Werthyn

Author

Comment

yucatanyeti

Sangraal
Posts: 170
(1/6/03 7:25 pm)

Re: re: Grey Dawn

Sangraal procures a bowl of food and begins eating silently.

Kenner

Draxim
Posts: 188
(1/7/03 8:35 am)

Grey Dawn

Draxim follows Meneloss's example after taking time to nod his thanks to the lady Hegi. Between noisy slurping bites he inclines his head as if looking down Meneloss's shirt and says, "Watch out snake! you'd best stay in there when Meneloss is in his feeding frenzy. He might bite your tail off thinking it was a sausage!"

Jubilex

The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 715
(1/7/03 9:52 am)

Re: Grey Dawn

Quite a crowd is gathered at Hegi's table for the meal: Draxim, Ruig, Meneloss, Madragar, Vala, Yimris, Atan, Targa and Kezib. Those that are in a position to see the scores of peasant farmers in the longhouse notice that the proximity of these strangers to their beloved matriarch is drawing a lot of attention. There are many hushed whispers, and some of the farm folk clearly don't like the intrusion of their community by a pack of armed outsiders. Most of the interest is derived from curiosity, however, and the buzz of conversation seems to concern what these newcomers have to do with the alarm being raised, and what will happen next.

Hegi eats sparingly, seemingly content to watch others enjoy what Chalana Arroy has provided. It isn't until Draxim, the last to still be eating in earnest, is sopping up the last of his stew with a crust of rye bread that Hegi speaks.

"Forgive the absence of Nrulias. He rode all through the night, even to the gates of Tunlura, to carry my message. Sadly, he was not the only creature to travel under the cover of darkness."

Hegi keeps her voice low, presumably to prevent the gathering of farm folk from hearing what is said.

"Before the dawn I spoke to the forest. The coming of the broo was known by all the beasts of the wild lands, and that knowledge passed through the tree-tops more swift than the winter wind. They marched through the night. Of the things beyond the mountains I know little, but they are coming here in a single pack, and will reach the western homesteads before dusk."

Almost simultaneously Targa, Yimris and Atan all interupt: "How many?"

"Numbers are difficult for creatures that have no use for counting. The sparrows say there are more broo than the full moons from winter to winter. The maples say only that there are fewer than many."

The three Merek Lek look at Hegi with a mixture of frustration and puzzlement. There could be as few as thirteen, maybe fourteen, broo - or perhaps as many as a maple tree thinks is a lot.

Hegi smiles at the woodsmen as they exchange troubled glances, giving them a look that says 'what do you expect? They're birds.'

"I have sent out Kashan," she continues. "He is an excellent rider and will scout this blight of Chaos. I have confidence in him."

Hegi pauses and passes her gaze over each of those seated around her. "You have enjoyed my hospitality, and it has been given freely and without obligation. I do not ask anything from you that you would not freely provide in turn. But I must ask. These broo are coming with murder and destruction in their black hearts. They will plunder anything they can reach, and burn anything they cannot carry. We are close to the harvest, and many of these folk will be ruined without their crops. If you can, please, will you help us?"

Kenner

Draxim
Posts: 189
(1/7/03 10:16 am)

The Breakfast Oath

"My Lady Hegi." Draxim stands and solemnly places his hand over his heart. "I have not recieved such a welcome from anyone, excepting the noble lady Grugni of course begging your pardon, since my old Pa kicked me out of the house." He swivels and stares down the few who dare to chuckle. "I have recently taken an oath to fight Chaos wherever we find it," he nods toward Ruig, "and since it appears to be trying to find us, I will defend Werthyn while there is life in my body and strength in my arms, until the last," his voice raises, "festering, stinking, abominative creature of Chaos lies dead or has left these lands!" With that he grabs his mug of juice and downs it with a flourish.

doggius

Kezib Ahitub
Posts: 124
(1/7/03 10:21 am)

Re: The Breakfast Oath

Kezib looks at Hegi and says "By Yelm's grace, I shall do what I can, even by my dying breath, I will stay and help defend your lands from the chaos that spurns forth. By my word, it shall be so". Kezib bows low to Hegi in servatude.

Halle Dunn

Atan Finith Ring
Posts: 168
(1/7/03 11:20 am)

Re: The Breakfast Oath

Ignoring Draxim's theatrics, Atan simply nods his head.
"I'm in."

Meneloss

Meneloss Erednim
Posts: 221
(1/7/03 11:42 am)

Re: The Breakfast Oath

Meneloss stands up as well. He declares loud enough for most in the hall to hear: "I pledge my sword and craft to defend these folk, so that their fates may be different from that of my own people." He bows slightly and places his right hand over his heart. He sits down and looks his comrades at arms in their eyes.

Jubilex

The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 716
(1/7/03 11:53 am)

Re: Werthyn

Madragar stands next, "Chaos thrives where good men do nothing. Once more into the breach, my friends, once more. Let us march forth and make the other poor dumb bastard die for his cause. Yes, we will the tawny ground with their red blood discolor. He who dares wins... to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

Tagra simply nods, then slowly looks around the table. It is clear he is considering the capabilities of the group, and specific individuals.

Ruig slaps the melodramatic Draxim on the shoulder. "Good, good! We have a honest day's work ahead of us my friend."

Ruglan

Ruglan
Posts: 45
(1/7/03 12:28 pm)

Re: The Breakfast Oath

Ruglan stands and says, "I'll pledge my sword to rid these lands of the foul beasts."

Jubilex

The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 717
(1/7/03 1:12 pm)

Re: The Breakfast Oath

Vala, caught in the spirit of the moment, bounces out of her chair. "And I will - hey!" She rises only a few inches before Madragar has a hand on her shoulder and pushes her back into her seat.

"Nice try."

"Tyrant..." she mumbles.

This raises a few smiles, but they are quickly dispelled as the seriousness of the task at hand slowly creeps into everyone's minds. Tagra turns to Yimris.

"So, you in?"

mikedobbs

Yimris
Posts: 92
(1/7/03 2:57 pm)

Re: The Breakfast Oath

"I'm in, but I think we should take the fight to the enemy. A well placed ambush could cut their numbers in half. I think this village could hold it's own well against only a double handful."

Jubilex

The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 718
(1/7/03 3:29 pm)

Re: Werthyn

Hegi claps her hands together in joy, beaming a smile at everyone around the table. "Ah, good souls, I thank you dearly. Our Lady smiles on such courage." Turning to her left, Hegi motions towards her disciples Khras and Shala that had been waiting patiently nearby. They both nod and each grab an end of a modest sized oaken chest and bear it to the table.

Targa whispers to Yimris, "my thoughts exactly. An ambush, yes, but where? We need to scout the land."

Hegi continues, "I have no gift for strategy, young ones. But I have a few things that may help you."

Shala and Khras set the chest down beside the priestess and retreat to their positions by the longhouse wall. Hegi opens the box and reaches inside, withdrawing four small deerskin bags, tied shut with a piece of leather thong. She sets them on the table.

"These each contain a half dozen berries given healing powers by the grace of our Lady. Take no more than eight in a single day."

Vala reaches out into the table and picks up one bundle. She sniffs it, shrugs, and puts it back.

Next Hegi produces a small clay pot and sets it down in front of the Merek Lek.

"This is a solution of my own creation. It is made from an extract of mandrake root and drops of argru lick. Use it to coat your arrows. The oil of this mixture causes illness in humans but drives broo mad with a deadly brain fever."

The three woodsmen stare greedily at the precious jar.

"Finally, for you Sangraal. This was left to me by priest named Jharal many years ago. I believe you will find it a useful weapon against the broo."

Hegi slides a bronze disk the width of an apple across to Sangraal. It is covered in strange inscriptions and a bold relief of a shining sun. [Note to Sangraal.]

"Now brave companions," Hegi continues, "to the hunt. You may want to head out soon and prepare for the coming of the broo. I will guide Kashan to you when he returns."

doggius

Kezib Ahitub
Posts: 125
(1/7/03 3:54 pm)

Re: Werthyn

Looking at Yimris, Kezib nods in agreement. "I agree with taking the battle to them. That is something they would not expect and with the element of surprise on our side, we may cause them to fall back, if not permanently, for a short while at least. What trap do you propose to set for them, Yimris?"

Kenner

Draxim
Posts: 190
(1/7/03 4:24 pm)

Re: Werthyn

"Whatever we do, we need to be able to fall back to here should there be more of them than we think."

[OOC: Let's try repeating the question I asked last night but never got an answer to.]

"Lady Hegi, is there a choke point somewhere that they would be forced to come through on their way here?"

Edited by: Kenner at: 1/7/03 1:24:41 pm

Halle Dunn

Atan Finith Ring
Posts: 169
(1/7/03 4:24 pm)

Re: Werthyn

"To set an ambush we need to know where they are going and how fast. Their speed is not so important at this point, but we still don't know exactly their ultimate destination." Atan respectfully addresses Hegi, "Did the woodland creatures use any prominant landmarks to describe the Broo's current location?"

Jubilex

The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 720
(1/7/03 6:08 pm)

Re: Werthyn

"No, Atan. The sparrows know how quickly the broo travel and in what direction, the trees know how far away, though neither bird nor tree are precise. I hope that Kashan will be able to tell us more, but it is my understanding that when the broo have come in the past they have kept to the deep woods that lie to the southwest. There are hills and deep ravines in that country, and the beasts of Chaos seem to prefer the low places."

[This certainly jives with Atan's understanding of how the broo warbands have moved along the Nral river. They commonly stay in the low, heavily wooded areas to both keep their movement secret and hide away from the sun.]

Kenner

Draxim
Posts: 191
(1/7/03 10:05 pm)

Re: Werthyn

"Perhaps we could set a trap at one of the ravines? Maybe tumble down a big load of rocks on them?"

Jubilex

The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 721
(1/8/03 9:18 am)

Re: Werthyn

"Is possible, but don count on the broo blundering into such a trap. They are more cunning than that," says Targa.

Madragar sidles up to Meneloss. "I believe our presence at the ambush could be decisive. If the gods are with us we may be able to incapacitate many of the broo."

Jubilex

The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 723
(1/8/03 11:32 am)

Re: Werthyn

[Move on over to the Ambush tread.]