eachdraidh | Video; Seelie-locked

[Poised on a stretch of snow-capped cliffs looking over Cothromach's strong-hold on one side, Cu Chulainn posted on his locket and gave it a wide grin. His spear was resting over his shoulder and he looked absolutely unbothered by the razor-sharp, freezing winds lashing at him. In the far distance, a plume of black smoke rose up from a camp that he had recently razed and destroyed. Lancer made his distance earlier, to avoid being scouted too easily]

Hey there. It's come to my attention that we've got some unwelcome Unseelie soldiers sticking around Cothromach. I think they figured their camps were pretty well-disguised, but after awhile--it gets tough to hide that many soldiers. So--

[With a grin, he stood up straight and began walking up the cliff-face, scaling the mountain on foot. At that point, the mangled and burning Unseelie camp could be seen more clearly in the opposite direction as Cothromach. The mountain face gave Lancer an eagle's view of that camp, though it was largely too difficult for most people to scale as quickly as he had.]

I'm usually the type to hog the glory, but I'm missing a few of my precious abilities, so I'll need some help rooting those folks out and running them out of these lands. Who's in for some raids?

[OOC: Plot planning is here!]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[ she is currently in the midst of delicate diplomatic talks to have those same unseelie soldiers stood down. and yet -- and yet! ]

Any good you can do the city of Cothromach will be rewarded, ser.

[ so speaks its lady keeper. ]

City? [Admittedly, he hadn't even really gone into the city at all. He figured it was just a stronghold, likely just filled with soldiers.

A city he'd probably begin recruiting from, at least.]

Were there that many people there?

It's below the ground. [ soft. thoughtful. and distant. ] Men and elves and dwarves live there. Its halls are beautiful.

Well, that'll explain that. [Dwarves, though. He's seen plenty of phantasmal folks, but never dwarves.

So, he'd definitely take a gander.]

You can call me 'Lancer', by the way. No 'sir' or anythin' like that.

[ one name deserves another: ] Lady Sansa of House Stark. [ a heartbeat. a flutter of uncertainty. ] And Keeper of Cothromach.

[ for now, at least. and for a long time yet should she navigate her political seas with enough pluck. ]

Edited 2014-10-16 19:29 (UTC)

Well, now. I was thinkin' you sounded pretty timid, but to call yourself Keeper of a fortress like that--

[He laughed at that, ducking as a harsh wind threatened to cut his voice off for a moment.]

Pleased to meet you, Lady Sansa.

[ fortress. she tries not to rankle under the word. to each their own vocabulary -- she must navigate them all. ]

Well met, Lancer. [ ... ] Are you certain there is no better title I can give you?

Why do I get the impression this is less about asking for help and more about bragging about how many camps you have already taken out?

[There is a teasing look in Diarmuid's eyes as he speaks.]

At least this explains why I haven't seen you around the castle since we got back...

Well, I wouldn't mind givin' out my real name if we were better acquainted, but I'm sure you've got better things to do than get worn down by chatter from a rustic, old soldier.

[For the most part, he was also fairly busy, himself.]

Eh? Well, it's only been the one so far. I didn't feel like getting to work until I made a call for some allies.

[Even a guy as insane as Cu Chulainn wasn't eager to fight battles when he had a disadvantage.]

I spoke with my Master and she encouraged me to get at some work, actually.

[ a real name! she hadn't thought he'd given anything but -- but now she had to lapse into silence for a moment. after all, sansa had held a false name for some time in these lands. she'd not shed alayne stone until cothromach had become hers by inheritance. ]

I'm sorry. [ she curses herself. her trade minister would shake his head to hear her apologize. ] I was not trying to pry for anything sensitive. Only...there is a certain appropriate comfort taken in calling each other what we are meant to be called, don't you agree?

Hah! Sensitive? I might have had that problem a few weeks ago, but I don't have a need for that kinda secrecy.

Rather-- [Touching his chin, Lancer found himself snickering devilishly.]

--It's more fun as a game, isn't it? Normally, knights have to exchange names when they duel to the death, but this isn't that kind of situation and it's rarely an issue of comfort.

To a lady of court, if I'm to give out my name, I'd rather it be while I'm in a more peaceful attitude.

Oh dear, is my childhood hero actually a lazy man?

[Diarmuid laughs and then grows more serious.]

How many encampments do there seem to be? Do you have any idea?

'Fraid your hero's just a touch less reckless than you might have thought.

[Never mind that he went one against an entire camp in deep snow and mountain-terrain.]

No clue about numbers. They're a bit scattered, likely because they couldn't possibly find enough ground for a massive camp.

It means they won't be able to band together to stop large assaults--but, it means our assaults can't be too big.

Well, I can't say I am too surprised. My father was well known for...embellishing stories.

[What is one camp to someone who has faced down a whole army really?]

From the looks of that terrain, you are probably right, but in addition it does make it hard for us to know just how many of them are. It's a good strategic choice especially if they have a magical way to keep the camps connected. Our attacks either need to be very fast so they don't have time to warn the other camps, or extremely well coordinated so we hit them all at almost the same time.

Well, since me and the Lord Commander of being a wolf god are out this way already, we might poke our heads in if we're needed.

Maybe keep us in the loop if they get too close to Cothromach?

Then I imagine I might never learn it. [ they are, after all, in the middle of a war. ] If it's what you prefer, then Lancer is what I will call you.

What do you think they've got planned?

I can be there in- [ a pause, a quick look around ]

... five minutes, unless you want me to bring anything for you.

Pay Stiles no mind. [It's better for everyone's sanity that way.] I'm the Captain of Cothromach's Guard. Do you know why they've taken up camp there specifically?

Captain of the Guard, Lord Commander of being a wolf god... that's totally the same thing.

[Rude, Jon. You will pay Stiles all the mind.]

Should you have need of anything, the city of Cothromach will provide it for you. [She has been in the city several weeks preparing for an attack after Sansa asked to sit in her place until she can return.]

An attack. The city has been given to my lady and her father before her, but Morla has promised it to another.

That's no good. I thought I'd tease a bit, but you took me way too seriously.

[He shook his head, his smile persisting.]

You've got to pry a bit harder, missy.

[That definitely solicited a look from Cu Chulainn. Embellishment? Damn--he thought he was being a good influence by not going mad with battle-lust. It turned out he was looking bad as a result. Definitely not good.]

Tcch.

[He'd leave it at that. Obviously, his next step would be obliterating a second camp and defiling the grounds--]

I didn't give their spell-casters a chance to do anything, so I couldn't say what level those folks are. I only know their protective spells were enough that when I broke through, the warning was obvious--but, that warning didn't go beyond the grounds.

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