Episode 6: The Stranger in Stormbreak
Previously, on Tales of the Inner Council
King Ga'jam Ch'luun's Final Decree dissolved the monarchy of the fledgling kingdom of Vath'azen, leaving the 50-years young kingdom in the hands of his Inner Council. In a surprise turn of events, he also appointed a member of the Myndikin, the oppressors of the animal-like Kynekin peoples, to his new "ruling" council. The appointee was a little known Dwarven negotiator and mystic by the name of Tashkerr of House Dyber.
Several months earlier, deep in the heart of the Stormbreak Mountains, following a battle against a monstrous creature known as a Dweller, Tashkerr was urgently summoned to Lestreppe, the Dwarven House's Great Hall. He was expected to meet with the leader of House Dyber, Elder Leonid. It was an unexpected request; the kind that rarely ended well for those who were summoned.
The Heart of the Stormbreak Mountains
Several months ago...
"Lestreppe" - the name of the cold and lonely stone hall of House Dyber's ruling Elder, Leonid Dyber. Tashkerr had never been there before, but there were rumors aplenty. Some said the Elder hadn't left the great hall of House Dyber for years, since his wife tragically died from a mysterious disease. Others went so far as to claim the Elder had passed from this world and someone else was actually in charge of the House. But these were concerns far above the station of a Journeyman Wayfinder and negotiator. The path to Lestreppe was a narrow, claustrophobic cave with a low ceiling and a steep incline leading higher into the Stormbreak mountains. Hooded lanterns at regular intervals cast pale green shadows along the walls. All was silent, save for their footsteps on the worn stone floor. Oppressive, was the word that came to Tashkerr's mind as he followed closely behind the messenger who'd fetched him. He'd insisted Tash come without delay. There was no time to wash up or change out of his battle gear from the fight with the huge Dweller beast outside Nishram Gate. Tash's mind wandered, hoping nothing terrible had happened to his parents. As they rounded a sharp corner, Tash was startled to find alcoves where broad-shouldered, armed, and armored Dwarves stood guard to either side. Their markings were some of the most exceptional quality he’d ever seen, designating them as high-ranking members of the House. He felt his fingers go a little numb as they passed through the guard room to the oaken door beyond; a ripple in the unseen currents of magic. On the other side of the door, a wooden bolt slid with a clack and slowly opened. The succulent scent of roast pheasant wafted into the hallway. Tashkerr’s stomach rumbled. The messenger stepped aside and motioned him forward. “This is where I take my leave.” “Oh. Of course,” Tashkerr replied with a nervous smile, pretending this was all somehow routine. He took a settling breath, and stepped into the room. Lestreppe was a long rectangular room carved from the stone. The door through which he’d just entered sat at the midpoint on one of the shorter walls. One of the longest tables he’d ever seen stretched to the far end of the room. It was made of light colored stone of various square and rectangular sizes, simple in its design yet functional and highly durable. It was nothing extravagant, but bore the grooves and marks of age and use. Halfway up the room, a fire crackled in a hearth. The flickering orange and yellow firelight hurt his eyes, causing him to squint. He could make out the silhouette of a stout Dwarf sitting at the head of the table. ”Come in. Please.” said the Dwarf. His voice was strong. Tashkerr complied, walking the space between the benches lining the table and the wall opposite the hearth. He held his right hand to his forehead, covering his eyes as he passed the fire. Once passed, the Dwarf at the far end came into view. He was a bear of a Dwarf, with an oddly kind face framed by a well-manicured, full black beard, bushy black eyebrows, and shoulder-length black hair pulled back from his forehead. He had thick, meaty hands and arms covered in tattoos that disappeared up into his short-sleeved, faded black leathers. Tash visually scoured the tattoos he could see. The Dwarf waited patiently, hands stacked calmly on the table. An amber-colored bottle with a black-and-gold wolf design on the label sat to his right. The intricate tattoo designs Tash could make out told him this was not the Elder of House Dyber. This was a Soverika - a member of the highest ranking and most trusted advisors to the Elder. "Advisor" was a polite understatement. In reality, the Soverika were fierce and brutal enforcers, inquisitors, and problem solvers. They held sweeping authority to handle "business" for their Elder in whatever fashion they saw fit. Few stories of encounters with Soverika had happy endings. They were the specters Dwarven parents used to encourage well-behaved children. Tash swallowed hard, feeling the color drain from his face. A shiver ran down his spine. "That will be all Orel," the enforcer stated plainly. From behind the door where he'd entered, a Dwarf he hadn't seen stepped out and exited the room, pulling the door shut. Tash felt the pressure in the room change in his ears as the door settled into place. "Tashkerr 'Marjyr'" the stranger began with a question. "Son of Gav 'Brokenknuckle' and Askana 'Deshylmende?' Journeyman of the Wayfinders guild?" Tash nodded nervously. The Dwarf nodded in approval. "Good. Do you know who I am?" Tash shook his head, unable to force his dry mouth to form any words. "Do you know why you're here?" Tash shook his head again, a knot forming in the pit of his stomach. "Very well, mystic," he sneered derisively. "Use you magic. Tell me what you see." A thousand thoughts flooded through Tash's mind. In addition to the general risk of using magic, Wayfinding against a person was an entirely different animal from what he’d done in the Deepwatch, and was generally frowned upon. Apprentices were taught this method by using it on one another, both to understand the danger and unpredictability of the results, as well as how to recognize the feeling to defend one’s mind against it. He opened his mouth to object, but glanced again to the stranger's tattoos and thought better of it. Tashkerr closed his eyes and endeavored to steady his breath. The rivers of magic in Lestreppe were very different from those in the Deepwatch. They were... thin here, but active and... agitated was the word that came to mind. Powerful magics were at work in this place, though they felt different than Wayfinding. The magic in use here felt hard, like a dam across a river, forcing the flow of magic to go around it. A protective ward? Wondered Tash. He realized he had to focus if he was going to marshal his Wayfinding magics. This was probably not the time to fail. His reassuring childhood friend Raya’s voice echoed in his mind. You can do this, Tash. He smiled. The energy trickled slowly into his mind, as if strained. It pooled like a puddle in the rain. He directed his senses toward the stranger and opened his mind to however the magic guided him. First came the scent. The mouth-watering smell of the roast pheasant faded and was replaced by a pungent metallic smell. Even from Tash's limited time on the battlefield he recognized the unmistakable odor of blood. It was strong like the Dwarf had bathed in it, but it was not fresh. No, this was the scent of old blood, not from his clothes, but mixed with the natural sweat wafting off his skin. It was the smell of blood that had, at one time… No, often and extensively… coated his skin. Tash heard his Master Saldre's teachings echo in his mind. There are some stains that can never be washed from a person's soul. This Dwarf had killed more than a few people with his bare hands. Tash opened his glowing blue eyes and locked gaze with the stranger who sat unmoving with no hint of emotion. He pressed the mystical force forward, invisible bands of energy battering against the stranger's mind like waves crashing against the shore. Emotions reflected back tenfold. Skepticism. Distrust. Urgency. The magic was tantalizing, intoxicating, calling to Tash to press deeper. Tash clenched his fists actively working to pull in more of the strained energy. Loyalty to House. The Greater Good. Anger. Murder. Feeding off another's emotions was an addictive euphoria. Tash wanted more. He inhaled through his mouth, drawing in a flood of emotion and imagery, pressing deeper... Loss. Separation. Hatred. Sorrow... "That's enough!" Shouted the Dwarf, breaking Tashkerr's concentration. Tash didn't know when it happened, but the stranger was standing now. Lines of strain and sweat played across the Soverika’s face. His meaty hands were forcefully gripping the lip of the old stone table, his breathing fast and shallow. The blue glow faded from Tash's eyes, hands falling to his waist as the terrifying realization of having nearly lost control sank in. He exhaled sharply against the sense of a piece of himself being ripped away as the magic receded. The strangers eyes bored a hole through him. That Tash suddenly couldn't read the emotion behind the look unnerved him deeply. He shifted from one foot to the other. I'm going to die. Came the very real thought. "Sit. Down." The Dwarf ordered. Tashkerr swung a leg over the bench and sat. "What did you see, Wayfinder?" The stranger accused. Tash’s words came quickly. "You have killed many in the name of the greater good of House Dyber." "Truly?" The stranger scoffed. "That’s the best our mystics can do? One does not achieve a place in the Soverika without taking drastic actions lesser Dwarves would not. Give me more," he threatened. "You…" Tash fumbled as he hastily sifted through the images and feelings. It was like trying to fit together the jumbled pieces of a dozen puzzles and being asked to describe the final image. "…you don’t trust me. And yet you need me, for…" Tash scrunched his eyes tightly and rubbed his forehead. “…for something important.” "Better," the stranger responded. “Go on.” "Your… authority? position? I…" Tash threw up his hands in frustration. "I don’t know, sir. Something about your place in the Soverika is on the line here. It's somehow tied to me and you're really angry about the whole thing.” The stranger exhaled. His shoulders lowered. His posture softened. He sat slowly and took a swig from the wolf-label bottle. Tash sat in silence while the fire crackled and popped across the table. "Good," the enforcer nodded. "You have the heart of it. Before I begin, know this. I will go to any length to protect House Dyber. Now,” he continued, taking a healthy gulp from the bottle. ”Tell me everything you know about Ga'jam Ch'luun." The glass bottle clinked against the stone table as he set it down, awaiting a response. Tash lowered his head, staring at the long stone table. His eyes scanned back and forth rapidly, searching his mind for the name. Nearly a minute had passed before he looked up, shook his head, and shrugged. "Interesting." The stranger eyed Tashkerr warily. He withdrew a letter from inside his leathers and slid it across the stone table, nodding toward it for Tashkerr to open. Tash's fingers traced the line of the broken, unfamiliar wax seal, opened the letter, and began to read. "It's a summons," Tash skimmed to the bottom. "From the King of Vath'azen. King... Ga'jam Ch'luun. A summons for..." He looked up, blinking repeatedly. "...for your presence at the royal court of the Kynekin," the Soverika finished. "What Elder Leonid wants to know," his tone had an edge, "is why? How does the King of a foreign nation - a nation whose people still harbor much animosity toward not just Dwarves, but all of the Myndikin peoples - come to call upon a practically deedless Journeyman Istoyaver of the third-ranked Dwarven House of Dyber?" "I... I..." The stranger held up his hand. "I’m not finished yet. When this comes out," he paused, "and it will come out, Elder Leonid will be called to account. While the Elders of the other Houses seldom agree on anything, they are incredibly quick to see the shadow of betrayal under every pebble. They will undoubtedly accuse House Dyber of working in the shadows to maneuver for the second or perhaps even the first Elder’s seat. I trust I don’t need to tell you just how badly that could potentially go for us?" Tashkerr's eyes went wide with fear. If House Dyber were to be found guilty of plotting against the other Houses, it could spell disaster for them all; for Tashkerr, his family, Raya, his friends, and everyone he’d ever cared about. "Now..." the Soverika took a deep draught from his wolf-label bottle for dramatic effect (it worked). "...is the time to choose your words carefully." A flashback to the scent of blood wedged itself in the forefront of Tash's mind. He looked to the stranger's hands wrapped around the bottle and imagined how accustomed those hands must be to squeezing the life out of living beings. Tash's throat tightened. He jumped up from the bench, nearly falling backwards. His words came out fast and furious. "I don't know, sir! I swear! Tell me what to do! I'll do it! My loyalty is to the House! No one else! Nothing else!" His heart was racing, his breathing fast. He didn't want to die. The stranger studied Tashkerr, fidgeting with the bottle. "I believe you," he finally said calmly. "Sit. Please,” he added. ”Now listen carefully. Our representatives in Vath'azen tell us the King, a well-educated Arjeev, is aging and has no heir. Unlike his father before him, who led the Kynekin forces against us in the Great War, this King Ga'jam has been far more progressive, welcoming Myndikin into his court." Motioning with his head toward the letter, he continued. "What we don't know about this letter is why? Why you? Why now? And why wouldn't he pass this through our people already present in his court? Why the secrecy? Elder Leonid feels something about this entire situation is off. He suspects you are either a pawn or a participant in some larger scheme." Tashkerr shook his head. "Not a participant, sir! I swear! What does the Elder want me to do?" "Die," the stranger chuckled casually. "What?!" "Calm down, son, but know this is a serious matter and lives hang in the balance." Tash noted the plural; not a single life, but multiple lives. "There are those amongst my peers who counsel the easiest way to not be caught up in some grand plot would be to remove you from the board altogether and see what happens." "And by 'removing me from the board'," Tash asked quickly, "you mean to send me into hiding? Right? Not literally killing me? Right?" The stranger's only response was a silent stare. Tash suddenly felt like he was going to be ill. He shot a glance toward the door, but quickly dismissed the idea of trying to make a run for it. He considered calling upon his Wayfinding magics for the best path out of this mess, but even if he somehow managed to get out of the room, the guards beyond the door and the narrow caves were designed to be a death trap; keeping people in just as easily as they kept people out. He swallowed hard, and dropped his trembling hands from the table to his lap. "So why am I here, sir? Clearly you could have ended my life without bringing me to the great hall." The stranger stared into the bottle on the table. "A fair question. You see, I was the dissenting voice against killing you. I advocated to let this intrigue play out; to use you to the House's advantage. Much to my surprise, the Elder agreed." "Thank you sir! Oh thank you." Tashkerr blurted out, before catching the look in the Soverika's eyes. "But?" Questioned Tashkerr. One corner of the stranger's lips curled up just slightly. "Ah, now you begin to understand." The stranger tilted his head back, upending the wolf-label bottle before continuing. "It didn’t work out quite as I had planned. Yes, the Elder agreed, but the other Soverika protested. They demanded I put my own position on the line. And here we are… Now, my fate is tied to yours. If you betray the House, I will pay the price. I brought you here to assess whether I should kill you myself, rather than risk everything I've worked for my entire life." Tashkerr gulped. "Just tell me what you want me to do." "You are Journeyman of the Istoyaver, Tashkerr 'Marjyr'. Use your training to figure out what's going on. Whose are the shadowed hands pulling the strings here? What do they want? And why are they drawing House Dyber into their intrigues? Uncover the truth of these things and turn this plot to our advantage. That is what I need from you. That is what your House needs from you." Tashkerr nodded confidently. "I swear to you, sir. If it is within my power, I will uncover the plot against House Dyber. I will go to the court of this Kynekin King and unmask those who would bring disgrace against us. Where should I begin?" The stranger nodded with approval. "Even by the fastest routes, the Vath capital of Stoverj will take you at least a moon to reach. That's assuming you travel by one of Human ships from Rolighav for a large portion of the journey and don't encounter any issues. If there are indeed unseen forces at work, as we suspect, it would follow there will be others with an interest to ensure you never arrive. Plan for trouble. Move with haste. Trust no one. Keep your identity a secret beyond Stormbreak. More immediately, pack your things and say your goodbyes. You leave before dawn." "Right away sir," Tash responded, already up and moving toward the door, mentally preparing the list of things he would need for the long journey ahead.To Be Continued...
Show spoiler
What follows is an Ironsworn RPG solo session. My notes will generally be captured in the form of:
Character Initials: action
six-sider/ten-sider/ten-sider-result(Strong, Weak, Miss)
Effect
Show spoiler
Location: A historical event
protected
isolated
Situation: Deliver Community
Elder Leonid Dyber
Traits:Remorseful
Doomed
Motivations:
Refute a falsehood
Swear Language
Mourn Love
TD: Gather Information
Learned +1
5/4/7-W-+2M
Complication
TD: Gather Information
Sense Person
7/6/10-W-+1M
Complication
Oracle: Lose Power
TD: Gather Information
Learned +1
8/9/10-M
TD: Pay the Price
Endure Stress
-1 Sp
6/4/9-W
-1M +1 Sp
TD: Compel
8/6/1-S- +1M
TD: Swear Iron Vow
Uncover the plot against House Dyber
Formidable
7/4/6-S+2M
TD: Make a Connection
6/1/2-S
Conx:
The Soverika Stranger (Dangerous)
Strong
Traits:
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