World of Charun

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

DELETED DUE TO RETCON

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

Brandeis pens a reply to Fawkes while he's getting supplies.

Fawkes,

Good work. This is well thought out -- but I have some reservations regarding it, and I think we should get with Randvar as soon as we can if he's interested in discussing it.

Here's what I recommend:

1. Snag a couple of those broken wagons out of the Talewood and use them as barricades. It won't stop the Kanjite, but their men will have to come forward to clear it, and by doing so, they'll only be able to advance their sepoy into our line one or two at a time. That will create a killing field behind the wagon for spellcasters and meanwhile allow our archers to focus on getting rid of theirs.

2. Have some carefully-concealed individuals with incendiaries ready to set those wagons alight and inflict as much damage on the archers (who should be our secondary target) as possible. I can lay down a few glyphs myself to help out.

3. Have the men in heavy armor ready to perform a false-flight to the north as soon as their elite troops push forward. If the powers that be insist on operating a meat-grinder, that's their call -- but we don't have to kill these poor bastards to win. All we have to do is trash their wagons and deny them food, and that's easy if we pretend to lose and then light the entire road on fire. It looks very bad for Kanjo if these men lose their stores and have to go negotiate for more, and after two days of forced-march, even their subedar will be easy to shoot down.

4. Have the missileers and specialists ready to do a walking retreat designed to let the Kanjite think they've made a breakthrough... but which actually catches them at the river ford in Talewood. Randvar and Company may not care for this one, but I'm concerned that they're going to try to pull a fast one, and load up the wagons with sand or something while their sepoy are actually carrying the food. IF they do something like this, they won't be able to keep pace with us, and we can pour thousands of shafts into them without losing a man in return.

5. Yes, heavy armor for us poor bastards on the line will be mandatory. There's a chance I'll be in Coalan's old suit, which would make him happy, I think. Also, Ineed a team who can help me gather incendiaries, pitch, and hay.

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

Brandeis sipped his ale, working over a pen on parchment.
He'd had no contact with any of the actual war-leaders during the past couple days, a thought that disturbed him greatly.

Where is Randvar? What is he up to?

It was not too late to run to the Talewood and see if Cadman was lodged in their camp. Was it possible that Cadman was beginning to actually trust him? He couldn't know, since their last meeting, when he buried poor Coalan, was mostly a case of telling Cadman whatever he wanted to hear -- a much safer way of dealing with him than the previous disaster that had marred their relationship and ensured that not one of the lads who went to face Kanjo had any training.

The man is so erratic...

Fortunately, contact HAD been made -- via Fawkes, who'd established the hiring of a specialist to handle the Sanctian roadway. While capturing the supply wagons was, as the mage Bahira suggested, by far the superior option, first and foremost was denying them to Teardrop.

And what to make of the Uluthar? That was a new one. Brandeis had never met a polite Uluthar before. Stiff, cold, distant, one expected that from what Brandeis mockingly referred to as "the pointy-eared master race" when he thought of them... but he'd been consistenly civil. And the Uluthar wanted to take part in the war? Why? What possible motivation, besides just a chance to kill humans wholesale, might an Uluthar have to pick sides in a slugging match like this?

Unless...

Of course. He got in touch with me, because he wants to be introduced to Cadman and Randvar...

Very well. The nice part about not being officially in command of anything except one man who wholeheartedly didn't want to swap jobs with him, was that some puzzles he could simply ignore.

He sipped his ale again. A true pity there'd not been time nor circumstance to actually enjoy the Hedonian's presence. While he wasn't about to abandon his quest to re-establish Thilias' church, he did miss being at home for the Hedonian revels.

And... is there truly a shrine of Thilias in Bardum? Let this war end quickly, so we can find out....

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

Brandeis worked with a hammer, trying to peen out the dents in a Sepoy's harness. He knew he wouldn't get to keep it -- there were Hill Folk who would need every coin in order to keep from being hungry. But still, he admired the construction.

"I'd wear one of these myself as a war trophy, if it wouldn't get me killed. Heh."

After a while, he found himself, as usual, at a table, with ink-stained fingers and an ale that went down more or less a finger's width every hour.

"Dear Mother and Father

This is going to be a short letter, because I have a very great amount of work to do. The Kanjite invasion is over, and I can safely say that while my efforts didn't rate with the dragonsbanes who held the first rank at the Battle of Blood Valley, I did my part. Defeated a subedar -- an elite Kanjite bodyguard -- in single combat, too!

Then, sadly four others surrounded me and beat me like a tent-peg. But I'm all right... somebody, possibly the Giron bard Awenyrion, hauled me off the field, and having called upon Thilias' grace, I didn't bleed out.

To the kid brother who really wants to know how that works... yes, when I come back to the Isles, I'll show you and let you throw darts at me. Oh, and I have a worg tooth for you, too!

But the battles were decisive, because we'd denied the easterners food. They packed up and went home... leaving an appalling trail of starving men to die by the roadway. It's amazing how little the Kanjite leadership cares for its men.

I don't know whether any of the combatants will be paid for their efforts -- frankly, I doubt it. The Fearann Hill Folk lost a full quarter of their people in this war, and hundreds of small farms were burnt to deny the Kanjite food. But now that I can get to town, let me see what I can scare up for gifts for the sisters, and I'll enclose them along with this letter.

Your son,

Hartman Brandeis

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

Brandeis turns to Fawkes while they're both assisting in the relief effort:

"Fawkes... I lost my copy of the Company regs during the retreat from Dun Craig. Do you have a copy, or do I need to re-pen it?"

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

Brandeis looks about the tavern.

Men are passed out everywhere. A trollop is unconscious, drooling up the line of her nose as she snores half-over a table, her hair spilled all over the ground. Two children and a halfling quarrelled over somebody else's purse.

"It's quiet."

He sips his ale. It was quiet. Even the half-orcs had ceased doing... whatever it was... on the raised dance floor of the port's pub.

A temple would cost blunt. A lot of blunt. More blunt than he'd ever seen, Brigade Payday included. Meanwhile, rumor had it that there were worshippers of Thilias in the north, and a shrine in Bardum.

A shrine. Maybe not a functioning temple... but something. Not like the Temple back on Coin really functioned... but it was a start.

"At last, aye, it's bloody quiet. Should see if Jaye might fancy a little trip to Bardum. If nothing else, it'd remind him why we're setting up shop here, instead...."

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

Brandeis looks over the slew of maps, to Fawkes.

"We're going to have to table this for the moment. I've got a slew of interviews I need to perform... looks like we're going to be busy. Potentially, we're going to be REAL busy.

Meanwhile, if you can, the Giron Awenyrion wants to meet with us. If you catch her before I do, why not sound her out? I get the impression she's looking for something pretty specific.

Unless, of course, you want to volunteer for 'ink-stained-fingers-patrol...' He grinned, and knocked back another bare finger of ale. "

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

Brandeis sits doing a little paperwork at the end of a table at which three mercenaries are eating stew, sipping his customary ale, and cursing when his light spell gives out halfway through a sentence, as his eyes re-adjust to the pronounced gloom of the tower at Vichier's Watch.

"You could go buy a lamp, you know..."

"Aye, aye. And I've a mind to do so, not to mention a desk. First group of actual merchants or travellers come through here, we're going to be eating out on the grass and hot-bunking it."

"Could be worse. You could be hot-bunking with Sven here."

Sven, who was known for his poor hygeine, only grunted.

"The other side of it is that towers are like this for a reason. We don't want too much soft-goods in here that'll pose a fire hazard. I'd like to get you boys a pell, though, so you can work off some steam when the Crypt's quiet and the weather's bad. Anything bigger than that, and I'll have to get the Big Boys to sign off on it."

Brandeis snapped his fingers, re-establishing some usable light in the tower.

He pulled out a list on an aged sheet of paper with not a few mug-stained circles on it.

AGAIN!!

DECEASED

RECRUITED

DECEASED

RECRUITED

CONTACTED -- TRADE TOWN

Fawkes disappeared too often for Brandeis' tastes... it'd been three months since he'd seen the man! Who was going to take command if he bought it? Coalan had gotten killed on another wild raid, Hamar lacked the leadership capacity, and Yanic was too diffident, even as a bantling.

Gair.... Brandeis suppressed a chuckle. Gair leading the OLC would be short-lived but hilarious, and involve many special hats. Well, it was a start. He could put five elites troops into the field when push came to shove, and if recruitment continued, seven -- an almost optimal size for a squad, and Gair more than made up for the Company's shortage of archers.

He paused a moment, before adding:

swordsman

Must see this!!

Brandeis didn't normally spend much time with elves -- as a general rule he found them insufferably patronizing. Not surprisingly for a priest of Thilias, he was vastly more comfortable around dwarves -- though it tended to rub in the idea that every dwarf he knew was liable to outlive him by a span and then some.

On the other hand, he didn't know any dwarves with a kid brother and seven living sisters, either. So it did balance out.

An elf expressed interest in the Old Lands Company? That was bizarre in the extreme. The idea that an elf, any elf, would be interested in taking orders from a human was like discovering a wandering tribe of Cnaghu-worshipping handletall assassins.

But elven warriors were known for their proficiency. Estael Leithian, for instance, was certainly dangerous in a fight, and could probably reduce Hartman to bloody chunks in short order. If he could track this semi-mythical elf down and successfully recruit him, it'd be a serious coup -- and given elven lifespans, if he worked out, potentially a long-term successor-to-command.

"Let's face it, Brandeis," he muttered to himself. "Somebody cocked it up an age and a half ago, and they've reason to hate our guts. Somebody needs to patch this up."

He pulled out two fresh pieces of parchment, and started writing in large meticulous letters.

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

(letter posted to Church of Brunir in Larmenius, with a request to forward or return it if there's any news of Fawkes' demise)

To: Jacque Fawkes, Master at Arms, Old Lands Company
From: Hartman Brandeis, commanding, Vichier's Watch

Fawkes --

Where in the hells are you? We have new recruits and they need to be made ship-shape as soon as possible. I may be called away for a dangerous religious task shortly, and if so, I need you to start shouldering some of the load for a bit while I'm out, at least insofar as getting the bantlings competent is concerned. Some of them have real potential.

New recruits (solid)
Yanic -- priest of Brunir. A bit diffident, and isn't used to heavy armor yet. Otherwise ready to learn, and could be a serious help at the Crypt. Monkish, serious demeanor. A solid recruit who could be paired with Hamar.

Gair -- gnome. Gair is.... special. Will profit, I think, from military discipline, but don't push him too hard. He's a "build up" rather than "tear down" recruit, as you'll see when you meet him. If you get tired of that helmet I gave you, he'll be interested, and you can use it as a carrot. He's a specialist, and in a fight is worth his weight in billeted steel.

If I am called away, I recommend getting Gair, Hamar, and Yanic working together as the "meat" of a squad, and setting them loose on patrol at the Crypt and Crossfields. With one or two more loose threads/additions I'm trying to track down, we've the nucleus of a very solid elite squad here.

But if nothing else, for pity's sake, man, tell me where in the hells you are.

-HB

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

(forwarded care of the Palace and Trade Town mercenaries))

To: Everard Ashenvale, Justificator of Gesanis
From: Hartman Brandeis, Commanding, Vichier's Watch

Ser Ashenvale,

I have received your enquiry and would be very happy to meet with you. The Old Lands Company is currently contracted to perform a duty which explicitly requires the attention of a Justificator -- our previous Justificator was an unfortunate casualty during the Old Land Stand, and a member of the Brave Fifteen. If you step south out of Trade Town, you'll see a tower named for him.

If you can bear up under military discipline and embrace the over-arching mission of the Company, your cause will find ready support within our ranks.

-Hartman Brandeis
Captain, OLC
cc: Cadman son of Brian, Tyren Darkstar, Randvar Leikrson

(post-script, not copied to Concordat)
This may seem odd... but have you any skill at picking a lock? You might wish to get some pointers on the subject: I'll explain when we meet.

((ooc -- pm me with a good time to catch you))

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

Brandeis sat musing at Vichier's Watch as he looked over a rack of potion bottles, scrolls, and a small heap of carefully-polished armor.

"There are times when I think 'Uluthar' ought to be a curse-word in and of itself."

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

In the early evening Brandeis, holding a tin bucket, stands in the street in Larmenius, as workers, craftsmen, and merchants stroll past the shops and markets.

He takes off his gauntlets, and props his shield, emblazoned with the hammer-and-anvil symbol, onto the bucket's side.

And with a bare hand, he reaches into the bucket, and makes the Sign of the Hammer, coals glowing into the slowly failing light of the evening.

Behold the power of Thilias!
Behold the power of Thilias, Hammerhand, maker of dwarves, bearer of the world, God of Strength, God of Craft!

You who labor, know that your works are blessed, and that strength comes from he who grants it! The honest laborer who feeds his family from the strength of his arms finds honor in Thilias' sight!

Those of you who make and build and scrub and polish, those of you without whom the great and the mighty and the frivolous would have nothing at all, you are not forgotten, for YOUR WORKS please the first and the greatest of all the Gods! Not merely the smith, but the potter and the weaver, the artist and the artisan, those who quarry stone and those who sculpt it, all who make find favor in His eyes!

You who buy and sell, know that knowledge of craft and quality, without which you could not prosper, comes from Thilias! Treat the craftsmen from whom you buy with respect, for ultimately it is their work that forms your livelihood!

The long-persevering dwarf who walks every road alone, the mighty half-orc who is renowned for the strength of his sinews, yet shunned for the tint of his hide, come to Thilias! You are not alone, for He honors and blesses those whose who are strong and those who endure!

You for whom labor's tools come in the form of the hammer and the axe and the sword and the spear, know that Thilias is the patron of the strong, both those who would be strong in body, and those who search for stoutness of heart! Honor the smiths whose work shields your body, and whose iron and bronze rests in your valorous hands!

You who suffer doubt and worry for your future, find solace in Thilias, for he is Steadfast as the Earth, and through him you will find that Steadfast Strength which enables one to forge one's own destiny! Your life is yours to shape, as your efforts shape this world around you!

Make this, the Sign of the Hammer, and know your fellows for who they are. Share in the blessings of Thilias who grants strength to the stout of heart, and who blesses they who make and build!

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

(OOC, I'm stuck for time)
Brandeis has the emergency fire lit at the top of the tower at Vichier's Watch, and pens letters to all three members of the Concordat indicating that a major infestation of cultists known as the Hand of Death is present in the Crypt.
(Brandeis will call in the "on retainer" chip for Hamar Hammerfist and seek to retain Leena for as long as possible)

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

Dear Brother,

I am sitting with my comrade Gair, a Belatim, in the Belatim "permadistant lumber camp" not far from the Evercloud Mountains, after having expeditioned into Narghal.

While I know you are having thoughts of journeying to the Old Lands in order to seek your fortune, I would strongly advise you to STAY AWAY from Narghal, at all costs. There is vast danger -- including a vampire knight which almost killed me, and yes, I tucked tail and fled, don't tell Mother I risked that -- and no profit to be had at all.

The Belatim, on the other hand, are a joy. They're really good people to be around, and you'd like them. I don't see many of their workers, but I do a little trading and swap bad puns with their Master Engineer and Scoffer -- who sells some pretty good food, by the way, once he's convinced you're not going to give him any trouble. I flatter myself that they're friendly to me because of our mutual experience at Dun Craig, and because they know that I called the retreat in order to not throw away their lives when the Kanjite began to break into our lines. The truth is likely to be that they're simply friendly to anybody they think isn't going to give them trouble... and look at their neighbors! Vicious kobolds, worgs everywhere, and then... Narghal.

I've saved you a couple extra worg teeth, which I'm sending along in this packet. I bet you could grind them up and sell them to one of the apothecaries, if you've grown bored with them.

-Hartman

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

Brandeis looked over some scrolls as far too many travellers jostled to use the cot he'd hoped to sleep in six hours earlier.

Arinthians.

Just Lovely.

Brandeis mused along, no longer seeing the summoning scroll, but instead a long line of cages, as he walked his beat... cages which held human beings for sale... on the other side of the quay, a lot of breastplates was being haggled over.

It was the maltreatment of slaves in the pens which had brought him into the militia in the first place, and which had held him in the 1/1, rather than graduating on to the Mogarothi frontier... had motivated him to join his commander's political partisans, had resulted in the tattoo on his neck.

A slave in the Isles had hope -- a lenient master, the chance to save or serve well for freedom. It was an evil institution, but that slave stood a chance. A slave taken to Umair or Mubuluk was as good as dead in his chains... and a slave taken to Arinthia could expect nothing but pitiless labor until his exhausted body was thrown into a pit somewhere.

Arinthians... Lords of Order. Ant People. Aye, more to the point, ruthless, heartless, pitiless bastards. It's one thing to have order. I like order. But along the way, someone should have mentioned that people have value, and that it also helps to be Good.

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

Brandeis listens to travellers' gossip, and reviews correspondence forwarded to him by the king of Atalheim.

An inspection. Arrogant bastards.

Tyren will get a pass based upon what's being built out there, but there's no way that the fractious Fearann clans, even with their new government, are going to live up to Haerian standards. And by definition, that would force the Concordat and the Company into hostilities. The Arinthians would be just as bad -- and maybe worse -- a group of occupiers than the Kanjite would have been.

He sighed, and checked the lock-box, shaking his head. He still hadn't recovered from the last emergency, and taking on Arinthians was going to be every bit as bad as raiding the Kurlach had been -- if not much, much worse.

Time to go scare up more cash for dews and nectars... his men, what were left of them, were going to need it.

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

Brandeis writes a quick letter to his brother and pays extra for quick delivery.

"We may be putting six-up against the Arinthians, as you've no doubt heard. Please warn me if you hear of them buying up unusual numbers from the slave market... if they're buying up slaves in numbers, that'll suggest they're going to do heavy road-work, and their so-called "Crusade" is likely to happen."

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

*Letter to Church of Giardain*

To: High Priestess Claudine, Temple of Giardain, Larmenius
From: Hartman Brandeis, Captain, Old Lands Company

High Priestess Claudine,

Per discussion with Lord Randvar of Atalheim, I am beginning the preliminary preparations for assuming full control over day-to-day operations of Vichier's Watch. I take the role of Vichier's Watch and the Giardainite Mission very seriously (as Father Willine can no doubt attest), and therefore thought it appropriate to write to you in order to reassure you that the Company intends to back Father Willine in his work to the hilt, and will provide any support that his work requires.

Should the Church decide to expand the Mission or to house additional personnel, the Company will aid the Concordat Powers directly in providing the requisite physical and material support.

Should you or your Church require my aid in any way, please let me know.

Yours,

Hartman Brandeis
Captain, Old Lands Company

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

*Letter to Church of Brunir*

To: Bishop Bertin, Church of Brunir, Larmenius
From: Hartman Brandeis, Priest of Thilias, Captain -Old Lands Company

Esteemed Bishop Bertin,

A problem festers in the lands of the Hill Folk -- the Pit of the Garagorians remains open in spite of all the Fearann's attempts to fill it in, and in the long term, in spite of the local garrison and newly-built shrine, the idea of what mischief could be brought about under cover of invisibility or darkness has troubled me.

Therefore, after much thought, I came upon a possible solution for which I would like to ask your blessing. Thinking upon the example of the Truthbringer, it occurred to me that as a pale mortal reflection of great Thilias, I might aid your Church by means of craft, as Thilias aided Brunir.

A great cap could be forged for the purpose of sealing away the festering Pit. Made of bronze -- which would withstand the rainy weather far better than iron would, it could be anchored firmly on all sides, blessed thoroughly, and then covered over.

In this manner, any malefactor who attempted to take action upon or within the Pit would be required not merely to escape the eyes of the watchful garrison, but also to make an incredible amount of noise, alerting all thereabouts to the danger.

I am confident that the Fearann itself would not oppose such an effort, given their own previous attempts. Should you give the project your blessing, I will contact the Fearann and begin amassing the funds required to move it forward.

Yours,

Hartman Brandeis
Priest of Thilias
Captain, Old Lands Company

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

*Letter to Fawkes*

Jacque,

Mission Success. We made a reconnaisance-in-force, and elminated one group of cultists. There are indications of two specific groups, and evidence that this one belonged to a group I call the Giggler, which tends to favor skeletons.

The shadows remain thick of course, and said ghosts may well be outright hostile to all living creatures inside, Necromancer or not. We also made contact with skeleton knights.

Indications are that the Crypt itself is a hostile environment for some of these, and that we eliminated one of their weaker elements. The remainders went to ground after we eliminated the first group -- if we want to eliminate them, we'll have to penetrate the Deep Crypt, and possibly tussle with the Vampire. I hope not, but indications are that they're dug in deep.

Would like to get everybody together if possible for a hard push. If not, additional hard recon in order to keep them on their heels if possible, or at least short of underlings.

-HB
C-OLC

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

Brandeis sets his men to purchasing emergency supplies and food in bulk, including large numbers of rags and other cloth for making bandages.

The ballista is ranged to fire directly down the road at a low angle.

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

Brandeis relaxes when the news gets to him... but has the men continue to stockpile, anyway.

You never know...

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

Forwarded to: Fredrick, Patron of Brunir at Coigreach Gleann
From: Hartman Brandeis

Fredrick:

The Larmenian Bishop will neither bless nor hinder this idea of mine because it lays outside of Sanctia, and thus his authority. As the patron of the Brunite Church in Coigreach Gleann, I am curious as to whether I could count upon your cooperation in this task?

yours,

Hartman Brandeis
C-OLC

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

They trudged, weary. The elf was blind. They were all of them, every one, caked in blood. No, "caked" wasn't the word. "Soaked" wasn't the word. They were covered in blood to the thickness that could only happen from being bathed in blood. From having swum in blood.

Which was alarmingly close to the truth.

The "Hand of Death" was destroyed.

It had been a close-run thing. The first encounter had been a calamity, the Company flat ambushed, and forced to run for their lives. The second and third encounters, better-prepared, were inconclusive.

The last round, on the other hand, went in the Company's favor. Though, again, it had been a close-run thing. Shadows in their dozens and skeletons in their scores. Armored skeletons, in matching bronzed heavy harness, with pole cleavers.

And the thirty-foot monstrosity wearing heavy plates, a dozen different armored plates, too thick for any one man to wear, bashing and charging and swinging a log. And the darkening fogs, the gushering blood, running in sheets, or else showering up from the floor. And the traps, Ye Gods, the traps! Poison gas as far as the eye could see, and putting down a vampire is no joke, breathing in a cloud of horrid, vile vapors.

And then, pushing on through a haze of despair after an invisible bastard who'd seemed to have run clean off... only to find him in the vampire's own nest, dancing around his own traps like a professional dancer, and throwing lines of violet death from his hands.

Until, of course, we killed the sorry bastard. Brandeis li

Brandeis was eventually forced to go out to the pond, to get the blood out of his gear. BUT, he mused... the men were alive -- a miracle the Uluthar hadn't died a dozen time, the way he got four lungfuls of that poisoned air. And the bastard was dead. With it, the Crypt settled down to being its usual, disgusting self... He shook his head. It was a sorry day when the Crypt's normal state of affairs constituted a big improvement.

He turned at the trestle-table, and penned a letter.

happycrow · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 1343 Location: DFW

The mug of ale was cool and soothing, pressed to his forehead, as he grimaced.

"What is it, Boss?"

One of the Watch mercenaries sat oiling his boots by the dim light of the fireplace.

He shook his head, and looked over from the table. "They're playing politics again, and as usual, we're caught in the middle."