Brotherhood of the Stone Fields

[Ancalagon]

Session II, 13-Nov-21

1.

“I’d rather not spend time trying to scrounge up coin to pay the extortion scheme Plock has in place for crossing the Tot while our quarry moves farther away from us,” I said to Decmitius and Valgard. Tiberius had fallen asleep at our table at the Blue Kelpie Ale House. Uhlgren had stepped away.

Decmitius and Valgard agreed with me.

“What if we could gain an audience with the mayor then convince him it would be in his best interest to help us in the pursuit of our quarry by letting us pass the bridge? We could certainly convey to the Countess the aid he granted,” I suggested.

“I don’t think the mayor would care much for the gratitude of the Countess if he is loyal to Kleaves. Remember that the region is contested between Kleaves and Anglamay,” Decmitius replied. Valgard did not speak.

“Very well. I’ve made my suggestion. I’m open to other ideas,” I stated matter-of-factly, pressing the others for a counter proposal.

“We can earn coin collecting bounties,” Decmitius again offered.

“I’ve no desire to ever confront trolls and being outnumbered by pirates isn’t appealing either. If we go for bounties, I’d prefer the flesh crawlers, hopefully one at a time,” I said. “Also, we could try masquerading as peasants so as to be charged a lower toll to cross the bridge…”

“I am not okay with masquerading as a peasant,” Decmitius said flatly.

“And I certainly don’t wish to attempt a direct assault to cross,” I added.

The three of us present decided the best course of action would be to collect bounties on flesh crawlers.

~ D ~

[Ancalagon]

2.

The Temple of Lost Souls, a rather ominous name to be sure, is located upon an island in the midst of the Tot River, south of the bridge crossing in Plock. The heraldry present shows the temple is dedicated to Heth, the crow god, lord of the air and afterlife. For whatever reason, Decmitius decided he wanted to visit the temple. Valgard and I had no objection so accompanied our Brother.

Access to the island is by way of a bridge fronted by two small guard towers upon which men dressed more as hunters than actual guards stood with bows. Decmitius announced himself and the bowmen waved him through. Valgard and I followed.

The isle is shaped somewhat as an ellipse. Upon the north end stands a small group of trees. Upon the south, a larger group stands. The temple possessed no roof which, I guessed, was by design to allow for the comings and goings of crows.

We walked into the temple. People walked here and there around a basin in the center of the floor. Decmitius walked to the basin, scooped a handful of seeds then scattered them to the cardinal directions as is tradition with Heth.

I noticed a few docks with small boats along the western face of the island. An idea came to me. I approached the nearest temple attendant, told him I was newly arrived to Plock, and asked if he or others at the temple could ferry myself and a few others to the western bank of the river. The man was very polite as he explained he could do so… if we possessed “papers of entry to Kleaves.” I told the man that a member of my party should have the papers. The attendant explained that crossing without the papers would cause problems and repercussions for the temple. I told the man I certainly would not wish to cause problems, thanked him for his time, then took my leave. I wondered how much the “papers of entry to Kleaves” would add to the cost of the bridge crossing.

~ D ~

[Ancalagon]

3.

We departed the island. As we left, each of us thought we heard a somewhat stifled scream from inside the temple area. None of us decided to interfere with temple business as it could delay us from crossing the bridge. Delays could cause us to spend another night in Plock, further draining our funds and allowing LEWC more time to move on.

Decmitius decided to speak with the bridge guards for more information. Valgard and I went to have an audience with Levi, the Captain of the Guard, to inquire about Flesh Crawlers. The Captain was little help! He told us that Flesh Crawlers appear in daylight and night, inhabit no specific area, and appear mostly at random. As we speak, I made careful study of Levi, his style of dress, features, posture, how he groomed himself, and other mannerisms. Familiarity with the Captain of the Guard might prove useful later.

Valgard and I returned to the Blue Kelpie Ale House. Tiberius, head down upon the table at which we left him, still dozed. Before long, Decmitius returned from his meeting with the bridge guards. As it turned out, different classes of people are charged different rates to cross the bridge over the Tot. Peasants, possessing the least money but essential for daily tasks, are charged the least. Adventuring companies, generally flush with coin, are charged the most. Interestingly, a group backed by a “powerful noble” could see their rate affected; for better or worse remained unknown. An idea came to me. But for it to work, I needed to know the rate. Sending Decmitius back for further inquiry would appear suspicious. I would be ill-suited for the task. Decmitius and I made eye contact then simultaneously turned our gazes to Valgard.

~ D ~

[Ancalagon]

4.

Upon returning from his meetings with the bridge guards, Valgard told us the House de Winter was deemed legitimate by the guards, that the Brotherhood, being led by “Lord de Winter”, would be charged only 20 gps to cross the bridge, and that the Brotherhood must go to the bridge immediately.

As the third son of a third son, I stand to inherit nothing. However, occasionally my name does allow me some degree of influence in dealings with others. I admit I enjoy the privilege of my station when the opportunity to use it arises. What use is there in being a noble if it derives no benefit?

While the Brotherhood prepared mounted and wagon, I stepped away to “enhance” my aspect to appear more lordly. They looked somewhat confused as a healthy looking man with gray eyes and oiled, auburn hair, wearing a fine white tunic with a leafless tree crest emblazoned upon the chest, a fur-lined gray cloak, clean black riding boots, and wearing a fine sword at his belt, walked into the stable, passed them without a glance or a word then mounted Domitian’s horse. The Brotherhood’s puzzlement abated when the lord they beheld turned in the saddle then spoke, “Let us go.” The voice they heard was mine.

~ D ~

[Ancalagon]

5.

As “Lord de Winter” it was a simple matter for me to lead the Brotherhood across the bridge at the greatly reduced rate. When we stepped off the bridge we were directed to the keep overseeing the river for a meeting with one Lord Magnus Schwarman, a knight of Kleaves. We answered the summons without delay whereupon I exchanged greetings with Lord Magnus. The conversation soon turned to Lord Magnus asking why we were in pursuit of a fugitive from justice. Having brothers in my own House who are knights allowed me some insight to the Lord’s mind.

“A favor done for one House may be returned in the future,” I explained. “And bringing the fugitive to justice will help maintain the Social Order.”

Lord Magnus agreed immediately then stated he would be willing to grant us papers for entry to Kleaves and permission to proceed if first we would perform a service for him. The knight said he lacked the manpower to send a force north of Plock to eliminate a nest of river pirates and would like us to handle the task. Lord Magnus may not have realized it at the moment but his statement was an indicator of the strength of his forces in western Plock. I accepted the task on behalf of the Brotherhood as refusal would certainly have resulted in a greater delay receiving our entry papers. I also made it clear to Lord Magnus that this favor to him and Kleaves should reflect favorably upon the reputation of the Brotherhood in Plock and Kleaves.

~ D ~

[Captain_Blood]

God I love reading this. Both these journals are fabulous! Please keep updating them as we go along. I hope I can keep the game interesting enough

[Ancalagon]

Thanks for reading and responding - glad you're diggin' it! I very much enjoy running Domitian. It is a nice change of pace from what I've played in recent memory. And I've no doubt the game will remain interesting. :wink:

I'll soon post one more entry which will get me caught up to where we left off at the last session.

[Deil the Yin]

Is "Domitian" with a hard "t" or soft, as in "Addition?" Devil's in the details, eh wot.

[Ancalagon]

Is "Domitian" with a hard "t" or soft, as in "Addition?" Devil's in the details, eh wot.

The "t" is soft, as in "addition" so that I pronounce the name Doe-misshun or sometimes D'-misshun.

[Ancalagon]

6.

We took our leave from Lord Magnus then were given escort to the Broken Chant Inn from where we would depart the next morning. With us Lord Magnus sent a scout, a young man named Andre who possessed some knowledge of the river pirates’ camp.

Upon arrival at the Broken Chant, I bade Uhlgren and Tiberius tend our horses and gear in the stable then ‘commanded’ Decmitius and Valgard join me in my room. We spoke briefly. “Lord de Winter” shall not take council with the scout. That task shall fall to his War Masters. i.e., Decmitius and Valgard.

Some time later, after the conclusion of the War Masters’ council and evening meals, Decmitius and Valgard returned to confer with “Lord de Winter.” By then I had discarded my enhanced aspect as it was no longer required. We spoke as Brothers.

Andre provided useful information regarding the numbers of men and guards, where they are posted, and even a crude map showing, to the best of his ability, a partial layout of the terrain about the pirates’ camp. If all goes well and Andre’s information proves true, “Lord de Winter” shall see the scout is rewarded.

After review and discussion of the information, Decmitius suggested we confront the pirates then allow them the opportunity to disperse and save themselves upon the condition they not return and never again harry the river. I dissented by reasoning that river pirates would be bound by words only so long as it was convenient and that there is no honor among thieves.

What I did not say aloud was should the pirates return after our departure, the Brotherhood’s reputation would suffer as it would be apparent we did not eliminate the nest per the agreement with Lord Magnus. Knights, the proper ones at least, are ever-so-serious about agreements, vows, and the giving of words. Well-meaning as Decmitius’ suggestion was, I thought it wiser to not inadvertently damage the Brotherhood’s relationship with the first of Kleaves’ nobility with whom we had dealings.

Most, if not all, of the pirates should be less-educated, prone to superstition and fearful of the supernatural. I counter proposed we should deliver ‘shock’ to the river pirates by way of the warriors among us charging the camp near dawn so as to catch as many as possible sleeping. We would then instill ‘awe’ to the pirates by way of my conjurings to amplify the warriors’ already fearsome appearance. The combination should result in greater disorganization among the rabble and a quicker, easier victory for the Brotherhood.

~ D ~