"Lord Markham is a few days away," Radagast says thoughtfully, watching the others leave the room.
"Now. I cannot vouch for Gatemaster Eske, but I know from what was said that the high priestess who was chosen before Mirallia was killed at Winterhaven. I can't believe that any follower of Hamar would do such a thing, and I imagine shortly Mirallia will come to the same unpleasant realization that I have.
"Namely, that one of you was most likely the killer."
If he was drinking something at that moment, Ginrai would be doing a spit-take after hearing this movie-like plot twist.
"By one of us, you mean whomever we were before me and my friends took over the bodies? Actually, do the list of suspects include me and Paul? I'm guessing 'no' since that's why you're telling us this."
"I don't think I'd willingly trap myself in a room with killers," Radagast says flatly. "And yes, I meant who you were before. I felt your entry into this world ... it was close enough that I could. And it wasn't until after the time that the priestess died.
"I'm not concerned with finding which of you it was, for the purposes of turning you in. You, yourselves haven't commited this crime, have you? I'm more concerned with finding out who your other selves are supposed to be keeping in touch with ... who your allies are.
"This is important, because I do believe that forces are at work within our own ranks, working against us. In all honesty, I do not fear the Dreadmarch. The first time I experienced it, it was a thirteen day long festival, almost a ceremony, and barely ten thousand human lives were lost for victory.
"The next, humanity had allowed itself to grow soft, and the toll was much harder ... but victory was had anyway. People have kept themselves sharp, and should be able to handle anything that comes from outside of those walls.
"Obviously, this is not what worries me."
"I see... this definitely doesn't bode well. What exactly was the cause of her death? And who was she with during her last days?"
Ginrai ponders for a moment. "We really need to solve this mystery as soon as possible, especially since there's the possible situation concerning the Pax Arcana."
"I don't know the specifics," Radagast says, shaking his head. "I don't, in all honesty, even know she was killed.
"But I find this series of coincidences unlikely in the extreme. I don't know of any guild of assasins, but Lorekeepers such as yourself ... ourselves, I suppose ... can do anything for anyone, given enough money.
"And a bard need not have any scruples at all," he adds, turning to Paul. "But who would gain from the Dreadmarch winning?"
"The Pax Arcana, seeing how that should be enough of a notice to get them out of this world.
"Hmm... know of any other powerful Lorekeepers that shall be arriving here soon?"
"Of power?" Radagast muses. "I am here, myself. Gatemaster Eske is missing. Lightmaster Rowic has been working with Archonae on some task in their city to the south for over a year now ... the Archonae will be sending an envoy later, of course. Hmm. Where are the others?
"Starmaster Journe vanished some time ago. He maintained he found a way to step between the stars. But that was decades ago. Earthmaster Huron died a few years ago, when his school was ransaked by the Soth. Windmaster Banor perished before that, crossed by his own student. Hmm." His brows furrow. "I've suspected that these may be intentional on the part of someone ... the timing is poor, I will admit. And I am not a true Loremaster in the sense of this world. My abilities lie elsewhere.
"I suppose the greatest of those summoned that we can still expect to join us will be Devin, who is studying the lore of Earth. There should be others ... at least a dozen. But the greatest are Journe, Eske, and Rowic."
One of the Loremasters mentioned gets Ginrai's attention. "What of the student that killed Windmaster Banor?"
"Eske and I killed him," Radagast says sadly, bowing his head. "We cannot allow that sort of infighting ... and the student ... a ... Cyric? He wanted only power. He thought to kill his master, and steal his soul to make Banor's power his own. Eske and I could not let this be ... it was an ill thing, and poorly timed, besides. His books are here, if you would look through them. Are you studying to be a Windmaster yourself?
"Or do you not remember?" he asks, furrowing his brows.
"That much I do know. And if possible I would like to see his books."
"I'll have them sent to your room," he says, nodding. "Do you have any ideas for how to deal with the matter at hand?"
"Thanks. One possibility is asking the others what they know of the person they took over. Also it would probably be a good idea for either me or Paul to ask Mirella about what she knows of the incident involving the previous High Priestess. I believe this is something that should be done as soon as possible."
"Mmm," Radagast murmurs, nodding. "And you, Master Durant?" he asks, turning to Paul.
Paul thinks. "Pax Aracna would want the priestess dead, but that doesn't mean one of us would do it. They had to have offered something in exchange for killing her. If we can find out whatthat offer was, and if they made good on it, then we'll be a lot closer to knowing who it w2as who made it -- who the mole is.
"When did you say the Priestess died?"
"About three weeks ago, according to the priestess."
Feeling anxious over something he just thought of, Ginrai asks, "Is there anything else important that we must know at this moment? I believe that me and Paul should talk with Bjorn and Mirella (alone and in that order) as soon as possible."
"Nothing I can think of," Radagast says slowly. "Did you figure something else out?"
"That I'm not sure of, but I do think it would be best to at least get as much information on this as soon as possible."
Getting up, Ginrai bows to Radagast. "If we find out anything important, we'll return here later on. Otherwise, I'll look forward to reading those books of Windmaster Banor's."
Paul stands up and bows as well, then follows Parthipan out.
"What did you think of?"
"Mmm," Radagast grunts, following you outside. "I'd best get back to Lord Kevin. Then I've got to watch the north horizon to see who might be coming near. If you need to find me, I'll usually be on the highest tower," he says, walking down the hallway.
The two of you are now left alone in the hall, servants flickering into the edges of your sight as they cross in the distance.
Ginrai turns to Paul and begins to whisper:
<Ginrai> "Personally, I'm getting a bit suspicious of Mirallia. From the way she reacted when Radagast mentioned that the previous Priestess might've been murdered and because of an incident very early on. Mind you, I don't think she's part of Pax Arcana, but instead someone who might've been influenced by them." Ginrai pauses and shrugs.
<Ginrai> "Of course, I could be all wrong about this and end up making a complete fool of myself. Then again, best off not to take chances here."
<Huitzil> "I haven't noticed anything like that... but it's best to be cautious. Then again, if she already knows about us, then if Pax Arcana finds out from her they can have us whacked right here and now."
<Ginrai> "I don't think she works for them. Just that someone from Pax Arcana might've told her something which gave her the idea to kill the Priestess."
<Huitzil> "Even so. They might stay in contact with her, and one thing leads to another..."
<Ginrai> "Which is why it's best to talk with her as soon as possible and alone. Though first I want to talk with Bjorn, ask if he knows anything about her past or his own."
<Ginrai> "I was also wondering, do you know of any special techniques? One which would help someone remember things they might've forgotten or force them to tell the truth?"
<Huitzil> "No ... sorry. All I know is how to play, and really I don't know that. So what, we go up to her and say 'Spill it, sista' ?"
<Ginrai> "Err ... not quite. First I want to talk with Bjorn. Then with Mirallia about the prior Priestess and who else was around her during the time of her death."
<Ginrai> "And if Bjorn tells us anything important, I'll also mention that if she doesn't first."
<Huitzil> "Well, talking with Bjorn can't hurt. Talking with Mirallia might. We don't want here thinking we've gone crazy and telling the others about our claims, or her knowing we're on to her and telling people who we are so we get whacked."
<Ginrai> "Of course."
<Huitzil> "Well, in any case, we'd better talk to him."
<Huitzil> "And as soon as we can."
<Ginrai> "Yup. Best to go now. Though I still want to talk with Mirallia afterwards -- I'll try to be as subtle as I can."
<Huitzil> "Well, after you."
After wandering around for a while, then getting lost, you manage to catch a servant who knows where Mirallia and Bjorn are staying. From there, you're guided down from the maze of the upper floors, and to a hall with a number of doors on it. After a moment, the servant knocks loudly on the door, then walks off, leaving you there.
We now temporarily go to Stay (http://pishoque.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=33207#33207).
After our intrepid investigators finish their interrogation, Parthipan and Paul find themselves in the hallways of the keep. Other than the occasional servant flitting about on this floor, it's pretty deserted.
"Well, that was productive. Now we have two people we aren't sure if we should trust, and Bjorn's pissed at us. Again."
Paul shrugs. "So, where d'ya figure we ought to go next? There has to be something we can be doing to prepare."
"Maybe we should first head into our room for a small break? I want to check if I have any books pertaining to the Archonae and, if so, try and find out some more information on ceremony involving them."
"Don't suppose I have anything better to do."
You manage to track down a servant that knows where your rooms are. They are separate, but adjacent, and on the third floor. Your individual rooms are basically closets with windows, but they do come with writing desks, and beds. The beds are a little lumpy, but after evertything else you've been through, that's pretty comfortable.
Parthipan finds a small heap of books awaiting him on his own bed.
Ginrai first checks his pack to see if there are any books on the Archonae. If not, he starts to look through the books Radagast gave.
You have only one book, and it appears (upon reflection) to be A: written by you, and B: contain spells (or formulae ... thinking about what they are makes your head hurt. At least they work). Nothing other than occasional personal notes about the easy way to remember a given spell or the like.
The other books are all bound together with string, and appear to be written by the late Windmaster. Though, after you glance through one or two, you make a disturbing observation. While they are B: contain spells (or, etc.), they also appear to somehow be A: written by you.
It's possible, of course, that your method of writing is merely very similar, or perhaps you even used some magical shortcut to write the books for you ... and the Windmaster did the same. Either way, the handwriting appears identical.
'As if I needed another thing to worry about.... I'll ask Radagast about it first thing tomorrow morning before trying to find out more about the Archonae.'
With that settled, Ginrai starts to read the books by the late windmaster in order to see what new techniques he can learn from it.
Finding nothing interesting to do in his room at the moment and sick of practicint lute, Paul leaves his room after seeing Ginrai is reading and begins to wander about the building with his hands in his pockets, just checking out what's going on.
The corridors are pretty big. This place could accomodate a lot more people running around, if it had to.
It is, however, a bit drab. Everything's made out of the same tired color of stone, what few tapestries there are on display all happen to be geometric patterns -- no guys in armor running across a battlefield or anything.
Other than servants scurrying around (how many servants does this place have, anyway?), it's also pretty deserted. You eventually figure out that the reason this place is so empty is because even though you're evidently somehow north of the arctic circle (hence the never-yet-setting sun), it's everyone else's sleeping period right at the moment.
Paul decides to head outside then, to see if there's any kind of training area and to get a look at the scenery, now that he doesn't have Bjorn riding his ass every time he stops to glance about.
There's a training area behind the keep, about fifty to one hundred meters wide, depending on how far away from the keep you are. It's a field that runs apparently the length of the shaft, and you can see men practicing with their weapons of choice -- the majority of soldiers seem to employ spears, though there are some using swords, as well.
Paul walks alongside the length of the field, watching the practices with a detached look on his face, hands still in pockets.
The field goes on as far as you can see -- presumably the length of the entire pass, but it curves downward a bit, and is hard to see over. the majority of the practicing men ignore you, occasionally sparing you a glance, but that's about it.
After a while, when you glance back, you think you see Phil and Nathan behind you, somewhere in the crowds of practicing soldiers.
Paul stops on his heel, pivots, and walks back to where he thought he saw Nathan and Phil.
Rez gives Paul a wave, and yawns. Hey, it's still morning.
"Morning, Paul. Anything much happening?"
"Nothing. Just rambling around. You guys doing anything productive?"
"Got my ancestor's sword reforged by Ekim, the dwarf in the smithy, that took almost all of yesterday. Apart from that, we're kind of wondering what to do now."
"Well, welcome to the club.
"Wait, what's this about ancient reforgings?"
"Nathan here picked up the world's coolest sword. Formerly in pieces along the path we took to get here, now remade." Dracos shrugged.
Dracos
"Oh. We found the evil that killed Hadrick Shuker waaay back in the day, and killed it. Turned out to be a big nuclear-powered robotic mechaspider with automatic laser cannons, and no waterproofing. And we found the pieces of his sword, so we got it reforged once we got here."
Having spent the morning walking around aimlessly, mind filled with thoughts on the spells written in Windmaster Banor books (at least, they supposedly were by him) and of the possibilities surrounding his other-self, Ginrai ends up walking into Phil, Paul and Nathan.
"Oh, hey, guys! What's going on?"
"Hmm? Not much, we were just wondering what you guys were up to. We don't really have anything much to do right now, so . . ."
"Ah, well I recently discovered that I might have a good reason to beat my other-self up with the pipe should we ever meet face-to-face, got Mirallia annoyed at me, and got some spell books from Radagast which seem to have been written by some demised windmaster though it has the exact same handwriting as mine. Oh, and I need to find out more about an upcoming ceremony involving the Archonae since there's a chance it might get sabatoged."
"Jesus, you guys have been busy. I feel like I've been slacking off."
"Oh? Why d'you think it might get sabotaged?"
"Bjorn mentioned that it was a rather major ceremony, though he doesn't know if the Archonae could get ambushed or where it could go wrong. Oh, and what's Paul talking about?"
"Eh, just what we've been up to. Nothing much, just getting my ancestor's sword reforged."
Rez hums.
"I'm thinking Drac and I may as well go and find out exactly what we're expected to be doing . . . you guys going to keep looking into this ceremony, or whatnot?"
"Yeah, though first I want to ask Radagast about the books he lent me."
"I'll go with you," Paul decides, nodding at Ginrai. "Also, we should find out if this place has a library, or anything. It probably doesn't, but it wouldn't hurt to look, right?"
"Hm. Any idea where Radagast is?"
Ginrai nods at Paul before turning back to Rez. "When I talked with him last night, Radagast said he'll usually be on the highest tower."
"Hm, may as well head over that way, I guess."
Rez looks around.
"Er, which one -is- the highest tower?"
The highest tower is pretty obviously the one that's furthest south. How to get into it is another matter entirely.
Well, if in doubt . . .
Rez walks off looking for a servant or some such, and promptly asks them how to get into the south tower - since they're looking to speak to Radagast.
The shortcut command works, and a servant leads you around until you manage to reach Radagast's tower. It looks an awful lot like his other room, actually, but with more windows. These windows have glass in them. Nice, solid, straight, clear glass.
Radagast looks up when you enter, and nods, mixing together a pestle of some sort. It seems to involve a lot of powered substances. "Is there anything I can help you with?" he asks. "Or did you find anything out?"
"Well, Drac and I were more just looking for some background information, really. We're not really that sure as to what's expected of us . . ."
Rez taps the hilt of his greatsword, "I did get Ekim to reforge my sword though, thank you."
"Well, the first thing I was wondering about were the books by Windmaster Banor that you leant me. Is there any reason why the handwriting in it is the same as my own handwriting?"
Radagast eyes Nathan's new sword, and raises his eyebrows. "Well, that's quite a piece of work," he muses. "In general, you'd be expected to relax, until the Dreadmarch arrives. Then, of course, you'll join the other Storm-riders and battle at their side when the the conflict begins."
Turning to Ginrai, he frowns. "The plot thickens," the says. "If we had time -- or if Gatemaster Eske were here, we could go to the loremastery collegate, or the city of Archonae. We could find out where you began your loremastery. I am now somewhat curious as to where you learned what you have....
"Windmaster Banor carried his soul in metal, I remember, to be clever, and hide where it was kept. Most loremasters use their staves. But it was known that Banor's was kept in his pendant. Do you wear one?"
Taking a deep breath as if expecting some major revelation, Ginrai brings out his pendant and holds it for Radagast to see.
Radagast frowns, obviously bothered by this. "That's Banor's pendant," he says quietly. "So ... how did this come to pass?"
Ginrai slaps his forehead in irritation. "If I ever see my other-self...."
Composing himself, he asks Radagast, "Can you explain more about Cyric and how he came about to kill Banor? Maybe that has something to do with all of this."
"Possibly," Radagast says, frowning. "It was gruesome, I remember that much. Cyric seemed mad with power ... the, ah, Colegate of Lorekeepers has a way of keeping an eye on all of the loremasters that are around.
"I won't divulge that secret here, but they summoned Eske when it was revealed that Banor was no longer alive." He frowns. "A bit late for a warning, unfortunately. Eske immediately came here, and sought me out -- we were at Banor's home that very day, no more than two hours after the Colegate had been warned.
"The house had been ransacked, everything torn apart inside. Cyric stood in the center of the main room, covered in blood, and gibbering about assasins. Then he realized he was not alone, and shouted his defiance of the Colegate, attempting to kill Eske. I believe his words were, 'I'll never let the Colegate assasinate me! I've too much power of my own, now!'
"He ignored me entirely, which neither Eske nor I understood the reason for ... but regardless, Eske was able to defend himself, and I slew Cyric. I would have rather taken him alive for questioning, but Eske's defnsive abilities are not his focus, as his title should warn.
"Neither of us were pleased, but we intered Cyric's remains at the Colegate. There isn't one now, but on occasion, a Loremaster learns to speak with the dead. If another reaches the Colegate, then perhaps we can have more answers.
"Regardless, we found Banor's body, in the study. Cyric had evidently seen fit to slay him with a knife, which he left in Banor's back. That, too, was sent to the Colegate, along with Banor's remains. But, that is how it happened."
Rez jumps in with a question.
"There isn't one now? When was the last one?"
"Ah ... well, Lorekeepers who can speak to the dead tend not to want to share that fact. People think they're crazy, and shun them.
"When they prove they're not crazy, they're shunned even more. Dealings with what should be dead tends to be ... sorry. I'm digressing. Spiritmaster Menin took his own life one hundred and sixty years ago."
"Okay, something seems off there. Was Banor's pendant with him during that time and when did this take place? This could be the reason why Gatemaster Eske isn't around, seeing how he might've been able to explain more about myself."
Dracos coughs a bit.
"More relevent to the here and now. What can you tell us about the storm riders? I assume you know more than Mirella. Preferrably, we'd not like to make notable contradictions to general knowledge of them when they appear."
Dracos
"I wouldn't suspect Eske ... but the pendant was never found. Not on the body.
"As for the storm-riders," he says, turning to look at Phil appraisingly, "from what I hear, they don't expect much of you at all. If they do expect anything, it'd be for you to follow Lord Markham's orders, and that would be the end of that."
"There are probably people we should know, and things we should know . . . such as, just who -was- this cousin who stood up and demanded that the torc be shown, anyway?"
"That, I don't know directly," Radagast says, shaking his head. "I'm sorry for that, but I don't."
"Well, I guess we just wing it then," Rez says with a grimace, "don't suppose you have idea where Bjorn is?"
"Last I saw he had managed to wrangle himself into the employ of Breke the Bladestorm," Radagast replies, frowning.
"And where would we be able to find him?"
Dracos
"Breke? He'd be on the second floor. You could ask a servant for the specific room; I do not remember. Are you looking for him?"
"Looking for Bjorn. If Bjorn is possibly with Breke, that is where I will go." Dracos smiled and glanced at Rez to see if he was ready to go.
Dracos
Rez shrugged, then turned to follow Drac.
Dracos headed off, looking for a servant first and asking where either Mirella, Breke, or Mirella's accompanying servant may be located.
Dracos
While Parthipan and Paul had further questions for the wizard, Phil and Nathan trudged off in search of Bjorn.
Phil and Nathan return to: To Far Away Times. (http://pishoque.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=33509#33509)
After Phil and Nathan have left to search for Bjorn, Ginrai asks Radagast, "So, what events are coming up in the next couple of days?"
"Mm. Tomorrow, the other priestesses should arrive. The day after that, the Storm-riders should arrive, along with some men from the Heartlands. That's the important day -- the day of the ceremony. An Archon will arive then, too, bearing the light of hope to see us through the dark times."
Ginrai: Your next question is interrupted by the arrival of Phil and Nathan again.
"Ah. Do you know anything about the other priestess and can you explain more about the ceremony?"
"Eh?" Radagast noises, looking at Phil and Nathan in confusion. "Back so soon?"
"Lord Kevin desires the skills of Lorekeeper Parthipan. I trust you've been studying, Parthipan?"
Dracos
"For what, if I may ask?" Radagast interposes.
"Yeah. Been reading through some of Windmaster Banor's books last night."
"Well, Lord Kevin was hoping you were capable of 'seeing on the wind' or some such, as Windmaster Banor used to be able to do."
Radagast nods thoughtfully. "That could be useful," he admits. "Are you certain you're up to that?"
"I believe so. And we can't really know unless I try."
Dracos coughs. "Do it."
Dracos
"You know, I would except for one thing... you guys haven't yet told me what to look for," Ginrai replies dryly.
Rez snickers.
"We need you to take a look at the dreadmarch army, I think it's to the northwest of here. It won't be a very long way distant, either. We need to know roughly how many there are, and -where- they are."
Rez pulls out his map and spreads it on the table, indicating to Ginrai the rough area the army was in when they last saw it.
After looking at the area that Rez is referring to on the map, Ginrai takes a deep breath and replies, "Okay, time to see if this works...."
Ginrai first makes an astrology check.
<Ginrai> roll 3d6 to make this easier for Windmaster Ginrai
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Ginrai ... : 3d6 to make this easier for Windmaster Ginrai --> {16}
The celestial alignment (assuming you can figure it correctly, as the sun has not yet set) is not so helpful towards figuring this out. You'll need to take extra time to prepare the spell, assuming you remembered it correctly.
However, after thirty minutes, you ready yourself, everyone's quiet to let you do what you want, and you attempt the spell.
You feel like you've just jumped out of your body, and are gliding along the wind.
Your vision slides across the plains, riding up slopes, and gliding down the drops in height. It reminds you, in a very unreal sense, of the dream that Shade had, which Ezmereth gave to the rest of you, a world and who knows how long ago.
The sun grows lower, the longer you glide, until it's only got a fragment clearing the horizon, and before you, is an army. A vast army, stretching west as far as you can see, of darkness. The nearer shapes you can see are orcs, but the further just blend into an ocean of black. Directly before you are two figures, snatches of conversation somehow reaching you.
The first is dressed much like Phil, only his armor is golden and silver, and he wears an odd necklace about his throat. It looks like it's open at the front, and has a hinged clasp in the back. The tips look like snarling wolf heads. His hair is blond, and he has a fair countenance.
The other is wearing gray steel armor, unpolished, but not rusted, and a drab, dirty snow-colored cloak. His hair is black, with flour thrown into it to turn it gray -- why, you can't really tell. In all honesty, his facial features are unremarkable.
"...army must pass without seeing yours," the fair-haired man says, frowning.
"I will cloak them, then, and leave this army unseen to--" He breaks off, and looks around, narrowing his eyes. "The wind has changed."
You draw yourself back to your body, back in Radagast's tower after this; your strength is waning, and it's best not to subject yourself to more danger than you need to.
Bjorn raps, politely, on the door.
Just about the same time that Parthipan drops out of his trance (despite Radagast saying not to disturb him, it didn't look like anything happened), Bjorn is shown into the room quietly by a servant.
Ginrai pauses to process in what he has just seen and to also recover from the amount of endurance he had to use to cast the 'seeing on the wind' spell.
After five minutes or so have passed, he begins his account on what he saw. "Well, that was interesting....
"I was able to catch sight of the Dreadmarch army, though unfortunately I couldn't tell where they were. I can tell you right now that it's a vast army, going as far as my eye could see.
"It's the other thing I saw that surprised me -- and what almost got me in trouble. I saw someone who looked a lot like Phil, except he had armor that was golden and silver along with a strange necklace around his throat which had snarling wolf heads on the tips. I'm assuming he's the current leader of the Storm-riders.
"He was talking with someone wearing gray steel armor and some greyish cloak. I'm guessing he's one of the Dreadmarch generals.
"I only heard from mid-conversation on, but it sounds like the Storm-riders leader was talking about his army having to pass without being seen by the Dreadmarch and presumably vice-versa, unless *all* of the Storm-riders have agreed to this act of treason.
"The general started to talk about cloaking 'them', though which army I'm not sure of because it was at that point he noticed that something wasn't right with the wind and would have likely realized that I was around soon thereafter. And so I immediately left.
"So, guys, any thoughts?"
"Why did you think that one of them was a general of the Dreadmarch?" Bjorn asks. "Can you describe what he looks like? I understood that the generals weren't chosen before the night that they took command."
"Except for the first general," Rez comments, "I'm sure he's selected beforehand."
"Well, the conversation was taking place near where the Dreadmarch were and the Storm-rider leader was talking about his army passing without seeing the other guy's army."
"That is correct from what we know," Radagast says, nodding. "Humans occasionally side with the elder gods ... they do promise rich rewards, and truly will follow through ... if their servants succeed. Thankfully, this has not happened, of course. Not since before the Dreadmarch was established."
Bjorn grunts, but does not immediately say anything else. Instead, he remains silent, and listens.
Rez sighs.
"This does fit . . . wonderful. Back to that in a second - how many troops, Ginrai, and do you know roughly where?"
"Lord Kevin is expecting the Dreadmarch to arrive two days hence," Bjorn supplies, "for what it's worth."
He then falls silent again.
"The Dreadmarch? As I already mentioned, as far as my eye could see. As for where they were, I do not know, though the sun had almost set when I arrived at the area."
"So you've got no idea at all about numbers? Not even an estimate?" Rez has a slightly strained looking expression on his face as he says this.
Ginrai looks at Rez strangely. "Just *why* do you need to know how many? All I could tell was that it was a lot."
Rez gives Ginrai a flat look.
"Because it was something we specifically asked you to look at?" Rez grates out, "Because Lord Kevin wants that information and that's why he sent us to ask you in the first place? Because confirming just how many soldiers the opponent is going to bring to a siege is kind of important, and I'd rather get an estimate while the image is fresh in your mind?"
"Then tell him a million because there are *far* more important things to worry about now!"
Rez closes his eyes, and quietly counts to ten.
"Numbers are important, but if there are too many to count ... and army that stretched as far as you could see? Well. That later," Radagast interupts. "What else did you see? Can you describe the men you saw in detail?"
"You mean specifically the two that were talking?"
"Yes," Radagast says, nodding.
Ginrai nods.
"The presumed head of the Storm-riders was dressed much like Phil, only his armor was golden and silver, and he had a strange-looking necklace about his throat. It looked as if it was open at the front, and had a hinged clasp in the back. The tips looked like snarling wolf heads. His hair's blond, and he has a fair countenance.
"They other guy was wearing gray steel armor, unpolished, but not rusted, and a drab, dirty snow-colored cloak. And his hair was black, with flour thrown into it to turn it gray -- don't ask, because I have no idea why."
"Flour," Radagast murmurs. "How strange."
Ginrai: Thinking about it, you know how to hide, and read about this a bit, too, back in the day. In snow, if you threw flour in your hair to conceal the majority of the color, and wore armor and a cloak the same color as that guy, you'd be darn near invisible at a distance.
There's something to be said about an endless sea of orcs, and their effects on stealth, but that's something to pursue at another venture.
"Hmm... I wish I knew what my 'torc' apparently looked like." Dracos had a grim but considering look on his face.
Dracos
"I'll bet whatever you want that Master Parthipan just told you what your torc looks like," Bjorn says.
Crossing his arms, he grunts. "THis is useless," he grumbles. "The two things that we really need to know from the tactical perspective is how badly we're outnumbered, and when the Dreadmarch is going to get here. NOt only can't Master Parthipan answer either of those questions, but the only thing he can tell us is that the storm-riders won't be coming to our help -- and we knew that already."
"Huh? knew?" Dracos raises an eyebrow questioningly.
Dracos
Bjorn looks askance at Dracos. "Yes, knew. The Dreadmarch -- or somebody working for them -- has been running around, assassinating or otherwise removing as many major players as they can. Now, if they could get close enough to steal your torc, they could almost certainly have killed you, which would have removed you entirely. Why not? The only plausible explanation is that by doing it this way, they could control who ended up with the leadership of the storm-riders. And the only reason that would be worth any effort is so they could put the leadership in the hands of someone on the side of the Dreadmarch."
He shrugs. "There's two goals they could be aiming for. Either the storm-riders would betray Stormwall at a critical moment, or they simply wouldn't show up. I would have bet on the latter, simply because it's easier to manage without inciting riot in the ranks of the storm-riders, and from what we just heard, I'd probably win that bet."
"Mm, but what Parthipan said sounded like Markham, or whoever, wanted to move his army of Storm-Riders past the dreadmarch without the storm-riders seeing the dreadmarch . . ."
Rez shrugs.
"Now THAT doesn't fit with what you were saying. It implies that Markham does want to get here, unle-" Rez's eyes widen, "unless he plans on getting the storm-riders ambushed on the way here, maybe?"
Bjorn shrugs, again. "Ambushed or cut-off. If the Dreadmarch gets between the storm-riders and the Keep, then the storm-riders are out of it."
"That sounds strange," Radagast interjects, frowning. "I don't know Lord Markham, but I know he wanted to be a king to his people. Getting them killed wouldn't hurt the dreadmarch as much as them arriving and then abandoning us.
"But Storm-riders are very loyal and vengeful folk, as a whole. I can't imagine them letting something like this pass if they came to know of the betrayal. It may actually be someone else, and Lord Markham could be oblivious.
"Regardless, however, it sounds to me like they're going to be here ... on time. And we'll depend on them when we probably shouldn't. A better question is how we convey this to Lord Kevin. I don't know that he would believe it if we claimed Lord Markham were in league with the enemy."
"No, neither do I. Parthipan will need to go to Lord Kevin and give him a rough estimate of how many soldiers the dreadmarch has," Rez whips his head around to Ginrai before the lorekeeper can say anything, "not a word," he turns back to the group in general," What we tell Lord Kevin about that conversation is . . . I don't know. But I have the sneaking suspicion that someone's going to need to go out there and see exactly what the situation with the Dreadmarch and the Storm-Riders is - are they walking towards an ambush?"
Bjorn flicks his eyes towards Nathan and Dracos, but does not say anything, beyond giving Nathan a slightly disapproving frown.
Rez raises an eyebrow at Bjorn.
"We are not starting that argument again." He shakes his head, and looks around the group, "So, what do the rest of you think we should be doing?"
"I think it is time that we took a trip and did some...more direct recon. Parthipan, could you get the general area they were in?"
Dracos
Rez shakes his head and pulls out the map again, placing it down on a table.
"He said no, earlier. But. We know they're due tomorrow, so they won't be much more than a day, a day and a half's march to the Northwest. We know they are probably in the same general vincinity as the Dreadmarch, although they'll be able to move a lot faster, I imagine . . ."
Rez taps the map.
"We know roughly where they should be . . . and they aren't going to hide the passage of an entire army from us, so odds on if we head in the right direction, we're going to find them. We should ask Lord Kevin what route they would have taken."
"An interesting gambit." Dracos brushed his chin. "though not without dangers. But none worth the time to contemplate. Shall we make haste?"
Dracos
"I'm almost certain that Lord Kevin knows when and where to expect the storm-riders," Bjorn confirms. "Why don't I take you to see him now? I think Master Parthipan still had some more questions for Master Radegast, so we can leave them to their business."
Bjorn tries to make eye contact with both Dracos and Nathan, and, as he delivers the speech, jerks his head slightly to the door. Outside.
Rez nods and follows Bjorn outside.
"That sounds like a sensible plan." Dracos nods to Radagast, glances at Rez and Bjorn, and heads out the door with them.
Dracos
Nathan, Bjorn, and Dracos now move to Stay (http://pishoque.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=33696#33696).
"Well," Radagast murmurs, turning around and pacing. "This is an unexpected turn."
"Everything that has happened here since I awoke in that cave -- every single thing -- has been an unexpected turn.
"I don't think I could much help out in the search for the Stormriders, so I suppose I should stay here and help to fortify as best I can. Which may not really be much. But, anyway, there's one thing I think I've missed. Why, exactly, is the Dreadmarch attacking? Are they after something in particular, or is this a general kill-and-pillage agenda?"
"They want to kill the Archonae, actually," Radagast muses. "We just happen to be in the way. And of course, if the last Archon were slain, they would turn on us anyway. It's all at the whim of the elder gods, best as I can tell."
Paul leans his chair toward Ginrai and whispers, even though there's only one other person in the room and he'll probably hear it.
"Who were the Archonae, again?"
"Basically the guys who helped the elder gods create life," Ginrai whispers back.
"So why do the elder gods want them dead? And where are they?"
Ginrai thinks for a moment before whispering, "The Archonae live way to the south of the Heartlands, basically about the equator. The elder gods are trying to destroy them for two reasons. One, beecause the Elder gods are hateful, violent creatures, and they like to watch suffering. And secondly because it's the game they've been trying to force the Archonae to play since the elder gods created them."
"That is fucked up."
Paul raises his voice, so that now he is speaking to Radagast as well. "Well, now that that's answered, might you have any suggestions as to what we can do while they investigate the Stormriders? I feel like I'm just twiddling my thumbs here while other people do things."
"Well," Radagast says slowly. "Let's consider things for the moment. I won't deny that your friends are taking care of important tasks ... but given what we now know about our young friend Parthipan and Banor, I believe that it is worth some investigation.
"I suppose you don't remember anything of the people you were before coming here?" he asks.
"Not really."
"Hmm," Ragast muses, frowning. "If only you had kept journals. Well, as much of a pity as it is, no use weeping over what can't be undone. Is there anything esle I can answer for you?"
"Can you explain more about the ceremony involving the Archon?"
"Mmm." Radagast nods. "He will arrive, of course, bearing the light of hope from the oracle in the south.
"Once he arrives, he will be preceeded by the priestess of Hamar, down into the depths of the keep. Even deeper than the baths, there is a chamber where the stone will rest, spreading the warmth of that hope to all who fight against the Dreadmarch.
"The only ones allowed to accompany the Archon will be Lord Kevin, and the assembled clergy. Their vassals will also be there, of course. Outside, everyone raises a cheer, trying to be loud enough to be heard by the Dreadmarch as it draws near. I don't know that it actually works, mind you, but it does set everyone to a state of mind for what is to come."
He frowns. "That's about it. The Archon will usually stay in guest quarters until the battle is ended, and then take the light of hope back south, to their oracle."
Before you can ask another question, Radagast stiffens, and frowns. "I sense others from your world here," he says slowly. "I don't know where they are, though."
"I see.... You said you can only sense them if they were nearby, right?"
"That's right," Radagast says, nodding. "Within a few miles, at the most."
"Either the Storm-riders are closer than expected or someone else is approaching. I take it people will be waiting to greet whomever approaches the Keep? Maybe we should also be there?"
Radagast looks at you strangely. "Who else would be coming, and within such a short distance? No, they should already be here.
"But with a whole army around us, how will we tell them apart?"
"Wouldn't you be able to notice a stronger presence from whomever it is the closer they are?"
"If I were to see them, yes," Radagast agrees.
"Ah, damn, that would make it rather difficult if it was one person hidden within the large army. What do you plan to do when they arrive?"
"Hope they aren't trying to sabotage us," he says, sighing. "I don't really know what else I can do."
"Hmm? You're not going to greet them when they arrive and at least have a chance to check on Lord Markham?"
"Greet who?" he asks. "I'd need to know who they were for that. And as far as the Storm-riders reaching us, that's far more dependant on your friends than I. If they reach the Keep, I intend to look them over certainly, but that's not today. That's the day after tomorrow."
"A few miles at most? I would think that they couldn't be with the Dreadmarch -- they aren't due for at least a day, right? Maybe we should bring you out and try to triangulate where these guys are, while we have time. If that's okay by you, of course."
"I can tell that they arrived, not where they are," Radagast says. "If I see them, I'll recognize them. If we had more time, I might convince Lord Kevin to make a troop inspection, which would give me a good chance to spot them...."
"Well, even if we don't have time, why don't we take a walk around the courtyard and check out some of the guys training? Unless you have something pressing that requires you be here, of course."
Shrugging, Radagast acompanies you down to the courtyard, where a few guys in armor are still practicing. Most of them ignore your group, and Radagast frowns. "This doesn't give me a good chance to find them," he murmurs.
"A small chance is better than none at all. Besides, walking around and getting outside can help clear your head. Maybe you'll think of something out here."
Nodding in agreement, Radagast rises to his feet. "I will go and keep an eye out, then," he says. "Is there anything else you need, first?
"I have nothing to do. Why don't I take a walk with you?"
"Certainly," Radagast says, smiling slightly. "And you, Master Parthipan?"
"Nothing," Parthipan says, after a moment. "I guess we should go."
Paul and Parthipan then follow Radagast to the courtyard, and spend the rest of the day discreetly looking for people who are acting like they're from a different world.
No luck.
After a while, Radagast gives up, because he has to attend some meeting or another with Lord Kevin, but reminds you to keep in touch.
After that, you rest a bit, wander around, and mostly, stay in your rooms and read your books.
Parthipan: You think you have a better understanding of how to build a spell, after flipping through the extra books that Radagast had sent to you.
Paul: Hey, your book doesn't just have songs and stuff in it! You've drawn little maps with notes to yourself next to them towards the end.
After losing track of time entirely (the sun still doesn't ever set), you're summoned to the ceremony.
This thread closes, and we proceed to: Fantatic Waltz (http://pishoque.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=34063#34063).