Roughly a weeks ride north of the Monastery was the river town of Lanoline, where trade barges frequently stopped on their ventures up and down the great Wda. It was a bustling place, near as close to a city as one could get this far east of the Reach and West of the Spine. Of course, there were the great dwarven cities, imbedded in the mountains themselves, and the great city of the Orcs, Bhatharik further up the river weeks to the north. No, so far from such monuments of civilization, Lanoline was practically Alliria. Not that Hector knew anything about the famed city.
Traders of all sorts frequented Lanoline, and the lords and ladies that called it home and sat upon its council did their best to present the large port town as a city of commerce and industry. So, when they had sent missive to Astenvale, and made known their need for aid, the Captains laughed.
On more than one occasion, logging parties from Lanoline had been sent so far deep into the woods, seeking to claim heartwood from the most ancient of trees, that the Knights caught wind of their schemes and ran them off. No blood had been spilled of course, but word had carried back to Lanoline of wild knights, possessed by fae or the spirits of the Eldyr tree, who would bring ruin to any man or woman who dare claim a tree.
Of course, the Captains were prudent, and they had sent Pursuants to try and treaty with the council, in hopes of instruction, in hopes of building a practice that would yield the town the lumber they desired, but left the woods strong and with life. And did not tread on the sanctum of the spirits and creatures most old, who would tarry no human greed.
Hector had heard it from Knight Master Brambleshell herself after a hortimancy lecture. They had threatened the Pursuants with imprisonment, lashings even, for having cost the town so much coin on those failed expeditions. Luckily, the Pursuants bore enough skill to see themselves out of that most thorny situation.
Yet, here they were, Knights of a new generation, answering the call for help from a most odious neighbor.
"I don't know why we are even here," Edwina, Knight Sworn of Dusk, complained as the three members of the Order walked through the empty streets of Lanoline. It was night, and the moon hung high in the sky as silver clouds traced and refracted the yellow-ish glow. "These people don't care for anything we stand for, nor do they even offer us fair reward," she went on.Hector read over the missive. "Well, the details tell of missing house pets, strange mushrooms growing from the drainage ditches, and..." he squinted as he tried to read the smeared letters. "Horrible legs," he nodded, and looked to Edwina and Awlyn. "Sounds to me like there may be a sporecap spider nesting in the sewer somewhere," he smiled with some enthusiasm. "And if we bring back a live Sporecap, that'll be reward enough,"
Edwina groaned. "Yes, Hector, thank you, I understand that. Doesn't change the fact that they had us come all the way out here, and they didn't even offer us free lodging." She huffed, and went on with her swaggering stride, her claymore sheathed and rested proudly against her shoulder. "What do you think about all this, Awlyn? You agree, don't you?"
A stray towns-person passed them by, wide eyed and confused by their appearance. She hurried away.
Edwina clicked her teeth and shook her head. "What, never see a knight before?" she muttered.
Awlyn Elrod
Last edited:
