Trying to Understand Them

[Sir Nichtmar]

The sudden thud of hand pushing the door open, Nichtmar strides in the hall. His worn leather armor creaks as he walks towards Isen. Mid stride the ogre sniffs the cloaked one.

Whispers, "Hello, Firoth." as he walks by him.

"Gravien my friend..."

Nichtmar puts the poster in front of his face and drops it.

With sarcasm, "Your observation is most keen. They're only posted throughout town."

Nichtmar continues his stride towards Isen, he bows and rises.

"My lord, this a good plan. I ask that I be here to observe the assembling of the team."

He delivers a nod towards Baethor.

[Isen Ehtar]

"Friend Nichtmar, there is no need to bow," Isen says as he steps forward to give the ogre a quick embrace, "I was hoping that you would come to help with the selection process of the team." Isen turns to the rest of the group, "First I wish that we share a meal, though a short one, those who answer my call are rewarded."

Isen sits near Baethor and leans close to the dwarf, "I'm not sure about the two young ones, I've not seen them in action before. Firoth will be of much use to us and Cathan and Gravein may serve a special purpose. Tell me of the newcomers though Brother, I must know of them."

[Sir Nichtmar]

“You are King, my liege. Honor and respect should be mandatory and as your knight I will do my best to insure such things.”

As they walk to the table, “In time there will be other knights and they will be charged with your protection.”


At dinner:

Nichtmar sits opposite Isen to watch his back. He’s taken off his armor and wears the red and black tabard and knights chain that Sir Richter gave him, his sword lays across the center of the table, easily in a position where he could grab it and behead just about anyone at the table.

“Suihaden, you are from the Holy Land? You follow the one called Christ? What do you know of this man, I’ve heard amazing tales? I would much like to meet him.”

[Cathán Neamhnaofa]

during dinner the cloaked figure takes off his hood to reveal long flowing white hair and horns just underneath them. His red eyes slowing staring at everyone as they eat. He sits on the opposset side of Baethor. He does not eat or say a word. He looks like he is in deep thought.

[Suihaden]

Suihaden turns to reply, "Yes Milord, I have fought in the Holy Land against the Saracen but it is not the place of my birth. I follow Christ, my Lord and Savior, I know he is the son of God and died for me. I do not know this by having meet him for he died a over thousand years ago, but I believe in it by the testimony of others. So, I am afraid you cannot meet him even though he lives in heaven. Perhaps I should explain." Suihaden finds a comfortable spot on the bench and clears his throat with a drink. Then he begins. "According to the the Bible, after God created the world Adam and Eve sinned. Because of their disobedience, God could not be in fellowship with them and as a result the earth was cursed with sin and death. But God was not willing that we should all die go to Hell for punishment for our sins, so he sent his only son Jesus to earth to die for us as a blood atonement or sacrifice; then on the third day Jesus rose from the dead and was seen by many and then went back to heaven where he prepares a place for all who believe on him. That is the story of Jesus." Suihaden then returns to his food, having developed a ravenous appetite.

[Gravein Narmolanya]

Gravein sits next to the cathan and pats him on the back . in almost a whisper "something bothering you brother?"

[Cathán Neamhnaofa]

" I keep getting this weird feeling about these Jovians. I've seen them around and they are not like any whom i have met before. They bother me very much and very few things do that. I fear that something is going to happen to the Land and to our home." Cathan says in his soft voice back to Gravien.

Listening to Suihaden, Cathan replies," If there is such a thing as a Heaven and a Hell well then I'll be meeting my father in hell if i don't meet him here. I'm already damned for the place anyway because of him."

[Sir Nichtmar]

"hmm..." he thinks for a moment on Suihaden's words.

"So I must die to meet this Christ?... I believe I'll wait then."

Turns to Cathan with a grin. "Ah yes, Suihaden, meet Cathan. It is funny really, he is a demon and you are soldier of heaven. Anyway enough of that."

He takes a bite from a turkey leg, sips his brew.

"My Lord, what is the mission?"

[Sir Rune]

suddenly, the doors to the hall open, and Rune hobbles in, wearing what appears to be a thick tabbard, heater shield on his back, and weapons on his side.

"Oh, friends, had I known food was involved, I would have shown up sooner rather than make my new armor!

Does a spin, "You like?"

"Just perfect for the self proclaimed master of assassins if I do say so myself, silent, comfortable, and .. it smells good. "


Sits down at the table, grabbing a turkey leg

"Soo, whats this I'm reading around town about Jovians?"

[Kotaro]

Sure doesn't act like an assassin. Of course, that could be to his credit. I'll hold judgment, Kotaro thinks to himself.

"Yes, shall we discuss what we do know about them?"

[Sir Nichtmar]

Nichtmar turns to Rune, "Been preparing I see. Good."

Looks to Isen waiting for the answer to the question.

[Isen Ehtar]

Isen looks to each of those gathered for a short moment, looking deep into their eyes to search their hearts and souls. After a few long moments pass he begins to speak.

"What do we know of these Jovians? Little, if anything at all. We know that they are a warlike people, and they are very skilled at making war. From what scouts have told me we also know that these Jovians are from a world that either does not have the many races that we have here in the Land or they come from a world where humans are tyrants over the other races. War is most likely on our horizon my friends. I have dreamed little else since their arrival. I wish it were not so, but i fear it may be what they desire most of all.

"So what is this mission? That is simple, infiltration. We know little of these people, and before me I have gathered those that feel they have a great ability for keeping to the shadows and only being seen when they desire to be. Fortunately, in front of me also sit some humans, which may be the most helpful of all traits in this situation. Before I continue, and decide who shall be given what tasks I must say that there is a great chance that some will not make it back alive. Though we don't know much of the Jovians I can assure you that they will not take lightly to a group of spies in their midst. This will be one of the most dangerous tasks many of you have yet performed in the name of the Land and of Mittelmarch. Before I decide with my advisors as to who will go on this journey I first give you all the chance to leave. I assure you none will think less of you if you do not desire to risk everything for this mission."

Isen once more looks to each of those gathered, but before leaving their eyes he gives a reassuring nod.

[Cathán Neamhnaofa]

Cathan snears at Suihaden, " Soldier of heaven, pphh." Then he turns to Rune walking. He doesn't say a word he just smirks at how silly Rune always is.

After listening to what the future King said Cathan answers, " I think if we were scared that we would not come back alive that we would not have shown up here answering your call for us. I myself will relish the day that i die, for then will i see my father, in this so called Hell, and I can kill him many times over. So who is going on this mission?" He has a hungry look in his eyes like that of a wolf preparing for the kill of an elk.

[Kotaro]

Kotaro looks at King-to-be Isen, determination set in his eyes. "Sir, I agree with Cathan. We came here. I don't think any of us will back down. If war is on the horizon, as you say, then we'd be well to know our new adversary."

[Suihaden]

Suihaden laughed at Cathan's fierce comment, although inwardly it chilled him. He listened to Isen's grave words and heard the other replies. Sui then replied, "I am willing to die for Mittelmarch, I do not fear death young as I am, give me a task and with my last breath I will strive to fulfil it.

[Gravein Narmolanya]

after hearing what the soon to be king Isen said and and his brother he said " Brother i would do anything you ask of me and if i could not succeed i would die trying. i do not fear death for i have seen it to much."

[Isen Ehtar]

Isen nods gravely looking once more to each gathered in turn.

"Kotaro. Suihaden. As you are the only humans that have gathered here it will fall on you to fall into the ranks of the Jovians. Learn all that you can of them. Discover their ways. I want to know who their leaders are. How they live, how they fight, what they eat, where they get the food. If it can be understood, I want you to understand it and I want to understand it.

"Brothers Gravein and Cathan. The two of you will be on the outside. I want you to map the entire complex that has appeared in our lands. I want to know the weaknesses of their fortress. The entrances that they use and the ones that we can use that they are not yet aware of. Learn the scout patterns. Learn when the guards change shifts, where they keep the best watch, which guards are the most alert, and which guards are the least alert."

Isen sits down and takes a drink from his glass of wine. "Prepare yourselves well my friends. Tomorrow Kotaro and Gravein will begin their journey. Cathan, you will meet Gravein three days later. Suihaden, your journey will begin in a week."

Isen begins to gather food on his plate. He looks across to Nichtmar looking for his silent response to the mission's details.

[Suihaden]

Suihaden nods. "I will be ready by then, though it is longer than I need."

Having eaten his fill, he leans back against the wall and plans.

[Kotaro]

Kotaro inclined his head in acknowledgement. "Tomorrow it is, then."

He leaned back and crossed his arms. "I do have one concern, however. If they speak a different tongue than our own, I will quickly be singled out as an intruder. Is there a device or rite that will break down the language barrier, as it were?"

[Gravein Narmolanya]

gravein smile big and looks at cathan "i will see you if three days brother. so looks like i need to get myself all ready for tomorrow i feel uneasy about the jovians"

[Cathán Neamhnaofa]

"I will see you in three days, i dont have much to get ready." Cathan says to Gravein. Then he tells Isen "I'll inform kazzel and ichabod of what the plan is and have them speak with you as soon as possible because I believe that they could be of some help."

[Sir Nichtmar]

Nichtmar nods to Isen. Then turns to the men.

"Sounds like a good plan, I suggest that you don't carry anything that will connect you to Mittelmarch. Also when and if you have to kill, remove the bodies from the main paths, you don't want the whole army coming down on you."

[Cathán Neamhnaofa]

" Don't worry about the bodies that I kill because there will be nothing left for them to find" Cathan says to Nichtmar

[Isen Ehtar]

Isen looks to Cathan first, "Calm your blood brother. You will have your fair share of death to deal out to these Jovians in time."

"Kotaro, before you leave I will have prepared an amulet that will translate both your words and the words of the Jovians so that none shall know that you are not of their own. I also have a feeling that if you are discovered to be from here if you merely reject those of us that are not human you should fare well."

[Kotaro]

Kotaro nodded. "I understand, my lord."