Plans for a visit

Foothills - Dunland <>

The forbidding Misty Mountains tower in the far northeast, sharp edged and remote. The rise and descent of the ridges here is gentler. The path winds from the north to the south, rising to a flattened knoll. A solid fortification of wood and stone squats there.

Obvious exits:

Iron Gates leads to Courtyard <>.

North leads to Northlands - Dunland <>.

Southwest leads to Highlands - Dunland <>.

===============================================================================

Dunland Time and Weather Forecast

===============================================================================

Real Time is: Fri Feb 13 17:04:40 2009

IC weather is: Wind: - Clouds: dense

IC Moon is: Not visible

IC time is: Midday

IC date is: Sterday, Day 10 of March in the year 3046.

===============================================================================

[Carac(#32384)] With the snow beginning to subside work on the rebuilding of Mathain has doubled as men fall timber and rummage through the remnants of the old keep that can be reused in the new. With the sun currently at its midway point, the work is paused momentarily for the men to take their afternoon meal.

Carac currently sets upon a fallen log eating from a wooden bowl and looking over the progress of the work.

[Irvin(#15443)]

\"How much longer till we get to Fian Ciaran\'s?\"

Bella, a girl of about sixteen with coarse hair, asks Carac for the tenth time. The tattered manner in which she is dressed suggests she is not used to travelling, and though her eyes peer with wonder at all the new sights, the wary girl is never far from Carac\'s side since leaving Creatrach.

\"And why is this place in ruins? And who are these people?\"

There is movement against the mottled backdrop of white and grey formed by the Misty Mountains. A single figure, his grey cloak helping him to blend in with the mountainside, and visible only because he is motion. Doubtless the marksmen have had their eyes on him for some time, for none approach the Hawk Keep unheralded, but seems unconcerned. As he nears the fortifications he steps out into the open, both hands raised, and pushes the hood of his cloak back. Those who had journeyed with the \'rebels\' from Kierkgard would recognize Brev Telartair.

[Carac(#32384)] Carac sets his bowl aside and sighs. \"I have told you, Bella,\" he says looking up at the girl. \"That we will leave on the morrow, I wished only to see that things were moving along here.\" Any explanation concerning the ruins or those rebuilding them is halted by the figure that approaches.

Carac rises quickly once the figure is identified and motions for Bella to follow as he heads towards Brev. \"What you doing this far north?\" he asks his friend with a smile. \"Finally get tired of all those Bears?\"

Brev\'s mouth curls in an answering smile - a true one, not one of those irritating half-smirks he is so prone to. \"Hunting goblins, what else? Up here with twenty Ranich men, the Fian\'s uncle at their head. Said I was going scouting and slipped away.\" He jerks his head southeeastward. So - how\'s it going? Look a little better than the last time I was here.\" At that assessment the smile slips away, replaced by a sudden shudder.

The girl gets a disinterested look, no more.

[Bella(#15443)]

Carac doesn\'t need to tell Bella to follow, for his little shadow is right at his side. The girl at first observes quietly, but after a few exchange of words, she furrows her brows.

\"Olmys, why did you say that? That you were tired of those Bears?\"

[Carac(#32384)] Eyes the construction efforts for a moment himself. \"It\'s coming along,\" he replies. \"Though doubt its going to provide much protection when the goblins do come,\" he continues. \"Going to be hard pressed to keep from being over run here, but we\'ll make what stand we are able.\"

He turns then towards Bella and chuckles. \"Spending too much time with any person can be tiring,\" he says. \"Brev has been with Fian Ciaran longer than I\'ve been with some I\'m tired of.\"

He turns back to Brev. \"Brev this is Bella, she\'s some busines she wants to discuss with your Fian Ranich. I was going to lead her down that way myself, been wanting to meet this Ciaran. Think you might be able to find a spot for us with your hunters?\"

Brev takes a deep breath and shakes off whatever ill has disturbed him. \"Not alone,\" he says fiercely. \"Not while I have a blade I can wield and even one man I can persuade to follow.\"

The moment passes as he turns to regard the dusty girl. \"Did you have to bring your doxy?\" he murmurs with soft contempt. \"Doesn\'t look the settler type to me.\"

There is a twist in his mouth as he turns to the girl, and he raises one eyebrow. \"Oh? And what business would that be?\"

[Bella(#15443)]

The girl seems to be satisfied with the answer, apparently more concerned with the prospect of attacking goblins. Bella\'s eyes expand involuntarily, and she begins to tremble, though she clenches her teeth desperately to keep them from chattering.

She nods politely at Brev. \"I\'d be much obliged. I know nothing about Fian Ciaran but Olmys said that he might be able to help me.\" Bella swallows hard to try and answer Brev\'s question.

\"I just want to bring my pappa\'s remains home.\"

[Carac(#32384)] Carac gives a chuckle and shakes his head. \"She\'s no doxy,\" he replies. \"Her father was one of those involved in that business down in Redvyrne. Like she says she only wishes to have his remains brought home.\"

Carac gives a simple shrug. \"I thought your Fian might be able to talk to the Bear for her, she\'s not too willing to trust after they sold her father and the others to the Wulf.\"

Brev rolls his eyes. \"Kiern, where did you find her? Is she a half-wit?\" he mutters quietly to Carac.

More loudly he says, \"I cannot say whether the Fian will have interest in such a matter.\" Already his speech is falling into the more formal pattern of Breveg son of Barseg. \"Nor do I understand why it should matter. If a man dies on the battlefield, do his comrades leave off fighting to bury the corpse? But you may speak to him, if you wish.\"

He hesitates, then goes on, seemingly to both the pair facing him, \"And it would be best not to travel alone. It\'s not safe to be out in the Wilds, especially in these parts. We\'ve been warned to stay well clear of the Hawk.\" The words are directed to Carac, but it is the girl\'s reaction that he watches.

[O\'Neil(#19982)] From the ruins of Mathain, a strange sight then appears to those who do not what it going on. A head has appeared above the ground floor. Quickly it grows a pair of shoulder before a torso appears and then a pair of legs. Growing out of the ground itself to the common eye, the man known in Dunland as \'The Giant\' is suddenly standing within the couryard of the Keep covered in mud and resting a large shovel against his left shoulder. Running a hand across his face in a lazy attempt to remove the dirt, the Master Smith uses his massive strength to deeply implant the shovel into the earth beside him.

Spotting the group, he blinks a few times before letting out a yawn and beginning to walk in their direction. Rasing a hand in greeting the man of Hawk then speaks, \"Hail! The smithy is coming a long quite nicely!\"

[Bella(#15443)]

She may not have heard the whisper but Bella did see the roll of Brev\'s eyes and heard his words. Bella holds her tongue now, retreating into Carac\'s shadows, trembling from head to foot.

[Carac(#32384)] Carac smiles at Brev, but then gives a slight shake of his head and puts a protective hand on her shoulder. \"She\'s scared and still in shock over her father\'s death. Helping her will give me a chance to speak with Ranich, see if there\'s any kind of agreement he and I can reach.\"

He turns then and offers O\'neil a wave in greeting. \"Glad to hear it,\" he calls towards the smith. \"Hope you\'re ready to swing that hammer of your\'s again,\" he adds with a smile. \"Going to have a need for arms soon enough, I fear.\"

He turns back to Brev then. \"You didn\'t by chance run across that Tavish fellow on your way here, did you?\"

As Brev looks past Carac to \'the giant\', one corner of his mouth twitches. \"That is good to know. It might be that an honest traveller would have a commission for some throwing knives.\"

The trembling girl is ignored, but Carac\'s explanation is given a nod, and a frown. \'What?\' he mouths while Bella is still behind her protector. Aloud he says, \"It might be good if you could speak to him. I - he has little ear for my words these days,\" he shrugs. \"I\'ll keep trying. And if he does not wish to listen ... well, there are other ways.\" Another shrug. \"The harvest at Ranich was /very/ good this year.\"

The question about Tavish takes him by surprise. \"As a matter of fact, I did. Sounded like he was suffering hold fever after being cooped up here all winter. I hinted he could always come and join me, but ... Where is he now?\"

[Bella(#15443)]

The girls jumps at Carac\'s touch but she remains silent, eyes downcast.

[O\'Neil(#19982)] As he approaches the party, he gives a short glance to the child Bella before looking over to Carac and Brev again. \"I\'ve been ready since we arrived here. I make sure to always just be a short sprint away from my wagon. If the goblins are foolish enough to show up, I have some /great/ suprises in store for them.\" Letting out another yawn, he than looks over the surrounding landscape in search for movement. \"I\'m going to need more wood braces though. The forward tunnel needs some more support before I think its safe to dig further. And with speed being important, all we need is a cave in.\" The last being said in a sarcastic tone, he then turns back to look at the two men beside him.

\"I\'m wishing we had a few more stone masons about though. We could the help if we want Maithain up and ready for when the goblins come a running.\"

[Carac(#32384)] Carac gestures towards his long since discarded bowl. \"We\'re down to turnips and what we take in our hunting,\" he says to Brev. \"I would like to make Ranich our friend, but friend or not we may need some of what he has in his storehouses. We\'ll not be able to hunt as often once the raids begin.\"

He shakes his head then and looks off into the distance. \"Who knows where Tavish is now,\" he says. \"Had a feeling he wasn\'t planning on coming back when he mentioned his wish to leave. Probably for the best though, he never seemed comfortable with us.\"

He turns then to O\'neil and chuckles. \"Stone masons are few and far between my friend,\" he says with a sad smile. \"Might as well wish for a company of dwarves to come by and help us out. The chance of either finding it\'s way up here is pretty distant.\"

\"Save a few of those unsafe tunnels for when the goblins come,\" Brev suggests to the huge smith, a gleam in his eyes. \"I had a mind to try something similar, there\'s a few old mine workings on my f- on the lands just south of here,\" the correction is swift. \"I\'d stay and make your braces, but ... I don\'t have long. If I linger away from Caileann and the men too long I\'ll be missed. The old hound\'s eyes are sharp, he\'s probably out looking for me right now.\"

To Carac he nods. \"As I said, a very good harvest. I\'ve spent most of the winter making bloody storage crates. Officially, I don\'t know where they go, but ... I watch and listen.\" He chuckles lightly. \"As for Tavish, I suppose it\'s no great loss. He didn\'t know anything important, did he?\"

[O\'Neil(#19982)] Brev\'s comments bring a quick grin to O\'Neil\'s face but it is quickly turned into a confused expression as the man goes on to speak of food and the like. \"How do we go about getting our hands on some of this harvest? My stomach grows tired of turnips as our man here has stated already.\"

\"Perhaps I could sell a few of my \'things\' to make sure we have enough food for a while?\"

[Carac(#32384)] Carac gives a slight grunt to Brev\'s final question. \"He knew enough I suppose. Positioning of our scouts, the location of the caves . . . nothing that can\'t be changed if there\'s reason to believe a need for it. I\'ll speak with Garaig and see that he adds a few more eyes to those watching the south just to be safe.\" He gives his old friend a grin. \"Just keep an eye out for me, me an the girl here will probably be a day or so behind you.\"

He looks towards O\'neil and shakes his head. \"No,\" he says. \"Keep what you have, we\'ll be needing that. Though, it might be a good idea for you to join the lass and I. Ranich might have need of a smith and will help us in the long run to build up some good will.\"

\"Patience\", Brev replies to O\'Neil. All things can be found by he who waits.

To Carac he snorts. \"That\'s what he said - Tavish. Haven\'t seen hide or hair of him since.\" He jerks his head to indicate that Carac should move away from the trembling girl, and lowers his voice. \"Not sure how much she knows, or how much you trust her, but ... Laoghaire is interested in negotiating. Was talking of \'giving\' the Hawk Mathain,\" here his brow quirks ever so slightly, \"in exchange for their services against the goblins. The Bear folk aren\'t of like mind, though. He thought that the death of I\'racil\'s son would sweeten the bargain for them. Not sure why he told me, reckon I\'m supposed to come back with a head in a bag for him?\"

[O\'Neil(#19982)] \"Well don\'t come knocking around my door for spare ones. This is the only one I got, so I\'m keeping it on my shoulders.\" Sporting a brief lived smile, the master smith then nods to Carac. \"Very well. I seemed to build up enough good will in Creatach.\" Chuckling now for a brief moment, his cold eyes now turn back to the construction site that is Maithain.

\"Giving Hawk Mathain? Whats there to give? Mathain already belongs to Hawk. And you cannot give someone something that already belongs to them. Though if a sweet little chat will keep all those who would interfere from doing so, I say lets do it. We could use the time to finish this soon to be beast of a castle.\" His chuckle gone for now, a grin is all that is left for now.

[Carac(#32384)] Carac raises a brow at this and then chuckles. \"I doubt this Laoghaire knows of our connection,\" he says to Brev. \"Though he was probably hoping you\'d offer to bring him a head in a sack either way. Well, perhaps he needs to learn that the son is not a threat . . .\" he frowns slightly and then shakes his head. \"I\'ll have to think about this some.\"

Carac gives O\'neil a glance. \"Don\'t start acting like Halen,\" he admonishes. \"We first need to prove that we can hold Mathain, before we start making claims to it. If we\'re not up to the task the Keep was built for, I\'d rather it went to someone who is.\"

Brev manages a half-smile for O\'Neil\'s jest. \"It\'s looking good. Just don\'t ask me to sleep in it. Too many ghosts.\" The smile fades, and a muscle jumps in his cheek.

Carac\'s first words bring a shrug. \"I pointed out that Hawk would hardly thank him if he killed their leader. And if you disappear and leave Halen in your place the blood will not stop flowing until neither clan has a man left standing. Don\'t even think about it.\"

The final words, however, elicit a harsh bray of laughter. \"And who do you think that would be? A bunch of filthy Bear nobles who don\'t give a damn about the men who bleed and die here? The same who smugly assert that the Hawk and goblins can kill each other while they hide safe in their cosy southern dens playing with the Wulf and bickering with their neighbours? They didn\'t stand there as gate and wall gave way. They didn\'t watch as men in their prime were cut down like corn. They didn\'t strike with spear, and stones, and fist, only to find it wa all for naught and that flight was the only way left-\" The angry words, which have been building to a crescendo, cut off abruptly as the man turns on his heel and walks away, his steps swift and jerking.

[O\'Neil(#19982)] The Master Smith now seems irrated by the words of Carac. \"Of course we can defend our own damned Keep, brother. As soon as this thing is finished, it\'ll block the goblin horde like how a bolder damned a stream. This will be the farthest they get into Dunland, as long as I have anything to say about it.\" Grumbling now to himself, he turns and makes to get back to his digging.

\"I\'ll squish those goblin skulls like over ripe grapes, I will. Mark me........over ripe graps...\" His shovel is soon withdrawn from the dirt and he disappears beneath the ground.

---

---

A few days later, on the journey ...

[Carac(#32384)] Not yet having had a chance to speak with Caillean about joining his party, Carac and his companions have erected a small camp of their own a short distance from the men of Ranich. A steady snow falls on the camp this morning, and keeps those with Carac inside their tents and out of the harsh breeze.

However, Carac is out an about. Having erected a makeshift target from a rotted tree trunk he passes the time throwing daggers, while waiting for the late storm to pass.

A dusting of snow gathers on Brev\'s cloak, bleaching the grey to white. \"Care to try your luck against something harder to hit than than a stationary target?\" he queries with a half-smirk, gesturing to the dagger at his hip in obvious challenge. Lower-voiced, he adds in what is no more than a murmur, \"And clarify your plans for Ranich. I imagine there\'s a few things I should be getting busy with.\"

[Carac(#32384)] Carac turns from retrieving his daggers from near the target and gives Brev a nod in greeting. \"Aye,\" he says. \"I\'m anxious to see if you\'ve been practicing any since Laeg.\" He pushes a hand through his hair and moves back into the center of the small camp.

\"Ranich is but an idea at the moment,\" he says as faces Brev. \"Since the other Fianni have refused to help the girl, I thought perhaps Ranich might be more of a mind to do so.\" He shrugs. \"There must be some amongst the Bear who are not entirely happy about what occured in Redvyrne. Bringing home the remains of those who fell there, could gain someone much support amongst the people.\"

Brev snorts. \"I wouldn\'t - worth a try though. Ciaran has a wife and babe, maybe he\'d be moved by such things. You\'re right about his feelings over Redvyrne. What got him to make common cause with Mailduin I\'ve yet to winkle out.\"

As he reaches a hand towards his dagger, he comments softly, \"Want me to start bleeding a few supplies away? A little at a time\'s less likely to be noticed. Or shall I wait for you .. ah, meeting?\" Then the dagger is drawn and at the ready, his left arm raised ready to ward and he is balanced lightly with feet apart, awaiting the anticipated strike.

[Carac(#32384)] Carac gives a grunt as he considers this. \"A little at a time sounds like the best arrangement,\" he says. \"Provided you can do it without too much attention being drawn to you or the missing supplies. Having you in chains will help no one.\"

He gives a chuckle. \"If the meeting goes badly, there may be no time to do anything after.\" He takes a half step towards Brev and feigns an attack towards his left side, pulling away at the last moment.

[Combat(#13388)] Carac draws a dagger and holds it at the ready.

ARB: Carac has \"passed\" on his turn to attack.

\"Except run?\" Brev suggests, stepping swiftly back out of range even before Carac\'s attack becomes a feint. \"Ach. I\'d have lost him within the year anyway.\" He makes a dismissive gesture, then murmurs, \"Enough. To business.\" He dances forward, the dagger in his right hand apparently aimed for Carac\'s ribcage - but in the end it is his left arm that comes up, reaching to knock Carac\'s dagger-arm as Brev veers left. The dagger remains at the ready.

You attack Carac with your Bare Hands...

Carac dodges your attack.

[Carac(#32384)] Carac sways back at the waist, pulling his upper body away from the blow Brev aims in his direction. \"We\'ll set up some kind of dumping site,\" he adds. \"Someplace where we can pick up whatever supplies you manage to slip out of the hold. If all goes well and we are able to hold our claim in the north, I\'ll personally see that we eventually replenish all that is taken.\"

He spins on the ball of his foot and slashes lightly towards his friends hip with his dagger.

Carac attacks you with his Dagger!...

...and he misses!

Brev\'s head dips in a slight nod. \"Works for messages too-\" The words cut off as Brev spins out of the way, the dagger misses him by little more than a hairsbreadth. Breath hissing between his teeth, this time he aims a more conventional stroke toward Carac\'s right side as he dances past.

You attack Carac with your Dagger...

Carac dodges your attack.

[Carac(#32384)] Carac barely avoids this slash of the dagger and chuckles as he dances back out of reach. \"You have been practicing,\" he says with a grin.

He bounces lightly on the balls of his feet looking for an opening. \"I want you to keep an eye out for Tavish,\" he says. \"I\'ve always questioned his sincerity and am a little worried over his sudden disappearance. If you see him try and get word to me as soon as you can.\"

As his words end he darts in, and aims for Brev\'s weapon arm.

Carac attacks you with his Dagger!...

...and he hits! Ouch!

Brev lifts an eyebrow at Carac\'s first comment, but makes no verbal response. Alas, the words about Tavish provide a distraction. Brev\'s arm, lifting to block the blow, pauses but an instant, but it is enough for Carac\'s dagger to prick at his arm. As Brev moves back out of range, a grunt is first response. \"Not enough, it seems.\" And the corners of his mouth lift in a rueful half-grin.

The other topic is serious enough that his dagger-arm drops, and he makes no attempt to press an attack as he murmurs, \"Aye, it bothers me. However little he knows, it\'s too much. More than me, probably. I\'ve always tried to stay out of the way of the details, in case ... things turn awkward.\" He scowls. \"What a man doesn\'t know can\'t hurt.\"

[Carac(#32384)] Carac also drops his dagger and gives his friend a smile. \"You\'ll be showing me a thing or two before long,\" he says with a smile. He then looks up at the sky as a few beams of sunlight filter through the late winter storm clouds.

\"Looks like the storm\'s about passed,\" he says. \"Most likely will be moving again before long.\" He jerks a thumb towards the nearby tents. \"I should rouse the layabouts and start pulling up camp.\"

Brev, looking preoccupied, forces a half-hearted smile in response. \"That I doubt. You\'ll always be a few steps ahead - I hope.\"

He jerks his head skyward and nods. \"I\'d best be getting folk moving. Thanks for the practise.\" This time the smile is a little more genuine. He sheaths his dagger. \"I can show the smith some suitable pickup points for supplies and the like - if you trust him, that is. I have a commission for some throwing-knives to discuss, would provide nice cover.

[Carac(#32384)] Carac nods. \"Aye, O\'neil will work fine,\" he says with a grin. \"Claims to have known my father, but then every one of those who call themselves Hawk claim the same thing. I doubt half of them actually did, or they\'d not speak so fondly of him.\"

He glances off in the direction of the Ranich encampment. \"We\'ll stay aways behind until I\'ve had a chance to speak with Caileann. Don\'t need any trouble just yet, after all.\"

Brev makes a slight choking sound at those first words, swiftly turned into a cough. A cold morning, it is. At the rest of Carac\'s speech, he nods. \"Aye, that would be best, given he\'s the one supposed to be in charge. He hates the Hawk,\" he grimaces at that warning, \"but otherwise he\'s a fair enough man. Anyway, best not give him reason to hate me. Later.\" He grins, raises a hand in farewell and steps lightly away into the snow.