DeepThought Forum

"I assure you," I say to Palatinate while untucking my beard braids from my gambeson, "Karlach's letter of introduction bore all the marks of authenticity. I would not have surrendered command of this unit were it otherwise."

"Now," I say, turning to Karlach, "Palatinate makes an accurate evaluation of the state of our mission's secrecy. And in fact, it raises some interesting questions that I would ask you, Karlach, as the more experienced officer."

Between my fingers, I turn one of my beard braid rings, considering.

"Why would the general send our team on a mission with the parameter of secrecy that was impossible for it to fulfill?"

"Now," I continue.  "Our work for the day.  This is the obvious route towards our destination, and it may be that we can find some information on those lost soldiers here - what do we know of them at present?"

"A few months back, the other team was lost between here and the tundra north of Lakeside. That team included ir'-Dulinch's son."

I dip another baked egg in ham gravy and take a bite, while looking around at my companions.

[Insight Roll(1d20)+12: 13,+12, Total:25]

"Palatinate, you seem to have something on your mind. Would you like to speak?"

Hey all, I've been running around this week taking care of my dad and missed the most recent posts. I should be able to jump back in this weekend.

"Have you served long, Captain?" I ask mildly.

"The first of Rhaan this year marked a decade plus two," I reply. "The time has passed too quickly."

"And you, Colonel? Have you served long?"

Ready to roll out.

Wow, sorry to hear you took Brexit so hard.

Get well soon.

Reminds me of fetters from Wraith: the Oblivion.

"I gave orders to surrender--she continued to attack the enemy, putting herself and the whole company at risk that they would reject our surrender and kill us all."

"Now," says Karlach, once Astra is gone.  "Where were we?  Ah, yes; you were about to tell me of this vampire under my command who may view his subordinates as provisions, yes, Captain?"

"Corporal Valenae? Oh sure, he's a vampire. But you don't rise in the ranks quaffing one's compatriots."

I take a long draught of wine. "At least, not without permission. Still, it's probably best to find out if what Astra says was an idle threat or not on the part of the corporal."

"The Silver Flame!" I exclaim, as the scent of game bird permeates the air.

Regarding the charred squab on plank, I turn to Palatinate and say, "Well done, Sergeant."

"By their accents, they were not from Karrn. They were well-armed, disciplined, and religious. They did address each other by name... Atrelioth... Zoder... Tarravan... though they could be code-names. Also, beyond our own king's interest in the artifact, and the purported rebel faction, a death cult has interest in the artifact as well, so they said."

"As an unordained priest of the Sovereign Host, I suppose I ought to have qualms about the nature of our mission."

I unconsciously raise a hand to grasp the holy symbol behind my beard.

"However, as Kol Korran is my patron, I recognize there are--economic advantages to the dead serving after they have lived. One could even argue it would be more ethical to have the dead fight our wars than the living."

"As a chaplain," I ponder, turning the golden disk in my hand, "I do wonder if the young soldier Astra has been... sheltered from these realities. Taking risks is admirable, especially when they are commensurate with hazard pay. But I am concerned she has taken on more than is bearable, and may be better off relieved of duty and returned home."

"No, I have no qualms about our mission objective. There was... a rumor those foreign brigands told..."

I nod at Palatinate before joining Karlach in the tent. "General ir'Dulinch gave us orders to explore the mountain source of Iceflow River, north of Lakeside, to recover an artifact called Object 17. And to locate and recover lost personnel who failed to return from earlier missions with the same objective."