[OOC: This was all part of Session 3, but Session 3 was long.
By now, it was late in the evening, but not late enough to stop, so we
totted up exp, leveled up, and went on.]

Well, this was not my normal winter. No seasonal festivals.
No watching happily as laden caravans deliver firewood and winter
foods. No visiting friends of the family. Just forest, forest, cold.

At least the tower is nice. We stocked up on wood and preserved food.
It's actually pleasant, if rather different. I've read lots of those books.
Quite interesting. I've stuck mainly to history and geography. The old
style writing is a little tiring to read, but I've gotten more used to it.

I've done a little sparing with Lee and Dev to keep in shape and warm up.
We built some snow men, while Anna told us some stories.

Jack however is not his old self. No two ways, he has changed. I used
to reckon I was almost as clever as he was, and sure, I know some stuff
he doesn't, but maybe my better education was just hiding his potential.
He's devoured those books. I have to remind him to eat, sometimes.

I'll omit the details of the next few months. Nothing much happened.

After a time, Jack deciphered the code in the documents we'd taken from
the Baron. 'MG' was 'Mary Guilder' - the Duchess of Auchenross. She'd
been plotting for years with her lover, Baron Aross, to overthrow the Duke,
Kevin Guilder. They were also considering assassinating General Arthur
MacAlister.

(It looks like the girl in the castle was MacAlister's daughter.)

The winter was long and hard. When spring arrived, we were ready to go.
We left the tower, wondering if we'd get to the Duke (or MacAlister) on time.

We followed an overgrown road about 12 miles to the plains. (Plains is the
wrong word. In Echtland, they'd be hills, or god-awful-mudfarms.)

We soon reached meadows of sorts, and a lake. Picturesque, really.
Across the lake lay a village, by the name of Dunloch. We told the
village folk we'd gotten lost in the Autumn, ended up in the Deep, and
stayed with the forest Dwarves. Our dwarven companion was leading us to
Baldock. 'Bart' the Innkeeper gave us a room for the night. We got
directions to Baldock. The others seemed willing to go to the wayside
Inn on the Baldock-Woodwall road. I didn't much like that idea.

The next day, we set off for the road. We crossed a bridge over a river,
and reached the inn. We entered by a side gate, and saw a notice board.
Deciding to have a read, we noticed a poster.

"Wanted for murder of Dorrinne MacAlister: 'Jack' and 'Joseph'
Reward of 50 gold pieces."

With rough sketches of us. Damn, damn, damn. Not unexpected though.
We'd presumed they might try to declare us outlaws. Still, I most
certainly hadn't expected 'Wanted for Murder' posters. And a MacAlister!

A guard came over. Sleepy MacDozey or whatever his name was didn't cop on,
of course, even as we stood beside the Wanted posters.

He stayed the night in the inn, 'The Northern Rest'.

We set off for the city. The group had to be split, and speed was now
certainly an issue. We had no idea when the hidden army might spring a
surprise assault on the city. As this time of year, no one expected much
movement of people. We agreed to meet up with our senior Agent in the
city, my cousin Timothy Goodwell.

Anna and I went in first, with some story ready, which we didn't need of
course. Dev just walked on in, easily. Jack and Lee were to arrive later.

I went with Anna to the warehouse compound. We entered by a side door.
The workman who let us in was shocked to see me. He got Tim at once.
He was glad to see me, and explained the situation. We were in deep trouble.
I freshened up, and the others arrived.

Tim explained that the compound was being watched. Obviously MacAlister and
Aross had figured out that it was Jack Goodfield and Joseph Goodwell they
were looking for. We'd sprung their trap in our haste. A worker came in and
told us the street outside had emptied. Something was about to happen.
The 10 or so guards were called and told to hold off the attack as long as
they could, and then surrender.

Eamon (the man who'd let me in) accompanied us (including Tim) to a
storeroom. We're not entirely unused to emergency situations, and we'd long
before come to an agreement with our friends and fellow Morpeth merchants,
the Arthurs. Eamon roled aside a barrel, we popped into a tunnel, and he
closed it over again.

We emerged into the Arthurs warehouse across the road. It was dark. There
was no-one in the part we entered. Hastily leaving, we hoped that our
persuers weren't too close.

We ran through a few alleys, and thought we might get away. Then the glint
of weaponry appeared, and two walls of armed men charged us from both sides.


Some time later, I awoke in a dark cell. The others were there. We sat on
chairs facing away from each other, with our hands and feet bound. We
couldn't slip the bonds, of course. A man at the door said 'I wish I
could kill you myself' and slammed the door closed from outside.

Jack managed to set his bonds on fire, though. He got loose, and freed us.
We were locked in. Jack stared at some rope... and it ignited, and melted
into the shape of lockpicks.

I'm quite sure on that point. Jack's old talk of 'magic' was correct.
It's there, it's real, and somehow he's got the knack.

Now, we weren't sure what to do. If we'd been captured by MacAlister or the
Duke, we might consider waiting and hoping we'd get a chance to explain
ourselves. We had evidence in our possession, after all. (Well,
whereever our possessions were...)

If the Baron had taken us, surely he'd have killed us? We couldn't be sure.
Escape was the only option.

I picked up some rope. Jack silently picked the lock. Dev opened the door.
I crept out, and stealthily approached the guard from behind, until I was
right behind him, barely breathing. The rope went over his neck, and I
snapped it backwards, making a cracking sound as he died. (I hadn't quite
meant to kill him - MacAlister might be annoyed that I'd killed his
guard, even if we hadn't killed his daughter. Ah, foolish thought.)

We'd made the right decision. Looking at the dead guard, it was clear from
his uniform that he was one of the Baron's men.

Lee sneaked to the end of the corridor, and up the stairs. He listened, and
heard two guards talking. Taking a peek, he saw they were at a table, one
with his back to us, obscuring the view the other might have had. Fools.

Dev quietly approached the one with his back to us, and slit his throat.
As he did so, we burst into the room, with such weapons as we had at hand.
(The first guard's sword and dagger, and chairs). We told the living
guard to stay quiet or die. He was then bound and gagged, and put into the
cell.

All of our equipment was in this room. We rearmed. Still, we weren't in a
good state. We were all tired and hurt.

Up another stairs, we reached a T-junction. He went right, past what sounded
like a kitchen and a barracks. As we approached a corridor, we realised a
guard was coming. He stepped round the corner, and died.

At the end of the corridor was a door. It opened to face the back of a
tapestry. Peering through a small gap, a main entrance hall could be seen - 
as could a courtyard and the exit from the compound. We whispered.
What to do?

4 guards approached the door. Looked like they were just coming on or off
duty. We ran past them. One swiped at me, missing. We ran for the main
gate. The worry was the portacullis. Dev shot a guard in the leg before
he could get to the control. We ran out, into the street, chased by a small
pack of guards. The others were temporarily stuck inside the courtyard as
the iron grill came down (soon to be lifted).

Down the alleyways after Tim, we ran as hard as we could. The guards were
close, so we decided to lose them them the only way we could. We were
weak and tired, but we fought them. There were 7 of them. They hadn't a
chance of hitting me, and I killed 3, I think. It's hard to be sure, it
all happened so fast. Dev stood back for a while, as if thinking he'd live
if we didn't win the fight. I shouted at him, and he charged in. Tim and
Lee fell. A guard ran. As we finished the last ones, Dev thumped Jack when
a wild swipe went out of control. Jack looked almost dead. Again.

I figured the only way now was for me to grab the documents from Jack's bags,
and sort this out as Jack had suggested to me earlier. (I'll get to this
later.) Hopefully the Baron would hold his prisoners alive for long
enough for me to get the Duke and MacAlister to turn on the Baron. I was
about to run off, when Dev opened up a manhole cover, and dragged the
injured ones in. I followed.

Sewers are horrible of course, but at least we had bought a little time.
We heard the guards run by overhead. A _little_ time, at least.

As we plodded along, Dev stopped, and put his finger to his lips. I stopped.
Dev looked round, and handed a toy wooden duck to a young child. It was
thrilled with the duck. It seemed to understand our words, but didn't talk.
It waved its hands around using some sort of sign language.

Dev got the little thing to bring us to a relatively safe place, a large
cavern of sorts. The unconscious were left to rest. With a little
difficulty, we got the kid we'd met (who was now surrounded by his friends)
to take me and Dev to an entrance to the Duke's castle.

I left some things with Dev, made sure I had the original documents,
and climbed up a curved ladder towards a grate. I removed it, and climbed
into a verticle circular tunnel. I painfully made my way upwards, and emerged
into an old bathroom. I stank.

Luckily I had a spare pair of trousers and a fresh shirt, courtesy of the
Baron. I put on the old clothes I had worn as a 'bandit' and cleaned myself
as best I could. Listening at the door, I heard nothing nearby. I crept out
into a corridor, and saw a serving girl walk from one arch (a kitchen?)
to another (from which sounds of a banquet came), far down the
corridor. She didn't see me.

I went along towards the arches, and peered into the banquet hall. No
doubt about it, I'd been lucky with those sewer kids. When Jack had
originally suggested this idea, it was with the plan of approaching the
main gates (I think) and turning ourselves in. I was afraid that the guards
we talked to might be under the control those not loyal to the Duke.
Now, there was no need for such a risk.

I went into the kitchens, picked up a tray, and walked into the banquest
hall. I walked up to the Duke's table. The Baron was there, as was the
Duchess, and MacAlister. I walked right up to the Duke, facing him.

'Your Grace.'

He glanced at me, vaguely irritated at being interrupted.

'I am Joesph Goodwell, falsely accused of murder...'

MacAlister had jumped up, and looked like he was ready to hack me to
pieces.

I immediately announced that the Baron was plotting against the Duke, and
that I had evidence in my backpack. 4 guards had surrounded me. One got
the documents and gave them to the Duke. As he read them, the Queen
slipped poison into her wine, gulped it down, and vomited blood moments
later.

The Baron cried 'Kill them!' and several guards charged. The 4 beside me
went for me, but I jumped up onto the table, and they missed. I saw two
guards going for the Duke from behind. I shouted to him, and jumped down,
running at them. I hacked one down as the Duke deflected the other's blow.
I attacked the second and sliced open his neck a few seconds later.

MacAliser had charged at the Baron, who had fled. The fight soon ended,
with our victory.

The Duke and MacAlister spoke to me. I told them briefly what had happened,
and that the Baron had a hidden army of at least 500 men to the north.
MacAlister asked for permission to mobilise the army, and the Duke
said yes.

I got a team of healers and soldiers. We retrieved the party from the sewers.

We had done it.

Over the next few weeks, we rested and recovered. MacAlister went north and
crushed the rebel army - although Baron Aross escaped.

The Duke was most grateful for our assistance. We were quite reasonable
in our requests when he asked how he could reward us; no bad thing, as the
gratitude of a Duke could prove more valuable than any short-term gain.

Jack asked for the Tower and was also granted its surrounding lands, as
Lord Isolde; he will receive some stipend towards its maintainance.

Lee was knighted, Sir Lee.

Devon asked that the sewer children be helped, and the Duke offered to
increase the budget of his sewer explorers. (Devon also wondered about
money, but I assured him that he could find remunerative employment with 
G&G if he so wished.)

I was knighted Sir Joseph, and had asked (somewhat hesitantly) that G&G might
be granted some tax concessions. We have received certain tax reductions.
I had considered such an outcome for a considerable time, I must admit.
I feel proud of having done something so considerable for the family.

Anna asked to become a court bard, and was accepted.

(Tim was not so directly involved, but I'm sure he's in for a large
bonus at least.)

The Duke awared us medals, letters of commendation, and most of all, his
thanks. Goodwill is a funny thing; because he wishes us well, we wish
_him_ well, too. We have offered our assistance should he require it (and
he had already offered us the same). He can contact us through G&G, or
by sending other messangers to Isolde valley.


So now, we depart, our adventure at an end. I will be returning to
Morpeth, to tell my family the tale, and to resume training with my uncle.
Lee will come with me.

Jack is no longer a rogue, or a merchant, but a wizard. He is no longer
the person I once knew; for all that, he is something more than the rest of
us, and everything the old Jack aspired to be. He plans to return to
his tower, with some workers, and restore it to its former beauty.
Devon will accompany him; he might return to the Deep, for all I know.

I am still a Journeysman, though, and there is a great deal more to see.
I don't know about the others, but I intend to keep traveling. After
some training, I'll return to Auchenross, and see if the others will join me.


Sir Joseph Goodwell, 954 PD