Hunt for the Nuer Assassin
Shackled, Fell is escorted to the emergency sitting of the Governing Council of Claviscero. Titus is already there and Arrius arrives with Somme Palishar. Fauwren chairs the meeting and questions the Arrius, Fell and Titus as to their observations and role into his attempted assassination. Somme raises his concerns that a Recursor being involved in the nuer uprising will only make matters worse. Fell tells of the minotaur who collapsed a grand stand and all eyes turn to the mercenary leader Muir Durilix. Duirilix rebuts, stating that the minotaur, Tetoaro, is no longer under his command and headed south some weeks ago. Fauwren asks Titus to seek out and capture the warlock that tried to assasinate him. Somme, wary of Fauwren's patrican allegiances, demands that Arrius accompany Titus on the search. Fell struggles to convince the Council that his powers to call on nature are a function of prayer and not toch'thonicism and the decision is made that his freedom will be granted if he can capture the nuer leader.
Arrius decides to look to his own network to find any information about the nure leader. He tutns to Somme at the carder's guild. Somme tells of the Seermaul clan and that one of the young Seermaul women with striking red hair and whitest of white skin, is a talented nuer. Somme is sure the conspirators headed south but whether they headed to Bante or Chilatore, he is unsure. Arrius, frustrated, asks one final question, which village grows grapes. Somme answers, Chilatore.
The companions march straight for Chilatore. By mid-morning of the following day, they descend down into the rich grape growing region of Chilatore on the banks of the Chomb. The view from one side of the valley reveals the river which requires crossing two bridges, where the river splits, to reach Chilatore village itself. At the first bridge they encounter three children playing on a sandy reach of the river and the children note a vineyard where the previous occupants, left the homestead in a wagon, fas asleep. New tenants moved in right away. Titus suspects the original owners may be deceased.
When they reach town they enter the Corn and Cork Inn. There's an anxious energy among the patrons. Plowmen and pickers hudle at the small tables are and keen to not engage with the new arrivals.
A Vardis Lancer arrives soon after the mutton stew and ale is served. Titus is quick to engage with the soldier but the soldier is evasive. He's unsure of his direct superior and unconvincing about his role as a lone soldier stationed in Chilatore. The soldier defends that his role is to maintain the stable and steeds that are used by heralds carrying messages across the kingdom. Given cross-examination the soldier makes an all to quick exit from the Inn and Arrius tails him as he leaves. The soldier crosses the street and then starts running down a side alley. Arrius runs after him with Fell and Titus not far behind. The soldier runs toward the Chomb, crosses the first bridge and along the track to the second bridge. Arrius moves to the side of the track, taking cover among the copse of large trees either side of the track.
Arrius signals to Fell and Titus that longbowmen lay in hiding just up ahead. It is too late. An arrow slams into Fell throwing onto his back. Enraged, Fell draws on the river and raises a thick fog between Titus and himself and the concealed longbowmen. Arrius remains concealed and throws a dagger at one of the longbowmen and kills him. Titus runs through the fog to close the distance with the attackers and engages the archers. A melee ensues. The soldier runs toward the bridge and moves to sound his bugle but another dagger from the rogue bursts through his neck killing him instantly.
As Arrius moves to support titus and Fell in the battle against the remaining the longtbowmen he hears the sound of cloven foot falls behind him. He turns to see a mounted rider supported by two halberdmen running behind. With little time to reeact the mounted warrior, protected by shield and armed with a warhammer smashes Arrius back across the path. The halberdmen reach the melee with Titus and Fell and the reaching polearms take their toll.
Arrius tries to unseat the rider with ball bearings on the track but fails. The immense strength of the hulking seven foot tall rider crushes the rogue with a near fatal hammer strike. The warrior's skin has a greyish palour. Fell communes with the warrior's warhorse and the rider is thrown from his streed. Meanwhile, Arrius disengages and grabs a longbow and quiver taking cover among the trees.
The warrior turns toward Titus. A halberdmen seizes his opportunity and knocks Fell out cold. Arrius fires an arrow into a wounded longbowmen killing him. Titus fights on and the warrior demands that the Recursor yield or die. Titus surrenders and the halberdmen take his weapons and tie his hands. Fell is attended to and also restrained.
