The continued adventures of not Vikings

[Dekaru]

With Gwain ready Thistle releases her control of the creature. The entire time Thistle was waiting the creature was stubbornly fighting against her control. Its powerful compulsion to kill the brothers easily capable of driving her mad should she remain in the creature's mind for an extended period leaving Thistle to wonder at what could cause an animal to be so unnaturally bloodthirsty. With arrow knocked, Gwain watches as the beast immediately begins straining against its bonds and for a moment it appears as though his fears would be proven correct. Thankfully the bonds hold as the animal begins thrashing about on the ground but to no avail. Satisfied, Gwain turns his attention to Thistle who has been blinking rapidly and rubbing her eyes in an attempt to reacquaint herself with a world of colours after almost half an hour in the mind of an insane and ravenous beast.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kleiner gives a salute and says "Right away, sir." As quickly as he had arrived he disappears back into the fort leaving Leewan with Lord Frey.

As the two lords stand in awkward silence a group of soldiers come over with a set of ladders and one asks if they can begin the work of taking down the dead King. Frey, simply nods and gestures for Leewan to walk with him back through the gates. As the two walk, Lord Frey looks around at the grim work of collecting the dead and dying and remarks "Hardly a fitting place for an honourable man to die. Hopefully, we'll be able to bring the dead back to Acren and give them all proper burials. Alas, you and I both know full well that will almost certainly not be the case. We each have our duties and preparations to make Lord Griswald; I trust I can count on you in the coming days as we hold the line until reinforcements arrive?"

Leewan, still very much considering abandoning the fort once the crown is found, isn't given a chance to respond as Lord Frey stops suddenly and gives him a grin "The ridiculousness of such a question is almost comedic. The late Von Griswald raised a survivor and a defender, that much I know. I dare all the Lich's unending hordes to attack these walls as we turn them away with our blades! What say you son of Acren?"

[Interovegas]

Von Griswald is unphased by Frey's sudden exuberance. He suspects that fleeing the fort will be an inevitability.

"We will hold for as long as the King's core offensive maintains their warpath. That end is realized by the actions we take today. I go now to receive reports on the nature of this fortress from my kin. They will have results to relay to me by now."

[Thistle]

"Well, that was interesting." Thistle says, rubbing at her eyes. Possessing creatures besides Nibbs always gives her a splitting headache after the fact. "Thanks for playing along with that, at least." Back in the land of the bipedal, she stands up and takes a good look around.
Her gaze is immediately caught by the trashing wolf now tied up on the ground. She walks over to the bound wolf monster and pauses to think for a moment, before dragging some of the heavy barrels over to make an ersatz cage around the animal that will hopefully keep it penned in for now even if it escapes the rope. The Blasted Lander does a quick walk around it for a second to make sure there's no obvious weak points, then turns to Gwain and his minion (Vengeance is with us, right?). "So, I realize this probably sounds like not a great idea, but I might be able to make it more friendly. If we can, uh, leave it alive for right now, we can deal with it after we get your brother patched up."

Right after talking to Gwain, her attention is grabbed again by a sudden, unhappy hiss from across the room. Nibbs is curled up in a darkest corner of the room with large bloody patches on her neck and back. Thistle moves over to her, making soothing noises and assess the damage. Deep cuts glisten redly from where the wolves attacked the cat. Swearing, Thistle quickly tries to patch up the cat as best she can for right now, then gets to her feet and makes for the door. "I'm going to find a healer," she calls over her shoulder, "I'll be back soon!"

[Zwiche]

Rob mumbles, “thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. Purge the Heretic.”

[Dekaru]

Frey maintains his smile and says "That sounds like a challenge to our enemies to me. Let none find us lacking in resolve so long as we have solid walls to defend." With a dismissive gesture, he continues "I have kept you from your kin long enough. Go and if when the scouts return I will send for you if it demands immediate attention."

Walking back towards the centre of the fort courtyard Leewan sees the young local Thistle walking towards white medic tents being hastily set up. Satisfyingly, Leewan can clearly see few of his or Frey's soldiers among those being laid out with most occupants being captives. Once Thistle reaches the healing tents she approaches a women walking among several captives. The medic only stops to check those who may not be breathing and ignores any pleas for help be it water, food, or bandages. Clearing her throat to get the medic's attention she looks at Thistle with annoyance "I've already told your people, no food or water is being handed out without the Lord's permission. Now leave me to my work."

[Interovegas]

Leewan follows in behind Thistle. He places a hand on her shoulder and asks.

"What of the other two Griswalds? Speak more truthfully with me and in plainer words than they."

[Thistle]

Thistle jumps at the sudden hand on her shoulder and turns around, freezes, and backs away a little as politely as she can. 

"Sir, I didn't see you there. Gwain is fine but
Rob threw himself into a cellar full of monsters and got hurt real bad. He lost a lot of blood and really needs a medic." Thistle pauses, uncertainty. "Is there anyone here who is good with patching up animals? The cat got hurt as well."

[Interovegas]

"Our medical specialists patch what bleeds. They do all in their knowledge to mend the injured. See to your beast companion and lead me to this cellar."

[Thistle]

Thistle leads Leewan down under the walls again, stopping at the medical tent to let Leewan order/intimidate a specialist into tagging along with them. She carefully avoids drawing attention to the old man's room for now, and takes them directly to the cellar that Gwain and Rob are currently holding up at.

"Go take care of Rob first, then the cat," She says to the healer.

[Dekaru]

The healer, who Robillard would recognize as the one that cured his eye only an hour ago were he conscious, sighs at the sight of Robillard lying in a pool of his own blood. She carefully walks towards Robillard while keeping an eye on the beast straining against its bonds in the corner. Flipping open the visor on Robillards helmet she leans down and listens for breathing. Muttering something under her breath she looks up at Leewan, who is still standing in the doorway, and says "I can't treat him in all this armour and he's much too heavy for me to move by myself. I'll take the feline with me and be back with four men to move him."

Carefully scooping up Nibs (who naturally protests to being touched but Thistle uses her connection to calm the shadowcat down) and rushing out the door the medic shouts back "If he wakes up don't let him move!" leaving the small kitchen in awkward silence save the snarls of a murderous monster and whatever nonsense Robillard spouts in his sleep.

[Zwiche]

Rob spews some more nonsense in his sleep; if you could call the Holy Word of Themis nonsense.

[Interovegas]

Leewan grunts out:

"Report"

[Thistle]

"Very long story short, " Thistle says. "We went monster hunting in the cellars, found a weird old caretaker of the wastes who pointed us this way, and Rob jumped headfirst into a den of six of those wolves." She nods at the snarling stack of barrel crates. 

"And we got pretty beat up in the fight."

[Gwain Von Griswald]

"And I would have been eaten alive if Thistle's enormous feline she calls a pet hadn't kept the beasts we fought at a distance. Not only that but..." Gwain looks around the room to be sure that the healer is gone and all the peasants have been removed. "Thistle is no ordinary girl from these lands. I watched her take control of one of those attack animals using some kind of... magic. I have no other explanation for what I saw." His eyes are wide with wonder as he speaks. After a slight pause he collects himself. "With a talent like that, you'd make an excellent addition to Gwain's Guard!" He welcomes with a playful jab of his elbow to Thistle's arm.

"In any case, we were unable to move past the cellar. Someone built a literal brick wall, fresh mortar to boot, that stayed our advance. We'll need some special equipment to get through."

[Interovegas]

Leewan eyes the small and unordinary Thistle carefully. Recently too many magicians have gone to great lengths to involve House Griswald in some greater headache, some PLOT of some sort. He is still sharp enough to know that the religious fanatics wielding unnatural powers in the name of a divine being would not be so disheveled or attached to wild life as this diminutive woman.

"Fresh mortar blocking nearly how much more of this dungeon?"

[Thistle]

"No idea. But probably at least something valuable." Thistle says and shrugs. "It's a lich fort. If you wanted to hide something, where would you put it?"

"That fight with the lich felt too easy. I'm not sure how safe this fort actually is and we should probably poke around it more."

[Zwiche]

Rob coughs and bleeds a little more out of his missing eye, as if to remind everyone that the fight with the lich was not too easy.

[Interovegas]

Leewan scans the room signs of construction on THIS side of the wall. He looks for tools, mortar stains beyond the obstructing bricks. Anything to confirm or deny the possibility that someone created the wall from inside the hidden passage.

[Dekaru]

Looking down into the cellar Leewan inspects the relatively fresh mortar on the wall and recognises it is much too clean to have been worked on from this side. Were the workers on the other side they likely wouldn't have been as precise in removing the excess mortar from between the bricks. Furthermore, several of the bricks bulge out awkwardly indicating the workers were not very good at their job as some of the bricks were not inserted with enough space.

[Interovegas]

Leewan barks out to one of Gwains fellows. "Get me a hammer. Now."

One of the few surviving members of Gwain's force scampers off with a nod from the youngest of Griswald and returns prompt with a simple two handed hammer. Lord Leewan Von Griswald takes the thing in both hands, rears it up behind him and gives a mighty swing. The crash of metal against rock shoots the room. Lord Griswald waits a moment for dust and debris to clear from the impact site to see he made a small crack but no solid breach through the barrier.

Griswald mutters quietly "Nothing like a head."

He hoists the hammer up again and comes crashing in with another forceful arc.

[Dekaru]

Leewans perception surprises his sibling as Greed practically yelps in surprise at the sudden order from his hidden position outside the kitchen. What Gwain will do with the eavesdropper will have to be determined later as the more pressing request demands attention. As Leewan swings the hammer his full force he can feel the wall caving to each of his blows more and more. After about a dozen swings Leewan brings the hammer down one last time and the brick wall collapses to the ground with enough dust and debris that everyone present is forced to cover their nose and mouth. Once the dust settles Leewan, Gwain, and Thistle gaze upon a long tunnel that extends longer than the meagre light can illuminate.

Taking torch in hand, Leewan strides into the dark tunnel with axe drawn in case the Lich left any more surprises in store. As the odd party moves forward a glisten begins to appear in the distance with a few more steps revealing a pile of gold and silver lying in the dirt. Stopping to take in the sight, all can see that the pile is composed of both coin and vanity items such as statues and plates but perhaps most interestingly a gilded chest sits atop the pile with practically a halo emanating from it in the torchlight.

[Interovegas]

Leewan looks at Robillard, his martial champion, Gwain, his master of surviving and conniving, and Thistle, his ... magically imbued mud person.

"Apply your skills the lot of you. Ascertain what lich borne traps may hide here."

[Zwiche]

Blood continues to drip down Rob’s unconscious and dying form.

[Dekaru]

Clearly no martial prowess needed here the medic from before returns with several soldiers in tow. Pointing to Robillard, she shouts to the lot "That one. Move him to a tent with a bed. I don't care if all the beds are occupied find him one and get him out of his armour." The soldiers begin to file into the room paying no attention to Leewan, Gwain, and Thistle down in the cellar. As one the soldiers lift the enormous weight Robillard and carry him away. The medic simply nods to the trio down below and takes her leave as well.

[Thistle]

"If I was an evil lich lord, that would definitely be trapped," Thistle says, eyeing the small to medium sized fortune heaped up down the hall. "No sense rushing in."

Thistle reaches out with her mind, feeling down the corridors towards the nooks and crannies where grain barrels and other food stuffs have been laid by carelessly. In short order, she comes upon a few rats huddled away, their beady little eyes peering out from their hiding spots. Not needing to wrestle with them like she had to with the neon wolf, she directs a few of them to scurry down the hall towards the heap of gold.

[Dekaru]

Like something out of a fairy tale the rats scamper forth down the tunnel and try to sniff out any signs of traps. Upon getting closer to the pile of valuables of the the rats suddenly feels a pain in one of its paws and (after Thistle is suddenly forced from its mind) dies a quick but painful death as it suddenly begins violently convulsing on the ground. Working through the fatigue, Thistle reconnects with the other rats and realizes the dead one had stepped on a slightly exposed metal spike. Some quick digging reveals that the spike is around three inches long and is coated in some kind of poison. Presumably there are other nails waiting for heavier unsuspecting individuals to step on around the treasure.

[Thistle]

"Alright," Thistle says, pulling back from her rat horde. "It's definitely trapped and probably set to hurt us if we walk over it." 

She give the room around them a quick glance. There's lots of barrels and caskets in the corners. Grabbing a heavy one, she wheels it around and waves the brothers back away from the passage to a maybe safer distance. Then, she kicks the barrel and lets it roll over to where the chest lies.

[Dekaru]

The barrel rolls down the hallway until it stops against the pile of gold. Looking at the ground between them and the treasure about a dozen more of these spikes have been revealed by the barrel

[Gwain Von Griswald]

Clearly impressed with Thistle's handiwork, Gwain offers a rare aside to Lord Griswald. "Glad that one's on our side. I'd wager she's got more sense than half the soldiers in our camp, and definitely more than a certain brother we know."

"Excellent work Thistle! Now if you don't mind..." Gwain retrieves the rope they'd used earlier and fashions it into a lasso "I'd like a shot at that chest." As if playing some kind of demented carnival game, Gwain casts the rope towards the chest, attempting to draw the prize closer from a safe distance.

[21 on the marksmanship test]

[Dekaru]

Gwain expertly lasso’s the chest and begins dragging it across the floor. Though it may take time to get the rest of the treasure the contents of the chest will at least be known. With a tug the chest slides off the pile of gold and a series of heaves the chest slides across the floor circumventing the trap. While pulling the gilded chest Gwain realizes with excitement it is quite heavy and he can’t help but hope the crown is inside.

[Gwain Von Griswald]

Feeling the hefty chest's resistance, Gwain shouts in excitment. "We've got a live one!" after a few moments, the chest sits safely at the feet of all three present. "Who wants to do the honors?"

[Interovegas]

Leewan gestures at Thistle. "This is a house affair. Avert thine eyes. Gwain, be cautious as ye open the box."

[Dekaru]

Once Thistle averts her gaze Gwain nods in acknowledgment to Leewans order. Releasing the clasps holding the chest closed Gwain opens the chest carefully should there be a trap within. Fortunately, no spikes or poisonous gases emerge from the the chest as it opens and instead resting on a purple cushion lays a golden crown with a single large ruby fixture in its center. Leewan immediately recognizes the crown as that of the Acren monarchy and further inspection convinces him it is genuine.

[Gwain Von Griswald]

"Well, we've got what we came for, what now Lord Griswald?"

[Interovegas]

"We hide it from sight. Create another story of what is kept down here. The nature of the crown itself is suspect and too plainly a key to a divine or unnatural machination. What is clear is that these lyches will only deliver death to us even if the crown is rendered to them."

[Thistle]

Naturally nosy as hell, Thistle can't take it anymore and peers over the group huddle around the chest and sees the crown. 

"Well, that looks important," she says, "Now who does that belong to?"

[Interovegas]

Leewan huffs: "No soul that matters to you. Keep a lookout at the dungeon entrance. Gwain and his oath-bound will secret this away."

[Thistle]

"That's a crown and you're no king, so this is probably some sort of theft," She says, but shrugs. "Fine. Have it your way. I want to be away from here sooner rather than later."

She takes up a position by the door, and listens in as best she can to any conversation she can hear.

[Interovegas]

Von Griswald ignores the unnatural mud lander. He retorts to unspoken words from Gwain and Robillard instead. "To Schiller."

[Thistle]

Thistle pokes her head back into the room. "So, are we ready to go? We should probably find our priest friend again before someone else does."

[Interovegas]

"Gwain's guard, himself and Robillard will deliver this home and you shall accompany them. I cannot leave my soldiers here under Frey's command."

[Gwain Von Griswald]

"Very well. Looks like you're coming with us Thistle," Gwain smiles. The world beyond these cursed plains is a sight to behold and there will be much that seem unfamiliar. Just stick with us and try to stay out of trouble."

"Oh who am I kidding, I should be much more worried about Robillard than you when it comes to trouble."

[Dekaru]

Leewan and Gwain (and Thistle) now in agreement on what is to be done return the crown to its chest and with a heave the youngest Griswald carries it up and out of the cellar. Exiting the small space for what feels like the first time in months (MONTHS!!!) Leewans personal bodyguard quickly assemble around him and Gwains Guard quickly begins congregating. Leewan, not interested in what his brother's personal entourage has to say, takes leave to the now assembling camp within the fort walls. On the way, a messenger from Frey tells him that rooms within the walls have been secured if Leewan would prefer to sleep indoors. Meanwhile, the members of Gwain Guard begin asking assorted questions along the lines of "what happened, are you ok, and what'd you find?" Clutching the chest in hand, Gwain assures his men of his safety and health but quickly notices there too few members of his Guard present. Relief hits Gwain when he spots Treachery walking up to the group through his eyes are drawn to a left arm in a sling.

Reaching the ensemble of merry men, Treachery gives a half smile to Gwain and says "A fine victory to House Griswald, sir. But pray tell, have you seen Vengeance since the battle? Last I saw him he was fighting alongside you during the battle."

One of the men shouts at Treachery "He's probably off wooing that healer he's had his eyes on since we set out! Shame I lost dice to him or I'd be there doing the same!"

Thistle, whether paying attention or not, catches Gisgo out of the corner of her eye atop the main gate. Following his gaze Thistle can see he is looking at a sizable pyre being built towards the West side of the courtyard but soon begins walking along the palisade towards one of the stone towers.

[Thistle]

Thistle jogs over and falls in step beside Gisgo. Nodding at the pyre, she says. "So how many did we lose?"

More quietly, she adds. "And it's looking like I'm going to be following Griswalds back, for now. I think they might be pulling their forces out soon, but I'm not certain."

[Dekaru]

Gisgo pauses in his walk for a brief moment, apparently perplexed by Thistle's words. Resuming his original walking pace he responds to the strange woman "We didn't lose many. The near hundred defenders though? Nearly all of them. I'm looking for the fort's store of scotus. It must be burned so it's taint cannot trick any more unwary souls"

Mimicking Thistles hushed tone but keeping his eyes ahead of him Gisgo continues his response "If they are to be leaving back to Acren all the better. We have already been paid and the less time here means a more immediate potential for coin. Why are the Griswalds interested in bringing you with them in particular?"

[Thistle]

"They want a scout for the way back. I think it's only a few of us returning for the moment, but we'll see how this shapes up. What are your plans if the Griswalds leave? And why do they have a cache of scotus?"


When the conversation finishes up, Thistle loops back to the field hospital. She pops in, checks in on Nibbs, and then goes to see if Rob is awake.

[Dekaru]

"If the Griswalds are to leave then I will give Yenin and you your pay and return with them to Acren. Lord Griswald had mentioned possible future pay but my first priority is your future employment as your mother asked me to. I have taught you how to survive but it is up to you and Themis how you use that knowledge. As for the scotus, the Lich's use it to maintain their hold on their hordes of followers. It is easy to maintain loyalty when you hold control of the only substance that provides a man or woman joy in their life."

Electing to leave Gisgo to his search and check on Nibbs Thistle takes her leave and is happy to find that her feline companion is able to walk though any strenuous activity is not advised. Nibbs in tow, Thistle walks past the tent Robillard occupies and pokes her head in to see how he's doing. The medic quickly shouts at her "Out! I won't have anyone getting him riled up when I only just finished bandaging him!"

Robillard, now awake, ignores the medic and performs a gesture/says something to the contrary.

[Zwiche]

Robillard feebly lifts his hand, waving the medic closer. “No,” he croaks, “let her pass. This little one saved my life. She is not to be hindered in this camp, on my honor as a Griswald.”

When Thistle approaches, he says, “We have won, through no small part due to your efforts. Tell me, how does it feel to have Themis’ strength flowing through your veins?”

[Thistle]

"Oh good! You aren't dead yet. How is the, uh, eye? Ribs?" Thistle takes note of all the bandages. Everything looks distressingly oozy. "How long are you going to be stuck here?"

"I'm not sure about the Themis part, but I'm fine otherwise."

[Zwiche]

“Your concern shows your gentle heart. I am glad to hear you are unharmed, my lady. I, on the other hand, may be trapped here for some time. My eye has left me. This attack will leave me scarred. Perhaps I shall recover in a few weeks, perhaps longer; only Themis knows.

“But tell me,” Rob grunts our as he shifts around, trying to sit up. “What more news of the battle? What was hidden in that room? Was my sacrifice worth my suffering?”