Godsday Morning, Fireseek 4, 591 Common Year

Fingol and the others get back to the keep without any further incident. The Olman prisoners are handed over to the jailers as requested. Other groups of knights are also leading Olman prisoners back to the jail.

Lady Sedara greets them all as they enter the palace. “Oh thank Heironeous. We were so worried about you all. We found out that you had left this morning with Sir Godric and one of the other paladins. Please come with me right away to the solar. Prince Prospero wishes to speak with you all.”

In the solar, the Prince is surrounded by advisors who he sends away as soon as Lady Sedara enters with Fingol, Gar, and the Marinus Brothers. Ragnbjorn is also in the solar waiting for them.

“I am relieved to see that you are all safe and well,” says the Prince. Then he looks at their clothes, battered and torn in the fighting, and the soot covering Gar and the Marinus brothers. “Though not entirely unscathed it would seem. Sir Jankin told me what happened this morning. He is fine by the way, or at least he was earlier but he soon saddled up and rode back out into the city with his unit. Is there anything more you can tell me about what is happening out there?”

Indranil goes to one knee and bows low, “Your Highness, Lady Sedara, and Sir Ragnbjorn. We live to serve. By the gods, the protection of Sir Jankin and Sir Godric, and our own meager skills we are alive and well. We went to secure the Mission and recover the statue of Heironeous this morning. We were overrun by several Olman warriors under the control of the evil sorcerer Nauyotl while trying to clean and secure the statue. Then before we could recover the body of the statue we heard the sounds of fighting and rioting coming up the street from the docks. We had to depart or else face being trapped in the Mission and surrounded by overwhelming forces. We sent Sir Jankin back to the palace with the squires, the head of Heironeous, and several Olman prisoners. We failed in only being able to recover the head. The body remains soiled in the ruins of the mission. Please forgive us.”

“There is nothing to forgive,” says Prince Prospero graciously. “I commend your efforts, but do go on.”

“We then went to the aid of Sir Godric who was leading a platoon of the Guard battling a group of rioters and pushed them back to the docks. We then went to Tangle Foot Lane to aid the merchants and families there as well as look in on Rain and Aramek who were looking to secure Parwyn’s shop. We encountered a small band of Olman rioters. We subdued them and brought back some as prisoners. Father Gar and my good brother Sir Lorindel also managed to save a family from the flames set by rioters. We then returned to you on your orders.”

Fingol keeps his head bowed to hide his mild annoyance. Hearing Indranil’s accounting of all their doings on Tanglefoot Lane, Fingol thinks, At my direction! Though he is not that irritated, Fingol thinks, it would be nice if people are going to use “we” all over the place, that they’d put credit where it was due! Indranil makes it sound like he was the party leader, which was hardly the case!

The Prince says, “I commend you all for your efforts on behalf of the citizens of Westkeep and for myself and the Kingdom of Keoland. Is there more?”

Indranil continues, “The riots look widespread and we see smoke from several locations down by the wharves. The Olman rioters are using deadly force and seem more intent on premeditated destruction than simple rioters. We were forced to use deadly force in return – more than would be warranted in putting down a simple riot. To me, this indicates that there was a nefarious purpose and control behind this riot.”

Gar drops to one knee with Indranil. After he speaks, Gar adds, “Aye, Your Highness, it is as Sir Indranil says. I would only like to add that it is the same Naoyotl leading the revolt whom Sir Fingol and I met yesterday at the mission and who escaped from the Mission this morning. Last night, after midnight when we walked Aramek home, we were attacked by a giant bat in front of the Mission and found the god’s severed head covered in guano in the doorway. The Mission appeared to be empty though we did not venture inside until dawn this morning. We did not want the town to awake to the dung covered decapitated head of the ruling god of Westkeep. I fear things got out of hand. My humble apologies if we unwittingly sparked the riot.” Gar bows deeply while kneeling, staying in that position to await the Prince’s response.

 Fingol then says, “Father Gar has nothing to apologize for, my lord. I instigated the trip to the Mission. It was my intention to see if the Olmans had abandoned it, nothing more.”

“Please rise,” Prince Prospero says. He considers for a moment. “I have been informed previously about this Nauyotl. It sounds to me like he set up an ambush at the Heironean Mission and furthermore an ambush that would act as the trigger for a larger riot. I am sorry that you all got entangled in this. We should have detected Nauyotl before this, and should certainly have routed him from both the Mission and this city before things came to such a pass. Again, I am very grateful for your assistance. Perhaps if it had not been for you, Nauyotl may have had more time to advance his schemes.”

“Thank you, Highnesss” says Gar while standing up. “Perhaps so, I pray that you have been well and safe while we were away?”

The Prince smiles ruefully. “I am safe enough behind these walls surrounded by my guardians,” he indicates Sedara and Ragnbjorn. “The Scarlet Brotherhood, this Nauyotl, and all the other enemies of Keoland, King Skotti, and the Archpaladin Heironeous will have to expend more efforts than they have so far if they want to bring about our defeat.”

The Prince turns to a large chest at his side. “Lady Sedara, if you would.” As Lady Sedara opens the chest, the Prince explains, “I had hoped to bestow these gifts upon you before the assembled court in order to show my gratitude publicly but circumstances have changed. There is no more time for ceremony and I would send you all off as soon as I can. Perhaps even by tomorrow morning. I will not, however, send you off without these.”

“Sir Ragnbjorn, please come forward.” As he does so, Sedara hands him a long box from the chest. “Please open it.”

Ragnbjorn does so and gasps as he lifts out a silver filigreed spy glass. “Why this is a king’s ransom!” He says.

The Prince chuckles, “A prince’s ransom anyway. You saved my life the other night fighting off the assassins of the Scarlet Brotherhood, and as your reward I am sending you out into the Hool Marshes again. The least I can do is to make sure you can see what you’re in for well ahead of time.”

“All of you deserve credit for the quick thinking and bravery you showed last night when the Scarlet Brotherhood attacked and apparently this morning as well when Nauyotl attacked you. Now, Sir Fingol, please step forward.”

Fingol does so and Sedara hands him three boxes of varying sizes. They are each fairly heavy. The Prince explains, “Inside these boxes you will find a chainmail shirt, a buckler, and a longsword. They are all of masterwork quality. Use them well in our service.”

Fingol bows, “I am grateful beyond my power to express.”

“Sir Indranil, please come forward.” Sedara hands him three boxes as well. “I hope you don’t mind our lack of originality, but I understand that as a fellow member of the King’s Rangers you also would do well to be armed and armored in this way.”

Indranil bows deeply as well, “Your Highness is generous beyond compare. These are gifts that will be well used to serve you and the King.”

“Sir Lorindel, please come forward.” Sedara hands him three boxes. “After consulting with Sir Ragnbjorn we have determined that the following would be better suited to you. In the first box you will find a chain shirt of the same quality that your brother and Sir Fingol have received. In the second box is an everburning torch to light the way for you. In the third box you will find a compound shortbow of masterwork quality suited to one of your strength. May your aim be true in our cause.”

“You honor me your Highness,” says Lorindel.

“Father Gar, please come forward.” Sedara hands him three boxes. “In the first, you will find a chainmail shirt of masterwork quality. You will find that it is a little easier to maneuver in than what you have been wearing up until now. In the second box you will find six healing potions. In the last box, you will find a masterwork dagger. Though your cause is not necessarily our own, we are most grateful for the assistance that you have given us.”

Gar bows deeply his appreciation, “Thank you Highness for the useful gifts to help keep us all alive.”

“Now, I must go back to attending to this mess,” he indicates the smoking city outside his balcony. “Please go down to the great hall and get something to eat. I must ask you to stay in the palace or at least within the walls of the keep until we have restored order. I will speak with you all again tonight after dinner.”

After they are dismissed, Gar looks around at the group. “I’m famished! Anyone want to join me to scrounge for food?”

Indranil speaks up, “Father Gar, I am also famished! Lead on.”

“Lead on!” Fingol agrees, but he tarries to see if his father is coming along with them.

Leading them down the stairs, Gar is quiet and contemplative as he fingers his little Green Man. At the bottom on the stairs, Gar adds, “Perhaps we should unload our booty in our rooms before dinner?”

“That is a great idea Father Gar,” says Indranil. “I was also thinking about heading down to the barracks after we eat to see if any of the squires or watchmen want to trade for my old gear. Brother, would you like my long sword?”

Gar purrs like a cat and bats his eyes at Sir Indranil.

Indranil looks over at Father Gar with a grimace, “Father Gar, do not try my patience.”

Gar smiles but otherwise ignores Indranil’s agitation.

Lorindel bursts out with a laugh. Then he accepts his brother’s sword. “That would be great. A bit embarrassing the other day when I reached for a sword, but only came up with a dagger,” jokes Lorindel. “I’d be happy to use it.”

“Good idea, Sir Indranil,” responds Gar as he opens his room door, “I’ll join you, though I am not sure if many will be around on this riotous morning.” Ducking in and out quickly, he adds, “Ready to eat, gents?”

Changing the subject Gar says, “Sir Ragnbjorn, I see you are moving slow. Are you still injured? Perhaps I should channel positive energy once more for the group, to aid our digestion. Is anyone else still injured?” He looks at their motley crew.

Ragnbjorn waves them on, “I’m going to talk to Fingol for a moment. Please go on, we’ll be over in just a minute.”

“Wonderful. Let’s eat. I’m starving!” says Gar.

Fingol puts his gifts in his rooms and washes up while listening for Ragnbjorn. Hearing him in the hall, he pops out.

“Father, I hope you don’t feel that the scouting run at the Heironean Mission was hot-headed. I never intended that we actually raid the place – that was more Sir Godric’s idea. I guess I didn’t anticipate his temperament.”

Ragnbjorn ushers Fingol into his room. “We can talk more discretely in here. Anyway, no, I don’t think you did anything wrong. The way I heard it was that you went down to retrieve the head of Heironeous and that you were ambushed. Sir Godric fought back after he was attacked. Then this Nauyotl got away and apparently had the Olman under his sway down at the docks just waiting for him to give the signal to begin rioting. Are you telling me that Sir Godric instigated the attack?” 

“Oh no!  Not at all!  It’s just that I would have turned tail and gotten a lot more men. So we could properly close off the area. If we had, we might have captured Nauyotl.”

“Hmm, well, if you’d run away then Nauyotl certainly would have gotten away. Anyway, it was Sir Godric’s call because he was the senior paladin there. What really saved you was that a messenger had already been sent to the keep to warn of the mobs gathering at the docks. He must have passed you on the way down the Processional or he might have gone up a less crowded lane and bypassed the Processional altogether. Anyway, that’s why Commander Bodwyn was there with the watch so quickly. No, son, you did well. However, our job is out there in the wilds. These city problems should be left to the city folk. Now let’s go get some dinner.”

“Sounds good. We’ll be missing these meals soon enough.”