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No sooner had you been informed of Eliza’s arrival you rush down to the eastern gate of Falkengard. There you find Eliza caked in dust, leaning on her spear for support. A worrying small number of the original expedition team shambled through the gate after her, some collapsing as they crossed the threshold. Already the keep staff were rushing to provide aid.
“Eliza, what happened!?” you yell as you rush towards her. To her credit the daughter of Rythvane doesn’t collapse into your arms… which you found somewhat disappointing but her being well enough to stand could only be a good thing.
>Thot unlocked: Strong Independent Women
“Nero…the Warlord who attacked the keep… found us. Althea… bought us time.”
“My Lord, Lady Rythvane is dehydrated and very weak right now, she needs rest and water.”
Althea’s absence was indeed worrying, but the survivors of the expedition were in no state to tell their story. You let the physicians lead them out of the court yard to recover while you pondered what to do next.
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That night you call an emergency war council with Tyrol and Varkas. Eliza managed to attend as well, having recovered enough to give her account. Apparently, they had had a fruitful expedition, finding several promising sites for stone and metals. Then they encountered the Warlord as they made to turn back. Althea had recognised the soldiers as similar to the host that had laid siege to Falknegard. When hostilities had become inevitable Althea and her men fought a rearguard action while the rest of the expedition escaped.
“…the last I saw the Warlord had slaughtered Althea’s guard to a man. I bet he could have killed her too but he didn’t, just knocked her out and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of grain. Then he set his minions on us. They hounded us almost all the way back. I’m sorry Ne-my Duke, I smote our pursuers with my magic but they were crafty, picking off the stragglers where I couldn’t help. We also lost too many to dehydration and exhaustion.”
[Hackerman]: “This is bad. We’ve lost Althea and the enemy is at our gates, possibly even both of them.”
“The Warlord’s host; how large was it?”
“Not large enough to be considered a full army, it looked to be an expedition much like ours, but larger and their warriors were easily a full head taller than even our most burly fighters. Even with equal numbers we would have been at a disadvantage.”
You rest your cheek on one of your fists and frown at the strategy map with deep concern.
>cont
