Episode Three: The hunt for Terk 's Haksred
After summoning the manor's servants to lead everybody else back to their rooms, Akane follows the corridor to the Black Room, the one where Zhorr meets those guests that have clearly shown their allegiance to Asmodean.
The decorations are obviously set to match, and the small shring behind Zhorr's large desk is dedicated to the Lord of Hell.
Naranker is sitting comfortable opposite Zhorr, room, making small talk. His outfit is as simple as it is unusual: black leather pants, and a black duster; a high-crowned, wide-brimmed black hat is sitting on the desk in front of him. Just above his heart, a silvery unholy symbol of Asmodean, his badge of office shines in the light of the magic torches.
Akane's eyes are attracted by the smoking holster resting on his hip, which she knows to contain Naranjer's gun, the Big Iyrn, said to have been forged in Hell and blessed by Asmodean himself. Eternally spouting the smoke from the fires of Hell, says the legend.
Since Iyrn is the gnomish word for a firearm, however, Akane has a strong suspicion that it was actually forged by the gnomes in Bristlewerk, not that she would ever challenge the legend of the Big Iyrn within earshot of the Grand Marshall.
Naranjer turns when she knocks, and Akane finds herself thinking that he's a surprisingly handsome man - for a human at least. His hair is a light brown with a slight reddish undertone that wouldn't be out of place in a member of her own race, and his piercing grey eyes seemed to look straight into her soul... Which they might, for all she knew: he was, after all, a grand Marshall of Asmodean. ""Ah, your fox is here... Well, I see you finally learned how to dress properly in the presence of your betters. It seems there's hope for your pet yet, van Lyre."
"As you say, Grand Marshall." Zhorr replies noncommittally, carefully maintaining a blank expression.
Sensing Zhorr's anger, Akane speaks up: "Lord Marshall... You required my presence?"
Naranjer sighs in mild irritation: "Still talking out of turn, I see. Well, I suppose animals can't be expected to know any better. I came to deliver a message to your master: the Right Honorable Count of Brastlewerk has seen fit to offer van Lyre the title of Baron of Carp. The count simply requires a minor service to be performed first, to confirm that the newly-appointed Baron is conscious of his duties and capable of performing them.".
A few seconds later, he nods approvingly noting that aAkane has remained silent. "You train your animals well, van Lyre. You wouldn't believe how many times I've had to have slaves flogged for not being able to retain simple concepts in their tiny minds. Tell me, pet, Have you heard of a half-beast outlaw named Terk 's Harksred?"
"Terk... 's Harksred, my Lord? Are you certain?"
Naranjer inclines his head: "You heard of him, then?"
"Ah, no My Lord, it's just... 'Terk of the Great Harring' seems like a really bizarre name, even for an Orc, my Lord. Are you sure it's not 's Harksradu, 'of the Great Mountain'? Or perhaps 's Harksråd, 'of the Great River'?"
Naranjer sighs - in a bizarre, slightly effeminate way that doesn't quite seem to fit him: "It could be 'of the great steaming pile of excrement', for all I care, fox. If it will set your mind at ease, I'd say they named his clan ironically. He is, after all, only a half-beast. It doesn't matter: he's an outlaw, and your task is to bring him to jutice, not write his biography. Alive or dead is of little import. Your master vouched for your cunning. See that you don't disappoint him."
"Y-Yes, my Lord. Ah..."
Naranker quirks an eyebrow: "Yes?"
"Is he also an iyrn wielder, my Lord?"
The Marshall's small laughter also really doesn't seem to fit him: "My, my... I'm impressed, van Lyre, your pet might truly be as intelligent as you made her out to be. Yes, the 'red, or 'rade, or whatever he's called, does in fact possess an iyrn. Two, in fact. Though you needn't worry about meeting the Big Iyrn's match: it would take decades for the gnomes to make another like her, not that they would dare, of course. No, his weapons are common pieces of metal. You should have no problems at all dealing with him. I wouldn't send an animal to do the job of a man, after all."
Only the slightest twitch on Zhorr's face betrays his feelings as he again considers, and is forced to discard, the many possible ways that he could make Naranjer suffer an unfortunate accident.
He stands and approaches Akane: "By the power beswoted upon me by the Lord and the Crown, I hereby name you Deputy Marshall of Hell and Land. May you perform your duties with the blessing of the Lord, or suffer His ire."
He looks around for a moment: "Now, where did the boy go?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:36, Mon 23 July 2018.