Merc Journal - Aug. 6

 

 

The new day's dawn is greeted by the sounds of pain and suffering as Carluin and Marakus cull the herd of new recruits in the marshalling yard. Among those recruits are Varendil and Glendaarl who are put through their paces along with the others. Glendaarl encounters some difficulty in the form of an overzealous recruit. Carluin and Marakus encourage further confrontation and the matter is settled, for now.

 

Prince-Captain Rohn receives an unexpected visitor, his uncle Benjen, also known as Black Ben. The two of them take a walk out into the orchard where Benjen takes Rohn to meet with his eldest brother, Brandon. Rohn hears about what is going on at home with his father, and begins to feel more like a rival than a son. Such is politics.

 

Meanwhile, in the town, Mandor meets with Rohn's younger brother, Bartim. Some ground rules are laid out and a mutual agreement is reached. Bartim also informs Mandor of a new group of shady dealers in Chyrefal who call themselves the Bashers.

 

Later in the day Captain Rohn and Lord Chin, along with Andram, Varendil, and some scouts go out on a tour of the countryside. Upon leaving the keep Varendil's mount proves uncooperative and bolts off the road into the trees. The sound of trampled bushes and broken branches is heard, along with pleas of “Whoa”. This is followed soon after by the sound of Varendil's voice, saying, "The woods are clear!" as he tries to cover his bruised ego after having been taken for a ride by his horse. A short time later Varendil brings his horse under control and rejoins the group. Andram keeps his face expressionless with some difficulty.  Returning from the tour the group encounters a lone traveler, a dwarf. The meeting is brief and the dwarf departs.

 

That evening, a representative of the new High Sheriff comes into the keep and meets with Rohn. The representative is an old acquaintance, named Clay, a onetime rival for a woman's affections. Though Rohn won that encounter Clay apparently holds no grudges. They exchange some news and Clay informs him that the new Sheriff is perhaps a day or two away.

 

One bit of news also comes from that meeting, that the new High Sheriff has a great intolerance of the Khandian people. Rohn informs Lord Chin at breakfast the following day of the Sheriff's prejudices and though not pleased he accepts the news well and agrees to the new quarters that are being prepared in the town.

 

A meeting of the command staff is held that afternoon. After the meeting Mandor brings Rohn a small cloth-wrapped chest. Johan is present but asks not, only raising an eyebrow as he departs. Once alone, Mandor informs Rohn that the chest holds a good amount of wealth of which there are no clear owners. The contents are added to the Company's treasury.