To Far Away Times

[Rezantis]

Rez taps his belt.

"Have we got anywhere we can lay out a map?  Easier to work these things out if you can visualize them, I always thought."

[Brian]

Markham grunts.  "A map," he agrees.  "Let us go to the center of the camp.  Behind the shadow of the wagons, we can have torches lit."

After navigating through darkness (for most everyone else) you reach the center of the camp, where a few torches are already burning.  The priestess and her guards are following Farwell like puppies, stopping only when they reach the light.  They're already wearing their non-ceremonial gear, it appears.

Wardmaster Mattias follows a short distance behind.

Someone has set up a tent, which has a table and some chairs in it.  "Didn't think we'd be setting this up here," Markham grumbles, lighting a pair of lanterns inside.  There's enough room inside this tent for everyone to stand, including the priestess's retinue.

[Dracos]

"It could be worse.  Hmm...there is something we're forgetting.  Pardon, but allow me to elaborate on just why we came out here initially.  We had successfully escourted the priestess Mirellea through to the keep and had been involved in attempting to figure out the numbers of the dreadmarch.  Our lorekeeper, Parthipan, had managed to cast a spell to listen and see upon the wind, intending to scout out the dreadmarch and where they were and their numbers.  Instead he happened upon a meeting between a storm-rider in golden and silver armor with blonde hair and another man in steel gray armor with flecks of flour in his hair speaking about hiding an army from the vision of the storm-riders.  The storm-rider was seen during this wearing my torc openly.  After hearing of this, we rushed over here to find him and attempt to prevent the treachery.  Unfortunately, it is already too late for that.  I think we should attempt to extricate the plans and arrangements Tomas had made with the man in gray armor from him.  Information about our enemies and any planned meetings could be useful."

Dracos rubbed his beard, looking over the map Rez had set down while he was speaking to see if he noticed anything they could take advantage of in terms of slipping past the dreadmarch.

Dracos

[Brian]

The terrain is not helpful.  The approach to the keep is essentially a funnel, and the Dreadmarch is blocking your approach.

"We could have Tomas questioned," Markham agrees wearily.  He steps out of the tent and barks a few questions.  Shortly thereafter, Tomas is brought before you, his hands bound together behind his back, and his feet bound together as well, limiting his pace to a very slow walk.

There's a cut on his face, and it looks like he's going to have a nasty bruise in the morning, too.

He says nothing, while Markham turns to Phil expectantly.

[Dracos]

"This will be short Tomas.  Within the last two days you met with a man in gray armor out in the snow fields, planning what has happened.  I want to know who that is and what you arranged with him.  Everything you arranged with him."

Dracos

[Brian]

Tomas spits at you, and glowers.  Markham cuffs him, and he flinches, relenting.  "I had agreed to stall the Storm-riders until the Dreadmarch was in place," he says sullenly.  "Once we were cut off, we'd turn away from the Dreadmarch, which we couldn't hope to defeat ... and we'd retreat to the dark citadel, abandoned with all of the Dreadmarch out in force.  We'd make that our home, and there, I would slay my brother to claim the right to rule the Storm-riders," he growls, glaring hatefully at everyone, Markham in particular.

[Dracos]

"Who was it that you made the agreement with?"

Dracos

[Brian]

"I never knew his name," Tomas admits.

[Dracos]

Dracos stared a bit, stunned at the comment.

"...  You made an agreement to betray the storm-riders, steal my torc, Farwell's torc, and eventually your brothers torc, abandon the forces at the keep to the dreadmarch, kill your own brother in cold blood... and you did not even get the person's name to whom you were arranging this with?  How did you know to meet with him?  How did you arrange your meetings with him?  It can't have just been now.  How long has this been going on?"

Dracos

[Brian]

"Farwell's torc was lucky happenstance," Tomas says, causing Farwell to roll his eyes.  "He met me beneath the dancing lights a night after I stole your torc, and told me I could have more than trinkets ... if I was careful."  He shrugs.

"I've heard enough," Markham grumbles.  "Tomas!  I cast you aside.  You are a Storm-rider no longer.  No weapons, no food, and no friendship will be given to you.  Now get out of my sight, and never let me set eyes upon you again."

He blinks, as the guards cut his bindings, and hesitate, looking at Phil to make sure there's no more questions before they haul Tomas off.

[Rezantis]

"I have a couple more questions about this man, Tomas.  How did you know where to meet him, and were you going to meet him again?"

[Brian]

"Not until we reached the citadel," he says, shaking his head.

[Rezantis]

Rez growls in annoyance, and shakes his head to the men holding Tomas.

"Well, there goes that plan," he sighs after the men have taken Tomas away, "whoever his contact is, he's a cunning bastard."

[Brian]

Makrham grunts, and broods.  "What to do," he muses.  "We cannot take the enemy.  The keep is lost to us.  Have you any ideas?"

Farwell shakes his head, as Tomas is lead off.

[Rezantis]

"No simple solution presents itself, my lord." Rez cocks an eyebrow at Phil, then shrugs, "Myself, all I can suggest is to consolidate what we can, by going and emptying the temples as Mattias said . . . and hoping for an opportunity."