"Well, I don't know what I was expecting you to say, but that wasn't it. I'm not sure how much use I would be in determining a location fit for settlement, but I suppose I could use the Uncaring One's blessings, and my own arcane power, for divinations and fire magicks to help get us there."
"Good Mayor, would not it best to include us in attack on strange 'Egg of Coot'. If you think chances small, is not better to bring all swords and skills against it?"
Njord believed he knew, and dreaded, the answer that was coming: success was so remote that her main strategy was actually abandoning the island. The four men in the room were truly the first fellowship. Hers, the fellowship that would likely be destroyed, regardless of reinforcements.
The Little One paused for a moment, as if to consider how best to answer the northman. That briefest hesitation confirmed to Njord what he had suspected: Her group did not go forth with any confidence that the Egg would break beneath their rain of steel. Their sacrifice was not meant to buy victory; they meant to buy them precious time.
She looked up at Njord, something in the quality of her smile confessing as much. It was a secret shared in a glance between them. "The most powerful of us, a score strong, will go forth to do what must be done," she told him. Something in the corner of her eye seemed to twinkle. "If we fail, brave son of Tholjor -- then all the rest of the men in Corus will avail us not. To throw them against the foul Egg in vain would be a fool's errand. I do not count the lives of those I am responsible for with such cavalier flippance. I will not lead them down the path to the hungry maw of the Abyss, if it can be helped."
Eyes still wide, Sævil's face alights with a smile. "You tell me I'm to scout the Land of Black Ice, and perhaps carve a place for us there? Now that will be a story worth many drinks!"
His remark brought a smile, something broad and earnest to the lips of the mayor. "Ah, Sævil," she chuckled. "Would that I had a thousand men with such steel in their spines. I knew that I could count upon you to make the best of this grim morn."
Kahss, as was ever his way, said nothing at all, standing statue-still alongside the rest of them. The Little One looked up, finally, at Ohrin. In contrast, he seemed disquieted by the revelation of the truth of the task set before them.
"Well, I don't know what I was expecting you to say, but that wasn't it. I'm not sure how much use I would be in determining a location fit for settlement, but I suppose I could use the Uncaring One's blessings, and my own arcane power, for divinations and fire magicks to help get us there."
She nodded, considering what he'd said. A silent pause followed the gesture, perhaps longer in span than he might have expected. "You know," she told him, "When Sirillion Ro came upon the tiny village at the foot of the Yatils where I was raised, I was but a silly, bright-eyed halfling girl. I had no idea how big the world under the vast blue tapestry of the sky really was. He was handsome and charming -- and I was restless and curious. When he promised me adventure beyond my wildest imaginations, I leaped at his offer without a second's indecision."
"Since then," she continued, "I have seen things that would stagger your belief beyond easy counting. I stood as a boon companion amidst legends. I called one of the greatest wizards to stride the Oerth a confidante and my friend. I traveled the landscape of the Flanaess to see the sun rise and set across the oceans that bound it, both."
"Now, I am an old halfling maid," she smiled. "I have no children, no heirs. I only have tales of former glories and a town full of folk that I dote upon as if they were the fruit of my loins. I have gained the wisdom to know that I have learned so much and so little of the world, in the same breath."
She fixed him with her gaze again. "You are right to question your role in this venture, Ohrin," she nodded. "But I can assure you that Master Retlishin would not have chosen you -- of all his assistants, you -- if he questioned your importance in its success for even a moment. And, if I might be so brazen to impart you with a bit of that which I have learned in a live given to danger and adventure: No fellowship, no matter the power at its disposal carried in sharp steel and mighty thews, can ever count amongst its number too many men of thought and wisdom. Many were the days I spent alongside Master Ro that intellect availed us, where sword and shield failed."
The Little One nodded, smiling up at him. "Master Retlishin considers you the most clever of those left to his charge, by far," she told him. "One who bears such a distinction might comport himself well upon the path you prepare to tread."
"Indeed," she finished, "they might mean the difference between success and failure -- for all of us."
Still smiling, Sævil looks over to Ohrin, "The Lord Mayor speaks true."
He glances at Njord, "We've one to fight." He turns to Kahss, "We've one to silently watch," his gaze settles back on Ohrin, "and if my time with That's No Jungle! is anything to go by - I think we've one who thinks deep thoughts."
Sævil's face splits into a grin and he thumps himself on the chest, "Though, of all of us mine is the greatest purpose - for I am the one who drinks!"
Ohrin is clearly touched by what the Little One has said and stands there speechless for a moment before saying, "If Master Retlishin feels that way about the help I can provide, who am I to disagree? What's the plan and when do we leave?"
The Little One nodded and offered both a gentle sigh and a wan smile. "Know you all, before anything else should pass," she said, "that you have lifted a great burden from my shoulders. I do not exaggerate when I confess that my worry for the good folk of Corus haunts my every waking step. It is a yoke of responsibility under which I strain and bow, given what we know of our enemy. The knowledge that you will work to ensure our community's survival, should our fellowship falter, lifts both that great weight and my spirits alike. It gives me courage that we just might, should the gods smile upon us, see this terrible trial through. For that, you will forevermore have my thanks."
"Moving forward, the plan is thus," she nodded in Ohrin's direction. "I have arranged that a storehouse in which we typically store foodstuffs has been cleared, cleaned, and appointed with sturdy furnishings. A stone edifice, it is hardy and easily defended, should the unexpected come to pass. Henceforth, this structure will serve as a headquarters from which the four of you will plan and make whatever arrangements you deem necessary to meet with success on your expedition."
"As we speak, I have instructed Captain Fireheart to inform the City Guard of the situation at hand. Her men," she moved her gaze to Njord, "will put out a call amongst our community for volunteers to aid you upon your quest. They will not know the whole of what you might accomplish, as I think that information best kept a careful secret, should spies or turncoats walk amongst us. Still, I would expect no few to avail themselves of us in our time of need. A list of the names of those willing to join you will be compiled for your perusal. I would encourage the four of you to consider carefully those you accept and those you will reject. I would expect that -- as is the case with my own group --" she opined, "--when all is said and done, you will number perhaps a score strong. To take a larger force would not only risk drawing the attention of our enemy in your direction, but would threaten to leave Corus without an adequate defense, should they take advantage of our mutual ventures and strike directly at the settlement," she nodded towards Sævil.
"For the nonce, this is your mandate," she continued. "Gather your fellowship. Fill it with the strong and capable; the trustworthy, the brave and the wise. Then, once you are whole, begin to plan your path across the Land of Black Ice. Be full of care and thought -- but be as swift as you can, at once. Ever do the days go colder and the nights more frigid still. We must act before action is no longer possible."
"In the meantime," she added, "I will do what I can do to arrange the best supplies I can muster for your journey. Our most powerful weapons and good equipment will travel with my group to meet the Egg upon the field of battle. I would wish it could be another way, but if we are to have any hope of survival at all -- let alone success -- so must it be. Yet I would not see you traverse into the dark snows of the unknown completely bereft of aid. I will see to it that you have the all that is possible for us to give."
She looked back and forth across them all once more: Four heroes, as one. Their actions might prove the salvation or the doom of the friends and neighbors alike. Only Istus knew which might come to pass.
"Have ye any final questions, champions of Corus?"
Njord glanced about the room, briefly examining his companions: the exuberant Saevil, the more cerebral Ohrin, and the quiet Kahss. One could find worse companions. At least if things got really grim, he could join Saevil in drink. But he had not yet consented to this plan. Was this a repeat of his earlier initiation? No. He had a choice in this. And he chose.
"I will attend this duty, with these fine gentlemen. My utmost i will do to find such place to rebuild Corus. But i am no plan-maker or strategy-maker. Fishing is joy, not gathering the pole and bait. I will lend what i can to preparations, but i will likely be more service on the land...or ice."
"For questions, i have more than fingers and toes, but i think they wait."
And now he realized why the decision had been made easier. His blood was racing, and swirls of heat were warming several areas of his body. He focused on the single question in his mind. Might Captain Fireheart accompany the mission to the Black Ice?
"I will attend this duty, with these fine gentlemen. My utmost i will do to find such place to rebuild Corus. But i am no plan-maker or strategy-maker. Fishing is joy, not gathering the pole and bait. I will lend what i can to preparations, but i will likely be more service on the land...or ice."
“Whatever role you choose within your fellowship,” the Little One nodded, “your service is most appreciated – both by the good folk of Corus and myself, personally. You demonstrate both your courage and the strength of your character in offering yourself up in such a manner. Regardless of the fate that awaits us, I can promise you that this will never be forgotten.”
"For questions, i have more than fingers and toes, but i think they wait."
“Of course,” she allowed. “When you have collected your thoughts and are prepared to offer them to me, do so without hesitation. I will do my level best to answer in one in turn.”
And now he realized why the decision had been made easier. His blood was racing, and swirls of heat were warming several areas of his body. He focused on the single question in his mind. Might Captain Fireheart accompany the mission to the Black Ice?
Ohrin's face betrayed his surprise that their group would be leading a large party.
"May I ask when your party departs? I would ask Master Retlishin for advice before he departs."
“We set forth three days hence,” she told him. “I would expect your group to follow no more than three more days afterward. It may be of tactical significance to delay slightly, in order to confuse those that may watch the settlement, looking for reinforcements at our heels. But to tarry too overlong would be a mistake. As I have said, ever does the weather's demeanor turn the fiercer.”
“You should have more than adequate time to consult with Master Retlishin,” she assured him. “I expect that you will have much to discuss...but nothing that cannot be resolved by the time we make for the Blackmoorian coast.”
She paused for a moment. Then: “I would urge you to go forth,” she said. “Settle your affairs as you must, then visit your headquarters. If they are not to your liking in any way – make your needs known to me and I will see to it that they are met. I will do my best to make it so that the list of volunteers available to you awaits you when you arrive to inspect it.”
The Little One smiled. “We shall meet again, before our fellowship sets forth, in any case,” she told them.
“By then, I should have time to decide how I will give voice to my farewells.”
Ohrin respectfully nods towards the Little One and turns to face his compatriots.
"Gentlemen, may I suggest that we go visit our headquarters right away? Once there, we will get a better idea of what we might wish to grab for it from our various residences. We can then each get our own affairs in order in a timely manner and meet back up, ready to proceed with our planning. Thoughts?"
Ohrin's words echoed through Njord's brain, momentarily rousing him from his troubling reverie.
"I think this good idea," he said to Ohrin as he stepped forward and bowed his head, acknowledging both the notion and the fact that they were now comrades. "Would like to see place...eh...head-quarters."
He turned to look at Saevil and then to Kahss, beckoning their responses.
Kahss' eyes twinkled in the torch light seeming to come to life once again after silently surveying the conversation before him. The bitter winter's chill would be his friend, and comfort him in the place of memories from his past. Kahss first turned from the fellowship and addressed the captain, "Captain Fireheart it is with your privilege, excellent to once again be in service of a noble cause. I fully intend..." his mind wandering to the vision of innocent Anna and Wiola launching themselves, laughing uncontrollably, into the arms of their father Mariusz, and then he continued "to ensure the safety of those that have clothed and housed me these last weeks. I agree that no magic should be allowed to harm the denizens of Corus."
He then swiftly turned to the newly formed fellowship bowing his head in salute - crossing his fist across his chest - and exclaimed in barely over a whisper "Mabuhay the four!! You have my service -- To the headquarters."
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