The first floor of Castle Ereworn is mostly empty apart from a simple wooden stool on which sits King Corbin flanked by Diarmuid, The Boar, and the robed form known to them only as Strawberry. Two battered shields mounted on stands stood outside an embossed bronze door leading into the northeast tower. Newly woven tapestries deck the
walls, interspaced with the glass filled windows . The tapestry on the west wall seems
far older than the rest.  It  depicts a figure in a white robe, performing some sort of ritual before a huge crystal. After several months in Ereworn the three men knew this tapestry celebrated Elvaron’s life and deeds.

A gigantic stained glass window depicting a sword and a river comprises the east wall.
Beneath the window is a raised plinth. An ugly gouge in the centre of the plinth suggests that something once stood here, but has long since been removed.

King Corbin apologises for calling you in so early then a serious look crosses his face.

" Several of the shepherding holdings in the Grey Hills have been reporting losses recently, I thought it to be wolves now that game is returning to Ereworn but it seems not.  It seems one of the headmen sent word with his cousin looking for assistance beyond our borders."

" I blame them not, its been a long time since any of Ereworns folk could look to their rulers with anything but fear.  But I aim to change that, and with that in mind I ask you to head to Ceann Caorach and see whats troubling them."

" The purging cleansed Ereworn of the demons influence, but not all evil was of its making."

The talk of demons and the cleansing matches many of the tall tales among the castle staff that you have heard over your time here but if such wild and fanciful tales are true and the impossible deeds you have heard were performed by King Corbin and his companions and their fallen friends are not allegory then there are no signs of such about the place....though from the work being done to the castle the previous lord, one Duke Darian did not keep up the place well.

Beathan: since coming here you have been called upon both for your knowledge of medicine and for help in translating certain tomes...some rather darker than you were comfortable with. You sometimes find yourself staring at the hulking Diarmuid, despite his savage almost wild ways...there is a certain...kinship...

Deise: King Corbin has not spoken with you overly much but has asked to know more of Cornumbria to the south and Strawberry, the birthmarked young sage, has utilised your talent for remaining unseen to keep track of rumours and gossip amongst the staff.

Sir Uthen: KIng Corbin eagerly absorbs your tales of court and the interactions of the nobility of Albion, isolated until recently he is eager to have Ereworn once again be a vital force in Ellesland and to reopen proper relations and trade with her neighbours; indeed he sent Diarmuid and Strawberry north on such a mission to the pagan land of Glissom almost a year ago.

In reply to GM (msg # 1):

Takes a knee and says,
As you wish my Lord.

Thinking - how much can I find out about Ceann Caorach. If the locals are calling for aid in this part of the world, it must is hardly trivial. Shudders.

King Corbin smiled and waved him to his feet, " Good luck, I'm sure everything will be well in such capable hands."

I look to Strawberry , making eye contact before whispering;
Might I have a word with you, when you have a moment?

The robed man, only a few years older than Deise but with eyes that seemed far older put a hand to the wine-stain birthmark that covered half his face and nodded drawing Deise over to the window.

" What do you need?", he said gently.

Thank you for sparing the time. If I might be so bold, I would know more to better serve as eyes and ears to the King.
Can I ask, when did you first hear the rumoirs from the Grey Hills? What are we likely to meet on the way to Ceann  Caorach, and when we get there?

Strawberry smiled kindly, " Perhaps a month ago there was word of some sheep going missing where the Grey Hills meet the Pagans, it was presumed to be wolves or perhaps a newly woken bear, but other reports trickled in more recently which indicate that perhaps things are somewhat different...no predation on the corpses, animals killed very close to habitations."

" Oh, Ceann Caorach is not far. Maybe a days journey, a small holding of a few buildings. I haven't been there myself, I assume there will be sheep, rain, trees and pasture...".

Sir Uthen takes a knee.

"I am at your disposal, Your Majesty. Whether these people are victims of wolves or something more sinister, I will do my utmost to deliver them safety and justice in your name."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:00, Tue 06 Aug 2019.

King Corbin rose and indicated that Sir Uthen should do the same, " I have faith in all of you.", he smiled.

The hulking form of Diarmuid had seemingly no opinion either way and shrugged moving to open the bronze doors to enable the king egress from the room.

" Be kind to them. The people of Ereworn have suffered much and the scars are still fresh."

I walk toward my companions relaying the small piece of news I have gleaned from Strawberry.

"Dead sheep, no marks on the body. Could be disease, a poisoned well maybe?"

Strawberry leant in, " You misunderstand, there are marks aplenty...indeed some of them have been torn in half...but nothing eaten...not a jot.."

" Head over to the others, we can't spare horses as you know....the ones the Duke had won't let men sit them....those that didn't fly away.", it is hard to tell if he's joking or not at the last.

Strawberry clapped him on the shoulder and left the room following the king.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:17, Wed 07 Aug 2019.

Dropping to one knee with a *thunk* Beathan speaks slowly;

Your Majesty, I will purge the evil from the land and cast light of wisdom on the demonic words.


...........



Beathan looked at his two fellows, he'd been busy with the work the king had given him and not had much time to socialise the past few months.

He nodded to Sir Uthen and went and stood near Deise as Strawberry broke away.

" Gentlemen, are we ready?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:11, Wed 07 Aug 2019.

"About as ready as I'm gonna get, better hit the road - it won't walk itself", smiles the small man.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:26, Wed 07 Aug 2019.

In reply to Deise (msg # 13):

" Agreed".

OOC: Feel free to make any purchases you want to before setting out.

"Yes, I am ready to depart as well."
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:41, Wed 07 Aug 2019.

The three men checked their packs and departed the castle, venturing down through the ramped gate and across the arched stone bridge that bridged the chasm that was Castle Ereworns first line of defense....one of the stonemasons had told Sir Uthen that the bridge had once been invisible to the naked eye, such tall tales were not uncommon in Ereworn the three had learned.

After a six hour journey down the Kings Road through the Pagans the three companions arrive in the foothills that comprise the easternmost part of the Grey Hills.  From Strawberrys words Deise knew they had another six to eight hours or so across rough ground and winding trails to get to Ceann Caorach.

Luckily it was mid-spring now and the hills are not covered in deep snow but they are still soaked by intermittent rain as they travel. As the day began to darken they were passing through a patch of silver firs the came across the corpses of half a dozen sheep scattered along and beside the path. A number of rooks took off from the bodies, cawing down at the men from the branches.

Before the night draws fully in, Deise attempts to ascertain whether any trail remains from whatever put the flock to the slaughter.

Deise pads around the bodies but is unable to find any sign of tracks except for sheep and some small boot prints which are scattered haphazardly about and then are deeper and further apart as they head west.

Beathan focuses for a moment on the direction of the sheep's tracks and then the surrounding terrain. Before he starts to gather wood for a fire.

OCC: Casts Pursuit on the sheep to get a fix on their direction of travel.

This message was last edited by the GM at 01:20, Thu 08 Aug 2019.

Sir Uthen is looking at the sheep - at their wounds - trying to see if he can identify anything about how the wounds were inflicted.

OOC: how small is small -  child size perhaps?

OOC: Early Teen-Child Sized.

Wood is gathered, and the corpses inspected...some it seems were bodily torn apart, others sliced in twain...but other than the rooks feeding there was nothing taken from the bodies.

Beathans senses tell him to head west to find the place where the flock had originated and the  person had run to....
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:11, Thu 08 Aug 2019.

"Beathen, Sir Uthen, Night drawing in and we have a bit to go before gettting to the village. Lets get a fire up and get some rest. I am happy to take first watch if ye don't mind."

Deise attempts to get some conversation started with new road companions, who he has seen around the castle but not mixed with overly much.

"Sir Knight, a beehive sigil, where do you call home lad, and you tall one- cant place your accent."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:58, Thu 08 Aug 2019.

Beathan, sets a fire with some of the drier wood, lighting it with flint & tinder.

"I harken from Thuland, but I journeyed here to Ereworn with my family a season or two ago."
"Deise, are you a local with knowledge of the land?"

This message was last edited by the GM at 06:08, Fri 09 Aug 2019.

Not from here bud, down south in Cornumbria. Left there a long time back as my face didnt exactly fit at my fathers village on account that my ma is not his wife. Been on the road nearly half my life. Findin it hard to believe I'm here servin a King. When I were a kid the King o tis place were in league with devils and all these people pagans - thats what the old women onthe village useda tell us. If we got outta hand they were gonna send us here to be eaten. Now as a man, I'm here with strangers serving a king I know nathing of.
Funny de way life turns out

"My family arms - I come from a little village, Sadley, in the east of Albion - nearest place to it most people have heard of is Breylak. The family trade is beekeeping and mead making, on top of regular farming work, so when my grandfather was elevated to a Knight, he took the beehive as his sigil. Still have cousins doing that sort of work, but I was trained to take up arms.

I am more than happy with you taking first watch if you wish it, and you Beathen can feel free to choose the midwatch or the last and I'll take the other. I know some people need to make use of particular times of night for sleeping to be at their best the following day. For myself it does not matter - I'll take as much rest as I can, but I can take it anytime."

Acknowledging the knight :Been to  Breylak working for a man in Ongus. Didnt stay long, seemed peaceful when I got there.

Deise then takes a ration and heads up into the trees westward for watch. During my watch I will sneak quietly around the makeship camp periodically.

Deise sat watch in the cool spring night, bats flitted through the trees and small animals moved through the brush....badgers and foxes worried at the dead sheep...but nothing untoward was seen.

..........

Sir Uthen was woken and sat his watch, at one point in the moonlight he saw a fight break out among the animals scavenging the sheep carcases but the rest of the night was quiet until he woke Beathen in the early hours.

.......

Beathen watched the sun rise over Gallows Wood to the east and enjoyed the dawn chorus of songbirds. As he kept watch the itch in his mind that wanted to follow the Trail grew stronger.

Woken by the dawn chorus and the sunlight, Sir Uthen breaks his fast with some water from his water skin, and the first part of his days rations. He is eager to depart, to make the most of the day and awaits the others pleasure to move on.

In reply to Sir Uthen of Sadley (msg # 31):

Saw nothing out of the ordinary. Whatever killed them animals aint coming back here. Lets keep moving.

The three men finished their morning ablutions and breakfast and headed off, Beathen pointing the way apparently very confident in his directions.

Mid morning they came up a hill to see a small holding of a few large buildings and encircling partial stone walls with wooden slats to fill the gaps in the stone.

As they approached a high pitched whistle went up and a small boy in a woolen tunic and boots with two grey and white hounds at his side stood on the nearest wall with his hands on his hips watching them.

"Oy! Who ye be? Come closer and Bess and Bliss will have ye!"



Image:
https://intarch.ac.uk/journal/...9/4/images/fig18.jpg

I raise my hands as a show of meaning no harm.

"I greet you. My name is Uthen, and these others are my friends Beathan and Deise. We mean no harm - we've been asked to visit these parts because there have been problems with something worrying the sheep and we might be able to help with that, whatever the cause. Is there somebody we can talk to about that?"

" My name is Caer." As the boy spoke the men could see he was about 10 years of age with sandy-brown close cropped hair and a red wind-chapped face.

" Yeah....theres sommit botherin' the ladies....I dannae what. But its a nasty cruel thing, just cutting them down or ripping them apart and not even taking a bite. Now Da says I cannae sit out in field overnight, so we gots ta keep em penned now and even then there some folk have lost em in the night."

" Ye can talk wit Da or Uncle Brin, nay he's naught back from Hallowhall yet, but ye can speak wit Da I think he's in woolshed.", the boy said pointing at the largest building over his shoulder.

In reply to GM (msg # 35):

"So Caer, did you see these things and could you describe them to us?"

Listening to Caer reply, I'll then ask, "Can you point us to the Woolshed?"

"Thank you lad"

I walk toward the lad with my hands out - "Well kid, is this holdfast Ceann Caorach?"
Before waiting fir the reply I say, " I used to come from a place like this, left when I were  bit older than you, Gods sometimes I miss the smell of the hills and pasture, the rain and animals, get yer da for us, will you please"

OOC: Looking around what do I see? How many buildings, what type, any people around/signs/pennants etc
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:00, Sun 11 Aug 2019.

" No, Sir. I seen naught, though I did hear em out in the rain and hail laughing like ninnies."

" Woolshed? Its the biggun! Right there.", he finished pointing over his shoulder, the two hounds at his side regarding you somewhat more dubiously.

" Aye, Sirruh, Ceann Caorach indeed."

" From a place like this? Done well for yerself then."

The entire holding is surrounded by three circular stone walls interspaced with wooden slats and staggered in places to allow a somewhat circuitous entrance and exit if one doesn't climb the walls.  Most of the buildings are of the blackhouse type with stacked stone walls and thatched/turf roofs...there are some smaller angular buildings constructed of wood as well. The lad is the only person visible but there is smoke spiralling up from a number of the buildings from, you assume, hearths and the like.

There are no markers, decorations or signs to be seen and the only other things of note are a hundred or so sheep milling about between the second and third wall.

Thank you Caer.

Deise walks slowly toward the woolshed, waving at the young lad

In reply to Deise (msg # 39):

The two sheep dogs eye Deise dubiously as he walks forward, but stay at the lads side. The holding is clean and well cared for with a vegetable garden within.

As he approaches the buildings a woman suddenly appeared from around the corner carrying some fleece, she stared at him in shock for a moment, then called loudly over her shoulder.

" Garam! Holt!Caer, where are ye?"

In reply to GM (msg # 40):



Fall in step behind Deise and head down to the woolshed.

I also walk behind trying to appear as non-threatening as possible.

I come slowly to a halt with hands out.

Hello ma'am, my friends and I have been sent by the King of Ereworn to help with the trouble you've been having with the sheep killings. Young lad met us at the wall and sent us to the woolshed. I am Deise, and these are Sir Uthen and Beathan, a healer.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:12, Mon 12 Aug 2019.

" Ma! Its alright. They're down from castle.", Caer said quickly as he barrelled across the grass towards them all.

A tall rangy man stripped to the waist with long shaggy hair and beard streaked with grey threw open the door of the building they believed to be the woolshed. He held a great wooden oar of sorts in his left hand which he levelled towards the three men.

" Whats this then? Too well dressed for banditry."

The woman turned towards him, " Caer says their down from castle."

I nod to the man.

"Good man, we have been sent from the Castle, yes. We have been told there is something here that is harming your animals and whatever it is, we're here to try and help you deal with it."
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:25, Mon 12 Aug 2019.

In reply to Sir Uthen of Sadley (msg # 45):

The man nodded carefully to the three.

" Aye, we've had trouble. Didnae know the bigjobs knew about it. Only told me bror....though he's got a gob on him to be sure."

" If'n ye think ye can help, we've room fer ye ta stay. It ain't rooing season for a nother month near so no worries about floorspace."

" Whatever tis seems to roam about hitting this place then that, no pattern I can see. Best ye wait here for it, we've the most left."

" Garam Druim, at yer service. Me wifes bror Holt is still in shed. You've already met Caer and the missus, Kell. Me other chillun have gone way, some to the light and others to familys o' there own."

In reply to GM (msg # 46):


"Thank you for your hospitality, Garam."
"And in return, I offer my services as a healer for those who need it."


To Deise & Sir Uthen of Sadley, "Should try to find the source of this blight later today, or at first light tomorrow?"



OCC: I'm happy to provide an hour to help those in need while talking with them about the local goings-on.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:13, Tue 13 Aug 2019.

" We're right for healing I think.  I won't say no to some help with the thatching though."

I am content to stay for the day and night before heading out tomorrow. Eagre to find out more, I offer to
thatch.

"Right you are so. Never thatched before, but always a first time and am a good up a height, though not very strong."

" We'll have ye bundle then. Me and and Holt will do the casting and laying...unless yer friends want to help wit that."

" Kell! Take Healer inside and show him yer cupboard, mayhap he kens summit yer ma didnae."

Kell looked at Garam with a raised eyebrow, " Ye wouldnae be saying that if she still breathed."

Garam laughed outloud " Nae, I bloody well would not. That woman'd put the fears in anyone, I'm honestly amazed the Almighty hasn't sent her back on account of all the scoldin'."

Kell made a faux-angry face then smiled.

" C'mon, Healer. It can't hurt to have a look."

"I'm willing to help with any tasks around here, although I may not be much use at anything other than fetching and carrying."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:54, Tue 13 Aug 2019.

Garam, when you say that best wait here. What are your plans if the slaughter visits your holdfast, how can my friends help?


OOC: Deise will happily (pretend) to do whatever to help thatch roofs. He will be eager to glean whatever information he can, such as (1) other than eviceration and laughter, are there any other signs such as a trail, sightings, eagles etc. (2) he is a  it perturbed by how normal things appear to be in the face of such a threat to lilihood, (3) does the village have a plan. Desise will not want to venture outside without information, a strategy, and plenty of stronger fighting men.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:56, Tue 13 Aug 2019.

Sir Uthen and Deise spend the rest of the day until sunset learning the finer arts of thatching with the local varieties of sedge.

Holt and Garam are quite garrulous as they work and Deise finds he does not need to probe very hard at all to get the answers he seeks.

He learns that when the attacks first happened many of the herdsmen and folk at the scattered holdings went out looking for tracks or signs and nothing was found, some of those men being experience hunters and woodsmen. No one, no matter how careful a watch is kept has caught so much as a glimpse of the perpetrators.

Garam nods at mention of a plan, making clear that no one will venture out into the open after dark, there has been scattered talk of all gathering at one holding, this one as the largest, but some of the holdings are so distant that they would not be able to move their animals all the way here before dark.

When Deise mentions his disquiet with the way daily life is proceeding under this threat and receives sudden and loud laughter from both Holt and Garram.

" Begging yer pardon, Stranger. But this is fooking Ereworn!  These last near two years is the first time since I was born that we've not been beaten half to death and had all our savings taken in taxes, that we've not lost most of the flock to disease, that we've had lambs born whole and healthy, that we've not had a child taken to the Castle as a servant and ne'er heard of again....its a bad spot....but I cannae complain about it compared to the past."

" We've not had an attack here for a week or more, thats why I advise ye wait here for them...it...whatever...to come to us.  I'm no coward, but I'm no trained for fighting unless its a ram that don't want rooing."

Chastened, I respond;

Lads, I apologise and meant no disrespect to you or your way of life. I am a stranger in your lands and have only heard vague rumours of the past. I am here to do a job, that is all.

Deise will try to push Garam and Holt on any views as to how the new regieme compares against the previous one, also where are the other holdfasts.

As tools were downed for the day and the men washed up to head into the house, Holt spoke a little, " The new King is a good lad, he hasn't gotten his feet under him yet but he is trying to do good. But you'd know that better than me."

" The others? Oh, scattered about through the Grey Hills, furthest is four days away. Small properties, there are a couple of two family holdings but its mostly just the one."

" Now, whose up for some food?"

"Yep. On my way."

Similar spend my day talking with their Healer about the injuries sustained. Take stock of their cupboard to find if there is anything they need and I could find locally, while we travel. Also, mix up a few healing potions.

From the herbal supplies on hand, an impressive collection, he is able to make two healing balms and a balm against disease.  He is impressed by Kells knowledge of injuries and proper bindings and the two spend the day discussing cures and treatments for ailments of both man, dog and sheep.

Then she gets up and begins preparing the evening meal for all.

"  Would you assist? I've some salt mutton hanging in the larder that needs breaking down.."

In reply to GM (msg # 57):

"Sure, I'll help in any way I can."

A hearty dinner is served for the family and the three men, who suspect this is a rather more grandious meal than the family usual has each night.

The meal consists of roasted salted mutton, boiled and mashed neeps in sheeps butter, bannock and a rather sharp blackberry conserve.  A covered bucket of small beer was also brought out.

Garam asked the others if they would like to say a blessing over the meal.

At the mention of a blessing Desise casually moves to the background, deferring to the others.

"If you please, yes, I would like to say a blessing.

"May all that is good and that which looks over the good, bless this food and the hands that brought it to us all, and bring peace to all who share at this table."

Kell thanked Sir Uthen and they ate their fill.

" Will you sit up with Holt tonight? He'll be keeping watch over the flock."

In reply to GM (msg # 62):

Deise will try and ascertain where exactly will Holt watch the sheep crom - if it is from within the holdfast then he will respond:
"We are here to help solve this mystery and I sill stay up"

If it is outside of the holdfast then Deise will wait for his stronger companions to volunteer, after which he will also accompany.

Holt looks a little startled and is very adamant indeed that he will be watching from the inner walls, he is not going out there.

"Of course - as Deise says, it is what we're here for."

In reply to Sir Uthen of Sadley (msg # 65):

"then we are in agreement."

Sir Uthen spends the next few days helping with anything he can around the holding - though gentleborn by the skin of his teeth, the village of Sadley where he grew up is definitely argicultural and while Uthen never got much detailed education about things like animal husbandry (beyond a little beekeeping) he is used to a life where everybody helps with the heavy lifting and manual labour when needed, even the steward's family, and he's not afraid of hard work.

Along with Deise and Beathan he suited up in his arms and explored the area within a mile or two of the holding - just getting the lay of the land so to speak.

Deise mostly spent the days from early morning scouting around the area getting his bearings, seeking hideouts/escape routes and trails of any description.

Beathan will join Deise in scouting, but I'll be gathering herbs and the like as I'm not much of a scout. After lunch, he can use his strength to help out where he can in the village and in the evenings' mix potions & lotions.

The nights were spent on watch but nothing troubled the flock for the four nights they stood watch.

Caer took the flocks out to pasture for the day light hours and returned before nightfall.

Beathan was able to make another of the healing balms but there were not many of the proper herbs amongst the sedges and firs.

They rose late on the 5th day after keeping watch all night, Caer had already been out in the hills with the flock for many hours.

As they rose from a hearty meal of pottage prepared by Kell, Holt called out that Caer was returning....and he wasn't alone.

In reply to GM (msg # 67):

"We should see what's happening."
Finish my last mouthful, give the bowl a quick clean and place it aside for washing. Collecting my sword and looping it over my back, I head out the door.

I arm myself and follow Beathan.

I look for a vantage point and ready my bow.

In reply to Deise (msg # 70):

Holt and Garram followed Beathan and Sir Uthen as Deise leapt up onto the roof and vanished from sight.

Looking out at the approaching group they were on foot, all the flock seemed to be present and Caer seemed well.  There was a man with them dressed similarly to Sir Uthen, another armoured man with a plaid wrap, two lightly dressed men and a woman wearing furs.

I will remain out of sight ready. Deise will be aware that all looks well with the young lad and the flock so the strangers do not necessarily pose a threat, however he will not reveal himself until after the first interaction.

”Hail friends!” Called the tall armoured man with a wave, ”Caer here is just showing us to your fine home, as we’ve come seeking to aid with whatever evil has been plaguing your herds!”

I pull up to allow Holt and Garram to draw even with me (if they choose to). I feel they should be the ones to answer first. This is their home after all.

OOC:

Head across to the Ereworn: Loss and gain thread and switch to third person for you posts. :)