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"Because I have been hiding," says Terri. If she is at all perturbed by Mordred's aggressiveness, there is no sign. "I am a mistress of the Arcane arts, likely on par, perhaps even greater, than the greatest the Refuge possesses if Matthias is dead. I'm sure you can imagine what a prize I would be for the Tyrant. He ripped my family from me, and briefly got his hands on me as well. But I slipped free of his grasp and went deep to ground. But a few days ago, news came my way that He is dead. So I have emerged to find out what is going on."

Mordred

"Understood" - Mordred nodded - "But these people need help, and we are commited to getting them to safety. This idle chat in the middle of the night will not assist with that" - he added, his tone slightly more under control - "We do not know you, you talk in riddles, your claims are unverifiable, and thus you could be simply deceiving us for your own good, whatever it might be" - the Magic User continued - "If you are inclined to assist us do so - it will be most welcome. But we should keep moving"

Terri's smile returns, broader than ever. "Then it seems we can both be of service to each other. You need help keeping your little caravan safe and I..."

Terri pulls a copper coin out of a small coin pouch at her hip, flips it in the air, and catches it in a smooth gesture. "Could use some friends. Your people do not look like they can handle any more marching without rest, and all the grim proclamations in the world will not change that. So how about this. I will help safeguard your caravan while you rest tonight, and on your trek to safety. To the Wall, presumably. In exchange, you all will owe me a favor that I may or may not collect in the future. Do not worry, it might be dangerous, but it won't be suicidal and it won't be anything to hurt the Refuge. My goals and the Refuge's are in alignment at the moment, and I expect them to stay that way for a long time yet."

Sebastian frowns thoughtfully for a moment, then gestures for the others to huddle with him a bit ways away. "I really think we should take her up on her offer."

Kasper scoffs. "Haven't we made enough deals with the devil today? We have no idea who that woman is, what her capabilities are, how trustworthy she is or what kind of 'favor' she's talking about."

"Maybe not, but she has a solid read on our situation. Our people are exhausted. Corvin proved beyond a doubt that even one misstep could land us in a nest of hideously dangerous and violent creatures," says Sebastian. "Earth's embrace, we don't even need to make a mistake. Simply some bad luck could see us all getting burned alive by a chimera or fending off an orcish raid or something."

"We might not run into anything at all. The statues were the first thing we've seen out here that aren't deer, bunnies or birds," says Kasper. "Is that really worth tying ourselves to this woman? And we were able to convince the ogre to back down."

"We might not. And maybe they'll buy our bluff if we do. But you know that if we do run into something, and it does get aggressive, it'll be a slaughter," says Sebastian. "Even if they're just looking for prey, they may ignore us, bake a beeline right for some of the children, and vanish into the forest before we could do anything stop them. Assuming we even could stop them."

Kasper shakes his head. "Perhaps, but I still think it's better to risk that than it is to tie ourselves to this woman. I fear she'll ask of us something we don't dare give."

"And I think the lives of our charges are more important than your vague fears for our future," says Sebastian, a bit of heat coming into his voice. He takes a deep breath. "Besides, while yes she might end up being a wolf in sheep's clothing, she also might be a potential ally. A potentially powerful ally if she's telling the truth. And the Refuge has desperately few of those."

"If," says Kasper grimly.

"At the end of the day, my priority is our caravan's safety. Either she's as dangerous as she says, in which case she can kill us regardless of what we say if she means us harm, or she's lying and accepting her help leaves us no worse off tonight. But if she does mean to help..." says Sebastian.

Kasper shakes his head. "You're putting an awful lot of trust in this woman simply because she isn't mindlessly violent."

Sebastian shrugs.

Mordred

Mordred's scowl returned - "What validity is there to her word or her helps? Just because she says so? That is hollow - I do not think we should accept. In reality she is offering nothing. Only half-words and deceit"

Corvin

Corvin gives Mordred an incredulous look "Hold on. You asked her for help, and now she's made an offer you're saying she can't be trusted? Have you actually looked at these people? They're exhausted. There is no way they can move on tonight, we need to stop, which will mean we're sitting ducks. If we get attacked then we might fend them off, but I'm pretty sure we'll lose people. What alternative is there? Do you want to take on the gargoyles so we can sleep in the abbey?" he shakes his head "I'm not going to lose anyone. I accepted responsibility for getting all of these people to the Refuge. I also accept that I made a poor job of planning this part of the journey. I won't lose anyone. If that means owing a favour then I accept that, and if anyone is unwilling to owe Terri for helping get these people home, then I'll take on their favour too." he sighs "But I'm not a complete fool. Maybe we can negotiate one refusal into the deal, that and we need to be given time to get these people safely home or to the monastery, and I need to be at the Druids Grove for the solstice."

"And what if she is on the level, Mordred?" asks Astrid softly. "What if she is a powerful wizard, and she's had encounters with the Kinslayer before, and He was her enemy? Maybe if she proves trustworthy, she can help you with the Mark. At the very least, she's probably less likely to throw you in a dungeon or burn you at the stake than Princess Flora or the Seer's Church."

Kasper lets out an exasperated sigh. "Astrid, I promise my order will not burn Mordred at the stake, nor would they burn you."

"Yours is not the only order in that Church," says Astrid darkly. "And unlike Princess Flora, this woman doesn't have an army."

She glances sideways at the woman, who stands patiently, her eyes flowing between the huddled group, the refugees, and the surrounding trees. "Probably not anyway."

"At least we know their motivations," snaps Kasper. "We know nothing about this woman."

Mordred

shaidar wrote: ↑Thu May 08, 2025 2:29 pm Corvin

Corvin gives Mordred an incredulous look "Hold on. You asked her for help, and now she's made an offer you're saying she can't be trusted? Have you actually looked at these people? They're exhausted. There is no way they can move on tonight, we need to stop, which will mean we're sitting ducks. If we get attacked then we might fend them off, but I'm pretty sure we'll lose people. What alternative is there? Do you want to take on the gargoyles so we can sleep in the abbey?" he shakes his head "I'm not going to lose anyone. I accepted responsibility for getting all of these people to the Refuge. I also accept that I made a poor job of planning this part of the journey. I won't lose anyone. If that means owing a favour then I accept that, and if anyone is unwilling to owe Terri for helping get these people home, then I'll take on their favour too." he sighs "But I'm not a complete fool. Maybe we can negotiate one refusal into the deal, that and we need to be given time to get these people safely home or to the monastery, and I need to be at the Druids Grove for the solstice."

The scowl only deepened - "I did not ask her for help, I think you misread my words - I said if she wanted to help, it would be welcome. And that is a very different thing" - he replied - "And she is not 'offering' help. She is 'selling' help - an 'undetermined' help for an 'undetermined' favor to be charged in the future" - Mordred shook his head - "It is a crappy deal offered by someone who is trying to take advantage of our weakened state. Plain and simple. She might just sit there in the corner the whole night, do absolutely nothing, and then we owe her. Where is that a good deal?" - the man added, incredulous - "She hasn't even said what she will do to help - safeguard our caravan? Who says she has anything to offer? She can be just a con artist"

He paused, staring at Corvin - "If you want to buy into that, and just take a leap of faith because she appeared out of the blue in the middle of the night, has a quirky smile or whatever, be my guest" - his words were dry - "But that is a personal choice you are making, choosing to believe in something just because it looks good, when it doesn't even look that good" - he chuckled and shrugged - "Believe me, I know what that is like, I have nothing against making your own choices" - then flexed his 'marked' hand for a moment - "And I am with you and the others regardless. But don't look at me like I am rude or crazy, if I am not offering her smiles and drinks just because"

archolewa wrote: ↑Thu May 08, 2025 2:39 pm"And what if she is on the level, Mordred?" asks Astrid softly. "What if she is a powerful wizard, and she's had encounters with the Kinslayer before, and He was her enemy? Maybe if she proves trustworthy, she can help you with the Mark. At the very least, she's probably less likely to throw you in a dungeon or burn you at the stake than Princess Flora or the Seer's Church."

His posture smoothed slightly as Astrid addressed him, and Mordred even smiled lightly - "If she is all that, why not simply help us without asking something in return'? Sorry Astrid, something is off"

"Anyway, let's just be done with this then, and welcome our savior and benefactor" - he finished, words dripping venom again.

Corvin

Corvin's lips curl back to reveal his teeth and his hackles raise. He keeps his voice low but his anger is clear in his voice as he speaks.

"Now you are just being clever with your words! What is your alternative then? March these people people through the night until some of them them die from exhaustion? Rest here and just hope we are lucky? At least I'm doing something to try and help these people rather than leave it to random chance."

Mordred

"You do not have the right to question if I am trying to help these people or not!" - Mordred roared back - "I have done nothing but my best to keep them safe!" - he did not back down, hand rested on his blade - "Enlisting an imaginary help from someone we do not know IS random and makes no sense" - he added - "If you want to stop and rest, we stop and rest. But she should not be anywhere near here. We have no reason to trust or make deals with her! What is happening here Corvin?"

Corvin

Mordred's sudden explosion seems to take Corvin by surprise. He blinks a couple of times and then speaks, his voice still tense but the anger faded somewhat.

"What's happening here? I'm not sure I know anymore..." his eyes flick from Mordred's face to his marked hand and back "...but I have my suspicions."

Mordred's shout echoes through the dark, previously quiet night. The people of the caravan freeze, and look in their direction.

Jandley and Eleanor share nervous looks, and tighten their grips on their weapons, before peering over at Terri, who remains where she is unperturbed, though she does watch the trees more closely. The rest of the caravan draws away a few steps from the woman, and start whispering nervously, while looking at the trees as well.

"Hey, come on let's all take a few breaths," says Astrid, looking at the frightened caravan goers. "Don't need to go drawing anything here with shouting. And Mordred's frustration doesn't have to be because of the Mark. Every choice seems to be a bad one, and everyone's tired and scared and frustrated. Maybe we can get a demonstration or something. See if she's on the level about that much at least, and if she's willing to negotiate."

Corvin

Corvin doesn't take his eyes off of Mordred as he replies to Astrid.

"If we need something solid, then how about we see if Terri is willing to deal with the gargoyles, then we could rest in the abbey. We might need it's protection if anything comes looking."

Astrid nods, while watching both Corvin and Mordred carefully. "I like the idea of that."

Sebastian nods as well. Kasper still looks uneasy.

Mordred

"One thing has nothing to do with the other" - Mordred noticed Corvin looking at his hand - "But sure, let's have a 'demonstration'" - he added with a shrug.

Corvin

Corvin's eyes narrow and he stares at Mordred for a few seconds before silently turning and walking over to Terri.

"Excuse me Terri. Would you consider dealing with those gargoyles, and any other dangers there, so we might sleep at the elven abbey tonight?"

Terri's smile broadens. "Not exactly what I had in mind, but does that mean you're taking me up on my offer?"

Corvin

"Not exactly. We were hoping you might do so as a demonstration of your good will. We can then talk about your offer after."

"Oh?" Terri's eyebrows quirk. "Seems more like a demonstration of power than goodwill. But I suppose I could. There is little there that is worth guarding, and one of the nuns who lived there was a friend of mine before her death. She would be most distressed at the thought of the gargoyles hurting any of the Free Peoples. But one of you is going to accompany me. I have little interest in playing your little game only for someone to accuse me of rigging it after."

Corvin

Corvin nods "You're right, it's a bit of both I guess." he turns back to the group "Mordred, do you want to be the one to see the demonstration?"

Mordred

"No" - he replied dryly.