Quietus Clarion (IC)

[Luiniel Blades]

Skindancer's voice echoed inside Xein's mind.The Legate questioned you.  Answer!  Xein stepped forward and spoke.

"Our mission Legate Jael, is the capture of several specific members of the outlaws and the...removal" death "of the rest.  I managed to sneak into their camp" spy "and overhear a part of their mission to move" run "east to the mountains.  During a skirmish they lost many supplies and were forced to use channeling" eldritch magic "on a scale I had never seen before in order to escape us."

 "If I remember the maps I have looked at, moving north along the king's roads is too risky now since we know who to look for and there is a great deal more military force.  Heading south would likewise give us more time to organize a hunt for them.  They would have had to either give up their mission and return" scatter "west or press on eastward.  They likely avoided most towns and foraged" scavenged "for food while on the move.  They will probably try using diplomacy to come through as a supply wagon, at least that's what I would expect them to do."  

When he finished Xein stepped back and bowed his head, he was beginning to get annoyed with Skindancers interruptions, but couldn't let it show in front of the Legates.  Enough Skindancer, it's hard enough to complete my task without you speaking into my mind.

[Johanas]

Roycilo nodded to Xein.

"Contrary to his race, Xein has proven a very useful...tool. I have learned to rely on his findings. If he believes they are masquerading as a supply wagon, then I believe so as well. Any help you can give us would be greatly appreciated."

"Praise be to Izrador. May his Darkness shine upon us all. May he bless you, and keep you."

One down...

[Le Noir Faineant]

The big greenskin had finished its meal, and was, very obviously not at all satisfied.

He would probably simply have gone after one of the many stray dogs that wandered through the camp
and preyed on leftovers from the  legates' tables, but the familiar words in Black Tongue seemed to hold him back.

Drolling, he took a few steps back from the group, but only to sit down a little bit back, in the dirt,
and to listen to the words of the manlings, almost emphatically.

His eyeslids flared open and shut again ecstatically when he hears the word Izrador.

[Doomed Hero]

Jael was thoughtful for a moment and he nodded. "We do get supply wagons here frequently. Once a week, sometimes more. Tell me about the outlaws we should be looking for."

[Luiniel Blades]

Looking up Xein spoke aloud, reciting all he could recall about the outlaws.
"Their group has three Gnomes, the wagon driver's name is Wendle an older male Gnome with short black hair, his temper is short and he has a commanding presence.  The other two males are called Otter with black hair and brown eyes and Star with dark brown hair and grey green eyes that should have burn scars around them, they are both skilled at fist fighting.  

Next they have two of my kin with them, a male named Nefario who has tan skin, dark eyes and a scaled body with claws.  The other is a female named Ivy with fair skin, wavy dark blonde hair and green eyes, she is a Channeler but very weak.  

There is also have five humans.  One is a male Dorn named Dorin, tall even for one of his kind and very strong with short blonde hair and blue eyes.  There are three Erenlanders, an older Male by the name of Mandag with tanned skin and short dark hair.  A younger male by the name of Eirik who has fair skin, shoulder length dirty blonde hair, and is being hunted by your brother Kael.  Then there is a young female by the name of Amethyst, with tan skin, back length dark brown hair, and a quick wit.  She is very smart and inspirational in a way that is difficult to describe.  There is a young Sarcosan female by the name of Siobhan.  With brown eyes, short fiery red hair and has dark skin.  She is somewhat emotional and can control fire at will, I recommend keeping anything flammable away from her.  

Last are three hooded and cloaked figures that travel with them that are far more dangerous.  The few details about them I learned were that one was female and the other two were male.  One is called Eirinn but I couldn't tell which, one is a very skilled archer, one wields two blades, and the last is a female Channeler of immense power.  While I watched them, I never saw any of the three sleep."  

[Doomed Hero]

Something seemed to snap into place behind the legate's eyes. His demeanor changed. He had been icy and hard before. Now there was a fire in him as well.

"Under who's orders are you tracking them? Who do you answer to?"

[Luiniel Blades]

Xein looked around to the rest of the group surrounding him, then back to Jael.

Skindancers presence rose once more at the Legates question.  Answer carefully here and don't forget who your master is little wretch. At that Xein's anger began to boil but he carefully composed himself and spoke.

"I do not believe we all answer to the same master, we were brought together to track the outlaws under the orders and guidance of Lord Skinner."

Once he had finished speaking Xein jumped back into his mind and rounded furiously on Skindancer  You howling, fang-less burden!  Don't you ever question where my loyalties lie again!

[Doomed Hero]

Jael looked down at the pale elfling, watching his clear inner turmoil with little more than a bored interest. Looking up to the rest his brows narrowed. "Skinner. I have not heard of him. Which means my master outranks him. Your band, and it's mission, have just been appropriated. Come with me."

Without preamble, Legate Jael walked out of the forward camp, making his way back down to the command tent.

[Doomed Hero]

As soon as Jael began to leave Kahv slouched back down again, continuing his conversation with Clouse.

"There's some dwarven ruins a few hours up the mountain. The boss needs you to take a crew and reinforce the bridge there. It's got to be sturdy enough to hold up a very heavy wagon. Maybe five or six tonnes. You have one night to work, and then we need you back here. It has to be fast and quiet. How much of a crew do you need?"

[Gabboge]

"It's hard tell with bridges. My people have gotten a bit ahead with the prefabrication work so it should OK to leave them with a skeleton crew for tonight. I'm going to need a few good lifters and a wagon to take some material with us if you don't want us making too much noise." Clouse began putting together a short list of the people to bring with him.

"Will the delivery have its own protection or will we need to protect them when they get here?"

Clouse knew just how much of a target siege equipment could be. He was being asked to be quick and quite, that only meant one thing and Clouse didn't like it.

[Doomed Hero]

"It just needs guided in." Khav rumbled. "Don't know when it's getting here. We just need to make sure the bridge will hold when it does. Once that's done don't stick around. Send a team on the north trail to meet the convoy bringing it in, and get the rest of your crew back here."

Looking around, his eyes fell on the ogre called Blanket. "Take him. He's seemed less stupid than the rest lately. He might not kill half your crew because he saw a fish."

[Gabboge]

"yes, sir. I'll get my team together and depart at dusk."

Clouse looked at the bruit uneasily. I should bring some extra blankets with me...

He made eye contact hoping to see a glimmer of intelligence through the dopey eyes and thick skull...

Better make one of them really shiny too...

[Doomed Hero]

Back in the command tent, Jael had just settled into the only chair in the room.

"I appreciate your zeal regarding your mission, but unfortunately it directly interferes with mine. The three cloaked figures you spoke of? They are shills in an elaborate shell game. They must not be interfered with."

[Luiniel Blades]

Xein had been distracted, arguing with Skindancer the entire time as they walked to the command tent.  So it had taken him a moment to fully register what the Legate Jael had said.  He stood for what felt like a long time, his argument with Skindancer forgotten.  He was confused.  Not interfere with?   Why was this Legate was saying this?  They're outlaws. Yet we're letting them go?  He became angry at the thought of letting them go.  They harmed the pack.  Xein looked around at the group gauging reactions, focusing on his brother.  Harmed Rash'Gar. They had spent weeks riding hard, chasing after the outlaws traveling east to the Kaladruns, following only intuition and best guesses to come here.  Harmed Legates!  When they had arrived, Xein had been expecting assistance not appropriation.  So close, but I've failed... because of another Legate's orders.  He didn't understand but he knew it was not his place to question a Legate.  He wanted to scream in frustration.

Skindancer however did not stay silent.  Why that little upstart of a Legate!  How dare he undermine Skinners orders and assign a new task, for a shill game!  They're coming this way and he's just going to let them slip through his fingers!  He's a heretical traitor to his faith for letting those who would defy the truly faithful to escape!  Those two Sisters will pull rank and flog him right in front of the entire camp for all to see and then sacrifice his soul to Izrador!  Xein let Skindancer howl in fury.  He felt numb.

"What then, are our orders?"

[Jade17]

Sister Mara glanced at Xein, and then exchanged a look with Sister Amiril. She turned to Jael, and did her best to imitate the composure and authority that she had always witnessed in Mother Superior.

"While I certainly appreciate your situation, I am somewhat less than comfortable with abandoning our mission without more information. We have an excellent opportunity here to capture this group of outlaws, and it would help us to help you if we knew why we were best serving Izrador by instead allowing them to escape."

[Doomed Hero]

"I am afraid that is complicated." Jael said. "The three hooded figures are agents of the Witch Queen. My master became aware of their movements some months ago. He has been waiting for just such an opportunity for more than a decade. We know where they are going, but not why, though why is irrelevant. The important thing is that once they get what they came for they will return to Caradul. When they do they will be bringing back much more than they bargained for. I cannot stress this enough: this mission could be the pivot point for the war in the east. Your band of rebels is meaningless."

[Coyote777]

Riddar had stared blackly at the priest throughout his speech.  The last words hung in the air for a single still moment, before the mountainous knight took one sharp breath, jerking to life, nostrils flaring.  He took one, single ponderous step towards the priest.  And in that one step was promised a measure of violence beyond thought.

" 'Meaningless...?'  Listen close and hear my very un-complicated response:  These are no simple peasants we are chasing.  They are witches of incredibly dangerous degree - and one rebel in particular may present the single greatest threat to the Shadow's rule of the Heartlands that has ever risen.  So no...  They are anything but meaningless.  However, from where we stand, your unnamed master's unexplained little schemes seem quite obscure and quite irrelevant.  And I'm not about to let these particular rebels escape my grasp because some... jumped-up altar boy claiming the backing of mysterious powers tells us we have been APPROPRIATED!"

"Explain exactly, in excruciating detail, what we are dealing with here.  Or there's nothing more to be had out of thi-"

[Le Noir Faineant]

An unlucky cat wandered through what a certain ogre considered his personal blanket of security.

A moment later, the cat was gone, and the ogre was munching, all happy.

[Doomed Hero]

Jael's previously attentive eyes flashed for a moment as Riddar began, then became less and less focused, as if he was considering something else and bad become bored with what was happening in front of him. As Riddar wound down, Jael gestured and spoke "Stop."

Riddar's body locked up, muscle by muscle, quickly reaching a cramped rigger-mortise style paralysis. He could breathe, but that was all.

"When did the militant branch of the Order stop teaching deference to one's superiors?" the legate asked Agent Kael off-handedly.

Turning back to the rigid knight he stood up from his chair and sighed. "You are quite correct in your assessment of the rebel's capabilities. There is a reason for that. One of them is an Avatar. The Witch Queen's own eyes and ears. One of the most dangerous heretics in the entire world. I am sure that anyone traveling with her demands as much consideration. That still does not change the fact that my orders are to allow them through and once they have what they came for, I am to keep tabs on their movements and hurry them along. They will become the undoing of the entire elven resistance, and you will not interfere. I could send you on a wild goose chase, task you with some religious observance that would take a month to complete, or even imprison you until this is done. Or you can help me, and then, in my gratitude, I may be inclined to reciprocate."

Riddar's muscles shakily released their death grip on his body. He could tell that he should have been quite sore, but his Blessing reduced the pain to little more than a dull ache.

Legate Jael looked to the Sisters for a moment. "Sisters, I will submit myself to any question you wish as long as it does not interfere with my mission. My loyalty is absolute. My master will contact me tonight. You may be present if you wish."

Turning back to Riddar, Jael's eyes hardened. "I am not the one who does not know what he is up against."

[Jade17]

Sister Mara was relieved that she had opted for a diplomatic approach with Legate Jael, rather than attempting to strongarm him. Thanks to Riddar, she now had some idea of how he would respond to both approaches. Certainly not someone to be pushed around and intimidated, she thought to herself, but handled carefully, if we wish to make the best use of him. She still did not like the idea of abandoning their mission, but for the moment, the opportunity to gather freely offered information seemed worth taking, especially now that she knew what Jael was capable of.

"Thank you, Legate Jael, we will be present with you tonight." Her voice hardened ever so slightly. "Also, I would thank you not to harm my men while we keep your company." She looked to Riddar.  He seemed unharmed, but she didn't know exactly what Jael had done to him, just that he had gone stiff, then shaky. She worried about how he would react once he recovered. She addressed Jael while looking at Riddar. "It seems that we will be working together for now."

[Doomed Hero]

Jael did not take his eyes off the massive knight as he nodded to Sister Mara's words. "Good."

Breaking the staredown he looked at his maps, suddenly quite businesslike again. "If you are here then they must be close. Will they recognize any of you if they see you?"

[Luiniel Blades]

Xein looked first to Riddar, then to the Sisters, then to Jael.  He had been unable to move during the encounter between the Legates.  Skindancer had continued to rage inside his mind until Jael had commanded Riddar to stop.  He now seethed angrily.  Xein however had been fascinated by the show of power.  As he watched Riddar lock up, Xein had felt a nearly tangible presence, a cold rush had passed by and wrapped itself around the martial Legate.  As he was released the feeling passed and Xein was able to move again.
He tensed waiting for some sort of immediate response from the sisters, but all that came were calm words and an agreement to work together.  
"None should recall the Sisters since joined us after our fight with the outlaws.  The scaled Halfling called Nefario was the only one to see me.  It was night and there was confusion at the time I doubt he would recognize me but I should stay hidden."  After speaking Xein stepped back and resumed his place next to the Legates.  He wasn't sure what he had expected to happen but it suddenly occured to him that Skindancer had gone silent.

Skindancer.  Skindancer.  Skindacer!
What could you possibly want?!
You should be able to sense magic right, can you sense them?
You worthless creature, deal with your own problems.
This isn't working.  You are my problem and  I can't focus with you acting like this.
Why should I care about what you need?
Look at our situation.  We've been appropriated by a powerful Legate. Neither you or I can complete our assigned mission.  We're stuck with eachother.  If I die, you die.  If we work together... we may be able to succeed.

[Doomed Hero]

Jael nodded. "In that case, I have a mission for the rest of you. I was going to have to entrust this to Grak scouts, but since you are here and need to be out of sight for a while..."

Pushing papers on his desk away from a central map, he pointed. "There is a dwarven hold here. I need a full tactical report. Breach points. Sight lines. The works. I have a hobgoblin engineer due back in the morning. He knows our forces and is good with fortifications. He can help you. Take anything you need from the supply tent and tell the Quartermaster to find somewhere to house you for the night."

He handed Agent Kael a smaller map of the area and looked straight at Riddar before continuing.

"Dismissed."

[Doomed Hero]

They left the command tent with varying feelings about the turn their mission had taken. With nothing else to do, they made their way to the mess tent.

The food was predictably terrible. Little more than gruel with chunks of old meat. Their sour mood was definitely not improved.

As night fell the two sisters left the others to their thoughts and returned to Legate Jael's quarters. With no door to knock on, they simply opened the tent flap and let themselves in.

An obsidian mirror was set on the table where the Legate stood. From it echoed a muffled male voice that seemed to carry an unearthly countenance.

"...worry about the hold. Your force will be sufficient. My gol... Who enters? The Sisters you spoke of?"

"Yes, Master" Jael said, looking up at the pair.

"Come forth." The voice said, and the young women knew the voice spoke to them...

[Jade17]

Upon entering the tent, Sister Mara's eyes were immediately drawn to the odd mirror on the table. When the voice emanating from the mirror cut off, and addressed them directly, her eyes widened ever so slightly.

She took a deep breath, but slowly, hoping Jael did not notice. I still loathe postponing the mission, but we should know exactly who we're dealing with. There will be time to push forward with the original plan if nothing of greater importance is revealed here. If it is...well, Amiril and I will discuss it afterward. 

She stepped forward, standing as tall as her limited height would allow.