A new encounter

[Suihaden]

Wearily Sui rode up to the palisade of the strange building. Supposedly, this was where the Tou Fuu shogunate dwelled. Waiving his lance he shouted.

"I am Suihaden, dweller of Mittelmarch. I seek Kotaro, a shinobi in the service of the honorable Tatsmura Masumune."

[Tatsumura Masamune]

Masamune looks up at Kotaro from his meeting, motioning for him to sit, and to see the messenger in monks robes sitting nearby. He motions to the others to be silent for a few moments.

"What is the matter Kotaro-san?"

The shogun sits up to make sure that Kotaro has his full attention.

[Kotaro]

Kotaro leaned forward to address the other daimyos as well as the Shogun.

"There are newcomers to Mittelmarch. Vikings, by their look and manner. They've mercilessly slaughtered an entire village and plundered the ruins. This was a village full of nothing but peasants and farmers, my lord. I believe it goes without saying that they will continue this campaign of murder and theft."

Kotaro turned to face each of his fellow daimyos in turn.

"I will not allow these barbarians to pillage Mittelmarch, I will not. We must take action, before it is too late."

The shinobi turned back to the Shogun, his eyes burning with the desire for vengeance.

[Tatsumura Masamune]

"I understand how you feel Kotaro-san. We will take immediate action."

Masamune stands up, motioning for the messenger to stand with him as well.

"Kotaro, I know you seek revenge, but I need you to keep a clear head. That is why you will accompany our friend here to the Northern Steppes. It appears that a order of monks has arrived here and they are in need of help. You are to gather twenty men, and go with this messenger to meet Mao Hiroto, the order's leader. You are to help them get settled in to their new home, and make sure they stay safe. If these Vikings are out for blood, they will most likely attempt to kill the monks if given the chance. Make sure that doesn't happen.

I will send Akururi north to the Jovian border to keep an eye out on them, they may make a move with this threat drawing attention."

Masamune turns to his other attending daimyo's.

"Sasaki-san, perpare are forces. They may be in battle on some front here soon. Okami-san, perpare defenses for the mura and kyuden. And also make evacuation plans to Mittelmarch if it appears that our lines will not hold. I will take twenty men north with me and meet up with Sanjuro-san, and the others of Aethenu. I'm sure they have heard of the problem by now. And Kotaro-san, stop in Mittelmarch on your way to the steppes. Inform them, of what our plans are."

[Kotaro]

"Yes, my lord," said Kotaro, roping in his emotions to be replaced by a cold calm. He turned to the robed messenger.

"If you'll come with me."

As they left the doors, Kotaro silently leading the way, they saw a young man wearing the garb of a Hospitaller standing at the gates, arguing with the guards. Kotaro approached the stranger.

"Is there a problem here?" he asked.

[Sir Storm Brightblade]

Fuuma Akaruri Arashi, also known as Storm Brightblade, was newly inducted into the Tou Fuu Shogunate. He heard what the Shogun ordered him to do and stood up, "As you wish my lord," Akaruri bowed to the shogun, "When would you like me to leave for the mountains? I can be ready to go within the hour.

[Suihaden]

Suihaden heard the familiar voice and turned.

"Kotaro!" He exclaimed, "Northmen have come A-Viking in our lands and have taken Firoth prisoner." "Nictmar has given the alarm to Dunland and MittelMarch, Atheneu knows and is moving, I thought I would come to warn you but I can see you already know."

Suihaden turned away from the gate and swung back into his saddle.

"I ride now to find my leader, the Abbot of Athneu. Peace be with you."

Proding his horse lightly, Sui rode off down the road.

[Tatsumura Masamune]

"As soon as you possibly can. You will find our shinobi spread across the landscape of the mountains. If any force of significance (more then 200) comes from the Jovians, then you are to instruct your men to make the jovians trip here most hazardous (set whatever traps you feel will cause the most damage, as well as slow them down), and return with all warriors and report on what is coming."

[Kotaro]

"So. They've taken Firoth."

He turned to the monk beside him. "We must hurry. Our time is short, and the Northern Steppes are distant." He mounted his horse and directed the monk to mount another.

"We ride," he said as he kicked the horse and rode off.

[greybeardabbot]

Late in the afternoon Furey and Greybeard emerge from the cover of the tree lined road to where a bend in the great river allows them to see for some miles ahead of them. The land in the distance rises to a tree covered horizon. Beyond that smoke rises.

Furey: “Greybeard see! We come late.” He spurs his horse to a gallop, but Greybeard puts out his hand in a motion that checks him.

Greybeard: “Ney! Furey, spare your horse.” Furey’s eyes prove his namesake, and by the self-restraint that could only come from one is willing to trust the wisdom of a trusted friend above his own instinct, Furey brings the horse around to face Greybeard.
“It's a fair six miles to that hillock as the crow flies, by that bend in the river it’s a fair 10.... There is no where to ford between here and the Milvan. Besides... the village is already lost.”
The look on Furey’s face telegraphs his incredulity.

Furey: “How say you this?”

Greybeard: “The smoke is white.”
Furey understood that some hours must have passed for the smoke to burning so cleanly.
....“We must make for the bridge. Either they have crosses it already and are heading south toward Mittlemarch…”

Furey: “Or they haven’t and they make to the Northern Steppes.”

Greybeard: “If you were seeking plunder… which way would you head? We make for bridge. If they have crossed that way we will know. Either way I suppose we will need to see to the devastation… some may yet live and need our help, and we may learn more about the strength and intent of our visitors.”

[Isen Ehtar]

Isen stands slowly, looking over the maps outlining both the Jovian advances and their city. He lets out a great sigh and looks to the window to the right. Not the most beautiful of days but still the forests on the outside would be much better than the walls of the keep.

"isen..." Nichtmar's scream is a mere echo to Isen as it barely reaches his sensitive ears here in the middle of the keep.

"Perhaps Nichtmar will have some good news for me today. Or at least a fitting distraction from these maps." Isen saunters to the large doors and pulls only one open a small amount. Emerging from the great hall he stretches and looks up to the greying sky before looking down at his friend.

Isen's eyes go wide and his breathing quickens at the sight of Nichtmar. "Something terrible has happened. What has been done to you my friend?" Isen hurries down to Nichtmar's side and ushers him into the great hall. Sitting him down in the seat opposite his own Isen looks deep into Nichtmar's eyes..."Tell me what has happened."

[Haldour]

OOC: I want to see some more of this before I post again. It gives more suspense if no one knows what is happening.

[Sir Nichtmar]

Nichtmar's blood is hot with simmering rage. He sits with his head down, his hands are shaking from exhaustion and the hate he feels rushing over him. He begins to raise his bloodshot eyes towards Isen. His lip quivering, sweat dripping from his brow. His voice more like a growl.

"Vikings..."

He stood reserving his anger.

"...they killed my people, my parents...I want to go after them. Give me some men and I'll hunt them down. "

[Suihaden]

(OOC) Ok Haldour, will add suspense without giving away your position.

(IC)Suihaden looked around him, he did not recognize this neck of the woods at all.

"If I can find the river, I can follow it to the bridge." he thought.

Carefully he listened, he thought he could hear a faint noise to his left. Sui turned his horses head and rode toward the noise. The woods got thicker and then opened into a clearing. What he saw made his blood turn to ice. In front of him stood the Northmen!

Franticly, his mind raced. Maybe he could run, but his horse was tired and the Vikings fleet of foot and as for running, well his ankle put an end to that.

"So, our little thrower of rocks," Mocked the Norse leader, "Have you come back to play? My men thirst for blood."

"Aye," growled a Jarl with a dinted helm, "My head aches with joy at the sight."

As the men chuckled, Sui scanned the lines of fierce, painted and bloodstained Vikings. Slowly grim resolve rose in him. Maybe he would die but he could take some with him. Leveling his lance
and spurring his horse he charged shouting.

"SAINT JOHN!"

His lance smashed into a carl, he blocked an axe with his shield but as he swept out his sword the Viking leader struck.

CRUNCH!

Blood spurting from his cloven helm Sui fell from his saddle. The Norseman wiped his axe with a smile.

The vikings marched on, Firoth sighed as he looked back at the dying hospitaller whose lifeblood ebbed out on the grass.

"Brave little fool."

[Isen Ehtar]

If Isen's eyes could get any wider at the burning in Nichtmar's eyes, or at the sound of the word Viking, they did. A memory from deep within his past came sparking clear into his mind. He knew Vikings, knew them for the cold-blooded killers they were.

"Calm yourself brother, you will have men." Isen searched through the papers on the table in front of him pulling out a map of all the Lands, "Show me where they are."

As Isen waited for Nichtmar's rage to subside and his wits to return to him he turned and shouted a few syllables that none could understand, but he knew that where ever he was the dwarf had heard the summons and would be there as soon as he could.

[Sir Nichtmar]

Nichtmar leans over the map and points.

"Here along the coastal side of the Thunder Moutains. It is a good position. Very well protected and difficult to sneak up on."

[Suihaden]

Sui felt cold wind blowing on him. He felt strange, his head and face was covered in something, sticky. Then came the pain. At any other time his screams would have rent the air for miles around but his mouth and eyes were sealed shut with crusted blood. Only his nose had escaped the cascade of bloody fluid from his badly wounded head.

Sui tried to move but he had lost too much blood, he was too weak. He felt dizzy. Before he passed out again he prayed,

"Jesus, please......send......help."

[greybeardabbot]

Greybeard and Furey emerged onto the field at Milvan. The village beyond was smoldering and still with an eerie silence. Across the bridge was a slim dark figure on horseback silhouetted against the grey smoke of the blacked huts and broken walls of the village. He seemed far out of place and far out of time. No words were spoken. Greybeard and Furey ride up slowly, side by side, halting as their horse’s hooves stepped upon the wooden bridge.
Greybeard could see the tell-tale signs that they had arrived too late to the bridge. Clearly a large force had already crossed. The dirt and bloody mud stood testament.
Still-- the black rider did not move or speak any friendly words. The two friends stood silent... reins in hands... and looking fiercely ahead.

The horse and rider stood perpendicular to them his left hand resting lazy on his thigh, right arm holding a shield to the village side. He seems to ignore them as he lkeeps his face truned away, looking over his right shoulder at the devastation.

Greybeard: (Out the side of his mouth, almost in a whisper to Furey) Elf!
Furey: How can you tell?
Greybeard: No saddle, no reins…. And he knows we are here... For the love of Pete... He probably heard us comming half a mile ago.

The Black rider and horse move as one, and slowly turn away from them in one fluid motion. And now he faces the east, planted directly in front of them. Yet, the action seems absent, as the Black figure still keeps his face turned to the village. However the black shield is now visable to them… the white symbol announces his identity.

Furey: “Toas!” Furey spurs his horse to cross the Milvan at a gallop... Greybeard follows at a walk... but he can't surpress a welcome smile even in the midst of the shadow and stench of death.

[Taos]

Taos nudged his charger around to face the approaching travelers, his face grave despite the joy of meeting these two old companions.

"This village has burned for two days, at least, brothers, and some two-score or more warriors attacked it. They have taken prisoners, likely for the slave-trade, and they travel east, towards the Iron Mountains, by foot."

The trio rode into the center of town, with Taos gesturing at some of the imprints on the ground.

"Their camp was arranged with a high degree of precision, as well. They've made little effort to hide their tracks, but no rabble of looters, these."

He stopped his horse as they reached the far edge of town, paying no attention to the stench of the nearby pile of corpses.

"This village had no survivors, but if we ride hard, we may be able to warn any other villages in their path."

Taos glanced at the other two.

"Were it not for my recent return from across the sea, I'd have ridden on myself. As it is, you'll have to show me the way to the villages ahead."

[Tatsumura Masamune]

Masamune lead his men out of the woodline. As they entered the clearing, they took in their surroundings. Over another section of woodline, far in the distance, they could still make out the faintest hint of smoke arising in the distance. On the far side of the field, Masamune noticed a horse standing in the opening, apprantlly nudging something on the ground.

The group rode over to find a warrior laid out on the ground. His breathing was faint, almost non-existant. One of the shugenja drops from his horse. He kneels down next to the fallen warrior, and pulls out his ofuda, and begins reciting a prayer. The kami of water answer his prayer, and begin to heal the wounds of the man.

Several others jump down and help move the warrior out of the opening, settling in the woods, about 200 yards from the woodline.

Masamune gets a good look at his face, and turns to one of his warriors, speaking in his native tongue.

"His name is Suihaden, he is in service to Greybread of Aethenu. We can't leave him here alone. Ride north towards the smoke, see if you can find out anything. If not, make straight for Aethenu, contact Tachibana-dono, and any others of Aethenu that you can find."

With that warrior bows, and begins to ride hard, making a straight shot at the smoke in the distance.

[Isen Ehtar]

Isen stands and looks deep into Nichtmar's eyes. "You my friend need to rest. You must rest here with me in the keep. Tomorrow you may go and you will not go unaccompanied. I will keep most of the Brothers here for the protection of the city, but you may take Brother Gravein and Brother Cathan. If I hear word that there is need for more I will send reinforcements."

Isen leads Nichtmar to one of the many rooms in the keep, "Please rest friend. I will know if you leave, and that could be disastrous." Isen closes the door gently behind him and walks quickly back to the main hall where a dwarf sits drinking from a mug Isen knows to have a strong mead in it.

"We have a problem Brother. Vikings have made landing just on the other side of the Thunder Mountains. Nichtmar is taking most of the forces of Mittelmarch to stop them, I'm sending Brothers Cathan and Gravein with him to keep us posted. In the meantime, make our defenses stronger, we cannot let the Jovians take advantage of this."

[Haldour]

The Warband marched on. There had been little of interest along the way. Haldour had tried to press the newly taken slaves for information about where neighboring villages may be, or the great city that the fat stranger had mentioned might be. They seemed to either have no knowledge of the lands around them, or else they were refusing to talk. Either way, they were useless.

Many of the men were itching for another raid, or even a battle. The long walk was beginning to ware on them. The fact that most of the plunder had been ordered left behind to burn in the village didn't help. Haldour had ordered that anything that was not made of gold or silver or precious stones should be left behind. He knew that anything more would only slow them down, and there would be much more for the taking soon.

At least, near the horizon another village came into view. Haldour sent the Jarls to adjust the formation, and to send out scouts. Within half of an hour the scouts had returned, the slaves had been chained down and were being guarded by several of the men. It seems this town had some warning, or else was simply better defended. Some guards were stationed near the entrance to a rather flimsy wall, no more than 8 feet high. Haldour gave the order and the vikings headed towards the small walled town. Soon, they were upon the obviously terrified guards. An alarm was sounded, and several more guards came to the gate, but they were poorly equipped and ill-prepared to face hardened warriors.

Haldour, at the head of the charge, decapitated the first guard with one slash of his sword. It was a glorious blade that shone in the lowering sun. Runes of great power were etched into the blade, and the balance of the weapon made it seem nearly weightless in his hand. He turned and hacked into the chest of the next guard. With a yell of rage the rest of the Warband descended on the two dozen or so guards. Short work was made of them, and the rest of the villagers put up no fight at all save for the leader of the town. As Haldour and one of the Jarls kicked in the door of the town center, he drew a small knife and leaped to thrust it into Haldour's neck. It was only by the grace of Odin that Haldour saw the action from behind him and turned to meet the attacker head on. His sword was swung and severed the arm of the would-be attacker. Haldour ordered him dragged to the town square where he could be made an example of.

The town leader was forced to his knees, a warrior holding each arm out and pushing down on this shoulders. Haldour came up behind him, drew his Seax and cut the blood eagle into the man. An uproarious cheer went up from the Warband, and Haldour bellowed "Odin" to the skies. The rest of the town were so terrified, that some took their own lives. Others merely cowered in their homes as the vikings raided every thing of value. Food and fresh water were also taken as much of their supply had now run low.

As the men finished pillaging from the homes, Haldour removed the head of the leader and put it on one of the posts of the wall near the gate. It stood there looking out over the landscape. He ordered the village be put to the torch, and they headed out. The screams of those that could not escape the fires echoed out into the wilderness as the sun set and the moon and stars shone brightly.

[greybeardabbot]

A high scream pierced the air from high above their heads… the falcon circled in anticipation of Greybeard’s arm held out to perch. Sarjent descended to land gracefully upon it.
Greybeard untied the vellum note.

Furey: “What news?”

Unexpected, Taos tossed the bird a bit to nibble. Whatever it was it pleased the noble raptor.

Greybeard: “Good… this is good… not great of course but welcome news never the less…There were none of the Lord’s in Aethenu to answer my call, but there are 15 brothers of my order in route to us.”

Taos: “Monks?” The single word question contained a note of distain.

Greybeard: With a nod of his head in affirmation GB answered, … “Knights…. Mounted infantry.”

Furey: “What’s that?!?”

Greybeard: “They ride mules to the battle, but they fight on foot.” They both look at him with curiosity
"They’re mendicants...”
Still they stare blankly…
“They are poor… (Sigh!) Be content that they ride here and not walk... Have no fear, they are well equipt for battle. They are armored, not too heavy... it's just that they are not cavalry”

Taos: “We should not tarry… we must pursue.”

Furey: “And so we should”

Greybeard dismounts… and fumbles through his saddlebag… hastily scrawls a note and sends it off with Sarjent. “And so when they arrive they will follow us south from the bridge.” Greybeard turns back to the saddlebag to remove a small pouch. It’s filled with white stones to drop along the route. Mounting his horse he adds cryptically… “They will know the way to go. Let’s be off.”

[Taos]

As the day edged towards twilight, the three companions traveled on into the south-east, following the trail of the marauders. Taos had spent the afternoon hours regaling Greybeard and Furey with stories of the strange islands across the western sea, and they in turn explained to him some of the events that had happened in his absence.

When the sun dipped beneath the Thunder Mountains behind them, Taos fell silent.

Greybeard: "What troubles you, Taos?"

Taos: "There is a rider behind us...I imagine he follows your trail of stones, but he rides a swift horse, not a mule."

With no apparent command from its rider, the elven charger pulled up and stopped in the middle of the path, tossing its head and snorting as Taos rested his hand on his sword's hilt.

Furey: "A Viking?"

Furey's sword was already half-drawn as his eyes searched behind them in the gloom.

Greybeard: "Nay, we are too far behind them to meet their rearguard. Likely it's a rider from one of the mountain villages. Dunland, or the Shogunate."

Taos: "Let us turn and meet him then. He may be able to tell us what plans our allies are making."

[Tachibana Sanjuro]

OOC" Greaybeard and Tatsumura, I've come to join the RP action, now.....who in the RP has contacted me first, GB or Tatsmura? I got a rider from the shogunate checking out smoke, then coming to see me. Tatsumura, please rp what the rider saw, then have him come to me, and I'll get to work on racing to help you all."