Jorshin: A Plan is Devised

Jorshin, Kasendra, and Martohck devise a plan as GM Wakefield shares another part of Jorshin’s story with us at the Officials:

http://bit.ly/2nswkx2

Category: Towns
Topic: Solhaven

Date: 03/28/2017 06:08 PM CDT

From: GS4-WAKEFIELD

Subj: A Plan Is Devised

OOC Note: Hey guys, below is the next entry in the Jorshin resolution Arc

The flame of a solitary candle burning low cast dim, murky shadows across the interior of the red canvas tent. Night had fallen, and with the darkness, the crisp winter air became colder, pressing down upon the walls on the outside of the tent. Inside the shelter, two figures sat, both making fog with their breaths in the flickering light of the candle. Neither would show any outward acceptance of the cold. They had spent far too long in the north to let it bother them anymore, and both were much too proud to admit it, if it had.

The imposing frame of Captain Martohck Hightower seemed all the larger in comparison to the smaller form of the Lady Kasendra. Even here in the midst of their camp, he wore his heavy mace and sword at his belt. The larger two handed weapon he usually wore harnessed to his back had been left behind in his own tent, along with the heavy full plate armor he donned during the day. He trusted his men to give alarm… fight, and die to protect the camp; but he had been taught painful lessons about what could happen when any conceivable contingency wasn’t prepared for. Martohck continued to take every possible caution to avoid a repeat of any unfortunate incidents. He shifted on his seat, and the candle’s light caused the mail shirt he now wore in place of the heavy plate to gleam faintly.

The Lady Kasendra leaned forward resting her forearms on the wooden desk, separating them on either side; an intent look fixed upon her countenance. The talks had been going on for some little while, and Kasendra had almost heard Martohck’s entire report.

“So, Jorshin is saying he thinks his family is in danger?” she asked, her voice conveying both worry and disbelief. “But the man is his father, Martohck. How could be possibly do such a thing?”

Martohck shook his head, at a loss to understand himself.

“Jorshin was very clear on that, Kasendra. His father cares more for profits and running his enterprise than he does about anything else. He would see the family of someone who wasn’t doing as he wished to be leverage, even if that someone was his own son.” He continued, hoping that Kasendra would see things the same way he did. “He came to see me. He offered a proposition, which I told him I would need to talk to you about first.”

“A proposition?” Kasendra asked, interest replacing concern in her voice.

“Aye,” replied Martohck. “He wants our, my, help in dealing with the situation. He says in exchange for smuggling his family out of their home and bringing them north; just long enough to get them out of their immediate danger and for him to find a place for them to settle, he will join us full time. He’ll direct his not inconsiderable network of relationships and resources towards making sure that we get the best prices and highest quality goods for our work. Jorshin’s already one of the best volunteers we have, Kasendra. Having him on full time could really make a difference.”

Kasendra leaned back in her chair, tapping a finger against pursed lips.

“It is true that having him around all the time, and devoted only to helping our cause, would be worth no small amount,” she conceded. “However… what do we know about the danger his family is in? Are they guarded? Will those guards put up a fight if you come for her? We don’t want to risk an incident with a powerful human merchant if we can avoid it. If what you tell me of the man is true, I have little doubt he would take us stealing away his ‘leverage’ in the middle of the night personally.”

Martohck found himself agreeing as he listened to Kasendra speak. He had anticipated these issues. They were questions he himself had asked.

“Jorshin agrees that his father would take the loss personally. He also thinks that there’s a strong chance we can pull this off without his father necessarily knowing who it was that took the family. He will, of course, assume that Jorshin was in some way involved, but that is why he intends to relocate the family far away from both Ubl and Solhaven after they are freed. I figure myself, Jorshin of course, and… ten other men ought to be more than enough to enough to handle things. We’re there to extract them, not fight an army.”

Kasendra nodded thoughtfully and opened her mouth, but Martohck continued as if he had not seen she intended to speak, “and of course we’ll have to figure out what to do with you while I’m gone.”

This elicited a cooly arched eyebrow, and a quietly mused, “Oh?” which conveyed the obvious displeasure that was absent from Kasendra’s expressionless face. “You intend to enact some overly protective plan that results in me twiddling my thumbs for an extended period of time? I’m not a porcelain doll, Martohck.”

The corner of Martohck’s mouth turned down slightly, betraying his frustration at Kasendra’s painting of the situation.

Why doesn’t she understand she’s a target? Why doesn’t she take this seriously? She was almost killed last time.

Outloud in response, however he was much more conciliatory. “Nothing quite so severe as digging a hole for you to hide in with a wagon sitting over the top of it this time.”

Kasendra’s lip curled up briefly before she could school her face, and Martohck breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

“I was thinking, you’re going to be heading to Vornavis soon for court. Lord Salnim has, on multiple occasions, graciously offered to host you for visits and opened his residence to you. I expected he would be thrilled to hear you intend to take him up on the offer and stay a few days. I’m sure I won’t need more than three or four to get everything done.”

Kasendra drummed her fingers against the desk as she listened. “That would certainly be preferable to hiding in a hole in the ground, anyway.” A touch of warmth had entered her voice as she spoke, subtly undermining her attempt to sound noncommittal.

“It’s settled then. I’ll escort you to court, and you’ll stay with Lord Salnim after, while I take Jorshin and our men to get his family. Jorshin says he has an idea for where they may go after we get them out. He said he found the people there particularly kind-hearted when he was travelling and seeking donations.”

The burning flame of the single candle casting the only light inside the tent suddenly guttered out, leaving the two alone in the cold black of the night with the smell of smoke faintly rising in the air. Martohck could no longer see Kasendra sitting across from him, but her previously amused tone was now replaced by one of seriousness tinged with concern.

“Go, Captain Martohck. Add another example of heroism you’ll deny to your record. I know you’ll free these people and get them to safety.”

Martohck said nothing as he rose, moving by memory towards the entrance without being able to see. He paused, looking back over his shoulder into the dim moonlight that had banished a few of the interior’s shadows when he lifted the tent flap, to meet Kasendra’s eye.

“I’m no hero,” he said quietly. Martohck let the flap drop as he departed, leaving Kasendra alone in the dark with her mouth half open.

-Wakefield