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

Emma smiles coyly, pretending she was better at the game of flirtation than he was, although in truth, she feels far out of her league with this one. She takes an uncertain step backwards.

"Well...perhaps you presume too much," she says, turning her back and crossing her arms as she walks toward the tables. Her eyes scan the surface for anything that might look important. She assumed the others were doing their job, but couldn't be sure, so she thought she'd add her efforts to theirs...

Finally, satisfied that she wasn't going to discover anything more with her efforts, she turns back to the Baron General's son. "Although, you know...my journey was long...and...tiring. Perhaps you might have some wine to help relax me...?" she said, and also pointed toward the serving dish left behind by his father, "And food, as well?"

She steps closer to him and continues, "And we could...talk further...in your personal tent, perhaps? Away from all of this..." She waves her hand around at their surroundings, as if the trappings of war might be beyond her "supposed" noble lifestyle.

Turning his attention back to Robert and Emma, a sick feeling washes over Hannibal. He didn't care for Robert one bit, and cared for his advances on Emma even less. Gripping his dagger tightly in his hand, Hannibal reenters the tent and finds a corner where he can observe out of the way. Quietly he waits, wanting this Robert to make a mistake so that he may plunge his blade into the scoundrel's heart.

Storm, content with his snatchings, waits patiently without moving, listening to the conversation between those still left and visible. He plans to stay close to Emma if everyone goes elsewhere, and stay on the lookout for any conflict. He'll quickly jump in if needed.

Crayne smiles as he sees the back of Robert, but then overhearing the conversation, Crayne grows worried. It seems Robert had an eye for Emma and that could pose some problems.

Averting his mind from these thoughts Crayne focuses his mind on the task ahead. He quickly begins to move around the tent and will help Dire as best he can in a search. Crayne doesn't believe that anything of value will be kept in here but there is a chance so he will assist in the best possible way.

Robert considers Emma's words for a moment, the smile on his lips betraying his thoughts. "It would be a pleasure to help you...relax..." he replies quietly, sliding one hand all the way down the length of her arm and taking her hand in his. She picks up the metal tray, which still contains some chicken meat and half a bottle of red wine. With a coy smile, Emma is towed from the tent behind Robert Wade IV.

As the two leave the tent, Storm quickly falls in behind Emma, intending to follow the two and stick with Emma in case things turn ugly. He did not seem very excited about the conversation between the two, but then again, he didn't understand a lot of fancy words and conversations, anyway.

The tent flaps part, and Crayne casts a glance outside into the night as they leave. He can see two other tents nearby, around the central fire, in the center of the large army camp. These other two tents are each guarded by three men, clad in chain mail with small shields and swords. Robert and Emma slowly make their way into one of the tents. "The other must be the Baron General's personal tent, maybe?" Crayne wonders.

Finally, the command tent is empty. Hannibal whispers, "Crayne! Crayne where are you?!"

Crayne clears his throat and turns around, expecting to see the thief's body. But Hannibal is still invisible. Crayne quickly realizes this and whispers into the seeminly empty tent: "Over here, by the main entrance. Just looking to see which way they went. Dire, are you still here?"

"Indeed," Dire's deep voice answers. Crayne can then see papers floating in the air above the three-drawered table in the back of the tent; Dire must be reading them. "Just looking for what we came here for." Dire clears his voice, holding up one sheet of paper so as to catch the light better. Then the paper lowers itself. "Is that dwarf still here?"

There is no answer. "I guess not," Hannibal replies in Storm's absence. "Did he go with Emma?"

"I hope so," Crayne responds. "Dire, have you found anything?"

"Me too," Hannibal says quietly.

Dire clears his throat before answering. "Not yet, but we're getting close, I believe. These papers here are correspondence. Ordered issued, reports received. It would make sense if we found the proof we seek here at this table."

"Good then, Hannibal, you keep lookout, I'll help Dire," Crayne says confidently. He can feel Hannibal brush past his invisible body as he moves toward the table in the back.

After a few moments, Crayne's invisible face lights up. "A letter from the King!" he says excitedly.

"What does it say?" Hannibal asks, turning back for a brief look in the direction of the table. Various papers appear to float in mid air as the two wizards sift through the piles and drawers.

"Well, it instructs: 'The Honorable Baron General Robert Wade III of Bayswater, you are hereby instructed to proceed with the capture of Fort Dillend. Once in control of Dillend, concentrate your forces there and begin forthwith with the seige and capture of the Kingdom of Rinder's Fort Mitchend. The King anticipates your success in this endeavor.'"

"I have here something else," Dire then says. "And it appears to me quite interesting." He clears his throat again, preparing to read aloud. "'Your most honorable Baron General, on behalf of the southern bloc of the Red Dragon School of Magical Arts, I hereby pledge our support in your upcoming military campaign. We look forward to your successes on the battle fields of Rinder, as well as the previously discussed success which will surely follow.' Signed, 'The Great Master Rainsford, Red Dragon School of Cahren.'"

There is silence around the tent. "That's it, right? That's what we need? We can get out of here now, right?" Hannibal asks, wanting to rejoin the others and find his way out of the wasps nest of the Caerloon camp.

"This letter," Crayne says evenly, "does not aquit you, Dire. It does not order the deaths of those men you've been accused of murdering, nor does it say that someone is out to eliminate you. Is this enough?" Crayne's voice sounds concerned, concern for Dire, but also for the mission: if they came all this way to do a job, they ought to do it right, right?

"What you say is true, Crayne," Dire says, lowering the paper and then folding it into his pocket. "But this information may be enough to bargain for my life. It does prove that there is more than one force at work here. What you have found tells us that the Caerloon King is behind this little war -- or at least issuing the orders from the top. And what I've found indicate that a second party also has some interest in it. The Knights and the King of Rinder don't know this. These two letters may be enough to bargain for my life."

"Very well then," Crayne says, "we should get out of here before something goes wrong."

"Yeah, but what do we do about Emma and Storm?" Hannibal asks.

MEANWHILE......

Emma (and Storm) follows Robert into another tent. This one is smaller than the command tent. But there are wooden boards on the floor, leading up to a raised platform covered with thick fluffy pillows. Robert takes the tray from Emma and places it on a small table nearby. Storm stays close to the edge of the tent (on the inside), not far from the door, but close enough to keep an eye out for what's going on. His eye catches a glimpse of something shiny underneath one of the tables, and upon closer inspection, he sees a sack full of silver coins! He almost dives for it right there, but has enough brains to stop himself and consider for a moment the noise he would make.

At the same time, Robert lowers himself onto a large pillow, pulling Emma down beside him. He smiles for a moment to her, a pause as the two gaze at each other. He then turns to the small table, uncorking the wine and pouring two large goblets full. He takes one and places it in Emma's small hand.

She takes a drink...a long, slow swig. It was strong wine, and her eyes shoot open as it goes down. Robert smiles, placing his empty goblet on the table behind him. He hand returns with a grape. Without saying a word he holds it between two fingers, slowly moving it toward Emma's lips. She is unsure of how to react, but not wanting to offend Robert or give away the cherade too soon, she decides the gesture is innocent enough...perhaps. She slowly takes the grape in her teeth, keeping her eyes on Robert the whole time.

"So, my lady Hannah..." Robert says softly, stroking her temple with the side of his hand where a strand of her hair has come loose and is hanging down freely. "How do you find the fine wines of my country? Relaxing?"

"Hmm...." Emma responds just as quietly and calmly. She doesn't say too much, partially to keep things going as long as she can while her friends search the command tent, partially because she is genuinely interested, and partly as a result of the strong soothing effect of the wine.

"I would be most honored, if you had some more..." he replies, pressing another goblet into her hand, an innocent look on his face. Everything seems to move in slow motion. The room is warm, comfortable, hazy. "And relaxed here tonight..." he takes her other hand and plants a slowl, long kiss. His lips linger there for a moment, before he raises his eyes to meet Emma's, looking for some kind of reaction.

MEANWHILE.......

"I...the sword is....the dress is just....it belongs to..." Edryd stammers in response to the patrol leader's repeated questions.

The leader shakes his head, drawing his sword. "I think I've heard enough. Why don't you lead your horses back with us, stable boy."

Edryd does not move. "Is there another problem?" the leader asks. "You know what? I want a closer look at those saddle bags." He snaps his fingers and one of the other men strikes a spark with a flint and steel. Soon a lantern is lit, shining its stark light on Edryd. His long black hair and determined eyes stare at the leader. In the light, his height is revealed.

As the lantern is lit, Cy and Canter jump aside, desperately searching for some cover behind the few trees in the area. But the movement does not go unnoticed. Two of the guards catch the fighters as the dive out of the way.

"Sir!" one of them shouts. "There are two more! They've got--" his report is cut short as Cy's blade sinks into his lower back.

"Stable boy my ass...." the leader says, raising his sword. Edryd is a quick draw, and manages to raise his blade just in time to block the blow.

Then all hell breaks loose. The six-man patrol is armed, all with long swords, and armored with chain mail, except for the leader, whose chest plate offers his some more protection. Based on the way they are standing, two men attack each of Cy, Canter, and Edryd.

The second man to attack Edryd also finds his blade blocked by the Paladin's.

The soldier whose back has been sliced by Cy's blade yelps in pain and surprise, but the other soldier nearby maneuvers around and strikes Cy with his blade, which cuts into the warrior's upper arm (3 hp damage).

Canter draws his sword and enters into the fray, knocking aside one soldier's blow, but not managing to get out of the way of a second, which pokes into his side, opening up a small wound (3 hp damage).

1. Crayne and Hannibal: Now that Dire is satisfied with your findings, what do you do? Do you leave the camp while you're still invisible? Crayne saw which tent Emma and Robert went into, do you want to go there? The tent is guarded...

2. Emma and Storm: Storm, any specific actions? How interested are you that silver? Keep in mind that Emma doesn't know you're there. Emma, how far are you willing to go? Keep in mind that: a) you don't know that Crayne knows where you are, b) you don't know that they've found what they're looking for, c) you don't know that Storm is in the tent, keeping an eye on you, and d) you are a bit under the influence of the potent Caerloon red wine.

3. Edryd and Cy: A little input from you two would be nice, here. We haven't heard from you in a while. Now would be a good time to chime in! Please send any specific actions you intend to (try to) execute for the next FOUR to FIVE rounds. I'm going to try to keep the three parts of this party on the same page chronologically, so I'll be putting more combat rounds into each post than usual.

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