A day or two down the road to the Greyfax estate, as the Crimson Calling has just finished setting up camp and is starting their evening chores, a lone man approaches leading a horse.
The man is wearing a heavy winter cloak, and a simple undyed tabard. Under the cloak and tabard, the observant make out dark-red, almost black chain mail and the hilt of odd shaped, dark-handled sword. It reminds those that remember of the blade Ethelred called “Bushwacker,” but longer.
The man raises his arms confidently in the universal gesture of peace,
“Hail, I am Rask Felmar, of Thater that Was. You must be the Crimson Calling.” He calls out confidently.
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Alexis gives a quick look to the woods around them in case there are others obviously around them as well. Not seeing anyone else, he greets the newcomer.
“Welcome to our small, hidden fire, friend. Pardon my bluntness, I don’t mean to be rude, but how did you find us? And are there more with you?”
Rask pulls back the hood of his cloak and smiles ever so slightly in appreciation of Alexis directness. His hair is unkempt, ragged and about three months grown out from a soldiers short cut, his beard too appears to be three months or so worth of uncut and unshaven growth.
“I am alone.” His smile fades, grief and loss momentarily cloud his visage.
“Our shared enemy,” He makes a gesture with his left hand, “Told me you would be in the area, and…”
He considers for a moment, and appears to be more confused that weighing his words. He shrugs.
“it felt right to look for you here.”
He gestures to the hidden campsite, but also his path from the road. His eyes settle on Gustav and he appears to be slightly… calmer? Truly relieved?
“May I sit with you?”
Alexis looks back and forth between Gustav and the newcomer. Waiting for Gustav to answer the question directed at him.
Gustav smiles at Alexis and then the newcomer and then slowly pulls his dagger out of his backpack. He points the blade of the dagger downward.
The crow on Gustav’s shoulder caws menacingly at the newcomer.
“Sure friend, take a seat”
As the newcomer sits, Gustav looks around and listens for more of the newcomers team nearby.
Rask smiles approvingly, ties his horse off to a nearby tree, and sits next to Gustav. Throughout the process his hands never get anywhere near the hilt of his sword.
He settles in with his palms facing up.
“Let us continue to be… direct: I would like to join you in your fight against the Dark Hand. I have heard that you killed the three armed giant, and that you returned Vergram to his people unharmed. Like you, I have chosen to ignore the wishes of the Aegierian army. ”
“What questions to you have for me?”
Ethelred start to speak and Alexis gives him a sharp looks and he only says…
“What do you care about the Dark Hand?”
Then smiles to himself that the self restraint he had.
A grim, steel resolve forms on the Aegierian warriors face.
“They took people from Thater when it was destroyed.”
Alexis is clearly interested.
“How did it happen? Do you know much about how their slaving operation works? We have only attacked their treasure hunting operation so far. We learned precious little from their attack on the Greyfax estate, however long ago that was.”
Rask ponders for a moment, just long enough to order his thoughts.
“I don’t know how exactly it happened. I wasn’t there.
“They came after Thater was sacked by Barra’s forces, and took many of the survivors. Not all, some managed to get to the Copper Hills Fort, a few more ended up with the Army that was laying siege to the Rebels at Middlebaar, now they are likely all at the Copper Hills fort.”
That steely look boils up again. Rage, hardened and honed.
“But none from my family.”
Rask relaxes a bit.
“I know very little about their slaving operation, but I have heard that it is rare for those taken by the Dark Hand to be seen again, even in places where slavery still… occurs. They work with non-humans. Gnolls? Gnomes? Orcs? I have heard the name “Bandasingh…”
Rask shrugs, and his face begins to calm.
“They undermine the strength of Humanity and our fight against the Horde. They’ve been around long enough to have kidnapped Aedelfried’s bride before…
He looks at Alexis for a moment, the Sutheroni is older than he… looks? Should be?
“Before I was born.”
“I had not heard of their attack on the Greyfax estate, was that not goblins and orcs led by Barra as was Thater? Did the Dark Hand follow there as well? Lord Greyfax may truly be cursed…”
Rask is starting to look grounded, even calm and relaxed.
“How do you know it was the Dark Hand?”
Rask looks confused,
“Everyone says the Dark Hand abducted the Bride That Was Queen…”
He starts to shrug.
Rask’s face becomes truly grim. Determined. Deadly. Resolute.
“Thater. The reports said it when it happened, and my recent acquaintance confirmed that the Dark Hand captured and enslaved refugees in Thater and other places on heels of Barra’s attacks.”
He pauses for a meoment and stretches his neck a little.
“Slavers are scum, and the Dark Hand makes Aegier weak. I know I probably wont ever find my family, but I will make the Dark Hand pay for all their crimes.”
Determined. Deadly. Resolute. Relaxed.
Rask smiles open, kind and happy. Releived to be with comrades.
“You said our shared enemy told you we would be in the area. What can you tell us about the our shared enemy that you’ve spoken with? We have converted one away from the Hand. Have you also been making conversions?”
Rask looks grim.
“No conversions. I may be… acting in the absence of orders, but I’m still a soldier, he was a traitor to Aegier and humanity.”
“Still, I admire that you made the effort and were successful.”
Rask looks a little hopeful, and a little sad. Tired perhaps. It somehow gets Ethelred thinking about the Priest under the Upper Bailey.
“So where did you encounter your ‘informants’? Perhaps it’s someplace that could give us some clues and direction.”
Rask slips into the cadence and affect of a and soldier reporting in.
“I headed south towards Greyfax off reports at the East Pass fort that Dark Hand activity had been reported there on numerous occasions.
“When getting close to the area I came across a ‘soldier’ attempting to make speed towards the Greyfax estate from the copper hills area. He was none to pleased to see me and was lying up a storm about why he was out here all alone, while getting ready to stab me when I wasn’t expecting it.”
“After some… convincing conversation I discovered Faolin was a Dark Hand agent. He was initially terrified that I was part of the “Crimson Calling.”
“Apparently he was headed to share information with his allies about you. Something about reclaiming a sword of power. He eventually told me a lot of stories about your group, and that you were headed this way.”
Rask shrugs, he demeanor shifts a little, back to a more causal affect.
“Clearly you are enemies of the Dark Hand.”
He looks hopefully at Alexis, Gustav, and Ethelred.
“I hadn’t thought of allies, and it seemed like it would be worth a try.”
“Where is your other ‘Sutheroni?’ How did he survive being drug off by the giant after Shyeeni shot him in the back?”
Rask’s voice is a little louder, but kind and gentle, as if inviting someone hiding to show themselves.
“So there is regular to-and-fro from the fort to the estate. That makes sense. Presents some options for our usual long-term strategies.”
“What happened to Faolin?”
Rask looks confused, the answer is obvious isn’t it?
“Foalin is dead.”
“Ah. And how do you feel about the Raidensblud? The trusted guard of king Aedelfred?”
“The Kings Dogs, heh.” Rask snorts a bit of competitive solider spirit. A bit of begrudging respect.
“Their duty seems to extend far from their King and they throw their weight around… But they are dedicated. Their priests make me nervous to be honest. Best to avoid them… As warriors, they are well trained and fierce…”
Rask looks a bit sad briefly.
Alexis seems happy at Rask’s answer.
“We’ve had some friction with the Red Cloaks ourselves.”