deleted]

[Blitz]

Steerforth weighed Chirando's words, then dismounted his horse. "Sir Heap, stay here with the halfling while I discuss the proper method to handle this.. animal." Without waiting for another word, Steerforth strode of towards the barn and sty, leaving Glim to scramble after him less he get left behind. A moment later, out of the earshot of Chirando and Heap, Steerforth grunted, "Is there something more I need to know about this situation pig herder?"

[Marko]

Glim stood there for a moment to catch is breath, being old and all.

"It's the wolf, milord. For a wolf to be out of a pack and alone you need two situations. One would need the other wolves in its pack to kick the wolf out. While the other option is to have something bigger and worse killing all the other wolves." - Glim didn't say another word until he got closer to Lord Steerforth.

"The wounds on the wolf are from .... a beast... I still haven't had the oportunity to encounter, nor do I desire. But I beseeach you, milord, to take precautions."

[Blitz]

Steerforth watched Glim for a moment before turning to look at Chirando, watching the mage stand uncomfortyable by the knight Heap. It was an interesting comparison, the tall armored form of the knight next to the muddied and tired shape that Chirando represented after his time working under Glim. The paladin chewed on his mustache for a moment, considering. "Halfling!"

Chirado and Heap walked quickly over to the glowering visage of Steerforth. "Yes sir?"

"Take me to this wolf you hid from the pig master."

Chirando nodded and walked towards the nearby barn with the other three men trudging afterwards. Steerforth grunted as the heavy weight of his armor settled on his shoulders, then asked, "Tell me, halfling. You said that you were afraid that Glim would kill the pig if you told him about it. What made you choose to do such a thing? It wa an injured animal. And injured animals are certainly tempermental and perhaps more dangerous than an animal that has full control of its faculties. So why risk yourself to keep it safe?"

[Marko]

Glim closed in to Steerforth, and whispered, a little unsure as a servant is, fearing the fist of his master.

"Milord, an injured wolf, not a pig"

[Blitz]

Steerforth ignored the pig herd's words, oblivious to any thought of his own verbal faux pas. As the group entered the barn, the smell of overripe food and swine waste stung at Steerforth’s nostrils. He grimaced as Chirando led them towards the back of the barn. Past a worn gate, huddled weakly in a bloody mat of hay, lay the wolf. Panting with weak breaths, unconscious with delirium. The paladin grunted, stepping past the half-elf, kneeling next to the injured animal. The beast was oblivious to the powerful warrior that knelt beside him, oblivious of the careful scrutiny that the man took over the injuries. Steerforth’s finger’s traced along the edge of a long gash in its side, and what looked like reptilian bite marks on the haunch of one leg.

He growled, a dangerous hiss that uttered up from his gut. “You’re wrong, Glim. This wasn’t a beast attack, at least not in the manner you are thinking. This is something far worse…”

“What do you mean?” Heap grunted.

Steerforth ignored the question, turning to Chirando, “You are apprenticed to me by the decree of Balthazar, so it is time I burned a pure memory in that heretic addled brain of yours. The Highfather does not temper fools. His gifts are granted to the protection of the faithful and are not tainted by any of the lesser gods of Nevendaar. It is time you learned some of that skill, of that purity and chastity of spirit. Kneel with me, and do as I do. The movements of my hand, the chanting that I utter. You are to mimic them precisely.”

Without waiting for Chirando to respond, the paladin began to mutter, slowly drifting his hands in regular patterns over the wolf’s body, fully expecting for Chirando to comply.


[MT]

This is Chirando’s chance to learn a healing spell, but which spell will depend on how in depth you go on the storytelling. That’s right, you are going to heal the wolf…

[/MT]

[Blitz]

After several moments of intense concentration, Steerforth leaned back on his haunches. The wolf whimpered then blinked its eyes in slow confusion, the pain and injuries miraculously vanished while the paladin offered a quiet prayer to the Highfather. The large gray animal licked its sides, where the wrost of the gashes had been a moment before, only to taste the familiar tang of its cured fur with the faint lines of scarring that would mark it for life.

When Steerforth stood, the wolf suddenly became aware of the people around it. It cringed slightly, confused but not aggressive, taking stock of its surroundings. When it recognized Chirando, it wagged its tail slightly, bowing its head in a submissive gesture.

Behind the two healers, Heap muttered to Glim, "Told you that half-breed was more elf than man. Look at the critter begging for his support."

"That's enough," Steerforth grunted. "Wolves are the children of Wotan, not Gallean. The wolf recognizes that Chirando saved it. Which is a good thing, because, halfling, I need you to get that animal to guide us to where it was attacked."

"You can't be serious, m'lord!" Glim cried. "I told you it was attacked by a beast! Why would you want to test something that probably took out a pack of wolves?"

"You're wrong, pig master. It wasn't a beast that attacked the wolf. I've seen those marks before, during the Utherian Rebellion. Those wounds were caused by demon claws. And if Bethrezen's foul spawn stalk the lands around Warwick, then I will not stand by and idly ignore them. Heap!"

"Yessire!"

"Go fetch my hunting party!" Steerforth grinned grimly, "Chirando's new companion is going to lead us to a melee."


[MT]

Chirando gains the Cleansing Spell and 400 XP, along with a new party member. The wolf is now your character. He can participate in battles, controlled by you, and you can write some stuff for it. However it is attached to Chirando, at least until it reaches level 15, so keep it close. The wolf's stats are:

Wolf:
Level: 5
HP: 200
MP: 0
Strength: 60
Stamina: 0
Agility: 20
Initiative: 30
Wisdom: 0
Charisma: 0
Wards: N/A
Immunities: N/A
Leadership Cost: 1
Leader Charisma Needed: 10
Spells:
N/A
Skills:
N/A

Marko, take 800 XP for your characters, and the Holy Empire is happy to build two buildings inside the city of Sandburg for Sir Marcus's dedication to the Empire.

In addition, can I ask you guys to keep updating your character sheets with new levels and XP and the like. I have trouble keeping track of your levels and what I can reward you with without updates.

[/MT]

[Blitz]

[MT]

I was kind of hoping for more. I'll let Marko pick two Empire or Clan characters to be apart of Steerforth's hunting party, along with Heap (no higher than a level ten character and no mages). When they arrive I'll start a new thread for the next section of Chirando's "training".

[/MT]

[Marko]

[Sorry for the delay]

The day was bright in front of the gates of Warwick, acompanied by a shallow wind that gently moved the leaves for a natural melodic backdrop. As Chirando and sir Heap reached the gates, from inside the town Lord Steerforth and his entourage exited. Near him two figures Chirando didn' recognise...

Brothers Robert and Alric

Sir Robert Hill

Background: Sir Hill was born in a village north of the city of Fhidar, close to the lands of the Mountain Clans. Born to a family of human balcksmiths, the third male child, young Robert decided to take on a life of shield and sword rather then the maker of. Travelling with great expecations, finding his way to Fhidar, young Robert made several attempts, some humilliating other good stories to tell by a campfire, to find a patron to serve. He had a small "baggage" with him that always kept him from succeding in patronage. In the end he entered the services of Lord Burak Blunthavar of Blendevir as a bland and simple squire. He served Lord Burak Blunthavar for 19 years, being promoted first to knight and then to Imperial Knight. Then finally, under ambigous details he had been discharged out of the Lords services, along with his "small bag".

Sir Robert Hill traveled to Warwick in escort of merchants. But he remained there on the insistance of Lord Steerforth, as Weapons Master. Again the details are shrouded in myster as both are relunctant to speak about this subject.

Description: Time has not treated sir Hill in a benevolent manner. Gray hair crowned his head. His long face, always neatly shaved, showed wrinkles even at this age. Sir Hill wore his Imperial Knight Silver Armor, a very beautiful sight, beacuse sir Hill knew, from his family, how to keep his armor in the best of shapes.

Imperial Knight:
Requirements: Imperial Stables, City Hall
Faction: Warrior
Level: 10
HP: + 50
MP: + 0
Strength: + 25
Stamina: + 0
Agility: + 0
Initiative: + 0
Wisdom: + 0
Charisma: + 5
Wards: N/A
Immunities: N/A
Leadership Cost: 1
Spells:
N/A
Skills:
N/A

Alric "Yur'bur vik" Hammerfate

Background: Alric grew up near the same village as sir Hill, only in a dwarven mine. Alric was the child of an "excentric" dwarves couple. They left the hammer and anvil and took up the craft of trade. Something, by dwarven tradition, gave them the honorary title of "Mad". But Alrics parents didn't mind, and nor did Alric. Who befriended the young, and future, Sir Robert Hill during the periodic trade expedition by the dwarves. But the happiness of Alric childhood was cut short when his parents died in a theif ambush. Both were killed. Alric having no near family in the mines, and fearing that his parents mark, would make his life hard with the dwarves, Alric choose to live with the Hills, who already liked him like a son.

When Robert decided to leave for Fhindar, Alric was first to support him, and the only one to go with him. As the two reached Fhindar, it's when Alric got his nickname of "Yur'bur vik". If you ask him he will tell you its a great title awarded to brave dwarven warriors, but actually translated from dwarvish it means :"Small bag". The human and dwarven youths knew that if Robert was to become a great warrior and Alric to be by his side, these few early days he had to hide in the home of whom ever Robert served. The future knight had to live in the home of the patron. When Alric had to hide - he made a beautiful, but small bag, his home.

This cover up always failed. And the patron lord always forced the dwarf into something like slave labor, to use his metalurgical knowledge in the lords service. Only Lord Blunthavar was the one that recognized that one part of the dwarf is the hidden secrets of the best metalurgy but the other half was that of a fierce warrior. So Lord Blunthavar has allowed both Robert and Alric to be his squires, one with an offical title while the other just by name.

Alric followed Robert in Lord Steerforths employ, where he stands to this day.

Description: As all humans said about him: A small gray man, in a small dwarven steel armour but with a heart of a Titan.

Veteran:
Requirements: Armory, Mountain Fortress
Faction: Warrior
Level: 10
HP: + 40
MP: + 0
Strength: + 20
Stamina: + 5
Agility: + 0
Initiative: + 0
Wisdom: + 0
Charisma: + 0
Wards: N/A
Immunities: N/A
Leadership Cost: 1
Spells:
N/A
Skills:
N/A

[Blitz]

[MT]

So this thread is being continued at The Ash Cycle.

[/MT]