Taulath - Turn 152

In the morning the Dark Kin bodies are found to have dissolved into puddles of black gunge with only their ears remaining.

Collecting the ears, the group mount up and ride off with Forced March having been cast.

They head into the mountain pass and have gone about five miles along it when there is the sound of a horn and Kailin soon spots several figures heading towards them.

Riding along the bottom of the pass comes a number of riders dressed in metal armour. There are seven of them and they wear chainmail, round topped helms with nasal protection and carry shields.

The warriors wear sly blue tabards over their armour and their shields all have the same design. The design is of a white diagonal cross on a blue background. Each appears to be armed with a sword and flail, half of them have crossbows and the others have short lances.

They gallop towards the party but stop when one of them holds his hand up.

"Who is your lord and master," he calls out, "and under whose colours do you ride?"

"Greetings oh knight of Peldere," says Taulath. "Although serving no lord or master, we endevour to serve those who uphold the law of King Pelandar. We are also opposed to those who support the forces of darkness and have recently disposed of two minor demon kind not too far away from yonder castle."

Kailan holds up the ears of the creatures and the knight nods in recognition of it. Taulath then explains about the Abbey of Pure Light and the fact that they have important news for Lord Sagrain. The knight indicates to two of his fellow knights to accompany the group to Thanmot Castle whilst he and his comrades continue onwards along the mountain pass.

As the group are led towards Thanmot Castle, Taulath asks who the lead knight was. One of the warriors accompanying them explains that he was Sir Heverak.

The two knights take the party towards the great Thanmot Castle which is built on high rocky ground and is partly protected by a naturally steep slope and partly by a moat cut out of the rock.

The place covers quite an area with a huge square outer wall, at three corners of which are large two storey towers with high conical roofs.

At the other corner is a five storey keep surrounded by an inner wall that has two small towers where the inner wall joins the outer one.

There is a large gatehouse with a massive drawbridge which is currently down.

Flags flutter on the battlements of the fortress and most are blue with a white diagonal cross on them, a few are white with the design of a yellow sun.

Many metal armoured guards watch the approach from the gatehouse, they all wear the blue tabards with the white diagonal cross.

The hooves of the guards' horses clatter on the drawbridge and then on the cobblestones through the gatehouse. The gatehouse leads through to the sight of a large area of grass surrounded by a cobblestone path.

At the base of the impressive looking keep that lies beyond the grass, is a small water filled moat. There is a second small gatehouse there with its drawbridge currently down. All around the inside of the outer wall are long stone buildings.

There is activity dotted about here and there; warriors sparring, a blacksmith at work, some well dressed women flying falcons.

"If you permit us to stable your horses," says one of the knights acompanying the party, "I will take you to see our Lord. That is unless you wish to freshen up from the road first?"

"Although ideally we'd like to freshen up before meeting Lord Sagrain," says Taulath. "I'm conscious of how important our news may be to your Lord, so if it is no trouble, could you please take myself and my colleague here to see Lord Sagrain straightaway."

He indicates to Erhan and the knight nods as if understanding the urgency with the words, "Come I will take you directly to him."

The two follow the knight, called Sir Herin, who leads them to the keep where armoured guards make way to allow them inside.

Passing along stone passageways they eventually come to a pair of large double doors which Sir Herin opens to reveal a large chamber that has various tapestries and banners hanging down the walls. The stone floor is covered with clean straw and the hall has a high vaulted ceiling.

There are two long tables in this hall as well as another table on a raised platform at the far end.

Sat behind the far table is a bearded man dressed in fine robes as well as another man in noble's robes and a woman of considerable beauty.

Knelt on the floor before the platform are two men in peasant garb to whom the bearded man is saying, "You are forgiven for your actions but should I haer of either of you stealing anything more from my forest then your right hands will be fed to my hounds!"

The two men seem most grateful for this news and exit with their heads bowed and a continual flood fo thankyou's.

Sir Herin introduces Taulath and Erhan and on hearing why they are here, the bearded man asks Taulath, "What news is it you bring me that you come with such urgency?"

Kailan and Artrou meanwhile have been causing much interest at the blacksmith's with the priest Father Corth being called.

When the good Father arrives and sees the symbol, he immediately asks, "From where did you ste... (he stops himself)... get this most holy artefact?"

Y'meth is brought a stool by one of the kitchen staff and takes in the atmosphere of freshly baking bread and pots slow cooking what looks to be a huge collection of animal bones.

She gets into conversation with one Mistress Krayduck who is herself taking a break from ordering her staff about.

Being of a similar age to Y'meth, she is happy to while away some time gossiping.

It seems the latest 'big' piece of gossip is that Lady Castrine, Lord Sagrain's daughter, is being courted by Sir Portin much against her father's wishes as he it appears was planning for her to wed Sir Camount who himself is rumoured to have made a woman in the village of Terth, with child.

"My Lord," says Taulath, "it has come to my attention that a holy child under the protection of the most holy K'nor is being sought my minions belonging to K'nor's evil brother under the influence of a demon known as... G'horzan!"

The chieftain goes on to explain about the demon's forces and what they are seeking to do.

Lord Sagrain replies, "I know of the fate of the Abbey of Pure Light and have had my forces on alert for this foul evil will not cause anymore heartache on my lands! Do you have any idea where this demon force is now?"

Artrou talks with Father Corth who agrees to take him into his chambers. There are no grand trappings for it is a rather simple abode and Father Corth invites him to sit whilst he looks over the item.

Artrou tells him, "My comrades and I acquired several items recently from what was possibly a V'garnian sect temple and by the way have you ever heard about a being or person known as Latania and the Cavern of Light?"

The castle priest nods to himself and explains, "The Caverns of Light do exist and were visited by Sir Durbas many years ago. Sir Durbas is no longer with us but this most holy of places holds water which can restore life and cure any affliction, even that which is thought uncurable. According to Sir Durbas the Caverns of Light lie beneath mountains near the northern coast of Peldere some several hundred miles away to the north north east. Now what is it you already know of Latania?"

Y'meth's compliments about Mistress Krayduck's cooking seems to make her question about 'magic' less offensive.

"Foul sorcery?" she replies, "I wouldn't know about such things..." Her voice reduces to a whisper as she continues, "but I have heard that Sir Formast has visited a witch living in a village on the coast and acquired from her a love talisman."

Taulath replies to Lord Sagrain by explaining that their information comes from a now dead Dark Kin.

"The minions of G'horzan were heading north seeking the 'holy child'," he says, "although we have heard rumours of a Great City being sited somewhere northwards. Perhaps this may be a place to start enquiries to their whereabouts, unless you can suggest somewhere else?"

Lord Sagrain strokes his own neck with his hand and comments, "It could be, but that foul 'so-called' emperor's city is a long way from the abbey and to escape with the 'holy child' to there would be like handing him to the forces of darkness. G'horzan's minions could have been returning to the rumoured temple of that foul sect that some say lies deep within Sorrowsink Swamps. They might have been collecting more of their number to help in searching for the child. The only place I can think that anyone seeking to protect the child would take it to in a northerly direction would be Firestorm Castle which is run by renegade followers of T'gellen."

Artrou is still talking with Father Corth as the bell is sounded for a service for the noble ladies of the castle. As Father Corth gets ready he listens to what Artrou has to say and explains that Latania is the Guardian of the Pool of Light which lies within the Cavern of Light.

Y'meth's compliments now turn to the state of Mistress Krayduck's kitchen and in coversation, she manoeuvres talk around to someone a person of her age could visit for 'companionship'. "That is easy," says Mistress Krayduck with a smile, "you should pay a visit to Gilin the Saddlemaker." "A very obliging man," she adds, her smile growing.

In answer to Taulath's request for more information about the renegade T'gellen knights, Lord Sagrain explains.

"It seems several groups of followers of the flame attacked Castle Vaith and captured it in the name of T'gellen. Rumours are spreading that Lord Kelth actually escaped and may have gained sanctuary amongst V'garnians. I have not had much contact with Firestorm, as they renamed it, but I believe it is now ruled by some foreign prince called Prince Dar. My eyes there say that he looks like a powerful knight with extremely long hair."

Taulath asks advice of Lord Sagrain before eventually admitting to wishing to make a home for himself and his comrades at Castle Thanmot.

"You have shown yourselves to be honourable individuals," says Lord Sagrain, "so I welcome you as potential knights in my court. As it is there is a task you could perform for me. One of my knights gained information that there were once dwarves in the Thunder Torn Mountains which lie to the North East on the coast of the Sorrow Sink Swamps. It has been my desire for a while to send some of my men to investigate the legends and see if there are any remains of dwarven civilisation there. Are you up to the task?"