Open Chronicles A River Runs Through It

[Henk]

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The village that lies under the shadow of the fortress of Vel Ghoran was one small and insignificant settlement in a region littered with dozens of more impressive towns and cities. The only thing notable about the tiny town consisting mainly of farmland and craftsmen was the large Ghoran Dam it now rested under, diverting water to it and all the surrounding hamlets while also subtly reminding all of those residing within them who was in charge. Still, so long as their meagerly expected yield of goods didn't dip or falter, Henk doubted the Anirian government ever paid them any mind.

That is what made it an ideal place for the runaway Initiate to rest his tired body after another long week of honing his body and mind.

Henk was a Dreadlord no more, not until his impending return and inevitable incarceration, but he had not rested on his laurels during his absence from Vel Anir and its Academy. On the contrary, since his disappearance, the scar-faced man had never trained harder, never pushed himself as tenaciously as he now did every day. There would come a day, very soon, when he would return to the Academy, and it would be as one whose power was undeniable, as one who had the strength to carry those who relied on him without worry.

"Essy! Did you see them?"

Henk turned his head from his place at the small kitchen table of the farming family he'd taken residence with to see their young daughter walking through the front door, blond locks mopped with rainwater, but not enough to hide the always glimmering shine of her eyes.

'Essy'.

Espen. It was the name he'd given himself to avoid using his true moniker. He was, after all, a wanted man.

Setting the bite of food he'd been about to take back down on the plate, Henk offers a smile to the little girl. "Have I seen who, Floris?" The poor thing had been so excited to have somebody at the house for a change, her parents always being out working during the day must have been hard on her. Henk understood the loneliness.

"There's a strange group of men, dozens of them riding through town on big wagons! With shiny swords! The butcher told me not to get too close, but he won't say who they are. Do you know them Essy?"

Henk's brow furrowed, his hand slowly sliding the plate across the table. Company in this village? In the middle of a torrential rain like this? That didn't check out. He had no inkling who the group in question could be, but... It felt like his stomach was held up by a single thread "Where were they headed?"

"I thiiiink they were going to the big house way up on the hill. The one the water comes from?"

That was all it took to snap that thread, then.

Henk stood quickly, reaching to the wall behind him to retrieve the dark green cloak hanging on a nail and throw it over his body like a seafoam cape. "Go to your room, Floris. Don't come out until I say." It was only a gut feeling, but he was in no position to turn a blind eye to any doubts. The girl pouted, stamping her foot and protesting. A stern look from the scarred face of 'Espen' was enough to send her retreating to her room.

Pulling the face cover stitched into the cloak up over his nose, Henk quickly departed, eager to see these visitors for himself.

 

[Lumen]

Lumen's golden hair had long-since soaked. Even the clothes beneath her armor were no longer dry. It was hard to see the horse in front of her with the rain as thick as it was. And they'd been riding like this for the better part of the hour. On the road for nearly a fortnight. She and a few others were escorting a group of merchants up to some small town.

Very important merchants to be able to afford the guard, a dreadlord, and a few initiates. Probably a cousin to one of the noble houses. But she wasn't sure.

"i'm looking forward to getting out of this rain," she said to the person next to her. "Maybe we'll even get a break from tents and stay in a proper inn." While the rain didn't make her cold because of her temperature control it still didn't mean it was comfortable.

 

[Amalric Urahil]

Bright beads of rain ran down Threnn’s hair, his tanned face, and on down his coat of chainmail; the coruscating cascade turning his champagne hair to limp strands that hung across his eyes, his burnished, blue eyes. Blue eyes that watched the world with a wild, run-a-muck optimism, in stark contrast to the dreary, gray downpour which now surrounded their soggy party.

“An inn! Oh, an inn. Wouldn’t that be wonderful. Warm stew, a soft bed. Wouldn’t that be nice.” Threnn sighed as they approached the town. He hoped they had some accommodations.

 

[Taayi]

The road through the Vel Ghoran village was well traveled. An ideal location for a fortress. As a result, the village did have a large dwelling that served as an inn for travelers looking for rest overnight. It was unmarked – one had to ask villagers for the appropriate place to stay. The beds were few and of basic quality. Maybe there would be food to serve if one checked in early enough.

Truthfully, it was just a larger than normal house for a couple living in the village. An older couple ran it. Their children – gone from the village for their mandatory service. Unlikely to return.

But it existed. Sitting at the edge of the road.

A cloaked solo traveler arrived at the “inn” before the merchant’s caravan reached the village. He tied his sumpter horse to a post before approaching the door – giving it a few knocks. The woman of the house emerged. A quick exchange of words followed with the traveler providing some coin to the woman.

After that, the traveler was welcomed in. He pulled down his hood and attempted to shake off the water from the rain while on the porch. He turned his head to look out and see the approaching caravan – giving just a moment to study it.

Then, he disappeared into the inn.

 

[Zinnia]

Much as Zinnia generally did prefer the elements to the stuffiness of the Academy or the bustle of the cities, eventually constant rain and travel did wear upon the body and mind. If even she had grown weary, she could only imagine the state that her travelling companions must've been in. She wasn't much sure about Threnn, given he was a fair bit older than anyone in her class, but at least she knew that Lumen could sort of self-regulate with her magic.

Magic has limits, though. A good rest was well deserved. She imagined the critter that assumed the form of her hood probably longed to assume its natural shape for a few hours as well. Even though Zinnia's head seemed to be its preferred habitat it, too, had limits on its abilities. An extra hood was packed away just in case, of course, but until it became exhausted she simply allowed it to continue its rest.

"Vel G-Ghoran isn't f-far at least...but the s-sooner we can settle the b-better I think. If the c-caravan leader thought to t-take us through here it m-must be a stop, r-right?" Zinnia pondered aloud in general reply to Lumen, and acknowledgment of Threnn.

 

[Henk]

Even through the thick cloak he'd wrapped around himself, the rain-soaked Henk's flesh quickly as he climbed the side of the farmhouse to clamber onto the roof, the raindrops running through the fabric with its sheer thickness and relentlessness. It had been the heaviest downpour of the season, without a doubt, and even from his higher vantage point Henk could see little through the curtain it created as it fell.

It was enough to confirm his worries though.

A merchant caravan, guarded by wagons bearing the symbol of the home he'd recently left behind. Honestly, The runaway wasn't entirely sure which group he'd have dreaded seeing here more, These Dreadlords or their exiled counterparts. He cared little for Vel Anir itself, but this village had been could to him, and if anything had happened to the people here, or the fortress that supplied it with the flowing rivers of water that sustained it, he knew he'd feel the guilt on his own shoulders.

Even so, there was no promise the Dreadlords would be particularly kind to the people here-- he couldn't make out who exactly had come through the rain, and there were more than a couple bad actors among their ranks.. The wagons were slowing to a stop in the road, and he heard voices of authority shouting orders as several began to disembark onto the muddy wet roads beneath.

He hadn't seen the stranger entering the unmarked inn, auspicious in their lack of association with the rest of the guests. If he had, Henk's worry would have grown even more.

Pulling one of the katars fastened to his side free, Henk took off running towards the edge of the roof, leaping with a grunt and hooking the handled dagger into the wood of the neighboring shed, pulling himself up and repeating the process, making his way across the rooftops to close the distance. He needed to get close enough to see and hear in this dense downpour, to ease his own mind if nothing else.

After all, it was odd that merchants would stop here, and even then attempting to sell goods to a military fort like the one above Vel Ghoran was a ballsy move. Still, they'd afforded Dreadlords, so they must have some idea what they were doing. Hopefully, more information would quell the feeling in his gut.

If they saw him... well, he'd just have to bail in a hurry.

 

[Lumen]

Eyes flickered to Threnody. A silent nod of agreement. Warmth and shelter would be welcome with a meal.

Vel G-Ghoran isnt f-far at least...but the s-sooner we can settle the b-better I think. If the c-caravan leader thought to t-take us through here it m-must be a stop, r-right?

"I think you're right, Zin," Lu offered to the other girl. "I doubt anyone likes traveling much in this rain, even in a covered carriage. Our orders were just to make sure to escort them safely to the fortress." She didn't know why they were going there or what the purpose was. Like most orders the initiates were handed, information was left out.

She just was never sure if it was for their own good or for far higher, calculated plays and moved.

The commander of the guard signaled for their group to stop. Orders were quickly dispersed to the three initiates. They were to scout the perimeter and then check-in. They'd all be bunking up in one room. Just a little longer in this dreary rain before they'd be able to dry off.

Lumen sighed and dismounted, handing her horse off to the stable-hand.

"Make sure she gets an extra carot," she murmured then looked at the others. There was movement out of the corner of her eyes. Something on the roof? But when she looked again, she didn't see anything.

Strange.

Probably just the rain. Hard to see anything in this deluge. "Thren, why don't you check the inside and Zin and I will do a quick check on the outside?" Out of the three of them, Threnody seemed like he needed a break from the elements the most.