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

[Edeldhur]

Jalko

"Fair enough" - Jalko nodded at Lawrence- "I'll go check on my Mother, and grab my things - then I come back outside"

[archolewa]

Lawrence breathes a sigh of relief. "You know Jalko, you're a constant pain in my supply train, but I do appreciate that you're reasonable about it. Come on Hellen. Don't know how I'll explain this."

Hellen shakes her head, but puts a smile on her face. "Oh that's easy. Anybody asks, just look at them, shrug and say 'You know Jalko.'"

Lawrence chuckles. "Yeah, that'll probably be more than sufficient. We'll at least get you and your friends some food, Jalko. Can't really spare food for... the rest. For one, bringing that much food out here would lead to some awkward questions. But the five of you we can manage."

Corvin fetches the cart holding Mordred's body, while Hellen and Lawrence brings him some bread, with some strawberries, and blueberries. Not exactly a feast, but compared to bread well on its way to stale, cram and bits of fruit well on their way to rotting, it's downright delightful.

Jalko ducks into a house off the Green, and returns a few minutes later, now sporting a small sword at his hip, and a sling slung over his shoulder.

The two bring the cart back outside the palisade. Astrid has already laid out her bedroll along the edge of the road, while Kasper has a merry fire going.

"Hope you guys don't mind a fire," says Kasper when Corvin and Jalko get back. "Figure we're in the Refuge, so it should be safe enough."

Sebastian is leaning against a tree, looking across the road to the fields on the other side. He sighs. "Feels good to be back behind the Wall. There's no layer of filth here. But at the same time, I feel heartened. Like, as much damage as the Kinslayer did, I really truly believe now that it can be healed. That it will heal, with time, and perhaps careful tending by us."

Kasper nods. "I can kind of understand that. I feel a similar way, at least in spirit. We've been beyond the Wall. Confronted a small sliver of the damage the Kinslayer inflicted, and even there amidst the monsters and evil, we find decent people looking for a better life. That gives me hope. Who knows how many other pockets of Free Peoples are out there who've managed to defy the odds and scrape out a living, who've managed to hold onto their basic decency despite the horrors all around them?"

Astrid rolls her eyes, though she's got a hint of smile. "Now look what you've done Sebastian. You got the preacher preaching."

Sebastian holds out his hands as if to say what can you do?

Kasper chuckles. "Sorry Astrid. It's my greatest vice."

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@Edeldhur We can roleplay Jalko's interaction with his Mother in a separate thread if you'd like, or just let it be off-camera. I have no problem either way. I just figured Jalko needed to have some family in his home village, and someone would bring them up!

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin smiles at Kasper's optimism "It is good to be back inside the wall, and I hate to burst the bubble, but where is Grimm? He didn't appear earlier when the others came out of the forest."

[archolewa]

Astrid's smile, such as it was, vanishes, and she grabs her sword. Kasper leaps to his feet, while Sebastian straightens from the tree.

There's a faint whispering from the trees, barely indistinguishable from the rustling of leaves in the breeze, then Jandley emerges.

"Gone," says Jandley. She shakes her head. "I'm sorry Corvin. I was focused on the refugees, the cart drivers, the village, and making sure our children stayed close. Grimm must have slipped away at some point during the excitement."

"We should find him," says Astrid. "Who knows what damage he'll cause?"

Jandley scoffs. "A single halfling who looks more than a little goblinoid? And a stupid, and cowardly one to boot. I'd say he ranks pretty low on threats-to-the-Refuge. Besides..."

Jandley looks back towards the dark trees. "You're not going to find him. Not at night. Not when we're not sure when exactly he slipped away."

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin shakes his head "It's not your fault Jandley, he's had many opportunities to slip away and I'm surprised he left it so long. I'm a fair tracker, but where would I start looking for his tracks? And even if I found them it's going to be difficult to follow them in the woods. Yes, he could no doubt cause trouble, but as Jandley says he looks goblin enough that he's going to attract attention. I think we need to focus on getting everyone safely to the monastery, and keep an ear out for any rumours that might be him. Unless you think otherwise?" he looks around.