never trusted one another, always conspiring against the others to advance their own position, each vying with the others to take the throne. This infighting made them vulnerable, enabling their bastard brother, Amros, to lead the peasants to topple their profane rule.
Of course, Amros was a good and virtuous man, but many suspected he carried the taint of his kin and that with each new generation, he would pass on the evil of his unworthy kin. For generations, these nobles have held the valley, and certainly, their efforts to rise above their past are commendable. Why, even Valdric sent away his youngest son here to join the ranks of the holy warriors, but it seems even that with the best intentions, the heritage of sin has reasserted itself once more.
I fell that I am to blame. If I had only been more rigorous in my instruction, more assertive in my guidance, perhaps this entire tragedy could have been averted. But it is past the time for self-recriminations.
During my service, I witnessed many odd things. The house gained a sinister atmosphere: cold spots, odd smells, and even bleeding walls. Valdric became obsessed with the pleasures of the flesh, setting aside his wife for his maids. Lady Elzbeth, driven to madness by the shame of her husband's infidelity, turned to the dark arts and tried to murder her own children ... those poor children. I protected them as best I could, but she grew enraged at my interference, and cast me out almost a year ago.
The good people of Kirsvald took me in, gave me shelter and food, welcoming me into their homes. I felt that I could do nothing to help the family, but the spirit of the Kirsvald restored my faith and I tried to prevent them from succumbing to the same curse that gripped the Staufen family. But my works were for naught, for it seems Elzbeth and Valdric resented my presence and sent their minions to murder us all. Repeatedly, they swept through our streets, rounding up innocents, executing them, and displaying them for all to see. And yet, we endured.
Tonight though, the affront was too much to bear. The soldiers came once more, rounding up our elders and children. Their purpose was clear. In no way could we allow them to murder our loved ones, especially those who could not fight for themselves. And so, the village rose up and drove off the soldiers. Regretfully, the fervor of battle filled their spirits, and against my pleading, they themselves prowled through their streets in search of traitors and those loyal to the nobles. The result can be seen in the square, and truly, it is a sight that shames me.
I never advocate violence. Why fight when a better solution can be attained with a clear head? But, circumstances have forced our hands. It is time to follow Amros's example, to rise up and remove the threat that will surely mean our doom. And so, my friends, before their hated soldiers can return to harass us more, we must strike."
Ilantes listened to this with no small trace of shock.
"It sounds.... almost impossible, even for a Chelaxian nation."
She sits with her back to the fire, feeling the heat dry the rain out of her silk shirt.
"And some claims, perhaps, that need to be verified before they can be accepted so readily. These warriors that you speak of, when might they return?"
I listen to the priest's tale, I keep my face blank, and listen intently. As he tells the last part, about the defenseless elderly and children being rounded up for death, it is all I can do to keep from crying out in rage and sadness in remembrance of that day... But I fear such emotions may have shown themselves in my eyes as I choose to help this human.
"Oseth ohw drame hilcrend llehs reyl iy hanggro..."
I listen to the priest's tale, I keep my face blank, and listen intently. As he tells the last part, about the defenseless elderly and children being rounded up for death, it is all I can do to keep from crying out in rage and sadness in remembrance of that day... But I fear such emotions may have shown themselves in my eyes as I choose to help this human.
"Oseth ohw drame hilcrend llehs reyl iy hanggro..."
** spoiler omitted **
Gary nods. "Hanggro iyt asyl."
"And some claims, perhaps, that need to be verified before they can be accepted so readily. These warriors that you speak of, when might they return?"
"I am afraid the evidence for these deeds are apparent enough for the locals. We hope the warriors will not return before tomorrow night. For tomorrow night, the village is planning to attack the Staufen's manor. The village's patiences has run out. The incidents of tonight have given them a new hope that they can end the terror once and for all. Sadly, there is little I have been able to do to dissuade them from the attack. Though, " and the priest looks at the wounded young man, "it could be possible for you strangers to infiltrate the manor and help to lower the defenses tomorrow when the village attacks. This would undoubtably save many villagers lives. Of course it is dangerous, and I could not ask it of you. Though if someone was on the inside they could help to get the poor children out safely. They should not be punished for the foul deeds of their parents. In an attack, without someone there to protect them, I am afraid the villagers, though good people, would kill the children."
"And some claims, perhaps, that need to be verified before they can be accepted so readily. These warriors that you speak of, when might they return?""I am afraid the evidence for these deeds are apparent enough for the locals. We hope the warriors will not return before tomorrow night. For tomorrow night, the village is planning to attack the Staufen's manor. The village's patiences has run out. The incidents of tonight have given them a new hope that they can end the terror once and for all. Sadly, there is little I have been able to do to dissuade them from the attack. Though, " and the priest looks at the wounded young man, "it could be possible for you strangers to infiltrate the manor and help to lower the defenses tomorrow when the village attacks. This would undoubtably save many villagers lives. Of course it is dangerous, and I could not ask it of you. Though if someone was on the inside they could help to get the poor children out safely. They should not be punished for the foul deeds of their parents. In an attack, without someone there to protect them, I am afraid the villagers, though good people, would kill the children."
Gary nods. "Of course! Two rights don't make a wrong! Whoops, that's backwards. But just because the Staufens attacked the villager's children doesn't mean the villagers should do the same! They're scared, but killing children is a terrible thing. We'll do our best to save the children, and lower the defenses as well!" The kender grins and bows to the priest.
"The Staufens are the lords of the land, do they not have the right to use their serfs as they see fit?"
"Should we as warders not help them to enforce their legal rights?"
Ilantes turns to her metal companion.
"That depends, Sergeant, on whose law is paramount. We are here to enforce the laws of the Lord Mayor... and some of us are here to prevent harm from coming to innocents."
She pauses and glances into the fire.
"It is difficult for me to become so involved in an action against the Staufen family, particularly since we only have one side of the story. I would be content to observe and act to preserve the lives of children... Revenge does not serve my appetite, particularly over an event that threatens the governmental structure of the region. I will serve justice, but injustice must be proven."
Ilantes sighs.
"Perhaps when we have rested, I will have changed my mind. But for now, I cannot see myself acting against the Staufen family, not without certain proof that it is they who are acting against their own vassals."
"I am happy to hear of your help my friend.", says Bergen to Gary.
To Sergeant he adds, "We all have duties to perform to one another. Yet when the protector becomes the predator, should we not oppose them. When they no longer fulfill the duties they are sworn to do?"
Turning to Ilantes, "Of course you all must be tired from your travels and with the attack that gravely injuried this young man. By now there should be rooms prepared for you at the Travel's Rest inn."
Turning to the rest of the company, "If there are no other questions before you leave, then perhaps Mr. Rosen here would be so kind as to show you the way to the inn. Oh yes, and before I forget, please again, do not mention the true identity of the young man here to anyone. For his own safety."
Ulm listens in grim silence to the tale. When it is finished he ponders in silence for a time as the others discuss the situation.
“We are here to enforce the law. We cannot support a rebellion. If the Staufens have over stepped their authority, they should be brought to trial. We also cannot allow him to execute children. We should go to the manor to investigate and secure the children's release. If we can retrieve the children can you put off the rebellion for a time?”
Turning to Ulm,
"I think we are beyond that point now. The way that things are going, it seems like desperation is already here. I would like to talk to this man when he awakens though. Perhaps he can bring us some much-needed closure."
Ilantes turns to her metal companion.
"That depends, Sergeant, on whose law is paramount. We are here to enforce the laws of the Lord Mayor... and some of us are here to prevent harm from coming to innocents."
She pauses and glances into the fire.
"It is difficult for me to become so involved in an action against the Staufen family, particularly since we only have one side of the story. I would be content to observe and act to preserve the lives of children... Revenge does not serve my appetite, particularly over an event that threatens the governmental structure of the region. I will serve justice, but injustice must be proven."
Ilantes sighs.
"Perhaps when we have rested, I will have changed my mind. But for now, I cannot see myself acting against the Staufen family, not without certain proof that it is they who are acting against their own vassals."
"It doesn't matter if we don't want to act, or even if the Staufens are innocent! The peasants will kill them, we need to find a way to slow things down until we're sure. If the Staufens are guilty, then we can help the peasants. If not, we'll have to get the family to safety." The kender says.
Ilantes turns to the kender.
"Laentral caeliel sathrien."
"Right, stop the peasants before the cause anymore deaths. Stop the Staufens before they cause any more deaths. Bring the guilty parties to justice afterwards."
"The peasants will be more easily controlled and also more likely to react to emotions, we should deal with them first. We can kill or lock up the ringleaders leaving us free to deal with the Staufens."
Ilantes' eyes widen in shock.
"Sergeant, please...."
She sighs before continuing.
"I'm glad you're so adamant about the Laws you've been created to uphold, but there is a more gentle way of enforcing judgment. Let us not speak of death so eagerly, but reserve such frank discussions for our private rooms."
Ilantes turns to the priest.
"As I have said before, I will wait until tomorrow morning before I can tell you what I will do. Needless to say, our fellowship is an odd one, somewhat at sorts with itself. We will need a little time to develop a successful strategy."
"Right, stop the peasants before the cause anymore deaths. Stop the Staufens before they cause any more deaths. Bring the guilty parties to justice afterwards."
"The peasants will be more easily controlled and also more likely to react to emotions, we should deal with them first. We can kill or lock up the ringleaders leaving us free to deal with the Staufens."
Wow, that seems a bit extreme! It seems like the peasants think they're acting in self defense, killing them would be wrong!
Wow, that seems a bit extreme! It seems like the peasants think they're acting in self defense, killing them would be wrong!
"Yth horicyati er hilcrend?
"Yan ohw drame hilcrend llehs reyl iy hanggro..."
Wow, that seems a bit extreme! It seems like the peasants think they're acting in self defense, killing them would be wrong!"Yth horicyati er hilcrend?
** spoiler omitted **
"Yan ohw drame hilcrend llehs reyl iy hanggro..."
** spoiler omitted **
"Halcrend er horicyati nodt, fersten bodt er."
To Ulm, "You misunderstand master dwarf, the soldiers came to take the children and the older folks to be put to death. This was prevented by the town rising up. The only 'children' at the manor are the Staufen children. It is these that I hope you can help save. And I don't think I can convince the people to wait longer than tomorrow night, they are not in the listening mood I'm sorry to say." Bergen looks sympathetically at Sergeant, "I understand how frustrating this must be to you. Though I would probably keep any comments about oppressing the locals to yourself. I would really hate for what happened to the mayor and some of the city watch to happen to you." He looks towards a window facing the town square. "I understand if perhaps you do not wish to get involved, but I believe you could be an aid in minimizing the lose of life. Please sleep on it before coming to any final decisions." He then motions towards the door.
Kyle Rosen starts out the door, "Follow me, I'll take you to the inn now."
Rosen leads you to three story inn. A Mr. Otto Schemp lets you in and shows you your rooms. "If you have any needs, one of my older boys should be able to see to it."
To Ulm, "You misunderstand master dwarf, the soldiers came to take the children and the older folks to be put to death. This was prevented by the town rising up. The only 'children' at the manor are the Staufen children. It is these that I hope you can help save. And I don't think I can convince the people to wait longer than tomorrow night, they are not in the listening mood I'm sorry to say." Bergen looks sympathetically at Sergeant, "I understand how frustrating this must be to you. Though I would probably keep any comments about oppressing the locals to yourself. I would really hate for what happened to the mayor and some of the city watch to happen to you." He looks towards a window facing the town square. "I understand if perhaps you do not wish to get involved, but I believe you could be an aid in minimizing the lose of life. Please sleep on it before coming to any final decisions." He then motions towards the door.
Kyle Rosen starts out the door, "Follow me, I'll take you to the inn now."
Rosen leads you to three story inn. A Mr. Otto Schemp lets you in and shows you your rooms. "If you have any needs, one of my older boys should be able to see to it."
"Herr Bergen, I was presenting a tactical assessment of our situation, it was not a definitive plan of action. I will endeavor to moderate my comments around others."
Ulm nods slowly.
”We should rest now. In the morning we will see what else we can learn and make plans appropriately.”
I had listened to the conversation, given my opinion on little. When we go to the rooms provided for us, I found the beds almost uncomfortable, used as I was to ground and tree limbs. I set my things under the bed and lean my staff against it. Looking at the others, I struggle with a language I try to speak little if at all.
"What now?
"So, if the family is guilty, we beat the parents, and if the peasants have any sense they will realize that the guilty have been punished and will stop this. Good, let's get some rest."
Ilantes finds a suitable room to rest and meditate. She stops at the door to the room and looks over at her new companions.
"Lathelin cashar sleep. Sleep well, friends. Tomorrow, we have some difficult decisions ahead of us."
The night passes uneventfully. Mr. Schemp invites you all to the dining hall where breakfast is being served. A few other travelers are there, looking to be traveling merchants. They all seem a bit nervous and anxious to get started with their travels. None seem in the mood to be social.
((Okay, I'm just telling you now that I did my meditation or whatever it is that I needed to do to get my spells replenished. I've had DMs tell me I haven't even when I did, but I did.))
Ilantes looks around the room after finding something suitable to eat. She notices the rude traveling merchants but decides not to interrupt their meal.
While the rest of the group sleeps and eats Sergeant will recon the town looking for the best way to defend the town and also the best ways to raid the town.