In reply to GM (msg # 44):

"I am a warlock," Lann says. He waits for the creature to return
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:50, Sun 30 Sept 2018.

Gwyll takes the torc with a gentle smile. The young women murmur thanks to him and some remain to engage in conversation. They are somewhat skittish around his huge armoured form...perhaps recalling other armoured giants...but his gentle demeanour and cautious body language reassured them and they spoke to him of his travels since and some of their plans. Two of the pregnant women spoke of their plans to marry and that their betrothed, also of the wilding, was going to claim the child as his own...no matter their appearance. Their faces were calm as they spoke but there was a little fear in their eyes before it was crushed by fierce determination.

Gwyll took his arm, " Thankyou for the gift. It will be put to good use."

Usopi nods in thanks to Lady Gwyll, smiling at the young women making the best of their situation, and makes a mental note to try and gather gofts for the births of the children and marriages at a later date. He expresses pride in their bravery and resolve, and bids them well before departing to return to Gill’s home.

Dann won't miss the occasion to visit old Hugh as well, on his own. He will take advantage of this lonely visit to show him the loot that ended up in his hands, especially the pearl magic ring and the Bronze Fibulae.

Old Hugh grunted at the fibulae, " Old. Selentine....maybe before....worth something to those interested in such things."

" The ring, talk to your witch. He knows what it does."

" You are of Clann Valin you say? But even here we know that Valin met the same fate as Cernach...though a bloodier one."

" What do you seek?"

The companions are left alone and given a dwelling to sleep in that belongs to one of the local elders who is currently travelling to see family to the east.

You are able to rest, relax, speak amongst yourselves and plan your next move.

"Then you probably know how this fate was met. I seek the one who did it!" answers Dann impulsively. "Even though I am not sure I should be the one to do it." he adds after a time, hesitant.

"But if I don't, who will?"

The blood drains from Aphail's face as the implication struck him.  A blade that can steal away someones very soul!  That means they would be banishing from reaching their ancestors in the afterlife, their very existence erased from the book of life by the spinners, laughing as they did so!  Maybe the Hearth Father would be wise enough to know how to deal with this weapon?  Aphail tucks it carefully into his knapsack.

" To kill Conn. It is a brave geas to lay upon oneself...and not an easy one. And what then? War among the northern Clanns until another King rises or will they shatter apart again and live as we do...or will you bring doom upon all Borderers with your revenge...or rise as King yourself?"

" I am but an old man whose road is almost finished, yours looks to be a steep one."

As Dann turned to leave he pointed to his pack, " What is that?"

Dann unfurled the linen wrapped about the Gulro aspected mace.

Old Hugh whispered words and the fire grew brighter, " That is a fell weapon and it carries a dweomer upon it I have not seen before. It is certainly made to hit harder and faster than a mortal weapon...but there is another dark magic upon it. Make sure no one sees you with this unless you know they are black of heart. It marks one as a follower of Balor."

Though the word was whispered it seemed the shadows gathered in the hovel for a moment...dark and cold...
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:36, Mon 01 Oct 2018.

Dann raises his eyebrow, perplexed by what he just heard. He wraps the mace carefully back in his pack, and thanks the old Hugh, assuring him he will be as discreet as possible about it. then he takes his leave.

The night grew longer and the companions retired for the evening some later than others.

When the companions woke in the morning they were somewhat startled to find a set of maille armour laying on the floor of the dwelling slick with blood....

Lann is shocked to see the bloodied chainmail. He washes it and brings it to old hugh telling him what happened, wondering if he had done something wrong. He thought his instructions were clear to steal and not kill.

Looking shocked and rushing out of the dwelling clutching the bloody armour Lann disappears without a word leaving his companions to their morning routines...and probably a fair amount of conversation.

Lann did his best to clean off the armour leaving a fair amount of bloody water on the ground about the communal barrels.

He rapped on Old Hughs door for several minutes before the door was flung open.

" What the hells do you want?"

"Sorry sir. You know I asked the fey creature to bring me a set of magical chain maille without the owner knowing. I thought he would steal but I think he kill to get this," Lann says upset.

He shows the old man the maille and asks him about it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:43, Tue 02 Oct 2018.

Old Hugh screwed up one eye, " Right. So you got what you asked for.What were your exact words?"

" Why is this wet? It'll need oiling...", He lifted the maille up.

" Hmmm, good quality...looks Mercanian. Aye, see these silver inlaid runes about the throat and shoulders....definetely Mercanian. Old...stronger than normal maille...this will serve."


OOC: +1 maille.

Lann tells Old Hugh the exact words he used. He asks if he should in future asks the creature to loot items from unguarded treasure hoard instead. He also asks if the old man can identify the ex owner of the mail.

Old Hugh squatted down and adopted the long suffering expression he often did with Lann.

" Bring to me a set of working enchanted chainmail that is uncursed. Do not bring anything else back and make sure the owner doesn't know you took the chainmail and leave no trace behind."

" Right...so it brought you what you asked and I can find no curse upon it. It brought you nothing else, it made sure the owner did not know that it took the armour. As far as we can tell it left no trace behind."

" There are no words of peace, or forbidding bloodshed or even not simply making it known that you now possess the armour.  If, as you said, you washed a great deal of blood off of it we can probably guess how it made sure that the owner did not know the identity of the thief or its employer"

" Unguarded treasure? I've never heard of such a thing....well, perhaps a few items like where you found this ring but most things do belong to someone."

" It was not gone long...I would say it was retrieved from somewhere relatively close by. I have no way of knowing from whom."

"Ah so I may have to be more careful with the words. I guess I shall carry the maille in my pack and if wear it too openly? Still such designs are hardly unique I believe? I hope the man who had this was a bad man." Lann says.

He asks if the man has heard of books or tomes that increases one's strength without side effects.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:11, Wed 03 Oct 2018.

" Quite.", Old Hugh said simply.

" Tomes? No, I'm not much for writing or reading.  There may be items that do such...one of the Mercanian gods had a belt that did something like that I recall."

" I'm going back to bed now. If you ever wake me this early again I will place a toad over your heart.", he said grumpily as he slammed the door shut.

"Good morning, my good teacher and apologies for waking you up", Lann says, wondering why old men need so much sleep.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:46, Wed 03 Oct 2018.

Usopi is shaken by the appearance of the bloody armor laying on the floor of the room, and curious when Lann reacts so quickly, but he decides that he has little control over whatever is happening with the borderer, and sets about preparing to leave, ensuring Gat is fed and then packing his things.

Lann will find a local armourer to make cosmetic changes to the armour to ensure it will not BE easily identifies. He will also think of new ways to summon creatures to find items. He consults his companions, wondering if he should get it to steal from Kilnded without getting caught.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:31, Wed 03 Oct 2018.

In reply to Toirneach Lann (msg # 67):

Chlainn is startled with the find.

"Was there a battle nearby?  Looks like someone stripped off and dropped that off!  And it smells!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:01, Wed 03 Oct 2018.

When Lann returns with his cleaned and oiled armour, he relates what transpired to his companions. He asks if he should summon a creature to make his blade more magical or simply steal another blade from elsewhere. He also asks if his friends need anything.


NB. Post modified to reflect timeframe referenced in recent OOC post.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:41, Wed 03 Oct 2018.

Dann listens with interest to what Lann relates then looks at his own ring, troubled. He makes a vow to himself to only use it in last resort...