"Oh, no our land doesn't extend that far," Lyntern says to Lucien.

"It's quite a trek out there," he continues. "And unless you're familiar with the area, you'd have difficulty finding the location. But I could guide you there easily."

Lucien glances over at the others and gives a slight shrug. "We'll probably have to convince the Count, but we could use a guide." There's virtually no chance that Lucien's motivations for agreeing to this proposal are in the boy's best interests, but he doesn't appear particularly concerned by that. He waits to hear the others' thoughts.

"I'm not sure that's such a good idea," Karon ventures carefully. "But you look like a strong lad, have you had good trainers? I don't like the idea of taking an untested son of a powerful man into combat," he continues.

He leaves unsaid his biggest reason for not wanting the young man with them. The fact that he didn't want the life of this lad on his conscience. There was enough stuff there to give him sleepless nights without this lad's face added to the cast of his nightmares.

Lyntern frowns. "My father won't be favorable to me going out with you, though, especially to someplace as dangerous as the Thornwood," he sighs. "I'm his only heir, and he thinks he has to shelter me here at the keep to ensure nothing happens to me so his land can stay in the family."

"Hmphf." Lathan sneers at Lyntern then turns away. He finds a place to sit down and proceeds to clean and polish his swords, leaving Lucien and Karon to deal with the young noble.

It's strange to think that the young man that Karon feels is anything but ready for a trip into bandit-infested territory is actually at least three or four years older than he himself had been when he killed his first man. He can still recall the face of the poor farmhand. He hadn't deserved death, but Karon had been stressed up and had overreacted when the man came at him with a hoe. Just trying to defend himself. And never had a chance against an armed and armored bandit. Even if the bandit was just fourteen.

The burly half-orc shakes his head, trying to clear the memory. "I don't think it's a good idea for you to accompany us. And I don't think your father will thank us if we put the life of his only heir in danger. But you are a grown man, and as far as I'm concerned, you make your own decisions in life. But if you really want to go into a bandit-infested forest I really hope you have been trained with weapons, and have some quality armor and a sturdy shield to keep you safe. We can't be babysitting anybody."

Lucien, perhaps catching a look from Anita, perhaps deciding that the lad would be more trouble than he's worth, shrugs. "Honestly, I'll take a map. It's of no consequence to me either way. As Karon says, you can make your own decisions. Though if you do come, I'll at least do my best to see that you make it back in one piece. I think we'll be making our way to the Thornwood one way of another." He looks around to see if anyone else cares to offer an opinion, but otherwise appears to consider the matter settled.

Before Lyntern can respond, a grey-haired man with the Parlfray coat-of-arms on his tunic enters and says to Lucien and the others, "Count Parlfray is in need of your assistance. It seems there is a matter of importance that he would like you to attend to while you are here. Please, come with me."

Glad that the awkward conversation with the count's heir is over, Karon immediately gathers his things and prepares to follow the man. "Well, take us to him then," he says, his voice rougher than he intended.

As he follows the man through the doorway he accidentally bangs his shield against the doorway with a loud 'klang', leaving a visible mark in the wood of the doorway. "Dammit," he curses softly before continuing.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:25, Tue 03 Oct 2017.

Lathan sheathes his swords and rises to follow the messenger without saying a word.

Seirye had observed the conversation with Lyntern watching it go in exactly the way that she thought it would. That perked her up and put her in a happy place for the time being. Still there was little to do except wait now. The arrival of the messenger and the summons to see the Count provided a welcome relief. She followed along with the rest of the group.

Lucien also follows the messenger. "Of course. Let's hear the Count's request."

Al notes the party moving and falls in line behind.

Count Parlfray is waiting in his study when the party arrives to see him. His face is pale when he rises and turns to face them. "Thank you for coming," the count says. "We've just received disturbing news from Thurmaster. Four locals who had been fishing and gathering plants in the Shrieken Mire had gone missing and were found bludgeoned to death. Huge footprints, obviously those of giants, were found nearby, leading back into the Mire." Count Parlfray sighs, then continues. "What's more, a young shepherd boy claims to have seen a green dragon flying over the Mire a couple days ago." He looks at the party with desperation in his eyes. "Please--I've heard about your heroism, your good deeds. This is more than I am able to deal with. Would you find out what is going on in the Shrieken Mire and put a stop to it before anyone else dies?"

Karon listens to the count's description with a fair bit of apprehension. Giants and a dragon? This sounds like a dangerous undertaking. He is concious of the fact that it is up to the others to decide and keeps silent for now.

Lathan furrows his brow as he listens to the count's plea. "Aye, we could do some investigating and find out what, if anything, is going on in the Shrieken Mire," he replies. "However, this seems like a problem that is out of our league--giants and dragons--so I can't promise you that we'll be able to solve it."

He looks to his companions to see what they have to say about the matter.

"Giants AND Dragons... " says Seirye softly to her colleagues, responding to Lathan. Her tone seems little more cynical than usual, possibly even sarcastic if she had been socially aware enough to know what it was. She shakes her head and lets out a little snort. "That's seems... improbable. Now I'm no expert on the ecology of either creature but it would seem likely that the latter would be as likely to eat the former given a chance. It may be that both are irrational flights of fancy. I don't see any harm in investigating this peculiar little tale, if it will make the local's feel safer."

"That's more or less what I was thinking," Lathan says to Seirye with a nod. He then looks at Lucien and Antia for their input.

"I suppose it can't hurt to take a look. But when you mention it, dragons and giants don't sound like they would be best of friends. So something seems off about this. If you guys are willing to go check it out, count me in," the burly half-orc says. He really hopes the strange elven lady is right about this, since a giant can easily kill a dozen men alone, and a suit of chain mail and a shield won't do much to stop a dragon from chomping him down.

Lucien considers the Count's words. He is personally still eager to investigate the Thornwood, but the request is not unreasonable. Though he silently agrees with the others, he does not outwardly show any concern. "A little cleverness and we could probably deal with a giant, if there is in fact one roaming around Thurmaster. A dragon I doubt we could deal with ourselves, but we can at least investigate the sightings." He says all this matter-of-factly, as though it were simply routine.

"Great. Thank you," Count Parlfray says to Lucien and the others. "I can pay your party 30 gold pieces a day for your work.

"I suggest you head to Thurmaster soon, while it is still light out. The locals should be able to provide you with any additional information you need.

"Thank you, again."

Count Parlfray then motions for the party to leave his study.

Lucien, unimpressed with what he perceives as the Count's posturing, turns without another word and makes his way out of the room and, presumably, out of the keep. He doesn't speak until the group is well beyond the walls and out of earshot of any guards.

Lathan nods at the count, then follows Lucien and the others.

"What are you thinking, Lucien?" he asks once outside of the keep.

Karon walks with the others, also content not to speak until there are fewer ears around them. When Lathan asks Lucien for his feeling on this he figures there might be some backstory he's not familiar with and keeps silent for a while, letting those more familiar with the count say their piece.

Al was on his best behavior, which mostly composed of standing behind the tallfolk whilst emphatically digging in one ear.  "We've dealt with them blue giants already, mates. 'member? wonder what these new ones'll be. And a dragon, mates? nthat could be almost anything to the right minds."
When well away from the count's entourage, he'll ask "So's we goin to the mire first, or them woods?"