Caith looks wary at the word, but notes the honorific tone the title is spoken in, and replies in similar tone "As ye command, Dairmund Boar-And-Hunter.", then adds "Pleased to meet with ye, Cene of Ereworn." as she casually plucks her own nearly full goblet of cider from where she left it sitting on the table by Alphail and Leofwyn.

She smiles as she introduces the hunter with a steadfast declaration of "This be Alphail, a hunter of great skill, and wise eyed in the wilderness."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:45, Thu 31 Oct 2019.

A shiver goes down Leaf's spine as she hears such blunt conversation of the evils in the land.



Leaf's eyes then twinkle, as she stands up straight. "Yes." She says with a smile. "Yes, that is exactly what I think. If a person has seen evil, or wickedness, or mistreatment - it is up to them to do something about it."

"I hope one day that I can visit your Glen Cernach."

She saw Caith coming back to make introductions, so she picked up her drink and made her way to talk to someone else.

Usopi paused in his eating and drinking, wiping his mouth. He sat back in his seat and gazed over the group members as they all moved about or changed the conversations they were attending to. To Usopi they seemed as buoys in the tides of Lakstead.

Then he noticed Leofwyn bobbing away from Caith, Aphail, Cene, and Diarmuid. He stood from his seat and inclined his brow to her.

"My Lady, I do not believe we have been formally introduced. My name is Usopi Venia, of Lakstead."
This message was last edited by the player at 08:11, Thu 31 Oct 2019.

"Sir Usopi, it is my pleasure," she smiled, bowing her head slightly, "my name is Leofwyn from the south of Cornumbria."

"I believe you were one of the party who arrived at the castle today? Do you know the others you travelled with well?"

Aphail stands as the Kings Advisors approach, and gives a small bow. "I am honoured to meet the Mighty Boar, and Strawberry the Wise.  We have been questing in the wilderness for too long, and this repsite is welcome indeed.  I am Aphail-o'the-hood, Champion of Artia, bearer of the Relic Quarrybolt, Destroyer of Demons, and originally of Clan Cernach."

Usopi pondered the question a moment before replying, "Three of them, Deise, Uthen, and Beathan I met only a short while ago. The others I have known for a time longer, and we have seen much together. They are mostly good folk, and I count them among my close friends." He answered, "And you, do you know the other courtiers here well?"

"I have had conversations with a few of them... but that is about it. I arrived at the castle only one week ago, after travelling on my own." She glances around the room at everyone, and then back to Usopi.

"I must say I am looking forward to travelling with others again. I do not really enjoy travelling on my own."

"And from what I can tell, everyone that I have met here seems..." She tilts her head to the side and thinks for a minute before purposefully saying "Good... and just." She smiles again and adds, "The kind of people that I want to be around."

King Corbin smiled widely, " Excellent! Excellent!  And know this Hearthwarden Darrow....", he said as he took the necklace. " ....if things go utterly tits up you and your Clansmen always have a home in Ereworn."

" So, introduce me to this Lann fellow, I believe we he spoke before but I'm a devil for faces."

Cene smiled slightly, " I am Cene known as Strawberry and this is Diarmuid known as The Black Boar. Also destroyers of demons, Champions of Elvaron, Bearer of the ancient Spear of Ereworn and originally of no-fixed-address."

Diarmuid gave a broad and deeply unsettling smile.

Cene looked back and forth between Caith and Aphail and then quickly pivoted to face Caith leaving Aphail to speak with Diarmuid.

" Now, Mistress Caith....do we have something in common?", he said quietly.

Aphail grinned like a naughty child, knowing he had been over familiar intentionally, to est their sense of humour.  Fortunately it was not lacking.  Aphail proceeds to talk to Dairmuid the Black Boar at length.  Aphail tells of Artia the Huntress, shows him the Quarrybolt, tells the tale of the Bone Demon, and asked Diarmuid of Moccus the Black Boar.  He hopes to gain a better understanding of the quiet man, and build a deeper friendship by sharing what they hold in common and what they hope for in the future.

Diarmuids answers to Aphail were somewhat perplexing...though he listened thoughtfully as Aphail spoke of Artia it was clear that his Boar was something different than the Bear that embodied Artia. He does not know the name Moccus but admits he has never asked if the Boar has a name...not that it has a voice to answer.

Diarmuids time in the wild was not that of a hunter but of a beast, sleeping beneath the stars in nothing but his skin, foraging in the forest and snatching produce from farms rather than hunting....Aphail feels a certain kinship but it is one he is not quite sure how to approach.

Diarmuid is both less than a man but also greater...it is a puzzle that will take some teasing out.

Caith nods with the expression of a woman memorizing a list for later, but the smile on her lips reaches to her green as a summer sea eyes, not just her twisted mouth.



Caith looks sideways at Dairmund at the last title on that list, and nods in understanding as things begin to become clear even as they become murkier.



"Something nay common, but in common? Aye, I suspect we do." Caith replies quietly, sips her cider, then continues "I am a herbwitch, as Dairmund names me. There are some cures that herbs alone can nay accomplish, but to speak of them makes folk uneasy. And with hair the colour of flames? It is nay wise to answer the title of witch too readily. Those who taught me my craft are gone, cut down by lies and greed..."

She gazes at Cene pensively a moment then shrugs and adds "But the red fern is nay a plant to be so easily cut down, even by the wolves of war. Lady Artia has nay denied me her gifts, what ere the law says of me, so a witch I remain, all be it one lacking in knowledge."

Brannon returns the broad smile. "That is good to know, Your Majesty."



"Certainly!" Brannon guides Corbin towards Lann, and makes the reintroduction.

”I too find traveling with companions to be preferable, though there is something to be said for the peace one can find walking through the world in quite solitude. A sunrise viewed in silence, or even a busy street observed apart from it, can sometimes be disturbed by folk traveling together.” The large shaven knight mused, glancing in to the middle distance at something unseen.

And then he frowned for a moment, considering his travels, and then smiling again, though this time with slightly less warmth, ”Largely I feel you perceive us correctly. Though all folk who make their living in combat are like to find ill deeds upon their conscience. Despite all that, my companions are good and righteous people, and a pleasure to accompany. If you depart with us when we leave, I am certain we would enjoy your presence.”

" Herbwitch....which would make me a Bookwitch I presume. In truth after facing Darian I have not called upon those forces very often, it is sobering to look into a darkling mirror and I would rather put temptation well away."

" But! Knowledge I can give....though I know little of highland flora or Bear Mothers."

King Corbin accompanied Brannon as he walked over to Lann and introduced the King to him.

Leofwyn thought about this for a moment before muttering, "That's very true. I guess that's what sets us apart from those with evil intentions; not much would weigh upon them."



"It would be my honour, if the opportunity arises." She smiled warmly, before adding. "Until that times comes, let's eat and enjoy the comforts of this place!"

Lann bows before the king and introduces himself. He compliments the king in the food offered.

Caith considers Cene's answers carefully, then offers in quietly spoken reply, her expression gravely serious as she speaks "I am nay fond of mirrors myself, but they have their uses beyond vanity. Remind me of who I am more than I like though."

She reflects a moment to herself on how best to explain the matter, then continues "I can nay deny that I ken little of arcane matters as a bookwitch such as yourself would, but I greatly value the healer's lore and the wilderness's secrets that has come with hedgecraft. Has served me well, and others besides, so if ye have need of herblore? That I can share a little of. The Gods are generous, and for that I am grateful."

The herbwitch looks deeply uneasy as she speaks but explains "Some gifts more difficult than others to understand, but one of mine is in kenning the wild spirits and fey folk. The lore of Artia is best taught by Alphail, but I am familiar her ways, and with the lore of many other gods to some degree. Nay with that of demon cults though."

King Corbin chuckled, " Well, thankyou, but I had very little to do with its preparation."

"  I come to you because I have a request, there is a place....not far from here, near the primary source of the River Ereworn. A vault of sorts, where Duke Darian conducted his more... volatile.... researches."

" Lady Mammon has spoken with me earlier today and seemed to imply that you had certain skills that would be of great use in this endeavour."

" There would be four of you; yourself, Lady Mammon, Barlow Greenleaf and Drummond. One to understand, one to assess and one to kill.....and yourself, who I am lead to believe possesses a little of each of those talents."

" Now Hearthfather Darrow has given his blessing but no oaths have been sworn here so you are free to not take up the cause."

" I will say that Ereworn has no interest in anything you find within....as long as it does not pose a future danger to the land or her people.  I doubt there is much in the way of coin there but Darian was a fell sorcerer and if it was a place of research or making I'm certain you would find riches of a sort."

" I need the place scoured out so no other cancer can boil up from there to plague Ereworn once more."

" Are you willing?"

" Perhaps a trade then? Some teaching of herblore in exchange for knowledge of more esoteric things?"

His voice dropped to a whisper, " I have a reasonable store of research which may allow me to assist you in identifying the history or nature of certain items...."

" I will admit I used a certain trick earlier today to determine that your companions carry a few legends worth of history upon your persons."

In reply to GM (msg # 88):

"Wow! That's an excellent idea, Your Majesty! It is always my fervent wish to find out more about evil and root them out! I thank thee for thy faith in me! Yes this is very interesting. Of course that being a very evil place may I ask if I may ask your sorcerer for advice on certain things before we depart?" Lann asks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:47, Sat 02 Nov 2019.

" My what?", said the King sharply looking suddenly concerned then the tension fled his face and he chuckled, " Oh, you mean, Cene? Certainly, I'm sure he'd be happy to assist."

" You would be ready to depart on the morrow?"

"Yes, Cene, I mean. My apologies. Sure, tomorrow will be excellent! I am always ready to move in my line of work," Lann says brightly before continuing, " When may I speak to Master Cene?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:38, Sun 03 Nov 2019.

" Whenever you wish, he is currently in conversation with another member of your troupe but I'm sure they'll be finished shortly."