Location:
Southern Giants Rest -> Airedale
Bandit camp, early morning.
@Pyromania99@FrogRFlowR@VitaVitaAR
“That’s right, tin can, back off.” The fomorian cackled. “I’m more valuable alive and uninjured so just go back to being a weakling.” Might be a good idea to gag the fomorian or the trip back is gonna be absolutely grating on the nerves of everyone involved.
For the most part, however, the rest of the cleanup went smoothly. Annagan’s body would need to be disposed of, and before they left they would need to take care of this wasteland area before it grew worse - ravaging the plants and animals until it was nothing more than a field of desolation where nothing could leave.
But the queen would probably take care of that before they left.
Heading back to the fort would be uneventful, save for the chatty fomorian that seemed intent on trying to kill everyone with being as annoying as possible. Back at the fort, Sorcha would not linger long. Giving everyone just the rest of the evening to rest up and brief her on the situation. A small contingent of bandits had attacked the fort while they were gone, but the men Luna left behind saw to it they were dealt with quickly and swiftly.
As soon as the Queen saw the Fomorian they brought back though, it was a miracle that she didn’t simply kill it on sight, immediately ordering Fio to lock it up in the cells…and to completely bind its body, blindfold it, put it in a jacket so that it couldn’t move in any capacity and gag it, effectively making sure that she could do nothing but barely even breathe. After the debriefing, she would retreat to her room, seemingly somewhat perturbed or lost in thought, and accepted no visitors. Not from Fio or anyone else, passing even on drink and food.
Leo made a small mention of her being in a bit of a bad mood all day, on top of the cloudy and rainy looking weather. When Luna showed him the Emblem, he simply fell quiet, briefly frowning but quickly shook his head, saying he didn’t know too much about it, except it was just old and he only vaguely recalled it from stories father had been telling him recently about some tribe of warriors in the past that committed great atrocities.
Thankfully, the weather turned for the better in the morning when they set off back towards Airedale. The queen, seemed in much a better mood as well, though she elected to completely ignore the prisoner who Fio had been ordered to look after during the return trip. Along with Sucaria who insisted she come with Luna this time, ended up adding two to the return party.
The return trip to Airedale was otherwise uneventful, Sorcha remaining a mix of her aloof queenly persona when traveling through towns, while being much more lax out in the countryside away from people, and after a few days travel they would find themselves back in the village, ready for a proper debriefing, and just in time for Reinhardt’s and Ethelred’s party to return.
Location:
Harzel Border Fort -> Airedale
@Crimson Paladin@Guy0fV4lor
Steblas’ blessing of water and fortification mixing with the icy curse that ran rampant in Ethelred’s body. Perhaps, it worked so well because they were both fey in origin, perhaps not. It was not something either currently questioned as Ethelred lunged forwards as he’d watch, Reinhardt finally achieving his goal of ripping the beasts wing completely off.
Lance met burning scales.
The weapon plunged deep into the orange colored emblem on the creatures chest. The creature ceased movements near instantly, its entire body freezing, choking, strangled hisses coming from the dragons maw as its fires speed from its body less and less, until finally they began to dissipate entirely.
“Foolish…traitors…aaaah….my kiiing…my kiiiing….” It croaked out, as its body started jerking, its frozen body soon collapsing to the ground next to Ethelred as crystals of ice began growing from the dragons exhaust vents, the orange crest slowly dimming, losing its light. “I’ve failed theeee…twiiiice…aaaah…but the next…Herald….shall return…upon mine death…aaah, traitors…you will meet your fate….”
And silence followed.
A cheer rang out around the Harzel knights.
The beast had been slain, and spoils had been gained.
Of course, Harzel wasn’t about to let the corpse of a Wyvern go to waste, nor let someone else have it so easily, especially when such scales could be refined into high quality weapons and armor. Lonan would give them a letter to send with them, urging Queen Sorcha to send an envoy to discuss how they would handle this and to thank her personally for her knights assistance in the matter. He said nothing about Elnith, and as far as he was concerned, she simply fled during the dragon attack.
Unfortunately their elvish helper was nowhere to be found, as Ethelred made his rounds to seek out him and deliver condolences towards the fallen Harzel Knights. Apparently, the one he had interacted with earlier had a kid back home and a wife that had been killed in a fomorian attack some years ago.
Otherwise though, after Lonan let the group rest for the rest of the day they would set off back towards Airedale at first light the following morning. A rather uneventful trip, with Elnith being her usual friendly self now that she had some proper rest and food, chatting happily with Ethelred and Reinhardt both…who Lonan, had at least, thankfully given a set of armor to compensate for his complete lack of it.
Elnith had to resist laughing at Reinhardt upon seeing him.
A brief stop in redwater for the night would find Ethelred visiting the ruins of his old home during the night…but to seemingly no avail. No ghosts, nor fey, nor fomorians seemed present at his family now ruined estate, little more than a few rooms left to rot here on the ground, barely kept upright by ancient stones.
Yet, even so nothing happened…he could not shake the feeling the entire time that he was being watched by
something but whatever it was would not show itself no matter how long he waited or if he called out.
Soon, though, the party would set out again. The only odd thing of note, was that one night Elnith had apparently fallen asleep sitting next to Ethelred, her head resting on his shoulder but for the most part, nothing else of note happened…
Location: Airedale
@Crimson Paladin@Guy0fV4lor@Pyromania99@FrogRFlowR@VitaVitaAR
“The Queen’s back!” As Sorcha’s, Luna’s, and Fio’s group passed through the gates of Airedale, they were greeted by a small crowd of onlookers. Children, women, Men had come to greet them excitedly, eager to have the queen return from her trip. As they’d traverse the path back towards the Castle, Sorcha remained her aloof public self as she’d merely wave coolly towards the onlookers and offering friendly smiles towards everyone in a practiced manner.
Some women would end up crowding around Luna, but a quick greeting from Sucaria and her rather…unique features would send them squealing and running away while the Maid nodded in seeming satisfaction at her attempts to protect lady Luna from the riffraff. Niall drew some attention, too, being a new face here and an unknown to the residents who had only heard tales of some bandit and fomorian slaying hero who took the form of an owl. Fio was welcome warmly too while the prisoner still chained behind her was greeted with understandable wariness.
As soon as they reached the keep, they were greeted by the familiar face of Vyrell and Lugh, who was more than happy to greet Sorcha with a hug and run over, bounce in front of Luna until she gave him a headpat, and then back to Sorcha to inform them that Reinhardt’s group had made it and arrived just a bit before they had.
“Good. Everyone, we can rest after we catch up with the others.” Sorcha said with a nod, motioning everyone to join her in the strategy room.
“Vyrell, take that…thing to the cells. I want it locked in the deepest pit we have.”“...understood. I shall join you in the meeting room momentarily.” So he’d drag the still gagged and blindfolded fomorian off to the dungeons as Sorcha made the others follow her into the meeting room where the others would already be waiting.
“Reinhardt, Ethelred, Elnith! Good to see you all made it back in one piece…” Her eyes briefly scanned the room for Od as she’d walk towards the front of the table.
“...it seems many things happened. Elnith, how are you holding up?”“Well enough, your Majesty…I am eager to get some proper rest and healing.” Much of Elnith’s body was still severely burned.
“Mhm, good. I am sorry, I should have sent Ethelred or Reinhardt with you to start with.”“Nonsense your majesty, there was no way you could have known…”
“...Ethelred, Reinhardt. Tell me what happened. And why is one of my knights no longer with us? Fio, Luna, as well, feel free to fill in the others once they are done on what transpired with the bandits.”
Danyel
datadogie
The Red Seelie
rush99999
Xiro Zean
Cu Chulainn
Alfhedil
Ojiro Mashirao
Gerlando
Izurich
