A New Lead

For Stone Keep and its Citizens
Kollin Byrne
GM of Knights
Posts: 106
Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2014 2:09 pm
Guild: Knights
Temple: Light

A New Lead

Post by Kollin Byrne »

Kollin sat within the office of the Stonekeep outpost going over the letters and reports on his desk, trying to make sense of everything. The disappearances continued. The guards’ eagerness to lock up their own citizens for even the slightest perceived transgression could barely be called rumors anymore. The silence from the guards, and their captain regarding this matter was almost more disturbing than the disappearances themselves. Silence and Loss: that was all the news he got from Stonekeep, but now suddenly, a new lead had presented itself.

Convenient,” he sighed as he stood up and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Kollin walked slowly around the room as he thought, looking down at the crest of the Knights guild upon the floor. He was glad there was a break, something that could be investigated. However, the sudden finger pointing to an outside force, one of the usual suspects as it was put, just seemed…

Convenient,” he sighed once more.

He nodded to himself and exited the office, making his way to the courtyard.

Kelvian, es evrathin ready, they’ll be here in tha mornin,” Kollin called to the stablemaster.

Kelvian nodded, “Yes sir, the outpost is ready for them. Their supplies arrived already.

Kollin smiled, “vera good, will start their trainin bright an early...but fer now...ah think ahll go fer a walk.

Kelvian looked out the gate and turned back to Kollin and spoke. “Sir...you shouldn’t go alone...it is almost dark.”

Ya worried about me are ya?” Kollin grinned.

Kelvian muttered, “I didnt mean...Just...with all the disappearances, and the creature sightings...maybe you should wait till the trainees get here tomorrow.

Ahm jus goin fer a walk, but thank ya fer yer concern... es no necessary.” Kollin nods towards his pegasus in the stable, “‘sides, if ahm in trouble he’ll come after me. If he does, follow im.” He grins and heads out into the Barony, Kelvian simply nodding as he leaves.

Kollin’s smile fades as he wanders down Grace’s Way. Regardless of how he felt about the nature of the leads, he couldn’t dispute the reports of odd creature sightings around the Barony.
He would focus his efforts on verifying and confirming their existence with his own eyes.

Kollin nodded at the guards as he walked through the Barony gates and exited Stonekeep. He followed the winding path down through the cliffs lost in thought. The disappearances, the creature sightings, the troops arriving in the morning all swirled about in his head until he came to a fork in the path. He half chuckled to himself as he could see the entrance to the Temple of Chivalry, the other path leading further towards the plains. He headed towards the temple and sat upon the steps, his eyes focused on the road twisting through the cliffs.

If tha creatures travel tha roads...” he says to himself, “Thas really tha only way in er out isna…

He nods and holds his bow across his lap as he watches the road, waiting for anything suspicious to cross his path.
Kollin Byrne
GM of Knights
Posts: 106
Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2014 2:09 pm
Guild: Knights
Temple: Light

Re: A New Lead

Post by Kollin Byrne »

Night had fallen over the lands, and the mountain pass Kollin watched over was illuminated by scant moonlight. It had been a few hours since he started his vigil. He hoped Kelvian and the others didn’t send a party out looking for him. “Luth’ll stop em,” he thought with a grin, the image of his Pegasus blocking the exit to the outpost flashing in his mind.

His amusement was cut short by the sudden sound of a rockfall upon the path ahead. He jumped to his feet and drew his bow, creeping towards the sound. He stopped at the fork in the path and put his back to the cliff wall as he listened for a directional cue. He heard what was either a strange growl or a groan come from the road leading away from the Barony. He turned to follow, and took a few steps with bow drawn.

The subtle sound of light quick footsteps came from behind him. He spun and faced a masked, hooded figure who near perfectly blended with the night save for the glint of the daggers in the moonlight. Kollin glared icily with bow aimed and ready to fire at the mysterious person. “Clearly no a creature, but suspicious fer sure.” He thought.

The figure stood still, poised with its daggers drawn ,but it did not engage.

So…” Kollin said quietly before being interrupted by the odd growling once more. He turned his head towards the direction of the sound, and the figure jumped back into the shadows, leaving only the sound of footfalls on the path towards the Barony.

Kollin cursed to himself as he quickly considered his options. Two places to investigate, and one of him. He thought to himself, “Luth, ah need ya,” as he slung his bow over his shoulder and started running after the hooded figure. “Dagger wieldin figure, more likely a threat.

Within a moment his Pegasus landed and Kollin hopped atop him. “Ta tha outpost first, fast as ya can.

Kollin peered down at the Barony below as they flew the short distance to the outpost, trying to locate the hooded figure from above with no result. They landed in the courtyard and were greeted by Kelvian and four of the Knight’s Guard. They were ready to mobilize.

Sir! You’re okay!” Kelvian said with a sigh of relief. “When Luth left we…

Kollin interrupted him, “Ahm fine, Kelvian, ya stay here. Tha four o ya follow the road down ta tha plains. Ah heard somethin down tha way. See wha ya can find, ahve somethin else ta look inta.

The Knight’s guard saluted and marched out of the outpost as Kollin and Luth flew over the Barony once more in search of the hooded figure. They circled the keep itself, and spotted the figure upon the great bridge. The person was no longer running, and its weapons no longer drawn. It nonchalantly walked up the great stairs into the keep without so much as a word from the guards.

One o theirs?” he thought to himself “...an attack or a distraction?

Aggravated by choosing the wrong quarry, he urged Luthonoir to fly back to where he had first encountered the strange sound. He found the guardsmen searching in pairs as he landed.

Sir, we heard something faint, and thought we may have seen something moving in the shadows ahead...but nothing else since we arrived.

Kollin nodded slowly, knowing he had missed an opportunity. “Keep lookin...report back as soon as ya find somethin, or return ah first light.

The guards saluted as Kollin returned to the outpost atop his pegasus. Tomorrow was going to be a long day, the troops would be arriving in a few short hours, but he knew where they would be training first. He had many questions for Lord Bikon and his Captain of the Guard as well. Again he felt the need to be in multiple places at once.

But for now, he would try to get some rest. There were more questions than answers as usual, and they would keep him up he was sure. He would stop into the office to write down his thoughts and plans for the day first. As he entered, he smiled brightly as he saw his wife sitting at one of the desks, reading some of his notes.

Kriztina looked up and smiled faintly, " More silence and loss?"

Kollin chuckled and shook his head, “Ah was na expectin ya so soon...but ahm glad yer here...ah’ve much ta tell ya.
Rumor Mill
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2016 3:40 pm

Re: A New Lead

Post by Rumor Mill »

He was on his 4th glass of lager for the night, one of the the rare nights he didn't have to report to the fortress.
Just as he raised the glass to his lips he was abruptly disturbed.

"Sir! We saw another!" shouted a rookie guard as he entered the local watering hole. Though, most of the guards were all wet behind the ears now. So many of their finer officers had been found guilty of treason by Tirius that they were extremely short handed.

"Another what?" the captain of the night guard asked, as he gripped his drink tight.

"One of those.... creatures!" He shouted back. His chest rose and fell at a rapid pace, attempting to gain his breath. "It was just outside the gates, trying to scale the walls!"

The captain pulled hard at his beard before downing his lager. He knew his day off had just disappeared, just as this 'creature' had. And if he didn't get to work, Tirius could lock him up below the wester tower. "Let's go.." he said reaching for his robes and pike.
Kriztina
Posts: 30
Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2014 2:09 pm
Guild: Knights
Temple: Chivalry/Light

Re: A New Lead

Post by Kriztina »

Waking up that morning, a bit later than what she normally would have, Kriztina found Kollin had left already to train with the troops. They were up quite late the night before discussing what he had discovered while he was out on his walk. It was then they decided that while he was working with the troops, she would walk through the barony and take a look around, check if there was anything out of place or anyone willing to talk to her. She often got those that wouldn’t talk to soldiers to talk to her, so why not see if that would take place again.

She left the outpost and started wandering the Barony. She didn’t see anything out of the ordinary for most of the time she was out walking. Everyone seemed quite happy as she made her way down Vintage Lane towards the marketplace. She heard the calls for different things for sale from streets over this way and that, some of them caught her interest and made her go that way until something else was called and caught her attention instead. Eventually, she stopped in the center of the marketplace and looked at the fountain. The mastery of its craftsmanship was astounding. She sat on its edge and watched everyone wandering around this way and that. A few kids came up to her and started asking questions.

How about, we find someplace and I will tell a story. Others can as well, if they’d like. What do you think?” She heard laughter and screams of approval from the kids.

Excellent. Let’s go to the park and sit there. Mother’s and father’s are welcome as well. I’ll meet you all there in about an hour.” She got up and watched as the kids scrambled this way and that to tell their parents.

She sat down on a stump near the treeline and waited, thinking about what story to tell. She tilted her head here and there as the sun beat down on her through the trees. The kids slowly started to filter into the park, running around and playing as their parents sat around with Kriztina talking about the goings on within the barony while even more came into the area. She laughed as she watched the kids, thinking of her own when they were that age, her grandkids and now the great-grandkids. With a soft sigh, she couldn’t believe it had been so long ago already. Suddenly, she felt every bit of those years in age. While she was looking down at the ground, the kids gathered around with their parents and quieted down.

After an hour of her telling the story, she ended and the kids got up giving her a hug before running off to play again. She sat there with the parents and started to ask some questions while she had them there. The questions ranged from asking if everyone felt safe within the barony to do you worry about the disappearances that are taking place. What she found funny is that the openly talkative parents quickly clammed up with these questions. Some nodded or shook their heads, not really saying anything, but the visual queues were there. Some got up and started gathering their kids. She mentioned to them all that if they ever felt unsafe that they should come to the outpost and ask for her or Kollin, and they would find a place for them to stay. One mother, though, stayed even after the others had left. Her two kids were still playing as the sun started to go down. She said she had to talk quick because she refused to be out after dark. The two got up and talked as they walked back towards the middle of town and she took her kids home. Kriztina said goodbye to the woman and waved to the kids as she watched them head down the road. The sun was still setting when she headed back towards the outpost knowing Kollin would be wondering where she was with his new edict that nobody was to be out after dark alone.

She went to his office and found him pouring over some work at this desk. She stood there watching him for a few minutes at the open door, trying not to chuckle as he pinched the bridge of his nose with something troubling him. He rifled through the papers and nearly threw them to the side of his desk in frustration. She hated seeing him in such a place and decided it was time to try and relieve some of his stress. “I hope that isn’t because the night has come and I hadn’t told you I was back yet.

He chuckled and looked up, “Thas part o it, but no...no tha only thing on ma mind.

They sat in his office and discussed what was on his mind as well as what she had found out during her discussion with the woman at the end of the day.
Lady Kriztina
Duchess of Abrams Landing
Kollin Byrne
GM of Knights
Posts: 106
Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2014 2:09 pm
Guild: Knights
Temple: Light

Re: A New Lead

Post by Kollin Byrne »

The men had arrived from Devardec that morning, the result of a deal between the city and Abram’s Landing that had been altered to accommodate Kollin’s availability with the approval of all involved parties.

Kollin nodded to himself as he inspected the troops training with each other in the courtyard of the outpost. It wasn’t usual for him to start working with people already advanced in their training. He thought of his first time training the swordsman of the frostfall militia and chuckled to himself. They had come a long way from needing the extreme basics not that long ago. For these troops there would be no need for any of those tactics.

The agreement was for terrain and climate conditioning. Get these men prepared for any and all different situations they may find themselves in, and the cliffs and forested areas around Stonekeep would do nicely. Especially since that’s where he would be spending his time searching for the creatures that had been sighted around the Barony.

They spent the day going over tactics on how to adapt to the surroundings, spotting potential hazards and covers provided by the landscape.

As night fell, Kollin led the troops back to the Barony. The complaints were minimal, but he had heard some grumblings of being cold all the time. “Perhaps es better ya didna start off ah tha Landin then,” he responded, chuckling to himself. “Once more around tha walls an then ya can get some rest.”

Sir! What’s that,” one of men yelled as he stared across the cliffs at the wall.

Kollin could make out something climbing. It was hard to make out details from the distance and the lack of light, but it seemed vaguely humanoid..two arms, two legs, not overly large or small.

Continya on,” he said as he drew his Blazing Bow of Honor, the arrow burning and illuminating the immediate area “Will see if ah can get a better look...be ready ta give chase.

He aimed above the creature, but low enough it would only strike the wall, his goal to literally shed light upon it. A cry for help and a sudden commotion from the troops interrupted him. One of the soldiers had slipped on a loose stone and nearly fell from the cliffs. The rest of the men were successful in pulling him back to safety. Kollin looked back at the wall but the creature was nowhere in sight. He put away his bow. “Keep goin all, we’ll catch it on tha inside,” he yelled to the men as he approached the soldier who fell.

Ya okay?

The soldier nodded and cursed himself, muttering about being careless.

Don worry about it..will get it....get back ta tha outpost an get checked out ah tha infirmary.” The soldier saluted and continued on with the rest.

Kollin made his way to the front of the group once more and approached the guards, “We jus saw a creature tryin ta climb tha walls again, los sight o it but we’re after it.

The guards face went white and nodded, “we’ll take care of it from here.

Kollin looked perplexed, “We’re offerin ta help ya…,” and was cut off.

“I said we’ll take care of it...they are here for training only, not defense.

Kollin stared incredulously, “Then ahm goin, ahm here fer defense!

The guard stared for a moment then looked to his partner and shrugged, “suit yourself.

Kollin nodded and turned to lead the men back to the outpost. Shaking his head at the situation.
As they arrived Kollin approached the guardsmen, “Has Lady Kriztina returned yet?

No sir, not yet...do you wish us to find her?

Kollin shook his head, “No ahm sure she’ll be back soon...make sure tha troops from Dev are situated, then gather a few men ..we need ta investigate another creature sightin.

Another? Yes Sir...everything will be ready shortly.

Kollin nodded and entered the outpost, “ahm goin ta tha office, lemme know when yer ready.

Entering the office he noticed two new messages, one bearing the seal of the keep. He sat and stared at them a moment, “Thas gonna say: Thanks fer tha help. Get out. Isna,” he muttered to himself.

He opened and read that one first. Bikon was sending someone to help in the investigation, Tybras, Master of the Monks. He pushed it aside even more confused than before. He opened the other, and it was from the Master Monk, offering his help. He put the message down and sighed. He was grateful for the help. He could always use allies, so he wrote Tybras welcoming his assistance. There was the matter of the gap between the requests for aid and refusals of aid from Stonekeep to contend with yet. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed as he rifled the documents and pushed them away to the side of the desk.

I hope that isn’t because the night has come and I hadn’t told you I was back yet.

Kollin chuckled and looked up to see his wife standing at the doorway with a slight grin.

Thas part o it, but no...no tha only thing on ma mind.

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