A small party of dirty, tired men arrives at the gates to Carricke, one has the small Silver Hand of the Kings Eyes and Ears. Exhausted horses are relieved of saddles and packs and taken to be rubbed down, fed and watered.  The riders are helped to rooms over by the barracks where they can clean up and and eat while the King and Queen are notified with a summary message- The Inquisition is mounting a major push to the west of Megalos and against a barony called Geden ... Geden has asked for help from the Dwarves, and through them, from Caithness.

Wulfe, out in the courtyard during the day had noted the newcomers to the barracks. He, being well-established in his new position of authority within the city, had purposefully strode over to the group and with a friendly smiled inquired about their purpose. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have bothered but something about the urgency with which the people moved had set his sense tingling and he suggested that it bode ill news.

"Good day gentlemen" he said cordially as he meandered around the group holding enough distance so as to not disturb their eating and cleaning of themselves. "What brings you to my barracks in such a hurry?" he asked with as friendly tone as he could muster but underlying with the undeniable authority of a member of the officership.

Having heard their purpose, and their reasons Wulfe had called over one of his soldiers and quietly mentioned that the man should go and bring to the attention of the guard captain this news and that a man called Gedan was here to seek audience with the king and queen in order to request aide for themselves and Dwarven kind.

"Eat your fill Gedan, I'll stay with you until word is returned he offered with a gently smile. He had told the soldier to return with news and orders from either the guard captain of the royals directly but in the meantime was satisfied with looking after the new guests. It was no good having them able to freely wander the barracks, or the city, with such urgent news. Too many important people carrying messages often ended up dead at the most inappropriate times - the thought amused Wulfe and he let out a little chuckle to himself.



I took some liberties, i hope you don't mind - anything that needs fixing, or changing just let me know and i'll re-write.

In reply to Master of Fates (msg # 1):

High above, something that looked like a bird spied the horsemen some distance away. John was in the courtroom when they arrived, but saying nothing as they recanted their tale.

The Man addressed as Geden smiled... I am Ben of Hawks Hold, Geden is our barony... But indeed we need help ... the dwarves suggested we come here.

Jon found that he had to go down to the Barracks mess hall to see these men.

Wulfe readjusted himself at the correction but otherwise thought it best to ignore the error. "Well, Ben of Hawks Hold. I know that the king and queen are great people and would struggle to ever refuse a request for aide - that said, however, I am only guessing at their response rather than speaking for them.

Is it true then you went to the dwarves? In Zarak? Do you know why they suggested coming to Carricke rather than helping directly? he questioned, slightly intrigued. He had met dwarves before, it was true, but had never set foot into their underground cities.

Well to the dwarves in Solginel, which I think is a part of greater Zarak, but I am not sure ... They are willing to help up to a point, but war with Megalos is not something anyone wants. I hope to enlist some aid, but don't want to get Caithness directly involved.
This message was last updated by the player at 22:08, Wed 03 Aug 2016.

Wulfe idly brushed the rather rough looking stubble across his chin, as an act of habit while thinking about what the man said. He noted that he should probably shave soon and look presentable for his men but that could wait until later.

The dwarves wished not to engage in all out war with Megalos, from what he knew of the great empire, there was wisdom in such sentiment but the strategic part of his mind thought that it was a war that Megalos could never hope to win. The mountains of the Zarak dwarves would likely be impenetrable to any of the Megalos legions.


"Ben, I have heard of the inquisition - it is there to prevent some kind of heresy against the empire, right? he asked having heard rumours but never really knowing what the organisation was for.

"So I wonder why ask the dwarves? Is it not something that could be dealt with directly? And if not - why prefer the dwarves over Caithness?" it wasn't a loaded question or one that had any attempt at confrontation, Wulfe was truly intrigued about the situation.

"It, of course, is far beyond my station to suggest such things but would not asking the royalty of our nation put Caithness directly within the invovlement of the situation?" he continued, walking around to the beer keg and pouring a drink for himself and Ben, then laying it on the table before him.

While waiting for an answer, Wulfe gulped down a couple of mouthfuls of the bitter liquid and breathed a sigh of relief at his quenching thirst.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:42, Wed 03 Aug 2016.

Ah the Inquisition... The church commonly investigates any situation it feels might be a Heresy ... a Heresy being a place where there is money and the church isn't getting much or any of it. He smiles a big grin ... They always seem to make money out of any heresy. Now Geden follows the Christian way close as any, but the church has ben using the money given in Geden to help the poor and infirm. The Church hasn't been getting much.... maybe 10%.  I gather they feel 60% should go to the Church of Megalos for the common good and 40% back to the location that raised it. So we are now guilty of Heresy. Besides that, the Kingdom of Megalos feels we haven't been paying enough taxes too.  Now Geden actually has three barons under Rupert of High Stone Castle. Megalos figures Rupert is just a baron and the others landed knights. Our Barons think Rupert should be a count or Duke ... and they think they pay enough taxes. The Emperor of Megalos sent his Army to put us in our place and Rupert stuffed them at the gorge ... they couldn't get into Geden and they can't go around because the Gorge is the only road in... there are some paths... and the Dwarves know of some other ways to get into Geden, but the Dwarves don't want Megalos so close... might be another heresy or something if they were. So we have a stalemate of sorts, except we need trade and such to maintain our little place in the sun ... so we came here. Caithness has an active trading reputation and is big enough so that most of what we sell won't be noticed and most of what we want won't seem out of place. Now Caithness is almost a heresy because Megalos and it's Church don't get money from it... but you have a Church here and it has no real differences with the Church of Megalos, so there is no heresy yet... if Megalos could find a way to conquer Caithness, everything would surely change.

In reply to Ben of Hawks Hold (msg # 8):

John was content to listen quietly until now, but the implications could not be missed.

"Are you suggesting here could be the next target?"

Wulfe drank down his ale while listening to Ben. He hmm'd and nodded at the appropriate times but was trying to process all of the information in a reasonable way. He didn't really work at such levels of society and had spent most of his childhood and all of his adulthood really concerned with his immediate surroundings. The men to his left and right, and those standing infront of him. Such focus had given him a lot of success in the skirmishes he'd taken part in but this was a much grander scale, with bigger pieces and more granularity.

He supposed though that when reduced to the most simple understanding of the situation it was quite the same. Holding a defence, avoiding the attack, seeking to have your allies behind and to your flank hold you so that you can face off against the people in front. Only that Megalos was a power vast in size. Like a man fighting off a bear, he suspected.

In between drinks he spoke, trying to use some of the more eloquent words he'd heard about the castle - he was trying his best to fit into higher society as befit his role. "Then you're talking of either the eradication of Gedan or its cessation from Megalos entirely. he gave ample pause for the notion to set in. Megalos would probably suggest that such an idea was beyond heresy; high treason no doubt with the important actors being split into parts and made example of.

For Caithness to help Gedan, even opening trading routes would likely be seen as hostility from MEgalos and give them another excuse to attack our lands. So far they haven't succeeded and I think that Gedan is a good buffer. It is true that some of the tradiing might go unnoticed, especially if proxied into Zarak - but such a risk is substantial and I'm not sure what Lady Ai... Her Majesty Airis Moonshadow would say.

Baron Rupert, has he asked only for Caithness to open trade, or is there more? Military aide, and such?

Wulfe's curiosity had taken over him by the point he'd finished his ale and the idea of dealing with Megalos at all was thrilling. He had skirmished with them as a younger lad but nothing too serious. He head many great things about their armies, and equally horrifying tales about their soldiers, and church and inquisition.

He knew what he'd do. The unfortunate position of Gedan stood as a good opportunity for the kingdom to extend its borders. Putting them under full protection of Caithness and making the Baron that Ben had mentioned a count of the land would likely have little repercussions other than the hostility of Megalos - but that was always present. In the worst case the county of Gedan would be lost to Megalos and Caithness would have lost nothing and in the best case the lands grew richer and larger, cutting a chunk out of the beast that threatened all the land.

It seemed also that Gedan might have good relations with the Dwarves and having heard some of the tales of their craft was enough to send a shiver of intrigue through Wulfe.

As an afterthought to his conversation and the questions he posted to Ben, Wulfe mentioned childishly but with the seriousness of one believing fully in their own ability As for conquering Caithness, it would never happen while I drew breath"

In reply to John of Mallwyd (msg # 9):

Ben just shrugs... I couldn't hope to answer that with what I know.

In reply to Wulfe The Pretty (msg # 10):

Well we be no buffer to ye, as we don't adjoin your lands ... we back up to the great mountains of the dwarves, and it took a might hard hike through the Dwarves Mountains to get here. Now I gather there are other slightly easier paths that a caravan o' mules could traverse well enough. Military supples.. probably some, but we have plenty of iron, black rock to work it and some wood for handles and such. Cloth, pottery furs... those be things we could use. Some fruits, copper and the like as well... even the animals themselves. Farm animals are becoming scarce as folks tend to eat them.  Maintaining an army full time is hard on the farms.

Wulfe looked at John and offered him the mug which he'd poured another ale into and then spoke "I think that Megalos always has intentions to take Caithness - they do seem to like causing trouble with us, or at least always have in the past.

He then turned to Ben of Hawks and asked "Well, Ben, I am not too familiar with the layout of Megalos, or how Gedan sits in relation to the mountains and Caithness, I suspect that John here is a little more familiar than I am... he said, complimenting John's knowledge, even if he wasn't sure the truth of his statement ... but for my sake would you be able to draw it out on a map? he asked.

Looking around the barracks he looked for anything that might make it easy to draw a map. It idnd't have to be ink and parchment, but just some charcoal that could be sketched onto the table, or something similar. He had no idea of the layout of the land and was curious how Caithness might aide them.

[12 blank lines suppressed]



OOC: Are we all using blue for speech? Should i change my colour - to make things clearer/easier to note?

Are we waiting for any other players to move the story - as far as I know John, Wulfe and Ben are waiting for the messenger to come back with news from the king/queen/captain regarding an audience or whatnot. I suspect Airis(the player) might be required, but otherwise i'm just curious about the flow

OOC - Sort of awaiting Airis...

After a while a page shows up... the King and Queen will see you all now, please follow me...

Ovo moved into the barracks and peered about with coal black eyes from under a set of bushy black brows. His braided beard was black. The wisps of long hair that escaped his helm was black. His mood... was blacker still! The dwarf knew not why HE was chosen to come here. His place was back home and with HIS king. Yet, someone must guide the human hither. Those of Geden were good neighbors. Aye! They made a fine beer, mined iron and black rock, and were generally honest traders with the stout folk to his mind. So why? Because the axe in hand was better than one hang'n upon the wall. Geldan was known n' Megalos was too much of an unknown. Bah! His throat was dry and that was something that could be remedied!

"HO! There ye be Ben! Be that beer yer drink'n lad? If so ye best be leav'n ah tankard or three for me."

The dwarf gave Wulfe and John a curt nod as he walked up!

"Well met! Ovo's me name. I must be such bad company ta be left in the yard yonder. Tis the beer as gud as the brew ye make in Geden Ben? If so ye best make it four tankards. Tis been quite ah walk ye see?"

Then a page showed up and said "Follow me."

The dwarf scowled "Wot! Well I'll be... "

"Lead on lad! Lead on!"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:10, Fri 05 Aug 2016.

The Page looks Ovo over and smiles... I'll give ya a minute or so to drink a bit o' beer ... you may have to talk up there and we wouldn't want ye all dried out now.

In reply to Master of Fates (msg # 17):

Ovo smiled and nodded to the page "Me thanks lad. Yet ye nay be know'n much o'bout dwarfs then. Ah minute ya say? It'll nay take that long mind."

Ovo took a tankard and downed it in less than a minute, his black beard full of foam... then belched!

"I be wet enough now lad. It'll hold me ah wee bit. Lead on if ye please."

Ye are not the first o the Mountain folk to visit us... follow me please.

He leads the group up to a large room with seats all around, there are some 15 guards here and they make everyone remove swords, large knives and any other weapons ... small knives are allowed.

In reply to Master of Fates (msg # 19):

John likewise follows them to the throneroom.