Battle at Steel Springs
Castle Kalaman
Pouring over the map, Coltan asks the aide, "is there an available wagon or mounts to carry us faster or at least get us further without exhausting ourselves?" Whatever the answer, he suggests to his companions, "let's rest and recover ourselves now, and leave as soon as possible. Lunitari is full, so we should have moonlight to guide us. And, I suggest we gear up in dragonarmy uniforms, in case we run into the enemy. I can always deliver some prisoners to their commanders, if you know what I mean."
“I can’t imagine that the local wainwrights and cartwrights have run out! They’re easily found, especially around the city gates. Of course, their cost will vary depending on what you’re looking to purchase . . .” the aide informs Coltan.
Looking over the map, Fairla says, "I agree, Vigdan. A river crossing may be a good place to stop the Dragon Army's advance, but it does seem like an awfully big risk to leave the city without its military. If we are to travel to Steel Springs, I second the notion that a wagon would be best, if we can get one." She shifts her weight to ease the stiffness of legs already sore from hours of walking. "To that end, I do have a horse here in town I can bring." Inwardly, Fairla adds, 'and I'm going to have to pay additional stabling fees if I don't pick her up soon.'
“Oh! Wonderful!” the aide says, smiling. “If you’ve already got a horse, that saves you the trouble of buying one to pull the wagon! I’d warn that if it’s a riding horse or a warhorse, it’s probably not best suited to the job of a draft-horse, though—not that they can’t be used to pull a wagon—well, I suppose the warhorse wouldn’t have any issues, but the riding horse might definitely be at a disadvantage . . .”
Vigdan curses quietly when he hears that Lord Bakaris has left the city. Speaking to Artanis, "I'm no military man, Sir Knight. But I do know how to turn someone's attention when I want them focused somewhere else. Lord Bakaris and those men are meant to hold Kalaman while Marshall Vendri is away to the west. Now they're going to Steel Springs and so are we. The whole thing stinks like a trap if you ask me."
The aide sighs. “Sadly, it most likely is,” he concedes. “Unfortunately for all of us, Lord Bakaris is not only entitled to the rank of Captain, but by law, he is duty-bound and obligated to fill that role. Fortunately, the city is still well defended, but that—well, I shan’t break the law besmirching a noble—that . . . person . . . has taken three whole platoons with him.”
With Lady Michelle
On their way out, he greets Lady Michelle with a respectful nod understanding he is not the dwarf with her attention. With a bolt of inspiration, he coughs to politely break into the conversation between Michelle and Modri. "Lady Michelle, would you have some time in the next few hours to train me how to act like a lieutenant in the dragonarmy? I'm thinking to put your old armor to work, and I bet there's a lot that I don't know." He fishes from his pack and shows her the lieutenant insignia that Reorx created for him to install on his armor and his shouldered dragonarmy shield.
“Apprentice of Reorx Coltan, I would be honored to lend my aid!” Lady Michelle say when one of the guards butts in. “I can—”
“Now hold on just a minute!” one of the guards says. “We don’t have time to let this . . .”
Something comes over Lady Michelle and her visage seems to change. That cold commander you met at Vogler’s gates seems to return and she barks in a tone that brooks absolutely no disobedience, “Stand at attention and be silent, you honorless shitbags! You gormless fools dare speak in our presence without being spoken to first!?”
As if possessed by the hand of Takhisis, the two guards seem to automatically stand at attention before they even realize what they’ve done.
“Hold on—” the other guard manages to say before a look from Lady Michelle that probably could cut him in half where he stands shuts him up.
“Now, as I was saying, I can give you a crash course on how the various ranks speak, but even I can’t really tell you much beyond a captain—they’re brass and we don’t interact with them all that much. I must say, though, securing a captain’s insignia and uniform armor—that’s impressive. It’ll be useful, certainly.” She pauses a moment, chewing on her lip before finally adding, “But to be honest, I, personally, would not commit perfidy, but given the nature of the enemy, I’m not entirely sure that they don’t deserve whatever tactic you need to use. The Dragon Queen demands submission or she delivers death . . . I’ll teach you what I can in the time we have.”
"Ahar! Lioness!" Modri matches Michele's enthusiasm and doesn't mind a bit being glomped. As Coltan speaks Modri nods in agreement. "As Coltan says, got some extra armor and uniforms to go around, likely a few of us could use some lessons just in case. But honestly, was a lot less of a fight than we thought. With the help of those three, was one of the easier fights of this conflict. I'm sure that Dragonnel would've been mighty fierce against one or two of us, but not over half-a-dozen capable warriors focusing it down."
“Yes, well,” Lady Michelle admits, “The dragonarmies rely far more on quantity than on quality.”
He points to their likely newest members. "Fairla Sunnybank, Arlo Thistleknot, Vigdan Luchen, this is the Lady Michelle Folketh. I'll let you all say what you feel is worth saying. As to Michelle, we uh... ah heck, I'll just say it. She spent some time with the Red Dragon Army. It's all right now. Now she runs the land we're keeping the refugees at. Ah, which reminds me, don't let me leave without er... providing a donation to the people." In truth, Modri had planned not to give the money he planned to be donated to the refugees to Michelle, not wanting to make a big deal or fuss. However, chances are they wouldn't have time to return to her barony, and what mattered was giving the gold to the people.
At Modri’s offer of a donation, she smiles again, “I’ll make sure that the people of Vogler receive whatever it is you wish to give. Rest assured that they shall be given every last copper piece.”
In the hallway, he bows awkwardly, "My Lady" Listening as Modri recounts her past misdeeds and current duties, he interjects with hesitation, casting a glance at the others. "Well, uh.., I know my past is a little, uh..less than perfect, my lady. But it's what you're doing now that matters. I knew a lot of them folks from Vogler well and it's good that you're taking care of them. If there's anything I can do to help. Money or supplies or whatever, I'd be happy to help." He looks slightly embarrassed at the last.
“Please do not bow to me, Mr. Luchen,” Lady Michelle says with equal, if not more awkwardness. “I do not deserve it. And if anyone here has a past they’re not proud of, it is I. I wish I could take pride in the honor with which I fought in the past, but my fight was poisoned wine—not matter how sweet or what the vintage, it is poisoned nonetheless. For what value can be found in a single ounce of my honor on the battlefield when those battles have done nothing but help Takhisis take over half of Ansalon? Either way, it’s an honor to meet you.”
Back in Kalaman, Arlo feels a little overawed by the palace, which he'd never been allowed in before. His eyes go wide as Lady Michelle introduces himself and then wider still when Modri mentions that she "spent time" with the Red Dragonarmy. "I'm Arlo Thistlenott," he says when she turns her attention to him. "I'm from Kendermore, and I'm looking for my Uncle Trapspringer. Did you know that he once ended up in an ogre's stewpot? He convinced the ogre that Kender taste better when they're in a salad, rather than a stew, and it turned out the ogre didn't like salad, so he let Uncle Trapspringer go. But I'm not sure where he's gone since then. Do you?"
“Ah, Kendermore?” Lady Michelle says, “Well, at the very least, there’s one place whose blood isn’t on my hands. The white and black dragonarmies are the ones that attacked Kendermore. The closest to Goodlund I ever got was some leave I took and ended up in some coastal tribal village in Khur called Ak-Chat. I’m sorry I know nothing of your uncle. It’s lovely to meet you, though, Mr. Thistlenott, and I wish you luck in reuniting with your kin.”
Fairla bows to the noblewoman when introduced. "Lady Michelle, it is an honor to meet you. To host refugees during these times... If there be anything I can do as well to support your work, please just say the word."
“As I told Mr. Vigdan, please don’t bow to me,” Lady Michelle says, reaching out to pull Fairla up, but hesitating. “The honor is all mine. And hosting the refugees of Vogler is only one item on a very long and seemingly never-ending list of things I shall gladly do in penance. The fact that I can host them is a happy coincidence.”
At Lady Michelle's arrival, he greets the former enemy knight warmly with a, "Good to see you again, Lady Michelle!" and his grimace finally shifts into a wide smile as he observes the interactions between her and Modri. He had noticed the dwarf seemed rather fond of her from the get-go... but this was clear confirmation of the fact! He backs up Coltan's idea, stating, "Right, we've gathered enough armor to disguise all of us, actually. Anything you can share that would let us blend in better would be really appreciated, Lady Michelle. Although I don't know how much I can do about my particular shade of skin color or webbed fingers..."
“It’s wonderful to see you, too, Mr. Merituuli!” Lady Michelle smiles. “As for the issue of your skin, you’ll find that Takhisis, evil as she is, is oddly egalitarian with regards to who she lets serve her. As long as one obeys, one is welcome in the dragonarmies. Wherever we went, we absorbed many varied peoples into the dragonarmies and moved on to conquer more. You won’t likely soon meet a sea elf in that accursed uniform, but if you do, be not surprised.”
