>>5698723You arrive at the gates of a rough-hewn but imposing castle—taller than it is wide, with a great iron-and-wood gate, craved with ornate effigies of trees, of deer, of falcons, and of the sun and moon. You admire it, as the sole sentry stationed above the gate spots you and blows some form of horn or trumpet. You wait—peacefully, if a little tense—until those great gates open and two men on horseback ride out, armed with lances and wearing light armour and helms. Their tabards and banners bear a black silhouette of a tree, above a river and a bed of black soil, against a forest-green background: knights of the realm, then.
“HALT!” one bellows, while the other rears his horse intimidatingly and levels his polearm.
You stop, and begin: “Greetingsss! I come in peace, asss a neighbour and—”
“From where?!”
You take a deep breath, and begin to answer.
“What have you done to our men?!” asks the other.
““I come to return thesse men to you, unharmed… Dessspite their attacking me.”
“And the others?!” demands the first knight.
“Not ssso lucky,” you say, “nor were all of my men.”
>6“These… These MONSTERS snuck upon us in dead of night and collapsed the tower!” cries one of the men who you generously allowed to live.
“I wass attacked firssst, asss I ssaid.”
“We caught them creeping upon the castle!”
“I reveal myssself openly, asss you can sssee,” you protest, trying t maintain yoru alm. “I am no theif or assassssin.”
>9You step forward, stopping only when both spears are thrust towards you in warning. These knights are in no mood to give you any benefit of the doubt.
“I am here to sspeak with Baron Brunusss,” you state, quiet and calm. “I mean you no harm.”
>16The knights speak amongst themselves and then, after some deliberation, one announces he will ride back to the castle to ask Baron Brunus what he would do. He takes the two survivors of the tower-collapse with him, that they might tell their tale. You doubt it will be flattering… But have little option but to let them go, if you stand ANY chance of salvaging this situation.
