No Spill Blood

[Bjorn]

"I see," Bjorn replies gravely.  "Then shall we go?"  

Letting them lead the way, he follows them -- presumably to the meeting.

[Brian]

You're lead to a room beneath the keep, which puts you in mind of the executions you witnessed before your ever-so-restful sleep.

But you go to a different room.  This one's much smaller, and dry.  There's a large table there, and Kevin is behind it, deep in conversation with Radagast.

Lammermore is sitting nearby, wearing casual clothes -- he's still pretty heavily bandaged, but looks at least able to move around.  The two vassals that the old man appointed as your aides during any strategy meetings are already there, along with the old man himself, and Mirallia.  There's a spot for you between the two of them, Mirallia sitting next to Lammermore (and then Kevin) and the other two vassals sitting further down the table.

To Kevin's left is Radagast, and then Dorian, and then Devin.  No sign yet of Ekim, Nathan, Phil, or Parthipan.

Kevin looks up when you enter, and nods, saying, "We expect the Storm-rider contingent to join us shortly.  Until then, make yourself comfortable."

[Brian]

You're not there long before Phil, Nathan, and six storm-riders you've never met before troop in and are directed to seats on Radagast's side of the table.

[Brian]

Kevin blinks as Nathan and Phill enter, as though something odd just happens, and shrugs.  "Welcome," he says, rising from his chair, "Sirs and Lords.  Please, make yourselves comfortable."

Space is made by the other storm-riders such that Phil and Nathan are pretty much required to sit closest to Kevin.

[Dracos]

"Greetings, this is my commanding staff.  Lord Kevin.  May I introduce Sir Warrick, Lord Roger, Sir Erik, Sir Harold, Lord Farwell, and Lord George.  They are my commanding staff.  Now, what's the plan for tonight?"

Dracos sat down where expected.

Dracos

[Bjorn]

Having moved out of the way of the overly space-occupying storm-riders, Bjorn quietly moves towards his seat between Donovan and Mirallia.  Before sitting down, however, he nods at the man sitting one seat down.  "Sir Lammermore," he greets him.  "It's good to see you up and about."

[Brian]

"More about than up," he says, managing a wry smile.  "I won't be fighting tonight, more's the pity."

Kevin shakes his head.  "We value your counsel," he says.  "Now ... hmm.  Is anyone missing?"  He turns to look at Radagast.

"I sent a runner," Radagast says slowly.  "Ah.  The tower.  Well, he should arrive soon."

Kevin nods, and relaxes a bit.  "We've a little time, then," he says.

[Bjorn]

Taking his seat, Bjorn asks, "Will Lord Ekim be joining us?"

[Brian]

Kevin glances to the door as Parthipan enters, trailed by Astryd.  "Not today," he says apologetically.  "He's still working on a personal request of mine.  Regardless, we all appear to be assembled.  Shall we begin?"

[Bjorn]

Bjorn nods at Kevin to indicate his readiness, sitting at attention in his seat.

[Dracos]

Dracos nods.  "No time like the present."

Dracos

[Ginrai]

After finding a seat near Radagast, Ginrai nods as well.

[Brian]

"Very well," Lord Kevin says, somewhat gravely.  "We need to consider what we know of our enemy, and formulate a plan to deal with it.  Radagast has been unable to find any new information on this ... Elric ... other than what we could extract from Mattias.  And his word is ... questionable."

Radagast shrugs, then clarifies, "Mattias claims that his master -- who he will not name as Solariat, but won't deny is that man, either -- is using Elric as a pawn.  More importantly, as a pawn, Mattias claimed to be privy to information that we could use.  Namely, that Elric is not an only child.  There is another, apparently.  I don't know how this is good news for us ... but it is what I've been told."

Kevin nods pensively, then looks at the Storm-rider contingent.  "You are aware of what happened last night?"

All of the commanders nod, considering this new information.

"Well," Kevin sighs, pressing his palms flat on the table in front of him.  "He's a problem.  But we've got tonight to worry about, too.  We don't know what they're throwing at us, but their reinforcements have arrived, so their numbers, already great, and now being swelled with additional support."

[Dracos]

"That means those extra commanders and that dwarf Nathan saw is now with the army directly.  Any scouting been done yet on who seems to be organizing the troops for tonight's attack?"

Dracos

[Brian]

"Scouting on foot seems less than wise," Lammermore says, shaking his head.

Radagast nods, and turns to Parthipan, raising an eyebrow curiously.  "And your means, Master Parthipan?  Have you had an opportunity to spy on the foe?" he asks.