|
Post by connor on Apr 7, 2012 12:18:02 GMT -5
The Lupis rolled over a small wave. Contus could see the docks now. "Oars!" he called and his men started rowing her in. Contus felt a satisfying thud as his ship docked. He climbed off and onto the land. It was the first time he'd been on land in a month, since their docking in Hiberniria. "We'll bunk on the ship tonight," he said, "I'll talk to the local baron." He set off towards Castle Drayden.
|
|
|
Post by connor on Apr 7, 2012 12:49:32 GMT -5
Contus walked through the forest, it reminded him of the days when he was an ranger apprentice. It was a tradegy he stopped. His teacher Markyus had died in a forest fire. Contus refused to continue his training and that's when he set sail on the Lupis. He could have been a ranger, he thought. But he dispelled the thought. Great things had happened from the voyage and they were not regretful. But he knew now he would never be a ranger. A sunden rustle in the bushes startled him, but he dispelled it as a rabbit. Two seconds later his sixth sense set in and he unsheathed his twin swords from their scabbards on his back. A bandit with a heavy looking blade jumped out, his eyes burned with fire. They circled then quickly the bandit made a slash for his face. The move was fast but Contus's were faster. He expertly crossed his swords behind the hilt of the knife and flung it backwards. The bandit ran, so Contus whipped out his half loaded crossbow, clicked it into gear and pulled the trigger. The bolt struck the ruffian in the ankle and he yelped in pain. Contus tied him up and took him to castle Drayden. "I thought this was one of the peacefull fiefs," he mused.
|
|
|
Post by connor on Apr 19, 2012 8:12:19 GMT -5
Contus dragged the bandit up the forested hill castle Drayden sat on. His muscles were sore. He was starting to get lonley. He wished he had brought his first mate with him. He came up to the castle gate and approached a gaurd. "My ship has just docked here and I picked this scum up on the way.
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Apr 19, 2012 9:30:49 GMT -5
The guard eyed him dubiously, but he had seen the ship pull into port and so waived him on through. "Jacko! Show this man to the Castellan." He called down to one of the men in the guard house.
A lean, wiry guard bounded up the stairs and motioned fro Contus to follow. He led him straight up to the castle and then around to a small door just off the large main one and rapped on it three times.
"Enter." The voice seemed devoid of emotion. Inside was a brightly lit small room containing an emacuately clean desk with an orderly pile of parchment on one corner, and ink well and several quills and a large candlestick featuring 5 lit candles. There were bookshelves lining the walls and two rather uncomfortable stools in front of the desk. Behind it was a grizzled old man dressed in a guard's uniform, but without the armor and behind him was a curtain. Behind the curtain there was the corner of a bedpost just barely visible and a dresser at the foot of the bed. Everything was neat, tidy and clean.
The man looked up at Contus and said, "Thank you Jacko. What can I do for you, Sir?"
|
|
|
Post by connor on Apr 19, 2012 17:41:09 GMT -5
Contus looked around the room. Typical baron's office, he thought. "What can I do for you?" the baron said. "I'm Captain Lupiston of the Lupis. My crew just docked in a bay outside the woods. I picked up this scoundral," grabbing the thiefs neck, "on my way here. I'll hand him over to your men. I'd also like to know if there has been any trouble in the kingdom lately. Otherwise I'm heading to Norgate."
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Apr 21, 2012 7:48:55 GMT -5
"Welcome to Drayden, Captian." The Castellan answered and pulled on a string hanging from the ceiling. A bell tolled one time high above them. "I am Rayburn, the Castellan of Drayden." he offered Lupistan to sit on one of the hard benches in front of his desk and poured two mugs of coffee from a pot simmering on the hearth beside his desk. "Coffee? I am afraid we are getting word of some rough things occuring up north. It might not be wise to travel to Norgate, unless you plan to sail up the coast and port on her lands." Rayburn took a drink of coffee. "Seems there was a huge Wargal attack at the Winter Revel in Norgate this past winter. Most of those that were in it survived the battle, but now are dead of a fever. There is a plauge sweeping through the northern fiefs that didn't really break out until the heat of the summer set in, but most who catch it are not surviving." He rubbed his forehead. "Bandits and outlaws are taking advantage of the situation and people are fleeing south leaving Norgate a ghost fief from what I hear. Not only that, but there are reports that some of the bandits seem to be highly organized - almost like a mercenary army and a lot of them are Scotti. There is talk that there may be someone of a military background organizing them, but so far there has been no proof."
He stood up as there was a knock on the door and Jacko returned with another man. "Boss?"
"Take this thief to the dungeon and put his name on the docket for a hearing. Guess ya better have him checked for injuries too." Rayburn ordered and the two guards dragged off the protesting thief. "Thanks for mopping up one of them for us. I am just afraid there are a dozen more where he came from."
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on May 11, 2012 16:22:43 GMT -5
Rayburn pulled out a map of the northern half of Araluen and laid it out on his desk. "Norgate's knights have been severly depleated by this plauge and I am getting reports from refugees fleeing south that outlaws and Scotti warriors are sporadically attacking small farmsteads and villages. Most, if they don't flee in time, are being killed and the buildings burned. We assume they are taking valuables and food before setting them afire." Rayburn had several red circles around a great many place names all across Norgate and Marshwood and Caraway. "These are the villages and homsteads I know to have been destroyed. We question the refugees that we can when they arrive and everything is recorded. I send that to His Majesty and to Ranger Crowley. As I understand it, most of the other fiefs are doing the same. I suspect he has a better map of what's been destroyed."
Rayburn sat back down behind his desk and rubbed a hand over his weary eyes. "I am very concerned that the Scotti may be behind all this and planning another invasion attempt. This time there might not be enough of our own soldiers and knights along the border to stop them." He looked up at the Captain, "are you sure you want to press on to Norgate right now? You have the hospitality of the Baron of Drayden if you would like to stay."
|
|