"The Quest, for the Knights. A quest, for Pip."
"Go now, all of you Knights; be absolved by the Lady's Grail, know peace by her hand. As for you, Pip? You will seek out the darkest Cults of the Borderlands, and shall purge them; and when you have returned, sword in hand and their banners bound in your belt and in your pack, fifty in all and cloaked in blood, are brought here to be burnt, then you will be absolved." You turn to the rest of them, voice high. "You shall all set out high noon, tomorrow; tonight you shall rest, pray and prepare, while provisions, armor, and a weapon are prepared for your journey."
They all shuffle off at that, except for the Baron Rambert. "My son, my daughter, my children..." He looks to you, then, as one father to another and not as a traitor to a Duke. "It was not meant to be like this, you know? I have no ill will for you; indeed, had it only been their lives threatened, I would have said 'no', always, always, always. But to send my son, Bastard or no, back from whence I liberated him? Never. They would break him."
Your stare is blank as you look to him. "Why? What makes the Druchii so fearful to you, so terrible for your son?"
"The boy has no Mother. I awoke, in their cells, to find him, red-haired and breathing fitful, of my blood, as through his eyes I knew him to be of me. I know not their plans for him, or indeed if 'twere not mere happenstance or sadism; whatever the case I will not let those...beasts... have him."
You walk to him and clasp his shoulder. "He...they... will be safe."
He breathes heavily, before walking to the dungeon, where his chains are removed, his armor such that it is stripped, and he placed in a more comfortable cell, with a small bed and a window.
You walk to your scribes, then and have them make right letters for the Ramberts. They deserve to know that no matter what, the fiefdom itself shall be theirs, as is right; Sir Aldric would beat you over the head if he even thought you were contemplating turning women out. As for the Barony itself...
[] Men of more loyal stuff will be found to hold it, a loyal vassal made and a man rewarded.
[] It shall be passed to kin, to be administrated fairly until Rambert's return or death.
- [] Rambert's wife, Agnes (Excellent Administrator, Opinion unknown)
- [] His son, Adrien (Great Administrator, Decent Opinion, 5-7/10
- [] His daughter, Alix (Good Administrator, Grail Acolyte Bonus: Opinion 8-10/10)
- [] The Bastard Child, Daniel (Skill unknown, Opinion unknown)
[] The Barony will pass to his heir, indefinitely
In any case, the deed done, you march up to the last tower, the last door, Morgyan by your side. You had hoped, you had prayed that your sister might have let go of so many things...
Still, best not to dwell on it. She will poke at any wound she can find to hurt you, to make you bleed. Don't give her the satisfaction.
(Have not yet developed any traits)