Salnim’s Rescue Mission
Salnim led a group on a rescue mission from the Vornavis Keep on Saturday night. Here’s the recap:
Category: Towns
Topic: SolhavenDate: 01/28/2017 08:18 PM CSTFrom: GS4-LYDILSubj: Turning into the WindSalnim Malwind stood within the chamber, deep within the Vornavis Keep, in quiet contemplation. Only the flicking flames of the wall lamps, and the faint sound of wind blowing outside broke the silence. Upon the wall behind him hung a number of portraits of his family, and without turning he knew where each of them hung. One of father, of his sister, of himself, and even one of his mother from years ago. Each capturing their subject in a moment of joy, while was their eyes gaze across the room upon the detailed carving of the Rising Swan on the far wall.On another day Salnim would take comfort in those paintings and what they represented, and pride in seeing the sigil of Vornavis. But today, today was a very different day. His focus was only on the carved wooden stand before him, and the sword that rested upon it. One hand was stretched out towards it, but hung there in hesitation. Just as it had for so many long minutes now.
“I knew I would find you here.”
Salnim was pulled from his reverie and turned slowly to see his sister Athalia standing in the doorway. “It is a good place to come to think. And after last night…I just wonder if things had been different if father had been here.”
Athalia walked into the room, her eyes looking to the portrait of their mother for a moment, as she moved to stand beside her brother. She said nothing as she rested a hand on his shoulder, and the two stood in silence for several minutes.
“Do you know why father always leaves it behind when he travels?” Athalia asked, looking up at Salnim as she did.
“To remind us he is coming home. And to make sure we do not cause trouble when he is gone.” Salnim answered, his eyes focused on the family blade.
Athalia let out a small laugh, “When were younger, sure. But that isn’t why he does it anymore, Salnim.” She turned towards him, pulling his gaze towards her, “He isn’t leaving it behind to keep us in line now. He leaves it because it is his way of telling us he knows we’re ready for it. To take it up and the responsibility with it.”
Salnim was quiet for a moment, then reached out a hand to pick up the weapon by its dark green scabbard. “I’m going to get her…them back, Athalia. We’re going to get them back. The North needs them. It cannot end like this. We’ll bring them home. All of them.”
He smiled a moment and then leaned down to kiss her on the forehead, “Thank you.”
Athalia returned the smile and watched as he walked towards the doorway, “Salnim. Just promise me one thing. The North does need them. But it also needs you too. Make sure you come home too.”
Salnim looked back, his face somber, “Of course I will, Athalia.”
Athalia stood there left alone with just the sound of his fading footfalls. Gazing at the Rising Swan at the wall, she closed her eyes and spoke softly to herself, “Why don’t I believe you?”
Wait for me to come home
Because I’m going to bring them home
Gurbah and Salnim met those who assembled for the rescue mission at the north gate of Vornavis. Before we all hopped a wagon to the camp, planning some diplomacy, a guard popped up with news for Salnim – Martohck (Kasendra’s guard captain) had disappeared, a horse was missing, it was speculated that he’d gone back to the camp in a fit of ill-considered hotheadedness. So we set out after him with our motley band.
At the camp, we found Martohck and Mureyk (our brigand-ish not-so-good-guy) were locked in combat outside the gate. They disregarded the various suggestions that were made to disengage. Martohck was disarmed, knocked senseless, and dragged off to join the hostages inside the camp.
Mureyk essentially refused to entertain the idea of working this out like rational people. Eventually Salnim traded himself for the whole lot of prisoners. However, their release was not secured before Salnim was taken into custody, and Mureyk altered the deal after getting what he wanted, in a great surprise to nobody who’s ever seen The Empire Strikes Back. He brought Salnim to join Kasendra up on the wall, while the rest of us, and Gurbah, fumed outside.
Raelee and Gurbah concocted a plan to deal with the wards on the gate and getting the gate down. It involved a familiar gate and Gurbah playing battering ram, so that was fun. That got us inside. We battered through barricades to advance through the camp while Salnim and Kasendra struggled with Mureyk up on the wall. Salnim was stabbed and fell off the wall. A fair bit of stuff was on fire at this point.
We found cages full of prisoners, but were unable to break them or open them. Mureyk threatened us with harm to Kasendra, and a cadre of archers on the walls, if we didn’t stand down. Eventually he came down off the wall, with Kasendra in tow. Words were traded, we seemed about to become pincushions, but Salnim tackled Mureyk from behind in proper dramatic fashion and everyone jumped in to help kill him.
Unfortunately, he didn’t stay dead. While we were trying to find a way to free the prisoners, he decayed and rallied. Salnim challenged him to single combat under the eyes of his men, and presumably Mureyk’s pride (and perhaps anger?) let him agree to it.
It went back and forth for a bit, one gaining the upper hand and then losing it to the other. Salnim was disarmed at one point, and later managed to re-acquire a sword and ran Mureyk through… but Mureyk was made of fairly stern stuff and headbutted Salnim when we were expecting him to fall over. In the end, though Salnim won the day and beat the bastard unconscious with his shield.
Salnim had a speech of sympathy for the men Mureyk had collected, and they opted to stand down and go rather than kill us all. The prisoners were released, Martohck recovered his lost mace, and we all made it back to Vornavis. Gurbah took possession of the unconscious Mureyk and may have helped keep him that way a few times before heading back into Vornavis proper.
Go team. o/
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Cendadric says, “Hmm, a most impressive weapon of note. I’ll give you 110 silver coins for it.”
Thank you for the recap! I didn’t want to leave but alas, sleep. Love the story and had fun while there!