RP:Save The Innocent

Frostmaw Tavern

A whole host of inhabitants made their daily pilgrimage to the the Tavern. Some searched for free warmth, other searched for gossip and news, and others just wanted good meals with good company. Hureig, one Frost Giant among many, came for all three, but what set him apart from the warriors with their weapons and the hunters with their large dogs was the animal that sat in his lap by the fire. It was a mammoth calf, as big as a bull mastiff and just as friendly, curled up with its head and trunk tucked under its gut. But the look on Hureig's face, one of worry and fatherly affection, warned just as much as his explanation to those who perched along the fire. "You might want to find another seat, my friend. Little Queen Hildegarde here is prone to dreams of battle, and she can break a shin if I can't get ahold of her quick enough."

Artia should've headed back to Xalious last night but she was to tired to even try, so she camped out in a chair by the warmest part of the tavern. Waking up slowly she rubbed her eyes, looking around quickly to hopefully see odhranos. But to no avail. he was not here, with a sigh she got up and moved to a table. Waving her hand at the bar keep for an order, placing her elbows on the table infront of her, with her face leaning against her hands. She needed to find her husband, she needed to get caught up on Larket's affairs. She heard Kelovath was the traitor, and Macon wasn't but sue couldn't believe that. She saw it with her own eyes the murder Macon did. She was at Kelovath's side when it happened. The female knew he was innocent, but yet if she had to play Macon side to help save Larket she would. Some of the Giants became loud as one walked in, noting his pet she smiled towards them. Wasn't everyday she saw someone holding one of those as a pet! He seemed like the weight of the world was on his shoulders with the look of worry on his face. Getting up from her table, and moving up to him with a hand on her honey dew sized pregnant belly. "Excuse me..." Maybe he knew Kelovath or Odhranos?

Huerig was a smiled as Artia as she came over to speak to him. Perhaps he still smelled of the lowlands---no matter how many times he rubbed fresh snow over the few inches of his body that weren't bandaged, he couldn't get the humid stink of Larket off of him. Perhaps it was because of all the stitches and bandages he had on him, all gladly earned during his political imprisonment in that fallen city. Or perhaps she was just looking for a friendly face; as much as he looked worried, she looked weary and sad. "Looks like you'll be having your own mammoth calf soon," He lifted a finger at her pregnant belly, and though one might take offense to such a compliment, his face was alight with a warm smile and friendly eyes. "May your child bring a smile to your face and trouble to your husband!"

Artia shook her head smiling, "Aye my husband and I are definitely expecting, but I couldn't help through worry you give off. And your injuries, I'm Artia...Larket's Apothecary or at least I think I am still. I been in Frostmaw helping restock the Frostmaw clinic. So I been far out of reach from Larket, left here to find my husband missing. I believe he is among the missing mages, and to hear the nasty Macon ran my friend Kelovath out of Larket..I'm trying to schedule a meeting with Macon to see what he has going on. This whole mess with Larket is beyond stressful..also heard a rumor of war?"

Huerig stooped his shoulders when she mentioned war, and his eyes went to his boots. It was a touchy subject for the Frost Giant, and it took him a deep, steadying sigh before he looked back to Artia---he wore his usual smile, but it was thin, weakened, and strained. "I was Queen Hildegarde's Ambassador to Larket. I came into contact with Kelovath, and he and I became good friends. The last I saw of him was when I helped him and Thane Josleen escape Larket. I was captured, and...and...Queen Hildegarde paid a heavy ransom for my release." He ran a finger under both his eyes, and his tears sizzled where they were thrown on the hearth. "Macon has declared war against Frostmaw because of -my- release."

Artia reached up to his leg, patting it trying to comfort the giant. "Well it's nice to meet you, Kelovath is like a brother to me. He gave my life purpose when he gave me the position. He is a good man, as far as I know Macon isn't after my head or my position on the council. I don't want war unless it is the last resort. Too many Larket people have already lost lives because of Macon and his fermin. I do regret not trying to chase him down, and announcing to Larket what he did. Maybe if we did, Macon never been allowed back in." Hildegarde appeared in a cloud accompanied by lightning and thunder.

Hueirg dipped his head in a silent thanks as Artia comforted him, but the full weight of her situation had him laughing a self-deprecating laugh. "Look at us! I, a frost giant lamenting being the cause of a war, comforted by a woman who has lost her husband and is torn between the city she loves and the tyrant usurping the true leader's authority. Aye. Forgive me." A glimmer of good nature returned to his teary eyes, and a little huff from the mammoth calf on his lap brought to his face a smile. "Any other time, I would make it my person duty to help find your husband, but I must begin to make preparations for war. Wars are won on full stomachs and lost on empty ones. I cannot help find your husband, but I can make sure you have a safe journey to Larket if you must return. I will be traveling near there once I am healed up."

Hildegarde entered the tavern with the intention of meeting with Mistral and discussing plans over food with her Master Scout, but the scout was running a little late due to an issue in carrying out Hildegarde’s latest task. The Silver entered the tavern with little pomp and heraldry, only her captain of the Queensguard to accompany her in these most trying times. “Drargon,” the Silver offered in greeting to the barman fondly before glancing around the tavern to spot any familiar – or unfamiliar – faces. Hureig, Artia. Faces she actually knew. But they seemed to be in conversation, so the Silver did nothing to interrupt them for the moment. She would simply stand by the bar.

Artia chuckled, wiping her eyes as well. "If life was easy, there be no evil only good, sir. I just need to secure Larket, it's my home and where I want my daughter or son raised. No reason to forgive you, you are attached to Kelovath I can tell. He is the brother I've never had. I know he is innocent..but if I have to play dumb to Macon to get inside scoops I will. It's dangerous but someone needs too, Macon and I already been exchanged letters to meet privately. He is dangerous, I think he has something pushing him to be this way.." She paused, "I am a healer, maybe I can take a look at you?" When he queen entered, she froze turning to face her. placing a hand to her chest and bowing to her. "Your majesty! "

Huerig was tending to a huffing calf; one huff became two, and two was dangerously close to becoming a bellow of a grunt, or what the little mammoth calf could muster. "There there, Little Hildegarde. There there." Worry wracked his features; his shins had already been put under siege by the calf yesterday, and he did not think they could survive another attack. "No, no. She is just named Little Queen Hildegarde! She has no authority..." He looked up where Artia was looking, and it was not at the fussy calf. "Oh!" His cheeks burned the brightest red as he jumped up to his feet with his charge in his arms. "Queen Hildegarde!" The calf also greeted her with a closed eyed war trumpet that sounded more like a goose than a fearsome beast. "I better get this little one out of here before she destroys another chair. The offer for safe travel still stands, if you can wait a bit for me to rest up." Already the mammoth's hooves were kicking in the air in a glorious war charge! He stopped for the briefest moments by Hildegarde to wish her well. "This one has spirit! She will be one of the best war mammoths I've trained!" And with a smile, he departed.

Hureig dipped his head in a silent thanks as Artia comforted him, but the full weight of her situation had him laughing a self-deprecating laugh. "Look at us! I, a frost giant lamenting being the cause of a war, comforted by a woman who has lost her husband and is torn between the city she loves and the tyrant usurping the true leader's authority. Aye. Forgive me." A glimmer of good nature returned to his teary eyes, and a little huff from the mammoth calf on his lap brought to his face a smile. "Any other time, I would make it my person duty to help find your husband, but I must begin to make preparations for war. Wars are won on full stomachs and lost on empty ones. I cannot help find your husband, but I can make sure you have a safe journey to Larket if you must return. I will be traveling near there once I am healed up."

Hildegarde entered the tavern with the intention of meeting with Mistral and discussing plans over food with her Master Scout, but the scout was running a little late due to an issue in carrying out Hildegarde’s latest task. The Silver entered the tavern with little pomp and heraldry, only her captain of the Queensguard to accompany her in these most trying times. “Drargon,” the Silver offered in greeting to the barman fondly before glancing around the tavern to spot any familiar – or unfamiliar – faces. Hureig, Artia. Faces she actually knew. But they seemed to be in conversation, so the Silver did nothing to interrupt them for the moment. She would simply stand by the bar.

Artia chuckled, wiping her eyes as well. "If life was easy, there be no evil only good, sir. I just need to secure Larket, it's my home and where I want my daughter or son raised. No reason to forgive you, you are attached to Kelovath I can tell. He is the brother I've never had. I know he is innocent..but if I have to play dumb to Macon to get inside scoops I will. It's dangerous but someone needs too, Macon and I already been exchanged letters to meet privately. He is dangerous, I think he has something pushing him to be this way.." She paused, "I am a healer, maybe I can take a look at you?" When he queen entered, she froze turning to face her. placing a hand to her chest and bowing to her. "Your majesty! " Hureig was tending to a huffing calf; one huff became two, and two was dangerously close to becoming a bellow of a grunt, or what the little mammoth calf could muster. "There there, Little Hildegarde. There there." Worry wracked his features; his shins had already been put under siege by the calf yesterday, and he did not think they could survive another attack. "No, no. She is just named Little Queen Hildegarde! She has no authority..." He looked up where Artia was looking, and it was not at the fussy calf. "Oh!" His cheeks burned the brightest red as he jumped up to his feet with his charge in his arms. "Queen Hildegarde!" The calf also greeted her with a closed eyed war trumpet that sounded more like a goose than a fearsome beast. "I better get this little one out of here before she destroys another chair. The offer for safe travel still stands, if you can wait a bit for me to rest up." Already the mammoth's hooves were kicking in the air in a glorious war charge! He stopped for the briefest moments by Hildegarde to wish her well. "This one has spirit! She will be one of the best war mammoths I've trained!" And with a smile, he departed.

Hildegarde is not one for bowing and the like, lest it be for a most formal situation and this certainly was not one of those. Rather than accept Artia’s bow, Hildegarde waved her hand in a gesture that dismissed it thought not impolitely. It was simply a gesture to say ‘you don’t have to’. “Greetings, m’lady,” she offered in polite reply to Artia. “I would have thought you might have been recalled to Larket,” she said, showcasing her awareness that the new enmity between their cities might mean Artia’s presence here is a surprise. Yet before her question can be answered, she has been distracted by the departing Hureig and his new calf. “I am sure our fearsome Bully will soon be jealous of her!” she told him, knowing full well that Bully was a most famous mammoth in Frostmaw. “Ah, before you go, I’d love to join you on that hunt for the elk. Find me at the fort when you wish to hunt.” With that Hureig was off, leaving only Artia and Hildegarde.

The female couldn't help but to crack a smile at the giant, he thought she was talking about his pet. Oh gosh. he had to be the silliest and sweetest giant she ever knew or met. Was not expecting such from a Frost giant, but seeing the queen herself was amazing. She actually needed to speak with her, and there she is! Perfect timing Artia. perfect. The female blushed at her words, "I have not received any letter to be recalled back in, but I have wrote Macon wanting to meet him. I want to see what evidence he is trying to use against Kelovath. Because, I know for a fact Kelovath is a good paladin and he would not do such a thing. He does not have a wicked bone in him, but I saw with my own eyes Macon killing the council lady and order the fermin. I wanted to speak to you, since he verified for me the rumor is true of a war brewing. I want to try to work out a plan if it truly does go to war-" She rubbed her tummy and sat down at a vacant table, "Larket has lost so many lives already, I was thinking of trying to trick Macon into thinking I'm on his side...and since Kelovath spoke highly of you. I could rely the information directly to you, so we can try to avoid innocent lives being took..."

Hildegarde did not know Artia all too well, so it is understandable for her to approach this situation and proposal of being a double agent with some caution! Upon spotting that Artia is about to sit, the Silver approached the chair nearest Artia and pulled it out politely for the pregnant woman to sit upon. She may be Queen, but she was and is a knight first and foremost. “I am not one to leap from war to war,” she begins, “but it appears that the supposed ruler of Larket would like to lock horns with Frostmaw.” And Frostmaw did not back down from a challenge. “I have no intention of marching into Larket and swinging my sword. I do not wish to end the lives of the innocent in Larket, nor spill the blood of my own people. But I will not suffer Macon for long,” she told Artia. “The man is wrong; there is a wrongness to him. What you propose is a risky game and not just for you. If Macon were to discover what you were doing, he could feed you false information and cost me dearly. And that is only if he does not turn his fury onto you directly,” she warns, knowing full well the tactical benefits of such misdirection. “I have some questions, though. Some things that I need to know about Macon and Larket.”

Artia nods, and offers a soft smile to hilde for helping her to a chair. "Thank you, I know how dangerous this is. But I need to find out what Macon is doing, need help with it. Someone I can trust with his and any information I get. Larket needs out of Macon hands, he will destroy Larket and I can not bare for him to do so. I know the cost it could do to me, but I just can't turn my back on Larket because times are hard or even dangerous. I plan to go back to Larket tonight, or might be there by tomorrow morning as it is a long walk. I also have a plan, if he is using magic...and I'm able to remove this." She pointed to he topaz, "And give it to him, the curse with absorb most his powers. For me, it absorbed all of mine and I have a person working on it with me to help me rid of it. I wonder if it could even work, I know frostmaw will never bow down. It's why I wanted to talk to you, maybe I could have a holding for people to go to that they can hide in if frostmaw comes to Larket?" Her order came and it was a plate of biscuits with a glass of juice. Take a small nibble and swallowing before she continues. "Macon needs to die, no mercy given to him. I also need to find out what he said to turn anyone against Kelovath s well see what he has done with the other council memebrs. But yes ask away please, I just don't know who I can trust in Larket at the moment."

Hildegarde could not and would not promise such safety. “I cannot ensure that your people would be safe, Artia. Larket is not an area that I control and Macon may well elect to use your people as human shields to prevent my army access to the city,” it is something that many despots have done before. “If you can arrange such a safe spot for your people, then by all means. My army is not one to root out the weak and innocent and harm them,” her army had honour, after all. “I need to know about Macon. Everything that you can tell me about him: how he has served Larket, for how long, who does he associate with, what does he do in the city. I also need to know about any sort of… well, any weak entries into the city. If my army can simply slip into the city without bloodshed, then the war would be over easily. It is always a siege that hurts the people the most.”

Artia understood Hildegarde very well, she had to look out for her army and people as Artia needed to look out for the people of Larket, she wanted nothing more then to help save larket from Macon. “ I would not put it past him to use innocent people for shields, or even force them into the war. I wish he knew this war is a loose for him, there is no way he could win. I’m not just saying that either, Forstmaw is the war city everyone knows that. I will do my best to arrange a safe haven for those I can save, if Macon even lets me do so. I honestly do not know what is waiting for me back at larket, he arrested Kelovath for a supposed traitor. But I was at Kelovath’s side when he was caught in the act, I might be the next one in the prison. But either way I need to go back to make sure the people are safe, I wont lie I am nervous and slightly scared of what and that Macon is leading larket. Macon has no honour from what I have seen, he is greedy for power.” Hildegarde was right, if the armies could just slip in and take down Macon right away so many lives on both sides would be spared. Artia could not believe she was even here, the old her, well she been eager for the blood shed. But because of Kelovath, Artia find purpose and loved everything in Larket minus Macon. “Macon he was always wanting artifacts and power, the other members always tried to calm him. I think he planned to take Larket for a very long time, I wonder if he is where the previous leaders fell. If I had a map of Larket I could easily circle the spots but I will try to explain it the best I can. If I still had my powers, I could cast a fog to help hide the giants as they approached. I know the sewers is a very weak spot, look how easy the fermin got in and out of Larket just from that. Most buildings have sewers in them, and I am pretty sure the fort would have access to the sewers as well. I can even when I get back look around to make sure. You would think they would have hidden escape tunnels inside as well. Larket is surrounded by the sage and enchanted forest, so at least the giants would have some camouflage with that. Maybe some of your people could be dressed up as servants in the fort? That might help get more in to knock him out, only place I know he likes to stay is in the trophy room. By now I’m sure he has made the bedroom of the former rulers his, and I won’t be able to give much more information until I am back. But I will tell you this, if you get a letter from me that does not have a watermark of a serpent, I did not write it. Like I said I do not know if I will be treated the way Kelovath was or not, I am hoping Delisha will protect me from it.”   Hildegarde lapsed into silence and listened to what Artia had to say. It was difficult, that was for sure. “I believe that if I were to outright challenge Macon to a fight – a one on one – that determined the battle, he would refuse,” she said gently. She didn’t mean it in the sense that Macon would lose to her, but more that it would be in his favour to begin a siege and endure it. Larket was in a fit position to endure a siege, as was Frostmaw. The cities were quite alike. “Thank you, though, for your willingness to assist. I should hope that this war is over soon.”   The witch nods again, offering a smile to Hildegarde, “I hate to say it, but Macon I am pretty sure would try to find a way to worm out of the challenge or find a way to cheat during it. He does not play fair, and would more than happy play dirty. He is one you cannot know exactly what he will do, he is very…chaotic. Might say one thing and do the other. I pray this war ends quickly and not many lives are taken. But I really do need to get back to larket see what is waiting for me. Thank you for hearing me out your majesty.” Gently she stood up, glancing back over to Hilde, “If you know or see Odhranos, can you tell him to come home? His wife misses him terribly. Thank you again, it means a lot.”