LCC - Garheim - Ambush at White River
Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2013 12:24 pm
My second free build for August.
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Southern Garheim, east of Orevale...
On route to the port city of Grahnhaven with the intent to sail to King's Isle on the morrow, Captain Cedric Archer and his small band of rangers have stopped to break their fast beside the rushing waters of White River - a large fast-flowing stream renowned for the silver trout that can be caught there year-round.
The rangers were busy talking and laughing - the chest-bearers having gone on ahead to load the ore and gems onto the ship and find quarters for Cedric's dire wolf, Diamond - and singing bawdy songs when suddenly Floki, one of the younger rangers and the closest to the forest edge, cried out.
Quick as a snowshoe hare, weapons drawn and arrows knocked, the rangers turned to see Floki standing with a helpless expression on his face and a blade at his throat.
"Cedric Archer." the shadowy figure spoke. "Tell your men to drop their weapons or I'll air out the boy's throat."
"An assassin!" snarled Jaeger, the pikeman.
"Not for long," yelled Dean.
"You have but to say the word, my lord," Old Man Rick said confidently.
"Aye, mine aim could be no truer at this range," Duncan growled beneath his beard. "Shall I take out his sword hand, Captain?"
"N-no! Don't!" stammered Floki, waving his hands. "She has a kn-kn-knife at my back!"
"Last chance, Captain." the woman - for woman she was - said disdainfully. "My blade is coated with Ice Wyrm venom; even if I barely breach the hauberk, he'll still die."
"Do you all care so little for your brother that you'd sacrifice him so readily?!" asked Cedric, exasperatedly. "Lower your weapons!"
"You are Cedric Archer?" the woman asked, her eyes never leaving his.
"Aye, m'lady."
"I am no man's lady. You have my sword, then? The Oronai?"
"You say it is yours, but it was gifted to me."
"Oh? Did a Dwarf really give it to you willingly?"
Duncan blushed angrily at the use of the word Dwarf as a slur. "They are the finest Dwarven craftsmanship and were given fairly," he growled indignantly.
"The gem-hilted swords are Dwarf-make but they are not yours to give. They were given to my family long ago and until my childhood, they were within our clan household. I would have them back."
"My shieldman possesses Valmonai and - "
"I do not care about the Emerald-Hilted!" the woman interrupted. "The Oronai are the swords of Greyshadow and as the last of my line, I've come to claim what is, by rights, my own sword. I remember the day, as a young girl, that I came home to find my parents killed by outlaws, my brother missing or taken, and my home a charred pile of cinders and ashes."
"Did you say your name was Greyshadow?" Cedric asked slowly.
"Aye, are you deaf?"
"No... I am Cedric Greyshadow. I am your brother. And this will have to wait a moon's turn; I have a coronation feast to attend."
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Southern Garheim, east of Orevale...
On route to the port city of Grahnhaven with the intent to sail to King's Isle on the morrow, Captain Cedric Archer and his small band of rangers have stopped to break their fast beside the rushing waters of White River - a large fast-flowing stream renowned for the silver trout that can be caught there year-round.
The rangers were busy talking and laughing - the chest-bearers having gone on ahead to load the ore and gems onto the ship and find quarters for Cedric's dire wolf, Diamond - and singing bawdy songs when suddenly Floki, one of the younger rangers and the closest to the forest edge, cried out.
Quick as a snowshoe hare, weapons drawn and arrows knocked, the rangers turned to see Floki standing with a helpless expression on his face and a blade at his throat.
"Cedric Archer." the shadowy figure spoke. "Tell your men to drop their weapons or I'll air out the boy's throat."
"An assassin!" snarled Jaeger, the pikeman.
"Not for long," yelled Dean.
"You have but to say the word, my lord," Old Man Rick said confidently.
"Aye, mine aim could be no truer at this range," Duncan growled beneath his beard. "Shall I take out his sword hand, Captain?"
"N-no! Don't!" stammered Floki, waving his hands. "She has a kn-kn-knife at my back!"
"Last chance, Captain." the woman - for woman she was - said disdainfully. "My blade is coated with Ice Wyrm venom; even if I barely breach the hauberk, he'll still die."
"Do you all care so little for your brother that you'd sacrifice him so readily?!" asked Cedric, exasperatedly. "Lower your weapons!"
"You are Cedric Archer?" the woman asked, her eyes never leaving his.
"Aye, m'lady."
"I am no man's lady. You have my sword, then? The Oronai?"
"You say it is yours, but it was gifted to me."
"Oh? Did a Dwarf really give it to you willingly?"
Duncan blushed angrily at the use of the word Dwarf as a slur. "They are the finest Dwarven craftsmanship and were given fairly," he growled indignantly.
"The gem-hilted swords are Dwarf-make but they are not yours to give. They were given to my family long ago and until my childhood, they were within our clan household. I would have them back."
"My shieldman possesses Valmonai and - "
"I do not care about the Emerald-Hilted!" the woman interrupted. "The Oronai are the swords of Greyshadow and as the last of my line, I've come to claim what is, by rights, my own sword. I remember the day, as a young girl, that I came home to find my parents killed by outlaws, my brother missing or taken, and my home a charred pile of cinders and ashes."
"Did you say your name was Greyshadow?" Cedric asked slowly.
"Aye, are you deaf?"
"No... I am Cedric Greyshadow. I am your brother. And this will have to wait a moon's turn; I have a coronation feast to attend."