A5G

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

[GM Post]

The stomping behemoth of a man turned the last corner, a flash of rippling muscles and violently red warpaint appearing for a split second before he triggered the magical arrow. The hall shook from the shockwave, but from it the large man emerged with a bunch of laceration on the surface of his skin but otherwise looking none worse to wear.

Curiously, not a droplet of blood could be seen flowing out of the wound.

"Gahahahaha! Now that's a nice warm welcome! Come-" He blinked around, looking at a table full of sleeping people. There's a mix of actual sleepyheads and illusion, including Chounan with a bowl worth of oatmeal dripping down his head and on to his lap. "Oh COME ON, they are ALL asleep?!"

The clear disappointment was palpable in his voice as he lowered an oversized, rust-brown greataxe he was brandishing.

Hidden beneath the false wall, Yvonne had to suppress a groan as she saw who exactly had just walked in. Great. Of course it's this asshole. No wonder nobody heard about him lately, he ran off here. Would've been great if he died in a ditch somewhere, but it's plain that evil never quite dies.

"...wait, then where'd that trap comes from?"

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

The breakfast went on... and on... and on... What's the baron saying? It's rather distorted, like trying to listen underwater. Speaking of the baron, he's so round. A giant hamster sat at the head of the table, munching on a piece of oversized lettuce. Then suddenly the wall broke down in a shower of rubble, where a massive lindwurm entered with a deafening roar. The oversized lizard kept roaring for a while, spittle flying all over the place like rain. Yvonne covered her face to shield it from the worst splatter, peeking once it's over to see captain and the others surrounding the beast with long pikes. It's cornered, good. The mercenary hefted her own pike, aiming for the face as she-

-fell right through the earth, into the deepest pit of the void, jolting awake just as she unceremoniously tumbled on to the cold floor.

She caught the tail end of the fox's instruction. Blinking the confusion away, her body moved before her mind fully caught up as she briskly moved and plastered her back against the wall. A glance around. Table full of sleeping people, including the baron. The table itself was a mess, as if someone had tried their best to flip the entire thing. A fast-approaching stomping from the stairs. The exit closed shut. Huh, they've been had. And if none of them started dropping from poison, the food must've been a distraction.

"Polearms are great, Sparky! Stab the foes while remaining safely far-ish away, what's not to like?"

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

[GM Post]

"Whispers?" The baron's brows raised before scrunching together, trying to figure out what's going on there. He... couldn't figure it out. It's vague enough that he felt like it's an illusion born of his own mind. Well, whatever. He didn't know what Asevor's planning so he'll just go with the flow. "I'm not really sure. I couldn't tell if I'm actually hearing something or my mind made it up after you said so."

He shrugged, returning to the conversation at hand as Sir Jurgen insisted strongly to.

"I..." For a moment there Otto's brain traitorously whispered for him to tell the truth. Then self-preservation kicked in and he returned to his usual gear, cursing at how deceptive one's own mind could be. "I'm afraid I hadn't got another guest aside from Mister Aster recently. That was very specific details though? Where did you get the information?"

Right at that moment, the whispers seemed to abandon all pretense as it intensified. As if leading a prey by the nose before springing an ambush, those who intently listened was assaulted with a cacophony before a strong wave of drowsiness washed over them. Solomon and Veronica, being undead, was immune to the effect. Jazdia and Matilda both didn't even paid it any attention and only heard something akin to a low-volume scream before it abruptly cut off, as paradoxical as it was. The baron's head listed off to the side, out like a particularly thick log. Chounan, Yvonne, and Reinhold almost simultaneously faceplanted on their plate, no different than the baron himself. The sight repeated all over the room, crash and clang of cutleries and whatnot echoing as most of the servants also seemed to be knocked right out.

A creak and dull thud marked the exit closing, followed by a telltale heavy clicking of the locking mechanism. Meanwhile, Jazdia's piercing gaze would spot a large movement as the men on the third floor marched down the stairs, with one particularly large specimen bounding his way down much faster than the methodical march of the rest of the group.

A lone man in the second floor carefully closed a wooden box, the whispers seemingly ceased at the exact moment the lid went shut. Then he strolled to the stairs, behind the large man but ahead of the soldiers.

So much for a peaceful breakfast, eh? Perhaps the sleepyheads can be shaken awake before they missed the party.

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

[GM Post]

"I'm sure the knights have a strong bond with each other! My youngest is always fascinated by it." Empty plates was taken away and replaced, the food flowed as if the baron had no worry about possible excess. None of the servants seemed bothered by it either. "I get visitors all the time, yes. Not as often as an estate closer in the capital would be, but my guest rooms are seldom empty for long. There's a traveling wizard at this very moment, in fact. Mister Aster have an eccentric streak, but he offered some service in exchange of hospitality. He would've joined us here if a saboteur didn't ruin the road, but I'm sure he'll be back any time now."

Perception check: Faint whispers echoed at the edge of one's hearings, easily masked by conversation and ambient noise of various utensils. The source was impossible to pinpoint, and should one try to focus on it the voices seemed to entirely fade. Please make a response.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, miss Crystalspark!" Otto caught the slight correction, and wondered what relationship the king had with this elf. The knight-captain didn't look fazed by the supposed faux pass either, how curious. "And everyone else as well! My door is always open, should you be in the area for a... less official capacity in the future."

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

[GM Post]

"Indeed! Being a bit far from the capital is no excuse to not keep up a good appearance, is it? I'll make sure the cooks get their commendation, they've done great job today." Baron Otto seemed to be eating slowly, yet the food just... disappeared into his gullet. Buttered bread, vanished in seconds. Scrambled egg, it took him longer to sprinkle the cheese than it took him to inhale it all. A few bacon and sausage followed, barely two chew between them. All without breaching decorum or looking the slightest bit distracted - it's like the man had perfected eating as an art. He took a sip from his cup before continuing the conversation. "I believe I hadn't caught your name, miss?"

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

Well, the baron's eating. Didn't seems like he cared which plate he grabbed from either. Not fully reassuring, but it's a start. Yvonne, who out of complete total and utter coincidence (yeah right) sat the closest to the rotund man, casually reached over for bread from the same basket. The motion was a bit awkward since it's not exactly in an arm's reach, but who cares - if anyone complain at all she'll shoot it down.

It was a damn good bread, actually. No wonder the baron grew so fat if he's eating like this every single day.

Now, hmm. Maybe an apple. Surely there's no way to poison fruits? She just started peeling it on the spot and bite into the flesh. Nice and crisp, juicy, with the right amount of sourness. And hopefully not poisoned. Surely the man didn't employ some sort of nefarious witch capable of poisoning an apple? That would be too much of a fairytale.

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

[GM Post]

The massive arrangement of food was a treat to the eyes and nose. With farming as their main industry, Fanghorn's produce was on the top of the line. Among those, only the best of the best made their way to the baron's pantry. The porridge was piping hot with sweet milky smell to it. Freshly baked loaves of bread in various size came alongside soft golden butter. Rich assortment of fruit was sent in various bowls, berries of different shade and apples and figs and half a dozen more. Cold cuts of meat with faint fragrance of smoke and salt was served next to savory bacon, its oil still sizzling from the heat. Eggs, too, was aplenty, from softboiled to scrambled and everything inbetween. While the choice of drink wasn't as plentiful as the food, there's still quite a bit. A servant stood attentively on the side, a small table holding various glass pitchers on it. There's chilled water, for one, and what looked like milk, but the rest were a riot of color that reminded one of the fruits on the table. One only need to ask to get their cup filled.

Whether encouraging or suspicious, none held any trace of malevolent addition. Whether to human, elf, or bear senses.

"An honor to have you at my table, Sir Jurgen!" If the baron noticed any apprehension from his guests, he didn't show it. He took a bread from the nearest basket, slicing through to reveal the white insides before generously lathering butter on it. "Why, my good sir, you know a lot about me! It shames me that I cant say otherwise. My boys are... doing very well, they're currently visiting a distant acquaintance with my wife. As for tutor, well, I had some talk with Sir Caspar a while back. Nothing decided yet of course, but it's looking good I'd say!"

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

Yvonne was skeptical at their decision, but far from her to question the team leader. Just, no one would fault her for looking around to see potential escape routes and whatnot. You know, just in case. A mercenary always had to be on lookout for their own well-being or they die quickly and usually embarassingly.

The door's the most obvious one. It only fits one person to create a bottleneck for the defenders, but that meant it opened outward. She'll probably be able to force it open as long as it's not barred from the outside. Then there's another door at the other side of the room, deeper into the structure. Desperate, but it's an option. The windows were too narrow to even consider, damn the sensible construction. Not as much options as she liked, but plenty.

Worst come to worst, she can always take the baron hostage.

"Fancy breakfast there." Whistled the mercenary, looking at the vast array of foodstuff in front of her. Was the food poisoned though? That's the issue here.

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

[GM Post]

The nervousness faded a bit from the baron's countenance as his "guests" eventually took the invitation, mentally reassessing the pecking order here. Clearly the dame was the leader, yet so far it's the elf taking the reins. An expert, perhaps? Well, no matter. He just need to do his part.

"Men, summon the good doctor, please! Make it quick." He ordered to no one in particular as the servants filed in on his command, carrying trays of freshly made food. Say whatever about Fanghorn, but when it comes to food there's few place that could be their match. "Ah, and get a sturdier bench for our big friend here. I'm afraid the chair wasn't built for one so big."

Thinking back to the one broken by Ragnar, it'll probably not hold the larger bear-man. Even if he seemed more polite than the northener.

"I'm sure you know who I am, but let me introduce myself. Baron Otto von Kruber of Fanghorn, at your service. How may I be of assistance to the crown?"

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

[GM Post]

There was a small commotion when the guard at the fort's gate asked for the party to surrender their weapons, of which Matilda flat out refused. The poor man seemed at lost, caught between a rock and a hard space until the baron himself came to bail him out. "No need for such formality!" He said. "The king's own herald wouldn't wish us any harm now, would they?"

Baron Otto was a middle-aged man that didn't age quite that well, already more white than black on a head that seemed to be permanently stooping forward. He wore a formal outfit that might've been a tailor-fit a few years back but now pressed tightly into his flesh, the buttons fighting for their life to keep him modest. Yet despite all that he remained jovial at a glance, like a harmless neighborhood uncle that was more than eager to share a story or two.

"My apologies for the lacking reception dear heralds, but your visit was on a short notice!" He chuckled nervously, showing the way to a long table with a dozen seats arranged around it. "Please, take a seat! You must've rode through the night, I'm sure you wont mind a modest breakfast?"