Year 487 Summer Campaign

[Cedwyn]

Cedwyn looked up from sharpening Witchbane.

"I've just finished," he said, "Let us go forth together. Perhaps since showing our worth we might pry some materiel from these Romans."

[ooc: what kinds of materiel would we need? We have spears aplenty now...I have Witchbane and my spare sword]

[Geoffrey]

While Sir Cedwyn and Artaign contemplate trying to use denarii to try and pry some war gear out of the Malhaut army, Rodric follows Valka and her prisoner to a small hill overlooking the river. Once there, Valka hauls back her spear and whacks the unsuspecting Saxon in the back of the head with the butt. He collapses like a sack of grain. She then pulls a length of rope from her satchel, whips the end over a branch of the tree, and affixes the other end to the Saxon's feet, and secures his arms behind his back. She then starts to haul on the rope, lifting the Saxon into the air, feet first.

[Any actions from Rodric?]

[Also, not trying to interrupt Sir Cedwyn and Artaigne - keep exploring that if you wish.]

"Lady Valka." Rodric said with a questioning tone, wondering what exactly the woman was doing.

[Valka]

Ooc: I'll post later tonight, but I've edited my sick tent post below now that it's sort of apparent.

[Cedwyn]

Cedwyn said to Artaigne, "I have the 200-odd denarii I found on that ship plus another librum or so I can spend. I also have a spare sword for at least one squire."

[Ben, my courtesy is 13. Want to combine efforts and have me roll so we get the +5?]

[Artaigne]

ooc: Aye that is what I was thinking.  Maybe Craig would let me use some of my skills for a circumstance bonus?  Maybe I could sing of the glory to be had in our employ?

IC: Artaigne looked at the other knight, and replied, "That sounds like a good place to start.  Shall we seek out some lads with a taste for glory?  Once we can find some suitable squires, perhaps we can get them outfitted for a reasonable price."

[GM Craig]

[OOC: The +5 is a circumstance bonus. You're free to try and bump that up with your own skill roll. Success of failure will adjust Cedwyn's result accordingly. Or you can give him a straight +5.]

[Cedwyn]

Cedwyn said, "Aye. We can kit out rwo lads with a reasonable horse and I have spare blade one can use," he motioned for Artiagne to follow him, "Let us go henceforth and seek some competent lads."


[so...effective courtesy is 18. Two rolls. 15 and 10. Both successes.]

[Valka]

"Lady Valka." Rodric said with a questioning tone, wondering what exactly the woman was doing.

Valka whirled around and coiled like a snake, her greatspear poised to strike. She was silent for a moment as Rodric’s face and voice registered but her lethal weapon and stance were unmoving.

“Come no further,” she warned with a slow, deadly tone, “unless you wish to take his place.”

[Geoffrey]

Rodric made no move to close.  He wasn't sure what to make of the implied threat, but the woman was certainly on a mission and he wasn't about to push her.  What was obvious was her intent, and as much as he had no love for the saxons, and put down a fair number of them today, he was still a Christian and this didn't sit well.  He was beginning to wish he hadn't spotted her.

"Forgive my ignorance if you would, what is it exactly that this will accomplish?"

[Valka]

Valka relaxed slightly for a moment as she contemplated his sincerity in being interested. But she knew Rodric wasn't stupid,and neither was the northwoman. It was obvious she was about to do something rather Pagan and he was there to stop it.

"Saving my husband," she replied matter of fact.

[Geoffrey]

Rodric was slightly taken aback by the matter of fact way the woman had responded.  How on God's earth would killing a helpless man be a step towards saving someone?  He knew pagans sacrificed animals for their rituals, but this was far beyond that, to him anyway.  But was this really a reasonable action to a pagan?

"Would that goal not be better served with you at his side rather than out here about to kill a bound and unconscious prisoner?"

[Valka]

“Acting as the goodly Christian wife does not appease my gods, sir Rodric. Tomorrow one of us must fight and one of us must live. So I do what I must to ensure both and it is not done lightly. It is never done lightly."

[Geoffrey]

"The man is bound...and unconscious...how could murdering such a helpless person possibly appease a god?"

[OOC: Yeah yeah, hi kettle, my name is pot. ]

[Valka]

Valka risked a very quick glance at her prisoner then back to Rodric.

“You misunderstand. He need not be bound, nor unconscious, nor helpless. But it is less messy and his screams will not disturb the Praetor and have us all whipped as promised.”

She paused a second.

“On the beach I went to finish off an unconscious Saxon, the one that struck Arne, and a sword stroke had already been put through him while Cedwyn worked on my husband. It should have been left for Arne’s shieldmaiden wife, but I greatly respect him and argue none. In return I request that I be allowed to carry out my task unfettered. And perhaps Freya will look upon us all favorably upon the morrow; in battle, in the Praetor, and in seeing our loved ones once again.”

[Geoffrey]

Rodric was silent.  He had never given any thought to Pagan custom when he finished off the saxons.  The knight let out a small sigh.

"My apologies Lady Valka.  I had not considered your traditions on that beach..." he turned to leave put stopped.  He didn't like what was about to happen to the saxon, but he was responsible for setting this act in motion.  Part of him wondered if he should remain, to face up to his mistake.  But as a Christian, he had no desire to be a part of such a ritual.

Rodric felt he should say something more, but didn't know what.  He looked at Valka, gave her an apologetic smile, and headed back to camp.