Grindle Family/CripRP

Please select a period of time:

Falasan/Eston War

Peace Time

The Cast:

Crip Grindle: Knight of Elroth, Falasan

Werner: Crip's captain, recruited as part of his second troop, after the first were left as militia in Amdor.

Haragh: Crip's servant, picked up from Eston lands, and obsessed with Loronzo of the Mist.

Crip's Men:

Hurgle: Killed heroically in battle in Meneriel.

Lerati: A man of many nerves and apologies.

Prutu: A man of few words.

Yuji: A man of much strength.

Liert: Crip's scribe

Kruthi: Keen and religious

Unit Reports

Crip's scribe produces unit reports for his army. Crip has so far discovered the following about the origins of the numbers represented on those reports. Here is his current file on this:

My Statistics

Physical Age: straightforward

Character Class: straightforward

Honour: the number of times my name has been mentioned favourably in inns and taverns which my scribe frequents

Prestige: the number of times my name has been mentioned in my scribe's company by anyone of great importance, such as region lords or royalty

Gold: straightforward, though I wish I didn't have an ex-pickpocket as a scribe - there's no way he should know such information

Bonds: straightforward, though again I have no idea how he manages to find this out when I keep them on my person at all times

Status: unless I write something different myself, this always seems to be "ok", unless I've been injured, in which case he just puts "wounded"

Time Pool: something to do with how long we have until the men's brandy rations run out, and therefore how much time before I will get murmerings in the ranks if I give them more orders

Unit Statistics

Captain (+X): the figure in brackets is the number of Skat tournaments that the captain has won

Type: straightforward: infantry, archers or cavalry, I believe

Strength: number of men under my command; wounded listed separately

Training: still not sure on this one

Weapons/Armour: still not sure on these two

Damage: still not sure on this one

Morale: equal to the percentage of men who want seconds at dinner - my scribe is utterly convinced that only happy men have hungry stomachs

Cohesion: equal to the number of men who stay after dinner to play cards, less the number of arguments that they have in my scribe's presence during the day

Combat Strength: still not sure on this one

Designation: a vague description of the sort of work I've been asking them to do recently

Last paid: straightforward

Falasan / Eston War

In Amdor with New Troops

3 Oct 2007

Crip arrives back in Amdor, happy to be back towards the front lines. He takes a moment to visit his old troop, the Amdor Region Security Ensemble, and share a brandy with them. Seeing their name written on paper, he realises why his men were so keen to write their own name for their unit, and sighs a rueful sigh. But he is glad to see that most of them have now agreed on the rules for their various card games, and are getting on rather better than his present lot. He sends a couple of them over to teach his new band of men, while he relaxes with his drink and the company of familiar faces, before remembering something.

Crip: Have any of you seen Sir Willem?

One of the A.R.S.E. militia': Yes, Sir, he's somewhere in that direction I think, he was training his men earlier, I'm sure.

Crip thanks him, and goes to see Willem.

Crip: I see that you are doing well with improving the region, Lord Willem; I am very impressed with your work here since I was last in the area. I have a small confession to make though - a few days ago, my men caught a man they knew to be an Eston spy. He kept claiming he worked for Falasan, and the men rather keenly kept attacking him in the hope that he would reveal his true master. Only then did one of the men admit that he wasn't actually sure whether the man was from Eston or not. It turned out in the end that he was one of your scouts, from what I can tell. I am very sorry for his ordeal; I took him back to Barad Gardor and got the men in question to pay for him to be seen by a healer, so he will hopefully make a good recovery.

Crip Grindle (Knight of Elroth)

Teaching Skat to Lord Willem

4 Oct 2007

Crip Grindle arrives at Willem's estate in the evening. He enjoys a fine dinner of pickled herring, with drinks a-plenty, and remarks once more on the fine state Amdor finds itself in under Willem's, and Falasan's, rule.

Shortly, they move to the card table, where Crip gets out his pack of cards and, as promised, attempts to teach Willem the game that his men all love to spend their evenings over.

Crip: It's called Skat, and we could really do with an extra person or two, since it's a three-player game for three to five people...

Willem's eyebrows raise already.

Crip: Well, for the purposes of teaching it, let's have a couple more players [he draws up a couple of empty chairs, and his captain takes one of them when called to assist] My Captain, Werner, an expert at this game it has to be said, and let's call the empty chair Ramardo Van Troup. Ramardo can be the dealer.

Crip: [grinning] So, let me show you how to deal. You deal three to each person, then two on to the table - these are the Skat - then deal round to each player again, four cards the first time, three cards the second time. Ok? I hope that makes sense, because if you get it in the wrong order, you lose ten points. You can deal for Ramardo, if that's ok?

Willem: [struggles, but manages successfully to deal in the right order] Crip, it would be useful to know the aim of the game before getting to the details such as dealing...

Crip: Oh yes, of course. Well, quite simply, you are trying to get to 61 points.

Werner: Unless you're going for scheider, Sir.

Crip: Oh yes, of course, unless you're going for scheider, in which case you need 91 points. Now then, if you scheider, then you get double points.

Werner: Unless you declare it in advance, Sir.

Crip: Oh?

Werner: Yes, Sir, if you declare it in advance, it's worth triple.

Crip: It is? Oh, fair enough. Good job you're here, Werner! And then, Sir Willem, if you get schwartz, then it's worth triple. And in advance, Werner?

Werner: Five times, sir.

Crip: Five times, eh? Lovely. Ok.

Willem: But I thought it was 61 or 91, and 91 is not double 61.

Crip: Ah, no, not double the 61, double the unit score for the game.

Willem: And what's the unit score?

Crip: Well, it depends what game we're playing...

Willem: I thought we were playing Skat?

Crip: Ah, no, the version of the game, I mean to say. That is, either tournee, solo, grand, nullo, gucki or ramsch. Oh, and Werner, make sure I don't forget to explain about the Matadores...

Crip Grindle (Knight of Elroth)

The Pointy Swords Part 1

15 Oct 2007

[OOC: A bug prevents Falasan from looting Eston lands after winning the battle - because evading troops of the local lord Arturius are allowed to prevent looting]

Crip Grindle's men come to him in an annoyed mood, one of his men, Hurgle, bringing news to him.

Hurgle: Sir, we went out to loot but we can't - there's a dangerous-looking set of men guarding the entire region.

Crip: How many of them?

Hurgle: Nine, sir.

Crip: Nine? There are twenty-three of you!

Hurgle: They're awful big, sir. With pointy swords and everything.

Crip: [pointing at Hurgle's sword] Like these?

Hurgle: Yes, sir... but more... menacing, sir.

Crip: Ok, lead us to them, and we'll kill the lot! [grabbing his sword and heading out with his men]

Hurgle: They were right here, sir, protecting this building and these [points inside and grins] lovely ladies, sir.

Crip: Well, where are they now then?

Hurgle: [shrugs] Must be evading us, sir.

Crip: Ok, then go and loot! [stomps off to reclaim his half-finished glass of brandy]

Crip has just sat down and taken a sip, when Lerati, another of his men, comes in.

Crip: [a little peeved] What now?!

Lerati: Very sorry, sir, very sorry, but, well, they're back.

Crip: I can see you're back, Lerati, what do you want?

Lerati: No sir, erm, sorry sir, but well sir, it's Arturius again.

Crip: Who?

Lerati: Oh, sorry sir, Arturius - he and his men were hiding inside the building this time, and jumped out as soon as we entered, waving their pointy swords at us all.

Crip: So you killed them or brought them as prisoners? [raises eyebrow]

Lerati: Er, no sir, well, sorry sir, but they had the height advantage coming from the window ledge, and well, sorry sir, but we had to retreat.

Crip: For goodness... ok. Let's get them now then!

Lerati: Oh, thank you sir, very sorry sir, we'll get you a bottle of brandy when we get them, sir, sorry sir.

Crip and his men return to the area, but now there is no-one in sight. Crip swears under his breath, and orders his men to search the building - every building in sight - from head to toe. They can't find them anywhere.

Crip: [to the nearest of his men] You checked behind the curtains this time?

Prutu: Yes, sir.

Crip: And they weren't there?

Prutu: No, sir.

Crip: Nor upstairs?

Prutu: No, sir.

Crip: In the attic?

Prutu: No, sir.

Crip: You opened every door, checked every cupboard, looked through every archway, checked every room in every house?

Prutu: Yes, sir.

Crip: But you found nothing?

Prutu: No, sir.

Crip: Not even a bottle of brandy or two?

Prutu: Oh, I see, sir. Yes, sir. No men, sir. But a whole cellar of bottles. And a dresser full of jewels. And some beautiful young women.

Crip: And you just left them there?

Prutu: Yes, sir.

Crip: Even the brandy?!

Prutu: Yes, sir. All there, sir.

Crip: [raising his voice] Well go and get it!

Prutu: Yes, sir.

Prutu and the rest of the men hurriedly drop their swords and run for the building which contained all the wine. They push their way through the door. Five seconds pass, then they all come running out again. With no brandy.

Crip: What on earth is this?!

Lerati: Sorry, sir, but well, sir, but Arturius is in there, with all these pointy swords!

Crip: What?! You just checked in there!

Lerati: I think they were hiding, sir. Maybe in the privvy, sir, we didn't check the privvy.

Crip: Why the hell not?!

Lerati: Well, sir, sorry sir, but it does smell so. And, well, there was a little red rag on the door handle, so we thought it must be engaged.

Crip: [enraged] Damn it! I've had enough of this! Send message to Sir Crashem, and tell him we have nine men making a fortress out of whichever building we enter. And who are able to switch from fighting to hiding at the blink of an eye. And ask him if he can spare us a few men to help. If need be, we'll take the whole building down to find this Arturius.

Crip: And Lerati. Do Not under any circumstances use the phrase "pointy swords" in any communications. Make sure you tell that to the scribe.

Lerati: Yes, sir, certainly, sir, I shall, sir.

Crip storms off angrily back to the remains of his brandy, to find it missing, with a note left on the table saying "Thanks for the drink. Arturius." The table withstands the first of Crip's attacks on it, and breaks on the second kick.

Crip Grindle (Knight of Elroth)

The Pointy Swords Part 2

16 Oct 2007

[OOC: Arturius's troops no longer evade, but a new bug (two troop leaders arrive in the region just after the turn-change, miss the battle where they should have been beaten, but yet are in the region, preventing looting) prevents looting once again.]

Lerati, one of Crip's men, knocks on his door and is allowed to enter.

Lerati: Erm, sorry sir, but sir...

Crip: This had better not be to do with troops hiding in the privvy again.

Lerati: Well sir, no sir, but sort of yes sir, they're not in the privvy.

Crip: Get to the point please Lerati.

Lerati: There are two whole troops of men parading around Anost, and they fight us away if we try to loot.

Crip: How many Falasan troops do we have in Anost?

Lerati: Erm, I don't know sir, about six hundred?

Crip: And how many of these Eston troops?

Lerati: Thirty, sir. But they...

Crip: [banging his head on the desk] ...they have pointy swords?! Damn it, Lerati, if you can't attack a few miserable troops then you don't deserve to get anything from the place. Go and play cards or something.

Lerati nods, turns to go, and then thinks of something and turns back.

Lerati: Oh, and I forgot to mention all the undead as well. They're in Anost, with...

Crip: Pointy Swords?!

Lerati: [surprised] No sir! They're just creepy.

Crip watches Lerati leave, then looks down at his bottle of brandy. Three-quarters empty. He looks back to the door, shakes his head in disbelief, and carefully seals the bottle. Enough for today, perhaps.

Crip Grindle (Knight of Elroth)

A New Card Game

19 Oct 2007 (report to the realm)

I attempted to train the men today, but they spent so much time bickering over the Skat rules (again!), that they were just damaging their equipment without learning anything. So I decided to teach them One-and-Thirty[1]. It is considerably easier than Skat, and as a result of that, cohesion improved, my scribe tells me, by 5%, to 83%.

Crip Meets a Talerium Duke

25 Oct 2007

[Roleplay from Tan first]

After making sure that his wounded were treated well, the Duke of Ptaphoc glances over the battlefield, then sighed.

'Aye, a battle well fought. I just wish that we had fought someone else....'

Gesturing towards his captain, Tan says 'Accompany me and bring the sword...and no, there is no need for the guard to join us. The Falasani are honourable.' then starts to walk towards the Falasani encampment. Approaching it he salutes the guards, then enters the camp.

'Hail, Falasani! My compliments on a battle bravely fought - you held your line well in the face of a superior foe...those who fought shall be remembered with honour!

I now want to ask a boon of you - during the end of the battle my men faced Lord Crip...his unit was one of the last to hold the line. When his unit was shattered, one of his men covered their retreat. He did manage to hold me off long enough for his comrades to withdraw, thus avoiding capture. He fell, but his was a death to be coveted by any warrior.

I would thus like to know his name so it may be inscribed in stone into the walls of Ptaphoc - this way his memory will endure as one who was worthy.'

With this, Tan's captain steps forward, offering on a cushion of silk a plain blade freshly cleaned and sharpened.

'Here is his sword - it should be returned to his family with honour so his next in line may wield it with similar skill and courage.'

Sir Tan d'Serrai, Duke of Ptaphoc

- - - - -

Sir Crip hears mention of his name, and comes forward.

Crip: Thank you, Duke Tan, though you promote me with your words; I am but a Knight of Elroth, and Marquis Kido is the lord there.

Crip signals to his captain, Werner, who walks over to pick up the offered sword.

Crip: The man you mention was a fine soldier from Tucha, called Hurgle. I believe his family went by the name of Griffin, though he didn't seem that sure himself of is parentage. Duke Fatih will be able to find out, I'm sure. He has served with me for some time, and was always one of the strongest. But the battle we have just witnessed was, for certain, his greatest hour, and he will not be forgotten quickly.

Crip breaks off to ask Captain Werner to ask a scout to return the sword to Duke Fatih in Tucha, then turns back to the Duke.

Crip: You are the first man from Talerium I believe I have met, and you do it honour by your actions. I fear I cannot understand your choice of alliances, most especially Eston who have, so recently, run from us to leave their allies fighting us alone, or Vengeance of the Cagilan Empire, about whom I hear such terrible stories of deceipt from my cousin.

Crip: But that is your business, no? They are lucky to have a good ally. And we must make do with a worthy advisary. But I will see you again in battle, no doubt, to give you an opportunity to see the bravery of my men in victory instead of defeat.

Crip nods to the Duke, then turns to his scribe to dictate a quite note to be sent to Tucha with the sword.

Crip Grindle (Knight of Elroth)

Gaining a Loyal Servant in Anost

1 Nov 2007

Crip smiles as he looks around the fortifications of Anost, now full of Falasani troops. He nods in satisfaction, glad that Sir Crashem gave him the confidence to drag the siege engine all the way here. His men were tired from the effort, but glad that it helped them win another mighty battle in this long war.

As he stands there, he hears a scuffle in a small room in a nearby tower. He goes to it, sword drawn ready, and is surprised to find a teenage peasant boy, staring open-mouthed through the window.

Crip: Now, what are you doing here? Do you live nearby? Why are you in the fortifications?

Boy: [stammers, frightened, but still stares through the window] I... I live on the h-hill. [points to a nearby hillock]

Crip: You are no soldier... yet. Why are you here - you must go home, this is no place for infants! [calls to his captain to arrange removal of the peasant] And look at me when I speak to you!

Boy: [clearly sad to be losing his visual fix on whatever was outside the window] Yes, sir. But... i-is that Sir Loronzo? Sir Loronzo of the Mist?!

Crip: [looks to the skies, but nods and resigns himself to a smile] That is, indeed, Sir Loronzo. But he has no "Mist".

Boy: [a little more confidently] I have wanted to join Falasan ever since I heard about Loronzo of the Mist, from my Aunt Flaveria. Do you think he would let me join him?

Crip: You are young, and your place is with your family, boy. And besides, Loronzo tends to have something of a waiting list...

Boy: Since my parents died, my Aunt cares for me alone, and I long to leave to join Sir Loronzo - I would join you, sir, just to be in the same army as him...

Crip: [tired of the conversation] Well... ah, Werner, there you are. Sort this boy out - if his Aunt is as keen to be rid of him as he is to join us, then I could do with an extra pair of hands, as long as he doesn't eat too much. Either get rid of him, or get him doing something more useful than drooling over Loronzo.

And so, an hour and a half later, Crip finds himself with a new servant, Haragh, who spends the remainder of the evening taking forever to sharpen Werner's sword, while gazing across the fortifications looking for a glimpse of Loronzo of the Mist [Loronzo Grey].

Reviewing the Performance of Arturius in Battle in Anost

1 Nov 2007

Crip finds his captain after the battle.

Crip: Those men, the ones that came out of their fortifications and got destroyed in the first few minutes of battle - they got slaughtered so quickly by the cavalry, I didn't have time to see who was leading them.

Werner: [Trying to conceal a smirk] I believe that was Arturius [Entreri], Lord of Anost, sir.

Crip: Thought he'd best make up for last time, eh? Well, seems that the pointy swords don't frighten horses the same way they frighten infantry, but at least we got to see them in action! Did his survive the battle?

Werner: Wounded, sir.

Crip nods, shakes his head with a smile, and returns to check on his wounded.

Back in Amdor with a Young New Servant

6 Nov 2007

Crip arrives in Amdor, and sends a scout off to let Willem know he's arrived, just in case the good lord wants a game of Skat, or maybe just a drink. Meanwhile, he looks at his new recruits - the young lad Haragh, and five good men from Tucha that look as if they could eat three Haraghs for breakfast and still want more.

Haragh: [looks worried] Sir, sir!

Crip: Haragh, yes? I have a little time right now since we're waiting in Amdor, so what is it?

Haragh: We lost him!

Crip: Lost whom?

Haragh: [points to a patch of fog lying over the river towards Menedor] Where is he? Over there?

Crip: [less patiently] Who?

Haragh: Loronzo of the Mist - where is he?

Crip: [sighing] He's in Anost, Haragh. Yes. Anost. He's not with us at the moment. Maybe we'll meet up again soon, but not for a few days yet. Now forget about Sir Loronzo, and let's see if you're any good at sharpening swords.

Crip gets his captain to spend some time with the boy, sharpening the swords of the men, and the reports are that he has learnt well. "I suppose that means I'm going to want to keep him," muses Crip, "Which means I'm going to have to put up with this mist business for some time!"

Meanwhile Haragh spends the afternoon learning to create a sharp edge, but with the most crestfallen face captain Werner has ever seen.

The Pointy Swords Part 3

9 Nov 2007

Crip is happy enough as the sun sets. He is enjoying a discussion about the Warrior Saints, about battles with Eston, drinking much brandy and eating good food in good company.

He'd be happier still if his men had spent some time looting Meneriel, but once again, they'd come back complaining about pointy swords. From three men! Three men with pointy swords, and the whole army of over five hundred Falasani troops were scared to deal with them.

There was a curse going on, and he only hoped that the Way of the Warrior Saints could help provide an answer for him, as it troubled him deeply. He was sick of dealing with Lerati's pathetic explanations for why the whole troop couldn't deal with three troops, yet the rest of the Falasan army seemed to have the same problem.

However, for now, there was plenty of celebrating to be done, only interrupted for a brief moment when the nobles gathered there had to leave to deal with some random Eston militia who appeared from a nearby village.

A good day, that would have been a splendid day if it was not for those damnable pointy swords!

Haragh goes AWOL in Barad Gardor

12 Nov 2007

Crip: Haragh!

Crip calls out again, louder.

Crip: Haragh!!

No response. Crip calls on his captain.

Crip: Werner!

Again, no reponse. He calls again, very loudly.

Crip: Wern!!-oh!, there you are.

Werner: Sorry, sir, I was just in the middle of achieving a gucki nullo.

Crip: [more relaxed] And you managed it?

Werner: [modestly] Indeed, sir.

Crip: Well, a good twenty points for you there, then. Now...

Werner: Fifteen sir. Fifteen, not twenty, for gucki nullo.

Crip: Is it?

Werner nods

Crip: Oh, well, ok. [shakes his head quickly] Anyway, I want Haragh here to sharpen this sword and get me some food. Where is he?

Werner: Can't say I've seen him since the scout reports came in, sir.

Crip: Scout reports? Oh, they're in are they, for where?

Werner: Your own region, sir, Elroth.

Crip: Ah, of course, yes. Let me have a look at them then, how's the place doing?

Crip has a look through the report, then suddenly lets out a loud sigh.

Crip: [pointing to a line in the scout report] That's it, then. Damn his eyes, Haragh.

Werner looks to where Crip points. "GreyShadows | Loronzo | Falasan | < 5 Special Forces | 50 CS | moving out to Barad Gardor."

Crip: Send Lerati to fetch him - no, better still, send Yuji. Yuji can pick him up and carry him back if need be. And be quick - we have orders to move to Amdor, and I intend to be on the road out of here before Sir Loronzo arrives - or I may never get this sword sharpened.

Werner leaves, to instruct Yugi to head for the road that connects Elroth with the capital. Sure enough, Yuji finds the boy sitting on a gentle hill on the south-west corner of Barad Gardor staring west intently. After the briefest of conversations - more a monologue from Haragh about some Mist - Yuji picks him up, ignoring the kicking legs, and manhandles him back towards Sir Crip.

Haragh Finally Gets a Chance to Meet Loronzo of the Mist

15 Nov 2007

Crip arrives in Barad Falas, and within only a few moments, Haragh is nowhere to be seen.

Crip: Let him go, Werner, I don't need him for now. Just make sure he's back here before we go. If need be, send this to Sir Loronzo.

Crip hands Werner a letter:

-----

Sir Loronzo,

When either of us leave Barad Falas, please ensure that my servant Haragh is back with me - I suspect he may have found his way to your camp during our time here, but I do need him back at some point. I don't doubt he will make himself known to you.

Crip Grindle (Knight of Elroth)

-----

With that, he leaves to spend a few hours taking in the many sights of the impressive Barad Falas.

Peace Time

Free Time

24 Nov 2007

Unit report for the current climate.

Crip Grindle

Skat Ability: 6

One-and-Thirty Ability: 10

Top Finish: Semi-final

Status: Advanced

Captain Werner (+5)

Skat Ability: 10

One-and-Thirty Ability: 8

Top Finish: Champion

Status: Expert

~=B.A=~ The Bridge

Strength: 22 men

Skat Training: 81 %

Cohesion: 98%

Average Skat Ability: 5

Designation: free time

Last paid: 5 days ago

Last tournament: today

Best schneider by: Prutu

Most improved: Warit

I am currently in Barad Falas with 7 Packs of Cards, 1 Dice, 2 Sets of Rules.

A Spiritual Moment

28 Nov 2007

Crip was sitting in Barad Falas. It had been a surprisingly tiring day. Although he had had nothing official to do, his men had organised a Skat tournament. He had played at a table with other nobles, while his men had played in the outbuildings. He'd lost a few gold pieces to one of the other nobles, and then he'd got a bit of a stomach ache. He wondered if it was related to the iron filings in his diet. He had heard a scout report that armies were on the way and a battle was imminent, but it had turned out to be incorrect information from a young, inexperienced scout. By then, though, he had taken the Carnifex Templar Maladek Arn's advice, and added iron filings to the afternoon meal. Now he and two of his men were experiencing discomfort, and he suspected it might have been more but for a number of his men who he believed had removed the additive.

He went to collect his horse, deciding to try to ride off his illness. Heading out from the walls of Barad Falas, he rode gently towards Galadia. The mighty mountains rose up in front of him: massive towers of stone, perhaps like those under which the sleeping father slept. His stomach still ached, but he was glad of the solitude, so tethered his horse and sat down to gaze at the mountain view.

He sat there for some time, and dusk fell as he thought about the Way. He knew that the iron filings were doing him good - why else would it cause so much discomfort? - and none of his men had had any delusions today so it must be working. As he rested back against a mound of bracken, he looked back up at the huge mountains of Galadia, closed his eyes, and wished he was back in Elroth with his family. It had been too long - he'd not even realised that they had hosted the priest, let alone whether they were in good health.

He was only half-awake... or was it half-asleep... or completely asleep but half dreaming of being awake... he wasn't sure, and the pain in his belly had worsened, when he became aware of something. A female voice. His mother? No, too strong, too confident. Lie back and sleep, rest, he knew he had to rest, so lie back and give the stomach time to recover. Libeck. Was that her name? It was her that was talking, telling him of his loyalty to his family, that he should spend time with them, replenish his strength with a visit home. His family would support him well but only if he supported them. Was loyalty not one of the greatest of virtues? Loyalty to his family was important. He knew that, but for now he must sleep.

A couple of hours later, Crip awoke, with a stiff neck, but a happier belly. The pain had mostly subsided, and he thought - no, he was quite sure - that it had done him good and he was a little more courageous now. He slowly rose, accustomed himself to the dim light, mounted his horse, and rode back to the pleasant dinner awaiting him in Barad Falas.

The Story of Laybeck, Warrior Saint of the Sword

28 Nov 2007

Crip is in Barad Falas, recounting the story of his experience to Sir Friedroch, when a middle-aged man comes over to them.

Man: I know of whom you speak, may I sit with you, good sirs?

Friedroch: What do you know of this?

Man: I am Jirgen Ghrabi, from Melias originally, but I made Barad Falas my home many years ago. You spoke of a Laybek?

Crip: I think that was her name, it was all so, so confused.

Jirgen: I think you must have met Laybeck. Laybeck of the Sword. It was while I was a child that I first heard her story.

Crip: [with uncertainty] She was... she did not mention swords, just loyalty and family.

Jirgen: [pauses for a second in thought, then nods] Ah, she was also known for the loyalty to her family - I must tell you the story.

Laybeck was the most beautiful daughter of Sir, erm, Sir Oundem of Amriel. She should have been married to Lord Byrd, but she turned her back on that life for one of battle and adventure. She roamed the eastern lands of Atamara, fighting monsters and killing dozens. She made a name for herself as a fierce warrior.

She always carried the same sword - one with a ruby on the hilt, and a blade sharp enough to slice a tree in two. You might have noticed the ruby when you saw her, sir?

Crip: Erm, well... hmm, I think so, well, did I even see her?, but yes, there might have been a ruby.

Jirgen: Quite certainly there would have been, sir, for she carries no other weapon.

Laybeck was a master with swords. Her sword was the sharpest and best-balanced, and it was she that helped to design it in a blacksmith's in Shanandoah. With that sword she killed a thousand beasts, so it was told.

Ten years she spent, roaming the east coast, ridding it of monster threats, and gaining swordsmanship at every turn. There was no match for her, and along the way she had companions, to whom she taught swordsmanship and for whom she helped create the finest blades. Those companions were truly loyal to her in their time spent together, and she to them.

After a decade, she heard word of a terrible situation. Her family in Amriel were under threat from evil beasts from the Elost mountains. They had come down from the heights and were ravaging Amriel. She had not been close to her family, but she knew she must return, for loyalty was strong within her. On arrival in Amriel and her family's estate, she found her family safe but terrified of the unknown beasts in the region. She stayed with them each night to protect them.

On the third night, the attack came. Giant evil beasts came forth from the mountains, and appeared on her family's estate. She saw them coming, and hurried to protect her family. Her sword slid gracefully through one of the beasts, then another, and soon there were a collection of dead hairy bodies surrounding her. But then a far more giant beast appeared. It put the other beasts in its shadow, such was its height and strength. Laybeck had two choices. She could run, save herself, or stay and fight the giant monster. If she fled, as she would surely have been right to do had she been on her own, she would been able to take cover in the trees and survive. But she knew that by doing so she would leave her family to the beasts, and that she could not do.

She took her sword and ran headlong into the prime beast. Her only option was to take it by surprise. Before it had noticed her, she had run into it, and her sword was slicing easily through its abdomen. But then, as she knew it must, it took her in its hands and crushed her. She lived just long enough to witness the beast falling dead onto its back - still clutching her broken ribs.

The sword was never recovered. Some say it was taken by the remaining beasts and acts as a reminder to them never to attack us again. Others say that her father retrieved it, but it was lost along the long stretch of time between then and now.

Whatever the outcome, know this: that Laybeck was the epitome of loyalty, and died for her family with her mighty sword still in her hand.

Jirgen finishes, but remains sitting expectantly.

Crip: [clearly taken by the story] And Laybeck - she became a Warrior Saint?

Jirgen: [nodding in agreement and looking thoughtful before replying] Yes, a ... yes, she became the Warrior Saint. Laybeck, Warrior Saint of the Sword! Oh, and of family and loyalty too, of course, sir.

Crip: [nodding, and giving Jirgen the couple of gold coins he was clearly angling for after parting with such information] It must have been her - Friedroch, I have met Laybeck, Warrior Saint of the Sword. And! Just think, perhaps that is why only so recently I have had blessings with finding Haragh, who creates such a fine blade for me!

The Disappearance of Duke Tank and Lady Ilya

10 Feb 08

Kruthi: It is, I tell you, it's the lack of blood.

Yugi: You think so? I can see to that if you need me to [gives a look to Prutu, who grins back with a mock-menacing look]

Kruthi: It's no conincidence that both Duke Tank and Lady Ilya were taken from regions near hills and mountains. The God of Earth and Stone has vanished them away!

Lerati: Terribly sorry to interupt, but almost every region is near hills or mountains. And how do you vanish someone?

Kruthi: How should I know? Do I look like a God?

Lerati: Well, no, sorry. But I still don't believe it. There will be a normal explanation. Probably just an illness.

Kruthi: What do you think, Prutu?

Prutu: God.

Kruthi smiles to Lerati, who shakes his head and almost walks into Sir Crip, as he enters the room.

Lerati: Oh, sorry sir, hello sir, I was just...

Crip: Yes, Lerati, so you were. Now what is all this commotion about?

Kruthi: The disapparance of Duke Tank and Lady Ilya, sir. What else could be more important a topic?

Crip: Your training, perhaps? We must trust that news of Duke Tank and Lady Ilya's safety will come before long. And in the meantime, I suggest that you pray to Saint Isa, that she might help find them if they are in difficulty. Now stop this gossiping, and get your weapons repaired ready for afternoon training. Go!