Game thread 1 - Starry Nights in Aquitaine

[Scalydemon]

You will be travelling to an area known as Krakesborough, which is now thought to be deserted, on behest of the King and his venerable High Cleric Oberian. Oberian, after consulting ancient manuscripts containing fragments of history from the area once known as Krakesborough, speaks of the presence of a 'false God' in those parts , and that their may be blasphemers still about. The King, a broad shouldered, ageing man in his 60's with greying black hair has interest in the area as he would like to annex the property into his Kingdom. The area is purported to be a vast swamp of sorts.

You are local adventurers of some renown, having recently adventured together in a time-shifting area called Merlin's Garden

It is late Autumn, just past the harvest moon. The days are still hot, but getting shorter. The trees have mostly shed their leaves.
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You have been riding hard for several days now, after a holiday of sorts to the north in Bordeaux. The excesses of wine, thieving harlots of the quay-side taverns, and a dash of poor luck at the gambling tables leaves a bad taste in your mouths as you leave town upon recieving the King's vague message via a page. The page of the King wears high fashion of the times, a tight olive colored waistcoat, fastened by tags, and very close fitting green breeches. A wide shouldered jacket with the sleeves slashed, his maroon shoes armed with long metal points, and a conical hat, with turned-up rim.


Sleeping along the way in peasant's barns, ancient chateau's, and encamped in the hills - you have made good progress now towards the Capital City of Toulouse. The smell of decaying leaves from massive Oaks and beech trees being carried on the breeze. Immalor kills a field deer along the way, which you cook over an open fire and make-shift spit adding parsnips and leeks you acquire from a friendly peasant.

Now after following the wide northern bank of the River Garrone for some distance you see the twinkle of lights and smoke of a City up over the next few rolling hills. Spurred on by the closeness of your destination you ride your weary mounts on pressing them hard. A large stone bridge can be seen crossing the sluggish river, which you cross and make your way towards the Castle of Aquitaine and King Odo the Great. The structure stands massive against the backdrop of a star-filled night upon a defenseable hill.
You are let in past glaive weilding guards wearing light blue surcoats upon stating your business. The hour is late. A pair of polite young vassals stables your horses and ponies and leads you in to a high ceilinged vestibule/entrance room hung with massive tapestries depicting scenes of battle and hunts. Finally after waiting in stiff backed chairs for what seemed like a long time, an older pale balding man approaches you wearing white tights and a light blue checkered doublet. He greets you as the Chamberlain of the estate, Pierre de Craon.
"Welcome honored mercenaries. We are much humbled to be graced by your presence." He looks down the bridge of his aquiline nose at your dusty riding clothes, and tired, weather-worn faces "May I offer you a change of raiment and food or refreshment?"
-What are your actions?

[Fools Jest]

Immalor, Elf


Good Chamberlain, our road has left us a bit worse for wear, and I for one could do with a bit of freshening up. I would be pleased to accept your hospitality. Aquitaine's environs are indeed as impressive as the tales I have heard.

Immalor waits expectantly for directions, looking to his other companions.

[kwll]

Closely following his kin, Zavenorrin welcomes the proposal of his host as well: "A refreshment would be a great bounty for us exhausted travellers, thank you for your offer! And indeed, your countryside is every bit as striking as we were told it was!"

Realizing that he almost said the same thing as Immalor just one second after him, the impetuous elf shows an embarrassed, but genuine, smile to the Chamberlain.

[Vargr1105]

Balfa has little patience for these games of courtly words. Still vivid in his memory are the two-tongued creatures that always seemed to hover near the Iberian Kings he served and they skilfull manner of saying a lot, while saying nothing of import. Sycophantic poseurs, repelling in both manner and speech to the practical down-to-earth dwarf.

He remains silent and says nothing. Better let his elfin companions do the talking. Their race always had the gib for gabbing. He secretly hopes they get not to verbose, for his stomach is rumbling and their host did mention food...

[greyarea]

Turin, cleric

Thank you for your offer. May Sif bless this place, says the cleric. Is there any news of happenings recent?

[Scalydemon]

You are ushered into a great dining hall with paneled walls of a dark wood. A fireplace is lit as are oil lamps. Servants bring in large bowls of a pottage for you to eat and you are served mugs of a reddish-brown ale. The Chamberlain of the estate Pierre converses some with you during the meal. He mentions the King being off on travels to Wales to consult with Edward the Black Prince (of Wales). "You will be meeting at early light with the High Cleric of our lands, Oberian and also with a Magician of some renown named Shimrod."

At the mention of this, you are all startled to hear a voice that seems to be coming from inside your brains. The voice is somewhat barritone and says "Yes, I shall be pleased to make your acquaintances."

You are shown accomodations for the evening. At dawn you are drawn hot baths, given a basic meal and brought into the same dining hall. Standing near the fire is a venerable man stooped over a crosier wearing an oily dark brown cloak. Something about the cloak seems unnatural to you as it glimmers in the shadowy firelight.



Another man is present, he appears tall and wiry with a thin black moustache, black velvet low crush hat with a green feather and green cape. He twirls on his finger a sparkling gold ring for moment and then slips it back on when you enter.

The man in the brown cloak introduces himself in a crackling voice as Oberian, and the other man says ' "Greeting gents, Shimrod the Magician at your service" and gives a sweeping bow holding the corner of his cloak.

A summary of Oberian's conversation with you: You will be travelling to an area known as Krakesborough, which is now thought to be deserted, on behest of the King. Oberian, mentions consulting ancient manuscripts containing fragments of history from the area once known as Krakesborough, and speaks of the presence of a 'false God' in those parts , and that their may be blasphemers still about. The area is purported to be a vast swamp of sorts. The King has an interest in annexing the deserted area into his Kingdom, as it gives an easment to the coast and a natural harbour.
Shimrod interjects at some point in Oberian's duscussion, "Basically gents you are being offered 500 gold a piece, 100 payable up front. We need you to travel to Krakesborough, eliminate any agents of whatever Evil God may exist there, and reclaim a Castle for Aquitonia. The castle is called Castle Krake. Krakesborough, or the edge of the swamp anyways, is 3 days journey to the southwest by horse."
"We are hoping you can leave today, your mounts have been fed and rubbed down." "Any questions for Oberian or I?" he says as he produces 6 small leathern sacks of 10 platinum pieces and shifts them about in his palms.

What are your actions?

[greyarea]

Turin, cleric

Destroy worshipers of an Evil God and get paid for it? asks Turin, rhetorically. He looks around to his fellows, grinning from ear to ear. I'm in.

[Jeffery St. Clair]

Leon simply shakes his head, then bows his head just a bit in respect to the folks ponying up the cash. As he notices Turin's wide grin, Leon can't help but smirk slightly himself. Infectious, that....

[kwll]

Having followed the description of his hosts, Zavenorrin is now very eager to be on his way to adventure, having this natural penchant to head into action as fast as possible. However, a few past experiences taught him a few things. He asks: "When did you hear about this evil god for the first time? Don't you know anything more about his nature?"

[connivingsumo]

Egbert: Eggi

Faces 'Oberian' ~ "My Lord and Priest, please accept my axe and - my party - as your 'stewards' and we shall extend the will of the King, and you, to the far reaches of the bog - and wherever authorities deem!" Eggi understands that - at this point - a lot of what he says is 'politics' and he is aiming to gain 'favor'. Egbert's loyalty will always be with his companions over the 'authorities' of any "others"!