Lilly crosses the saddle of the mountain range and looks out at the plain below, stretching out southward as far as she can see. Between here and the horizon she sees that it is dominated by two things. The first is a tower, a vast stone and mortar edifice with no visible entrances and no windows near the ground.
The second is two armies, contesting the plain in front of the tower. The first is made of men on horses, riding without saddles and firing guns. The second is made of children. With axes. Dwarves, then. It's not as one-sided as Lilly first considered; the dwarves have magic and the men do not. It's her estimate, based on her father's lessons, that the dwarves will lose. If she watches for much longer she will be able to tell when.
Mallet's directions have been perfect so far. She needs to get to that tower to meet his master.
Rounding a curve of the mountain slope below her, Lilly sees a lone dwarf, running as fast as he can directly towards her. He seems to be very fast, inhumanly fast. Behind him Lilly can hear mounted men. As they come into view, she sees that they all have dragons on their shields. The dwarf should get to her first, barely.
The earlier instinct to simply let things take their course flees as Lilly spies the dragons. Memories of Daeon's untimely death come flooding back. This might be nothing more then a coincidence but she is not about to take that chance.
Quickly she moves to intercept the riders. "Behind me. Now," Lilly calls to the dwarf. No trace of suggestions remains within the command. Once the words have escaped, she concerns herself with him no more. He will do as he will. Her attention is now on the riders.
The dwarf doesn't have time or breath to do more than nod. Lilly glances back and sees him duck behind a rock. If his armor is as heavy as it looks, it's amazing that he climbed this far at all, much less outran mounted men.
As they draw closer she pulls her blade. Its weight feels comforting in her hand. Without further thought she adopts a defensive stance and watches their approach. Lilly would hold her ground, even if it meant having to take down the horses. All is fair in war, she reminds herself.
Some have spears and some have swords. The spearmen are charging. At the back is a powerfully-built barechested warrior riding a magnificent stallion bareback. A huge sword is strapped to his back, a glowing ruby pendant is around his neck, and his long hair is braided and tied with leather. Over the thunder of the horses, Lilly hears the sound of real thunder. It will soon be quite slippery up here.
Dragons and Daeon. Jewels and judgments. Murder and mayhem. Life will never be simply again, Lilly is reminded. There is not time to second guess. The decison had been made. All that is left to do is follow through and pray to whatever Gods might be listening that her actions are the right ones. She charges forward to meet the men. With luck the sheer audacity of her attack will throw them off guard. Perhaps this battle can be concluded before the onslaught of rain.
[They're charging. How do you want to meet their charge? And how badly do you want to hurt them? :) ]
Lilly is going after them head on. No point second guessing now. Not really. She wants to eliminate the thread the frontmen pose. If that means killing them, fine. If she can do it by maiming, that's great too. Whatever is the most expediant.
Lilly's skill and training come to the fore and she acts without thinking, dodging spear-thrusts, ducking under horses, and throwing men as if they were scarecrows. They are not untrained nor are they unskilled, but they are no match for Mallet's daughter, much less Benedict's.
The big guy in the back? Well she'd really like a word or three with him. So her goal is to incapicitate. And if she can mange to seperate him from the jewel while doing so... well that would be wonderful.
He has dismounted by the time that Lilly finishes with the spearmen, and is alone. He stands between Lilly and the retreating swordsmen. He's smiling, and when she approaches, he swings. He is quite powerful, but not as well trained as she is. He tries to make up for technique with brute strength, which keeps Lilly busy for a few moments, but not for very long. She thinks he might be good enough to train. After a furious series of passes, he goes down, bleeding from a leg wound and a head wound where Lilly has kicked him. He lies on the ground, breathing shallowly, holding on to consciousness through sheer stubbornness. His shield lies cracked and discarded on the ground. The other riders are out of sight.
From behind Lilly, she hears a guttural roar. The Dwarf is charging at the man on the ground, axe above his head.
Lilly manages to keep from sighing, but only just.
"Wait," she yells. Though she assumes he means to ensure the death of his fallen foe, she takes no chances. Immediately she turns her sword on the Dwarf. Her intent is not to harm. Not really. She simply wants to remove the axe from his grip thus eliminating the immediate danger it poses.
Both of these men have stories to tell. If at all possible she wishes to hear them. Their fate can be decided afterwards. Or so she hopes.
He is very fast, but she is faster, and has the advantage of reach on the shorter being. He is quickly disarmed.
The dwarf pants, heavily. "Kill him now, before he gets away. He's the leader of the assassins. He's a Hero!" He spits the word as if it were poison.
The man on the ground, smiles, grimly.
Lilly puts up a hand to halt the dwarf's words. "He will not get away. Not if I do not will it," her confidence is unshakable. Her attention turns to the fallen leader. "An assassin. And a Hero. Neither of these marks you as prey as far as I am concerned. Still, there are answers I need before I shall even consider sparing you."
A quick glance to the dwarf as she includes him in what she hopes will be an enlightening conversation. "Your battle stands in my way. And, since fate has a way of following my people, I can only assume our paths have crossed for a reason. So tell me," and this request is clearly directed to both of them, "Why this skirmish?"
"His kind are invaders, assassins. They are here to assault the tower of my Lord. " He glares at the human.
"All true, what the Dvart says. Suffice to say that I am acting for my Lady Signy and she has her reasons for assaulting her father by force of arms. Kill me if you must, stranger, but let me die with a blade in hand." The human sits, but does not rise.
Lilly nods. "Signy," she says softly. A moment passes as she considers the possibilities. "I believe my business is with the Lord of the tower. That would imply that you and I are enemies," her glance falls to the fallen human before she turns back to the dwarf. "And that you and I are allies." There is a pause.
The dwarf smiles.
"Implications are not always fact.
"I shall meet with the Lord of the tower. And decide for myself if either side fights for the proper cause. And then, and only then, shall I take up arms in more then self defense. For now, no one else dies. And do not test my ire on this." Lilly's stern expression shows no hint of empathy for either of the men. Certainly both sides were right. And both were wrong. Only a meeting with their leaders would sort this it. If she decided sorting was indeed necessary...
"Can you rise?" she says to the soldier. "If so, I want you both to accompany me down below and call a momentary truce. Certainly your men can wait a few more moments to die." There will be no negotiating with her today. That is clear.
He rises, more ably that Lilly would have expected, but makes no move for his blade. "I can take you to Lady Signy, to whom I am oathbound." He looks down the mountain with a practiced eye. "The battle will be over before we arrive, and you will have all night to discuss matters with her. If we do not take the field on the morrow, then there will be no battle. You can discount the Dvart, his clan is the weakest in the entire dragonback range, and had he not stolen from us, we would not have left the battle to pursue him."
"It's called 'spoils of war', hero!"
Lilly listens thoughtfully, but does not bother to interrupt. There is no point. The two men had ceased trying to kill one another and for the moment that has to be enough.
"When you don't take it from a man already dead, it is, thief. But you are of no moment compared to this woman, who may be a Tower Lady herself, or a hero."
The dvart glares at the hero, and it's unclear if they are about to come to blows or not.
A change of focus is in order, Lilly decides. "I too have a strong father. And I too do not always agree with his ways. But as of this moment, we have yet to amass armies to oppose one another. In fact, that is something I do not expect to happen any time in the immediate future. What has occur ed to divide this family so?" She begins to move at a steady pace in the general direction of the tower. If her words are not enough to distract their argument, perhaps her movement will be.
Lilly hears a Gutteral "yeaarrg-ooof!" behind her. She turns to see the man scooping up the unconscious Dwarf and throwing him over his shoulder. "He wasn't interested in a truce, Lady. Are you intent on crossing the Dvartish lines? I will go with you if you are."
A slow grin spreads across Lilly's lips. She nods, once then continues walking.
After a few steps, she begins to speak. "Tell me of the Lord of the tower. I should know what it is I have stumbled upon before I become further involved." Of course Lilly fears she is far too involved as it is. Still, choices have been made. Fate has determined her course. Now she has only to find the best way to take advantage of what she has been given.
"Him? He is old, powerful, and isolated. He has no friends amongst the other lords, and his allies are Dvarts and Alfs. It is said that no man has entered his tower and lived in tenscore years. The more excitable say that he is not human."
Lilly nods. She seems to have expected as much. Or, at the very least, she understands far better then most.
"His daughter, my Lady, denies none of it, but also says that he is not from here, and that the people of the Plains do not understand what lives amongst them disguised by a tower as one of them." He smiles.
Below the mountain path, Lilly can see that the sun is setting and the horsemen are pulling back. It is an orderly retreat.
"You fight well, Lady. Too well for a magus from the towers, and yet unlike the people of the plains. I would almost guess you were Alfen, but you do not have the look of one. I have heard of you not, and I am well travelled, for a barbarian. Who are you?"
"You are correct. I am not of these parts," Lilly replies softly. She takes a moment to decide upon which of the many truths she cares to impart upon this stranger. "You may call me Lilly, though, I suppose, Dame Lilly is more in order these days. My father is a man known by some as Benedict. He too is old, powerful, and isolated, though the walls surrounding him are not quite as solid as the ones before us." She considers continuing on but decides against it. Best to see if he reacted to her mention of her father.
He raises his eyebrows, and recites.
'Listen carefully, my son, to the Master's instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is advice from a father who loves you; welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice. The labor of obedience will bring you back to him from whom you had drifted through the sloth of disobedience. This message of mine is for all, and armed with the strong and noble weapons of obedience to do battle for the true king.'
"That Benedict? Benedict of the famous rule? He is legendary on these plains. If you are his daughter, then you must be a demi-goddess, Dame Lilly." He shifts the dwarf around on his shoulder. "Should we keep this one? If so, we might want to get horses."
Lilly looks at the dwarf and shakes her head. "I am hardly in need of a pet. Put him down. Let his people find him."
He puts the dwarf down, taking care not to drop him on his head. He takes a small pouch from the dwarf, and retrieves something from it, then he returns to Lilly.
She waits for him to be rid of his burden before continuing on. "As for my father, well I have no proof that he is that Benedict but I would not be surprised. He is a god among your people then? I suppose I should also ask if he is well regarded." Judging strictly from the warriors reaction, she expects the answer to be yes. Still, it is best to be certain.
"He taught our forebears how to be heroes and champions and not mere barbarians. He is the founder of our civilization. Also, he is twelve feet tall, rides a six-legged, striped warhorse, and fought an entire army of ghost-men single-handedly and is fated to lead the great battle at the end of the world and die in it.
"But that he had a daughter is a new legend. Who is your mother, that she attracted the notice of Benedictus?"
Lilly looks at him. She wants to tell him she has no mother. That her father choose a woman who abandoned her child at birth. That in some decisions, he is no more of a god that the lowliest of worms...
"I never knew her," she says in an even tone. "My father took me to his lands so that I could be raised among those he trusted." It is not a lie, she decides. Not even a small one.
"My father can be rather secretive. He tells no one of his true intentions. It is due to his actions that I find myself here. His motivations for it, I am not sure. Perhaps he simply wants to be sure your people will be ready when he calls." If they are going to believe I am a demi-goddess, she decides, I might as well use it to my advantage.
He pauses, then nods.
They reach a last curve in the hillside and can soon see the site of the battle. There are men and dwarves removing bodies, each for their own side. "To the left is my force, to the right are the dwarven pickets." He doesn't seem inclined to go either way, just to provide Lilly with information.
"If only I had a six legged striped horse of my own," Lilly mutters. The in a more confident voice she says to her companion, "I need to meet the Lord of the Tower. It is most important. We go there first. Once I am through with that meeting, I shall decide if we shall visit your force or the dwarves."
"If we wish to meet the Lord of this tower, we will have to visit the dwarves. They control access. But they are slow and stupid. It would be possible to outfight some of them, trick them, or simply outrun them."
Lilly nods. Slow and stupid. Shouldn't be too difficult. With a bit of luck they might even get through without a fight.
One last thought occurs to her and she adds, "How shall I address you?"
"I am known as Red Fox Claws, but you may call me by my city name, which is Dagobert. I am a hero." He pronounces the last as if it is a calling.
"All right then," She spares the hint of a smile for him as she turns to look at him. "You need not accompany me. I will give you your leave if you wish to take it. However, I would be glad for the company. You seem an accomplished warrior. I would be honored to have you stand at my side."
He smiles. "I could hardly call myself a hero if I left the side of the child of Benedictus because of the challenge of a few score of Dvarts, Dame Lilly. Lead on, and I shall follow."
Lilly returns his smile. "Very well then," she says and begins to to make her way towards the tower. Her stride has a definite sense of purpose to it, almost as if she is daring anyone to try to stopping her.
(OOC: The plan here is to proceed until interupted. GM's should feel free to move them forward... )
The plan goes perfectly! You proceed, then you are interrupted.
"Halt! Who goes there? Identify yourself!" The voice comes from the sentry on the rocks ahead.
With deliberate grace, Lilly ceases her forward movement and turns to look directly at the sentry. For a moment she simply stares. Then in a voice as clear and cold as a stark winter day, she speaks. "I am Lilly, daughter of Benedictus. I have business with the Lord of the tower and I intend to speak with him."
An effort is made to keep her hand from the hilt of her sword. Though she is ready for the fight, it would probably best to keep the bloodshed to a minimum.
"Stay there!" the voice says. She hears movement. He seems to have abandoned his post.
Dagobert looks at her. "Should we try to go past informally?"
Lilly takes a second to consider the options then she shrugs, "Let him have his moment. Just be ready. For anything." Taking her own advice, she begins to scan the area. Certainly this single guard would not risk facing her alone. Best to know where the others might be attacking from.
Shortly, two dwarves come back around the large rock. One of them says "Our leader comes!" They hold spears, low and long. Lilly thinks they could use them as pikes against the chests of horses very effectively.
After a moment, another being comes around the rock. It is shorter than the dwarves, no more than two or three feet tall. It seems to be composed entirely of rock.
"Oh. Hello," says Hob.
"Hello," says Lilly a bit cautiously. She is not surprised. Not exactly. After awhile one begins to expect the universe to play these sorts of jokes.
"I must say, I was not expecting to make your acquaintance again quite so soon." In fact, Lilly thinks to herself, I was quite hoping it would be several more centuries. As an after thought, she adds, "I trust you are well?" Her foster mother had always said a Lady should kill people with kindness, not steel. Now is as good a time as any to try that particular approach.
"Oh, yes. I am. My king has loaned me to the great magus, Weyland the Smith. If you are not affiliated with Signy and you are willing to pay the price, the Smith will see you."
Dagobert looks uncertain, but to Lilly's trained eye, he seems to be ready to draw his weapon and charge.
Lilly remembers well the last price that was asked. Dagobert would not survive such and ordeal. And that would be a pity. Still, it is best not to assume death is involved.
"I am affiliated with no one but myself. Not this time. My foster father, Mallett, has sent me in search of his Master, Master Weyland, on some personal business. Name the price and I shall decide if it is one I can afford." Despite the business-like tone, it is obvious that this meeting is rather important to Lilly.
Hob nods. "Oh, the price. It is small. A single tear will do."
At first this seems too easy. Then the catch becomes apparent. Tears must be made. A chill travels down Lilly's spine.
Dagobert clears his throat. "I am oath-bound to Signy, and I will fight for her right to enter this place."
Hob smiles, and Lilly can see that his mouth is empty and featureless; two interlocking rocks, but no teeth, tongue, or windpipe. "Oh, we can do that instead."
"We could," Lilly says softly. "But this is my battle, not Signy's and certainly not yours. Do this for me or not at all. You shall loose no honor in my eyes either way. Trust that I am accustomed to fighting my own battles and am capable of doing so."
Dagobert looks at her for a long moment considering. "If you will promise me that I will be allowed to return to the service of Lady Signy after we depart the tower, or if she comes inside of it, I will enter your service, Lady Lilly, and enter the tower with you."
Hob nods. "Oh, that would be fine. Which price will you pay, the tear, or the blood? I could keep it with your Godfriend's. It would be safe."
A moments pause. Should she tell him of the fate of her Godfriend? It is likely, she decides, that he is all ready aware. Yet he still holds the blood. And safely. This would need looking into. Another sacrifice of this sort would bind her to these strange people even more. Yet, allowing such a thing might provide more clues and greater trust...
"You have my word, Red Fox Claws, that you shall be allowed to return to the service of your Lady Signy. My blade will be your ally until such a time."
Lilly then turns her full attention back to Hob. "The price shall be blood. Shed of free will and kept safely as you have agreed."
"Oh, then we accept. You may come in to the tower of Weyland, with your servitor." He walks back to the tower and opens a door. It's unclear quite how he opened the door, because there is no handle and he has no fingers, but it's clear that he did open the door. He gestures inside, into a small, lamplit room. Dagobert looks to her for direction.
A moment is spared for a last look at their surroundings.
Outside of the circle of light from the open door is only the dark of night.
"Thank you," Lilly says softly to Hob then turning to Dagobert she adds, "Let us not waste time." Her full attention is then turned to the tower once more as she begins to move forward.
Her stride speaks of confidence, though her thoughts know otherwise. With every step a fresh doubt reveals itself in Lilly's mind. To her, it does not matter. There is no turning back. Not now. If the Master has even a small part of the knowledge she seeks, all will be worthwhile. If not, well then at least she shall be able to say it was an interesting journey...
Dagobert follows, nervously. Hob pushes the door shut, and turns to Lilly. "I am ready to take the price from you, then the Master will come." Dagobert looks around, his hand twitching as if he's ready to draw his sword.
In a blink, Lilly's sword is drawn. "As it was done the last time or do you have something else in mind?"
Dagobert can not take the same sort of abuse Daeon routinely put his body through. That is obvious. Hopefully not nearly as much blood will need to be shed. All the same, one has to do what one has to do. With that inner acceptance, Lilly is ready.
The inner door opens and a deep voice rings out. "That's enough, Puck. You may go." A man is standing at the door, dark-skinned, bald, and wearing an apron. If he isn't a smith, then he is built like one.
If a two-foot stone being ever looked petulant, then it would look just like Hob does. "Go!", repeats the man.
"Oh, well. Another time, then," says Hob, and with that the small stone being sinks into the floor of the tower.
Lilly watches him leave with the hint of an amused smile playing about her lips. Once he has dissolved (for lack of a more appropriate term) she terms her full attention to the man before her.
"I am Weyland, Lord of this tower. What brings you here, strangers?"
Lilly bows. "Forgive the intrusion, Master Weyland," she says calmly. "My name is Lilly. My foster father, Mallet, has sent me to you. I am in desperate need of information that he believes you may have." Though more then willing, she stops herself before offering service in exchange for his help. Better to let him set the terms.
"So Mallet had a child. I always figured he'd be a bachelor for life. He never was one for settling down. Come in." He smiles and opens the inner door. Lilly can see that beyond it is an open room, spacious and well lit. It has windows on all sides, which is not a feature she saw anywhere on the outside of the tower. "What is it you need, child?"
Lilly enters and takes a moment to decide how to proceed. "It concerns my family actually. You see, as I have said, Mallet and his wife Jade, fostered me. Our relationship is a strong one; stronger then many that are bound with blood. I am in fact much closer to them then to my biological father, and my biological mother has never been a part of my life." She pauses a moment as she realizes she is moving away from the point and into a murky pool of emotion. Best not to delve there.
"It comes to this; Jade is ill. Her sickness has been deemed incurable. Poison is suspected. My biological father has many enemies. I suspect one of them has played a role. It has been suggested to me that you may have information regarding her." Again a pause. "Her name is Dara."
He raises his eyebrows. "Now that's a name I haven't heard in many years. Sit down. " He gestures to a crude but serviceable table by the door. "I didn't know Dara well, but I knew her father and her uncle. Why would she poison your mother?"
"Dara has been working to sabotage my blood relations," Lilly says carefully. "Benedict is my biological father you see. My father came to me and asked me to aid his family as they prepared for war against Dara's family. In the end, we appeared the victor."
She pauses for a moment to let the truth of her heritage take hold. "I helped lead the fight and served as a general for the forces of Amber. Since then, Dara has made a rather unwelcome appearance in Amber. During the coronation. I think she has vengeance on her mind. This attack has gone well beyond politics however. This is personal. This woman has become extremely dangerous and needs to be stopped." Lilly obviously has every intention of seeing this through to Dara's death.
"Hmm. Have you asked her father? He'd know her temperament, if anyone did. Generally that lot comes and goes in a particularly showy fashion, so a competent sorcerer could tell you if anyone had parted the veil in the vicinity recently, unless she had one of you for an ally. Is there really a difference between politics and personalities for Royals?" Weyland looks off into the darkness outside the windows. Shaking his head.
Lilly does not voice an answer but manages a rather unladylike shrug. Damn if she knows. She does suspect, however, that it hardly matters. Everything else he has suggested gets filed away in her brain for the moment. They are good ideas and warrant further consideration.
"Benedict's and Mallet's both, and asking about Lintra's children. You are a surprise, child. Oh, who did we have a coronation for?"
"Random," she says with just the slightest hint of amusement in her voice. Despite everything, Lilly still finds herself liking the king. "The Family has at least outwardly accepted him as their leader. I know of no plots to overthrow him. But his reign is still young."
"I see," says Weyland. "All hail Random, King of Amber, then. Do you have the necessary magics to take your quest to Borel or Madoc?"
"Doubtful," Lilly replies honestly. "Truth be told, I am little more then a child compared to most in my family. The gifts of our blood are all very new to me. I can travel but I do not think I am skilled enough to find my way to the other side, as it were."
She stops and thinks for a moment. There are those she trusts. Those who might be willing to aid her on this quite, for their own reasons as well. All she really need do is ask.
Asking. That is something of a problem. Seeking aid, asking for help, these are not skills she is good at. In the fact the very thought of it, makes her want to shudder. Sometimes though, such insecurities need to be cast aside.
"I have cousins. I believe they will aid me if necessary. If going to Borel or Madoc is what it shall take, then I will find a way. My sword shall meet her flesh."
Weyland coughs. He pours himself some water from a pitcher on the sidebar and offers the same to Lilly. "I would very much like to see a duel between the daughter of Duke Borel of Chaos and King Benedict of Avalon. It would be a feat second only to those worthies meeting."
Lilly accepts the drink. "I have been well trained," she answers calmly. "I know my own capabilities but I know little of Dara's." A careful sip of the water is taken. It is always best to ensure it is actually water before ingesting great quantities.
Water. Possibly over-rich in iron, but then he is, like Mallet, a smith...
"If there is anything you can share, anything you can tell me about her or her family, it would be appreciated."
He sips his water and nods. "They are three to my certain knowledge. The Duke Borel is one of the foremost swordsmen in all of Chaos, so fast and talented that he is known to be peerless, but who has never faced any of your uncles, much less your father at arms. He is considered the elder statesman of the branch of your family in Chaos. Dara is his daughter. I know little of her, but that she was not soul of chivalric honor that her father was. Or so said her uncle."
Lilly nods as she begins to parse the information. Wisely she maintains her silence and allows Weyland to continue.
"His sister, Queen Clarissa, is well-known in Amber, as she was Oberon's wife and bore his children. She rules Clarissa independently of her brothers."
The redheads, Lilly silently reminds herself. Also an important thing to note.
"The youngest is Madoc, a friend of mine. The Count was once a frequent visitor to my tower and I had hoped he would marry my own daughter, but it was not to be. He spoke of having children, and he may have, in the chaosian way.
"They are all the grandchildren of your father King Benedict and Lintra the Hellmaiden, about whom I have no wish to speak."
A humorless smile comes to Lilly's lips, "Our family tree is nothing if not complicated." She gives a shrug and lets a moment of quiet pass between them.
"As for your own daughter, that situation also seems rather complicated," Lilly says softly. "You have been kind to me, is there some way I can perhaps be of aid? I know fathers and daughters do not always agree but this seems to be a bit more serious then a squabble over fighting technique." The fact that normal fathers and daughters probably never argue over this never occurs to Lilly.
Weyland smiles. "She seems intent on overthrowing my tower. I'm tempted to let her, just to see what she plans to do next." He waves an arm carelessly and Lilly notices that he moves like Mallet. "She's not really good at policy, for all that she has a good grasp of tactics. And her idea of strategy is 'don't do what you're told to do'. Not always bad, but easy to manipulate. Why, what do you think you could do?"
Dagobert stays very quiet, hoping not to be noticed.
Lilly dutifully pretends to forget he is there... for the time being.
"Perhaps I could speak with her," she offers. "My diplomatic skills tend to rely upon my sword, however I am willing to try a less physical means of negotiating. My lineage may give me a bit of an advantage or, at the very least, it may aid me in presenting myself as a neutral party."
Lilly's gaze turns towards Dagobert. The time has come for him to be noticed. "Gaining an audience with Lady Signy should be relatively easy. I believe I have all ready promised to to meet with her."
"Well, a person should keep their promises. I doubt my daughter can really take my tower by force, or in any case, take me by force, but I would be pleased if she were not attacking. Find out what that would take and I would be appreciative."
Lilly nods, "I shall do my best." And she means that.
Before heading out the door she has a last few word for Weyland. Nothing more then a simple thank you but the need to say as much would weigh heavily if the time is not taken. Then she is ready to fulfill two promises.
At long last, Signy's army has broken the power of her father's dvarts and his Tower stands before her, undefended save for a final remnant guard of dvarts and some magical minions. The thing that leads the dvarts will, if reports are true, require her own effort to dispatch it. So it is that Signy makes her preparations for her own battle with her father's creatures in her pavilion on the plains.
Several lanterns hanging throughout light up the sparsely furnished pavillion, sending most of their light to the rough table in the center. A battered cot is pushed against the back wall, rough blankets having just been pushed aside when its occupant got up in the morning. Next to it a solid oak trunk sits with its top open, stuffed near to the brim with books and tomes.
Standing next to the table, Signy leans over to look at a crude map of the Tower and surrounding countryside, hands braced against the edge. Her eyes keep making circuits of the forces marked on the board, but keep coming back to the marker that sits next to the tower. Her mouth makes a vague frown as she considers the newest and most unwelcome addition to this affair.
Outside the tent, her guards wait. There are noises, an approach, and then one of them calls out to her: "Lady Signy? A rider from the battle, with news."
Her eyes continue to make their circuit of the map. "Enter."
A warrior comes in, fresh from the front. The heat from his body and the smell of his horse cling to him. "My Lady! We fought to within sight of the door. The dvarts, broken wretches that they are, were in full flight. Red Fox Claws had pursued a troop of them along our flank. I saw Nine Eagles approach the door, and the guard there. They parted as if they had a hero or demon of their own, and the latter came forward. A being perhaps half the size of a dvart stepped up and stood, challenging Nine Eagles. Despite the lateness of the day, he moved forward, for it was his Geisa never to refuse a challenge. He struck the demon and it was as if his skin was rock. The demon broke his neck, and retired to the tower door. We hold there for further orders."
Signy's lips curve down into a full frown. "Well. It looks like the last cards are coming into play in this hand. Nine Eagles will be missed, but the morrow should see him avenged." She strides towards the door, grabbing a plain short sword that hangs from a peg in the tent. "Have my horse saddled, and meet me with a couple of archers. I'd like to talk to this hero or demon myself." She pauses at the door and looks at the warrior. "And see if you can find Red Fox Claws. I'd like for him to join me, if possible, but if he's not here he'll have to catch up to me as best he can."
"Yes, Lady Signy." The warrior bows, and leaves. Shortly she hears the sounds of her horse outside the tent.
A rider enters, an old and canny warrior called Baldpate. "My Lady. I was with Red Fox Claws, chasing a Dvart back up the mountains. We came across a girl--a demon or hero, or so said Red Fox Claws. She had fey features, but was like no Aelf I've seen. She fought to protect the Dvart, and then dueled with Red Fox Claws. He ordered half of us back, so that word would reach the camp, and faced her himself. He has not returned. May I take enough men to rescue or avenge him and find the demon-girl?"
Signy pauses at this.
"Is this some new ally of his, late to this battle, I wonder, or just some wanderer." She thinks as she walks towards her horse, brow furrowed. "Take some men, and see what happened to Red Fox Claws. If he is captured or killed, track the newcomer but do not attack unless you have absolutely no choice, and send for me. I'll not lose more men to any more of these surprises of his, and I don't think this is just an uninterested passer-by."
Baldpate says "Yes, Lady Signy," and leaves.
She swings easily into her saddle, and when the rest of her group is ready to go rides off towards the Tower.
It takes a few moments for her archers and the warrior Cloudfall to be ready, and the horses pick their way slowly in the evening's gloaming. Her group hears Baldpate's troop go off into the night towards the east. Cloudfall points out several spots where the battle raged a few hours ago, and the horses go slower still, trying to avoid the uneven ground and the occasional Dvartish corpse.
As they approach the lower entrance to Wayland's tower, Signy sees three figures near the door. They are a woman, a man, and something else, possibly a young Dvart. Something about the woman is striking, as if she carried more magics or destiny than anyone Signy had ever seen. It is too far to make out details of the tableaux without magical aid.
Her eyes widening in surprise at this woman and her clear Presence, Signy slows the pace of the band slightly. With a quick flicks of her hands, Signy signals the archers to either side of her advance, and checks that her sword is close at hand.
Drawing a deep breath, she makes sure that her speed will give her a couple of looks at the little party before they get too close and opens her mind's eye to the scene before her.
Signy opens her third eye and is asaulted by the brightness of the stranger. She has only ever seen three people who looked like the stranger; herself, her father, and Count Madoc. The little being reminds her of one of Madoc's servitors. Her father is in the Tower and it is warded, as it would be. She cannot see into it.
Signy grimaces, and kneads the back of her neck, a headache starting to form, though whether from the brightness of the stranger or the mere presence of two new complications she's not entirely sure. She continues forward, checking to make sure that the archers are in position as she heads into what undoubtedly will be a bigger headache.
Signy rides forward, working to maintain both her normal and third sight. She sees the woman enter the tower and that the door is closing. Signy screams a quick word in an arcane tongue and throws a stream of light from her hands. It crosses the darkness between Signy and the tower but glances off of the magical wards surrounding the basalt pillar that was her home for so long.
In the light of the magic, Signy can clearly see a squadron of dvarts. Her archers open fire, and the rest retreat to rocky cover just outside the tower. Signy thinks it should not be too hard to clear them.
As the door swings shut, Signy curses briefly. "There's a squad of Dvarts over there. Take care of them."
The men charge and there is the sound of battle and screaming from the left. Her men seem to be getting the better of the Dvarts.
Riding forward, she goes to where the door is, turning her third eye towards the door to see if she can make out any details of how it works.
As nearly as Signy can tell, the door is an illusion, and the tower is solid rock. There must be some sort of gating spell that was cast on the outside to appear as a door.
As she gets closer, she sees something moving through the rock, swimming towards the spot where the door should be. As Signy gets closer to the tower, it steps out. It is shorter than the dwarves, no more than two or three feet tall. It seems to be composed entirely of rock.
"Oh, hello. Are you here to pay the price?"
Signy's hand strays down and starts to play with the hilt of her sword. "I don't believe that we have met. My name is Signy, and I have business with my father in the tower." She gazes down at the little creature. "What right do you have to deny me entrance to his Tower, and what price are you intending to charge?"
Signy glances over to where the Dvarts are being assaulted by her forces.
"My father never mentioned one such as you...."
The little being doesn't seem to notice the Dvarts. "Oh, Signy. Your father mentioned you to me. You may not pay the price. I am to keep you out. Oh, yes. If I were to capture you, I am to keep you in. I am goblin, Hob the Pwca." Signy notices that the inside of his mouth is solid rock. There really isn't any non-magical way he could be talking.
Signy frowns at this. "I don't believe that Brother Tomat mentioned you or your kind before. So how did you come to do my father's bidding? Did Madoc send you?"
"Oh, him... No. And your teacher was useless if he told you not of pwcas. I am Hob, the good fellow. The Puck. Your father bargained with my master for help, and received me. Would you like to be my prisoner?"
[I'm assuming that I'm not recalling anything, here.]
[Nope, we'd've told you "you seem to recall the good brother mentioning dangerous rocks-with-mouths. Don't let them give you flowers." We're helpful like that. ]
[Yeah, I was just hoping that this would spur an "Oh, and you remember faintly your tutor mentioning that pwca's have a noted weakness for sticky buns and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, both of which you conveniently have in your saddlebags" e-mail.]
"Unfortunately, I will have to decline at the moment. Though it is a most tempting offer. Who would your master be?"
"Why, the King of the rock-people. Oberon. I am The Puck, oh mortal."
Signy absentmindedly flicks her gaze back at the conflict between her forces and the Dvarts while she ponders Hob's words. There was never an 'Oberon' that came calling on her father while she was there, though it was a while since she left the Tower, so he could be a new acquaintance. Nor has she heard of these 'rock-people', despite having been over much of the Plains in her years with the Band. She notes Oberon's name for later -- he sounds ominously meddlesome, and may need to be dealt with later.
She sighs, and draws herself up straight in the saddle. All of this is just further wsating time, and quite frankly Hob isn't an interesting enough conversationalist to warrant wasting more time. She dances her horse back a step as she raises her hands, fingers spread, and quietly says a few syllables. A silvery mist begins to form, outlining the ... thing in front of her. The simplest paths were oftentimes the best ones, she muses, so let's see what happens if we just try to move the problem from here to somewhere else. Far, far away.
[Space. Let's try to send Hob somewhere that's both far, far away from here, and preferrably with enough local "attractions" that his attention might be occupied for long enough for Signy to finish here.]
He's amazingly dense, but the spell grabs him and pushes him back about a horse-length. At that point his feet grow into the earth and it's like trying to push the entire plains. "Oh, is that the way of it?," Hob asks. He says something low in a variant of Mabrahoring (the language of spellcasting). At the unnatural sound, Signy's horse panics and starts to flee at top speed away from the demon. She can either hang on or jump off.
Signy drops off her horse and rolls swifty, if gracelessly, back onto her feet. She raises her hand, and barks out more words. The ground around Hob's legs begins to glow a ghastly orange hue, and he can feel the ground starting to harden and encase his legs [Perhaps if we change the dirt into stone.....].
Hob slides down into the stone as if it were water and is gone...
As it becomes clear that yet again her Sorcerous attack has failed, Signy rapidly unsheaths her sword, and starts edging back slightly towards the rest of her forces that have engaged the Dvarts. Given that this....whatever it was seemed to shrug off her first attacks with relative ease, she muses, while an open melee between her men and some Dvarts isn't the best option, and almost certainly won't slow Hob down much, if at all, it's probably the least bad choice. She brings the Eye up with practiced ease, and probes the ground near where Hob disappeared, looking for traces of where he is and where he might be going, spreading her Sight as wide as she dares.
...and the door in the side of the tower opens and the woman from before steps out with Red Fox Claws behind her. She is armed, but has not drawn her weapon.
Last modified: 5 September 2006