Dark Ages RP- Chapter One- Galuterra

[Dragonium]

Stahn accepted the cup of wine. It gave him something to throw.

Latham responded to the crashing of pottery against the chamber wall with raised eyebrows.

"A good man died today", Stahn shouted, standing up from his chair, "And very nearly the lot of us, too. There are children among us. And noblemen. Even before you send us on our way you put us in danger".

He leaned over the table with a glare and looked Latham in the face. Stahn lowered his voice. "I was informed that a group of adventurers required an armed escort into Alvergne", he began menacingly. "I was not told of our task once there. The man who told me this said specifically that no-one was to be informed. Now, I'd expected battle. Perhaps you'd say it is my calling. I've killed legions. I've cleaved through more helmets and mail shirts than this country has in its armoury. I've torn down shield walls with my bare hands".

He paused, aware of the sudden uneasy silence in the room, but pressed on. What he felt was not a battle-rage, but something much more subtle.

"But never in all my travels and all my battles have I fought a walking corpse and a creature of evil", he went on, "Those are things of pure legend in my country. And if that is the first step on this journey I've agreed to take, then clearly this is no simple escort mission".

He waited a moment. Latham still looked him in the eye, emotionless.

"If you want my services", Stahn said simply, "You'll tell me our mission. For your sake, I hope you think hard before you speak".

[Zerlina]

"Careful," said Latham, picking up his own cup and placing it down in front of Stahn "here in civilized places it's considered rude to throw your food around.

Ask your comrades. I don't know your true mission, no one does except those who the king deemed necessary. I know it is to do with the wedding of Elaine and Bahn. But that is all- I am only a lowly representative, after all...and a marquis" he looked at James.

"My lord," interrupted a voice at the door. It was a guard.

"What?" Latham asked, calmly, soothingly.

"The Lady Agrigola. She's gone."

Latham's face turned pale. He stood up,  knocking his chair backward.

"Careful," said Stahn "In civilized countries they consider it rude to throw the furniture around."

"Watch them." Latham ordered the guard, marching out the door.

The guard shifted uncomfortably, looking at the large, armed men in the room.  

"I..." he began "Nice evening, sirs?"

The group looked at each other.

The guard was unconcious in less than a minute.

"This seems as good a time as any to make a getaway." said Iasan.

Franklin knelt by the guard's body, removing a set of keys "We will be too noticeable walking around the castle, we will never make it out the main gates. But perhaps there is a different way."

"My lords, if I may," interrupted Newt "I had a cousin who worked at the castle here. She said there is a sewer beneath the keep- it leads to the lake that feeds Abindale and Wythehall. It's usually locked, but..." he looked at the keys Franklin was carrying "Perhaps we might be lucky."

"What then? Are we to be made pawns in a mission we do not even understand?" Stahn grunted.

"Perhaps..." said Iasan "This is not the doing of the king. Rather, one of his subjects who was given too much power."

"Right now we must focus on staying alive. We will think about the quest when that's taken care of." Franklin urged.

James moved toward wine, sniffing it. He wet his finger, touching it with the tip of his tongue "The bastard..." he muttered as he tasted unmistakably poisonous roots- the kind that common folk could not discern, but that those with a developed pallet were sure to notice. Had that been his plan? To kill those who would not be missed?

"Well?" asked Newt "Should we make for the sewer? Or for the main gate, my lords?"

[NotSoSavvy]

"Lantham always was a colossal arse. But," James said, shaking the poisoned wine from his fingertips. He really should have expected something like this from him. Of course, the fact that Lantham had actually tried it was a bad omen for their chances of actually getting south of the border. James strongly suspected that this was no coindicence. After all; "He's also a sycophantic arse. He wouldn't try doing something this extreme without the king's leave."

"Now, as utterly appealing as the idea of crawling though the sewers is, I do believe that we are forgetting something rather important." James said, pacing around the table to stand infront of the group. Escape was all well and good, but there was one signifigant fact that they were overlooking. Surely he wasn't the only one who realized it?

The group looked at him, apparently missing his point. James sighed.

"Our equipment, gentlemen?"

[Prpl_Mage]

Franklin thought deeply and sighed at how the events had unfolded. There seemed to be internal forces working against the success of the mission. If they had this kind of sorcery as well as the mean to poison them - it would be wise to leave while they still could escape.

"I'd suggest the sewers, don't want to make too much a fuss if there are indeed people seeking to end our quest here." He said at last and watched the others in the room.
It's not like it will smell any worse than everything else in this land. He thought and watched the smoked and sweaty party in front of him.

James mentioned the sewers. And the equipment they didn't have. He looked down at himself and realized that he was still just wearing his boots from part of the armour. And with it trousers and the tunic. It was not an outfit made for battle, but would he really be able to survive a walk in the sewers wearing all that heavy plate?

He knew not if he had the time to fetch his remaining pieces of armour but the light armour that the guard was wearing right now might just fit him. Although he wanted to wait , undressing an unconscious man might not be agreed upon by the party.

[Dragonium]

Stahn paced around. Things had gone badly. He was angry at having had to fight for nothing, and angrier still that he was expected to keep fighting without reason or recompense. He sat down and bowed him head for a moment to regain his composure.

"I'd gladly kill every man at the front gate myself", said Stahn finally, "And every soldier of Latham's on the road beyond as well". He sighed - he felt the Stahn of his youth screaming for blood, but it went against his judgement. "But I won't fight an army on my own. It'd take a company of warriors to break through, and we're no company of warriors. We should fetch our equipment and take our chances with the sewers".

He looked at Franklin and the others, thinking hard. He'd never been much of a strategist, but they needed a plan. "Those incompetent guards will be rushing around at the front gate organising themselves. Some of them will probably have gone to guard the sewers", he continued, "I think we'll hit the least resistance moving around the castle if we go now. And if we meet any straggling guards...". Stahn trailed off, and gripped his axes more tightly.

[Prpl_Mage]

"I'd gladly kill every man at the front gate myself"

Said the large man and Franklin smiled, one who was willing to kill his own kind, he liked that. Also he seemed to hold grudges easy. But the man was not just strong - he was wise enough to realize that they were not fit for a bold attempt like that. They could be remembered and songs could be sung about their bravery as they charged a full legion of guards straight on in a heroic manner, but they would probably not make it out alive to hear those songs.

But it was still night a far as Franklin knew, leaving before the larger parts of the guards woke up and realized  what they were doing would give them the momentum they needed to get safely outside.
"I agree. Leaving at this instant would be wise, hopefully we don't have to deal with anyone at this hour. I will avoid bloodshed, but only if the situation allows it." He said and only barely managed to hide a grin that was sneaking its' way up.

[Zerlina]

The door from the room led out to the north-end of an L shaped hallway. A large, stone arch at the southeast end opened to a flight of winding stairs- the stairs that led back up to the floor with the keep's entrance. Torches lined the walls, but few of them were lit, making the floor hard to see.

Two guards stood in front of the stone arch, both armed with swords and well-armoured.


((sorry I'm at school right now so I can't type very much))

[Charentes]

Iasan's equipment was all in his bag which he'd left under the pew he was sleeping on in the chapel, it seemed unlikely he'd be getting it back.  His bag contained little that couldn't be replaced, a few bandages, and other medical supplies along with a mace, he would prefer to have it back though.
Fearing that bloodlust might overcome his companions, Iasan said to the group “friends, while you may want revenge for our attempted poisoning, we must remember that the guards in this castle are but mere pawns in whatever game is being played out.  Killing them is not revenge, it is murder.  Any guards we see, we must try and subdue without causing their death.  Now I say we go back and get our equipment.  But let us use non-lethal force to silence the guards.”  Hoping that would cool the tempers of the group Iasan told them his plan.  “You and you” he said, pointing to Franklin and Stahn, “I’ll go ahead acting as though I’ve had too much mead, if we do run into guards, they will be unlikely to suspect a monk of anything but drunkenness.  You two follow me, staying in the shadows as much as possible.  If we see anybody I will try to get them to turn their back to you, at which point, you two knock them out.  Remember, it takes the most skilled of warriors to silence a man without killing him, are you two capable of that?”  Iasan smiled to himself after saying that last line, he though it unlikely these men would want to admit they weren’t the most skilled of warriors, they would try to keep the guards alive, simply to prove how good they were.

[Dragonium]

Stahn frowned. He resented the monk's commanding tone, and the challenge he seemed to be presenting in his plan. He found it mildly insulting that he was expected to prove himself for a second time to a man who had yet to prove himself once.

But it was the only plan they had. Stahn moved over to the doorway and peered out. It was dark enough.

"Fine", he said quietly, "But I expect your acting to be perfect".

He thought about the layout of the corridor as he looked out. There was a torch on the far wall, next to which the wall ended. Beyond that were the guards. "Franklin and I will go to that corner", said Stahn, "Lead the guards towards the end of the passage. When they pass the corner, Franklin and I will strike".

He looked around the room, nodded, and finished, "I'm ready".

[Prpl_Mage]

"Remember, it takes the most skilled of warriors to silence a man without killing him, are you two capable of that?"

Were the words uttered by the monk. Frank couldn't help that he felt awkwardly amused by it. Must've been the lack of sleep and witch fighting that caused it. Sure, it took skill to silence a man without killing him, but a dagger through the throat was far easier and less time consuming. Althought he did not want his morale questioned at this point, he would hold to his promise; to avoid bloodshed... if it was possible.

He looked out at the corridor and was happy that his short sword was coated in coal, it wouldn't reflect any light thanks to that - but then he remembered that he wasn't going to kill anyone and sheathed the sword on his right again.
He looked around the room and nodded at the band of adventurers as he moved in behind the northman and spoke with a low tone.
"We are set monk, let's get this over with."

[Charentes]

“We are set monk, let’s get this over with.”  Said Franklin.
“Good, I will bring the guards here momentarily.  And don’t worry, my acting will be perfect, I have practice.  Many a maiden have believed me to be an important man and spent the night with me, when in reality I’m a monk.”  Said Iasan.
“You’re very devout, now hurry up” Grunted the Northman.
“Alright, alright” replied Iasan as he began rounding the corner in the hallway, pretending to be drunk.  “Well good eveningtime gentsh.” Iasan said, addressing the guards while walking a zig-zag patern down the hallway, “are you in need of confession… *hic*?  Or better yet, do you know any young ladies who would need a confession after meeting me?”
“You are not allowed to be in here monk, go away” replied one of the guards curtly.
“Oh but perhaps God shent me here” Iasan said this while practically falling on a guard.
“You damned drunk, get your stink away from me!” The guard was visibly angry now and shoved Iasan, he was not enjoying the risk of having an inebriated man throw-up on him.
“Now Now, no needsh to be rough. I’ll go on my ways now” Iasan turned to leave while belching loudly, “sorry gents, you know what the mead can do to your shtomach.”  He walked to the corner of the hallway before falling over on the corner, “Ahhhh my ankle, guards help me, some evil spirits have stolen my balance from me.  Now my ankle is broken damn this castle and its evil spirits.”
“Quiet you, there are no evil spirits, you’ve just drunken yourself stupid is all” said a guard to him from the end of the hallway “if you are going to drink that much you can sleep on the cold stones of the hallway tonight.”
“A curse on those who would leave a man of the cloth in a state such as this, having been assaulted by evil spirits.  I will send the wrath of God and Belial down you if you don’t help me, mark my words.”
The guards looked at each other, “alright, don’t get out of control we’ll come and give you a hand, you will wake the whole castle talking that loudly.”  With this the guards walked down to Iasan, looking at him lying in the corner.  Having them focused on Iasan, their backs were to Stahn and Franlin, who were around the corner.  This was the moment to strike from behind thought Iasan, he was confident but scared.  Were these two men to fail Iasan would surely hang in the morning.

[Prpl_Mage]

Franklin could not pretend that close-combat was his strongest area, but with the momentum of surprise- everything was possible. The guards wore armour but not the same kind of visored helmet that Franklin had on his Knight attire. Simple helms, almost just iron caps.

The time was ripe as the guards moved, Franklin signalled to Stahn that he was going and snuck up on the closest guard.
He hunched and then moved quick, right hand on the helmet - ripping it off, sending it to the floor at his feet with a dull clang.  Then left hand over the mouth silencing the surprised man before the right arm wrapped around the neck. With the right arm put in place he moved the left arm and put even more pressure on the neck.
He pulled the man backwards and made sure that he wasn't able to draw his sword, luckily the weapon and it's sheath was too long for such short range, the guard also realized this as he chipped for his breath and started flailing with his hands to get his assaulter off him. Franklin closed his eyes and endured the punches and grips of the sacking guard. And not before long, the man could no longer breathe and fell unconscious.
Franklin lowered the body to the floor, wiped off his face and gave Iasan a signal that it worked.

[Dragonium]

Stahn smiled, impressed at Franklin's competence. He could recognise technique that had taken time to develop.

The remaining guard seemed oblivious to his partner's peril, and Stahn waited until the man drew closer to Iasan and sheathed his sword, extending a hand to help the monk to his feet. At that moment, Stahn stepped out from the shadow of the corner, seizing the guard by the shoulder and throwing him hard against the wall.

Shocked, the guard crumpled to the floor, fumbling for his sword, but the gesture was futile as Stahn kicked him forcefully in the arm, causing him to lose his grip. Not missing a beat, Stahn grabbed hold of the man's breastplate and lifted him, before seizing his helmet with his free hand and forcefully slamming the man's head against the wall again. Silently, the guard collapsed back to the floor.

"Good heavens", said Iasan, shocked, "That was brutal".

Stahn smirked. "He'll live, hopefully", he replied, "And besides, we should get moving".

[Prpl_Mage]

Franklin looked over as the other guard fell and at that very moment knew that there was no way that he would ever be able to best Stahn in any sort of strength-competition; especially not fisticuffs.
"I'll get the others." Franklin said and moved back to the room to let everyone know it was safe to get back out.

[Zerlina]

Newt had already opened the chest in the room. There wasn’t much in it that would be useful to them, but he did find an empty wine sack which he filled with the poison from the goblets.

As Franklin returned to the room, Newt sniffed slightly “I know it’s a sin,” he said, staring at the goblets “But those are silver, and, well, he did try to poison us...”

The two of them looked at each other, and shrugged, taking the goblets that they could conveniently carry.  

The two joined the others in the hall and Newt saw the unconcious guards.

“I know it’s a sin...” he began.

Searching the guards gave the party a deck of rare playing cards and a small key. Should they wish to claim it, they could also retrieve the guards’ uniforms, or their (inferior) swords.

((Map of next stage posted in the OOC))