Séadna
Legendary Pubber
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2018
- Messages
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OOC: Sorry, Two handedOCC: One handed or Two handed?
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OOC: Sorry, Two handedOCC: One handed or Two handed?
"That's all well and good", Brian interrupted. "But the details would be of more interest to a priest. Me, I'm going to free up your manuscript, and let the priests deal with it. Which specific Northerner has the pages and who has the chalice?"The old man perks up suddenly and speaks in more flowery language to Brian.
"Oh great noble, the pagans they hath removed in a most profane manner some of the folios from the new Vulgate just commissioned for the Water Spring monastery. A glorious work, each of the Christ's life stories in beautiful detail. These pages are of special worth..." he leans closer and speaks in a more serious tone "...they treat of our Lord's existence as the Greek rational principle...the so called Logos, before he was clothed in flesh. The start of Johannian gospel, few have read it I sense even among the clergy and to speak of the average man......"
Brian can sense a rant coming on.
The man looks momentarily offended at the interruption, but remembers the class distinction between himself and Brian quickly corrects his expression."That's all well and good", Brian interrupted. "But the details would be of more interest to a priest. Me, I'm going to free up your manuscript, and let the priests deal with it. Which specific Northerner has the pages and who has the chalice?"
Colla is still talking to the three Norsemen who remained here.OOC: What's the tactical situation look like outside?
Brian is reasonably confident he can get a shot off. The Norse are gesturing to each other full of bravado, singing and laughing and thus are completely unguarded. The two at the front of their group are in a side hug and present a wide target."Thought so", Brian answers, and moves to the window to take aim at the indicated Northerner.
OOC: Yeah that would be possible. The tree line is close to the Blacksmith's place. Your Locale, Track and Stealth scores and Dougal's background and faith imply being quite adept at moving through forests. This would be essentially risk free if done right now.OOC: Can I work my way around to their side unseen? I'm looking to charge after some archery hits 'em. Hopefully everyone else follows suit or it could be a short fight. If not then shock and awe out the front door will have to do. |I need to give this big mothering sword a test drive.
Done then.OOC: Yeah that would be possible. The tree line is close to the Blacksmith's place. Your Locale, Track and Stealth scores and Dougal's background and faith imply being quite adept at moving through forests. This would be essentially risk free if done right now.
The Norseman stops short at Dougal's gesture and looks toward the point of the sword. A smile curling up one side of his mouth. He speaks then in a rich accent with long smooth vowels. His Gaelic is simple, but there is a beauty to the voice.Dougal will step out into plain view of the leader. He will begin a high keening wail, the Song of the Morrigan, and point his sword directly at the Norseman, a plain invitation to single combat.
Dougal rushes and swings out with the massive Norse sword with tremendous force. A flash of shock is seen in the Norseman's face, but he brings up his sword just in time to connect with Dougal's blade. The parry is skillful, but he did not count on the weight of Dougal's new sword, it's momentum meaning Dougal manages to push through the parry. The Norseman grits his teeth in a effort to halt Dougal's blade, he manages just barely. The point of the blade cutting slightly into the leather armour over his stomach."That is Fir a Fer, you and I," says Dougal. "Your skull will look well on my saddle. I think you a canny warrior, and it would be my honour to fight you." He swings the great sword in a series of quick arcs and the battle madness begins to bubble up from his chest into a series of barking laughs before he charges. Morrigan and Cernnunos preserve me if I am worthy.
"Hmm..." Dougal thinks for a bit, "well, don't worry about the sword, I'm going to use it to cut off your leader's head just like I did this poor fucker here," he says, gesturing at the headless corpse. "If you want to leave the Norse cause here, I think we can arrange that. Here's what I suggest - you and your companions swear obedience to me, here and now, on a relic of my god, and I'll take you with us. Beware, my god does not countenance oath breaking. If you'll swear and be bound, you can travel with me until you find a place here with a a lord you want to serve. When you find one, and with your permission, I will transfer your oath to him and you can serve him in whatever capacity you can argue for." He looks at each Norse in turn. "What say you? I have no time for dallying or discussion..."The three Norse look among each other for a moment. One speaks. He is fluent enough in Gaelic.
"You bet him. You are the first here I've met who does not love the Roman god. Your god sounds worse than the jötnar. We won't quarrel with you..."
He pauses and confers with the other two.
"...but the leader of our forces...that sword was for him. He'd kill us if he saw you had that. And he'd kill or banish us anyway for letting you win. Can we take ourselves and the three young fellows back at camp and leave in peace? Perhaps to work for the Gaelic king here?"
"I like the sound of it more than the sword to the gut our own kind would give us. Alright then let's swear your oath..."Hmm..." Dougal thinks for a bit, "well, don't worry about the sword, I'm going to use it to cut off your leader's head just like I did this poor fucker here," he says, gesturing at the headless corpse. "If you want to leave the Norse cause here, I think we can arrange that. Here's what I suggest - you and your companions swear obedience to me, here and now, on a relic of my god, and I'll take you with us. Beware, my god does not countenance oath breaking. If you'll swear and be bound, you can travel with me until you find a place here with a a lord you want to serve. When you find one, and with your permission, I will transfer your oath to him and you can serve him in whatever capacity you can argue for." He looks at each Norse in turn. "What say you? I have no time for dallying or discussion..."
Brian sees six in total. The three to whom Dougal is speaking and back at the camp the other three who didn't go into the forest to inspect the fire. They sit laughing with Colla and offering him a drink."I love the Roman god, as you call the good Christ", Brian says, putting his bow on his back. "But I don't object to this arrangement, provided the Christian relics are returned".
He also looked to check how many of the Norse were still alive. No doubt the man with the throwing stick had used the opportunity...
"To be honest? I don't have any idea", Brian answers truthfully. "If your leader just dislikes the White Christ, maybe he wanted to burn them publicly; if he's schrewder than that, maybe he wanted to use them somehow, say to negotiate with monks. Either way, as you're now running from him as well, we should take them"."I like the sound of it more than the sword to the gut our own kind would give us. Alright then let's swear your oath...
But Irishman I would advise not facing our leader. He has been given a gift from the gods, the boat Skíðblaðnir, and with him travels Heimdallr who watches for the gods"
The other Norse look at him with an incredulous expression and they say a few short words in Norse before the one speaking to Dougal shushes them.
Brian sees six in total. The three to whom Dougal is speaking and back at the camp the other three who didn't go into the forest to inspect the fire. They sit laughing with Colla and offering him a drink.
"The relics are in the Longhouse, take them if you wish. The chalice is rich stuff, but I do not grasp why we were ordered to take the pages. Powerful Roman magics?" the Gaelic-speaking Norseman says to Brian.
As the Norsemen approach, Morte the skill greets them "Alright, oath away lads. It's fairly binding let me tell you that""Alright then, my canny boys, walk with me to my horse. You'll swear on the skulls I carry on my saddle, and make no mistake, angering me is as nothing set next to breaking an oath to Cernunnos. On the other hand, he will honour you if you honour him, so there's nought to fear unless you plan to be false." says Dougal, gesturing back toward the woods where the horses are. "Let's make haste before this gets any more complicated..."
Brian stops. OK, he thought that wouldn't be a problem...As Brian obtains the relics, the Norse go over and fetch the younger ones who were speaking with Colla. They berate them for not attacking, but everybody quickly rounds themselves up and reconvenes in the woods. Colla picks a spot where the tree cover is enough to prevent them all from being spotted from the docks should any ships return, but allows a good view of the bay from which approaching ships can be seen.
A woman rushes out from the village and grabs Brian by the arm
"And what of us Irishman?!" she asks him.
Dougal on the other hand sees the old man from the Blacksmiths hobbling out of the village, past the beach with the dock, his trousers heavy with gold coins, heading for a separate part of the forest from everybody else.
"We confronted the king and his main forces not too far from the inlet near his estate and drove them back. Very poor fighters all told..." he looks as if he is about to say more and then thinks better of it "...however those who survived our assault almost certainly retreated back to their farms and we have not pursued them. It is not in our interest to attack inland yet until we have solid dock towns constructed.Brian stops. OK, he thought that wouldn't be a problem...
But then they're not local captives, are they? Those would have a place to go.
"Hmm", he answers. "Let me think of something. I ain't leaving you here, that's for sure..."
He turns towards the Northerner who speaks Irish.
"As we're now on the same side - do you know of any Irish forces that aren't besieged? Has the monastery been pillaged already?"