Black Water - Grim News

On the horizon a small cloud of dust heralded the arrival of a rider in full gallop. It was an odd site, most riders did not push their mounts so hard for so long.

The veteran guard at the gate watched wearily for a while, then called out to one of his younger, more green colleagues.

"That rider is either running from something, toward something, or he has no sense whatsoever. If he keeps that up he'll kill himself or his horse, perhaps both. Go inside, and tell Ser Varek there's a madman riding toward the keep. I have a feeling he'll want to know."

The younger guard nodded, glanced back and jogged in to the keep, looking for its master. The rider did not slow, he kept up his pace right up to the keep, almost plowing into the gates. His horse reared, shying away from the guardsman and his weapon raised in readiness.

"I have an urgent message for the master of this keep, Ser Varek Aestus, or his wife, from the castellan of the Firemarch, Lady Medina! Let me through!"

Though both rider and horse were dusty and shivering from exertion, the guardsmn could see the Sigil of Zweiwasser on the man's uniform, along with a symbol he didn't know, a rising sun combined with a stylized dragon fly.

On the horizon a small cloud of dust heralded the arrival of a rider in full gallop. It was an odd site, most riders did not push their mounts so hard for so long.

The veteran guard at the gate watched wearily for a while, then called out to one of his younger, more green colleagues.

"That rider is either running from something, toward something, or he has no sense whatsoever. If he keeps that up he'll kill himself or his horse, perhaps both. Go inside, and tell Ser Varek there's a madman riding toward the keep. I have a feeling he'll want to know."

The younger guard nodded, glanced back and jogged in to the keep, looking for its master. The rider did not slow, he kept up his pace right up to the keep, almost plowing into the gates. His horse reared, shying away from the guardsman and his weapon raised in readiness.

"I have an urgent message for the master of this keep, Ser Varek Aestus, or his wife, from the castellan of the Firemarch, Lady Medina! Let me through!"

Though both rider and horse were dusty and shivering from exertion, the guardsmn could see the Sigil of Zweiwasser on the man's uniform, along with a symbol he didn't know, a rising sun combined with a stylized dragon fly.

On the horizon a small cloud of dust heralded the arrival of a rider in full gallop. It was an odd site, most riders did not push their mounts so hard for so long.

The veteran guard at the gate watched wearily for a while, then called out to one of his younger, more green colleagues.

"That rider is either running from something, toward something, or he has no sense whatsoever. If he keeps that up he'll kill himself or his horse, perhaps both. Go inside, and tell Ser Varek there's a madman riding toward the keep. I have a feeling he'll want to know."

The younger guard nodded, glanced back and jogged in to the keep, looking for its master. The rider did not slow, he kept up his pace right up to the keep, almost plowing into the gates. His horse reared, shying away from the guardsman and his weapon raised in readiness.

"I have an urgent message for the master of this keep, Ser Varek Aestus, or his wife, from the castellan of the Firemarch, Lady Medina! Let me through!"

Though both rider and horse were dusty and shivering from exertion, the guardsmn could see the Sigil of Zweiwasser on the man's uniform, along with a symbol he didn't know, a rising sun combined with a stylized dragon fly.

The soldier had found Varek at the great hall, enjoying a drink, as he watched Molly teach her students. Though Varek knew very very little of alchemy, he did enjoy watching Molly concentrate upon the craft she loved so much. At the soldier's words, Varek's brow had knit together in an all to familiar, slightly grumpy wrinkle above his nose. With a grunt and a nod he had taken the sword hanging upon his chair, strapped it to his side and left the hall. Molly had followed him along with the two young women.

They all entered the courtyard, with Varek and the soldier heading straight for the gate.

"Who goes there? What is the urgency?" Varek asked loudly, announcing his arrival. With a stern look, he eyed the rider, the near-dead horse and the veteran guard.

The soldier had found Varek at the great hall, enjoying a drink, as he watched Molly teach her students. Though Varek knew very very little of alchemy, he did enjoy watching Molly concentrate upon the craft she loved so much. At the soldier's words, Varek's brow had knit together in an all to familiar, slightly grumpy wrinkle above his nose. With a grunt and a nod he had taken the sword hanging upon his chair, strapped it to his side and left the hall. Molly had followed him along with the two young women.

They all entered the courtyard, with Varek and the soldier heading straight for the gate.

"Who goes there? What is the urgency?" Varek asked loudly, announcing his arrival. With a stern look, he eyed the rider, the near-dead horse and the veteran guard.

The soldier had found Varek at the great hall, enjoying a drink, as he watched Molly teach her students. Though Varek knew very very little of alchemy, he did enjoy watching Molly concentrate upon the craft she loved so much. At the soldier's words, Varek's brow had knit together in an all to familiar, slightly grumpy wrinkle above his nose. With a grunt and a nod he had taken the sword hanging upon his chair, strapped it to his side and left the hall. Molly had followed him along with the two young women.

They all entered the courtyard, with Varek and the soldier heading straight for the gate.

"Who goes there? What is the urgency?" Varek asked loudly, announcing his arrival. With a stern look, he eyed the rider, the near-dead horse and the veteran guard.

"I am Danyl, sir, from Tin Fajar in the Firemarch. The Lady Medina sent me to bring you this urgent message."

The man held out a scroll sealed with the same rising sun and dragon fly as on his uniform.

The writing was a quick scrawl, the titles obviously added by a different hand.

"To Ser Varek Aestus, Comander of the Emerald Tower.

I hope my message reaches you in time and well. There are disturbing rumours about a rebellion against Margrave Balor and the 'ignis obsessed leadership of Zweiwasser'. The rumours claim a man called Blackhand has gathered over a hundred armed people and is leading them towards Drachenbrück to remove Balor.

I have sent scouts to check and am currently on my way to Drachenbrück myself. I wish to help Balor an Briceus navigate this development, preferably without it turning into a massacre. I pray to Ignis that I will arrive in time.

Keep your eyes open and your weapons close, I suspect you may become a target as well, soon.

Be safe.

Medina

Kastellan of the Firemarch

Firedancer of the Vaildar Rebellion"

The messenger hesitated for a second the spoke

"When I left Tin Fajar some of our people were debating joining the rebellion, my brother for example, he is a devout follower of the lords of the deep and was injured in the Jade war.. I believe this Blackhand may be gaining more and more support as he heads toward Drachenbrück, gathering the disenfranchised to him...I fear the situation may devolve quickly into a civil war."

"I am Danyl, sir, from Tin Fajar in the Firemarch. The Lady Medina sent me to bring you this urgent message."

The man held out a scroll sealed with the same rising sun and dragon fly as on his uniform.

The writing was a quick scrawl, the titles obviously added by a different hand.

"To Ser Varek Aestus, Comander of the Emerald Tower.

I hope my message reaches you in time and well. There are disturbing rumours about a rebellion against Margrave Balor and the 'ignis obsessed leadership of Zweiwasser'. The rumours claim a man called Blackhand has gathered over a hundred armed people and is leading them towards Drachenbrück to remove Balor.

I have sent scouts to check and am currently on my way to Drachenbrück myself. I wish to help Balor an Briceus navigate this development, preferably without it turning into a massacre. I pray to Ignis that I will arrive in time.

Keep your eyes open and your weapons close, I suspect you may become a target as well, soon.

Be safe.

Medina

Kastellan of the Firemarch

Firedancer of the Vaildar Rebellion"

The messenger hesitated for a second the spoke

"When I left Tin Fajar some of our people were debating joining the rebellion, my brother for example, he is a devout follower of the lords of the deep and was injured in the Jade war.. I believe this Blackhand may be gaining more and more support as he heads toward Drachenbrück, gathering the disenfranchised to him...I fear the situation may devolve quickly into a civil war."

"I am Danyl, sir, from Tin Fajar in the Firemarch. The Lady Medina sent me to bring you this urgent message."

The man held out a scroll sealed with the same rising sun and dragon fly as on his uniform.

The writing was a quick scrawl, the titles obviously added by a different hand.

"To Ser Varek Aestus, Comander of the Emerald Tower.

I hope my message reaches you in time and well. There are disturbing rumours about a rebellion against Margrave Balor and the 'ignis obsessed leadership of Zweiwasser'. The rumours claim a man called Blackhand has gathered over a hundred armed people and is leading them towards Drachenbrück to remove Balor.

I have sent scouts to check and am currently on my way to Drachenbrück myself. I wish to help Balor an Briceus navigate this development, preferably without it turning into a massacre. I pray to Ignis that I will arrive in time.

Keep your eyes open and your weapons close, I suspect you may become a target as well, soon.

Be safe.

Medina

Kastellan of the Firemarch

Firedancer of the Vaildar Rebellion"

The messenger hesitated for a second the spoke

"When I left Tin Fajar some of our people were debating joining the rebellion, my brother for example, he is a devout follower of the lords of the deep and was injured in the Jade war.. I believe this Blackhand may be gaining more and more support as he heads toward Drachenbrück, gathering the disenfranchised to him...I fear the situation may devolve quickly into a civil war."

Varek stood still for a moment as he read the letter. His thoughts went back to the rumors he had heard, as he read the letter through once more. Then, suddenly the muscles on his neck and arms began flexing and bulging and his eyes lit up with pure, undiluted rage. "Traitors!" Varek's voice rumbled out towards the messenger, as he clutched the letter, threatening to rip the poor piece of paper apart. "This... this will not stand! Soldier! Get the commander here. I have orders for him and the rangers. Also, fetch my horse and armor!"

Like a hurricane Varek began shouting orders, surprising even the veteran guard. The knight was known for his eagerness for battle, but rarely did he show such agitation.

Varek turned towards Molly, the rage in his eye dimming somewhat. "They are rebelling.. Turning towards the Margrave and scorning the faithful of Ignis.. " Varek's voice trembled with anger as he stared at the letter once more, still clutched tightly in his grip.

Varek stood still for a moment as he read the letter. His thoughts went back to the rumors he had heard, as he read the letter through once more. Then, suddenly the muscles on his neck and arms began flexing and bulging and his eyes lit up with pure, undiluted rage. "Traitors!" Varek's voice rumbled out towards the messenger, as he clutched the letter, threatening to rip the poor piece of paper apart. "This... this will not stand! Soldier! Get the commander here. I have orders for him and the rangers. Also, fetch my horse and armor!"

Like a hurricane Varek began shouting orders, surprising even the veteran guard. The knight was known for his eagerness for battle, but rarely did he show such agitation.

Varek turned towards Molly, the rage in his eye dimming somewhat. "They are rebelling.. Turning towards the Margrave and scorning the faithful of Ignis.. " Varek's voice trembled with anger as he stared at the letter once more, still clutched tightly in his grip.

Varek stood still for a moment as he read the letter. His thoughts went back to the rumors he had heard, as he read the letter through once more. Then, suddenly the muscles on his neck and arms began flexing and bulging and his eyes lit up with pure, undiluted rage. "Traitors!" Varek's voice rumbled out towards the messenger, as he clutched the letter, threatening to rip the poor piece of paper apart. "This... this will not stand! Soldier! Get the commander here. I have orders for him and the rangers. Also, fetch my horse and armor!"

Like a hurricane Varek began shouting orders, surprising even the veteran guard. The knight was known for his eagerness for battle, but rarely did he show such agitation.

Varek turned towards Molly, the rage in his eye dimming somewhat. "They are rebelling.. Turning towards the Margrave and scorning the faithful of Ignis.. " Varek's voice trembled with anger as he stared at the letter once more, still clutched tightly in his grip.

Molly followed closely her husband's actions as if she were studying him.

"Varek, send a letter to Briceus before you leave, so he knows where you are." She held him in his sleeve so she was sure he heard her.

"I travel to Amseldorf and make sure they are safe there! Afterwards, I travel to Drachenbrück, with the men I can do without in Amseldorf. Meet me here in twenty minutes, I want to say goodbye" she let go and ran inside, with both her students after her.

Molly followed closely her husband's actions as if she were studying him.

"Varek, send a letter to Briceus before you leave, so he knows where you are." She held him in his sleeve so she was sure he heard her.

"I travel to Amseldorf and make sure they are safe there! Afterwards, I travel to Drachenbrück, with the men I can do without in Amseldorf. Meet me here in twenty minutes, I want to say goodbye" she let go and ran inside, with both her students after her.