Turn 52 -- Resolution and Planning

Sneering, Kre takes out his dagger and begins cleaning it, "First of all, 'kid', I may be young, but I was forced to become an 'adventurer' due to extreme cases. You have the change of living comfortably and wielding power handed down from your family. If you don't need to run from anything, then don't! Because it'll end up so that you'll never stop running. Even now, I search for my father, so that I might be able to see him one last time and perhaps, make amends, else..." he tosses his dagger in the air, letting it land between him and the boy with a solid 'thunk'.

"Talimar, if you would like, I will go closer and examine the keep more closely, maybe from the inside if all goes well, else I'll just scout the area for the night if we are going to wait."

Beleg's face becomes red as Lyntern begins his tirade. As the boy continues, Beleg's irritation becomes more apparent. As the boy completes his speech, Beleg walks to him. "First of all, I am aware of no bargain made with you. But that is minor compared to the foul twisted words you speak to us. You speak of honour, yet you listen at keyholes. You listen at keyholes yet you say you have not been forbidden to join us by your father. How is it that you claim to be aware of all our conversation and yet you know nothing of your father's words to me about you. Are you saying that you know your father doesn't wish you to take this road, but since he has not given you a specific command, you may do as you wish.?"

Beleg inches closer to Lyntern, his face only a few inches from the lad as he continues, "The road to the Nine Hells is paved by those who use such justification to achieve their ends. You do as you wish, Lord Lyntern."

Beleg says this last with a bow, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "But know this, if you question my honour again, you will make a public apology or face me in single combat!" Beleg stares into Lyntern's eyes for a second, then turns his back and walks away.

Lyntern's face goes red as Beleg speaks to him and threatens him. Waiting for the warrior to finish, he steps up to his face as well, "Know one thing here, Master Beleg. I do not fear you. I respect you as a warrior but I will never fear you. You claim to have spent time at court so you should know the intricacies of court life and that I do not have to spend time listening at keyholes to get the information that I want. There are plenty around who can provide that information to the count's son."

"As far as my father as concerned, I do not have any knowledge of any conversations that he might have had with you, and yes, therefore I am not responsible for anything that he might have said during those conversations. All I can speak of is that no, he did not command me not to seek out your company. I was merely guessing that he would have objected to my being here without an armed guard."

Going after Beleg, Kersath stops him and says, "No need to get into that kind of situation! Can't you see what's happening? The boy is young, yet he has already shown some talent in fighting, he has more than average intelligence, he has shown that by following us here, which isn't a small feat to do. And there's one more very important point here, the boy seems to really believe in his actions. The boy believes that he has the right to claim back his family's mansion, he believes that we did not fulfil our end of the bargain. I think his actions are no less honourable than any of us can claim, and if you wish to pick at the little things such as the fact that he listens at keyholes...then, my friend, that means that none of us have the right to travel with you, the most honourable man alive!"

Starting to get excited, he takes a deep breath before continuing, "If Lyntern believes in his right to reclaim his family's lost possession, you have no right claiming that listening at keyholes and disobeying your father's orders, be he king of the world or a lowly peasant is that dishonourable. He stands for his beliefs, and in my opinion, that's as honourable as you get."

Moving over to Lyntern, Kersath takes out his short sword from his backpack and hands it over to him saying, "Here, boy. Consider this your first real weapon. Don't be too excited about using it, though. Try to concentrate your blows rather than wave it around like a fly-swatter and you'd better stay close to one of us, just in case, you know."

Lyntern looks at the weapon offered to him and with a nod of his head to Kersath takes the handle of it. He then puts it into his belt.

Beleg shakes his head wearily as Kersath speaks, "Either I am doing a poor job of explaining myself, or my codes are completely foreign to you. A person is not obligated to follow their parents commands simply because their parents command them. They must be just and benevolent orders. Are you saying that there was injustice in the Count's command to his son, or that some great wrong will occur if Lyntern were to follow his father's wishes? If the lad is here to reclaim his family property, why is it only now that he makes this case. I submit that this was not his motivation and that he grasps it now as an excuse and justification for disobeying his father."

"As to listening at keyholes, the point I was trying to make was that he seemed to have a selective memory regarding overheard conversations." Beleg pauses, looking from Kersath to the rest of the company. "The deed is done and there is nothing that anyone can do about that. However, I cannot meekly accept his presence without making known my feelings on the subject. While I am doing so, there is something else I must say. It is becoming clear to me that my opinions, beliefs, and perhaps even my presence, are not easily accepted by this company. I cannot and will not change who I am and what I believe. When we find ourselves back in a civilised area, I will give you all some private time to discuss whether you would prefer that I divorce myself from the company. Until then, let us continue to act harmoniously and deal with the problem at hand."

"Well, I think this young man's choice is clear to even the most stubborn of us" says Ortho from across the group. "He does show some spunk, doesn't he? Lyntern, I will gladly have you at my side in battle."

Rasmussen then speaks up to the group, "I think this is a perfect example of why the Red Feather Company is so formidable. We all have different beliefs, talents and convictions. If we were all the same and always agreed we would be probably dead by now." He turns toward Beleg then, "You are not the first person here to disagree with the discussions that the group makes. Compromising is the only answer. Of course, if something conflicts your basic beliefs and convictions you must, like you have done, express those and we must find a solution that is suitable. Our companies basic desire to defeat evil and help humanity is honourable and I don't think you can deny that. To leave this group would only disrupt and possibly the potential we have." He urgently looks at Beleg once again, "We need you with us both for your strength but also to keep some of us in line." He winks at Kre and looks to Beleg to catch even a glimpse of a smile, "You could cut the tension here with a knife and I think we need to resolve this quickly, is there a compromise that would allow you to just accept the wishes of the prince and not compromise your beliefs?"

Before Beleg can answer the young halfling, Randor walks over and places his arm around Beleg and Lyntern, "Lyntern, you have earned my respect, but you are still somewhat at fault. You could have said all this earlier instead of waiting all this time. Still you are brave. Part of the reason we don't want to take you is because we do not want to see you get hurt." After starting to walk away again, Randor quickly spins around and says, "Wait, did you say 'controlled by bandits AGAIN?' What do you mean again? You obviously know more about the history of this keep than us. Is there anything else you could tell us about this keep that might help us?" Randor gives Lyntern the evil eyes as he awaits an answer.

Lyntern meets Randor's stern look and then speaks up, "I have told you all I know of the history of the keep. It was overrun by some evil force during my great great grandfather's time and was an outpost for evil for a period of time before he sent men to purge it. That is all I mean by 'again'."

Moving over to face Beleg once again, Lyntern peers up at him, "Sir knight, as I mentioned earlier, I am not privy to any conversations between you and my father, only to those that the other group had about the little adventure for me. If I have disobeyed some spoken view of my father about following you all then when I return to the keep, I will apologise to him and offer myself up for whatever punishment he deems necessary. But until then, I am firmly set on doing whatever I can to win back my family's honour and possessions here. And I did make this view known to this group when I first spoke of the keep."

Looking sourly at Lyntern, Talimar shakes his head and speaks to the party, "Well, it seems we have two choices here. Either take the boy back to his father, risking the continued depredation's of the kidnappers, or allow him to come with us. Needing us to look out for his inexperience and possibly ending up with him dead. As much as some of us would like to, we can't just gag him and tie him up to a tree while we enter the keep," Talimar shares a slight grin with Kersath at this suggestion. "However, we could all be slain inside, or they may come upon the boy escaping. They are probably watching us right now."

Talimar sighs and turns to Beleg, "As much as I would like to take the boy back to his father and see him punished, I don't think we can spare the time. We must enter the keep now while we have a chance to save the kidnapped victims from their fates. Let the boy accompany us, but he must pull his weight and take care of himself. His life will be in his own hands. He has chosen this course of action, and must live with it."

"That is all I ever asked for," says Lyntern softly.

Beleg nods to Talimar, "Very well," he says, strapping on his shield and setting his great helm firmly on his head, "What is the plan?"

Druckner waits for the debate to resolve itself and addresses Lyntern, "Well, I've got t' say ye've got spunk for a giant. Welcome! But bear in mind boy, ye might be a count's son but if ye endanger us by yer rashness I'll personally whip yer behind. Take Kersath's sword and stick with Gnore, he'll show ye a thing or two."

Druckner then turns to the rest of the group, "Now, let's make some plans! I suggest that someone make a diversion while Kre, Ras and I scout the keep from close in, and hopefully we might get a chance to scale the walls. Once we're inside, we would have the option of quickly scouting and returning the way we came, or if the keep is lightly guarded, we could open the gate from inside."

"When you go scouting look to see if there are thatched buildings inside. If there are, I have just the distraction." Dain grins gleefully at this.

"As I said before, I will watch after the boy. He is my responsibility as it was I who proposed that we give him an adventure. It is a matter of giving him my word indirectly. I will guard him!" Gnore says more forcefully as the tension in the group shows signs of effecting the dwarf.

"Fine then," says Talimar, "That issue is settled. Now for our plan of attack...."