DB Chapter 6/Church Chapter 1 [CHURCH] COMPENDIUM I - August1995 MEETING OF THOSE IN OPPOSITION ***** ***** ***** Compended by Phaedra Whitlock with assistance from the [DB] Dragon's Blood] Compendium compiled by Michael Dew. ************************************************ "I've heard two rumours. One, that he was taken by the bank for failing to pay a loan, and the other was that the church was involved somehow. Most things that happen in town have church involvement of late!" She said in a low voice. Fawn left them, and returned with a big platter of food for the two. Two bowls of stew, one roasted chicken, cheese, milk and two of the inn's famous cinnamon rolls. She also had a tankard of 'Rumroast'tm ale for Deirdre. "Well now, hope you've got hearty appetites! If you need anything else, just let me know" --J Enright Shan thinks for a moment. Then says... "Well I think both of the rumors that Fawn heard of may be true. The church is aligning itself with the political powers of the city. You can be asured that they have consulted everyone so far possible that has any influence over the people. [Where did Shan learn all this stuff? /:| ] So it could be that any number of groups have been swayed to the power of the 'Church'. Money is an important issue for them, so the bank is most likely in league with them." Shan looks the room over for any black and silver suits. [Inquisitors] "I have been remembering a lot of things lately. Where I came from. My parents...My mother..." Shan pauses for a moment. "I come from a clan of performers; accrobats and such. The Wa'ari. "What people really came to see was powers of resonance. Telekinesis realy, I think some magic too. They allowed clan members to create musical effects that had people comming from miles away to see. They also let us fly, but I haven't gotten to do that yet... well I haven't done it on purpose." "All of this ended one day when the church decided they wanted our clan to join them; have us use our power to announce the word of their 'Lord'. They didn't accept the refusal lightly. They burned my mother." "I never remembered any of this until that 'Church' appeared, and the witch burnings began. Then the visions began. In my dreams I can see my people attacking the chuch as my mother burned in the courtyard. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for a man named Jerrit L'Arain. He brought me south. Left me at the orphanage with his name and left. I've never seen him again, except for in my dreams. Someday I would Like to find him. Thank him." Shan looks around the room again one more time, taking absolute caution that no one of the 'wrong' crowd is there to see him. Then he begins. He stands, noting how Deirdre still reaches his chin in hight even though she is sitting down. Shan closes his eyes and a faint red glow builds behind him. The aura slides down his arms which he extends forward. Palms facing each other at shoulder width, a blue collum of light forms between them. It shimmers. It begins to make the noise of distant shouting. Tunderous shouts. The sounds of splintering stone. Behind it all can be hear voices. A child calling for his mother. A man's voice (Jerrit?) can be heard talking to the boy. Telling him he has to go. He can't help fight the bad men. Then the last plaintive wail of a child calling out. Silince. A trodding horse. "Jerri, where are we going?" "Far away.. south." "But, why? Mommy and Daddy will get mad at me if I'm gone to long... Are they comming too?" "Shan, remember that story about Brinstar and the Thane?" "Yeah?" "Well, remember how that the giant beatle hurt the Thane really bad and he went to sleep. Hinhander called for his soul. Hinhander said to to the Thane "My son, you fought bravely, you destroyed the Evil Binhordra Stone Beatle. You saved your clan. Now I need you with me to help me with my foe's." "Yeah, then he gave him the Golden Lance." The boy said proudly. "Yes, Shan, that's right the Golden Lance. Well, last night... Your whole can had to fight something worse than the Beatle. I don't know how many Hinander was able to save...I think right now that your parents are with the Thane fighting harder than ever for Him." "So does that make you Brinstar?" "No..you are the only one of your clan left. I wish I was Brinstar, to help you. I did promis your parents to save you. But I don't think you can be safe with me. I have to find someone else to help you. Yes, Shan I wish I was Brinstar...." A plodding horse. Silence. --Samson Gonzales He barely manages to keep his eyes open while he finishes his dinner. Drowsily he walked toward Fawn. Pulling out two coppers he said to her "Thanks for your hospitality, I would like to have a bed. A bench will do. I'm just so slee....yaaaaawwwnn...py." Despite the wanderings in and out of patrons, and the singing, Shan had no difficulty getting to sleep... Shan was standing alone on a cold mountain. It was familiar, but he had no recollection of ever being there. There was snow all around him. Below where he was standing he could see valleys and a city far in the distance. Night had settled below and looked like such a work of art that Shan stood there awe struck. "Beautiful, isn't it?" the delicate voice of an old man came to Shan's ears. "I have often wondered if I made a mistake leaving you with that human in Montford. Denying you this." Shan turned to look at the one who addressed him. There was no one there. "Jerrit... Is that you?" Shan called. The snow on the slope Shan now faced began to move. Shan stepped back, afraid that the apperent avalanche would crush him. When nothing happend he openned his eyes warily. Before him was the face of a dragon, snow white, and ready to strike. "Well now, either you are terrified, or a fool to stand there like that ...don't you recognize me, boy?" "N..No, sir." Shan stood a little straighter. "Hmmm. It would seem as if a little of my magic has not worn off yet. Don't worry boy. It will ware compleatly off in a few more days." The dragon looked Shan over. "Would seem that you are more of a man now than when I last saw you. Then again, you are short for your clan. You must be fifteen by now." "Excuse me, but how do you know about my clan? About me?" Shan wasn't sure why but he was certain that this creature wasn't going to eat him. (I'm asleep, I'm dreaming... But it's all so..) "Real? Yes well it's always been nice to talk in this way. I haven't done it in... well at least over two hundred years." The dragon lifted his body from the snow and spread his wings. "As to your questions, come and visit me and I'll tell you all that you want to know. Go to the large camphor tree west of Montford." The dragon paused to look at Shan's legs. "Fifteen paces south of the tree and down a man hight you'll find a box. Open it and you will find your way to me." With that the dragon spread its wings and left Shan behind in a torrent of snow. The Brinstar looked back and as he realeased Shan from his spell he said to the stars, "He's a fine image of you my brother." When Shan awoke, he found himself shivering in blankets. "It's about time you woke up. We were begining to worry about you." Shan Looked up at the faces of Hugh and Fawn. "You were tossing and turning all night. When I checked for a fever, you were cold as a stone, so I covered you with blankets." Shan sat up and looked at the two. "I'm sorry, I just had a strange...dream." The word was completely inadequate to describe his experience that night. --Samson Gonzales Semareth stepped slowly into the inn, his dark eyes searching around deliberately. His eyes were a curse sometimes, and a blessing ocassionally. In this instant they served him well. People in the inn could not know what he saw about them through those orbs. Fawn slid past, glancing at him, and passing on. What he saw of her interested him, yet it was not his business right now - he would deal with her later, let loose the urge to consume that all-too evident spiritualness. He glowered at her back, and swept his long black cape forward as he cleared the doorway. In his new role in the Inquisitors, he had not found much difficulty in leading. The reflex came naturally when it involved that which he loved. Now while he was willing to send forth expendables to test the strength of his enemies, now was when he walked the streets unguarded. The gods would protect him, even if he couldn't. He directed his glare on Hugh, and allowed a bit of a smile play wickedly at the edges of his mouth. "Good day, Master Hugh. How is business today?", he did not need to speak of taxes, the threat was there. "One such as yourself must be doing quite well now that certain sections of the community see your inn as a haven from the Church. I assure you, the Redeemer sees all, and will not be stopped by wards or other less conventional subterfuge.", he looked around, partly to look for victims, partly to take the bluntness out of the statement (how had those men he had sent here gone missing? who was Hugh hiding, if he was?). "Pah! I will not preach the obvious to you, innkeeper. I won't stay, but I have a thought for you to hold... this city, this realm, is the Redeemer's. I fully intend to seek out all those who oppose the Church, and nail them to the tree of light myself.". He turned on his heel and exited the inn as deliberately as he had entered. His bastard sword swung smoothly at his side, and his fingers itched to feel it in their grip, contact oiled with blood once more. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Hours before, he had stood in the town square, shirtless and armorless. Sweat slicked his well-muscled body, mingling with the blood of his victims as he nailed them hand and foot to crosses with 7 inch nails. He would pause ocassionally to look at the Inquisitors who stood around him, and make an idle comment or two. "The view must be good up there.", he mused, pointing at a groaning "witch-lover" who hung, arms wide above him. When he left, armored again in blue-grey, his eyes held the same metallic color. The color drained quickly though, gods were a difficult bunch to please. --Nick Takayama Azuria walked up to the bar and looked directly at Hugh. "Hugh" she called out softly, "what has happened to this town?" --Lord Billy Yee Hugh looked up, then both ways as he wiped the bar. While studiously working to dislodge a small bit of food on the bar, Hugh commented "Church of the Redeemer. Going to make everything just perfect. Only a fool would speak against the Church." Hugh looked piercingly at Azuria, then said "Care for some water with a touch of lemon juice? That's what all the good Church people want." --Dave Womack Azuria furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Ah... no thanks, Hugh..." she said backing away. "I think I will rejoin my friends with dinner..." Azuria walked back to the table, her face clouded with confusion, eyes darting back and forth across the room. At the questioning looks given to her by her tablemates, she shrugged her shoulders and shook her head, the look upon her face telling all her confusion. She turned to Sonterey. "Every sense in my body is screaming right now." she whispered. "I..." a shadow suddenly loomed over them and Azuria shut up instantly looking for the source of the shadow. She relaxed, albeit only a tiny bit, when she saw it was Hugh approaching their table. --Lord Billy Yee-- --- A bit later, spotting Azuria, Hugh commented "You're a regular. Care to join me for a private party (tomorrow night)?" --Dave Womack Her eyebrows knitted across her forehead again, but she saw the look in Hugh's eyes and it told her volumes beyond his simple invitation. She nodded wordlessly and Hugh continued on across the inn tending to his customers nonchalantly. Azuria scanned the inn from one corner of her eyes to the other. Finding it all clear, she whispered to the group. "Guys, " she almost mouthed, "something is truly amiss in this town and I think Hugh wants to discuss it." She took a sip from her goblet, her eyes darted left and right. "I want to get to the bottom of this, " she continued, scarcely above a whisper. "This has gotten personal..." she hissed in spite of herself. --Lord Billy Yee Rozalia woke and emerged from her room wearing her original fighting garb, loose black blouse and knee high black boots over dark brown leather. She looked down at Yon sitting in the lotus position and took note of the rat who had the misfortune of attempting to enter on his watch. Yon and Rozalia had a quick breakfast together. She tried to convey the ideas of basic words like "food" and "day," "morning," etc. When she finished those incredible cinnamon rolls that brought back memories, she stood, but motioned for Yon to stay seated and relax. "I .." she said slowly, gesturing with every word, "have to go out. I will be back .. tonight .. umm later. I will meet you .. here." She double checked the weight of her money purse and tightness of her weapon belt and walked out the door. Immediately when she left the air of paranoia hit her like a blast of stagnent air. Every townsperson she made eye contact with either turned away or returned the gaze with wide, almost frightened eyes rather than a smile. The signs of trouble were a little too evident. Most noticeable of which was the lack of city watchmen. She had heard the town prided itself on its watch and there was not a soul in uniform to be seen. Then she reached the center of town and gasped. In the square Landis' severed head stared horrifically at passersby from a pole in the middle of the street. Even stranger than that .. no one made a move to remove it. In her mind she could not help but make a connection from the Griffins to the Guild to the town's disposition to Hugh's "party." What the link was she had no idea. She stood in the square staring at the grotesque sign in the street for several minutes. It reaked of Thieve's Guild warning all over it. A sick feeling swelled inside her, the same as last night but sharper, magnified by the sight before her. Then her gaze wandered to an alley. The day before Jerrod Taskin had been lucky. Rozalia did not see him watching her. This time was different. Even worse he was wearing an all too familiar crossbow and quiver on his back. When she disappeared so abruptly into the crowd he looked around panic stricken. He did find her again, when she was practically right on top of him. Several paces away from him she smiled, "Long time no see Jerrod." The boy took off like a bat out of hell. She was not surprised and was after him in an instant. The kid was fast, Rozalia mused as he rounded a corner at the end of the block. Jerrod broke into a sprint once he had a straightaway sidewalk to run down and fewer people to dodge. Rozalia started to lose ground until he got to another corner and wrongly decided he could lose her better by changing direction. He bolted around a horse hitched to a post in front of a general store. She took the short route. Three strides before the the horse, she widened her step and leapt over the horse, post, and an extremely startled customer in a flying kick that connected with Jerrod's flank. Before he could hit the ground he was grabbed by his tunic and slammed hard face first into a wall. When he regained his faculties he felt a cold dagger at the base of his skull and heard, "Nice crossbow little sh*t." Jerrod was never as sick of hearing that title as he was now. Rozalia untied the belt that held the bow and quarrels to his back. "Jerrod you bastard! I used to babysit you!" Once she had her possessions again she took the blade away from his neck. Jerrod had not said a word save some incoherent muttering. When he saw that she didn't even seem to take note of him any longer he ran off and disappeared. She stood there in the street, suddenly exhausted as the adrenaline ebbed away. Something was wrong with herself as well as the town. Cain's death weighed too heavily on her mind. Rozalia Wulfsdottir spent the rest of the morning at Griff Field Cemetery. --Lance Stahlberg It had been a curious morning, he thought as he took a place in the corner of the inn and trimmed his nails carefully with a knife. The knife's hilt was engraved with a small heron and, on the blade near the base, was a domestic cat. First Rozie had told him to stay put and had gone off into town, and now there was a curious _atmosphere_ in the inn itself. Nothing he could put his proverbial finger on, but enough to make him cautious. It was like giving an insomniac coffee. Only when Rozie returned did he relax, though neither his expression nor attitude changed visibly. --Martin Cox The cold water on her face felt good as Cari scrubbed weeks of dirt from her skin. She hated having to be so dirty, but her disguise as beggar demanded it and the filth more than ably masked her features. A fact that she had truly welcomed when she snuck from her northern homelands where she had been known as a student to the wizardess Leathian. She looked at the pale fine-boned face in the mirror, with a tangle of matted black hair, and haunted large green eyes. The thought of her teacher/friend weighed heavily on her as she remembered coming back from gathering herbs in the mountains to learn from frightened neighbors that Leathian had been arrested by the Church of the Redeemer. She wished she could have come up with some strategy to have rescued her teacher, but there had been little she could do but flee in the guise of a mute beggar. Over the months that had followed she had traveled from town to town, feeling more alone than she had in many years, back when Leathian had taken in a mute daughter of a local farmer and had begun to teach her such things as mindspeak. It had been in Belltown that she had met up with the underground and had become agent for them. They had sent her out to help create other cells, and in her travels she had heard that this city had fallen to the Redeemer's influence. She had also heard of men like the barkeep,Hugh, who were trustworthy individuals. A tiny smile touched her lips at his surpise when a dirty beggar had begun to mindspeak. Once she had finished cleaning herself and trying to comb out her hair she lay down on the mat she had been provided in the back room and prepared to sleep until night came and she was able to go tothe meeting. --Cathy Mosley Raven then walked into the room. Upon hearing that the party was to begin he has left his most obvious weapons behind. now just dressed in his black leathers, a dagger in a sheath, on a belt with a silver buckle he looks just slightly non-descripted(that aura of danger is still arround him). Looking arround he spots Maeve, feeling sociable, he walks over and introduces himself. --Nicholas Rodgers Noticing him walk over, Maeve straightened up and stared at him, a look of seriousness on her face. --Marie Kelly "Hi, My name is Raven. I've got a feeling tonight will be a long night. So I thought I'll introduce myself now." Ravens gravelly voice sounds slightly strained. "Have you heard the latest rummors?" --Nicholas Rodgers Maeve frowned. "I fear I have," she whispered. "The Church of the Redeemer is powerful, to say the least. It will take much to stop it." --Marie Kelly "Enrico has declared a state of emergancy. People are starting to disappear. My god, when will they stop?" --Nicholas Rodgers "'They' meaning the those who belong to the Church of the Redeemer, I suppose? I do believe that only when they've bended everybody to their will--and killed those who won't." --Marie Kelly "I'm afraid your right." Raven answers. He looks around, The room is filling up. "Do you think this will help?" he asks. --Nicholas Rodgers "I'm not too sure," Maeve answered thoughtfully. "The people all seem to be quite optimistic, but how long will it last?" --Marie Kelly "So far the Church has commanded this show. I would hate to see these farmers get hurt. Though there are people and not-people of power here. You can almost smell the magic users. What are you doing here? You don't look like a fighter or a mage." --Nicholas Rodgers "I'm not. Most here seem to be excited to run into battle, to live the life of glory. But, to be perfectly honest, it must be admitted that many of them will get hurt. Perhaps there might be a sort of...hospital...to care for them? Or a refugee camp of sorts? Granted, working there will lack glory but better that than have a thousand glorious, dead people." --Marie Kelly It was late. Her husband was already snoring in his bed. Roga gazed over at his sleeping figure; his round form rising and falling softly to the sounds of sleep. She stood quietly and placed her knitting on the wooden table beside her. She dressed in a shawl and bonnet, in all silence, and eased her body out of the creaky front door. She had oiled the hinges earlier that day and the cursed thing complained not as she left her husband asleep on his straw mattress. "That bed will need airing before the new moon," she thought to herself as she made her way down the dirt road into town. Aout a half-mile up, she found Matthew the farmer waiting behind a large oak. His cloak was pulled tightly about him to hide his face but his height gave him away. He was one of the few men in the village to reach a full six feet. "Well met, Roga," Matthew whispered in greeting and the two continued on into Montfort center. They walked in silence for several moments until Roga said, "Do you think they will draw some attention to us?" She knew he would take her meaning concerning the missives that Thane had posted on various trees around Montfort hailing the evils of the Church of the Redeemer. Her companion looked pensive. "Aye, I do." answered Matthew, "And I do not know if the attention will be what we want. I do know that it will serve two causes. That Proctor John and his false desciples will know that there are those who oppose them...and we may be able to sway some of his potential victims away from his clutches. It's all we can do for now." The tall farmer smiled weakly at his friend who's face responded with a mirrored expression of hope. Several minutes later, they reached Montfort center and walked casually into the Dragon's Inn. A blessed warmth from the Inn's fireplace wafted into their night- chilled faces and the cloaks were removed as they moved towards the bar. Hugh was there serving a drink to a hooded soldier. His eyes lifted at the motion of their approach and his expression changed to a welcoming smile. Matthew and Roga sat at the far end of the bar, several seats away from other patrons. Hugh approached them after a few moments and asked loudly, "What can I get for you, friends?" "An ale for me and cool water for my sister," responded Matthew in a voice equally as loud. Hugh nodded and Matthew barely caught the hand motion Hugh made as he turned to fetch the drinks. Matthew tilted his head toward Roga and pretended to be pointing out the lovely painting on the wall, "Hugh says it is almost time. You should go first, then after a few moments, I will follow." When they were done with their drinks, Matthew was overheard to ask Hugh for a room for the night, and Hugh handed Roga a key. Matthew stayed for one more ale and then followed his sister up to "bed"...Thane was already there along with several of their friends. --Kara Marzahn Thai Silverrun sighed in contentment as her tired horse walked the last few miles to Montfort. She had spent months searching for her cousin only to find Niki had traveled the Rift to this new place. Thai wore a black hooded cloak against the evenings dew, but underneath wore the soft crimson robes of a magi. A black-dragon leather belt cinched her slim waist and held her silver dagger sheath in place. Matching black riding boots peaked from under her dark red underskirts. Her long black hair was tied up and back from her slightly pointed ears in a grecian knot with an enchanted ribbon. When used correctly, the ribbon became a garrotte. Her only jewelry was a circlet of carved onyx around her middle finger. Obsorbed in her thoughts, Thai failed to notice the rough clad form standing hunched over in the road before her until she was upon him. He grasped the bridle of her mount, a large black warhorse, and smiled ingratiatingly at her. "Spare a coin mistress?" he whined over the rustle of movement in the forest. Thai raised her nose haughtily and jerked her exhausted animal away from his grasp. "Get away from me or you'll regret it sir." "I think not." He straightened and slid a well honed sword from the scabbard here-to-fore concealed within his tattered robes. His voice deepened and took on a definite aura of authority. "There are archers in the treeline lovely lady, and so I repeat myself. Your coinage or your life." Thai glanced quickly left and right, three heat traces left, two on the right, and the one in front of her, before she glared into his falsely charming smile and kicked him in the face. A jerk on the reins and her horse moved back away from the bandit as his mistress began drawing sigils in the air and chanting. Arrows twanged, and were shunted harmlessly aside by her spell armor. "Fools," she thought silently. "Would I travel alone if I was unprotected?" She was surrounded and slid from her horse to the ground. Fire and illusions of fire felled the nearest before she was forced to draw her blades and defend herself. The illusions continued their work, and another fled into the forest thinking himself ablaze. Thai backed against her horse and prayed to Astarte. *** "Captain, look! Another fire in the forest." The captain nodded and signalled to his men. If witches were determined to burn Montfort to the ground, then he would see they burned with the town. He held his arm high, then dropped it as he kicked his horse into motion. *** The guard thundered over the crest of the hill and stopped short. The witch was being held at bay by four soot-covered men. Even as the captain watched, another burst of flame shot from her fingers to bathe three in hellish red flames. "Crossbows, And hurry." the captain ordered. "The witch is distracted." His men loaded quickly and aimed. *** Thai glanced at the new party of men just arrived. Uniformed all of them, and pointing their weapons at her. Blunt bolts careened off of her spell shield and fell to her feet. Alarm spread across her face as the guards drew clubs and swept into the scorched clearing she had made, and then Thai knew nothing more. --Phaedra Whitlock He stopped in mid sentence, spying the very child he was in the process of inquiring about. Zeph walked passed him with another woman, (dressed as a soldier) and the pair disappeared into a room at the rear of the inn. "Ahhh...what is in that room?" He pointed in the direction of the room that was slowly filling with some of the inns' patrons. --Dave Smart Sera looked at Strawberry speculatively for a moment, then replied "Perhaps...freedom. Certainly, danger. Really, just a meeting of those who are concerned about Montfort...perhaps you should go." --Dave Womack He nodded then said, "but first I'll take care of this snack!" He dove into his soup, missing Sera's laughing smile as she disappeared back into the kitchen. He ate, he ate and ate. Fulfilled alas, he followed a patron or two who entered the back room. He immediately made himself comfortable upon a diminishing stock of sitting stools. The feeling that hit Strawberry as he took in the room, was that of commonality. It felt as though he were in a room filled with people who's minds where on the same frequency. He was in the room of the newly formed underground. "Vive La Resistance!" He declared in a loud jovial voice. --Dave Smart The day was getting late, and it was time to go to the 'private party'. Hugh passed the word to those who needed to know, and arranged for Sera and Judy to handle the bar. In the back room, there was water and some simple food, but no wine or ale; all would need clear heads this night. Hugh stood, contemplating the future...he was risking a great deal, opposing the Church...but it was the right thing to do. He couldn't stand by and do nothing. --Dave Womack As the evening hours crept on she noticed that the crowd was not getting any bigger, and that some noteable people were not present .. namely Hugh. Seeing that party time drew near she bowed to the smattering of applause and pulled Yon aside. While she weighed out a fourth of the money she made, she whispered, "You .. come with .. me .." She gestured with every pause, to Yon, to the back, and to herself. Then she put put her finger to her lips .. hoping he would understand the sign for silence. Afraid he might mimic her in front of what she assumed to be Church spies she quickly handed Yon his share of the money and waved him back towards her room. --Lance Stahlberg Yon nodded fractionally to show he understood. At least, he understood what she was saying, not what she was doing or why. Still, he had decided it would be dishonourable to abandon a wounded woman - even if she was halfway decent with a blade herself. Pushing the money into a pocket somewhere in his clothes, he gripped the shaft in his left hand and followed her into the back room. --Martin Cox Himgurath finished talking to Seir and went to join the rest at the Private Party. His thoughts turned to the many tortures he would like to inflict on those who hurled arrows at Azuria. Why she affected him thus, he could not fathom, but perhaps there was a reason of which he was not aware. When he arrived at the Party he looked over the others already gathered there. He went to join Mark and Sonterey and hoped that this meeting would reveal others who would be interested in a more direct solution to some of Montfort's problems. --Pam Curry Lorendil was sitting by himself in the common room, having just returned from his "errands", when Hugh dropped by. "After what just went on, I thought you might be interested in a little clandestine meeting this evening." Lorendil was surprised at the bartender's words, but nodded his approval. Hugh then told Lorendil where it was to be held. He then placed another glass of Tynntanglian wine on the table and said in a louder voice (but not so loud as to draw attention), "If there's anything else I can bring ye, just holler!" Lorendil felt himself being drawn into a deeper intrigue. Instinct barked in his mind, telling him not to get involved. But another voice was crying out, and this voice was urging him to action. Things were quickly coming to a head, and there would be need for many allies in the fast-approaching battle with the Dark One. Besides, what was the harm in a meeting? He would not be committed at that point, there would be no decisive action taken. Also, it might provide some insight into the fate and whereabouts of the Strong One, and how to extricate him from said plight. He decided he would attend. When the time came, Lorendil arrived at the designated place. The room was small and well hidden, and he thought to himself that this was good. What an asset Hugh had in a hidden conference room! There were already a number of people there. It was very crowded, and this pleased Lorendil. Those aligned against the evil forces plaguing the lands would need all the numbers they could muster. He did not speak, but let others do so. There were many who had issues to raise. Many dealt with the greater threat of the Church of the Redeemer, but there were a few voices that sought help in rescuing those who had been taken. Lorendil was not sure, but he thought the faces seemed oddly familiar. Had he seen them somewhere before, somewhere quite recently? He would have to start paying more attention. As the meeting was beginning to adjourn, and the people began to slip out in small numbers, he noticed a group at a table discussing something with a great intensity. They spoke in hushed voices, and as such he could not make out what they were saying. Curious, even with his draconian hearing he could make out nothing...was there magic at play? Lorendil decided that he would be one of the last to leave, and give himself the opportunity to observe further this band who had called for the rescue of those taken captive earlier. ---m *** Hugh, exhausted by his first attempt at public speaking in a long time, takes a drink of water and sits down, hoping that something will come of his plea... --Dave Womack Cari stood in the back of the room and listened to Hugh's impassioned speech and felt the power of his words take hold of the townspeople's hearts, and felt the tiny warmth of hope that always kindled in her tired soul when she saw a new resistance group form. She nursed that warmth like the jewel it was, though she knew how easily it could be shattered. How great the foe was that they fought against. When there was a silence after most of the townspeople had spoken she broadcast in mindspeak, "Gentle folk, my name is Cari. And I have seen the truth of the destruction that the Church of the Redeemer has caused to innocent lifes." Many people looked around, confused by where the thoughts touching their minds were coming from until Cari moved forward. Few had noticed the slender beggar who had followed in on Hugh's shadow. "I have been sent by the resistence group in Belltown to go out and form other cells, but here I see that it is already well under way. I am ready to offer what aid I can to your battle here." --Cathy Mosley Smith fixed the crowd in his gaze and continued "If straight assasination fails, the friends and relatives you care about and love will come for you. They will arrest you. They will take you to the pyre. And they will burn you...all for the good of your soul. Civil wars must unavoidably lead to friend against friend...brother against brother...father and son battling on opposite sides. I've seen several, and it's always about the same." --JLSmith Thane began to shake his head and said in a quiet voice. "Then let them. That is what it will take for me to turn against my own flesh and blood..." More rumblings were heard in the crowed room. Some agreed. Some did not. --Kara Marzhan He leaned back a bit, considering Matthew, then continued "To rescue your friends and neighbors...without harming them...requires something [snip] And, let us keep in mind, our beloved Proctor John has the approval of ...the King. So removing PJ may not be the end of the fight." --JLSmith At this, Thane's eyes lit up and the wheels of his brain began to turn. The King! Of course! Go back to the beginning! As the thoughts and ideas flew around his head like a whirlwind, the man named Smith kept talking about the three ways they could disrupt Proctor John's plans. As he came to a lull, Thane voiced his idea. "Wait. Smith...and all of you! Listen! The King has supposedly sanctioned this Church of the Redeemer. What if some of us go to him as citizens of his noble realm, and inform the King of some of the evils that Proctor John is committing? Gaeza's breath! We could make things up if we have to, just to get his attention and maybe, just maybe, he'd send a minor noble or a few knights out here to Montfort to check into the situation! And while Proctor John is busy trying to convince them what a great job he is doing, we could stage all kind of incidents like Smith talks about to make him look like the imposter he is! What do you say?" The crowd, taken by the passion of the young man, begins a swell of conversation. "It could work," they say and , "Who will go?" is heard from several people. A couple even look interested in being emmisaries to the King... --Kara Marzhan Thane smiled at the newcomer and said, "I thank you Sir Arrgon," noting the other's fine clothing. "We could definitely use your help on our journey." --Kara Marzhan "Excellent! I look forward to our journey then." Strawberry said with an ever broadening smile. --Dave Smart At this, Thane introduced Rangi Callounus and William Bow to Strawberry and suggested that they meet in the morning for breakfast to discuss travel plans. They would need to leave sometime during the next couple of days to reach the King before Proctor John could tighten his grip on Montfort any more! Thane suggested William's cottage in the forest to the South of Montfort. It was an hour's walk and far out enough so that they could be sure they were not followed... "At daybreak then..." Thane concluded, "We would be honored if you would join us Sir...er, Strawberry." And smiled as Strawberry nodded his agreement. --Kara Marzhan "Now, I must get home and get some rest. Until tomorrow!" Thane raised his arm and waved as he left the room. Roga and Matthew left behind him. --Kara Marzhan Strawberry waved back and bid his new friends a good night, after which, he himself left the tiny room to see about one last snack prior to retiring for the night. With a graceful stride, he made his way to the nearest stool and waved for service in his customary manner. "What would you have in the way of a small repas, This evening," he asked the stewardess. She shrugged her shoulders helplessly, "I'm afraid not much is left in our pantry. Apparently some man ate practically everything but the kitchen sink, earlier today." Strawberry blushed knowingly, embarrassed by his relentless appetite. "Perhaps I'll retire early this evening...I have business in the morning." Strawberry removed himself from his stool and headed to one of the inns' comfortable suites that he had acquired earlier that same day. Early the next morning, he headed to the common room but made a 'B' line for the exit, remembering his embarrassment and disappointment of the previous night. Instead, he would be grabbing breakfast at a nearby restaurant. Hopefully the food would match the quality he had enjoyed at the Dragon's Inn. He was disappointed of course. Before leaving, his bill paid, he asked the waitress for directions to William's cottage and was pleasantly surprised that she did in fact know the whereabouts of said cottage. Tipping his head and clicking his heals, he left for his early morning meeting with Thane and Co. --Dave Smart The morning broke over Ifreann slowly, warming her daughter earth with gentle fingers. The grass responded by throwing off it's dewey nightrobe and stretching up to meet her warming touch. It was a beautiful, warm morning, and smelled of freshness. Unfortunately, the prisoners in the Chrurch's dungeon would not see it's beauty... William awoke as first light pressed through the window and pried open his eyelids. "A good morning," he thought to himself and swung his legs over the side of the cot and stood. He would soon be having company. He went over to the kitchen area of his one room cottage and retrieved several strings of drying meat and a bowl of apples from the cupboard. The latter had been picked the day before and William could not resist eating one before his guests arrived. He was nibbling on the core when Thane and Matthew arrived. They had met on the path and spoken loudly of Thane's possible apprenticeship to Matthew and wouldn't Matthew like to hear about all the wonderful things that Thane had learned about agriculture while he was away?... it was more than enough to bore the bark off a tree. When they were sure that they were not followed, they had veered towards William's home. William greeted them with a grunt and looked around to double-check that they were alone. He let them in and pointed to the table where he had set the apples and strips of dried lamb. Thane contented himself with an apple while Matthew politely explained that he had already taken a bowl of Kalla's sweet porridge before leaving his home. Little was spoken as they awaited the fourth member of their group. Strawberry arrived several minutes later... --Kara Marzhan When they were sure that they were not followed, they had veered towards William's home. William greeted them with a grunt and looked around to double-check that they were alone. He let them in and pointed to the table where he had set the apples and strips of dried lamb. Thane contented himself with an apple while Matthew politely explained that he had already taken a bowl of Kalla's sweet porridge before leaving his home. Little was spoken as they awaited the fourth member of their group. Strawberry arrived several minutes later... --Kara Marzhan Not one to haste from one place to the next, Strawberry enjoyed his morning walk. It *_was_* a wonderful morning to start the day. Taking the time to admire the scenery of the surrounding country side, south of Monfort, he failed to pay heed to any strangers that might follow in his path. As a matter of character, Strawberry was not a man of a suspicious nature and subsequently made no effort to disguise his destination. Reaching the quaint cottage, Strawberry proceeded to knock upon its door. --Dave Smart Thane took the initiative to see who was on the other side of the door and opened it with a friendly smile at the sight of the red headed fellow. "Welcome. Come on in," he beckoned with a gentle wave of the hand. --Kara Marzhan Strawberry graciously accepted and ducking his head, passed through the threshold and bid everyone a good morning. --Dave Smart "Hungry?" William asked prior to any formal introductions. --Kara Marzhan "Famished!" was the obvious response from the lanky red head. --Dave Smart William turned and handed the newcomer a long string of dried lamb. "That should fill yer belly," William growled and pointed to the bowl of apples on the table, "And there's yer dessert." William was obviously one of gruff character and of few words. Thane picked up the conversation by asking, "Well, how should we start? Matthew, what are your ideas?" Matthew looked kindly at the group and responded while speaking to them all. "I think we should leave on the morrow. We don't want to give Proctor John any more time to collect his "witches" and frighten the others into any further cowardice. We should be at the burning tonight though just in case a moment comes where we can help the others. There will most likely be an escape attempt. I don't think any of us can stand another burning like the one the other night. I know I can't." Thane nodded and they all looked at Strawberry to see if he agreed. --Kara Marzhan After swallowing the last of his dried lamb, Strawberry looked up at his host, "tasty lamb strips." There was a short pause when finally Strawberry realised it was he they waited a response from. He nodded then spoke, "Tomorrow sounds perfectly fine by me. I'm curious myself to see what all this cleansing is about. I do know for one thing, a stop to it is in order." His last words were stated in a most serious tone. Then he quickly added, more out of respect for the safety of his new companions than poor self-esteem, "I am afraid that I would *_not_* be much help in any rescue attempt, should one be made necessary." --Dave Smart Matthew moved to intercept William's rampage and restore some measure of calm to the conversation. Who knew if this new friend Strawberry was a friend to the King as well? Placing a hand on William's shoulder, he glanced at Strawberry to gage the man's expression. Strawberry simply returned Matthew's look with a shrug of the shoulders. Thane, observing the trio, closed his eyes and sighed. "I suppose we won't really know until we get there. I propose we concentrate on this evening and then prepare for the journey." His voice lowered and he continued, "If anything happens to any one of us tonight, the others must go on without him. This is of the utmost importance. If the King is not a sympathyzer and Proctor John has been using his name in vain, the King must know..." The young man trailed off as he noticed William looking out the window. The hunter had suddenly raised a hand for silence. --Kara Marzhan Entangled in the business of ridding his gums of an irritation caused by a bit of dried lamb, Strawberry missed his opportunity to interject and pass on his ideas of what may have caused the King to accept the church. His sudden attention was pulled towards William's observation. --Dave Smart "What is it?" asked Matthew. "There are people outside who are trying not to be seen," was the response. The room suddenly came to complete silence and the smell of fear was strong. It was Thane who again picked up the conversation as he moved to the door. William shot an accusing glance at Strawberry and mumbled something under his breath. --Kara Marzhan A feeling of ineptitude surrounded Strawberry. He wondered what he had done wrong. The point that *_he_* had been the one followed, soon surfaced in his mind and added color to his cheeks. He quickly made a mental note to be more on the look out for trouble from this moment on. There were other people's safety at risk here and danger was everywhere it seamed. --Dave Smart "Well, this breakfast has been quite delicious but I must be getting home and back to my studies." Thane voiced loudly. He opened the door and marched outside and towards Montfort much to the surprise of William and Matthew. "I shall see thee anon and the festival this afternoon! We shall then see the Cleansing of the unbelievers who will get exactly what they deserve!" He winked at the last. --Dave Smart Matthew picked up the cue and said, "Aye. We can only hope that they confess before their death. May they see the light of the Redeemer before they die." The two men waved good-bye as the door closed and Thane continued on his way. --Kara Marzhan The three spies eyed each other in a state of utter confusion. Fred signalled the others to stay put. They shrugged. --Dave Smart After a few seconds, William noticed one man step from behind a tree and follow Thane at a good distance...the boy was brave to try and lead them away like that. William said, "There are at least two more. I saw the crescent bush move opposite of the wind several times. Someone is shifting his position to avoid leg cramps. I also saw a hand, for an instant, move down the bark of the far carven pine tree. They must be waiting for you two to leave. Do it soon. We haven't been together long enough to cause suspicion. Matthew, you should take Strawberry to the fields with you. Show him your crops. He can play the part of a buyer." --Kara Marzhan Strawberry nodded and took his cue from Mathew. --Dave Smart Matthew took Strawberry out of the house and bid William a loud farewell. He took Strawberry to the fields just as William had suggested and then circled back to Montfort for the festival... --Kara Marzhan Toner made his way slowly along his belly towards his cohort. I'll follow those two morons, you stay here and watch the house." The other shook his head stupidly in affirmation, "but I thought they was against de church. It sounded ta me like day was for da church. What's up Toner?" Toner responded by wagging his head back and forth. A lot of head bobbing and swaying was going on behind William's cottage. "Just stay put, you idiot. We gets our orders from Samereth himself and by god we'll follow 'em," he whispered hotly. He then left Wilmer alone to muddle thru his orders. His mind was soon distracted by a colorful butterfly. Monfort took on an uglier appearance than what he remembered from the day he first arrived. Perhaps it was the doom and gloom of this new church that stole the towns' quaintness. "Where do we meet Thane and the others once we reach Montfort?" Strawberry asked his walking partner. --Dave Smart --=====================_822460935==_--