[h1][u]Act Two: Scattered to the Winds[/u]____ __ _ _[/h1] [h2][u]Chapter Four: Lurking Peril[/u]_________ __ __ _ _[/h2] [hr][hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/LfX8rN8.png[/img][/center] [hr][hr][h3][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B74AK0MHxOA][color=c4df9b]𝅘𝅥𝅮[/color][/url][/h3][hr][hr] “Hark!” cried a voice, “hark! My prince!” The finely dressed rider pulled up short and to the side of Prince Ulf. “I apologize for my rude interruption,” he spewed breathlessly, “but it is my men in this village. They are loud, rough, and many are Drudgunzean. I did not wish for misunderstanding.” Quickly, the rider dismounted, his black leather books sinking deep into the seaside sand. “You are Jarl…” Ulf trailed off, a thinly veiled look of distaste settling upon his young features. “Alsfard, your highness. Jarl Bjorn of Alsfard. Those are my ships just there.” He gestured. “I was speaking with your mother about -” “I know what you were discussing,” the prince interrupted, holding a hand up for this interloper to cease his talk. He scowled, glancing almost imperceptibly quickly in Vali’s direction. “So you vouch for them, then?” “I do, my prince.” “And you will compensate their victims for any damages they cause?” “They will cause none but, if they do, I shall. On my honour.” “Very good, Jarl Alsfard,” the youth replied, his voice cracking slightly. “I am glad we have avoided this misunderstanding.” “As am I, and I am heartily sorry for any inconvenience caused.” He began to depart, heading towards the great longhouse, but then Ulf stopped him. “Say, Jarl Alsfard, have you heard anything about the Quentists who are supposed to be living in this town?” There was a pause that went on just a half-moment too long. The Jarl furrowed his brow and shook his head tightly. “I’m afraid I know little of this area. My domains are far from here.” He sniffed, patting his horse to keep the beast placated. “I know precios little of their vile faith and wish to know yet less.” “And where, pray tell, are your domains, Jarl Alsfard?” came the logical next question, but he was spared from answering by the thunder of approaching hooves. It appeared that Rigevand was a popular place for messengers this day. “My prince,” panted the rider, “there is an emergency in the city. A havetskriger is rampaging through the port and the fishermen’s market!” It was not more than three minutes before thirty footsoldiers and three riders could be seen racing toward the city, their reflections skipping and wavering across the blue-grey waters of the Gulf of Eskand. [hr][hr] Kol could sense the approaching rider long before he could see her, and he knew who she was. “There is a problem in the city,” called the Skygge, coming to a stop. “The creature your king tortures under the docks has broken loose. It has killed many and thirsts for yet more blood. It blocks our access to the Gift.” She held out a hand to help pull him onto the great white mare that she sat astride. “If Arne is to be Æresvaktr then we had best gather him too. I can think of no better time for him to prove his worthiness.” [hr][hr] The havetskriger was a great seal-like beast, over thirty feet in length, with a thick leathery hide, layers of blubber, and a series of tusks that it had used to smash up piers and boats as surely as it had employed them against ice in the past. Now, it was aground and hauling itself awkwardly about the port district and the market with surprising speed, people fleeing before it, structures smashed or crushed in its wake. Already, a few braver individuals had sunk arrows into the maddened creature, and these stuck out like sparse bristles in places. Yet, they seemed to do precious little to slow it and it was clear that more would be needed. With everything near to the sea emptying out, the city devolved into chaos. Robbers and brigands looted, innocents sheltered and huddled in fear, and the great katterhorns sounded an alarm. It was many hours and yet more lives before the animal was stopped and, in this time, many who did not act in the interests of the Eskandr people were hard at work. Agents of Parrence laid their plans, gathered their resources, and prepared to strike on the morrow. [hr][hr] The morning dawned cool and overcast, pale rays of sunlight occasionally peering through a mourning veil of clouds. All about the city, as it awakened, the sounds of axes, hammers, and men at work could be heard. The people of Meldheim had weathered far worse and they wasted no time in clearing the wreckage. Queen Astrid herself walked among them, contributing with her Gift and her words, allaying suspicions as to the beast’s origin and anger. The Eskandr would recover. Yet, among them slept a peril. It, too, awakened with the sun. The battered old locks that guarded the Dampende River from overflowing its banks and occupying its former delta had been sabotaged. As a rising tide piled up against them, they creaked, shuddered, and gave way. Cellar floors began filling. Rivulets of water trickled down the streets. The river filled with shadowy silhouettes, not quite human, lurking in the shadows of the muddy banks and shoreline brush. This singular sabotage, however, was not the only danger. While the strange mossy-haired girl who had loosed the havetskriger was nowhere to be seen, dozens of other Parrench infiltrators now stalked the capital’s streets and recently-freed hostages skulked about. Gradually, carefully, with a dark, nervous, giddy sort of anticipation, they took their appointed places and made themselves unremarkable. It was an hour past noon when each of these people, whether they had been in place for minutes or days, felt a pinch behind both of their ears. Tutors soon to commence class in the Kongesalan, rugged brigands hanging about the port, or earnest pilgrims awaiting the wisdom of the gods in the Grontempel: it did not matter. Now was the moment. The temple, the palace, whatever they could of the city - this last one without the prior knowledge of their Quentic Eskandr allies: Echeran hungered for these things, and so they were to burn. The people and property they were to steal or steal back were to be snatched. Whatever suspicions they had engendered would not now matter. Jacques, Maud, and Svend had already departed from Rigevand with a skeleton crew on each knarr. The ships lurked, presently, just around the headland outside the capital’s sheltered harbour. Soon, it was hoped, they would be filled to bursting. The rain, it was hoped, would hold off. Meldheim, it was hoped, would serve as a warning that if Parrence was to burn, Eskand would burn with it. [hr][hr] [hider=Action Opportunities]The timeline was a bit tricky with this one, since we've had to reconcile two days' worth of actions. In any event, the moment has arrived: the attack on Meldheim begins now! See the action opportunities below for some ideas. [list][*]Vali is free to cast further suspicion on the inhabitants of Rigevand and possibly follow up. He may use this time to investigate if he likes or remain close to his prince. He is also encouraged o join the fight against the havetskriger. [*]Kol has been met by the Skygge to join in the fight. He has creative freedom to pull in Arne if he wishes and to play out the fight against the beast, possibly alongside his blood brother, Vali. [*]Dietrich is welcome to have played out any neotiations or learnin he's done and offers he's made. So long as they're reasonable, they can be considered to have been accepted. He is free to join in the fight against the havetskriger and show the Eskandr what he's got. His suspicions about 'Ositha' should probably come to a head on the second day, when she will make her move. Maybe they end up tangling, maybe it's more of a pursuit, or maybe his attentions are drawn elsewhere by necessity. [*]It's time for Osanna to act. She may want to coordinate some kind of signal with Asier. Perhaps she can start some of the fires while Asier starts others. In such a large structure, they will take a little while to become noticeable if started in an obscure enough area. More importantly, she should attempt to make off with her prize(s). Collabs with Dietrich and Asier or maybe just a few shorter posts per cycle might be a good idea. [*]Asier has plenty to do. If he is working with Osanna, they should coordinate. He can also look to burn the Kongesalan, assist in her extraction if needed, and attempt to steal fruit and seeds from the Livetstræ (Tree of Life). Massive and ancient, it rises above the throne room through a hole in the roof. The throne itself is organically grown from the gnarled roots of the great tree. His other, secret potential allies are also preparing to strike from the river. This should probably actually start at the end of this cycle. [*]Gerard gets to scream "burn, baby burn!" at the Grontempel. If he can assist the others, he is welcome to, but his main job is to send that heathen temple up in flames. He will have a detachment of Parrench infiltrators at his disposal. The others will be looking to spread throughout the city, steal, commit arson, and wreak havoc. [*]As a target, let's say that this chapter should cover the period up to the start of the focused Eskandr response. Kol, Vali, and Dietrich, along with Arne, the Skygge, and possibly Astrid can respond, but please remember that they won't just teleport there, Parrench mooks are strong, numerous, and widespread, and they'll be caught between helping the city and fighting. Basically, this chapter ends right as potential PVP begins, with the possible exception of an Osanna and Dietrich encounter. [*]Between footsoldiers and freed prisoners, the Parrench have about 110 people at their disposal. They also have Trygve if someone needs named NPC backup. Feel free to allocate these as you see fit. The eeaiko are coming right near the end of this chapter, if anyone=e wants to reference them in a post.[/list][center][h2]Happy Posting![/h2][/center][/hider] [hr][hr]