Crossfire Sequence

[Brian]

"Well, then we seem to be ready," Devin says, looking at Parthipan expectantly.

[Ginrai]

"I understand.  Consider it done."

[Brian]

And with that, Kevin nods, and everyone is dismissed.

As the other lorekeepers are leaving -- Radagast stays behind -- and Dorian leaves, Ekim climbs to his feet, plodding a few steps closer to Bjorn and extending the cloth-wrapped bundle.  "I have finished crafting your new blade," Ekim rumbles, the slightest hint of pride sounding in his voice.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn, who was making his way over to Kevin with a serious expression on his face, starts slight as Ekim addresses him.  Seeing the proferred katana, he bows deeply.  "Thank you greatly, Lord Ekim.  It will be a priviledge far beyond my due to wield your making against the Dreadmarch."  He pauses, and then with a bit of a shame-faced yet excited schoolboy look about him, he asks shyly, "May I see it?"

[Brian]

"Of course," he replies, holding it forward in both hands carefully, still wrapped in cloth.

Kevin and Lammermore stay behind, curious.  Everyone else except Ginrai and Ekim leave, apparently not having much interest in swords.

[Bjorn]

Reverently, Bjorn takes the cloth-wrapped bundle and carefully unwraps it.

[Brian]

The bundle of cloth snags on the edge of the blade in the unwrapping process, and parts with the resistance of tissue paper.  What is revealed is exactly what you described to Ekim as a katana -- save, he made it in a single day.

The handle is wrapped in some hide that feals like smoothed shark-skin.  Not metal, so your hands won't freeze from gripping it, and rough enough to make it difficult to accidentally drop the blade.  The length of the blade itself is marked in tiny little dwarven (you think) runes down the back of the blade, and they glitter faintly in the torchlight.

"It looks a frail weapon," Ekim opines, while Lammermore looks at his own crowbar of a blade.  "But it's got strength.  And more, a keen edge.  It knows its own, too, I wager," he adds, gathering a scabbard from the floor and presenting it to you.

The scabbard is shaped for the blade, smoothed wood (but not very smoothed).  The side is engraved with the symbol of Hammar.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn takes the scabbard from Ekim.  He hesitates for a second, prudency warring with training, but, Dammit, just asking for a katana in the first place probably was cover-blowing enough.  I'm not going to break tradition now.

Placing the sword in the scabbard, and then tucking the scabbard into his belt, Bjorn performs the first battojutsu technique he learned -- not a combatative technique, but a purification ritual, the sword cutting a pattern through the air which matches the stylized movements of a priest of the Kashima Grand Shrine.

Returning the sword to its scabbard, Bjorn bows deeply to Ekim.  "Thank you, my Lord," he says, sincerely.  "The weapon is a masterpiece."

[Brian]

"May it last as long as your will," he says gravely.

"That's an interesting blade," Lammermore finally says.  "I've never seen its make before ... except for the blades that Sir Breke carries, and this is longer than his."

[Bjorn]

Bjorn shrugs slightly.  "I am not strong enough to wield a greatsword of the like that the storm-riders carry -- and at the same time, I have two hands.  It seems a waste to use only one, as with the sword I normally carry."

His expression deepens, becoming grave.  "Lord Kevin, Sir Lammermore, there is more to the message from the storm-riders than I mentioned during the meeting."

[Brian]

"You don't trust the others?" Kevin asks, raising an eyebrow.

[Bjorn]

"I don't know who to trust," Bjorn says, regretfully.  "Had I had my choice, I would have given you this information in private before the meeting.  Unfortunately, the message came quite late -- not until immediately before the meeting, and I thought it better to take precautions, until we know how the Dreadmarch has been obtaining its information."

[Brian]

"Probably for the best," Kevin says, nodding.  "What's the plan, then?"

[Bjorn]

Bjorn steps a little closer, and pitches his voice a little lower.  "The plan is essentially the same -- it is the details which differ.  The storm-riders are not concealed within the pass.  Rather, they will gate in behind the spearhead of the Dreadmarch forces, by the work of Gatemaster Eske.  The Gatemaster will also use that gate to keep the rest of the army from reinforcing the trapped forces."   He grins, coldly.   "They might reinforce their flanks, now, with the details I revealed during the meeting, but the storm-riders will grate them up against the earthenworks, and then we will move out to finish off the job.  Even if we do not catch the general in that first assault, when the Gatemaster allows the barrier to disappear, we will be united with the storm-riders, and in a much stronger tactical position."

[Brian]

Kevin nods slowly, and then glances at Ginrai.  "I assume the signal is the same?"