~ Dire Struggle for Dillend: [Archive] [Home] [Previous Turn] [Next Turn] ~

Edryd nods slowly. At Dire's mention of thousands of innocent lives lost, Edryd's mind crashes back to the sight of his family's bodies, broken and bloodied at the hands of Southern orcs and giants, whose evil is like that of Caerloon. And Dillend...Dillend. He must control his mind and heart, as it is the only way to help her now...

He turns to Dire and says, "I am with you, Anhur be my guide. We have different aims, yet follow the same path. Nothing happens by chance and justice shall be served." He then turns to the rest of the Six. "Are there any of you that do not wish to follow? Say on if it is so."

"There is no evil mark upon Dire Luthor's soul," Emma proclaims, looking at the wizard as she speaks, but directing her words to the rest of Rinder's Six, "But there is little good in him either. The Scales of Anhur are in balance where his past is concerned. I don't believe he has murdered anyone."

"I don't know much about the Red Dragon school, but from what you've told us it would seem that it mimics you, Dire," she continues, "You say that, in the past, your school has stayed neutral in the affairs of state, acting more as advisors than dictators. But one arm of the scale has begun to tip toward Caerloon, war, and chaos. This problem threatens the very existence of your organization as well as our King. For the safety of Rinder...and the innocent lives of our citizens...we would do well to balance the scale within your school once again."

"Tell us more of your plans," she urges, "Where shall we travel and how do you intend to discover the identity of those that framed you?"

Storm seems to be paying more attention to Dire's comments than to anything he's been told by anyone before. He is obviously swayed by the power of the mage. "I be helpin' ya. Ye seem like too good a guy to be murderin' someone. But I ne'er be a good judge o' person, so don't let me be findin' meself wrong." He winks at Dire. "But I be trustin' ye." Storm secures his swords at his side and removes one of his daggers from around his belt to clean his fingernails.

Hannibal, still a bit humbled by the experience in the alley and the solid butt chewing he had received because of it, opts to keep quiet. He listens intently to Dire's tale, not caring for some of the details but knowing when to keep quiet. Once done, and the question is asked, Hannibal only mumbles a barely audible ok and gives the thumbs up. "This is getting better by the minute!" he muses to himself sarcastically.

Crayne looks down for a while and funnels through the information that Dire has just told him. Listening to Dire rattle on about the Red Dragon school and how they have developed a definite leaning towards Caerloon sees Craynes face turn to a sad look. Having to fight another kingdom in war was enough, but against a group of powerful mages was in the extreme. Mages could wipe out vast hoards of soldiers with just a spell. This thought causes a shiver to run down his back.

He looks at Dire and provides an ironic smile, "What you have told us is bad my friend. Very bad! You mention that the school was divided between giving support to Rinder and Caerloon. Do you mean to say that the mages supporting Rinder will back the kingdom in war? If this is the case what of the Rinder camp. Do you think they can face up to the Caerloon contingent? Is there enough support or perhaps power maybe a better word amongst the group that backs the Rinder kingdom? Do you think there is a way that you could persuade the Rinder followers to fight for Rinder and cause a split within the Dragon school that would maybe force them to think twice about involving themsleves?"

Dire continues to stroke his beard, peeking out the small window overlooking the streets of Jilten below while listening to the questions posed to him. "My plans," he begins, addressing Emma's point, "are as follows: We must travel to Caerloon, for that is where we will find the mages we seek. There is a camp of soldiers I know of, about a day's march south of the border. If the Red Dragon Mages in Caerloon's camp are, indeed, behind this, then they *may* be in the camp. If not, we may need to travel deeper into Caerloon. To the Academy."

"Academy?" Canter asks, raising an eyebrow. Emma casts a glance in Canter's direction, nodding with the question.

"Yes. One of very few such institutions. If we do not find the mages we seek among the soldiers in the camp, we will surely find them at the Academy--or at least, friends of mine who will know where they are," Dire answers, motioning with his hands for effect.

Dire then turns his gaze on Crayne. "My friend, you are indeed a quick one. Consideration of the Rinder faction of the Red Dragon School is a wise persuit. Unfortunately, I do not believe that those who are not in favor of Caerloon want to fight at all. You see, they do believe in some justice," turning to Emma, "though their justice and that of others are often along different lines, of course." And back to Crayne, "and they would rather hold their position against becoming actively allied with one kingdom against another. This poses a problem, of course, in that by not fighting they essentially deprive the King and Knights of Rinder of a powerful magical weapon.

"I do believe they will fight for Rinder. But I fear they will need a reason. The taking of Dillend is not enough for them. Those were soldiers in the fort. It is their duty to live and fight and die. But if innocents are killed needlessly (in the eyes of the Rinder mages), then perhaps they will join in on Rinder's side."

"But can we wait that long? I will not stand by and allow hundreds of innocent people be slaughtered simply to give cause to a stubborn club of wizards!" Edryd objects.

Dire nods to Edryd, but does not answer.

Crayne looks up to Dire, running a finger under his lower lip. "Also! What if the Red Dragon school faction in favour of Caerloon had caused this war in the first place? What if it was a suggestion or a spell even that persuaded the King of Caerloon to plan an attack on its neighbouring kingdom Rinder? It is easily done! Very easily done! Perhaps this war is a war caused by greedy mages! We still have very little reason or explanation as to why Caerloon began there attack on Rinder."

"A very good point," Cy puts in.

"Indeed," Dire mumbles.

"Also, my friend," Crayne continues, "I am not up on these things, but what about other factors outside of what we talk of? What of the priestly factions? Are any of those to take sides? Or are there any factions that are averse to the Dragon school who would maybe involve themselves? Also, I assume both Kingdoms must have high ranking magicians. Will these be showing there faces? What I am trying to ask in all of this is how is the battle likely to go? Do you think it will be decided through magic or other means?"

Dire continues to pace, obviously considering very carefully all that Crayne has to say. "I cannot speak for priestly factions. I do not know their allegience, nor their inner politics. That is far outside my province, I regret." He casts a glance to Emma as if to defer the question in her direction. "I wonder if there is anything you would like to put in on that question, my dear?

"But this idea of a suggestion has merit, Crayne. It can be, and it has been, done. The question is whether it has been done in this case. That I do not know. To have interfered with the King is a violation of all the policies the Red Dragon School has followed for centuries. I would normally not even consider it. But we appear to be dealing with a new generation of Red Dragon Mages. If they are willing to break off from the School, then we have no reason not to believe that they will use their powers to influence the King of Caerloon. But these are questions I cannot answer for you..."

"And time is wasting," Cy warns, "If we intend to set off for the border in the morning, we should all get some rest."

"Of course," Dire says.

Hannibal yawns, stretching his arms wide above his head. "Sounds like this will be an exciting journey..."

"Hmm..." Emma agrees, deep in thought. Soon, all go off to their separate rooms in the inn, landing quickly on the straw matresses and falling fast asleep.

Morning arrives with a warm sun and dew glistening on the tree leaves. Emma and Edryd rise early to give their prayers to their god. Canter rises, too, but heads off to the morning market to look around. He returns about an hour later, having made no purchases, but having moved the horses from the tavern to the hitching post just outside the inn. Cy sharpens his sword over a bowl of warm grits for breakfast. The wizards arrive last, after even the sleepy Hannibal, rubbing the sleep from their eyes.

Soon the party sets off southward toward the border. The travel is easy--a road many in the party have traveled before, together, even. Men and women, and children, too, can be seen in the fields surrounding Jilten and the outlying villages along the main road. As the dew melts throughout the morning, the horses begin to kick up the dust and dirt from the road. The countryside fills the horizon, bringing a calming feeling over Rinder's Six, depsite the obstacles they all know lie in their future path.

Dusk and night fall upon the traveling party, who pull off the road in a relatively secure spot (by Cy and Edryd's determination) and light a small fire for the cooking of dinner. The evening is cool but comforatble. At one point Dire moves closer to Crayne, saying quietly to the younger mage, "Do you remember what I taught you in the forest? About getting the right effect from your spells? Have you had a chance, yet, to try it? I've found that in the right situations it has a smashing effect!" The two continue to "talk shop" quietly, discussing spells and spellcasting. The rapport between the two is obviously friendly, like teacher and student...almost father and son. "Have you learned any new spells recently?" the elder asks the younger, "Would you like to?"

The following day travel continues. The border rapidly approaches, the light forest closing in ahead. In the distance and dust cloud can be seen hovering just above the road surface, and a head can been seen bobbing up and down out of its top.

"Marching formation," Cy announces, observing the road ahead. "I would recognize it anywhere. Troops marching toward the front."

"Yes, but whose troops?" Emma asks, casting a glance to Cy and around the party. Storm shrugs his shoulders and spits off his horse into the dusty road below.

"Moving from this direction toward the border, I'd venture to guess they are of Rinder," Edryd says.

"Even so, let's be on our best behavior, yes?" Canter says, eyeing Hannibal but looking over the whole party.

As they approach the marching soldiers, one of the officers (identified as such because of his position atop the war horse) turns to look at the party behind him and his men. There are perhaps between fifty and a hundred men marching in rows of five men across. Five officers on horseback surround the troops, keeping pace.

"What ho!" The rear officer calls to Rinder's Six as they close in on the marching troops. "These parts be growing dangerous for travelers such as yourselves! What business do ya got here?"

1. Emma, feel free to answer the question about the church's involvement in the war which Dire deferred to you, if you feel you can, and if you wish to.

2. Crayne, I understand your concern over the frequency of magic and religious castes in Rinder, etc. Hopefully this will become more apparent over time. For now, let's just say that wizardly magic is uncommon, though not rare. And religion as an influential force is quite potent in the realm, though the five different branches of the church (castes), of which the Caste of Anhur is one, have over the past couple of centuries become much more autonomous entities. I don't want to give away too much right now. Obviously, those characters more closely aligned with the religious aspect of life in Rinder know more about the church; and those with the wizardly aspect of magic likewise. In that vein, if you have more specific questions, or just want to flesh out some of the details, I'd be happy to do so...

3. Each character spent 6 sp on lodging and food at the inn.

4. At this point all characters are back up to full hit points.

5. Any actions regarding the troops on the road to the border?

~ Dire Struggle for Dillend: [Archive] [Home] [Previous Turn] [Next Turn] ~