Mistress Sandman - RPLOG
Participants
Date
28/2/480
Log
Despite the oncoming spring in the valleys below, the Norwarden pass is still frigid and choked with snow in many places. Up ahead lies the old Northwarden keep, silent in the overcast gloom.
The briefing back in Firmament had been. . . well. . . brief. All that was really known was that the Keep had gone silent a little more than three days ago, despite orders for daily runners to carry information from the keep to the city. A contingent of military personelle had been sent out, scouts and fighters, to check on the silent keep, but none have returned. Now (Mostly to avoid any further casualties of their own soldiers) the army has called on a small group of Freeswords to find out what is happening.
Zuri steps up towards the entrance to the pass into Northwarden Keep. Not his favorite place, this, on account of all the cold and ice and darkness-stalking, death-dealing critters that inhabit this place. He looks around at the other Freeswords while rubbing his hands for warmth.
A Coyote whistles as he saunters up beside Zuri, grinning as the Salamander rubs his hands together. "Cold, Zuri?" Mal asks, popping open his flask and taking a swig of vodka. He leans over to look at the other Freesword and looks them over. "This your first job?" he asks, eyeing the Wolf's equipment. "Remind me to craft you something a little better when we get out of here."
"Indeed, it is my first job as a Freeswords." replies Sayr, watching what everyone does and how they act. "I hope I will be up to the task!", says Sayr positively while coming closer to the group.
It is frigid out here. And the overcast sky hardly helps. The bone white stone of the keep is dull as the wintery sky and snowy landscape. Strangely, the keep's drawbridge stands open, though no guards seem to be patrolling the walls.
Zuri smiles at Mal and nods quickly. "Yea, it's a bit nippy here isn't it." The small salamander looks over at Sayr, greeting the wolf with a big smile. "Hi there miss! Nice to meet you! I'm Zuri!" He looks over at Mal and wiggles his nose. "I don't expect this to be a difficult job you know.. they probably just holed up and are low on supplies or something. Maybe some icy critter or two giving them trouble. Piece of pie!" He pauses, the licks his betusked lips. "Mmm, pie..." He turns around and steps towards the drawbridge, looking up at the towers. "Yea, they're really holed up..."
Mal looks around and squints. "It's TOO quiet," he mutters, shaking his head. "Always wanted to say that." The Coyote gives Sayr a thumbs up. "Well, I'm Mal," he says, introducing himself while holding the flask out to the other two. "Want a sip? It'll take the edge off the cold," he offers, eyeing the Drawbridge with a hint of suspicion.
"Greetings to everyone, I'm Sayr and I'm glad to do my first mission with you.", politely replies Sayr. She then looks at the drabridge and the keep's entrance, and move her hand towards the sheath of her sword. "Better ready ourselves in case things goes bad don't you think?", says with care Sayr to the group.
Readying for trouble was a different matter for the physician. He was mostly on hand in hopes of preventing a loss of life, and the matter for him was to get tinctures and potions, salves and bandages--and sincerely hope that nothing went wrong. "I surely hope we're not going to begin this with bloodshed." He was a bit fussed about how quickly everyone went to their swords. "You might consider the fact that frostbite and disease are just as common foes up here as any Conglomerate raid.... do you see any bodies, after all?" He begins soaking a few rags in an herbal infusion, just to be safe. "I'll give you something to ward off bad airs. Cover your mouth with it before looking at any dead body, if you would."
There do not appear to be any dead bodies. Or any bodies at all. The drawbridge is completely unmanned. No guards are patrolling and the little guard booths off to either side are dark and silent. No one calls a challenge as the small group crosses the bridge.
Zuri twirls his dagger as he looks back at Krove. "Honestly, I'd say bloodshed is almost guaranteed. It's a Freesword job. It just sort of happens like that! In fact, the only Freesword job where I-" He pauses, seemingly having heard something. "Huh..." The small salamander doubles back, heading towards the little guardpost and pressing his ear to it. "I.. I think I hear them snoring. Hah! He's sleeping on the job!" He strolls forward again, smirking. "So much for impending bloodshed.."
The Coyote blinks. "You're joking," Mal says, blinking at the Salamander. "Seriously? So, what, they all decided now was a good time for a nap?" he asks, shaking his head. "Let's wake 'em up; our job is done." Easiest job ever; Crown for nothin'!
"Come on guys, it's been three days and they're sleeping here, there must be a reason. I can't believe they're here by pure lazyness.", says Sayr, staying alert at the entrance and the surroundings.
Krove has already slammed up his little herb-rag, and is covering his mouth while shrieking at the ones daring to shake the bodies. "Are you MAD? Cover yourselves at once! This is clearly infested! Who ever heard of sleeping guards?" Had there been just normal sleep, this would have ended with an army returning home, with a few executions behind them. Nothing was right about this at all. Nothing whatsoever.
He begins trying to shove his protective gear at others, starting with the wolf nearby. The coyote and salamander would need more treatment soon, if they weren't careful. "Doesn't anyone respect science these days?"
There is, indeed a sound of gentle snoring coming from within the guard hutch. Otherwise, the keep and its courtyard are silent.
There are a few options from here. On one side of the courtyard are the stables, usually only used for visiting animals, and a small blacksmith's forge. Then there are the doors to the main keep.
Zuri looks back at Krove with a raised brow. "It's.. it's okay, really. There's no need to panic." He bites his lip as the protective gear is shoved at the wolf. "Woah, calm down.. it's okay. Look, I'm gonna prove it by going over there, nothing bad's gonna happen." The small salamander smiles reassuringly and starts pacing over the rest of the drawbridge, crossing to the other side, and turning to head towards the stables. "Hello? Hello! Is someone here?" He drags his tail across the ground as he walks, leaving behind him a sinuous trail.
"Oh, would you relax," Mal scoffs, eyeing Krove with irritation. Seriously, way to over-react about a nap. "I appreciate the concern, but seriously; loosen up." The Freesword shakes his head and turns to look around the courtyard.
"I'm gonna check the forge; if some idiot fell asleep while smithing; I'ma smack him..." Mal mutters, heading towards the Blacksmith's workshop. Seriously, they could've irrevokably damaged any equipment they were making. From one Craftsman to another, yanno.
