Chapter 4.2: The Dim Journey to Orlane

... Hells Caster ...Tired Morton keeps his face straight as he turns to look Dell in the eye, "I don't care to bring a down upon the evening. What is left of it. I fear you may not see brother Chase again. He and others entered that evil temple and have not return as far as I know. And I don't believe they will return."

And he adds with a sadden face as he looks to those present, "From what I have witnessed here tonight, this party lacks the strength needed to re-enter the evil temple in order to search for the lost ones." He knows that is what they wanted to do. Another folly.

Demonic Morton isn't that hungry but he needs to rest and regain his strength as his chest still burns. "Let us speak more of this in the morning." It doesn't take a genesis to note that speaking Morton is not in great shape, the more you see him, he can't hide how badly he feels.

"A room please. I have wounds to attend to before I suffer rations." You can see what Sir Morton expects. He looks to bandit Fern and says, "If care to help me with wounds, I shall see what I may do for yours." as he notes bandit Fern is wounded. He feels the bandits most likely haven't received the best of care.

He adds on. "In the morning there is time for more stories." He hasn't heard yet what has happened here and why there are bandits. He hopes bandit Fern will be more talkative about what she knows. He had kept his pledge of protection as his word shows good. And he had given it with nothing in return. He thinks Sir Morton would make a fine Embassy.

Dell nods wondering if Morton is telling the truth. Has he seen or met Chase? Everyone except those really close to the brothers can't tell them apart. There was no recognition in his eyes. He will keep this to himself and keep his eye on this one.

Sora exhales, the effort hurting her more than she cares to admit. It was painful, but at least she was alive. But to what end? This newcomer seemed to know what he was talking about, and she did not relish facing zombies again. They would need to burn the bodies quickly.

Berthold observed Sir Morton flatly. He let the elf finish speaking, though he felt his stomach clenching and cold perspiration forming on his back. "So you were with them... and left?" he asked, still scrutinizing the newcomer intently. "Why? Did you see them be defeated? Did you flee to save yourself?". Though it was obvious the elf wanted to defer further discussion to the morning, Berthold's noble upbringing had him displaying indifference to the elf's wants. "That would be portentous and disheartening information, if true. Now we were told to suspect anyone coming from Orlane, for there seems to be some kind of cult that has people's minds turned against their own good. You ask for our hospitality this night and we are almost ready to offer it, but we must make sure you can be trusted, Sir Morton," the young man's insistence on using the title betrayed some resentment, or at least suspicion.

Seeing also how the newcomer seemed to be under the impression that he was the protector of the two women, the knight added. "These two are our captives. We set them free so they would not be defenseless before the shambling dead. But they are not free yet: their band took this farmstead and its livestock for themselves, and preyed upon travelers on the nearby road. You are lucky, Sir Morton, that we had unarmed them before you came to this house. You'd most likely had been robbed and then killed by these two or the rest of their band."

... Hells Caster ...Sir Morton responds to Berthold, "Your words are harsh and full of unwarranted suspicions. Lady Cecily Raptor herself sent me to Olpert Razorsson for that mission. You will find no higher regard in Dungeon Busters. So, if you are finding fault with me then I would suggest you take it up Lady Cecily Raptor. I do not wish to hear such."

He looks to bandits Fern & Ede. "Sorry to see you caught these bandits taking this farmstead & livestock. I'm unaware of who's farmstead this is that we are barrowing for protection against the zombies."

Back to Berthold, "It is considered honorable to aid the defenseless. The point that they are bandits mattered not. At the time that I pledge protection, both were going to die by the zombies. There is no folly there. The only folly was that the situation occurred."

Pondering the thought about where the owners & this livestock is, "Where is the owner & this livestock now?" Sir Morton can see that all this hash is going to delay his needed rest.




working

Dell will look at Berthold"Well said Berthold." He will then look back to the elf"As you see Mistress Raptor and Master Razorson are not here to vouch for you. I left my dagger behind for these two so the would have a chance. Their fellows attacked us on the road and we have not set them free yet." He will again look a the two bandits with his hand out"My dagger please. I will not ask again. You will not be armed while you are here."

... Hells Caster ... Sir Morton sharply responds back to Dell, "Your dagger left wasn't enough to save the two from the zombies. Why didn't you do more? Or did you think that their death was deserved."

"I heard only a call for Sara."

Hand going to the hilt of his rapier"Watch your tone bub! I lead the deadheads away into the dim to keep those two safe. I told them to help Sora and go to the loft. Sora and I did enough damage to the zombie to kill at least four men and it kept coming. It if wasn't for me those two would be dead!"

"We did do more," Sora says harshly, interjecting herself into the conversation. "They were tied up in the barn. We risked our lives to free them and protect them." She sighs heavily at the effort this has cost her.

... Hells Caster ... To Dell, "And in the same sentence you further agree with Baronet Berthold and contrary to Lady Cecily Raptor or Olpert Razorsson actions. Did they not hire both of you? And your threating to draw arms."

More to Dell, "Well that you drove the zombies way. They shouldn't been there in the first place. And surely a call for their aid was needed as well. They were defenseless when I heard a call for Sara. And they would have died in the loft no less."

Looking to Sara, "They shouldn't have been bonded and left in barn. That is a death sentence. Zombies attack nightly in the Dim Forest."

What now? thinks Amnestria, hearing the distinct tone of an argument coming from below. She leaves Grallaria in the bedroom to her sparse snack and steps out to the second floor landing, looking down the stairs to gauge the atmosphere.

She immediately recognizes the noble dialect of Berthold, but it takes her a longer moment to place Dell as she had never heard the man speak in anger before. The third voice is one she has never heard before, and Amnestria can only surmise it is the stranger viewed through Grallaria's eyes.

Having not heard the details of the downstairs conversation prior to the rise in volume, Amnestria considers who this stranger might be. The bandit prisoners followed them as though they were familiar with each other, so perhaps the stranger is one of Black's allies, if not Black himself? She knows they were talking a lot and waving their arms during the battle, but between relaying information to Berthold's retainers and picking out more-important details in the yard outside, Amnestria didn't really pay attention to what anybody was saying.

She will spend a moment at the second floor landing and continue to listen.

"We didn't know that zombie attacks were so common around here. They and their fellows tried to kill us! Would you have invited them in to tea?" Sora quipped, feeling fiesty now.

"They were tied up because they are bandits. We are not going to leave bandits loose to try and kill us in the night. If they would have listened they would have been fine but they are bandits and not to be trusted that is why they were fleeing. You have no idea what you are even talking about. You show up in the middle of the encounter. For all we know you are in league with them. Maybe you are their leader. Anyone can throw a couple of names they have heard around. Our group knows who we and they are. No one knows you bub. You should tread more lightly instead of thinking you command here which you don't and you have know say."

... Hells Caster ... Sir Morton says flatly, "They should have been under watch in the farmhouse. Not left bonded in the barn to die."

Looking hard to Dell, "You threaten armed assault and accuse me being in league with these bandits? Who is the Dragon Buster hiring nowadays? Did they not tell you the names of who you were looking for?"

Glancing to the others present, "Do all agree that armed attack is warranted. And these actions are worthy of Dungeon Busters."

"With all due respect," Sora says, her words dripping with venom. "You were not here when they attacked us. We could not benefit from your obviously learned wisdom. Perhaps you would like to guard them? If so, I release them to your charge. Mayhap when you find a dagger in your back, you will realize that we were right to do what we did."

... Hells Caster ...Looking to Sara, "Just because you made a folly doesn't mean I need to take responsibility for them. I offered my pledge of protection by honor and it is concluded."

Looking to Fern, "Just the same, my statement dealing with wounds stands."

Amnestria descends the staircase to the first floor. "What's with all the shouting?" she begins, knowing full well that her interruption will likely turn all aggression upon her, but perhaps that is preferable instead of the continued verbal barbs. And she will at least get a visual confirmation of everybody's condition.

"I know everybody's tired and hurt," she says, "but you're all talking over each other instead of listening, and that won't help anybody. So start from the beginning, and speak calmly. We ask one question and get one answer, and the stranger gets a turn. We continue that way until we're all satisfied, then we figure out the rest of the evening."

Amnestria looks to each person in turn, seeking either their acknowledgement or their disagreement.

Dell will take his dagger back then look to Morton"Her name is not Sara it is Sora and it is Dungeon Buster not Dragon. You make yourself look worse every time you open your mouth."Dell will shake his head. He will look to Berthold and Antonious and shrug."You deal with this double talker. I am done with him but my eyes will be on him at all times."

Sora looks cowed by Amnestria's outburst, but shoots Morton a dirty look. She starts to protest, but sees Amnestria's face and decides better of it.