(Corvin/Mordred Adventure 2): Hole in the Thornwall

[Edeldhur]

Jalko

"Lawrence? Is that you?" - Jalko squints his eyes - "It is me - Jalko! Back from the dead. Or almost dead..." - he raises his hands non-threateningly - "And these with me are the ones who saved me, and many others. They are friends" - he added

[archolewa]

"Jalko? Jalko, you old dog!" The voice, Lawrence apparently, laughs. The group can just make out a figure standing on a platform behind the palisade. He reaches over and gives the bell next to him a single, solid ring.

"A call to celebrate," murmurs Sebastian to Corvin and Astrid (Jalko of course, already knows what it means). "A single ring calls for those who can to come, for something wonderful has happened."

"Jalko is back!" calls Lawrence. "He's alive, he's alive! He's returned! He's been saved! Jalko is alive! He's returned! Quick Jalko, quick dawdling and swing around to the entrance. Quickly, quickly! Let's have a proper look at you! Jalko is back!"

"What do you want us to do?" murmurs Jandley from the darkness near Corvin, using Lawrence's happy cries, as well as the growing swell of exclamations from the village, to obscure her words. "I'm not bringing my people in there."

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin turns to Jandley.

"I'm not familiar with this area, I don't know if there is a copse of trees or something nearby you could use. You'll be safer if the village. No, you'll be safe in the village, I promise. What are you worried about?"

[archolewa]

Corvin

Corvin turns to Jandley.

"I'm not familiar with this area, I don't know if there is a copse of trees or something nearby you could use. You'll be safer if the village. No, you'll be safe in the village, I promise. What are you worried about?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe the fact that some of us look rather goblinoid," hisses Jandley. "Plus, while I'm willing to believe Jalko there isn't gonna rat us out, ain't got much choice anyway, but that doesn't mean one of his folks didn't see us lurking around his village or something before, after, or during the take."


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OOC: Quick note the whole area around the Thornwall is heavily forested, including this spot. On the far side of the village it probably clears up a bit to make room for farmland, but here the trees are quite dense.

[shaidar]

Corvin

"OK, I see your point. We can give you some rations, and you can meet us back here at dawn?"

[Edeldhur]

Jalko

Circles around to the entrance to meet with Lawrence - "It is good to see you again" - he almost smiled.

[archolewa]

Corvin

"OK, I see your point. We can give you some rations, and you can meet us back here at dawn?"

"We had a solid breakfast already, so probably only need half rations for tonight, or enough food for nine people," murmurs Jandley.

Sebastian opens his pack and puts two days worth of rations down for Jandley. "Here. And grab the week's worth off the donkey. I'm sure he won't mind the lighter load!"

Jandley nods. There's a bit of shuffling near the donkey, and then silence.

The rest of the group then hurries to catch up to Jalko as he walks around the palisade.

They find Lawrence waiting for them at the entrance.

Jalko

Circles around to the entrance to meet with Lawrence - "It is good to see you again" - he almost smiled.

Like Diana's, the palisade doesn't have any proper gates or doors, just a gap in the sharpened wooden posts. As the group enters, a great bonfire flares up in the village green, and a great cheer rises into the warm summer night.

Lawrence comes forward and embraces Jalko. "Sorry Mr. Grumps, you're just gonna have to put up with a hug or a dozen."

From what the group can see of Jalko's village in the fire light, it is much the same as Diana's village. A small stream, possibly an artificial canal dug by the villagers in years past, winds its way through the western side of the village, just inside the palisade and across the entrance, with a small bridge, really just a few wooden planks, across it. It gives the villagers some water in case of a siege, and introduces that much more friction to enemies who come in through the entrance.

Homes surround a small village green, and there is a fairly sizable gap between the palisade and the homes. Enemies who break through the palisade will find themselves running through a small open field before reaching the houses. Not a large field. A charging orc could probably cross it in a few seconds, but still. Every little bit adds that much more friction to attackers.

While most of the villagers greet Jalko, a few men and women approach the rest of the group, size them up briefly, then clap them on the back or shoulder, congratulating and thanking them.

A sharp-eyed human woman spies Mordred's covered body in the wagon, and leans into to speak to Corvin, her expession sympathetc. "I take it you had a casualty during your rescue? I hope you don't mind, but we are going to have to put the body under guard. Just in case..."

She gives an uneasy shrug. "Your group may of course provide the guard if you wish. It has nothing to do with a lack of trust on our part. But it must be watched so long as you're here."

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin frowns at the woman "What are you expecting it to do?"

[archolewa]

The woman grimaces, and shifts from foot to foot. "You know. Sit up and start trying to eat us or something. I'm not saying it's likely, but it's standard procedure out here, this close to the Wall. I know some folk bury their dead, but here we burn them. Not saying we'll cremate your friend of course. Like I said, it's probably fine. But still. Standard procedure to at least keep an eye on it."

Astrid grimaces, looking a little horrified.

Sebastian leans in and murmurs something to her. She relaxes, but still eyes the woman like the woman had suggested they rip out Mordred's brains or something.

[Edeldhur]

Jalko

Lawrence comes forward and embraces Jalko. "Sorry Mr. Grumps, you're just gonna have to put up with a hug or a dozen."

At that Jalko balks for a second, but then welcomes the hugs, now with an open smile, and a lump in his throat - "They saved me" - he looks back at the group, as they engage with the woman - "But there is more. We need to speak..." - he added, turning to Lawrence - "There are others outside who need a safe place to sleep. I have been on the road with them, and we all supported each other. I trust them. But they are... Different" - he added - "We are used to seeing them as enemies, but this group is not. They are just looking for a second chance"

Does Jalko know the woman?

[archolewa]

Does Jalko know the woman?

Yes, Jalko knows everyone in the small village. She's Hellen. She's not quite as experienced a soldier as Lawrence, but she did serve a couple of tours in her younger years. She has a very sharp eye for detail, and is the one to make sure all procedures are followed to a T. She's the one who doubles and triple checks the grain towers after they're loaded for the winter at harvest time, and grim but necessary work is undertaken. Folks joke she can spot a halfling child in an evergreen. Especially if said child's been up to mischief.

Lawrence frowns at Jalko's words. "What do you mean? We count only the monsters of the Kinslayer as our enemies, you know that."

[shaidar]

Corvin

The woman grimaces, and shifts from foot to foot. "You know. Sit up and start trying to eat us or something. I'm not saying it's likely, but it's standard procedure out here, this close to the Wall. I know some folk bury their dead, but here we burn them. Not saying we'll cremate your friend of course. Like I said, it's probably fine. But still. Standard procedure to at least keep an eye on it."

Astrid grimaces, looking a little horrified.

Sebastian leans in and murmurs something to her. She relaxes, but still eyes the woman like the woman had suggested they rip out Mordred's brains or something.

"Well, we'll certainly be taking Mordred with us so he can get a proper burial. I'm sure we can handle watching him tonight."

[Edeldhur]

Jalko

Lawrence frowns at Jalko's words. "What do you mean? We count only the monsters of the Kinslayer as our enemies, you know that."

"They are not all monsters" - Jalko shook his head - "Some of them are just like us, trying to survive as best as they can" - he shrugged.

"Look, I am not good with words, you all know that" - Jalko began to frown - "All I can say is I trust these folk, and I vouch for them, that is all I have - my word. Just give them a damned chance"

"Otherwise I'll be forced to grab my gear and sleep outside with them, and I would much rather stay inside the palisade, having a drink or three"

[archolewa]

"Well, we'll certainly be taking Mordred with us so he can get a proper burial. I'm sure we can handle watching him tonight."

The woman nods, relaxing a little. "Very good. I appreciate your cooperation. The fallen are a touchy subject, even more so how we treat them. I'm just trying to keep our people safe is all. Make sure it doesn't have any weapons near at hand. It might retain some amount of its skills from life if it were to raise."

"Look, I am not good with words, you all know that" - Jalko began to frown - "All I can say is I trust these folk, and I vouch for them, that is all I have - my word. Just give them a damned chance"

"Otherwise I'll be forced to grab my gear and sleep outside with them, and I would much rather stay inside the palisade, having a drink or three"

Lawrence frowns. He sighs and shakes his head, his voice rueful. "Someday you're gonna make my life easier Jalko. Mark my words. Alright, alright. Your mother'll have my head if she finds out I let you sleep outside the village. I'll spread the word with the others."

Lawrence gives Jalko a concerned look. "You should go see her Jalko. You know she's getting on in years. Stubborn goat of a woman hasn't given up yet, but she hasn't been doing great since you got taken. It'll do her good to see her son. Burn it, she'll probably hop out of bed and dance a jig, knowing her."

[shaidar]

Corvin

"Well, we'll certainly be taking Mordred with us so he can get a proper burial. I'm sure we can handle watching him tonight."

The woman nods, relaxing a little. "Very good. I appreciate your cooperation. The fallen are a touchy subject, even more so how we treat them. I'm just trying to keep our people safe is all. Make sure it doesn't have any weapons near at hand. It might retain some amount of its skills from life if it were to raise."

"Since he lost his sword hand, that's unlikely to be an issue."

[archolewa]

"Since he lost his sword hand, that's unlikely to be an issue."

The woman nods. "That's good. And don't go taking my use of 'it' the wrong way. I just find it's a lot easier to kill newly risen loved ones if I remember it's just a body under there. Don't know if you've ever had to do it, I ain't making no assumptions, but it's the hardest burning thing in the world."

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin frowns "No I haven't. Does it happen often? I've not heard of it."

[archolewa]

Atrid cocks her head in confusion. "What about Nathan? Or did you not know it was him when you put him to rest?"

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Corvin and company did fight a zombified Nathan outside the cell where Astrid was. viewtopic.php?p=720036#p720036

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin's heart sinks "I'm sorry Astrid, I'd hadn't forgotten really. Just with what's been going on it sort of slipped my mind just for a second. I was thinking more about people randomly coming back, rather than a priestess bring involved."

[archolewa]

Astrid pats Corvin on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it, I understand. Only been a few weeks, but it feels like a lifetime. Maybe that's a good thing."

"Not exactly something anyone wants to be remembering anyway. Take solace in those moments when it slips your mind. I like to think those are little gifts from the Seer. A few moments where we can just forget," says the woman. "And no, it doesn't happen often. I ain't never heard of it happening without other undead or one of those lunatics who worship the Kinslayer being involved. But then..."

The woman shrugs. "I'm sure ain't nobody ever heard of an Immortal killing another Immortal before Cornucopia's murder neither."