Aftermath Of The Games

While Klauf makes his departure, the Dragons deposit the large sacks that they have been collecting the money and jewelry in before Tomas and Viktor. The two master rogues rummage through the sacks in order to get a rough estimation as to what they have gained from the haul:

"Seven or eight thousand gold pieces worth in total," Tomas says after a short while investigating the items. He then looks around at the bodies of his men littering the ground around the Bookies' Office and the entrance to the arena.

"It's not a bad haul," he continues, "but the cost to us has been enormous. This job was bad. After the Pardubitze excursion and this, there's just a handful of us left."

The Dragon sent to hunt for Boris returns at this point. On the horse in front of him is the familiar form of the master rogue, who looks close to death, barely conscious, but still alive. The other survivor from the gate group runs along besides the horse, panting deeply.

Bennett then takes the opportunity to bow with his best graces, which is actually quite good, though the transformation from wild warrior to courteous gentleman is hardly complete, and quite sincerely thanks the mystery woman for her assistance:

"I know not who you are or why you chose to assist us, but know that we are in your debt. Anytime another warrior steps into the battle for a free Bohavia, the Nyemetz become just a little bit weaker. My name is Bennett Corbinson, and know that anything I or my partners can do for you, you merely need ask."

He does not press, but is obviously very curious to know anything she might like to offer up about herself.

Winnacer also walk over to the mystery woman, and introduces himself with a bow:

"My thanks for your assistance in what transpired here today. I am Winnacer Duene Stradheim, LawBringer of Spravedelna, and you have helped us correct a number of severe Injustices today. If there is anything we can do for you, please just ask."

"I am Sylva Prochazkova," the former mystery woman replies to Bennett's question, "and today you have done more for me than I may ever do for you. My plans for today had included only personal vindication, but I am glad I was able to lend a hand in bringing down the Nyemetz. I also had hoped to meet a group such as yourselves, while my personal vindication is now complete, I fear my journey has just begun. All I would ask of you for now is to remain in your company for a time. I have spent the past several weeks alone and would welcome the company, protection, and comfort a group can afford."

She takes a good long look at Bennett, sizing him up quite well, before turning her attention to Winnacer.

With a nod of her head, Sylva then addresses Winnacer:

"Sylva Prochazkova. More injustices than you know have been corrected today. I will be happy to elaborate at a more appropriate time and place. As I have told Mr. Corbinson," she glances at Bennett and a smile crosses her face before continuing to Winnacer, "what I would ask of you is to share your company while I consider the next phase of my journey. The gods know that I have spent too much time alone."

Bennett's return smile is wide and sincere, not an expression you see there that often. He then continues to talk with her:

"If it is not too personal, what wrong was done you that you felt the need for such vindication. You will find that most all of us here have had similar wrongs done to us, so you may feel free to let your tongue loose. As for company, protection, and comfort, all that our group has in abundance!"

Sylva is quick to reply:

"Several Nyemetz nobles sent my father into slavery and seized his lands. Today the last of those nobles have seen their demise. I will be happy to share the entire story, but would like to leave this carnage as soon as possible. Perhaps when we can find a place to clean up and some time to rest."

Winnacer fixes her with a genuine smile:

"We can always use another stout heart willing to raise her voice and her arms against the Injustice of the Nyemetz. You are certainly welcome to join us for the time being, and hopefully you will find our ideals in line with yours."

"But before you decide to travel with us, you should realize exactly what who you are dealing with. The revolutionary path is one fraught with danger and little reward nor security. I have watched many good people die horrible deaths fighting by my side, none worse than the goblin Darius."

Winn looks towards the corpse that incorporates Darius' head.

"If you are not certain that this is the life you wish to lead and are not ready to possibly lose your life to free Bohavia, our company may not be the one that you seek."

"I have seen much death in my years which has hardened my heart to the sting that it can bring," Sylva replies. "I am willing to pay any cost for the greater good of Bohavia. I believe that to remain in your company is my best course of action. The time may come for us to part company, but let us address that if the need arises."

Limping in on Xavier's able shoulder, Jihan looks around at all the carnage, noting especially the seeming prolific number of dead Dragons. His eyebrows are raised almost to his hairline in their typical arched elven fashion as he takes in the totality of Flint's handiwork. Then they dart to assess the conditions of his companions, and he breathes a sigh of relief for one especially, almost buckling as his knees go weak from the relieved anxiety.

"Is there anything left to salvage?," he says numbly, his voice penetrating the seeming unnatural silence of the violence of the scene. The crackling of the flames and the swirling ash makes the elf's gaunt and pale appearance seem almost ghastly as he surveys their casualties.

Giving a little tug on Xavier's surcoat, he tries to direct the knight towards the fallen form of the Darius-beast, and removes his killing arrow from it. Sadly, he lays a hand on it's massive shoulder, then removes the shaft of the arrow and ties the head of it onto a bit of the leather fringe on Langzhan's sheath.

"To remember," he mutters at those who throw a questioning look his way.

Xavier whispers:

"Ah. mein freund,say a few words for me. Aggravating little sod dat he vas, he did protect my back on many occassions. I shall remember him vell, and vith some strange fondness. Pity no more of his kind had der heart dat he did"

Then Jihan turns his attention to the bleeding Dragons and asks Xavier to help him over to them. The elf gives what woodland medical aid he can to help bandage them up, speaking as he does so.

"This did not turn out as it should have, brothers..." he begins, stating the obvious. "How many were lost... what were their names?" His eyes are anguished as the death toll mounts in his ears.

Shaking his head, he looks at the haul and seems to weigh in his mind its worth in comparison to what it took to achieve it.

"We will sing them to their rest later, but for now, we've got some business to deal with..."

Noticing just then the charred form of Eladria, he drops his gaze to Yurek and watches as his brothers address him, though he has little enough to add.

"Mind if I borrow this?" he asks of Bennett with regards to Yaz's 'seized' staff, and once given it, he leans on it heavily, holding his lame foot up off the ground.

Further conversation is interrupted by the sound of howling and screaming from the animal pens. They all look over to see that one of the creatures has managed to smash through one of the interior walls and has started to fight the neighboring beast, sending the rest of those in the cages even more wild.

"We need to do something about those creatures pretty soon or else I fear that they are going to escape and we are in no state to fight them all," says Winnacer, observing the commotion.

"I must say that Viktor's plan to use Flint's powder to dispatch the creatures swiftly makes a lot of sense to me. Does anyone have any objections?"

"Apart from you," he adds, as he sees Yaz about to open his mouth.

Everyone is in agreement regarding the action.

"I tend to agree with those in favour of eliminating these abominations," Jihan says with a glance towards the cages. "They were bred to kill and cause havoc, and we would be walking on a thin line of destruction were we to try and use them to our own ends... I would hate to see what would happen were any of them to find freedom in the countryside... and perhaps breed... if Eladria truly wanted these beasts to 'even the score' then she would have made sure that they were capable of such a thing."

Shuddering a little bit, he looks towards the heavily bandaged Flint:

"Sorry about that clowning around bit earlier, brother. How would you feel about doing some more blasting, then, eh? Would Ohen approve of sending these beasts to their graves, or will that leave you without enough powder to do in the Farm itself?"

Winnacer turns to Flint, seeing the state of his injuries:

"Are you up to the task, Flint?" he asks.

Flint nods, in response:

"Just about," he replies. "I just wish this bastard snow would stop, there's no way that I can use loose powder or fuses in this shit, so I guess that I shall have to give it another blast from Towcester. I just hope that she's got enough juice left in her. She's going to need recharging pretty soon at this rate."

Flint sets off towards the animal pens.

"Xavier, perhaps you would like to accompany Flint?" Winnacer asks. "If one of the animals were to escape and attack him, then he would be dead for sure."

Xavier agrees and heads after Flint, standing over him as he sets his charges.

While Winnacer is resolving the fate of the animals, Bennett has returned his attention to the captive Yaz. He chuckles as he rifles through Yaz's gear, finally lifting out his clay pipe:

"Well, well, what have we here? Some kind of weapon? I'll have to hold this for safekeeping."

Bennett grins widely as he thrusts the pipe into his pouch.

Yaz chokes, then swears vengeance silently to himself.

Winnacer continues to stare at Yaz, looking quite pissed. Yaz is beginning to doubt if Winnacer caught his really soft apology, and for some reason Yaz doesn't quite remember Winnacer ever being able to look so menacing.

"You now have twice betrayed us Yaz Charas. Your shifting loyalty and your black heart have been revealed for all to see and for Spravedelna to damn. And traitors must pay the ultimate price."

Winnacer draws forth Old Bohavia holding it high for all to see.

"Long ago I have made an oath upon this blade to use it upon those whose treacherous souls would sell out their brothers to the forces of Injustice. It seems today this sword shall again have its oath kept."

Winnacer then checks the sword for imperfection and positions Yaz face down into the dirt. He looks deep into Yaz's eyes, a look so spiteful that Yaz can do little but shake with fear.

"There are few greater crimes than treachery within the Book of Punishments. Perhaps simple execution is too kind."

With that said, Winnacer kicks a bootful of dust at the prostrated Yaz before slicing Yaz's bonds with the naked blade, freeing the Druid. Winnacer cannot help but smile at the now dusty Yaz.

"You're almost as dirty as I remember you the first time you pissed me off. I must say earth tones look wonderful on you, Yaz."

By now Yaz is getting a little confused, wondering why he's lying in a cloud of dust taking abuse when Yurek looks as if he is just going to die anyway.

He sits cross-legged in the dirt scratching his head, coming to the conclusion that, if his friends take one more liberty with him, he'll screw the con job and take care of Yurek himself.

Bennett goes over to check out the stash of weapons that was recovered from the guards and bodyguards. He is very disappointed that none of the bodyguards, all capable fighters, didn't carry any magical supplementals with them. However, Bennett hides his disappointment while rifling through the weapons on the ground, looking for anything of high quality or valuable that might better serve in the hands of an ally than in the hands of an enemy. He finds little of interest to him, however. Although there are many broadswords, battleaxes and longbows abandoned by the guards and hunters, none can match the fine edge of his own bastard sword or battleaxe. All of the valuables have also been collected by the Dragons and deposited in their sacks.

Disappointed, Bennett raises up the flail and the dart:

"Anybody know how to use one of these things, or this?"

All simply shakes their heads in response.

"If no one else is interested in it," says Winnacer, "then I may as well keep it. It could come in useful one day."

Bennett shrugs and then hands the flail to Winnacer before grabbing the ring taken from Eladria's corpse and slides it into his pouch, where he puts it on the small end of Yaz's pipe, so that he remembers to give it to him later.

Bennett then turns to Faewen'il and asks her if she was able to find the remains of the other Witchfinder, figuring he would have another wand as well.

Faewen'il shakes her head in response.

"Since we never actually saw the fellow die," responds Bennett, "I would like to be reassured that he didn't just magically disappear."

"I shall go an' check the remains o tha VIP rooms," Faewen'il says. "Parhaps I can use the wand to check for the remains of anything magickal."

With that, she wanders over to the smoking remains of the rooms.

Bennett then starts to rummage through the sacks:

"That's it?" he exclaims, surprised at the lower than anticipated value of the haul after so much blood and sweat. "Have you gotten the loot from the Bookies Office yet?"

"Yes, I'm afraid we have," replies Tomas. "Most of the gold there came from the Bookies' Office. Only a small proportion of the total number of attendees were left here by the end of the combat. The rest of them must be halfway back to Dvur or Hradetz by now. Obviously the greatest haul should have come from those in the VIP rooms, but the heat from the blast melted all of the gold. We managed to salvage a few gems from those areas, but the gold is all melted into the ground and burned into the flesh and bones of those that were wearing the items. It's more trouble than it's worth to separate it."

Bennett gives another shrug of disappointment and carries on rummaging through the sacks. He dismisses the coins, but picks out a nice gold ring for himself, then continues searching for the prettiest bauble he can get hold of.

He then surprises everyone by walking over to Faewen'il, who has just returned from investigating the remains of the VIP rooms.

"This is all you lacked to be a real noblewoman," he says, giving her the surprisingly tasteful bauble to Fae.

He then speaks to her quietly, looking around to make sure the others aren't listening:

"Hopefully, this will be a point where our rocky relationship might start to smooth out. If you are uninterested in such, that's all right, but know I hold no animosity toward you, only an uncontrollable fear at the power you wield. This may make it appear at times that I do not like or trust you, as the wielder, but be certain that is far from the case. If we are to work together, I think a peace must be made between us."

Bennett looks guardedly at her pretty young face, fully expecting to be dismissed out of hand.

Fae is obviously taken aback by Bennett's change in behavior, and doesn't know quite how to respond.

He sees that Fae is holding a couple of fragments of a Witchfinder rod and a badly singed conical hat:

"I think this be the answer to ye question about tha fate o t'other Witchfinder," she says showing the evidence to Bennett. "I be sure that he's dead now. Too bad tha other rod is destroyed. They are always useful thins to be havin."

Bennett considers the evidence for a moment and then turns to Winnacer, Tomas and Viktor:

"As to the remains of the loot, the Dragons took the brunt of the casualties, and it looks like the reward will be lighter than I thought, so you certainly should take the bulk of it, as we have more than enough finances at this point. Besides, we have all these horses!"

Bennett points with glee toward the stable, which indeed contains a horsemarket worth of steeds. Standing by the gate are eight fine carriages, each pulled by two draft horses, 19 medium warhorses and 12 light riding horses, altogether worth as much as the gold and gems taken from the nobles.

"Perhaps your contacts in Hradetz might sell them for us? Split the profits, fifty-fifty?"

Tomas nods his approval:

"That sounds like a fair deal to me, unless you were planning on forming some new cavalry units. If not, then Boris can take them back with him to Hradetz when he goes. They are likely to make a better sum there than they would in Dvur."

"I feel that the Dragons should get the lion's share of the proceeds," states Winnacer, "as they took the greatest losses. I also wish that the guards not willing to hook up with the Dragons each gets 25 gp severance pay to live on until they can find new employment. If the booty comes to 8,000gp, then perhaps 3,000 for us and 5,000 for the Dragons would be a suitable split."

There is no disagreement to Winnacer's suggestion, and the Dragons start to divide up the proceeds into two separate piles. As he does so, they consider the fate of the captives once more.

"I still think that we need to kill the young druid," says Bennett. "I think that he could cause us a lot of trouble if he becomes free. As for Yurek, while it seems the merciful thing to do at this point would be to kill him, we need to see if Yaz can get any other pertinent information about the farm from him before we do it."

"As to the hunters and guards, I think we should offer to keep them employed at the farm, under the guidance of Corrow. However, I think the farm is becoming a less and less viable place to keep under our control, as the Nyemetz will surely be out here to find out what happened."

A dim light bulb briefly appears above Bennett's head:

"Hey, how about we keep Corrow at the farm, with only the servant staff to feed the monsters, which we put back in their cages? Then when the Nyemetz come calling, we let them loose? Corrow could easily pretend he was just another of the servant staff in the confusion, run for his life, maybe using a little illusion to get himself out of there, and we kill two birds with one stone."

"With one of those birds being me," Corrow says ironically, obviously not liking the sound of this plan at all.

"Hell," Bennett continues, "we could even have the Dragons spread the word about Hradetz that a bunch of militant rebels had seized the fur farm! That would surely incite the Nyemetz to send an army out this way. If the army was scouted ahead of time by us or the Dragons, then we could spot the monster cages at strategic points along the trail, weaken the cages and let them burst out. At worst, we lose the monsters and the Nyemetz take a beating. At best the Nyemetz lose a whole army and the monsters then kill each other. What do you all think?"

Winnacer listens to Bennett's plan, obviously giving it some careful consideration:

"I don't know Bennett. It is likely going to be too much trouble to move the creatures in the short period of time before the forests are crawling with Nyemetz patrols. We also need some time to lick our wounds and for our spellcasters to study and pray before we can even consider such an ambitious venture. But I agree, I would hate to waste the potential damage these beasts could cause. But unless we tried to set the trap here instead of at the farm, such an endeavor is likely to be fruitless. I still think we are better off ending their misery, allowing them to find Justice in the peace of death."

"Absolutely," says Corrow obviously in total agreement with Winnacer's views. "I can tell you, there's absolutely no way that I'm going to volunteer to be the bait in some half-thought out plan that would involve bringing a Nyemetz army down upon me. I've told you before, I'm through with this hero business. I just want a quiet life."

"But what about Yurek?" says Jihan.

Bennett turns away from the Polak in shame. For once, he is not eager to confront or to kill.

Winnacer thinks deeply about what should be the Polak's fate and then turns to speak with him:

"I will ask you to write us a Letter of Introduction, signing the fur farm over to us and relieving them of their guard duties. This way we do not need to increase the amount of blood shed when we venture to the Farm. I promise that all who are currently there will be treated fairly if they act in a similar manner, and that we will do our best to safely relocate the gnomes and halflings working there. I hope that you will cooperate with us on this matter."

"I care little of what becomes of the farm now," responds Yurek. "With Eladria gone, it is of no interest to me any longer. You are the victor of this conflict and so the spoils of war are yours to do as you wish with. My only concern is that there is no undue suffering for my men. If you wish me to make matters simpler through writing a letter of introduction, then I will oblige."

Winnacer nods and continues:

"As to your request regarding your death, we shall grant it for you in the most humane way we can. You have been an honorable foe and deserve an honorable demise if that is your wish."

"I know that your heart has been lain low today. And while I will comply with your wishes for an honorable death, I cannot help but feel as it is a terrible waste. While the pain of your loss must be searing now, it will not always be that way. Your life need not end here today, nor must it become a quest to fulfill a thirst for vengeance against people who bear no grudge against you. A man of your stature can accomplish much, if he can look past his anger and his pain and learn the virtue of forgiveness."

Winnacer trails off a bit here, half speaking to himself.

"That was Yaromir's mistake...that can easily be Winnacer's mistake. There is no justice in slaying one sympathizer after releasing fifty sympathizers, and one true traitor - even if he is your brother."

Winnacer asks if anyone has some poison upon their persons. He recommends that Yurek be allowed to ingest it in some wine along with some sleep-inducing herbs.

Before anyone has chance to reply to Winnacer's suggestion, Yurek speaks:

"No, if I am to die, then I will face death like a true warrior and not as a woman who dies in her sleep. All I would ask for is that I may die with my weapon in my hand so that I may die the death of a true warrior. I only wish that it would have been possible for me to have been slain while trying to defend my beloved. It brings me great shame that I was not slain trying to defend her life."

Yurek pauses for a moment, obviously in a great amount of inner turmoil:

"I don't know what the solution is, to be honest. Although I long for death so that I may have the chance to be with her again, it seems as if it would be a coward's way out. Yet I feel the terrible desire to reap vengeance upon someone to try and ease my pain."

Yurek goes quiet for a moment and then looks back up at Winnacer:

"The decision as to my fate is yours to decide. You have bested my men and I and thus I owe allegiance to you and your kin. I leave it to you to decide my fate. If I am to die, then all I would ask you to do is to give me a warrior's death. Then, once I am dead, that I may be buried by Eladria's side, so that our mortal remains may be together even if Eladria's views were wrong and our souls are not reunited. Eladria also wanted a tree to be buried over our final resting place, so that she may be at one with nature."

Further conversation is interrupted by a flash of flame followed by a series of explosions, the force of which sends earth and splinters of wood raining down upon them, even though they are quite far from the pens. As the smoke clears, they hear Flint's maniacal laugh and see that he has succeeded in his mission to eradicate the animals as a result of using his patented fragmentation sacks. He comes back to them with a big grin upon his filthy face, dragging what appears to be a gigantic chicken leg with him:

"All this mortal wounding doesn't half give me an appetite," he says biting a huge chunk out of the roasted meat.

Winnacer sighs and then speaks:

"I think that it is time that we were moving on from here. It has been well over two hours now since the first visitors left the arena and I am sure that they are heading for Dvur to alert the authorities. We need to be sure that we are far from here before the Nyemetz forces start to descend upon the area. Let us prepare to make our way to the farm."

With that, they start to make preparations for the short journey to the farm. With the multitude of horses and carriages, there is no shortage of transport available to them. Yurek, the junior druid and the remaining guards and hunters are tied securely into three of the carriages and the loot, Will and Flint bundled into the fourth. They then make the short journey towards the farm. During the journey, Jihan speaks with the three master rogues:

"I am already indebted to you many times over for what you have allowed me to again become. I said it before, Viktor, I owe you and your organization a debt. You have lost a lot of men today, and I would know if you would have me do anything to in any way repay it. There is honor amongst thieves, my master always said, and I would not just leave you with bloodied gold to make up for your losses..."

Viktor smiles weakly at Jihan in response:

"It's kind of you to offer, but it's difficult to know what assistance you could provide for us. Your skills would undoubtedly be useful to us now that we are so short of those that know how to operate in a stealthy manner. However, I understand that you have a more worthy task in front of you than concerning yourself with our operations. So, I cannot think of anything that you can assist us with at present, but I shall bear your kind offer in mind."

His conversation with the Dragons' leaders having finished, he painfully rides his horse on towards Sylva, as the presence of the mystery woman actually registers in his rather preoccupied mind.

"And who is this?" he asks, not having heard the introductions of earlier. "I thought I saw someone pulling off some rather neat dagger work in here, but the face didn't ring a bell. I'm Jihan Prirodnasson, and my colleagues and myself strike for a Free Bohavia, and look for those who would help our cause as best they can. You have fought bravely today, and have perhaps aided us more than you can know yourself. Who are you that would dance the blades with us?"

"My name is Sylva Prochazkova," comes the reply. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Jihan. As I told Sir Winnacer, I believe that it is I who will be in your debt for the actions taken here today. Today, for me, a journey of sorrow has ended and a journey toward freedom has begun. Men which have caused me grievous injuries have met justice today. My mind can now focus on fighting to free what I love the most. It seems that this would bring our paths together, at least for a time. The aid that you received from me today was incidental, the result of my vengeance. The actions that I take while with your group from this point on, however, will be very deliberate. I will welcome your company. My journey has left me cold and alone too many times."

When she has finished addressing Jihan directly, she address the group as a whole:

"What is this fur farm that you are referring to? It seems to be a place of some significance based on your conversations. What purpose does it serve?"

Jihan and some of the others fill her in on what they know about the place.