(time passes to put Seti on track with the other groups...)

The priestess looks into organizing and planning for a mission... and finds herself going in a loop with other clerics.

What mission?

She doesn't know.  Everyone's got vague ideas, no has concrete plans.

But the Hun Emperor seems to have no such obstacles.  While the priests search for a solution, events overtake planning.  Word comes that Belgica has been invaded by a Hun army- one following the very footprints of Zerova, it seems.

They call another meeting.  It's a smaller one, and there are fewer rituals of secrecy, now.  The times no longer allow such games.

Raude is at a loss.  Her information gathering network has never been that strong in Belgica.  She's been working hard to develop it in more distant and "risky" territory.  Belgica was always friendly and safe and close, it never seemed worth the effort.  In fact, the priestesses she assigned there were typically those not up the pressures of espionage.

What's worse... Zerova, and the Huns following behind her, have been deliberately locating and killing clerics who  might oppose them.  Five are dead that they know, including a highly respected and knowledgeable priestess of Juno in Belgica.  The stakes in the game seem to be rising daily.

Some information is getting back, though, and the reports are strange.  In the past, the Hun conquests were always followed up by consolidation and assignment of control and the spoils of war to Hun commanders that pleased the Emperor with their performance.  But after they swept through the border region of Belgica, they did not stop.  They established control only over what they had to, and in a very significant change in strategy,  pushed on ahead.

"In hindsight, Seti," Raude says, "perhaps it is good that you did not follow behind Zerova.  You would have been swept up in the war.  They have been permissive of Pluto, but that has been in places where they are secure.  Would they have bothered to extend any courtesy, on a battlefield? Still, having lost so much, and with so much chaos in the lands they march through, we must send someone, to help pull things back together.  The time for planning and speculating here has passed."

Seti listens pensively. With so much uncertain, for the first time in a long time, he didn't know what to do. "Maybe I should try to contact Theodoric?"

He stands still, staring at Raude Parisi, presuming unusually, she too has few answers. "Perhaps we should pray on the matter. Maybe the night will bring some sign."

Bowing respectfully, he prepares to depart, to rest, to think, and to pray.

Seti absorbs quite a few things from Raude and her friend Oda, the Minervan priestess.  The two are close friends.  It would be unexpected, considering Venus’s connection with irrational passion, and Minerva’s fondness for scholarly wisdom.  But there it is, and perhaps they have found a way to make it work as a strength instead of a weakness, because by now Seti has also figured out that the Temples of Venus across much of Europa make a very efficient espionage network.  It isn’t perfect and information gathering has been slow- Orcs do not find themselves desiring to spend their time with priestesses in the same way Human males do- but it is enough.  And, with the Huns depending more and more on their co-opted Human “Blackguards”, its effectiveness has been increasing lately.

Which has made for a rather interesting paradox.  The Blackguards, able to understand Humans on a level the Orcs cannot approach, are tasked with “managing” Humans for the Huns, and they are very good at it.  On the other hand they are the Huns’ weak link, in terms of secrets betrayed.  It is for this reason that Raude and Oda have written off anything that directly threatens the Blackguards.

Seti also knows it isn’t ‘just’ Raude and Oda.  There are others who share their beliefs about opposing the Huns.  But, Raude and Oda, who manage a spy network and therefore have learned a thing or two about secrecy,  prefer to keep things broken up into little cells, so that their own secrets cannot be exposed too easily.  When talk to Seti about options and missions and what he would be doing, he is certain they are also talking to others.  But he knows they would take a dim view if he sought to learn more about “others”.

The Hun invasion of Belgica has changed their priorities.  Oda is a person who likes research and planning, but events are moving too quickly.  She has several arguments with Raude over the relative value of action over information-gathering.  Both see the need to resolve things quickly, and the answer is- do both.

The next time Raude sees Seti, she tells him of the war in Belgica.  It would be expected for a priest of Pluto to follow behind the battle lines, to tend to the dead.  Such a priest, at the same time, might find out for Raude and Oda what, if any, potential resistance to the Huns still exists in those blighted areas.  And then, they could offer support.

It is said that no battle plan survives contact with the enemy.  Raude and Oda were prepared to send Seti east.  Now things have changed.

Knowing that uncertainty abound, Seti personally assists Dagnish in obtaining as many provisions as they can gather, storing some dry rations and traveling gear in his home for now. At any time, the town could be under siege and who knows what might happen.

Over the next few days, Seti and Dagnish cover the distance to Samarobriva, on the way to Bellovacum.

They are alone again.  From time to time, Dagnish chats about Teona and Malicus.

At Raude’s suggestion… and she has this way of packing multiple layers of meaning into a suggestion.. they deviate from the route Dagnish would normally take, swinging west to the little town of Donincum, to pick up the north-south road there.

Here they understand Raude’s thinking.  It is a very active road.  In addition to the normal traffic, (not much) the road has become the main artery for Huns war against Belgica.  Supplies move north towards Belgica.  They soon learn that captured loot and prisoners move south.  It may seem strange that the Emperor would order troops to return, while the war is still ongoing, but it has a psychological purpose: laden with captured goods, and escorting prisoners, the Orc troops present an image of victory as they march through Gallic towns.

The land here is under the rule of King Clothaire, but he signed the agreement with the Hun Emperor, granting the Huns freedom to move across his land as they needed for “issues of military urgency”.  And that now includes some showing off.

Seti follows up behind one Orc troop of perhaps eighty, marching a score of prisoners with them.  He sees them leaving Donincum, and headed south for Samarobriva, which they’ll hit in the afternoon.  Seti can can see the faces on the people here, and among most, there is despair.

Much more frightening are the expressions on some of the young, who think the Orcs are exciting.

There are a few, though, who have a different kind of interest in the Orcs.  As the Hun troops approach Donincum, Seti and Dagnish note that riders in small groups sometimes appear in the distance.  The Huns pay no heed, likely dismissing them as locals- guards of the king and nobles, all of whom abide by their agreement.  But from time to time, the riders dispatch one of their number to ride quickly away- obviously to deliver a report- and the direction is not towards Samarobriva.

Seti and Dagnish try to keep a wide berth from the Huns whom they follow about the roads. Whenever possible, they stay indoors, and never do they camp with the Orcs. When in the open, Seti makes it a point to appear somber and perform some ritual however minor it may be, using the candles, bones, and threat of undead spirits to keep strangers away.

During their stops, he develops a rather simple code for writing down what they see, disguised as a list of trade supplies and prices, noting numbers and locations. Over time, he studies the lists for any discernable patterns. He can only hope that an ambush is being planned. Cutting supply lines is good, but on their home territory it would likely result in the Huns ravaging the locals for food. Any war with them will be ugly, at best.

Although he cannot help the living prisoners, any who fall dead and are left behind receive his attention. He preserves a lock of hair, clothing, or other momento such that during the dark nights he may commune with the poor soul, guiding it along its way to the Underworld, or in some more vengeful manner should that be its decision, although as a shepherd of dead men, he always suggests thet they move on to enternity in their natural course.

They follow the Hun troops through the town of Samarobriva, since both the Huns and they are headed in the same direction.

The Huns make a show of their passage.  It is territory ruled by Clothaire, but they impress upon the locals that the Frankish king, and the powers of Rome, are but faded stars.  Even if the Emperor does not actually command here, he is the superior force.  It is the Huns marching captives through the streets of Samarobriva, not the other way around.  But they do not stop for the night here.  They are showing off, but they are pragmatic- stopping for the night in a Human city could invite trouble.  Best to move out and camp along the road.

And still Seti and Dagnish follow, though they realize they will have to stop at some point themselves, and the open road will not be as comfortable as Samarobriva.

On the road just south of Samarobriva, within site of the city walls, the Hun column is suddenly attacked.  Seti and Dagnish cannot count their numbers, but it must be at least a hundred horsemen that bear down on the Hun troops.    The first ranks of horsemen break away at the last moment, but this is tactics, not a retreat- they hurl their spears, taking full advantage of the speed of the horse to add kinetic energy, and the second wave continues the charge, straight into an enemy still reeling from the spears.

Conventional weapons are not the only things in use.  At the head of the Hun column, there is a bright orange blossom of fire.


Seti and Dagnish are witnessing the battle taking place in the Oise River thread, message 132 on.

link to a message in this game

Seti watches the battle from a distance, knowing his interference wouldn't make a difference. As the groups depart in their different direction, he debates whether to follow Theodoric or the prisoners. Unfortunately, in his distraction, they had taken off before he could act.

Even from afar, the plan seems clear. Theodoric would not sent so many troops anywhere without bringing support. His mission was likely more important, but Seti could be needed in either. Rather than decide haphazardly, he decides to pray.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:14, Thu 16 Feb 2012.

Seti prays, and then he and Dagnish watch the battle of Samarobriva.

The Hun troops are outnumbered greatly, and they face a veteran cavalry force.  They face magic as well.  Seti and Dagnish observe a flash of fire decimate the front of the Hun force.  They are quickly routed.

What’s next is a little puzzling.  The troops gather around the rescued prisoners, and reorganize.  When they move, they move east, heading back to the front, where the Huns are invading Belgica.  But clearly, this force is intended to come up right behind the Hun army, cutting off the main route between Lutetia Parisiorum and the front in the process!

“I’ve heard Theoderic ith tricky,” Dagnish says.  “Thith ith hith troopth, I’m thure.

But a small group with fast horses breaks away, and heads west.  In the direction Seti and Dagnish were intending to go.  Towards Scolo’s village.

Seti and Dagnish could not possibly keep pace with those fast horses- but they could head in the same direction and hope to catch up.  Or do they keep with the main body?

The realization that Theodoric is on the move gives Seti an uncharacteristic smile. "We should try to catch up," he says to Dagnish. He waves his staff in the are but realizes the riders are heading away and did not seem to notice. Quickly realizing the hopelessness of that task, immediately at least, he comes upon another idea. He warns Dagnish, "Keep an eyes out for Orcs. You never know if a wounded one may be lurking still."

Seti tosses his pack upon the ground and rummages through it to find a scrap of parchment, a short length of twine or rope, and piece of chalk. He scrawls a quick note as follows:

"Noble sir, two friends who brought a lyre would like to join you but cannot run that fast. Please send mounts if possible. May the gods be with you."

Then with a few gestures and a divine chant, he calls forth a great celestial bird in hopes that it can deliver his message before Theodoric gets out of range. He ties the parchment to the bird's leg and point towards Theodoric's horses, concentrating his mind on the creature to relay his intention. Although he is no sylvan cleric, he hopes that the divine will can be understood well enough for a simple task.

If not, they'll catch up later, or at least still be heading in the right direction for their original task.

OOC: Cast Summon Monster IV, Celestial Giant Eagle
This message was last edited by the player at 14:52, Sat 18 Feb 2012.

The celestial bird is not a messenger, and it isn’t quite sure what to do, so it delivers the message to the most obvious recipient- that large cluster of troops.

Alas, it misses Theoderic.  But it is received by Aldrigg of Sedanensis, Theoderic’s cavalry captain.
He is at a loss to make out the meaning of the message.  But he realizes that Theoderic has scattered some of his key people around, like the few he sent into Quintiniacum.  And he has been told to keep a look out for them, and help them re-unite when they showed up.

So as the army turns towards home, and Theoderic is gone into the west, he rides out to meet Seti.
Seti is not at all what he expected.  But then… what was he expecting?  Seti’s a priest, though, that’s clear enough.  But still, the man, a veteran warrior with years of campaigning behind him, is cautious.

“Theoderic is away on an important errand,” he says, “but I can get you to him, if that is where you have to be.”

"I am Seti Aldieri, priest of Pluto," he begins with a small formal bow. "This is my aide, Dagnish," he continues, gesturing with his staff towards the Mongrel.

"We were heading to Bellovacum, in search of a Hun wizard who may have information for us, and we came upon the battle. We come from Arras on a special mission to learn how to combat the infernal demons fighting with the Huns. Theodoric has many supporters, and I have no doubt he can defeat the mundane armies, but I fear that these infernals could unbalance the scales. At the least, I would like to offer him whatever divine blessings I can. If I may further his cause through information or otherwise, I would hate to miss the chance. And he may be able to aide us in our mission. Who knows when, and if, I may see him again. But alas, I have no horse and no means to catch him. We are not soldiers, only clergy who most often make our way walking from town to town, where we can experience all that happens amongst our people."

Seti removes his hat and places it over his chest in submission. "But now, our task is urgent and time short. Can you help us?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:14, Mon 20 Feb 2012.

“It ith where he’th going.  There’th thomething we can do that he can’t.”

Aldrigg of Sedanensis looks puzzled and asks the obvious question.

“Croth the bridge at Catolacuth,” the Mongrel explains.  “We have permithion.  At leatht, we did.  I hope we thtill do, we can uthe the bridge and road and make better time, even if he hath hortheth, becauthe they are crothing hilly country.”

“If you think you can do it,” Aldrigg says, “be my guest.  I’ll give you some water and provisions.  And a note, to pass to Theoderic, so he knows we met.”

Equipped, Dagnish and Seti turn towards the familiar  road to Catolacus.
They travel as quickly as they can, and they reach Catolacus in two days.  Seti makes a show of stopping in to visit Evroul, as  a priest of Pluto would be expected two.

Evroul and Seti talk a little about the High Priest Succession, but nothing has come of that yet.  The votes will be tallied at the winter solstice.

While not expecting much information from the old, fairly cloistered cleric, Seti decides to hint around the edges of the mission.

"Recently, I've given much thought to what the demons in Viapicus may have been building in their underground lair. It is unfortunate that we had to depart soo quickly. I suspect it was something beyond mundane weapons or armor. I've heard tales of walking statues, infused with spirit. The dwarves we encountered had been corrupted, not just spiritually but physically, as if they were infused with demonic spirits," he explains, describing the creatures they fought in the tunnels. "Have you ever heard tale of such demonic golems? Could their manufacture have been the reason to overtake Vipiacus?" Seti wonders allowed to Evroul. A man of his age has likely seem, read, and heard things others have not. And, even if he doesn't know, maybe he can point them in a certain direction.

Seti makes it a specific point not to mention Scolo or anything specific about their task. Evroul, or others, can draw their own conclusions, but the lack of certainty will keep them foggy. During their travels, even though Dagnish is ordinary quite discrete, Seti reminds him not to share details of their mission with anyone, especially those he may consider a friend.

While he speaks with Evroul, Seti asks Dagnish to quickly restock provisions so they will be ready to depart, even suddenly if required.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:19, Sat 25 Feb 2012.

Seti makes it a specific point not to mention Scolo or anything specific about their task. Evroul, or others, can draw their own conclusions, but the lack of certainty will keep them foggy. During their travels, even though Dagnish is ordinary quite discrete, Seti reminds him not to share details of their mission with anyone, especially those he may consider a friend.

While he speaks with Evroul, Seti asks Dagnish to quickly restock provisions so they will be ready to depart, even suddenly if required.


Seti meets with Evroul in the great Cathedral in Catolacus, the regional center of the Sect of Pluto.

Evroul nods.  “Golems,”. Evroul says.  “I wish it were as simple as Golems.  I know what the tales you have heard point to.  It all fits now, and it is not Golems.  Golems are simple things, a step above mere animated machines.*  “I’ve heard from a few sources, including our own. What the Huns have built are in fact spirit-possessed.  It is an art they are perfecting, it seems.  Spirits- no doubt Demonic spirits, or otherwise evil spirits, encased in bodies built of enchanted metal. “

He seems to lose interest for a moment, but then he speaks, and it is clear he was only drifting away into speculation.

“Hmm.  I wonder how they did it.  I’ve heard of trapping a spirit, but the spirit remains helpless.  To trap a spirit and give it control of something , that’s different.  It would take combining Arcane and Divine enchantments in ways I’ve never heard of done.

“A great many of the Emperor’s troops are away on their campaign.  They expect to overrun Belgica, and then the Ardennes Elves.  If they do that, there will be no more significant resistance left, save Armorica and the Bretons, and how long would they hold out?  But with so many troops away, the Huns around the city have been passive.  They don’t want any serious disruptions.  “

They talk for a while about the golem issue.  Evroul does not have much more than that, and speculation.  He does know that there is more than one such creation, and that they have left the city.

He clearly avoids being connected too closely to Raude’s “network”.  It would be too dangerous for both of them, even if their purposes are aligned.


Dagnish goes about loading up.   Talking to people he also gets a sense of the Huns not pushing for trouble these days.  “They have their war, and their attenthun ith on that,” Dagnish says.  “They don’t need other problemth too.”

The implication, of course, is the for the moment, the Huns will stick to their old agreement concerning the movement of the priests of Pluto, and if Seti moves quickly and discreetly, he can use the Seine bridge here at Catalacus to expedite his trip to Scolo’s village.


*”Machine” in this age, does not imply “powered”, merely a contraption using gears, pulleys, levers, etc.

As is often the case, Seti prepares Dagnish for what may be an arduous and dangerous journey, encouraging him to stock up not only on supplies but on rest, and spirtitual fortitude. They must try to use the Seine bridge to save time, move as quickly as possible, and as long as possible each day. Time is of the essence. With his usual paranoia, Seti carefully conceals the note to Theodoric, literally sewing it into the interior lining of a pouch inside his pack, one used for carrying sacred candles.

As he departs, he wishes Evroul good tidings both in his safety here and the potential impending promotion. He suggests that if any new information is available that it be routed through Raude's network in Luteia Parisium, as opposed to disclosing his true destination. He'll try to figure out whether he can check in later. For the moment, he's only concerned about getting closer to his target. However, he does ask one more specific question, "Evroul, were you able to ever see this constructs? Do you think they were made here or did they come here from elsewhere? And how does he know about their movements - is there some way they can be tracked or watched for?"

Absent any revelations, he and Dagnish set forth.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:32, Wed 29 Feb 2012.

Dagnish and Seti spend the night in Catolacus, and are on the way again in the morning.  They know they are cutting a lot of distance off the journey, relative to the course Theoderic must have taken.  That’s the advantage of being permitted to use the roads and bridges in Hun territory, unquestioned.

Security is tighter than it was in the past, though.  The bridge at Catolacus, a small, high bridge across the Seine wide enough for only two lanes.  Some might think it odd that a bridge would be here at all, because the bridges in Lutetia Parisiorum are more centrally located, considering the road network.  But Lutetia Parisiorum became so large and cumbersome, and so difficult for “thru” traffic, that bridges were eventually built upstream and downstream to relieve the congestion through the heart of the city.

There is a squad of Orcs at the bridge, and they are backed up by an Ogre.  And there’s actually a traffic jam.  Eleven wagons, mostly empty farm wagons returning from the Lutetia Parisiorum markets, and in front of Seti and Dagnish.

As they observe the situation, a young woman passes, and quite casually tosses what looks like a small leather pouch in the wagon.

Knowing the mongrels tend to fade into the background of most everyone, even the Huns, Seti whispers to Dagnish to stealthily retrieve the pouch. For some mild distraction, Seti steps to the side of the jam and begins a small prayer to Ceres, that she may permit these farmers to continue their labor on behalf of Mother Gaia.

A few minutes later, he returns to Dagnish to repack the minor religious tokens used in the ceremony, and to examine the pouch.

Seti recovers the leather pouch in the wagon.  The woman who tossed it in seems to vanish into the line of farmers and travelers waiting to cross the bridge.

The pouch is empty... but Seti recalls conversations with Raude.  Turnign the pouch inside out, he finds a message written on the inside.

It seems the local chapter of Raude's network is aware of Seti's mission.  More aware than Evroul was, or at least, seemed to be.   But maybe not, otherwise, how would they have known to find him here?

The Emperor's patience with the wizard Scolo is at an end.  He has decided to kill the wizard, but he has not given the job to his Blackguards.  There are a few ruffled feathers there.  To do this killing would have been an honor, anf they feel it has been unfairly denied to them.  Instead, the Emperor has chosen killers we know little about, other than that they have been chosen specifically because they can defeat a wizard.  We expect that they will have some kind of innate defense against magic.

Seti's patience with the bridge line bears fruit.  The Orcs get bored, not finding anything that gives the an excuse to abuse anyone, and begin to hurry things along.  By the time Seti and Dagnish get there, the are just going through the motions.  Dagnish and Seti are over the Seine river bridge quickly, and on their way.  There are settlement's here, but they seem a little more relaxed than other areas they've seen under the rule of the Huns.

With a little more information about their charge, Seti and Dagnish make haste, moving as quickly as possible through the rural areas.

The sinuous curves of the Seine river form long fingers of land, and this one, just north of Lutetia Parisiorum, is part of that cities bread basket.  The farms here are a few hours from the city at most, and there more than enough Hun troops to keep the villagers’ minds focused on doing their work.

The other travelers are all farmers, headed back from their deliveries.  One by one they turn off the road to the individual farming villages.  Seti and Dagnish pass a number of them, and the local hub town of Nemetoduro, a sort of suburb of Lutetia Parisiorum like Catolacus.

At the little crossroads village of Cassania, the last of the farmers turns off the road.  Ahead is a forest.
Dagnish knows of the place.  “Itth the latht old Foretht near the thity,” he says.  “Itth where we are going.  Methtenon ith in there.  We can be make camp in the foretht, and be there tomorrow.  Too far to get to tonight.  It’th a full day travel through the foretht here.”

Seti and Dagnish stop for the bare minimum, using the wagon instead of pitching a tent on the ground.  The mules are glad of the rest, and Dagnish makes sure they are well fed.

In the morning, Dagnish gets Seti up early.

“There are otherth up already,” he says.  “And thtrange oneth.  Look.”

Dagnish direct’s Seti’s attention to a group of travelers on the road, eight of them, walking  in a line, in the cold early morning air.  They are smaller than Humans, and Seti can make out clawed hands and feral faces like Orcs.. but these are smaller and slimmer than Orcs.  And they are wearing robes, as if they were traveling clerics on pilgrimage.  They are headed in the same direction Seti and Dagnish are headed.

Seti follows for some time, thinking, unsure how to respond to the situation. On one hand, he wants to know if these creatures are the mechanical golems they seek, whether they are assassins, or whether they are clerics of some lesser known religion. He and Dagnish trail from a distance, too far to engender any unintended dialogue or meeting.

After several minutes of consternation, he says, "Dagnish, hold up. We are here alone and outnumbered. I must consult the spirits and attempt to divine some direction."

OOC: Sorry for the delay, I couldn't decide the best course. Seti will cast Augury and ask whether making contact with these creatures now will prove productive to their mission.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/augury.htm

“Do not fight these creatures yet,” the spirits whisper.  “Not yet.  They are too many.  They are more than they seem.  You are too close to Lutetia Parisiorum.  Wait, watch, follow, and when the battle comes, you will be there, and then it will be time.”

Not often do the spirits warn directly of a battle ahead.  Such revelations, in the past, are generally reserved for times of war.  But then… this is a time of war.  Few men, even those in positions of great power, see the pieces that the gods shift around, as they execute their divine strategies.  Few men see that nothing happens without affecting everything else, and the outcome of a minor skirmish in one place might change the course of a great battle somewhere else.  So in war, the rules of divination and augury sometimes change.

They set out after the hooded band, and follow them, through the forest.  It is soon evident that this group is headed exactly where Seti and Dagnish are- to the remote forest village of Mestenon.

And there is nothing of interest in or near Mestenon, other than Scolo himself.

“Thith ith not a friendly vithit by the Emperor,” Dagnish says.  “Look, we’re getting near!”

As they approach the village, they see the hooded figures ahead fan out into a semi circle.  There is a brief encounter with something small that tries to block their path- from well in the back, Seti and Dagnish cannot see what it was.  But then, as they approach the village, the hooded figures are intercepted by one villager- who is quickly cut down.

Seti and Dagnish are now in Mestenon, and you can move to the Once More in Mestenon Thread.