“Let me help you with that,” Martin, the kennelmaster’s son, appears at Lee’s shoulder, and puts his weight into the fence, lifting it so that Lee can finish repairing the last crossbar with relative ease. It is, of course, something of a metaphor for their existences. Martin and Lee are of an age, but where Martin finds life just requires a little push and all is right, here stands Lee, soaked in sweat and sore from a day’s labor, with nothing to show for it but a dead man’s coin he can’t spend if he cares to avoid the lash. They had grown up together as children in the same loft over the kennels, but that had all changed years ago. Martin and he get on well enough, Lee supposes, but if his father Reuben is about…
As if reading his thoughts, Martin says, “Don’t worry. Father is down at the Quay. A ship from Oldtown arrived this morning, with some trained pups from the Maester’s Tower, or so he says. Maybe they’ve taught them their letters. I’d be more glad if they’d learnt them to clean up their own muck. Oy, look at that!” Martin points toward the gates, where a small wooden cart is entering. It is pulled by a mule, which is in turn led by two silent sisters and a chanting septon swinging a censer. Around the mule’s neck is a wreath of fresh flowers interwoven with tiny dangling crystals that dance with color as the mule trods forward. On the cart is a bound shape of a man, wrapped in linen. A pair of worn boots and some soiled clothing are neatly piled at the back edge of the cart. A man who Lee recognizes as Ser Bohemund is directing the cart over toward the newly fenced practice yard where Lee is standing, so it will not be in the way of the troupe wagons due to depart in the next few hours. As the septon and sisters approach with their cargo, Martin asks, “Who do you think it is, I wonder?”
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The troupe is almost packed. The garish tents are folded and tied to their carts, and the oxen are already hitched to one of the larger wagons. It won’t be long before they depart. Lara fears for a moment she won’t be able to find Niccolo amongst the final preparations, but spies him talking to his wife in the corner below the wall. From here, she can tell this is a conversation she might best avoid interrupting; Sophia is nuzzling at her husband's neck.
ReplyDeleteWhile she is stirring herself for the conversation to come, she is accosted by a familiar set of hands on her shoulders from behind. “Little Lara da Puppet Murderer. I think its time you pay for yur crimes. Best I take you to Uncle Cesare myself.” Marrio Russio was one of the least talented mummers Lara had ever met, and his joke now fell more than alittle flat. That being said, he had a way with carving tools, and was skilled at driving the oxen, and that made him invaluable to the troupe on the road if not on the stage. “Niccolo says Vincenze and I 'was to keep our eye on you while we travel. Didn’t say whafor, but I imagine it’s to protect the puppets from yur tiny knifes.” He draws one from her hip to examine the blade, appearing to all the world thoughtful, although Lara doubted the truth of it. Niccolo glances up from his conversation, and notices Lara's gaze in his direction. He straightens and waves for her to join him and Sophia.
Lee thought back to his conversation with Rymon, and the coin he got in exchange for his silence. He also thought about his parents after they died. "Probably Rymon's squire. Found him dead in the moat this morning. Unless its someone else... which means something bad is going on." Lee remembered all the dead from Balon's Rebellion and tried to banish the memories. "Hey if those pups know their letters maybe they can help me with the plans for the pipe to the kitchen."
ReplyDelete“The kitchen pipes again? I think the dust from Aldrik’s books has rotted what little brains you had, brother.” Martin naming him ‘brother’ happened only when Reuben was not within earshot. If he heard, Martin would get a clap on the head, as a reminder of who was and was not his son. “Wait, you said Ser Rymon’s squire? Why, I saw him last night. I was entering that brothel by the square just as he was leaving. Hit me with his shoulder, almost sent me sprawling. I’ve never seen a man leave Madam Merstile’s that fast. Well, he died happy, I guess.”
ReplyDeleteMartin quiets as the septon and the two sisters arrive, and lowers his head in reverence. They drive the cart close between the fence that Crefley has newly repaired and the dog run. The dogs, which had been lying peacefully nearby must take offense at these interlopers, and begin lunging and snapping at the mule and cart. Martin moves towards the hounds, “Oy! Quiet down, you lot, I’ll feed you in a –“ As Lee watches, the mule jerks away from the dogs, eyes rolling as it tries to bolt. As it turns to exit the narrow passage between the fences, the cart crashes into the dog run, and planks splinter and break away. Four hounds spill out snarling, and leap onto the cart. They begin ripping at the dead man wrapped in linen and the pile of cloth and boots by his head. The septon is running toward the gatehouse shouting, and the two sisters fall to their knees and begin praying.
Martin grabs a hound and attempts to control another, but jerks away. The mule has finally turned enough that it can begin to run towards the gatehouse and away from the hounds. As it gallops, the bounding cart jostles its cargo of dirty clothes, dogs and corpses, which land in a heap a few feet from Lee. Three of the dogs descend on the body, naked except for his smallclothes, which has rolled clear of its wrappings. Interestingly, they seem equally determined to rend the bundle of clothing, and tear at it as well.
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Ooc: going to need a fear check (1d6, 6 being bad). If you fail, I’ll accept any action that doesn’t get you closer to the dogs. If you succeed, remember any actions you take that require rolls are at -1D.
This commotion is occurring some distance from the troupe wagons at about the same time as you are being beckoned by Niccolo, TM. Lara is aware of the commotion in a general sense, but was not watching it closely.
Lara holds her hand out impatiently as Marrio studies her blade. Marrio quickly relents and Lara tucks the knife back into her belt. Lara quickly ducks away when Niccolo waves for her.
ReplyDelete"I've got bad news for Marrio. I'm afraid he won't get to be my bodyguard." Lara smiles sheepishly, trying to find just the right way to tell Niccolo. As it is Niccolo just watches her for some sort of explanation.
"Niccolo, I'm staying at Tidelhall. Lady Sigurd says she can get me a job." Sometimes, Lara reasons, the direct method had to be the best. Other times, it turns out, it just leads to suprised stares and awkward silences.
Sophia gasps and puts a suprised hand over her mouth, Niccolo looks stoic - which by itself is not unusual - but stays silent. Lara looks down at her feet wishing desperately for someone to break the akward silence.
A cart pulled by a panicked mule rockets past and Lara hears screams of alarm and the snarls of angry dogs.
Sometimes, Lara thinks as she turns to watch, you do get lucky.
"Ummm, maybe I should go help." She turns and see two servants - one she recognizes as Crefley surrounded by snarling dogs - Crefley himself looks pale. The dogs are tearing at something large, and from the commotion, Lara reasons it is something they shouldn't be chewing on.
"Crefley?" She calls out as she starts to run across the yard, "is everything all right?" She glances guiltily back at Niccolo and Sophia. They'd say their goodbyes later, Lara promises herself, she'd just give them time to adjust.
As they enter the gates, Daeron hears a horn call above on the wall. He believes this to be a greeting to his Lord Uncle, but then the sound of bells can be heard ringing along the shore. As he looks, two ships are heeling into the cove, one gliding smoothly while the other waddles along beside. He remembers a similar scene this morning as Sers Roger and Sigurd departed and recognizes the two ships.
ReplyDeleteGilder dismounts and says, “Ah. It appears Ser Sigurd has returned. Good, we should hear of this business to the north immediately.” He turns to the guardsmen manning the gate. “Send a man with horses to bear them to Tidehall immediately. And Ser Roger is with them, so send an ox if you must, but I want to hear their words.” The men salute, and go to collect the horses. Gilder says, “Daeron, wait for the men here. Bring them, Aldrik and Ser Bohemund. I’ll see them in my solar. I need to wash this salt off me and want to see my brother Erryk. Good lad.” He stumps towards a nearby door, and enters the castle.
Ser Rymon and Lady Ayala, along with the train of soldiers and prisoners enter the gates of Tidehall. Ser Rymon helps his Lady Aunt off her horse, and leads the animals into the stables. She straightens her skirts as two girls move to assist her from the door near the kitchen. Daeron recognizes one of the girls from the kitchen the night before; she had thrown him an apple.
The prisoners are marched toward the small dungeon deep below the Old Tower. Daeron had never been down there, but has heard it is an unpleasant place.
As Daeron moves to dismount, he sees a septon running toward the gates, a swinging censer trailing smoke behind him as he runs. As he looks up, a mule pulling the funerary cart he’d seen earlier is charging towards him. In the narrow confines of the gate, he must move swiftly or be crushed. As he looks, he sees dogs tearing at something on the ground, and the mummer girl running toward a young man about his age, who is lying nearby.
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ooc: need a ride check. It’s a ‘charging’ mule pulling a cart, so an easy (3) target number. If by chance you fail – you’ll be dismounted and bruised, (1D6-3 falling damage) but as you can see, relatively unhurt. Routine (6) acrobats check can reduce this damage to nothing with a success. Wesley will avoid the cart either way. I’m not going to kill your horse just yet. Enough PC horses have died today.
(Ride [3])
ReplyDelete-------
Daeron pulls Wesley's reigns sharply to the side and gives a quick slap the horse's flank. He barely manages to guide them out of the way, the cart clipping his leg as it passes, causing him to recite what little Pentoshi he learned living at sea...
Once he remembers what is happening, he continues to drop to the ground, again cursing as his leg bears weight.
"Someone stop that mule!" he shouts at anyone just outside the gate, then moves to intercept and grab the septon, gritting his teeth to ignore the pain in his leg.
----
ooc: Daeron uses Valarian conjugation with the Pentoshi phrases, rather than the 'correct' Pentoshi conjugation...
Fear roll 6
ReplyDelete--------------------
Crefley sees the dogs and his breath catches in his throat. His limbs are frozen and he can't move. Lara's voice breaks through his moment of terror. He glances quickly at her then starts running, looking for somewhere to climb.
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Running full speed (normal move 5 yards) away from the dogs, hop the fence into the practice yard first then looking for someplace to climb (even a wall if I think I can make it).
Run - 4D+2B-1D - 13
Climb - 4D+1B-1D - 10
Ooc: you feared up and sam avoids the “steamroller”. Take that, statistics!
ReplyDelete======== =
Blood hammers at Crefley ears. He doesn’t remember the climb, but he finds himself perched on a second-story windowsill some 15 yards from the dogrun, palms oozing blood from scrapes he can only assume came from the rough stone. As he watches transfixed, the hounds rip free bandages that were covering the wounds on the corpse’s belly. They fight and pull at it, showering the yard with bits of herb, linen and oil. Once its shredded, they go about snuffling the ground, restively looking for something to eat. The third dog, a grey bitch, is digging through the squire’s strewn clothes. She finishes her search, apparently, and trots briskly back into the dogrun, where she lies down in a corner with some shade. She appears to have something in her mouth (Awareness check: 12, critical with the dogs, well done sir).
The mummer girl, Lara, he recalls, is standing quite near the restive dogs and the body. Martin is dragging the fourth hound back into the pen, and the sisters are gathering their skirts to tend to the body, which is lying in the mud.
The septon is sputtering “Damnable beasts! Setting upon the dead! It is an ill omen, my lord! You must have them slain!” The septon, a young man who Daeron does not recognize enough to name, kneels before him. Beyond, Daeron can see that the hounds are restive but no longer pulling at what must be a body. Wesley has trotted toward the stables, and enters just as Ser Rymon is moving to exit.
ReplyDeleteLady Ayala, skirts arranged and trailing the two serving girls, joins Daeron just as Rymon comes to stand near. Lady Ayala puts her hand on top of the septon’s head. “Peace, good man. We will see to our hounds as we see fit. Tend to your duties, it appears that the sisters may need your strong back now that your cart is gone.” Ser Rymon finally sees the body, and shouts a series of foul curses that would redden the bosun of the Water Lily. The women all cover their mouths in shock, and one of the girls pales with fear. He pulls the septon to his feet roughly and shoves him toward the corpse before he turns Daeron.
“Well, boy, what of it? That is my squire, lost on the streets of your foul backwater while you send the Guard off to hunt shadows and firelight. And now you’ve let him be desecrated within the walls of your home? Is this how guests are treated by the line of Castriati, or are these manners you picked up at your mother’s teat in Braavos?”
Ayala’s face is wooden, but her eyes dart quickly between Daeron and the young knight.
Cref-crefley fled to her west, and is now perched high above her on a windowsill. She hopes he knows how to get down without hurting himself.
ReplyDeleteAs she approaches, the hounds stop snuffling the ground and come over to her, tails wagging. One of them laps his tongue at her, and she reflexively pulls away, but too late. The dogs’ breath smells of scented oils and medicinal herbs, but also something like roasted pork.
She sees the silent sisters approach to collect the body. It is a younger man, about her age. His face is distorted with mud and his eyes and mouth have been sewn, making identification difficult. She also notes the likely reason for his current state: a series of four stab wounds, just below the right ribs. These wounds have been burned, probably with an iron or firebrand. Lara realizes with a lurch where the pork smell is coming from.
As she shakes off the shiver of disgust, the kennelmaster’s son comes to collect the two other hounds. He glances up to say, “Last time I feed them table-scraps, the stupid mutts though he was hiding a treat for them, “ and shakes his head.. The sisters begin to wrap the body with the soiled linen and she sees that the septon is walking their direction hastily. Over his shoulder, she sees that most of the troop is watching her, but some of them have turned to watch some development near the gates.
Crefley shades his eyes, squints, and tries to get a better look at what the dog has in its mouth.
ReplyDeleteCrefley puts his fingers in his mouth and whistles loudly, hoping to get Martin or Lara's attention.
He points at the dog chewing the object. "See what she's got over there."
Lara grips the closest hound firmly - the "friendly" one. She tries to keep the slobbering beast at a good's arms distance.
ReplyDelete"You raise the cutest little corpse desecrators," Lara dryly remarks to the kennelmaster's son as he struggles with the two hounds. "Exactly what kind of table scraps are you feeding them?!"
She hears Crefley whistle and call out. Lara sees he's pointing to the grey dog in the corner of the dogrun, sitting in the shade with something in it's mouth.
She shudders. "See what she's got?" She closes her eyes and tries to imagine anything worse - she instantly conjours the image of Niccolo's stern face and her stomach twists. That does it, and she walks over to the dogrun.
"Why aren't you a little disgusting abomination," she calls out to the dog in a sing-songy voice. She holds out her hand in what she hopes is an inviting manner trying to get the dog's attention as she swings her legs over the fence.
The kennelmaster’s son shuts the three loose hounds in a small wooden enclosure, which Lara hopes will hold them. They seem fairly relaxed now, and are whining. The lad smiles sheepishly at her, and says, “I fed them from the servants table since they were pups, roasted pork and potatoes. They just caught the scent of those herbs, I guess.”
ReplyDeleteLara enters the dog run finds the bitch lying quite still. Something protrudes from her mouth, as Crefley had indicated. As she approaches, the hound’s eyes fix on her but she doesn’t make to move. The item clamped in her teeth is a small pouch, leather or thick wool, and is sodden through with saliva. In addition, it appears to oozing a bluish-purple fluid.
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Ooc: rolled your awareness to get information on the item: 10
From his vantage, Crefley sees the mummer girl walking into the dog run, oblivious to the danger lurking about her. As he watches transfixed, he sees Martin standing some distance off. He waves at Lee and says, “Safe to come down now! Don’t break a leg. Come, we must repair this fence before father or Tarbin see!”
ReplyDeleteCrefley nearly loses his balance on the windowsill when he hears a clash of steel and then a series of screams. He can see a group of men and horses, and blood darkening the muddy earth at their feet. The horses are screaming now as well.
He wishes briefly that he had stayed in bed.
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ooc: rolled your Awareness for the item the dog has, you know what Lara does: 15
“Aye Ser, it is a welcome site, indeed.”
ReplyDeleteAs Ser Roger arrives in the gate, a cheer goes up on the wall, but the group of women and men at gate are silent and look uneasy. Daeron is standing a few feet from Ser Rymon. Rymon’s face is aflame with anger, Daeron’s expression is hard to read. Before Ser Roger can say anything, he hears a cry behind him. The young boy screams, “Blue man, blue man!” and charges forward on foot, swinging his longsword in a wild overhand arc. The blade bites Ser Rymon’s right shoulder, and blood begins to well beneath his embroidered tunic. Ser Rymon looks startled, but effortlessly draws his own sword left-handed, and with a withering strike splits the boy open from collar to waist. Lady Ayala screams in horror, the girls turn and cover themselves, and Daeron is splattered in fresh blood. The body collapses in a heap.
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ooc: Reckless attack, Bern. 12, hit, 2 damage to Rymon.
Attack, Rymon 23, critical, 1 hit, 3 ranks. 7*3 = 21. Bern is Dead.
Lara tries to coax the dog into dropping the pouch. "C'mon you little corpse eater, give the little gross purple thing to me..." She holds out her hand again.
ReplyDeleteAfter a second something pulls her attention to the front gate. Lara has been so caught up in her little world - the troupe's departure, Yasmin's offer, having to say goodbye, a stupid grey bitch that keeps ducking back from her outstretched hand - that she's surprised to see a throng of people at the front gate. She tries to make sense of the scene unfolding in front of her and pinpoint what drew her attention to it in the first place.
She sees what it was - a young man charging an armored knight with a yell. She sees the boy's clusmy swing, and then the almost casual fatal counterblow.
She sees the young man slump down into the dirt, his life blood pouring into the dirt. She can't help herself. Lara screams.
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ooc: Animal Handling 1,5 = 6
ooc: Was that the young boy from my group?
ReplyDelete--------------------------------------------------
ooc: yes, he'd be the crazy kid with the sword who you were thinking about squiring. He is now grade A worm food. Sorry about that.
ReplyDeleteooc: What is the heraldry of House Brook? (esp. colors)
ReplyDelete--------------------------------------------------
Ser Roger drops from his horse with a thump as he quickly makes his way to the fallen boy.
"Seven Hells!" Roger exclaims, "Are you hurt, Ser Rymon?"
Crefley reluctantly starts to climb down after making sure the dogs are secured.
ReplyDelete"Be there in a minute," he says to Martin and walks toward Lara, staying back from the dog until she pries the object loose from its mouth.
He turns at the cry of "Blue Man" in time to see Rymon's cruel blow cut the boy down. He coughs and a lump wells up in his throat.
"Another noble who could care less about smallfolk blood," Crefley thinks to himself. "Someone should teach him a lesson."
Fortunately, Crefley shows unusual restraint and thinks better of doing something stupid that would anger the knight with the sword who just killed a peasant boy.
He runs over to the boy who's just been felled to see if he still lives.
"Somebody get the Maester!" he yells before realizing its too late.
Ser Roger looks to see a young man running toward him, calling for the Maester. Roger looks at Ser Rymon. "You should get yourself to the Maester, though, thank the mother, it does not appear to be a serious wound." Roger muses, "It is unfortunate that you were forced to slay our witness."
ReplyDeleteRoger addresses Daeron, "Is it true your uncle has returned safe and healthy?"
When the young man arrives on the scene and bends to check on the boy, Ser Roger looks at the new comer. "No need to call a Maester on his behalf. Did you know the boy?"
ooc: The heraldry of House Brook is A golden heron eating a fish on a field of blue.
ReplyDeleteemailed from Sam, internet is out to get him again.
ReplyDelete============
Daeron was still comprehending Ser Rymon's violent outburst about his squire and was about to question him when Ser Roger's party appeared and an unarmored young man among them suddenly charged Ser Rymon in a foolhardy act of suicide. Keeping his eyes on Ser Rymon, who still had his weapons drawn, Daeron pushes the Septon behind him, places a hand upon the hilt of his blade, and calls out,
"Ser Roger, explain yourself, and this man!"
Daeron blinks twice before regestering Roger's question
"He is back. Where is Ser Sigurd?"
"My apologies to both of you," Ser Roger explains, "The boy was an eyewitness to the Reaver attacks and their recruiting of townsfolk. I was told that he fought well with Ser Malcolm and the other men and was assured there was need to chain him up. It is apparent that I misjudged the boy. I was in the process of taking him to your Uncle. Ser Sigurd is still with the ships, I believe."
ReplyDelete------------------------------------------------
Awareness (Empathy): [Ser Rymon and Daeron]
[5,5,2,1,(1,1)]=13
"I don't know his name," Crefley says. "'Suspect I knew him better than all you, though." Crefley walks back toward the fence. He stops briefly and turns his head back toward Roger. "Not sure that you were the one that did any misjudging either." He lets his gaze fall on Rymon for a few moments then turns and walks back to work.
ReplyDeleteA familiar hand shakes Lara. “Don’t look, girl. The boy is gone. Nothing you can do for him.”
ReplyDeleteShe isn’t sure how Niccolo came to stand next to her. He tries to smile, but even his practiced expressions can’t hide the fear and worry in his eyes. Over his shoulder a few of the other troupe members are peering over the fence at her.
“I tried to tell them, but they want to hear it from you, directly.” Lara remembers now their interrupted conversation a few minutes before. It seems like a lifetime has passed since then. “I want to hear it as well.”
As Lara tries to muster the courage to speak, she looks down at the scuffed toes of her boots, the greenish trough of water, the broken plank, anywhere but her audience. Her eyes pass over the grey bitch. The oozing pouch is out of her mouth, which sags open, slack-jawed. The bitch appears to not be breathing.
Crefley didn’t need his extensive tutelage on death today to tell him the boy’s wounds are mortal. The boy had been a fair deal younger than he, slight of build, and the body twitches and jerks.
ReplyDeleteAfter he says his piece, he walks back toward the fences. Martin was right, earlier; they would require some repair, and work might take his mind off of things. At the same time, he sees a crowd gathering around the mummer girl in the dog run. He also sees the silent sisters have laid out the roughly wrapped body – the first body he saw today, he corrects himself – by his lumber and tools, on top of a wide plank that he had been thinking to use as part of a door or gate.
Ser Roger cannot read Daeron’s face. He is clearly angry, and his had grips at the oddly slender hilt of his sword. At the same time, his rage seems to be controlled, unlike the lad that lies before him. Ser Rymon quietly cleans the blade of his sword on the edge of his half-cloak, blue and red mixing to form a dark blackish-purple hue. “Woman, have the Maester fetched to tend me,” he states, looking at Ayala, but it is one of the maidservants who runs to the castle door.
ReplyDeleteRymon appears nervous to Roger, his hand shakes as he puts his sword back in its scabbard. Of course, he was just assaulted and wounded. He looks at Ser Roger, “Sorry, Ser. I am afraid I took over your duties during your absence. My blow is not as clean as I gather yours would have been. But fear not; there may be other need of justice today. My squire lies in a heap, yonder, lost on the streets of your city. Doubtless you know of some bandit or cutpurse who may have slain him?”
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for the sake of argument, Daeron and Roger hear/see everything going on in both of their posts. Feel free to respond to anything in either. As for Crefley and Lara, I figure they are farther away at the point these conversations are occurring, but if they move closer and hear something, who am I to complain?
The septon kneels beside the body, and begins a prayer to the father, warrior and stranger.
ReplyDeleteMaester Aldrik exits from Tidehall at a quick pace, followed by Ser Bohemund. Bohemund is unclothed to the waist, and covered in a thick layer of hair and bears a naked sword. Aldrik, approaches Ser Rymon, and begins looking critically at the ragged cut on his upper arm.
Bohemund blusters, “Young master Daeron, what is happening in my courtyard?” Before Daeron can answer, Lady Ayala relays a brief but complete synopsis of the events of the past few minutes. “Thank the Seven you are safe, Ser Rymon. I’d have the boy’s head for striking a guest of this house, but it appears unnecessary. I will find the stablemaster and have him tend to this mess. These bodies must be removed, and the corrupted earth as well.” He departs in the direction of the stables.
Maester Aldrik turns to Daeron, “Your Lord Uncle asks that you and Ser Roger retire back to his solar. He will want word of this, as well as what happened on our Northern border. I will finish tending Ser Rymon and join you shortly.” Lady Ayala begins walking toward the door, trailing her remaining maid. The nearby guardsmen also begin to return to their posts.
As Daeron glances past Ser Roger’s waist, he sees a column of the Guard, followed by a familiar funerary cart, making its way up the slope towards Tidehall. The cart bears a few wounded, and he recognizes Seff sitting atop the cart working busily.
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Awareness: 5
Awareness: 8
From Sam, who is forsaken by CoxCable
ReplyDelete========
Seeing Rymon sheath his blade, Daeron released the grip of his own. Turning the the newly arriving cart he calls to Seff,
"Squire, what of your Knight? I and my Lord Uncle would see him."
He then turns toward the Septon, "And you, Septon, should probably also relay what you have witnessed directly. And you, you, and you," he calls out to Crefley, Martin, and Lara, "Come with me."
Finally he turns toward Maester Aldrik, "Maester, could you send a runner for Ser Siguard?"
Turning back to Roger and Rymon, "Have no worry Ser Rymon, we will get to the bottom of your squire's death, and the cause of this curious disturbance. Come, Ser Roger, my uncle awaits."
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GM note: Sigurd is at the back of the column, so no runner will be required. He can follow directly.
Ser Roger looks behind him to see the wounded coming their way. "Ser Malcolm will most likely not be joining us at this time. Seff is busily seeing to his serious wounds. I have yet to see him fully conscious since he left for the north."
ReplyDeleteSer Roger take a moment to remove the Reaver's head from his sword and places it in a bag. Roger then wipes a good deal of the blood from the sword.
"It would have been nice to have a squire to clean that for me," Roger though as he returned it to its scabbard.
Before following Daeron to Lord Castriati's Solar, Ser Roger bends down to pick up the dead boy's long sword and gives up a short prayer of his own. As he makes his way beside Daeron, Roger repeats quietly the boys earlier mutterings... picking them apart and analyzing them as they walked, trying to pull the message from the garbage.
"Father says mother says brother says green man says, blue man says, ‘just fish, just fish.’"
"Alittle guts, alittle blood, but fast and worth the taste."
"Cookfires are god-pyres."
"Mother and Father, Smith all burned. Made men burn Maiden."
"One clean blow, between the eyes."
"Waves on rocks, rocks become sand, sand made glass, glass is brittle and breaks."
"But brother was a fish, father a fish too, and I am a fisherman."
"Fire, they will see us, fire they will come."
"Give me a sword, don’t leave me, don't take my hand, don’t let me die alone, spears and torches, arrows and knives, arrows and knives, father stop!"
"Blue Man, blue man!"
Ser Roger was beginning to see the message, but couldn't be sure - It just didn't fully make sense.
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"Um... right," Lara absently takes Niccolo hand in order that he might lead her back to the troupe. Just as he tries to lead her back though she pulls away and squats down by the dog.
ReplyDelete"Um..." She sees the dog is clearly not moving. She looks back at the pouch, torn from the body of the dead man. Standing up and staring past a clearly nonplussed Niccolo she sees Maester Aldrik walking back into Tidehall with a purposeful stride.
"Maester Aldrik!" She calls pulling herself up to stand on the crossbeam of the dog run fence, trying to get his attention. "I think there's another corpse that needs your attention!"
She turns back toward Niccolo, suddenly glad she wasn't able to pry the toxic pouch away from the dog. Between that and the sudden bloody murder - she shudders as the image surges undesired into her mind - she suddenly gives second thought to risking the Vale. Then she thinks of spending time under Marrio's "protection."
Lara sighs. It was going to be a long day.
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ReplyDeleteCrefly begins to make his way toward Lara to see what's she got, wary of the dogs. He sees Daeron point and call out to him. He stops, puzzled at why a lordling is pointing him, but decides to comply and walks toward the young outlander.
ReplyDeleteexcellent. welcome back folks. will be updating shortly...
ReplyDeleteMaester Aldrik is shook loose by an agitated Ser Rymon. “I’m not a woman. See to the mummer girl. I can stitch this scratch myself.” The Maester begins to object, but gives up and walks to join Lara.
ReplyDeleteHe squats next to her and the dead animal, his face scrutched in thought, and then eyes wide with recognition. “Don’t touch the animal.” He looks up, “Remove any other beasts from this pin until it can be burned, and the ashes disposed of in the sea.” He looks to Lara, “A most virulent poison, my dear, particularly once its mixed with the fluid of the saliva. You are lucky you didn’t touch it; I know that you didn’t, for if you had, we’d be less a mummer by now. Now off with you! Young Master Daeron has summoned both you and the kennelmaster’s son to his Lord Uncle’s solar. I will stay and see that this is done safely.” Martin, standing nearby, straightens, and begins to walk toward the tower.