A5G

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Yvonne was all prepared to move on, but apparently her allies were not. She turned back to the sound of commotion just in time to see the adventurer getting punched in the jaw.

"Hey hey hey, ain't the right time for disciplinary action now-" She paused, finally noticing the man's state. It's different. What, exactly, the mercenary couldn't tell, but it's giving her goosebumps and her instinct was screaming at her. This wasn't the same man from one minute prior. "Wait. What's wrong with him?"

Her mace returned to the buckle, in its place the heirloom sword of the Rosenving. If push comes to shove, a cut should be easier to heal than blunt force trauma.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Door was opened. Exotic guy went in. Sparky followed, clearly worrying over something. Then there's noises of things dying with distinct lack of weapon clash. Yvonne was only a moment late to the entrance, fully expecting to be greeted with quarrels but there's no resistance.

No, there couldn't even be any resistance. Sparky lit up the room to reveal the slave holdings, likely low-quality goods from how they're mistreated. Yvonne's nose wrinkled in distate at these people, noticing the corpse and a soon-to-be corpse that was definitely killed recently. She spared the adventurer a sympathetic glance.

"You couldn't have known, mate." So that's why the place's barred from the outside. Which lead to the question, where's their target and what he's doing locking himself in here? "Let's keep going, boss. We cant afford the delay."

Whether it was trust or carelessness, the mercenary failed to notice her ally's transformation behind her.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

[GM Post]

The party was roused at the crack of dawn by a red-eyed Matilda, who seemed like she barely got a wink of sleep overnight. Thanks to Cedar and Anderson's effort they managed to restore the saddles into working condition. While setting off for Hdur immediately was preferable, doing so on empty stomach would benefit no one - thus a quick ride back to the camp where breakfast was prepared and food supply stocked as quickly as possible before the departure.

"May you have an eventful trip, Ser and Madam." Anderson saluted at the departing party, now one man less than when they came. "If I find anything I'll send a messenger."

The sun still hung low in the east when the party departed. Cedar's figure would've been an eye-catching one under normal circumstances, but thankfully the traffic between Hdur and the royal forest was practically nonexistent. Cant be conspicuous if there's no one to spot him be inconspicuous.

*****

The village of Hdur was a relatively prosperous one, though still quite some way from growing into a town. Sitting in a fertile lowland with easy access to a forest for hunting nearby, a sizeable bog was discovered not long after the village was settled. This lead to a particularly important export of relatively cheap iron products, for the bog turned out to be a very rich source of bog iron.

That said, agriculture still remain the largest portion of the populace. Grain field and vegetable patch and pastures and cattle pens spread out from the farms like gigantic spiderweb, no sign of planning in their placement. At the center of the village was the square, one one side was the tavern that doubled for inn while opposite of it sat the smithy side by side to the ore smelters and the fletcher. On the far side of the village where the lowland gently slope into a small hill sat the lord's manor, a knight by the name Sir Rabe who governed with surprising competence contrasting the man's complete lack of ambition.

The entire place was a picture of idyllic countryside, their walls barely qualify as fences to keep wild animals out. Now, where should the investigation begin?

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

The entire place was devoid of life. Fucking weird, that's what. Those idiots outside in the courtyard could've completely entrench themselves in here and that'll actually buy some time but nooo. They stand around outside with their thumbs up their arse and any hope of resistance distingetrate within seconds.

Yvonne didn't like how this looks.

"Why is it barred from this side? Big man locked himself in there?" The mercenary strode forward, carefully testing the slab of wood. It wouldn't budge easily. "This smells rotten, but even if there's trap we still need to get in there yeah? Your call, boss."

Glancing around a side room, Yvonne procured a table which she dragged to the corridor and overturned on its side, forming a makeshift barrier right before the metal door. If nothing else it'll provide some arrow cover if the nature of the trap was mundane men, but she really doubt that'll be the case.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Well, time to get absolutely wild. If the implication was proven the entire gang would be rounded up and executed anyway, so no need to spare the chaffs. It's probably mercy compared to what execution awaits for attempted regicide, so she'll be sure to properly send them off.

The party started with a literal bang with about a third of the enemy ranks instantly vaporized. Way to go, boss! Cackling in amusement, Yvone jogged forward to meet the three opponents left. Was it fear or stupidity? They just saw about a third of their rank splattered into giblets and here they come. All rabble, too. Bad foorwork, overly wide swing, nowhere near enough attention to defense, and they're not pacing to keep up with each other. These were thugs at best, never even seen one remotely life-threatening fight in their sorry existence.

They were taller with longer arms, but Yvonne's mace had better reach than their makeshift bludgeon so it evened out. At the fastest thug she swung straight up to the chin, the impact more felt than heard as his teeth jarringly knocked into each other before the overwhelming force shattered both the upper and lower jaws. One down, she pushed the thug lightly to send him crashing toward one of his friend. The next one came down on her, but a well-placed blow on the wrist fractured the bone and dropped the weapon. Before the pain caught up with him Yvonne brought the mace back down, on to the skull, where metal met bone and metal won. Red and white splashed in the general area, the body convulsed once, twice, before falling still.

The third guy barely got up when Yvonne strode past, sweeping through his face with a two-handed swing. Another firework of red and white bloomed, this time the giblets tossed far off to paint a sizeable section of the courtyard. The first man wasn't dead yet but he's drowning in his own blood. In a small gesture of mercy, the mercenary draw her dagger and stabbed through his heart.

And that's all done on her part. Barely take ten seconds.

"Where next, boss?"

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

[NPC Post]

"Of course, ma'am." Far beyond Anderson to question his dame's decision. While there's likely more things to be gleaned from the corpse, like how did he ended up dead here, it's not that hard to deduce the details. Must've wandered in at the wrong time and place, bless his unfortunate soul. He wasn't much comfortable having the dead up and speaking like they forgot they're dead.

The squire watched with morbid fascination as Birk dug a grave for himself to lay in, not really sure at what point did he turn from undead into plain dead, but he'll take Solomon's words for it. He helped the necro-doctor bury the corpse, too. Daylight was waning quickly, this time of the year.

"You can stay at the camp if you'd like, ma'am. We dont have much spare room, but if it's only for the night the men wont complain overmuch having to stuff in. On the other hand, your horses would've rested enough to take you back to the city. I'm sure the night watch wont make things difficult for you." Matilda was rather well known, and quite distinct to boot. As long as she's on the lead they'll let the group in no problem.

"Ser Cedrick, you can leave the kits in the ruin and I'll have someone come collect it on the morrow. We'll take good care of the horses." Anderson noticed the druid's plight and offerend his assistance. These were fine horses, the guilt of their last riders shouldn't transfer to the animals.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

[NPC Post]

The admiral kept his eye on the guards, who slowly rose back to their feet with clear uncertainty on how to proceed from there. On one hand, their direct superior hadn't retracted the earlier order. On the other hand, well, this was clearly above their pay grade.

"Well met, Royal Tutor; Clear the room, all of you."

Technically an admiral have no jurisdiction over the constabulary, but in practice it's as if the footmen couldn't wait to obey as they filed out of the room with springs in their steps. Momentarily there's only the three of them left in the room, receding footsteps slowly fading in the background.

"That is an unusual request, Ser Henri. And a grave accusation." The elder Delving smiled pleasantly in contrast to what he's saying, stepping to the side of the desk where he began tapping on the hardwood as his glance switch between his brother and the royal tutor. "What says you, Aaron?"

"There were some... unsavory elements that deceived the guards to enter the hallowed mausoleum." He withered a bit under the gaze of Silas. "Only after confronted and cornered that they brought up the royal seal. Otherwise I would've arrested the whole lot."

He looked like he had been forced to eat a sour lemon.

"I was occupied with my duty at the admiralty for most of the day, such news take time to permeate that far." Silas accepted the bottle, raising an eyebrow at the shape and the label. "Huh, I didn't know you like our product, Ser Henri." He popped the waxed cork, perusing Aaron's liquor cabinet for three shot glass before pouring for them. At a glance the content was perfectly equal. "The prince is missing, you say? You do know realize that we cannot stay silent about this matter, yes?"

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

[NPC Post]

"I'm pretty sure he said he's checking the submerged part a while ago." Anderson reiterated, brows scrunched. "I believe he wont overestimate himself and get drowned, but I'll take a look." With one last glance at the zombie still sputtering endlessly, the squire headed downstairs...

...and he came back a minute later, looking very troubled as he held a bottle of whiskey with faded label and a small metal plate on the other hand.

"It said here that he found some cases of hard liquor down there. He left to offload it and join Jazdia's group." Anderson passed the metal plate etched with Henri's message to the knight. "Who is this Jazdia? Did he have any way to contact her?"

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

[NPC Post]

"Aaron? What's going on here?"

Aaron's expression had went through a shade of rage, fear, and hummiliation within the span of a few seconds before his gaze locked at someone by the door, all his emotion immediately doused by joy. It was a curt yet modulated tone of someone well used to commanding others. Even when off duty Admiral Silas Delving's debonair charisma was apparent, with a charming smile and flowing golden locks to complete his princely outlook. His steps confident unlike most sailors that walked with the expectation of the floor buckling under their feet. This was the true champion of House Delving, and he entered with a hint of concern and alarm as he took in the sight.

"Brother! This renegade attack me!"

The Admiral merely raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing the supposed renegade not unlike an eagle looking down on a rabbit.

"Ser Henri, if I'm not mistaken? Cease your assault on my brother and his men, would you kindly?"

That was not a request.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

[NPC Post]

"What did it say if I may ask, Ma'am?" Anderson glanced at the message with curiosity, before alternating to Cedrick and the pigeon. There's other group, it seemed. Likely the one that included Miss Rosenving. It's a good thing that not all avenue of investigation was stymied, at least. Coordinating with the younger Delving so far had been nothing but a collosal waste of time. "Will this suffice?"

From an inner pocket the squire produced a leatherbound notebook, flipping to an empty page before carefully tearing it out. There's no quill or ink, but he did carry a pencil.