Korvinean and the archers aim toward the bay and fire at anything that tries to come in.  Otherwise, we take advantage of the lull in action to heal and prepare for the next wave.  We rip down all the tents and clearing the beach.
                The four ships all move toward the water, and each launches a dinghy.  Each dinghy carries eleven men rowing the boat.  Ulric gathers his mounted men to prepare to charge once they reach shore.  The retreating boat that Cal fights on suddenly drops a dinghy as well; however this one is not lowered, but is is violently dropped.  The only person I can see on deck is Cal, who has taken the wheel of the ship.  As we continue to watch, we see that Cal is directing the ship right over the closest dinghy, then turns it sharply to ram into one of the larger ships.  The sound of ripping wood fills the bay with the impact.
                A few minutes later, the first group lands on the shore and we charge as the others come in just behind the first.  Our initial clash easily dispatches a few of their numbers, and though all of the invaders are wearing heavy armor and carrying multiple weapons, we manage to roll up their line with ease.  As we near the end of their numbers, we see a large knight ride forth from the waves on a black mount which is breathing smoke.  The man wears armor that is all black with a seashell motif on his pauldrons and helm and a tabard with the fist of Hextor.  The fiend screams out, "Knight of Grozney, face me!"
                Ulric turns and charges him, knocking him from his mount.  The man lands on his feet and sounds a blast on a horn, bringing a thick fog around him.  Briggette sees the new foe and charges him as well, sending him to his accounting before his god.  Ulric wheels around and charges his horse, landing a solid blow, but he does not fell the beast.  Briggette and Chancellor continue to skirmish with it, and she eventually retreats, choosing to focus on the men rather than a lone horse.
                By this time, the final boatload of enemies has arrived, and as usual, our men make quick work of the bastards.  We take a breath and look around to spot a human struggling in the water near shore.  Brianna and Korvinean run and dive into the ocean after him, bringing Cal safely to land.
                We take stock and find that we've lost sixteen of our men.  We make camp and begin the process of burying our dead.  We burn the Hextorites and toss the ashes into the sea.  We settle into camp that evening with a somber atmosphere, planning to leave in the morning.
                We have no problems throughout the night.  That morning, Briggette calls the men together and, knowing that he cannot become a Paladin, she bestows the title of First Sergeant of the West on Cal.  We all cheer for his heroics before packing up and heading out to return to Tulcea.

                On the seventh day of our travels back to the capital, we come across a site that obviously had a fierce battle.  We are about fifty miles from the capital at that point.  We continue on our way, and are about twenty miles out two days later when we find evidence of a large force moving away from the city to the north.  The next day, as we mount a ridge, we run into a man in half plate leading about a hundred men in our direction.  They are in purple and red livery, but do not carry the Neverese symbol specifically.

At Ulric's behest, we simply keep moving toward the capital, allowing the man to continue on his way away.  As we pass, he and his men stop move to the side, allowing us clear passage.  Briggette stops as she meets him, and her men stop alongside her.  "Hail."

"Hail, Knight Paladin," he replies.

"So, purple and red . . . Nevers?"

"I do not serve Nevers directly," he replies calmly.  "I serve my superiors, as we all do."

"Mercenaries, then?" Briggette asks.

"Something like that."

"Well, I've been away from the capital for some time now.  What's transpired?"

"The Neverese army withdraws to the north," he replies.

"Any particular reason?" she asks.

"Most of them lost their fight, I suppose."

"Do you withdraw, Sir?"

"I follow orders," he replies.  "I trust that there's no need to rekindle the fight today?"

"Of course not," she answers.  "May Cuthbert be with you and give you safe passage home."

"You know, Sir, not all of us worship at the altar of tyranny."  Beyond that, he says nothing, and our men pass each other without incident.

As we approach, we see the scars left by the siege, but the Duke's flag still flies from walls that still stand.  We approach the gatehouse and note the damage done, though the inner door appears to have not been breached.  The guard on duty greets us, "Hail, Son of Zurwald.  Do you have prisoners, or are these only our men?"

"These are all ours," Ulric replies.

"It's good to see you safe."  Ulric questions the man about what has occurred and the condition of the Duke.  He tells us that the war council is expecting us and awaits our presence in the keep.  As we pass, the guard, who has a Western accent, greets Briggette and kneels before her.  The other guardsmen present seem momentarily confused, but also bow as their leader before them.

As we ride through town, many buildings are damaged or destroyed, but the general mood is one of good cheer.  Several people call out to one or the other of our group in praise, and several more call out in more general terms.  I notice someone following along our path along the rooftops, but when I catch a good glimpse, he turns and disappears.  It looks as though he is a gnome, but I can't be certain as he is now out of my purview.

The Duke's herald greets us at the gate, "Sir Zurwald!"  Ulric removes his helm, and the man says, "Ah, Sir Ulric!  There are many people who would like to see you!  I shall find quarters for you and your wife, and for any of your group who might need accommodation."  He tells us that Count Rothschilde wanted to see Ulric immediately upon his arrival, but Ulric asks for the opportunity to clean up before visiting with the Duke.

As the herald leads us to a room, we see that the door has been draped in Rotheschilde red.  When we enter, we see that his leg is badly damaged and has been stitched up, but remains swollen, blue and green.  As the two men greet each other warmly, Briggette prays over the limb, and the greenish pallor diminishes.  The stitches heal together and the swelling subsides.  He is stunned and thanks Briggette for her ministrations.  He tells us that Sir Sebastian was killed saving him, and that he's had the body preserved.  "It was particularly brave, even for a knight.  If he was representative of your people, I'll not forget it.  Your young Sir Sorin watches over his body."

The men discuss the tides of battle, and the Count tells us that the outcome may be different had our group not disrupted the supply line for as long as we did.  Ulric tells him of our battles versus the minions of Hextor, and how decisive our victory was despite our losses.  He offers to give some land to Ulric in his own right.  "You are a faithful knight to your Duchy, not just to yourself," he observes.

"I do my duty, Excellency," Ulric replies.

"You remember, when the accusations are made, and I think they will be, remember that you have a true friend."  Briggette looks perplexed.  With this cryptic bit, he calls for wine, and lifts it, "To the Duchy of Grozney, and not anything else."  He takes a drink and bids us adieu, so we can go to freshen ourselves and meet with the Duke.

When we enter the Great Hall, the Duke seems fine except for a bit of puffiness in his right eye.  As opposed to the normal courtly attire, most here are in armor.

Ulric, Briggette and I approach and kneel without delay.  "Sir Ulric!  It is good to see you!" he greets us.  He thanks us for our part in the battles and asks for an account of the troops we fought on the coast.  We tell him in great detail, and he joins us in mourning our dead.  "You have done great service to us--repeatedly," he notes.

"I do my duty," Ulric replies sincerely.

"Some people’s duty is more impressive than others," the Duke says.  "I'm afraid the duchy is not in the best shape at the moment, and there are very limited boons I can give you.  However, I give you the right of recruitment in all lands for the next five years."  This is a great honor, one not normally bestowed until well after someone has taken land, which Ulric has not done, and the right has not been given for over twenty years.  "There are at least 7000 Neverese troops still operating in our territory.  I am sure that Sir Brannick will have the wisdom to not engage them as long as they're leaving.  Do you have anything that you need or desire?"

"Nothing I do not intend to take for myself," Ulric replies.

"Sir Sebastian died saving His Excellency, Count Rothschilde, who was in the process of saving me.  If you would like, I will have him buried here, or you can take him back to be buried in your lands; I would not take that honor from you."  Ulric replies that he will return Sebastian's remains to his father in Zurwald.  The men speak of mounting a counter-attack in a year or so to remind the Neverese why they should not attack us, and Ulric agrees to help in any way he can.

The Duke turns to Briggette, "Knight Paladin, there are few of your kind left in my city.  Not just Cuthbertines, but any holy warriors.  I would be appreciative if you would stay for a while, or if you have a subordinate paladin who you can leave for a while.  I do not need them long, but until Sir Brannick returns, I have no visible symbol of the gods in the city.  The people are not quite demoralized, but disheartened."  She agrees that she or a representative will stay, and he offers her any help she needs.

"If I may, Your Grace," Briggette asks, "do you have a court bard?"  The man steps forth.  "As much as it goes against my nature to toot my own horn, I really think it would be helpful to hear about how Hextor was beaten back not once, but twice.  I could use the help of someone who could, perhaps, say it better than I."  The Duke readily volunteers his bard's services, and they agree to meet in the morning so that he may ensure he has all the details of the story.

Next, the Duke updates Ulric on the condition of his family insomuch as he knows those details.  Ulric agrees that we will be staying in the capital for at least a week, and His Grace offers lodgings in the castle for as many as he can hold in the keep, and offers help in finding rooms for any of our troops who don't want to camp outside the walls.  Almost as an afterthought, he remembers that he has a scroll for Briggette from Nicodemus and hands it over to her.  She asks for permission to approach and, once granted, lays her hands upon his head, healing the remaining of his injuries.  He thanks her and dismisses us.


When Briggette has the chance to open the scroll, it says, "I have information for you that should not be written and cannot be said by others.  When you have . . . .  At your earliest convenience, please come and see me at my tower.  That is the safest place."

                Gustav pulls us aside that night and tells us what he's found out about the mysterious reference to "accusations" the Count had mentioned.  He tells us that the Hoffmann's house is divided in its loyalties to His Grace, and they are laying foundations to accuse Ulric in treason.  He is said to have been in collusion with exterior forces, and that he is working to gain the Duke's trust only to take his place.

Ulric is highly amused, and Briggette is incensed.  I am simply stunned at the absurdity.  Gustav suggests that the accusation will be made when we are not in town, and when it is difficult to return due to our mission.  However, he says that we should not answer any accusations, but instead challenge the accuser to trial by combat.  Ulric agrees that this is his precise plan.  "Well," Ulric says, "I need to go see the Duke."

Briggette stops him, and asks that we take the time to go see Nicodemus beforehand and find out what information he has for us.  Ulric acquiesces and we head to the tower.  His butler invites us in and offers us fresh fruit and brandy while we wait for the master.  About forty minutes later, the butler returns and leads us to a black room with black furnishings and not a single reflective surface.  Nicodemus waits for us in the center of the room.

He greets us and pulls a black sheet off of an orb which glows purple.  "I'm going to tell you some things which may be disturbing.  Are you sure you want your husband and friend to hear?"  When she agrees, he tells her, "Your brother is in the service of Thanatos, a necromancer of ancient," he pauses, "we'll call it existence."

"Voluntarily?" she asks.

"I don't know.  I cannot look into people's souls to see their motives.  That is your job.  What I do know is that Thanatos is as old as the old gods.  He survived the Companions, which alone is impressive.  I cannot tell you why he has your brother or what his machinations are in all of this, but I assure you machinations--layers--perhaps generationally, are involved."

"Of my family?"

"Of the continent."  He pauses.  "I cannot tell you what his end goal is, but I can tell you that the history of my kind has seen his involvement.  I have no idea what he's trying to do here, but I assure you it is nothing as petty as taking over Grozney.  I know that you would not consider that petty, but he would.  When you're fourteen- or fifteen-hundred years old, little things like who sits a throne for thirty or forty years are unimportant . . . .  I know your brother is on the island, but I do not know where.  I'm still working on other things, but I felt that this was owed to you in regards to our previous arrangement."  The butler reappears at the door, as if on cue, to lead us back out of the tower.


The next morning, we begin the process of liquidating the spoils of our battles.  Ulric has Sir Sebastian raised from the dead and recruits a bard to join us in our remaining travels.  Several of us purchase magical items or have existing ones further enchanted.  At the end of it all, we seek an audience with the Duke to bring our tribute to him.

We enter the great hall with a procession of our men hauling chests containing the nearly 60,000 silver he will receive.  Ulric bows before the Duke once more, and after greeting him, the Duke bids him rise.

"Your Grace, may I present you with the war spoils from the army of the West and our excursions in Grozney?"  With that, our men parade in each chest, one by one, and Gustav opens each as it is laid before him.  The court initially is filled with whispers and talking, and as the parade continues, it dies into stunned silence.  "A very large portion of this was meant for the Neverese invaders who were threatening at your doorstep."

"Thank you, Sir Ulric, for your loyalty, your dedication, and your honesty.  The walls, the bridges, and such appreciate the help.  The people will be pleased to see the quick repairs."

"Well, as you know, Your Grace," Sir Ulric says, "our people are our jewels."  He turns to look at one of the Hoffmann men without addressing him directly.  "If ever, Your Grace, a question of my honor be brought before you, I would meet it with no less than trial by combat, and I would welcome such a challenge."

The Duke looks around askance and says, "I'm sure your honor is beyond question here, Sir Ulric."

"Oh, no.  I am sure there are some who would question my honor," Ulric pauses.  "There will come a time very soon when I am busy, and something may be laid upon your lap, when you will understand why I have said these things."  Ulric takes another slow look around the room.  "However, I will return as soon as I can to deal with gnarled branches and tainted wheat.  Now, if it please Your Grace, I will take my leave and return to my home.  It has been long in coming."

"Of course," he replies, still trying to take a measure of the room and who might say such outlandish things about Ulric.  "Go home, rest well, and we will see you again."  He comes down to embrace Ulric.  As he walks back to his seat, he looks at his herald and says, "Clear my schedule.  I'm done today."  He keeps walking on out of the room, presumably up to his chambers.

As we make our way out, Count Rothschilde stops us, "Remember, if you decide a fallen county is too much trouble to try and take, all you need do is pay me a call."  He and his father's men, as well as the rest of our group head back to Brasov.  Briggette stays to represent the faith until Brannick returns, so Boian and I decide to stay behind to accompany her.  It is a sad parting, but it must be done.

                Ulric makes sure to stop in at Reghin on the way home and check in with Sir Connor, once again making sure the details of our victories are known and sung at every opportunity.  They continue on toward home, having a safe journey all the way.