The local smith takes one look at the armour and waves Lann away.

Lann asks what's wrong politely

" What do ye need done to it? Exactly...I cannae cut those links or attach naught. That's well beyond my Ken.. "

Usopi grimaces as he considers Lann’s story.

”We have no idea as to who the presumably now dead owner of the armor was. We have no real idea as to what the fey creature did to get it. You have certainly killed one person who may have been an innocent, and you possibly killed an entire group of people who may have been innocents. If that is the result of using that device, then I meed nothing it could possibly retrieve for me, and I would suggest you melt it down and bury the remains so that none may find it again, or at the very least ask it for less unknown tasks. Perhaps if you called it for aid in battle, or help moving an object or unlocking a chest, but any task that takes the creature out of our sight gives it the chance to perform atrocities in our name, and I would not have such deeds done in my name.” Usopi says, speaking in hushed tomes so as to not alert the whole village to the recent murder and theft of goods by a guest under their hospitality.

”And I would not wear that armor. Perhaps sell it cheaply to the next travellers we meet on the road. Mercanians are strong warriors, and we have no knowledge of who was killed for this armor. Should we return to Glissom with you wearing it and the armor be recognized by its owners kin, then they would be in the right to attack you seeking justice.”

Usopi shakes his head and sighs, ”But, I am not your mother, and we are traveling companions at the moment, and I would not let you be killed without trial. I ask you to cease use of the ring for any grand tasks, but I can not force deeds upon you.”

His thoughts said, Usopi walks from the hut and continues preparing to leave, spending a last few minutes saying goodbye to clans folk should he finish his preparations before the others are ready to leave.

Brannon gives a hollow chuckle at Lann's tale. "Well, it was certainly true to its word. It is a dangerous business to traffik with these things: words twist easily. If you ask me, you should have done with the ring, and not tempt fate further." He regards the Maille uneasily, and is clearly relieved at Usopi's admonishments. "But aye, we are not your mother, and cannot tell you what to do. Like enough there's a smith in Glissom who'll do something to disguise. There are plenty who are willing to be discrete. Otherwise, I suggest you invest in a good cloak."

He turns back to hs packing, then takes his fairwell of the villagers.

" I totally agree. As much as I love power, I am proud of my ability to look after the downtrodden. Oh well, I don't suppose I should use it for fetching or items so soon for we may need it to open doors or spy today," Lann continues.

He buys a cloak to wear over his armour, wishes Old Hugh good bye.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:12, Wed 03 Oct 2018.

The companions made their goodbyes, Gwyll and her husband giving Brannon a letter to take back to the Red Fern. Usopi received many hugs and kisses from the young women of the broch in thanks for his kindness...though others of the group may have misinterpreted the expressions.

They made their way up the southern slope of the dell and reached the top of the hill...where next?

Dann had made no secret of his desire to be back near the coast again, Brannon needed to report to Colm...but they had not yet spoken with any true Hewell folk...and the Erewornian border was close...

"Where shall we go, my friends?"'Lann asks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:40, Thu 04 Oct 2018.

Aphail is very uncomfortable with Lann's actions and is grateful to Sir Usopi for his preprimand.  Aphail is even unhappier with the possible cursed dagger in his pack! "We really should make contact with Clan Hewell, if nothing else to find out if they willfully usurped Cernach lands, and if they are with the Steward or not?"

"If you all think it the correct course of action, then to Clan Hewell. I was under the impression that they were the enemy and we were to erode their support in secret, but if not then let us meet them directly and see where things stand." usopi says as the party discusses their next plans.

Brannon laughs. "This is the way of diplomacy, I'm afraid. It is not an upright business. We will go to Clan Hewell and sound them out - without mentioning our true business. If we find them enemies or sympathetic, we report what we find to the Hearthfather, and let him decide whether we offer them an alliance."

”Indeed.” Usopi mutters, rubbing his chin, ”Then let us go to Clan Hewel. Perhaps even your enemy’s people might have need of us in these times. For surely the simple folk without arms in this fight deserve the same compassion and consideration that we have shown to our own more neighborly companions.”

Dann grumbles but says nothing.

In reply to Dann of Clan Valin (msg # 83):

Chlainn has no personal involvement in these politics but he's got nothing better to do except crack lewd jokes with Usopi, knowing that collectively, the charge of the knights is the ultimate destructive force in the universe...


....

....

....

....


Until they run into city walls, whereupon it falls to the sappers to figure out how to breach it.

The companions packed their gear and gave away any items they did not need to assist Clann Cernach in their waxing.

The rife over the hills was not unpleasant and though they saw many signs of hunting trails and old campsites they saw no one on the trail.  As they travelled southwards the hills levelled out a little becoming more rolling and less rocky. As they crested a ridgetop on the clear afternoon they could see almost all the way to the sea and picked out the route they had come from the north on their original journey southwards long ago.

Dann pointed out to Brannon the coast road that he had walked with Colm when he had been known as Finan down to Salthold where they had lost Guillame and almost Colm in the cave in Gradys Tangle.

They turned a little away east and noted the tail of the mountain forest they had first ascended through, tending away from it they came to a small rise. Above them on a gentle verdant-green sloping hill were hundreds of the hairy highland cattle and huge white oxen. Beyond the throng of animals were sturdily built stone dwellings and pens surrounded by a high wooden pallisade. At the crest of the hill was a strange building, at one end it was a broch similar to those they had seen in other clans but the building had been extended out into a huge square blocky shape with a triangular roof atop..the old broch forming almost a tower of sorts at one end of the imposing structure.

As they watched men rode up on sturdy looking ponies, dressed in a somewhat odd mixture of plaid and livery.

The leader of the group bade his men lay away from the light javelins they carried across their backs.

" Hail friends! You walk the lands of Laird Taran Hewell and Clann Hewell. I am Kilmman Hewell, the Lairds brother."

Usopi gives a nod of greeting to the rider that hails them, but he keeps quite. He has little skill in deception, and so for now leaves the speaking to Aphail or Brannon do the talking until he feels more confident in the story they are to tell the folk here.

Aphail gives a small bow, muttering "my lord" in greeting and respect.

Lann greets the riders and renders the necessary salutes.

Dann grunts faintly and nods reluctantly.

"Well met Kilmann Hewell! I am Brannon Darrow, of the Temple of Flame in Glissom. Tales have reached the city of refugees and dangerous creatures crossing the border from Ereworn, now that the Duke Darian is no more. The Temple has asked my companions and I to come and see for ourselves, that we might better understand the dangers it presents... if any. We would avail ourselves of your hospitality, if we may, as we are headed for the border."

Brannon waits carefully for a reply.

Kilmann frowns, " Welcome, Hearth-Father? You are, of course, received as a valued guest of Clann Hewell."

" Aye, we've had a few ne'erdowells that we've moved on in the last few seasons. Mostly scruffy looking men of ill aspect."

As Brannon introduced the others Kilmann seemed most pleased to see the two foreign knights, " My brother will be eager to speak with you. He seeks to bring Clann Hewell into a more elevated position...similar to wider society beyond Glisson and Ereworn..."

He fixed Dann and Lann with a look and a grin, " Not that we are abandoning our traditions..just moving on a bit...". Some of the men behind him looked a little down in the mouth about the situation.

He turned to Griff and Aphail, " Welcome....are you of Clann Lamell?", he said taking in Aphails plaid.

Griff shakes his head grimly. "Nay. Born a woods-dweller"

Usopi smiles at the knowledge that this noble and his nrother are open to new ideas of the rest of the world.

”Then we shall be happy to speak woth him, and any others that show interest. Similarly I look to learn of Glissom and the ways of it’s people.” he says, patting the mule he led by it’s reigns to comfort the beast.

Brannon bows acknolwedgement. "Thank you for your kind words, sir, though I fear I am but a Hearth-Warden. Any hospitality will be gratefully received. Aye, it would be good to hear more of these ne'er do wells. Perhaps it is nothing, but we have heard troubling tales of this 'Corbyn' who now resides in Ereworn, and anything we can learn would be valuable, if only to set the City's heart at ease. In return, I daresay our comrades would be happy to share some tales of their homelands and chivalry thereof?"