Goatie steps up, bows and says: ''Twas me. I mean, me and my griffin . . . we were the creature and humanoid. And we didn't mean any harm. We had just escaped the troll-creatures in the tunnels underground, see, so you can imagine why we fought when we popped up here in . . . the fortress.' Goatie flips up his hood. Then, conscious of the grime on his face, he begins to wipe it off.
A soldier whispers something to Duchess Rietta. Turning to Goatie, she says, "On behalf of my men, I would like to sincerely apologize for any injury they may have caused you. Please understand that Lady Alinor's description of the dangers of the labyrinth have troubled everyone."
"So you've been down there?" asks Alinor.
''Yes,'' says Goatie. ''My griffin and I sort of stumbled into an . . . . alternative entrance?''
A soldier whispers something to Duchess Rietta. Turning to Goatie, she says, "On behalf of my men, I would like to sincerely apologize for any injury they may have caused you. Please understand that Lady Alinor's description of the dangers of the labyrinth have troubled everyone."
"So you've been down there?" asks Alinor.
''Yes,'' says Goatie. ''My griffin and I sort of stumbled into an . . . . alternative entrance?''
Alinor nods. "I know the one. We'll have to post a guard there. One moment, please." She moves over to the duchess and they talk briefly.
When they are done, Duchess Rietta speaks to Daniel. "We are prepared to offer the following. First, Lord Cyril will go to your castle tomorrow and begin to negotiate a deal with Lord Urbien. In the meantime, your entire party may be housed within our walls under the condition that if any of them cause trouble with any of the other residents you all must leave immediately. And, we would like your assistance investigating the labyrinth. You will all sleep here tonight, and then a small group will enter the tunnels tomorrow."
''Yes,'' says Goatie. ''My griffin and I sort of stumbled into an . . . . alternative entrance?''
Alinor nods. "I know the one. We'll have to post a guard there. One moment, please." She moves over to the duchess and they talk briefly.
When they are done, Duchess Rietta speaks to Daniel. "We are prepared to offer the following. First, Lord Cyril will go to your castle tomorrow and begin to negotiate a deal with Lord Urbien. In the meantime, your entire party may be housed within our walls under the condition that if any of them cause trouble with any of the other residents you all must leave immediately. And, we would like your assistance investigating the labyrinth. You will all sleep here tonight, and then a small group will enter the tunnels tomorrow."
OOC: LordTigress Whoops, forgot to tag you. How does Daniel respond?
Alinor nods. "I know the one. We'll have to post a guard there. One moment, please." She moves over to the duchess and they talk briefly.
When they are done, Duchess Rietta speaks to Daniel. "We are prepared to offer the following. First, Lord Cyril will go to your castle tomorrow and begin to negotiate a deal with Lord Urbien. In the meantime, your entire party may be housed within our walls under the condition that if any of them cause trouble with any of the other residents you all must leave immediately. And, we would like your assistance investigating the labyrinth. You will all sleep here tonight, and then a small group will enter the tunnels tomorrow."
OOC: LordTigress Whoops, forgot to tag you. How does Daniel respond?
Daniel looks reluctant, but a warning glance from Lucas seals his fate. As gracefully as he can, he replies, "Very well. We accept."
OOC: LordTigress Whoops, forgot to tag you. How does Daniel respond?
Daniel looks reluctant, but a warning glance from Lucas seals his fate. As gracefully as he can, he replies, "Very well. We accept."
"Excellent."
As evening sets in, the rest of the expedition is brought into the fortress. They are supplied beds, and though most are left with little space or privacy, it is comfortable. The refugees greet them kindly, and even the duchess's soldiers seem friendly enough. Daniel, Lucas, and Goatie are supplied with their own small rooms away from the larger common spaces into which most of the others are packed. After eating a warm dinner, they settle in for the night.
Daniel, Lucas, Goatie, Liam, Ivor, and Azril are woken with the dawn and brought back to the hall, where breakfast is served. There, they meet the rest of the group that will accompany them into the labyrinth. Three Zweihand soldiers are there, all human men, named Anzo, Brandr, and Stig. From the refugees, they are joined by an orcish woman named Ninoslava, a human woman named Melisende, and an old goblin woman, apparently a witch of some kind, named Visnja. Finally, Lady Alinor herself takes a seat at the table, armored in chainmail with a sword strapped at her side.
Daniel looks reluctant, but a warning glance from Lucas seals his fate. As gracefully as he can, he replies, "Very well. We accept."
"Excellent."
As evening sets in, the rest of the expedition is brought into the fortress. They are supplied beds, and though most are left with little space or privacy, it is comfortable. The refugees greet them kindly, and even the duchess's soldiers seem friendly enough. Daniel, Lucas, and Goatie are supplied with their own small rooms away from the larger common spaces into which most of the others are packed. After eating a warm dinner, they settle in for the night.
Daniel, Lucas, Goatie, Liam, Ivor, and Azril are woken with the dawn and brought back to the hall, where breakfast is served. There, they meet the rest of the group that will accompany them into the labyrinth. Three Zweihand soldiers are there, all human men, named Anzo, Brandr, and Stig. From the refugees, they are joined by an orcish woman named Ninoslava, a human woman named Melisende, and an old goblin woman, apparently a witch of some kind, named Visnja. Finally, Lady Alinor herself takes a seat at the table, armored in chainmail with a sword strapped at her side.
Goatie sits, eating his food. He seems preoccupied. Finally he finishes, turns to a Anzo and asks, 'I would like to prepare to leave; and do you know where Jed. . er. . . my griffin is, by any chance?'
As evening sets in, the rest of the expedition is brought into the fortress. They are supplied beds, and though most are left with little space or privacy, it is comfortable. The refugees greet them kindly, and even the duchess's soldiers seem friendly enough. Daniel, Lucas, and Goatie are supplied with their own small rooms away from the larger common spaces into which most of the others are packed. After eating a warm dinner, they settle in for the night.
Daniel, Lucas, Goatie, Liam, Ivor, and Azril are woken with the dawn and brought back to the hall, where breakfast is served. There, they meet the rest of the group that will accompany them into the labyrinth. Three Zweihand soldiers are there, all human men, named Anzo, Brandr, and Stig. From the refugees, they are joined by an orcish woman named Ninoslava, a human woman named Melisende, and an old goblin woman, apparently a witch of some kind, named Visnja. Finally, Lady Alinor herself takes a seat at the table, armored in chainmail with a sword strapped at her side.
Goatie sits, eating his food. He seems preoccupied. Finally he finishes, turns to a Anzo and asks, 'I would like to prepare to leave; and do you know where Jed. . er. . . my griffin is, by any chance?'
Goatie sits, eating his food. He seems preoccupied. Finally he finishes, turns to a Anzo and asks, 'I would like to prepare to leave; and do you know where Jed. . er. . . my griffin is, by any chance?'
"Of course. Go ahead." She directs him to the location of the courtyard and the spot where they placed Jednook.
Goatie thanks Alinor, gets up and stacks his breakfast bowl and utensils in a neat pile. He then heads for the courtyard. He finds Jenook among the Lion horses, looking very dirty after, it seems, rummaging in the rubble outside the Fortress.
'We're off into the labyrinth, Jed,' he says to the griffin, feeding the creature a piece of meat he has kept from breakfast. 'Ready?'
Jednook eats the treat and looks downcast; but he follows Goatie willingly enough back to where their companions are.
"Of course. Go ahead." She directs him to the location of the courtyard and the spot where they placed Jednook.
Goatie thanks Alinor, gets up and stacks his breakfast bowl and utensils in a neat pile. He then heads for the courtyard. He finds Jenook among the Lion horses, looking very dirty after, it seems, rummaging in the rubble outside the Fortress.
'We're off into the labyrinth, Jed,' he says to the griffin, feeding the creature a piece of meat he has kept from breakfast. 'Ready?'
Jednook eats the treat and looks downcast; but he follows Goatie willingly enough back to where their companions are.
Goatie mounts his steed.
Leaving the courtyard, they see a human man sitting against the wall. From the worn and tattered state of his clothing, he could almost be dismissed as a pile of rags. Thick bandages enshroud his head and right arm. Goatie can see through the folds of clothing that his left arm is missing. Through an oily, unwashed black beard matted with dirt and hair to match, the man scowls up at them as they pass.
Goatie thanks Alinor, gets up and stacks his breakfast bowl and utensils in a neat pile. He then heads for the courtyard. He finds Jenook among the Lion horses, looking very dirty after, it seems, rummaging in the rubble outside the Fortress.
'We're off into the labyrinth, Jed,' he says to the griffin, feeding the creature a piece of meat he has kept from breakfast. 'Ready?'
Jednook eats the treat and looks downcast; but he follows Goatie willingly enough back to where their companions are.
Goatie mounts his steed.
Leaving the courtyard, they see a human man sitting against the wall. From the worn and tattered state of his clothing, he could almost be dismissed as a pile of rags. Thick bandages enshroud his head and right arm. Goatie can see through the folds of clothing that his left arm is missing. Through an oily, unwashed black beard matted with dirt and hair to match, the man scowls up at them as they pass.
Leaving the courtyard, they see a human man sitting against the wall. From the worn and tattered state of his clothing, he could almost be dismissed as a pile of rags. Thick bandages enshroud his head and right arm. Goatie can see through the folds of clothing that his left arm is missing. Through an oily, unwashed black beard matted with dirt and hair to match, the man scowls up at them as they pass.
