Dain. You wake up in a soft bed somewhere in paralytic pain, every movement you make hurts and is defied by a rebellious body. The key notes are an eye swollen shut, an obviously broken jaw, something wrong with a shoulder and several cracked ribs
Your one serviceable eye is looking up at your commander Valerian who is sitting on the side of your bed leaning over you and drawing back with a necklace in hand.

Valerian looks at Dain.
"Report"

Dain looks at Val, and bursts out into pained laughter “Ah Val you and yer bloody reports” Dain tries to pull himself into a sitting position in his bed. Coughing Dain continues “ah think my bloody jaws broken as well – ah fuck” Dain grimaces then looks around “ah mean the fact we aint all dead in a ditch or rotting in a cell probably means we won the battle” he coughs “so who gives ah fuck what happened  - we fought their fuckin army outnumbered ten to one and we are still standing! We should be celebrating! Yeh got any ale?!"
This message was last updated by the GM at 20:43, Mon 04 Jan 2021.

Valerian draws breath and the knit of his brow looks like he was about to launch into the harangue of an affronted officer but after a pause his features relax and he gives a brief chuckle "All the world may change Dain but I doubt you ever shall" he shakes his head "I shall see to your watering and return with the Mage. We must have a council when you are properly rested for I have had... news."

Valerian returns with a smirk on his face and a tankard in hand. He is swiftly followed by two men rolling a large barrel and a third carrying two large plates of "hearty" food. The nurse in the room runs over when it becomes apparent the Tribune plans to feed his men & let the dwarf loose on a large quantity of beer, her strong advice is against such exertions while the patient is still so fragile. Valerian shakes his head as no doubt Dain sets about displaying a consummate lack of daintiness with the victuals "I have learnt to never underestimate the resilience of Dwarves... nor their love of ale"

By the time the two wounded have had their fill and are drawing out a second after meal beer to relax with, Drast walks into the room under guidance from a guard.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:45, Mon 04 Jan 2021.

"Dain! Old friend, I've missed you." Drast gives him an affectionate pat on the shoulder as he helps himself to a mugfull of ale "that's the stuff. Good to see you're alive, if not in perfect health. I heard you went down swinging at the gatehouse like a hero. These people will respect that. Wouldn't be suprised if your antics have made you a local hero"
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:45, Mon 04 Jan 2021.

Dain is eating as Drast enters. Dain unceremoniously chucks a bone to the side of the bed, before wiping his beard down: “Bugger me sideways with a pitchfork – Drast ye damn rogue. Where the hell did you appear from? Pull yerself up a chair. Did yeh catch the battle? Was glorious – we took damn their army, 100 to 1, they didn’t stand a chance!” Dain starts coughing up, a couple of specks of blood landing on Drast’s robes. Dain reaches for the ale on the stand next to him and takes a big swig. “Ahh – we got the party back together now. Nothing will stand against us now! Valarian get yer stick our of yeh arse and grab ah drink!”

Valerian again doesn't launch into a disciplinary tirade in cause of an officer's offended dignity, when he wordlessly fills a tankard of his own and takes an almost absentminded sip it's probably far more worrying than anything else he could have done.

"There has been news from the empire," he eventually says while still looking off at nothing in particular "orders regarding..." he was on the cusp of saying something before he comes back to the present and his jaw shuts with an audible click. He eyes the other patients in the room who either aren't awake or paying him any attention and the giant Orc who is before concluding "...matters in the north."

In turn he locks a steely gaze with each of you "I am leaving the Queen's army for the time being and riding for Ecthesis. Snows are soon to set in which I am told will end their campaigning season and -" he again looks around the room and leans in with a conspiratorially lowered voice "- having spoken with their marshalls I think there is every chance they will soon encounter an enemy army they can't match. For all their supposed experience they seem to be adventuring rather than executing a military plan. Arrogance from their generals, the domineering Queen who has never before prosecuted a war, both or something other? I can't say but in any case I have no mind to get caught in the fire with them when I have orders to be about instead."

He leans back a bit more relaxed but doesn't raise his voice, almost as if he is just as interested in keeping the next bit from being widely known as well "Technically I could  order you both to come with me as I am a Tribune of the Empire now, but instead, as Tribune I posses the legal power to exercise the certain respect I feel you have both earned of me and the Empire." A highly unusual thing for an Officer to say to a Mage and a frequently ill disciplined none human bodyguard. He stands up and his voice takes on an official tone as he takes a stride to be directly in front of Drast. Drawing out a document from within his cloak he holds it out with a straight arm while saying "For your many noteworthy labours and a consistent display of good character I hereby declare your sentence of service to the Empire to be full term. Take this Documentum Vitae which signifies to all Marians that through meritorious service you have now the permission of both a Tribune and a Magistrate to travel without parole while arcane." He hands you the scroll with a nod.

He was about to turn to Dain when he spins back to quickly add "For maybe a year or two I would not try to travel within the Empire itself. Local authorities may for some time be unfamiliar with the particular crest on the document and find it suspect they are the same. They might arrest you on suspicion of a forgery and while of course you would be perfectly safe when an inquiry to the records office would show it to all be perfectly legitimate, legal and above board... well court cases can be long and expensive so better to avoid provoking them when you can"

He then turns to dwarf "Dain, you are a poor soldier, ill mannered and a horrific sight at table but one of the bravest and most able warriors I have ever seen or heard tell of. I will not deprive the Empire of your services by likewise discharging you, indeed when I arrive at the Garrison* I shall name you the first commendation in the Army** records. That said, and however guilty I might feel about unleashing you unguided upon the Aravigian realm, I plan to leave you to your own devices until I send word for you. My winter in Ecthesis should be administrative and your love of violence would be better sated elsewhere though please try not to do anything that would reflect poorly on the Empire in my absence."

Placing his tankard down he ends with "I will be riding tomorrow morning with the first of the wounded headed west, let me know if there is anything you would ask or have of me before I go" and heads for the door.

---

* The name you have taken to using for the premises of the West Marian Trading Company Offices for though an actual trading company may well be operating out of the building it was originally just a cover for a Marian garrison.
** Third Army beyond the Aravigian River which Valerian is the head of, it isn't very large.

After receiving the gift, Drast shakes Valerians hand "Thank you Valerian, this is kind of you. I hope this does not make an ending of our story here in Aravigia. I believe, somewhat, in the Queen and have some intention of seeing this conflict through, or at least, a bit further. I wish you well on your journey and look forward to our reunion".

Drast stays with Dain for some time, reminiscing about their adventure through Aravigia.

During their conversation, whilst pouring some ale Drast asks "what do you intend to do Dain? I intend to see what the army will do in 5 days time and make a decision from there. I may stay or I may seek out the old magics of the land... I find the decision somewhat challenging as I've grown a little fond of this endeavour." As the conversation lulls into companionable silence,  Drast takes his leave. "I will make sure to call on you when I know what my plans are."

Dain continues to eat and drink as Valerian and Drast talk. As Drast comes finishes, Dain looks contemplative, before talking “Ah appreciate the  commendation Val, but yeh must know ah don’t care much for honours” Dain looks Valerian and then Drast in the eyes, before turning back Valerian “If yeh don’t need me for the coming months that’s fine – ah have no wish to sit aroun’ watchen yeh fiddlen away with documents.” He looks serious “but remember Val, ah don’t serve the empire out of any greater loyalty - yeh know that ah am loyal to yeh and yeh alone. Ah will fight for my comrades in arms and die for yeh and yeh know that and when yeh summon me ah will be there. But bugger serving some emperor I ain’t ever gonna meet!”

Dain’s face changes, and he looks jovial then turns back to Drast “well Wizard, mah plans will be what they always are – look for glorious battle, good ale, and adventure…” Dain stops for a second before remembering himself “and lookin after the young-un too! Once ah am up and walkin ah will go to meet-up with Cue and Ann – spirits knows what she’s getting up to without mah firm tutelage! She needs trainen up if she’s gonna reach her potential and now’s the time to do it” A grin creeps over Dains face “and Drast – if yeh going looking for old magics, me and Ann will be more than happy to come along. This land has plenty more monsters to slay – and if ah learnt anything this last years is where there’s magic in Aravigia, monsters aint too far behind”!

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The below happens on the evening of the feast, the night that Dain first stirred from his slumber. He will not be fit to travel by normal means for at least a week and will need a cart to carry him and Ur-Nungal if they are to come.
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Drast seeks out Dain "Dain, I head north in two days to search for a cache of useful magical materials. You and your..." Drast considers " 'clansmen' are welcome to join us. The trip may be long and uneventful, but there may be magical dangers in this magical vault. It is up to you. What say you?

"Drast yeh rogue - I aint one for sitten about - ah will be with yeh if you are off hunting for treasure - and magical dangers yeh say? Think mah arm will need a bit of workin out after this - some monsters will do nicely." Dain pauses, thinks, and then says "But Drast - in addition to Ur-nungal ah must bring Ann - she needs trainin - ah can deal with the axin and the fighten side - but she has magic - ah think she needs yeh guidance.

"Do whatever you need to do Dwarf, and I will meet you in 2 days at the front gate." Drast spends the next 2 days practicing his metamagic and speaking with the various people he meets whilst wandering.