Knight Takes King

The discussion of what to do about the portals in the necropolis went on into the night, with Xerxes displaying interest but no immediate drive to go and investigate. His final answer was that he'd go and see in the spring, when the weather improved.

As the evening wore to a close, Sack siezed the opportunity to quietly palm an unguarded object. Nearly everything in Xerxes' small cottage was magical, and most appeared quite precious; the item the half-orc had taken was a wristband, crafted from platinum. It radiated magic, and was was almost certainly a portal key of some description. He tucked it away out of sight.

Considering the matter of the Necropolis, Surya remembered the eagerness of the young paladins of the Kordasa to get to grips with the evil of undeath, it occurred to him that the necropolis and its' remaining occupants would be a good target for some such similar group native to the area.

They discussed this with Ingamin, who was of course local, and he outlined three knightly orders located on the borders of the Desolation who might fit the bill;

• Aeglor's Fist - the most northerly, named after the mighty fortress of elven design, only lightly damaged in the Elf Wars and  since rebuilt, which was their home. More of the brunt of the defence of Stryre's northmarches fell on them than on any others.
  
  
• Order of Konvan - knights who combined more regular military service and questing with defending the realm, and who had a reupation for high-handedness and arrogance.
  
  
• Blades of Wisdom and Mercy - Order sponsored by the Temple of Aderra, the companions had met some of the knights at the Basilica on their last visit. Brother Armourer of the Basilica was their supplier and warsmith, and had probably been a serving knight in his youth. Their fortress, Lorindel, was less northerly than Aeglor's Fist but still deep in the debatable lands between the Desolation and the Kingdom.

Considering these options, the four decided to go and visit the knights of the Blades of Wisdom and Mercy.

Emrys, Stryre, 17^th February 1602

 The next day, before setting off, Sack used the Sending spell Hildraft had Imbued him with to contact Billy the Bear and see how he was doing.

Their ursine companion was, as he'd half expected, in the far north, where he'd made contact with the Pänserbørne - the armoured bears who guarded the Valca Gate. They had accepted him like one of their own, a bear of sentience, and he was learning the skills of a warrior. They were also forging him a suit of the unique starsteel armour Elverandil had taught their ancestors to make. Sack felt his friend smile; his brown coloration, unique among the snowy Pänserbørne, was a great hit with the she-bears, and he found himself much in demand.

Satisfied their furry friend was in good paws, the group gathered their equipment and Wind Walked across the miles to the fortress of the Knights of Aderra.

Lorindel, Stryre, 17^th February 1602

 Emerging back to the material from the effects of the spell, the four stared at the lonely citadel of the Blades of Wisdom and Mercy.

Although not part of the Desolation proper, this far north Stryre was visibly blighted by the malignant magic of the Dragon, and the landscape was sparse and unwelcoming. Rearing out of this blasted wasteland was a massive castle of pale, dusty stone, square and heavy in design, battered and workmanlike. The travellers had seen small castles, and palaces with fortifications, and even the incomporable walls of the Imperial City. This, however, was a working castle; one on the frontlines, a place at war.

Their arrival had not gone unnoticed, and movement atop the walls indicated that guards were gathering and that word had been sent inside that visitors had arrived. The mighty gates were already open, and some men-at-arms and a knight had gathered in the archway to welcome (or check!) the arrivals.

The heroes identified themselves with their true names (Surya was flying his lance-pennant bearing the arms of Tellare for added versimillitude), and the knight at the gate admitted them readily. Young squires were summoned to stable their mounts, and  there was some disturbance when Sack flashed a scrap of parchment at the men-at-arms with "don't nick the horses" scrawled on it. His friends hurried him past, and they were conducted to a reception chamber where they waited.

Half an hour later, a tall, well-seasoned-looking man in full armour, flanked by half a dozen others, entered the room and gave them greeting. He introduced himself as Gythien, Knight Commander of the Blades, and asked them to what he owed the honour; the names they had given commanded attention, he said.

Surya detailed why they'd come, and stressed how much of a benefit to Stryre the clearing out of Arech would be. Gythien was intrigued, and said that he did indeed have a number of promising young knights in need of varied battle experience; such a task would suit their needs splendidly. Of course, he would have to confirm before deploying any of his force away from the Northmarch.

"What, you take orders from the little King?" asked Surya. This sally did not receieve the same reception as it would have in Narthal; no indrawn breath or raised eyebrows. "No, although as our sovreign he can of course command us," it was clear what Gythien would have thought were this to actually happen, "but our chain of command runs up through the Church - to the Archpriest."

"We know Archpriest Delloch," put in Hildraft, and that did raise an eyebrow in surprise. Gythien commented wryly that wherever his guests went, things happened - although, in Orcland, things were always happening.

The mercurial Sack construed this as an insult to orcs, and without warning delivered a stinging slap to the paladin's face. His lieutenants started forward, hands to hilts and an inch of steel blade showing, but Gythien proved himself a knight of Good by mastering his initial reaction and inquiring what the problem was. Sack declined to answer, but Gythien seemed to belatedly notice the ranger's ancestry. "I see you are of orcish descent," he said. "My condolences." Sack bristled again for a moment, but the comment appeared made as an apology, so he took it no further.

Gythien turned back to Surya, and enquired if they planned to return to Vardar Peacock's court. When told they did, he cautioned them to be cautious of the king's personal bodyguard, Gerdask, whom he described as dangerously unpredictable.

He sat at a table, gathered writing implements, and scribed industriously. Sealing the letter, he summoned a young squire and introduced him to the travellers as Cuthred, a young man of good family who had recently begun training as a knight and would bear Gythien's request for confirmation to the Basilica, if they would be good enough to escort him.

Gythien invited the group to stay overnight before beginning the trip back, but they declined, though they did accept the offer of dinner. All except Sack. After prowling unseen through the corridors of Lorindel (and discovering that its' sanctae were every bit as well guarded as they should be), he retired outside the gates to await the others under the stars.

The meal was unpretentious but nourishing, and the talk almost exclusively of warfare. A couple of the knights had met Hildraft and Surya at the Basilica on their last visit, and welcomed them cheerfully. Afterwards, the Tellaran requested access to the fortress's Armourer, of whom he requested some arrows to replace what he and Sack had expended at the Bridge of Arech. Two sheaves of fifty arrows were produced, and Surya enquired about payment. "Use them for good," came the reply, "and I will count myself paid." Surya promised to try, mentally excluding his half-orc companion from any such commitment.

Emerging from the gates, Hildraft, Surya , Hansen and Cuthred discovered Sack lurking like a shadow among the blasted rocks, and rode out from the castle a little way. Then Hildraft enacted a Wind Walk, and took them to the capital.  

Narthal, Stryre, 17^th February 1602

Arriving in the streets of the city well on into the night, the companions discovered that it was raining heavily. Thus their pointed march up past the Palace to the Basilica was rather wasted, with only a few sodden guards watching them pass; although Hildraft's rather spectacular presence - shrouded in a Holy Aura and riding dry within his own small private circle of bright sunshine - did attract their attention.

Archpriest Delloch appeared quickly after they made their arrival known, and congratulated them after listening to their account. He read Gythien's message, and agreed with the idea immediately; he wrote a note on it to say so, and warmly praised young Cuthred, sending him to sleep for what remained of the night before drawing a horse from the stables for the ride home. Cuthred was almost speechless; to be spoken to by the Archpriest was enough of an honour - but to be praised?  His head was as high as a knight's as he left.

Surya, wanting to retain the initiative, asked Delloch if he could get them in to see the King now, tonight. The priest blinked. "I'm getting a bit old for this, you know," he said, "I'll have to ask my Goddess for the strength." He bowed his head a moment, then lifted it, and all the tiredness of a man of advanced years roused from his bed in the middle of the night was gone. "I shall change, and we shall go," he said.

Half an hour later, the retinue was gathered, and they strode through the dark streets, shielded from the downpour by Delloch's priestly magic. Surya looked at his robes, and asked teaasingly, "Where's your armour?". Delloch gestured to Surya, Hildraft and Sack. "There!" he said with a smile,

An hour later, a tousled and bad-tempered King Vardar was glaring at them from his throne as Surya declared that they had returned with the evidence he had demanded. Ingamin stepped forward, cleared his throat, and gave a full and clear account of everything that had happened (leaving out any suspicions as to the fate of the human guards of the Necropolis).

There was a long silence.

Finally, without a word, Vardar Peacock rose from his throne and swept out. His courtiers accompanied him, with Gerdask leaving last, flashing an arrogant, mocking smile at the Heroes of Vorsand. A single aide approached them, stopped, and announced flatly that it had pleased his Royal Majesty to rescind the order of exile placed upon their persons, and that they were free to go.  Then he turned and left, leaving the Archpriest's party alone in the audience hall.

Ingamin chuckled ruefully. "I may have no Captaincy any more," he said. Surya turned to him. "If so, come and work for me," he replied. "New Tellare can use men like you." Delloch was close behind. "If you want to stay in Stryre," he put in, "there is a place in the Basilica for you also". Ingamin shook their hands gratefully, and took his leave to go and find out how things stood for him.