Episode 8

[Bynw]

 * Playing 'recap.txt' to #Teara-Adan with 1300ms delay
[19:23:25] <.Bynw> ****************************************
[19:23:26] <.Bynw> **
[19:23:28] <.Bynw> **   The Winds of Change - Episode 8
[19:23:29] <.Bynw> **
[19:23:30] <.Bynw> ** Beginning Adventure Recap
[19:23:31] <.Bynw> **
[19:23:33] <.Bynw> ****************************************
[19:23:34] <.Bynw> **
[19:23:35] <.Bynw> ** The results of the visionquest were
[19:23:37] <.Bynw> ** surprising at the least. It appeared
[19:23:38] <.Bynw> ** that all or some of the old Lords and
[19:23:39] <.Bynw> ** King have something to do with their
[19:23:41] <.Bynw> ** own deaths.
[19:23:42] <.Bynw> **
[19:23:43] <.Bynw> ** Acting quickly Lord Seth had ordered
[19:23:45] <.Bynw> ** the Lord Lord's arrest. Both Lord
[19:23:46] <.Bynw> ** Langen and Lord Scheidt had chosen to
[19:23:47] <.Bynw> ** kill themselves instead of being taken
[19:23:49] <.Bynw> ** captive by the new Lords and the palace
[19:23:50] <.Bynw> ** guards.
[19:23:51] <.Bynw> **
[19:23:52] <.Bynw> ** Only Lord Merriam allowed himself to be
[19:23:54] <.Bynw> ** taken alive but even he is near death
[19:23:55] <.Bynw> ** and dying in custody. Lord Seth has
[19:23:56] <.Bynw> ** attempted to save his life.
[19:23:58] <.Bynw> **
[19:23:59] <.Bynw> ****************************************
[19:24:00] <.Bynw> **
[19:24:02] <.Bynw> **   End of Adventure Recap
[19:24:03] <.Bynw> **
[19:24:04] <.Bynw> ****************************************
* Playback of 'recap.txt' complete
[19:25:16] <.Bynw> *Lord Merriam takes a deep breath as the magic of Seth's spell washes over him* "You waist your spells on me. Take the reigns and bring about the golden age of Warp Wood"
[19:26:37] <.Bynw> *he gets up and climbs back into the chair that he was sitting in
[19:26:53] <+Seth> ::Chuckles and whispers to himself:: "King of the marsh if I'm lucky, hanged if not. How did I end up here?"
[19:28:50] <+Seth> ::Takes a moment to catch his breath before standing:: "What have you gotten us into Lord Merriam? Evidence points to the king and his trusted lords bringing about this curse themselves?"
[19:29:31] * +Kevin waits as Seth questions Lord Merriam
[19:30:07] <.Bynw> "You were chosen from a vision of our late King. He described all of you in detail. And said you would be our heirs. I know nothing else"
[19:32:35] <+Jack> "Scrying is funny business, Seth.  There are lots of ways Merriam and the other could be responsible for their deaths sither by inaction or by doing good deeds with negative consequences.  The don't have to be the villians just because of what came out in the scrying."
[19:33:29] * PandamuraiSama has joined #Teara-Adan
[19:33:46] * Svecica has joined #Teara-Adan
[19:34:14] * +Seth looks to Jack
[19:34:38] <+Seth> "I suppose your right...Jack was it?"
[19:35:13] <+Seth> "But your missing one point. The suicides."
[19:35:44] <+Charissa> "yes that is a good point...why would they choose to die instead of being questioned?"
[19:36:19] <+Jack> "Yeah Jack . . . and those bother me too.  But that's under the bridge and Merriam didn't suicide, so my guess is he's clean."
[19:36:34] <+Seth> "What's worth a man dieing to keep a secret, hell not just one but two men."
[19:37:33] <+Jack> "Any guesses on that, Merriam?  You knew Scheidt and Langen for years I assume."
[19:37:41] <+Kevin> "Is there any magic to probe his brain? Maybe he doesn't know that he knows it?"
[19:39:08] <.Bynw> "Yes I did know them. The curse must of made them mad."
[19:39:25] <+Seth> "Good point Kevin, the other lords might have been under strong influence to do what they did, to protect their puppeters. I've heard of deryni Magic that could do such a thing."
[19:39:59] <+Seth> "I think we can be sure Merriam is as clueless as we are, I checked. The man is genuinely dieing."
[19:40:00] <+Charissa> "aye..the Deryni can read minds"
[19:40:39] <+Charissa> "I could try if I have Lord Meriam's permission to enter his mind"
[19:42:52] <+Seth> "I really doubt he knows anything Lady Charissa, or he'd be dead like the others."
[19:42:55] <+Charissa> "what say you, Merriam?  Shall we give it a try?  It may answer a lot of questions"
[19:44:06] <.Bynw> "You may do whatever you feel is the proper course of action My Lords" *Merriam says with a cough*
[19:44:33] <+Charissa> "Seth?  Jack?  shall we try?"
[19:45:19] <+Jack> "If Merriam has no objections, it might help us know what's going on."
[19:45:23] <+Seth> ::Takes a dangerous gleam in his eye and turns to lean over Lord Merriam:: "Did you see the kings body Merriam?"
[19:46:32] <.Bynw> "Yes. He died during the night before your arrival my lord. And we followed the dictates of his will and custom and burned his body."
[19:47:00] <+Seth> "You saw it burn? ::his eyes narrow::
[19:47:09] <+Charissa> "Seth, if nothing else, I can get his recollection of the King's body"
[19:48:09] <+Kevin> "Is it possible, that this really ISN'T a horrible plot to have us killed, and the king just thought that we would bring upon the golden age to Warp Wood?"
[19:48:28] <.Bynw> "Of course. I am the executor of the late King and steward until dismissed or death of the new Kings"
[19:48:47] <+Charissa> "I think it's time to find out.  Lord Merriam has already said he has no objections to a mind read"
[19:49:41] <+Charissa> ::looks to the others "I'm going to try it now."::
[19:49:47] <+Jack> "Yeah, I say do it then."
[19:49:54] <+Charissa> @fudge+1
[19:49:54] <+SnakeEyes> Charissa Rolled +2 (Great)
[19:50:10] <+Seth> ::Leans back and eyes Kevin:: "Yeah, I guess it's possible that yesterday I was on my way to play in a tavern and make just enough silver to scrape by, then today I'm suddenly a Lord of some earth bound sewer. But then again it's possible monkey's could fly someday too."
[19:50:50] <+Kevin> "Not everyone is horrubly despicable. Just most people, as I have come to find."
[19:50:52] <+Charissa> ::places hand on Lord Merriam's forhead and closes eyes and tries to read his thoughts and memories about the King and the curse::
[19:51:58] <+Seth> ::Grimaces and puts his hands up in surrender, you suddenly get the deffinet impression that aggrivated seems to be his natural everyday state of mind::
[19:52:20] <.Bynw> *Lord Merriam's shields melt away, allowing the contact with his mind ...
[19:53:03] <+Charissa> ::searches for memories and thoughts about the curse and the King's death::
[19:53:58] <+Charissa> ::looks for memories of the King's cremation::
[19:55:03] <+Charissa> ::looks for memories about the meeting between the Lords after the King's death::
[19:57:55] <+Charissa> ::Moves away from Lord Merriam:: "Thank you Lord Merriam"
[19:59:23] <+Jack> "Yes, thank you Merriam." ::turns to Charissa:: "Okay, what do we know?"
[19:59:57] * +Charissa addresses Seth and the others: "The King went into convulsions and died the night we got here. They burned his body per his wishes and their customs of old. The Curse was set upon them by members of the Church because they still hold on to some pagan practices and customs. The Lords met after the King's death, but only to discuss when to announce his death..they had not met since then."
[20:01:17] <+Kevin> "Interesting..."
[20:01:24] <+Jack> "Damn pig-headed church.  I'd love to give them a piece of my mind about this."
[20:01:35] <+Charissa> "agreed, Jack"
[20:02:22] <+Kevin> "But what can we do?"
[20:02:24] <+Seth> ::In a loud boastful voice:: "Oh that's pig slop! That still doesn't explain the suicides, he's been lied to."
[20:02:33] * Jarrod` has left #Teara-Adan
[20:03:49] <+Jack> "The suicides are history.  Unless we find Scheidt's body real fast, it'll be too late for a death reading, so we may never know about that."
[20:03:56] <+Charissa> "well, it is quite possible the church would do that."
[20:04:09] <.Bynw> *beads of sweat roll down Merriam's forehead and he swallows*
[20:04:13] <+Charissa> "might want to see what we can do about that"
[20:04:36] <+Jack> "We could have read Langen . . . but that
[20:04:50] <+Jack> 's water under the bridge now too, I guess."
[20:05:18] <+Kevin> "How do we explain this to the people?"
[20:05:21] <+Seth> "Go ahead, I think the pigs are still hungry Jack."
[20:06:30] * +Jack raises eyebrows at Seth, then turns away with a small shake of his head.
[20:08:36] <.Bynw> *Merriam coughs* "The old Lords have died of the curse placed upon them ... The people already know about you. You are their Lords they are your people." *he coughs again*
[20:09:09] <+Seth> ::Looks to Merriam, then to the others::"Okay, so lets say we just jump into it and put our necks in the noose. Plots or no Plots, we have nothing but guesses right now anyways."
[20:09:25] <+Seth> "Now what do we do?"
[20:09:44] <+Jack> "We hold a memorial service for Scheidt and Langen according to the traditions of Warp Wood.  You know, day of mourning and all that."
[20:10:09] <+Jack> "Whatever the local customs dictate."
[20:10:40] <.Bynw> *merriam, looking very pale* "you lead us" *and slumps from the chair to the floor*
[20:10:57] <+Jack> "Local customs don't require bodies to lie in state, so we're okay on that."
[20:11:17] <+Jack> "Ummm . . . Merriam!"
[20:11:25] * +Kevin stands silently looking at Merriam's body
[20:11:49] * +Jack checks Merriam's body for signs of life.
[20:11:57] <+Seth> "Pffftt, for gods is everyone going to die?"
[20:12:24] <+Jack> "I think that was the idea behind the curse."
[20:12:54] <+Seth> ??there any wine left in the hall??
[20:14:29] <.Bynw> !! yes !!
[20:14:36] <+Jack> "He's still alive, but he's burning up."
[20:16:03] <+Jack> "Hey, one of you guys in the servant outfits want to bring me a basin of water and some cloths, please?"
[20:16:20] <+Seth> ::Grabs a full bottle of wine and pours himself a glass, but does not set the bottle back down:: "I've done what I can, best to make him comfortable. Bring his family in while he's still able to say good-bye."
[20:16:27] <.Bynw> *several of the servants jump at once ... and bring the water and cloth
[20:16:53] <+Seth> ::Downs the cup of wine and pours himself another::
[20:17:16] <.Bynw> *one of the servants* "he has no family Lord .. they are all dead of curse"
[20:17:17] <+Jack> :: to one of the Servants:: "Does Lord Merriam have family?"
[20:17:50] * +Jack nods to the servant "Thanks"
[20:18:19] <+Kevin> "Well, I think we need to plan the services, then plan out what to do with the kingdom, as in what direction we need to go."
[20:18:35] * +Jack tries to keep Merriam cooler and a bit more comfortable with the water and cloths.
[20:19:32] <+Seth> ::Shakes his head and grimaces:: "This is great." ::Raises his voice:: "So now what? We are the new owners of West Abronn's largest privy. Best to decide now how we intend to run this place, the people will want to know when we are announced as the new lords. When was that to happen again?" ::Takes another long drink::
[20:19:32] <+Jack> "Agreed, Kevin."
[20:20:30] <+Kevin> "I believe they already know of us as the lords."
[20:20:58] <+Kevin> "Merriam made a comment about that earlier."
[20:21:01] <+Seth> "You don't kniw lords Kevin."
[20:21:12] <+Kevin> "No, I do not."
[20:21:28] <+Jack> ::to servant::  "I could use a cup of wine, too.  It's been a rough day."
[20:21:31] <+Seth> "Everything has to be on cerimony, you can't use the can without someone to hold the door, it's expected."
[20:21:53] <.Bynw> *a servant gets some wine for Jack*
[20:22:10] <+Jack> ::smiles:: "Thanks"
[20:22:31] <+Seth> "We have to make ourselves seen and heard, the people have to have a face to go with the name or it's just not real to them."
[20:22:47] <.Bynw> *Merriam opens his eyes, bloodshot and red - his skin is still pale despite the fever. "he ... will ... come ... a .. round" *he closes his eyes and convulses in pain*
[20:23:02] <+Seth> ::Takes another long drink and again tops off his glass::
[20:23:07] <+Charissa> "well, I suggest we spend the rest of the day making their funeral preparations and announce to the people in the morning that we are the new leaders"
[20:23:15] * +Kevin looks to Merriam again
[20:23:17] <+Jack> "Who, Merriam?  Who will come around?"
[20:23:54] <.Bynw> *his body slumps to the floor and he doesn't move again*
[20:24:18] <+Charissa> ::puts her head on Meriam's head again::
[20:24:28] <+Charissa> "I think it's time to read him again"
[20:24:35] <+Charissa> @fudge+1
[20:24:35] <+SnakeEyes> Charissa Rolled +3 (Superb)
[20:24:59] <+Jack> "Was thinking the same thing.  Be my guest."
[20:25:15] <+Charissa> *hand on Merriam's head*
[20:25:44] <+Seth> ::Nods to Lady Charissa:: "Now that is a lady, born to nobility. I'm with her on that. Funeral preperations tonight, then we meet the people at afternoon tomorrow"
[20:26:46] * Svecica has left #Teara-Adan
[20:28:14] <+Charissa> ::sighs and gets up:: "The curse wiped out his mind fast.  But, Jack, I did get who he was talking about coming around..it is Seth"
[20:28:24] <+Kevin> "You two know more of these affairs than I do, so I will agree to that course of action."
[20:28:27] <+Jack> "Seth??"
[20:28:59] <+Charissa> "yes, he will come around and be a good Lord for the people is what I think Lord Merriam was trying to say"
[20:29:57] <+Jack> "Oh, that's good to know.  I thought he meant the curser would come back, but I
[20:30:08] <+Jack> 'm glad he feels we can work together."
[20:30:45] <+Charissa> "aye"
[20:31:23] <+Charissa> "well, let me find the Seneschal so we can make the arrangements for a proper cremation for all the lords"
[20:31:40] <+Charissa> ::goes to find the Seneschal::
[20:31:40] <+Seth> ::Looks pleased, his chest puffs up a bit:: "Leased the man's not completly full of dung." ::smiles and oily grin::
[20:32:06] <+Jack> "Yeah, we're all buddies now."
[20:32:39] <.Bynw> *they find one of the seneshals who will take care of the matter according to custom*
[20:34:36] <+Seth> "So, what now? How to run this place?"
[20:35:17] <+Kevin> "Seems to be the course of action we must take."
[20:35:50] <+Charissa> "aye...I suggest we figure something out soon...I'd prefer to run the whole kingdom together as a committee"
[20:36:33] <+Jack> "Makes sense to me, Charissa.  If we divide it, we're weak and asking to be conquered."
[20:37:33] <+Kevin> "Sounds good to me."
[20:37:52] <+Seth> "We are going to have to devide some of the running of the kingdom."
[20:38:15] <+Charissa> "true, Seth, but we make joint decisions to the benefit of the whole kingdom"
[20:38:52] <+Seth> "None of us have time to pour over Tax documents, hear legal matters, and manage all the serfs at once. We'd be in session day and night!" 
[20:39:54] * +Coch has left #Teara-Adan
[20:40:59] <+Kevin> "How should we divide it up?"
[20:41:44] <+Kevin> "Antilles as leader of the army..."
[20:42:05] <+Seth> "I suggest we all manage a portion of the work load, we all take a department or area. Charissa is raised nobility and can handle the relations with the people."
[20:42:34] <+Seth> "Antilles would be a natural for the leader of the guard."
[20:43:13] <+Charissa> "agreed"
[20:43:17] <+Kevin> "Aye."
[20:43:18] <.Bynw> *Antilles nods* "I shall see what there is for an army"
[20:44:00] <+Kevin> "Seth, what do you think you would like to lead?"
[20:45:06] <.Bynw> *Antilles turns to the seneschal* "gather all of the necessary adminitrative staff for all functions of our government and bring them here."
[20:45:31] <+Seth> "I've had some experiance with the law and nobility. I'd like to see to the crime and legal affairs. I've been told Warpwood is full of criminals. My ability to scry and truth read will help."
[20:46:37] <+Seth> "Someone needs to look to the Taxes and collection, as well as the poor."
[20:46:56] <+Kevin> "I am not the best with numbers."
[20:47:47] <+Seth> "Kevin unless I miss my guess I'd say you'd be best to looking after the keeps security, the royal guards, and descrete information gathering?"
[20:48:16] <.Bynw> *the seneschal returns shortly with a host of administrators ... and other minor members of the court that begin to explain their various functions which free up a lot of time from the rules who can just oversee the functions if they leave the current administration in place*
[20:48:36] <+Jack> "I can work on taxes and financial stuff."
[20:48:40] <+Kevin> "I think that would fit me well."
[20:50:44] <+Charissa> "I guess it's all settled then"
[20:51:13] <+Seth> "I would suggest we call ourselves the 'high lords' then. We can make the major policy desicions and we can appoint lesser 'lords' to impliment our policy to their lands."
[20:52:20] <+Jack> "What ever happened to Coch the bounty hunter?"
[20:53:02] <+Seth> "We then split up Warp Wood into small lordships, perhaps each of us appoints 5 lords apiece and we distribute the land evenly to them to govern?"
[20:53:14] <+Kevin> "I sent a servant to get him earlier. That is the last I know of him."
[20:54:26] <+Jack> "We should see what lesser lords are already in place.  Better not to disrupt the current structure too much unless it's corrupt."
[20:54:42] <+Kevin> "Hmm..."
[20:55:00] <+Kevin> "How do we usher in a 'Golden Age' if we do not change anything?"
[20:55:42] <+Charissa> "by wise management and carefull acquisition of surrounding lands"
[20:58:35] <+Kevin> "Should we lie dormant, and build up for a while?"
[20:59:35] <+Jack> "Yeah, we probably need to build a bit.  I'm gonna go find Coch."
[21:00:25] <+Jack> "He should be here for this, even if he did duck out on all the excitement."
[21:00:50] <+Seth> ::Takes a long drink from his wine, still holding the bottle in his other hand::
[21:02:05] * +Jack goes up to a group of servants if they've seen Coch. Or failing that, where his room is.
[21:02:56] <.Bynw> *it is reported the Coch is not in his apparents and his things are missing. A servant does remember seeing him leave the keep earlier
[21:03:46] * +Jack returns to the lords group. "The servants say Coch left."
[21:04:56] <+Seth> "What!? It's like a sinking shhip here." ::a very slight slur starting to creep into his voice::
[21:08:48] <+Jack> "Well, we need to find him eventually.  He signed the documents, so he owns a share of the kingdom.  But I think that can wait.  Maybe he'll come back on his own."
[21:09:36] <+Seth> "Maybe it's better we send someone out to get him?"
[21:11:26] <+Jack> "Have anyone in mind?"
[21:11:35] <+Seth> ::Leans in and quietly starts talking to a servent::
[21:12:41] <+Seth> ::Stops his conversation with the servent for a moment and smiles at Jack:: "Question is do you have someone in mind?"
[21:13:05] <+Jack> "Not really.  That's why I asked."
[21:14:18] <+Jack> "We all kinda sorta need to be here for tomorrow, so that leaves the servants, the guards, or the army."
[21:15:23] <+Seth> ::Nods slowly, he seems to be reading jacks intent and weighting his words, then he continues:: "I guess I voluntiered to manage the law, I'll find a marshall or what ever they call them to go get him. I don't think we're going to have much luck though, the man is a bounty hunter. He knows the trade."
[21:17:01] <+Jack> "Yeah, you're probably right, but it can't hurt to try."
[21:17:02] <+Seth> ::Raises his voice and addresses the others:: "Jack's got a point though, what do you want to tell the people about Coch tomorrow?"
[21:18:08] <+Kevin> "I think we should send for him, and hope that we get him back. If we don't, then we have a problem."
[21:18:43] <+Kevin> "We can either say he is off on kingdom affairs, or say that he is gone."
[21:18:46] <+Charissa> "maybe we can say that he is out trying to find clues about the curse"
[21:19:01] <+Charissa> "kingdom business sounds good"
[21:19:18] <+Jack> "We could say he's away on business.  Won't make him a popular lord to miss his onw investiture, but that's his problem since he decided to leave."
[21:19:36] <+Kevin> "Well, that leaves a problem."
[21:19:45] <+Kevin> "If he does not come back, what do we say?"
[21:20:07] <+Charissa> "that he went missing"
[21:20:12] <+Seth> ::Resumes talking to the servent quietly, alternativly nodding and shaking his head::
[21:24:46] <+Jack> "That's why we need to find him at least eventually.  To find out if he wants to resign, come back, be our foreign trade represenatative, or what."
[21:29:13] <+Seth> ::Finshes with the servent and pushes him along to run his errand then turns to the others:: "Well, don't all talk at once. I think it's been a long enough day for me. I'm going to retire until tomorrow."
[21:29:46] <+Charissa> "I think I will turn in also"
[21:29:59] <+Kevin> "
[21:30:06] <+Kevin> "As will I."
[21:30:08] <+Jack> "Yeah, me too.  It's been a rough day."
[21:34:41] <Seth> ::Nods to each in turn and makes his leave, bottle and cup still in hand::
[21:34:51] <.Bynw> (( thats a wrap ))