With the horses
being so burdened, the trip back towards Hradetz is far from swift,
however, it is still substantially faster than traveling at the slow
walking pace of the two dwarves and the three year old. By the time
dawn starts to rise, you are already a fair way towards
Hradetz.
As the sun rises, you carry
on your journey. A number of you start to doze as your tiredness
catches up with you. However, you are soon jolted awake by the
movement of the horses, and those of you riding without saddles find
the journey to be particularly uncomfortable.
After another two hours of
travel, you come to the road crossing. Once more, Jihan is dispatched
to check that the coast is clear. He comes back to say that there are
no early morning travelers on the road and so you are able to cross
without being seen. From there, it is only another half an hour of
travel before you see the deserted barn ahead of you. Once again,
Jihan goes ahead of the rest of you to investigate the barn.
He returns a few minutes
later to say that the barn is empty, a little disappointed that none
of Boris’ men are there. You all move into the barn and unload the
horses. It is around 9.30 a.m. when you eventually slump into the
soft hay on the floor of the barn. Within minutes, several of you are
already asleep, glad to be in the relative safety of the barn.
Yaz notices that there is a
pair of barn owls nesting in the roof of the barn. They observe the
party with their large unblinking eyes, particularly Viirin, who is
also half-asleep.
It is 6.00 p.m. by the time
you are all awake, having organized a watch system that was not
needed as no one disturbed you during the day. Once you are all
awake, you start to discuss the best way of getting back inside
Hradetz with the added complications of having three horses, an ass
and a winter wolf to bring with you. You realize that leaving the
beasts here is not an option, as you need to bring them through
Hradetz in order to have them with you as you continue your journey
on to Holitze. You have four hours until curfew begins and they close
the gates for the evening.
Faewen'il wakes, sore as
usual, not yet used to having a body that was balanced different and
had some new and interesting parts. Once the very embarrassing task
of Darry's waking needs are taken care of, she grabs up several of
the books from the large saddlebags and a candle and sets to the task
of preparing her mind for the magic that was her life.
Only after a good hour spent
delving through the books; muttering to herself the entire time, does
she once more involve herself in a world that contained more than
just her and the magic. Even though she had had a full rest, the
haunted look of the previous night's activities still was on her
face.
As the others start up their
talk of what to do next, she sits at the periphery and picks half
heartedly at her food; her stomach still not wanting to be nourished
after the shock of the killings.
Yaz is fascinated at the
sight of the two barn owls. He spends a while watching them and
deduces that they are male and female. Close to them is a nest. Being
careful not to disturb the owls, Yaz creeps up to the nest and peers
inside. He sees, however, that the eggs that he was hoping for are
not inside and so he goes back to his place and carries on
contemplating, seemingly locked in some inner turmoil.
"I'm tempted to make
friends..." Yaz says to Jihan. "But I wouldn't want to make them
move, or separate them. Now, if they had owlets, I'd adopt a young
one..."
Winnacer has been looking at
the fine form of Viirin since he has been awake. The fact that you
now have a beast with such a fine and valuable hide with you gives
him the basis of an idea for obtaining entry to the fur farm:
"Hey Yaz, I've been doing a
bit of thinking on how we can eliminate this fur farm without a
direct assault. And my most recent idea really lies within your realm
of expertise to figure out if it is plausible or not."
"I was thinking that we
could approach the farm as merchants once our current disguises are
dispelled. With your recruiting of Viirin, we easily could pose as
animal poachers, offering our services to the farm to provide them
with Winter Wolf breeding stock. I would imagine that such a
commodity would interest the farm enough to allow us entry. While the
group of us would be escorted off to talk to the leaders about
business, I would expect that out of courtesy the fur farm poachers
would place our cargo, Viirin, within their worg pen. Would it be
possible for him to convince the lot of their worgs to attack their
masters? I remember sketchy details about how wolfpacks work, so I
figured it would be best to talk with you. If such a thing is
possible, it would be an easy task for one of us to open the pen
under the cloak of invisibility or the like, releasing quite a
devastating surprise attack to those around. If the rest of us can
get to the walls before we spring the coupe, we can protect the
wolves by slaughtering the archers and firing our missile weapons at
other targets. The idea is still pretty rough, because we still need
to scout the layout of the farm to see if that would be effective and
haven't worked out how we could use our potential allies like Flint,
but if what I postulate is possible, it may lead to another massacre
without spilling too much of our own blood."
"So Yaz, what do you
think?"
Yaz smiles:
"I like it. Could Viirin
convince the worgs towards a jailbreak? I'm sure he could. They speak
the same language, and both species are real smart. And the winter
wolf would command some pretty good respect from them, too. Not bad
thinkin', for a Civ, Winn." Yaz grins.
"I know we'll take care of
all that when the time comes... but for scouting the place out, I've
got some ideas of how our animal friends might be able to help. And
after I talk to Red, we should have a good idea how the place runs.
What I really need, though, is a flying friend..."
He looks up at the two owls
again, thinking to himself, unsure if he should disrupt their lives.
Instead, he goes out into the evening to pray and gather himself for
the night's activities.
Darius has been silent
through the journey, still weak as a result of his wounds. However,
as soon as talk goes back to the subject of the fur farm, the little
fellow gets animated once more:
"Sorry Brother, but Darius
no can wait" he says to Jihan. "Darius seek god inside. Find many
gods, yours, the healing lady... many... but not yet find Darius'.
Inside here," he touches his breast, "Darius feel someone tell him to
save animals... Blood Oath not be broken for sake of fear. Fear can
be stopped."
Darius then folds his arms
over his chest, looks towards Winnacer and says:
"Fur farm Darius go to.
Darius say before, many things in our way will get, then like tower
will become.. never back we will go. Darius made blood oath... Fur
Farm!"
Jihan looks towards
Darius:
'I understand your concern
brother, and we must decide our next course of action together' the
elf/dwarf replies to Darius. 'However, before we make our final
decision, I think it best if I take a look at the gate, to see how
carefully they are checking those entering the city. We can then be
better informed when we make our decision. I shall be back within the
hour.'
Jihan disappears and you
wait for his return. After an hour, he is still not back and you are
starting to worry for his safety. Then, after another half an hour,
Tharnald's familiar form comes through the door. You see that there
is a smile on the dwarf's face:
'I don't know whether it is
as a result of their hearing about Reinberger's demise, but the
guards on the gate are very lax. There is no Witchfinder in
attendance, and the company of orcs are just chatting amongst
themselves, just giving passers by a cursory glance before letting
them through.'
'However, that's not the
only interesting news that I have. While I was observing the gate,
who did I see but Rickard Malek, Lord Protektor of Dvur Kralovye,
accompanied by two companies of Worgriders. I saw the Captain that
was amongst those that accompanied us when they took us to the town
in chains riding his Winter Wolf and also Sargeant Sklad mounted on a
new Dire Wolf leading one of the companies.'
'I thought that they were
heading for Hradetz, but they did not stop. Instead they changed
direction upon reaching the city, heading south. The expression on
Malek's face was one of total anger. It looks as if he's found out
what happened to Reinberger and he's not very happy at all about him.
I wonder where he's off to?'
Will, like Faewen'il, finds
a quiet corner of the barn away from others to study his spellbook.
But he seems much less intent, almost as if it wasn't that important
to him. Rather, he fiddles with daggers, spinning them absent
mindedly in one hand, while flipping a page with the other, or
snacking intermittently while mouthing arcane words in practice. A
little later, he can be seen lying on his back in the hay, legs
propped up and crossed, holding the book open above him, whistling a
catchy tune while his toe taps out the rhythm in the air. Then,
slapping the book shut, he tosses it onto his bags, rolls over
backwards and flips up to his feet. Stretching and grunting, he tries
to get the blood flowing again. Then goes to find what the others are
up to.
"Say, what happened to the
sparring match last evening? I was looking forward to receiving
another good lesson in humility."
It was obvious in the
previous sword practice, that anyone in the group who bears a sword
could quickly overcome Will's limited prowess.
"I've much to learn, and
would rather receive it from the likes of you than an enemy."
Looking at the half-elf with
a half-smile, Jihan replies:
"If any of us could wield
anything heavier than our own arms after fighting and then running
for hours on end without sleep, I think we would not need to worry
about practicing. I think that we'll be receiving more than enough
practice in the coming days, and, friend or foe alike, it won't be
much easier. Maybe we'll have some time to go at it again once we get
to Holitze, but I wouldn't worry about it at all until we get through
the city..."
Will is respectful of
Darius' wishes and his oath. At the same time, he is also very
concerned about Malek heading south with such an escort. Addressing
the group, he makes the following suggestions:
"I agree with the suggestion
that the entire group receive mounts. I am unskilled in riding, so a
gentle riding mount will suit my needs. But we must enhance our
mobility, for speed is sometimes of the essence. This fellow Boris
may know something of the business of Malek as well. As regards the
gnomes of which you speak, if the group has promised their delivery
to a safe abode, then the task must be completed in good time. These
are people with lives put on hold, unlike Boscobelous Tower, which
houses undead that will wait there into the next millenia for us.
And, if I read the conversations correctly, it has been said that the
fur farm will not harm the animals for some time, perhaps months,"
Now he turns to Darius
specifically:
"Small and mean though you
appear, you speak from a large and noble heart. All of us must seek
our own peace with ourselves and the gods, and I do not wish you to
break your oath. But consider please the timeliness in which the
group as a whole must fulfill its vows, and reconsider the truth that
the fur farm is a static, unchanging peril for the moment."
"We can quickly communicate
with Boris, perhaps receiving more intelligence on the situation at
hand, resupply, purchase mounts, and escort the gnomes southward to
Holitze, while keeping an eye on the trail of Malek who is also
headed south. Did I mention that I also profess the calling of ranger
as well as bard, and that I should be able to track a group of that
size in a blizzard?"
Smiling now openly at Will,
Jihan looks him up and down reassessingly:
"I knew your fighting style
seemed very familiar in some way or another... both my father and his
brother were rangers, as were nearly all male Halbarads going back to
Bohavia's founding. It is good to have a Warder close by again... I
agree, we must make haste..."
"Alas, I cannot boast of
elven tutors" responds Will sadly. "However, I will strive to uphold
the profession's good name. I was instructed by a human named Jandor,
who has now retired with his wife and family far away in the
mountains, away from the Nyemetz reach. A good man, he."
The elf then turns to Darius
and speaks:
"The gods aside, brother,
hasn't Heimlin done enough for you and us to at LEAST see him to
safety? He's a good gnome, and his daughter-in-law isn't getting any
better sitting in hiding, and I can't see it being any good for his
grandmother either. No animals will be killed at the farm for months,
and they certainly aren't hurting the worgs. I know you're trying to
find something in life that has a greater meaning... a greater
feeling... but if you must do so at the expense of your friends, the
people who love you and care about you... are you sure you want it
THAT way? We will go back there, no matter what you may believe. No
tower can keep us away from striking out against the Nyemetz, or
fighting against injustice," he says with a glance Xavier's way. "I
will not beg or plead with you any more, brother, as it demeans us
both, just remember that I also swore an oath of blood to strike out
at the fur farm, and my oath is no less binding than yours. I WILL
act, but now is not the time."
Jihan then turns towards the
rest of the group before continuing:
"I'd like to go talk to...
Boris, again myself," he says, darting a quick glance towards where
Faewen'il sits sorely and studying.
"There're some things I
wanted to tie up with him. Maybe he'll have a better plan to get us
all through the city than just going at it in small groups. I'll
certainly need something to put over these 'clothes' though... and
maybe this moustache could do with a trim..." he says, feeling for
about the hundredth time facial hair the like of which his elven
heritage prevents him from growing.
"I think some of us should
approach him first just to be sure, and then signal the rest of us
in. We'll have to get mounts for the rest of us for sure now.
Whatever we do, it should be done quickly. I have a bad feeling about
where Malek may be heading... I just hate to think that we might be
putting the gnomes and dwarves into danger again."
"I too am concerned about
the fate of Holitze" Will agrees. "They may direly need our
assistance."
Faewen'il listened to the
news Jihan brought, her brow furrowing in concern as a hand reached
up to scratch at Darry's stubbly face; shaving was far too hazardous
a thing to undertake.
"Ye thinkin they be headed
far Holitze then?"
"Iffin that be tha case,
then we had best be sneakin all o us in and be followin them. I know
that we set up tha village ta be protectin itself... but they will be
needin a hand far sure."
"I have tha invisibility
spell far tha day as well as tha one for sleep... with tha guards so
lax, it should be easy far us ta get in with a large parson invisible
and hidin others under a blanket. Once in, we can get Boris's people
ta be gettin our creatures into tha city an out tha other side.... as
far tha wolf... maybe Darius could be ridin it in as hisself and tell
tha guards he is tryin ta catch up ta Malek."
It had certainly been as
many words as Faewen'il had said all that day and the day before put
together; but it was easy to tell her heart was not in her
words.
Yaz adds his thoughts to the
on-going debate as to the next destination:
"If Darius absolutely puts
his foot down, then I will seriously consider going with him this
time, because I know the accompanying of the gnomes and dwarves can
be done without me. I also feel that the fur farm can be handled
easier while we're all in our other forms, especially with Xavier the
orc and Bennett the Witchfinder. But the innocents desperately need
to be taken somewhere safe, and that, really, is the first priority
in my mind. I know Prirodna will provide another way in to the Farm
if the disguises fail in the meantime."
Winnacer looks Darius
straight in the eye when he starts up with his blood oath
again:
"Darius, listen closely. As
we speak, I think I've hit upon a plan that could liberate the farm
within the week. Unfortunately, it requires us to have our normal
forms to be effective. This means we have to wait, so we might as
well make the trip to Holitze while we wait to revert.
This is not about fear or
oaths or anything, this is simply about what works. The last time you
left us, you came inches from death without helping any of the
animals one bit. Hopefully you will see that your patience will have
a more profound effect on those you wish to save than your running
off."
After listening to Winnacer
and Will, Darius' eyes remain hard.
"Only one plan? Only one
plan and that is all must be normal? Why this so? Why not use blood,
cut clothes, use disguise. Say we come upon Witchfinder and Orcs and
Goblins and wolves fighting Orcs and Goblins and Orogs. We see goblin
run away. Then we see many die. Try stop fight but Witchfinder attack
us and group attack us. Say rest we need. Then when all sleep, we
make trouble. Never only one plan. One week? Darius not wait that
long."
He turns to Yaz:
"Remember once tell I you
that life take own course? Each day the road ahead forks to new
areas. Many times one can say 'we go back to that fork' many times it
never happen. Now each time we look at road ahead, new obstacle in
path of fur farm. When you listen to Her in your heart?"
Winnacer pauses as a thought
comes to mind.
"Before you run off, perhaps
you wish to meet someone that really could help you on your mission
if you wish to leave now. His name is Konan, the head priest of
Kitry, and perhaps his blessing may aid you in whichever path you
choose."
Darius considers Winnacer's
request:
"Will come to meet Konan if
he is close, I owe my insides that, then leave must I. If Darius die,
then I die but Darius feel there is purpose for him, and that will
make him not die. How long it take to get to Konan and back? What
plan have you Winnacer?"
Will's eyes light up as he
listens to Winnacer:
"Konan? Konan the Librarian?
You went to the temple of KITRY in Hradetz? And you have met father
Konan?"
Will laughs in recognition,
"How is the gentle giant?"
When asked how he knows of
Konan, Will reiterates:
"Well, I don't really KNOW
him, I've only met him and then it was years ago when I was but a
lad. You see, I was raised in a small temple dedicated to Kitry after
my parents died. Father Konan visited there, and I sat at his feet
while he read to me and the other children. I doubt that he would
recall me though, but then again, he always seemed to know and
remember everything."
Will puffs up his chest and
arms in a pose of physique, then puts his circled thumbs and
forefingers in front of his eyes as he squints through them.
"Konan!" He exclaims,
returning to normal stance.
As Winnacer sits and thinks
for a second, his eyes start to burn ferociously:
"This is not time for
inaction, but time for haste. It is not good enough to tail Malek and
find where he is going. Two divisions of wolfriders will not be
easily ambushed. We must race them to Holitze, and prepare them for
the fight of their lives. If they have been preparing like we asked
since we left, perhaps together we can best them. If we do not set
out to their aid, we condemn them to death. We pledged to protect
both villages when we first liberated them; our discussions about
reprisals still ring within my head. Now is the time to act like
heroes, to bring the weapons of our arms, our minds, and our hearts
to bear in defense of the families of Bohavia. Now who's with
me?"
Winnacer waits for
responses, then looks on Darius and Yaz if he has decided to again
tackle the fur farm. With passion, Winnacer begins:
"A tough fight lies ahead of
us, but it will be more so if you decide it is time to part. Know
this, if you choose to leave the villagers and animals of Holitze to
their fate, the eyes of Prirodna and Spravedelna shall frown upon
you. In your heart you will forever know that you have abandoned
those most in need to a grisly death at the jaws of countless wolves.
And you will know that each villager who dies did so because he
committed the crime of supporting our actions. To abandon them now
will stain your conscience for all time. With this said, what are
your plans?"
Will steps up to stand near
Winnacer, denoting his concurrence.
"Holitze?" says Yaz. "How do
you know? Maybe they're going to Pardubitze, to rally more Nyemetz
against us..."
Yaz's tone lacks conviction.
Winnacer's speech has obviously frightened him, and he becomes
visibly pale.
"If you're right, we have to
go. Yeah, we have to go NOW."
"We must learn more of this,
and QUICKLY" interjects Jihan, obviously getting quite emotional. "If
I were invisible again, I could get into the city in the blink of an
eye and run to find Boris. He would know what Malek is doing... He
MUST know! Malek heading south is too much of a risk to leave. We
need to know more...NOW! If Holitze is threatened, I will not sit by
while it is destroyed!"
Yaz swallows, then seems to
come to some resolve.
"Winnacer, I volunteer to go
on ahead and warn the village. I have the fastest steed," glancing at
Viirin, "and can take care of myself in the wilderness. We can travel
through the grasses without being seen. Viirin says he can get across
the river without going through the city. I will go with him, now,
and meet you at Holitze."
"Let me, and anyone else
who's up to it, make our way to Boris and find out what's going on as
fast as we can" Jihan adds.
Listening to the continuing
debate about entering the city, Jihan throws in his bit:
"The bottom line is that one
or more of us must enter the city, around now preferably, and contact
Boris to find out about what Malek's doing. We needn't get so strung
up on assumptions that we start acting irrationally. Then we come
back to contact the rest and figure out what to do from there. If
indeed he is going to Holitze, then we will make provision for horses
to be available. I think Winn's correct in thinking that perhaps we
should leave the gnomes and dwarves behind on this eventuality. We're
going to be moving fast... very fast... too fast for them to keep up.
Bringing them along will slow us down way too much. I don't want to
be dragging any of them into danger again if we have the choice. We
can worry about getting through the city after we talk to Boris. I
think that Winn and I should get that invisible cloak going and sneak
in right away."
'Well I think that it is
best if I stay here in the barn while the rest of you go to find
Boris,' says Yaz. 'It doesn't need all of us to go there. I think
that you and the horses shouldn't have too much of a problem getting
through the gates if what Jihan says is true. However, I think that
it's going to be a totally different case for Viirin here. He
does…um…stand out a little and he's not going to be very easy to
disguise.'
'No I shall stay here and
look after Viirin, although it's probably more accurate to say that
he will look after me. If you plan on going to Holitze after speaking
with Boris, then all you have to do is get him to send one of his men
out to fetch me, and I shall arrange for Viirin to meet us on the
other side of the river.'
'As it is, I have a lot to
keep me busy, as Viirin has promised to teach me how to speak his
tongue on a regular basis.'
He then looks up again at
the owls:
'And I plan to get very
friendly with one of our two wide-eyed friends up there. I think that
they could prove to be very useful to us.'
Will approaches
Darry/Faewen'il:
"Can a Witchfinder divine
the presence of a spell book with one of their staves? How about a
spell that is resident on a person, such as my Armor spell?"
With a small sigh, Faewen'il
once more explains the rods and magic.
"They can detect anything
that be magic in nature, be they a spell cast upon ye body of be they
a book with writins in it o spells. But they have ta be suspectin
magics a'fore they be bringin one out ta use it."
"Iffin there be no
witchfinders at tha gate, then ye need not worry about tha spells
cast upon ye; nor ye book o spells. These rods" he says, gesturing to
the three he has tucked in his belt, " not be common enough ta be
givin to tha average lunk o a gate guard."
Then he addresses the
group:
"I can gain access to the
city easily enough by free entry at the gate, and I can carry a mount
with me as well without too much suspicion."
Winnacer listens to all of
the suggestions and then makes a decision:
'Well, if Yaz wants to stay
here with Viirin, then that's the problem of the wolf negated. As for
the rest of us, I think that if some of us are going, then we may as
well all go. After all, if we did run into any trouble, seven of us
are more likely to fight our way out of it than just one or two
would.'
'I think that the risks are
small. Will, you are not on the Nyemetz wanted list and so you have
nothing to fear provided that there are no Witchfinders on the gate,
which Jihan has told us is the case. Xavier, perhaps you could take
on the role of a Nyemetz Sargeant bringing Darius the deserting
goblin back to the city. I would imagine that it is a fairly common
sight at the gate and you are both dressed for the part. Bennett,
your face has never been well known in this city, so I think that you
have little to fear, as I doubt very much whether anyone here has an
accurate description of you. As we need to ensure that Reinberger's
face is not seen, then I propose that I be given the invisibility
spell. I can carry through all of the magickal items just to have an
additional safeguard in case Witchfinders suddenly make an
appearance. That just leaves you two, Jihan and Faewen'il, to come up
with some sort of disguise and risk not being checked out too
carefully. Are you willing to take the risk?'
Jihan and Faewen'il both
agree and then spend a while changing their appearances as best they
can, obtaining items of clothing from the others in the party and
rolling up sleeves, etc. in order to change their clothes. Jihan
shaves off Tharnald's moustache and Faewen'il rubs soot into Darry's
hair. After just 10 minutes, Winnacer tells them that only under very
close inspection would they be recognized as the two wanted
dwarves.
As soon as the disguises are
finished, everyone stows their magickal items into two backpacks and
they are put upon Winnacer. Faewen'il then casts the invisibility
spell upon him and the young lord disappears from view.
They are ready to go. They
say your farewells to Yaz and then make off from the barn as dusk
begins to fall, with Will and Bennett leading the three horses, and
Jihan pulling Bennett the ass behind him and Faewen'il.
They reach the gate after 20
minutes. The gate is quiet, with very little traffic as a result of
the guards letting through everyone without checking them carefully.
As Jihan said, security is very lax and the guards just look up at
those coming in and out before going back to rolling dice on the
path.
First through the gate are
Xavier and Darius. Xavier grabs hold of Darius' ear and pulls him
along by it while shouting every Nyemetz obscenity that he can think
of at the goblin. It's a very long list. Darius struggles along by
his side, grimacing in pain and looking afraid.
As they come up to the gate,
the guards all stop what they are doing and start grinning at the
sight. Some of them start to clap their hands and shout encouragement
to Xavier for bringing in another of the little bastards.
With the guards' attention
fixed on the orc and goblin, Winnacer sees his chance and quickly
nips through the gate. He quickly moves through into the city and
stops as soon as he turns the first corner to check that the others
have no problems.
Xavier and Darius continue
through and then Will, Bennett and the horses make their way through
the gate. The guards look up briefly, see just a typical pair of
Bohavia peasants and so wave them through quickly so as to get back
to their game.
Breathing deeply, Jihan and
Faewen'il bring up the rear, pulling Bennett the ass behind them.
Once again, the guards are far too engrossed in their game to pay too
much attention to the dirty looking dwarves coming through the gates
and ignore them totally.
They meet up with the rest
of the party behind the first corner and they all breathe a sigh of
relief at getting through the gate without any problems
whatsoever.
They follow the familiar
route to the deserted warehouse that serves as the Blue Dragons'
base. The invisible Winnacer once again gives a coded knock at the
door. As expected, there is a rustle of curtains from somewhere
above, the glint of a mirror reflected by the dim moonlight and, a
couple of minutes later, the door is opened by one of Boris'
henchmen, who welcomes them back warmly. Winnacer decides to drop the
invisibility spell at this point, remembering how Jihan was forced to
entertain the Dragons for hours when he was in that state last
time.
They walk up the two ladders
and are once more again back in Boris' lounge.