Write-up by Dangerous Brian
The papers and title deeds are quickly signed by all present, before Rolland loudly clears his throat to remind the witnesses that they are invited to his town-house for banquet prior to attending a service of thanks at the Cathedral.
The PC's join Rolland and Thenestra in the Bann's carriage once again. However, the conversation is largely concerned with the formalities and etiquette surrounding the coming service. Rolland explains to Iah that she must take an Oath of Fealty for her lands, first to he himself (as her feudal overlord) and then to the King. He goes on to explain that there is no set format for such an oath – the words must come from the heart. However, she must remember to swear three things – loyalty, military service and to provide advice and council. Iah asks several questions that reveal her nervousness more than any lack of understanding. Rolland also goes on to explain that she must choose someone to knight the triplets. Iah wonders why she cannot do so herself, and Thenestra patiently explains that only a knight can make a knight and that Iah, for all her high rank, most certainly does not qualify.
Iah is still contemplating all of this when the carriage pulls up outside Rolland's townhouse. It seem's a surprisingly modest estate for a man who has such obvious care for appearances, being completely without any form of garden. A small crowd of armed sergeant's and liveried servants stand outside, welcoming guests.
Rolland offers an arm each to Iah and Laria before leading them into his hall. As they pass the bowing guards Rolland's foresight and attention to details is once again established when the Prince's carriage pulls up behind them. Waiting footmen immediately appear with a set of carved wooden steps to enable the diminutive Prince to step down from his carriage with some degree of dignity.
Rolland leads Ogden and the women inside, to reveal a tastefully decorated entrance hall with quite a grand collonade leading into a fair sized hall.
However modest the estate itself, Rolland's wealth is made clear by the ostentatiousness of the prepared banquet. Three rows of trestle tables run the length of the hall to the foot of a the high table, a long wooden affair made of polished oak.
Though it is more usual for each guest to provide his own dagger as cutlery, Rolland has gone all out and provided table-wear at each setting. The tables are piled high with meat dishes- roast piglets, peacock, dove's marinated in a honey sauce, venison meat on the bone, brazed beef, pigeon pie and dainty meat pastries piled on plates ten high. Most extravagant of all, silver dishes containing salt and pepper sit at each table, not simply the high table as is more usual. Already the hall is filling with people – most of them seemingly knights and men-at-arms in Rolland's service with finely dressed dams on their arms.
As Rolland's party enters the hall (minus the Mother-Superior, who lags behind), a staff-carrying steward thumps the metal-clad butt of his rod of office heavily onto the flagstones.
“Bann Rolland, Lady Iah, Bannora of Restenford; and companions.”
All conversation ceases as the guests bow or curtsy towards the new arrivals. Rolland stops Iah at the doorway and, to her horror, explains they must greet the other high born guests as they arrive. Meanwhile, Ogden and Laria and are escorted to the High Table by the steward.
Pairs of liveried elf servants standing by the high table approach them as they take their seats, one of each duo carrying a jug of wine, the other of water. To their horror, Ogden refuses to water his wine. Laria, somewhat more sensibly, has considerably more of the former than of the latter in her cup.
The first high-born guest to enter is sister Thenestra, escorted by a highly self-conscious Garrett. After escorting the Mother-Superior to the High table, the maimed squire takes a seat at one of the lower tables by his brothers. Next is Grand Master Dolgen, who makes only the briefest of muttered greetings in response to Iah and Rolland's warm welcome. Looking put out at all the formality, he stomps off to take his place at the high table, the poor Steward having to scurry after him to keep up.
Master Ironshield comes next. After the introductions, the socially awkward man (still clutching at a few deeds and papers) tries to initiate further “business talk” there and then. However Rolland speeds him past with a careful steering of the bankers elbow.
The last of the guests to be presented is, as befits his status, the diminutive but charming Prince Alistair.
While Rolland and Iah have been greeting the witnesses at the door, other guests have been filing in and taking their seats at the lower tables. However, one couple is somewhat more richly dressed than the household knights and their ladies, arriving (much to Rolland's evident exasperation) through a side door. The man is a portly, red-faced bear of a man with a fierce grin and a beard far wilder even that that of master Dolgan. His great presence dwarfs the small, shrewish woman who walks beside him, seemingly somewhat scandalised by her own behaviour in “dodging” the official welcome line.
Once all the guests are seated, Rolland escorts Iah to the centre of the table, taking the seat to her right. (From left to right, all seated along one side of the High Table, facing into the hall- Laira, Ironshield, Eleanor, Tancred, Rolland, Iah, Alistair, Dolgen, Thenestra, Ogden.)
Rolland stands and, after a short speech and a toast to the new Bannora, takes the opportunity to present (or at least try to -the initiative is somewhat stolen from him in this regard) Iah to Tancred (the bear) and Lady Eleanor (his wife). Tancred reaches right across Rolland (an unforgivable breach of etiquette which elicits only a rueful, amused grin from the handsome young Bann) and shakes Iah’s small hand so enthusiastically that he jars her elbow. He introduces himself in a deep, booming, almost jubilantly cheerful voice as the Earl of Gwaren and his wife as “the shackles”. Eleanor looks on waspishly, shaking her head and pursing her lips disapprovingly. Though she says nothing, Elanor sends her husband a dirty look that could light a camp-fire.
Rolland has spared no expense - every guest has ample salt and pepper, there are no fish dishes to be seen and the only vegetables are served as decorative additions to the meat rather than as fare intended for eating. A miserable looking Ironshield looks as out of place as a bawd in a nunnery, frequently lifting a square-cut piece of linen to mop his brow.
Eleanor compliments Laria on her dress, which she admires as being both very daring and very flattering of her colouring and figure, causing the young woman to panic slightly as she tries to work out a suitable response. Eventually, after Eleanor not so subtly looks at and paws her own gown, the young warrior thinks to compliment the much older woman in turn. Satisfied, Eleanor shoots a look at her husband that says “see?”. Tancred almost chokes on his wine and comments something to the effect that a cat-fish served in cream is still just an ugly fish floating in curdled milk. Rolland coughs so hard he spits his wine halfway across the room.
The look Eleanor gives her husband is sour enough to cream milk right enough. Meanwhile, Prince Alistair does his best to pretend he is deaf in the face of such comments (though a faint smirk gives him away) and loudly compliments Iah on her dress, commenting that he recognises it as the work of of Lyza. Iah is surprised by Alistair's discerning eye. The Prince quickly explains that he purchases his own clothing from Lyza (whom he points out on the arm of a dashing young knight further down the hall). This prompts the Prince to begin a long discussion on recent trends in fashion. Iah, convent-raised and about as knowledgeable of such things as she is of the surface of the moon, quickly becomes bored but manages a fair job at pretending interest.
Meanwhile Sister Thenestra tries futilely to drag Ogden into conversation. She asks about everyone at the convent by name individually, receiving the same reply, (“Fine”) each time. With gentle sarcasm (and no little amusement) Thenestra expresses her marvel at hearing so much good news about the residents and their affairs.
An equally taciturn Dolgen happily tucks into a half-pig lifted to his face, messily spraying Prince Alistair's fine silk doublet with pig grease (who politely pretends not to notice).
Every few moments, Tancred's loud, boisterous laugh booms out across the room when the wry humour of Rolland and Alistair and the taciturn grumbling of Dolgan and Ogden (who strike up a monosyllabic conversation consisting mostly of grunts, grimaces and the odd word or two) causes him to slap his neighbours repeatedly on the back. Frequently, this leads to dirty looks and choking on the part of his wife, which only causes the giant man to laugh all the more.
At the other side of the table, Laria and Ironshield converse awkwardly, seemingly to take some comfort in the fact that each feels as out of place as the other. Laria enquires as to why the Free Cities man is not eating. The thin, bearded little clerk replies regretfully that a bleeding in his stomach (an ulcer) prevents him from eating meat. Alas, this is a trifle unfortunate as nearly every dish on offer involves meat of some kind.
Iah and Laria thereafter enquire with one of the elf serving staff as to whether or not it would be possible to have the cooks prepare some vegetable dishes for Ironshield. The elf seems horrified, “Meat.... but that's peasant food! We can't have peasant food at a banquet.” Iah then turns to Rolland for some support. The Bann instructs the servant to talk to the cook. A very pale faced looking young elf then repeats in a pleading voice. “Milord, you wish me to ask the cook for vegetables?” Rolland looks searchingly at the terrified servent and then smiles wryly. “Er no, perhaps it would be best if I spoke to the man myself.” A few moments after he leaves, a loud clattering of metal utensils and muffled shouting can be heard from a room abutting the hall. Rolland returns, glowering furiously, and refuses to speak to anyone else for the rest of the banquet, smouldering. However, Ironshield does indeed get his dish.
When asked by Laria how his soup is. Ironshield confesses that he believes it is simply the venison stew with the meat strained out. Laria suggests that at least it’s an improvement. She asks if he wishes more wine. He points to his stomach. “Ah, your condition”. Laria and Ironshield continue a stilted but progressive conversation, each taking comfort in the presence of someone equally ill at ease in society.
After a while Rolland stands up and taps his dagger against his goblet. He begs that his guests excuse the high table. They must quit the banquet depart for the cathedral and their audience with the King.
Rolland offers Iah his arm. Alistair offers his to Thenestra. Eleanor and Tancred bicker somewhat to the entertainment of the other guests before Tancred finally relents to take her arm. That being said Ogden is shrewdly beginning to suspect that their bickering is largely for show . Ironshield looks around somewhat, clearly highly embarrassed himself, and then offers his arm to an even more embarrassed Laria. Neither Ogden nor Dolgan offer anyone their arm to anyone (not that there are any woman left to show such courtesy to anyway). The two dwarves leave, intently continuing their loud but highly intellectual discussion as to the relative merits of the warmaul in comparison to the great-axe.
"But the maul makes such an interesting mess of genlock skulls." Comments Dolgan.
~ o0o ~
Denerim Cathedral
Denerim's cathedral is a mighty edifice of granite and marbled stone, it's lofty arches and magnificent stained windows allowing the natural light of the sun to fill the chamber with a radient glow. The ave stretches a full eighty yards from the gold and gem-inlaid doors to the high alter where burns the flame of Andraste. Already the Cathedral is fairly full, a glittering procession of nobles, merchants, knights and other worthies wait patiently to see their king and the kingdoms newest noble woman. Above the teeming throng of colourfully garbed guests, the assembled Banns, Arls and other worthies of Ferelden, a bronze censor fully fifteen feet across swoops from wall to wall, leaving a pleasing scent of cloves and lavender in it's wake. The assembled worthies all stand, for there are no seats or pews to divide the hall and it's faithful. All are one in the sight in the Maker.
Iah and her companions are understandably in awe of this mighty building, itself an undeniable statement of the power and prestige of the church. Rolland pauses in the doorway, allowing Iah ample opportunity to take in the sight before her - and affording the gathered host the chance to study the young heiress in turn. After a few moments, Rolland and Thenestra lead Iah towards the altar, Ogden and Laria trailing in their wake. Whispers follow as they pass, though not all are directed at Iah. It seems that Laria's outfit is causing a stir in itself, and, while it is clear that some of the gathered worthies do not approve, just as many of the female guests are fascinated by her unique attire. Lyza may be right. Laria will perhaps indeed start a new fashion among the idle rich of Denerim.
Under the instruction of a canon, Ogden and Laria peel off to find their places a few rows behind the front rank of guests. As Rolland and Iah set foot upon the dias, a hidden choir gives voice in praise of the Maker and his works, an ethereal, unearthly sound that almost seems to call those gathered into a spirit of worship.
While the choir sings, Rolland leans in close to ask Iah if she has decided who is to knight her three squires. She admits that she would be honoured were Rolland himself to perform the deed. He is flattered, but perhaps not overly surprised, but he demures and suggests that he is already bound to protect her as overlord, friend and ally. He suggests that this moment provides an ample opportunity to establish more bonds of friendship with Ferelden's powerful. He suggests either the King, the Prince or even Tancred, a powerful noble whose lands lie directly west of her own and of Rollands, as being more politically astute choices.
Iah smiles and relents. She chooses Tancred for the honour, reasoning that not only do the Arl's lands border those of both herself and Rolland, but that he also seems to be something of a good man. Rolland captures the attention of a nearby deacon, who, after a quick whispered message, departs hurriedly to approach the Arl and his wife in the fourth row. Iah - and likely everyone else is somewhat startled by a loud and exuberant “Aha Ha Ha!” which soon follows the deacons departure. The rather red-faced clerk scurries back to Rolland with the Arl's answer but Rolland waves him away. “I rather think we know the nature of his reply already.” is his whispered comment to Iah
As the choir falls silent, Mother Cardinal Thenestra comes forth, announcing the arrival of the King. While all around her bow deeply, Iah takes this opportunity to study the man her mother once loved as an intended spouse. King Leobold is clearly not the man he once was. Though only in his fifties, his pallid, deathly grey flesh and the blue tint around his lips and ears proclaim a man in ill health.
Supported on either side by a page and shuffling along with the aid of an ebon cane, the King is far reduced from the heights of the celebrated warrior he was in his youth. While he still bares wonderfully inlaid and rune-engraved armour upon his upper form, his legs and lower body are bare of metal, wearing only thin velvet cloth that all too clearly displays the withered muscles of his legs.
To cover the wheezing of the Kings exertions, Thenestra quickly begins her sermon of thanks, giving a fine benediction and leading the gathered congregation in a selection of the chants with her fine singing voice.
Following a prayer for the safety and prosperity of the land, the king summons forth one of his squires, who, kneeling, presents the king with his ancestral sword – that same blade used by the Warden King Alistair to slay an arch-demon some sixty years before.
Gathering his strength, the king proves that while he no longer has full command over his body, the same cannot be said for a voice that has been heard across a dozen battlefields.
“I Leobold, your King, call forth Iah, daughter of Nimue and Lady heiress of Restenford, to give homage before her King and pledge fealty to King, Lord and Mother Church.”
Gulping her nervousness, Iah, at Rolland's prompting, moves forward to join the King and Thenestra on the dias, followed by the Bann himself.
Nervously, stammering but a little, but managing to keep the words straight in her mind, a kneeling Iah gives her oath.
*Iah's player went home with the piece of paper she scribbled a note on, so for the time being I'll skip over her part. Hopefully she'll email me a transcript tomorrow and I'll add it to the post later. Aimee? *
{Iah speaks, while a beaming King smiles warm encouragement}
Thenestra prompts Iah to bring her hands together in a gesture of prayer, at which point the king envelops her hands between his own. The failing man kisses both her cheeks, with cold, quivering lips, before standing with the assistance of his pages to great acclaim. Rowland then comes forward, taking the King's place before Iah, whom he prompts without moving his lips to repeat her oath, but to this time directed to him.
{Iah repeats her oath}
Rowland speaks in turn, “A strong hand to guide thee, a stout shield to ward thee. A sharp blade to fend those who would wish thee harm. All these and the hospitality of my hearth do I promise thee, for now and in perpetuation till judgement day or our oath be severed by the death of one or both. This is my oath to thee...” he draws the blade of his dagger across the palm of his hand, “and by the mark of this wound upon me do I serve to remember it.”
Again, Thenestra prompts Iah to place her hands together and again her hands are enveloped by a man to whom she has pledged her loyalty. Though this time, the kiss of the man to whom fealty is pledged leaves a pleasant, tingling warmth against her cheeks rather than the promise of her King's impending death.
Smiling at at Iah as though sharing a secret jest, Rolland then bends his own knee before Iah, to the evident shock and suprise of the assembled host.
“I, Rolland Henli, Bann of Blackwood, do pledge to thee fealty and loyalty in perpetuity for the gift and benefice of Mosston. Know that my sword is yours when called upon by you, my wit when words will serve better and my honourable service yours forever, which only death may sever. By the pain of this wound,” -he cuts his palm again, marking out a cross on his skin- “do I remember it.”
He offers his own clasped palms to Iah, who places them between her own (her hands being much too small to enfold Rolland's as both his and the King's did her's) and then leads forward to kiss Rollands cheeks in turn.
By this point the hall has begun to settle. A few late chuckles and bursts of laughter ring across the ave as a few of the slower members of the congregation finally put two and two together and realise the various ramifications of the events before them. However, clearly many of those gathered have failed to see the significance altogether, as shown by occasional ripples of murmered conversation towards the back of the Cathedral where some wag is happily explaining to his neighbour that the King won't be about to announce a sudden wedding engagement after all.
Rolland takes the opportunity afforded by the clamour to undertake a whispered conversation with the King. Though weary, the King listens pensively before waving his consent. It does not take the King long to search out the massive, eager bulk of Arl Tancred within the crowd and call him forth.
With a loud exclamation of delight, an unabashedly pleased Tancred playfully shoves aside proud men (who would most likely draw blades without hesitation upon anyone else who dared to manhandle them so) in his haste to reach the dias. His antics promote much rolling of eyes and knowing glances from the assembled nobles. The Arl practically bounces as he strides up the steps with all the playful showmanship of a circus master, even going so far as to bow deeply (or as deeply as his girth with allow) to the assembled dignitaries as he takes his place beside the King, inadvertently turning his back on his monarch as he does so (ordinarily a shamefully disrespectful act, albiet one which is simply waved away by an exasperated King somewhat resigned to the fact that Tancred will be Tancred till the day he dies).
With a flourish. The Arl borrows Rolland's blade (or, to be more accurate, simply draws it from Rolland's sheath without bothering to ask for permission first) and takes a few careful practice swipes at a candelabra with it to become accustomed to it's wieght. Once again the horrified royal guards are waved back to their posts by the King, whose pointed cough at this latest near-treasonous act at least causes the exuberant Arl to blush beneath his beard.
The King then announces that, in celebration of the Lady Iah's investiture as heiress of Restenford, three of her squires are to be knighted. At this Tancred calls Fossett forward with a loud, nay, commanding bellow. The young squire practically scurries towards the dias. While the lad approaches Tancred leans towards Iah and asks (in what, for Tancred, passes as a quiet voice) about the boy with no fingers. Is he to be knighted also? Tancred seems somewhat flabbergasted by Iah's forceful reply that he is, causing the Arl to laugh at his own astonishment. He proceeds to admonish the young woman that she is likely going to get the youngster killed.
Further conversation on the matter is halted by the arrival of Fossett, who, in a typical display of piety, protests that he cannot be knighted yet as he has not undergone the 24 hours of ritual prayer and cleansing that the office requires.
Tancred, perhaps annoyed by this stripplings attempt to deprive him of his moment of glory, bears his teeth in a fierce glower that the lad -to his credit- greets with a certain equanimity. Meanwhile, Mother-Cardinal Thenestra applauds the lad for his piety but assures him that it will be quite acceptable for his brothers and he to remain behind after the ceremony to undertake the purification rites retrospectively. Mollfied, Fossett nods his consent and thanks Iah for the honour she is about to bestow.
Clearly thinking that he has had to wait long enough to say his bit, Tancred simply starts bellowing before the boy has time to finish that sentiment:
“Protect the Innocent. Save the Helpless. Provide Guidance for those who are lost. Be a strong arm for your lord. Be a faithful son to the church. Be loyal to your King. THAT is your oath...”
Tancred strikes the youth across the jaw so hard that Fossetts eyes all but spin in their sockets.
“And thats to make bloody well sure you dont' forget it.”
At this the mighty Arl leans in close to the still somewhat stunned Fossett, index finger pressed right up under the youths nose. “And you'd better bloody well make that the last time you ever let someone hit you without taking their head off afterwords as well.”
Iah blanches at the sheer violence of the blow. Even Rolland looks shocked. But it is fair to say that not one soul in the hall failed to be impressed by the fact the lad managed to keep his feet after such a blow. Thereafer Rolland calls forward an attendant and he, Tancred and Iah proceed to garb the youth with the symbols of his new office – sword, mail and spurs of solid gold.
As they do so, Sister Thenestra hisses in the Arls ear. “For the love of the Maker Tancred, there's no need to be so abominably ardent about it.”
“Bah! He's a knight, not a milkboy.” is the inevitable response, spoken loud enough for all but those in the back rows to hear. But then even Iah chips with an urgent whisper as a very pale looking Shelby passes his brother Fossett on the latter's return down the aisle.
“Try not to kill my knights before they're even knighted.” She tries to make her complaints sound playful, but while she is clearly somewhat amused, there is no disguising that there is genuine concern in her voice also. “Please be gentle with Garrett at least”, she adds, in near-pleading tones.
This time Tancred is a little less ardent in his punch- he at least takes a moment to remove his gauntlet before punching the lad.
Garrett is last to approach the dias. He seems very worried indeed. Tancred raises his fist to strike the lad solidly, but first opens his fist to instead administer a sound slap but -at an indrawn breath from Iah- then deigns to content himself with a playful tweak of the lads bruised and battered cheek. Given the wretched state of the lads swollen, near-toothless jaw, the result is an agonised, barely stifled scream, but Tancred takes the lad by both shoulders, looks him straight in the eye and (speaking privately to the lad) states: “You've already suffered blows enough to earn this lad. Theres no need for another to help you remember it. You've earned this honour. And don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.”
At that, the Arl helps the lad up from his kneeling position and embraces him in a very fierce, very public hug. “Look after your mistress boy. She'll need more like you before all this comes to an end.” When Garrett leaves the dias, he does so in the company of a beaming, laughing Tancred, whose left arm is draped heavily across the lads shoulders.
Following further song and prayer, all those present -save the new-made knights who must stand their vigil in the Cathedral- make their way to the Palace of the King.
Dolgen and Ogden sing songs long into the night, but for Iah and Laria the evening is one long blur of introductions, veiled (and not so veiled) attempts at seduction by younger nobles -and even some ladies- as well as numerous compliments and enquiries concerning the pedigree of their exquisite dresses. Not long after sunset the King announces his fatigue, signalling the end of the festivities. Rolland and a handful of his still sober men escort Ogden and the girls back to the grey Minstrel for the remainder of the night. Rowland offers three of his sergeants as sentries before returning to his town-house. Iah gratefully accepts his offer, as by now half of Denerim must surely know who the mystery guests at the inn really are.
But the night does not pass without incident.
********* I had already decided while writing the adventure not to play through the actual Palace scenes. Partly because I didnt want to completely swamp the players with even more NPC's at this point and partly because I felt we needed a change of pace. I intend to re-introduce the NPC's that the characters met at the palace through "flash-backs" and "cut-scenes" later on. But for now, Iah had hogged enough of the limelight. it was time to let Ogden and Laria do a little bit of what they do best.**************************
Ogden blinks back sleep in the darkness of his room, wondering at the source of his interrupted sleep, for it is a rare night indeed that he does not sleep through to the dawn. After listening intently for a moment, he is all but ready to dismiss the source of his wakefulness as merely unusual night sounds when he hears the unmistakable sound of metal scratching against metal. He quietly takes to his feet, reaching across the room to the haft of his great-axe, and sends a longful glance at the coffer wherein lies his mail. He almost considers donning the armour, but just for a moment. For he begins to realise that the source of the sound that woke him is right outside his door. Creeping across the room, the floorboards emit a loud squeak just as his left hand reaches for the handle. That very moment, the door burst inward, banging loudly against the chamber wall. Ogden is thrown backwards by the force of the door clattering against his skull, but retains sufficient wits as to keep hold of his axe. Alas, before he can recover, two short-swords flicker out from the gloom, cutting shallow wounds into his flesh. Ogden strikes back at the two cowled figures before him, but misses completely. “Alarm!” he shouts. “Alarm.”
Laria wakes to the sound of clattering doors and the confident yelling of her dwarven friend. She rolls out of bed clad only in her night gown, instantly awake, and reaches for her weapons. Iah, alas, is oblivious to the noise, and stirs not a jot at Laria's hissed warning.
As the swords-woman looks to one side to check on her sleeping friend, her own chamber door is thrown open to admit three dark-clad assailants. Seemingly as one, they cock back their arms and release a trio of throwing knives. Two strike Laria, one in each shoulder, though she bats away a third with a frantic flick of her shortsword.
In the other Room, Ogden hears Laria's cry of pain and unleashes a hefty blow, fear for the safety of his companions strengthening his arm. His axe strikes his first foe in the chest, sending the man reeling backwards against the chamber wall, crumbling to the chamber floor in a bloody heap.
Nearby, Laria shouts desperately at a groggy Iah to wake up. The swords-woman charges one of the three assailants, who seems astonished to find himself being attacked by a helpless woman and barely dodges the flickering shortsword she aims at his belly.
Ogden's final foe lashes out at him again, but, unnerved by the sudden violent death of his companion at the hands of a supposedly sleeping foe, fails to penetrate the dwarves guard.
The assassins in the girl's room have far better luck, one of them nicking Laria with a fairly weak blow, yelling “It's not you we're after bitch!” and trying to brush her aside. Laria does a fair job of preventing the assassins from threatening her friend -only one of them slips past her swiftly moving blade and into the room itself. This last foe manages to thrust his blade at Iah even as the heiress is rising from her bed. Fortunately, the man's blade becomes entangled in her blankets, but he still scores a shallow wound across the young noblewoman's belly.
Ogden ducks beneath his foes blow, striking upwards with his axe even as he draws himself up to his full height. The angle is bad, but he still catches his last foe in the arm. Grinning at his rapidly weakening opponent, the dwarf advances upon him threateningly.
Laria meanwhile, draws her first blood of the fight, her short sword striking one of the two men facing her high in his sword arm as he attempts to sidle past her towards Iah. Forcing him back into a corner of the room in the process.
Iah herself, knowing that her life is at stake and that there is little risk of discovery at this point, unleashes a mindblast, catching both her own assailant and Laria's unwounded foe and sending them reeling. Wisely, she then flees out into the corridor, fortunately finding it empty of anything more threatening than the corpse of one of Rolland's men.
As she runs down the hallway, she sees the remaining two guards running up it towards her, crying out “A Henli, a Henli!” to make plain their allegiance in the darkened confines of the inn.
It is perhaps the call of the guards that distracts Ogden enough that he provides his final foe an opening – or which perhaps lends strength to the assassins arm, but either way the dwarf grunts in pain as the mans carves a shallow wound down the length of the dwarf's forearm.
Back in the bedroom, Laria takes a further wound too. Yet her defence is so skillful that only weak strokes make it past her guard. Yet the lass is not fooled. She knows her position is desperate. With one foe before her and two now positioned (albeit stunned) to her rear, the guards must arrive soon or her fate is clear.
Ogden, angered by his wounding, cracks his final foe over the head with his axe, splitting the man's head near in two and dropping him to the floor in a bloody heap. For a single horrifying moment, the dwarf's axe blade sticks in the man's skull, but with a single boot braced solidly against the the fallen assassin's chest, he finally wrenches it free.
Laria has a similar success, forcing the tip of her blade through her foes leather armour and deep into his chest with a strength born of desperation. He slowly slides from her blade down the length the of the wall, leaving a long smear of arterial blood behind him. Grimly, she spins on her heels, stepping backwards into the corridor to once again place the chamber door between herself and her assailants.
Iah shouts at the guards to help Laria. Pointing back into the room she shares with her friend. She halts by the still form of the third guard, kneeling to make sure he is truly dead and not merely insensate, but alas he is dead. Iah adds one more to the tally of grievances for which her brother must answer.
The two surviving guards leap over the kneeling Iah and their prostrate friend, no mean feat while dressed in heavy mail. One plants his feet firmly on the floor to protect Iah while the other rushes down the corridor, axes high, as fast as their armoured legs will carry them. In the girls' bedroom, the two assassins stunned by Iah earlier finally regain their senses and press home their attack on Laria. However, with the arrival of an armoured guard in the doorway, their motions take on a hurried, almost frantic aspect. Laria is almost certain she can even hear one of them swallow a sob.
Ogden himself steps over the two dead bodies in his doorway and runs into the corridor. Seeing the second guard taking up position between Iah and her chambers, the dwarf shouts: “Ward her!” and hurries after the first guard.
Laria, badly wounded, gives thanks to the maker for her deliverance, and concentrates on staying alive rather than slaying her foes. The guard beside her is not so inclined however. His eyes glitter mercilessly in the darkness. He has a fallen friend to avenge. And he soon demonstrates that he has the means to do it. Within moments both surviving assassins are on the defensive.
Meanwhile, the second guard, seeing Ogden leave a room he can securely by guarding the only exit, grabs Iah by the arm and practically tosses her into the dwarf's recently vacated quarters. Though the heiress very nearly tumbles over the two fallen men within, the guard pays little heed and steps into the room with her, blocking the door.
One of the assassins shouts to the other that they need to flee. However, neither Laria nor the guard have any intention of doing so. They press home their attack, backing the assassins further into the room until they stand upon the very bed Iah lay in but a few moments ago. It is then that the hurtling form of an angry Ogden hurtles past them. He practically leaps at the first assassin, his axe swinging through the air as he jumps onto the bed, very efficiently cleaving the man's head from his shoulders.
While the second man near drops his blade in horror of the brutal kill, the second guard's axe bites deep into the man's spine. He makes to spit upon the corpse, but seeing Laria's night-shirt wielded to her body by sticky blood, he drops his axe to catch the girl just as she begins falling towards the floor. He calls out to Iah that the girl is injured, and very quickly gathers her into his arms and rushes towards his comrade, knowing that Iah must be nearby.
(* No mechanical effect here, just good role-playing. Laria had taken a beating and was down to a tiny fraction of her starting health. She took a decision there and then that her wounds, combined with the physical strain and emotional trials of the last week would lead to her collapse from blood loss and exhaustion).
Laria is very efficiently tended by a worried Iah while the Rolland's men stand outside (from modesty as much as for security – the girls are both half-naked after all and there's not much left of Laria's nightdress). This affords Iah the opportunity for a little surreptitious magical healing. “Look,” she informs the guards later, “not all of that blood was hers”.
With the sounds of fighting over, the other guests begin poking their heads out into the corridor, but are told in no uncertain terms by Ogden and the guards to mind their own business.
Come the dawn, the inn (indeed, the whole quarter) is alive with rumour. Rolland arrives in a rage, escorted by every man he has, having stripped his town-house bare to provide the party with more defenders. The Watch has already arrived by then, but Rolland invokes his authority as a Bann to clear them off. The ward captain is all to happy to leave this mess in the hands of someone else, and avows that he will inform the king of this attempt on the life of his newest vassal forthwith. The Bann mourns openly for his fallen man-at-arms, and sends to the cathedral for the knights. Their vigil, it seems must be called short. He defers to Iah's wishes, but suggests she either decamp to his town-house for protection or else leave for Restenford immediately. Iah consults with her friends and, unanimously, they agree that Restenford is the better option. Iah reasons that her lands may already be under attack.
However, Iah also decides that she cannot leave without her treasury and intends to visit Ironshield. Ogden elects to go with her, but an exhausted Laria stays in bed. Rolland refuses to let the two go alone and, in the absence of her knights, sends some of his own men to accompany her.
At the banking House, Ironshield is very rude and to the point. He has no wish to have a marked woman or a marked woman's coin under his roof. Quickly, Iah has the final paperwork signed and the coffer containing her gold lifted by the strong arms of Rolland's soldiery. It takes two men to carry the small coffer between them, but fortunately the Banking House is not far from the inn. Before leaving, Iah informs Ironshield that Laria has been hurt, thinking that the awkward little clerk may wish to know the fate of his dinner companion. It says much of the man's character that he doesn't really seem to care.
By the time they return to the Inn, Garrett and his brothers have arrived (*note that from now on I'll collectively refer to them as Iah's knights rather than as “the squires”). Garrett especially is white with concern and livid that he and his brothers were not present to protect her. Rolland very kindly refrains from pointing out that Garrett himself, with his maimed hand and ruined eye, would hardly be able to do much in the way of protecting anyone, even going so far as to tread on Ogden's foot when he sees the dwarf opening his mouth.
Iah, for her part, gives Garrett a big hug. He says that he sent for Dr Alnwick the moment he learned that Laria had been hurt. Iah heads upstairs to check on the good doctor, a little miffed at finding someone else looking after “her” patient. This time Dr Alnwick has at least a few pleasant things to say about the state of Iah's bandaging, but is just as brusk as ever and stalks past Iah without much in the way of pleasantries on his way back out. To her satisfaction, Iah finds Laria still sleeping peacefully. Whatever examination or treatment the Dr has conducted, it evidently did not involve waking the sleeping girl up.
Rolland knock and requests permission to enter. He uses this moment of privacy to advise Iah that she is missing the rather obvious fact that she will be needing horses to make her escape. He himself can lend her horses, but it would be best were she to buy some mounts of her own. He will, after all, need those mounts for his own men. They discuss travel plans, with Rolland giving her some practical advice and promising to visit her in Restenford as soon as he has cleaned up the mess here in Denerim. He also offers Iah six of his men to help protect her on the way.
Rolland wishes her luck as he leaves to see about sorting out the aforesaid mess while Iah and Ogden head downstairs to discuss with Shelby and Fosset what will be needed. Given Shelby's familiarity with the city, they place him in charge of the horse-money and instruct him to pick up a cart for Laria as well.
Meanwhile Iah arranges for Ogden and Ser Fossett to take the chest up to the suite. Upon opening the coffer, all three are dazzled by the yellow-golden glow. None of them have ever seen a thousand gold pieces in a single place before. Fosset and Ogden stay to look after the chest – although judging by a few comments made by Fossett, he seems to think he's there more to keep an eye on Ogden. Meanwhile Iah ponders why Fossett and Shelby seem a little odd and stilted. Then she realises: she hasn't once referred to either of them by their titles yet. Nor has she yet stopped treating them as squires rather than knights. Knights aren't supposed to carry heavy boxes or run errands for their ladies, after all. From this moment on she makes a point of addressing them all as “Ser”.
Of the three knights, Garrett seems the least put out by Iah's little gaffe. After all, he seem's to have taken it upon himself to do her packing. Traditionally the role of a squire or maid and NOT that of a knight.
Iah hears some movement in Ogden's room. Heading through, she finds Laria now awake and somewhat famished. They chat for a little, Iah professing she is glad to see her friend up and about and thanking her for saving her life. A somewhat embarrassed Laria mumbles something modest under her breath, before the girls head through into their suite and get Laria some clothes.
Garrett, who has been packing, turns a fetching shade of beetroot at the sight of a near-naked Laria wandering into the room. He mumbles something apologetic and edges out of the room, facing the wall the whole time. Iah chuckles somewhat at his embarrassment, her amusement giving voice to laughter when she realises that Laria's blushes are deep enough to match Garrett's own. With Laria still stiff from her wounds, Iah helps her wash and fastens her into her dress.
Next door, in the lounge room of the girl's suite, pious, respectable Ser Fossett and openly inquisitive Ogden eye each other over the money, which Ser Fossett is counting methodically. When Ogden reaches out a hand to pick up a coin, the former squire slaps it away. The two of them glare for a moment longer, before Ogden gives up and goes to stand beside the door.
Meanwhile Iah and Garrett arrange for breakfast to be brought up. They leave soon after Ser Shelby returns with six riding horses, a draft horse and a cart. All complete with saddle and harness. He even hands over some change from his 2 gold pieces.
It takes the companions three days of hard riding to retrace their steps to Black Keep, though under Iah's careful herbal ministrations Laria is well enough to ride a horse herself inside of two. However, at Black Keep Rolland's castellan demands that their six escorts remain behind. He himself is short of fighting men since Rolland called so many north after the ambush. The man rudely insists that Lady Iah has more than enough knights of her own to see her to Restenford. When Iah rides out, she takes the Abbey horses - which helped bring the wounded from the camp battle to Black Keep - with her.
The next day, at Brigton, She Iah presents her documents to the town council, who swear their fealty upon the town's charter. The travellers stay just one night and by mid-morning approach the bridge where Iah, Ogden and Laria fought their first Genlock. Just across the rise, on the east side of the bridge lies the small hamlet of Vintiver.
When they clear the last bend before the bridge, they spot the kind of smoke no noble want's to see rising from a hamlet.....
[next] session four
