Belim is a demobilized member of a company of dragoons from Dunstrand’s militia (“The Queen’s Own Tonbridge Dragoons”). Common born, his father is a trader, traveling between Dunstrand and Oerdney (where the family business includes distant relatives). While his father intended him to work in the family trading enterprise, Belim was restless in that role and instead worked his way into the city guard of Oerdney, thence into the High King’s army, and finally into the Tonbridge Dragoons. He is somewhat ambitious, as he believes proving one’s loyalty to King and Country on the battlefield is the surest way for someone of his standing to advance to a higher station. His company is battlefield trained, but takes on a variety of odd tasks (some some interesting, some mundane) during relative peacetime; including activities such as espionage, security details, and scouting. He met his current companions on one of these ‘assignments’—attempting to safeguard the reputation of a relatively minor but indiscreet noblewoman—in the Dunstrand region.
Belim and his unit have warred beside rangers in the past – and now a ranger has asked him to go to Bar-Innis. Much has been happening in what would normally be a completely out of the way place, beyond anyone’s notice. However, too much has been happening there and the rangers are worried. Activity always means interest – and by who they want to know. More patrols of Orrish scouts have been followed into Dunstrand coming from the east… are they following the trail of interest, or are they reinforcements for a force already there? The court of the Earl of Bar-Innis is the pace to go. There are a group of bannermen that have sparked a lot of interest – seek them out and join their band. Find out about them and report back. You arrive in the capital of Bar-Innis, the city of Mev on 9140 CY, Month 7, +29 days.
The scuttlebutt is that Farold Oshman (a knight in training and follower of Rastur the Lion Lord), Sandovhal Aelishan (a scholar, linguist, and decent shot with a bow – also follower of Rastur), and Hap Nii (Grollen – son of the Earl’s hunstman and one time cpl. in the city watch) have all left – there seems to be some tension in the group. Whatever strange happenings are going on in the area are hard to say yet – but if these guys have enemies, now would seem the time to strike. Apparently a halfling ‘freedom fighter’ from Loamwold has just joined the ranks before you got here, and the group is celebrating the return of the Dulak brothers – 2 brothers who are sons of a local land owner and grew up in the Earl’s court… both have a reputation as drinkers, fighters, gamblers, and ameteur comedians… from what you have seen they are undisciplined, unpredictable, yet loyal and fierce. The rest – Morgent is the son of one of the Earl’s bannermen and a magus, Porthias is away mostly, but the spiritual leader of the group and a follower of Rastur the Lion Lord (Green Church – the green church seems to be popular in these parts), and Alden – a troubleshooter who rumor has it has some skill in the magical arts. then there is the half breed half elf Hareen – accepted by the locals having grown up in court. His family is all gone. He is rash, quick with his tongue, and quite the bravado – seemingly more concerned with this looks than anything else. He works out constantly, with twin elvish short baldes, and seems quite skilled.
(Afterward was the Troubles in Mosshaven and Dunstrand Faire adventures…)
Note regarding Belim’s thoughts: There was some hem-n-haw around whether we might not rescue Catherine depending on how things are going. That wouldn’t be good RPing for me – Belim would never let that go. Abuse of power over others, toying with people, etc is his big beef in life. When polled, Belim is still “leaning strongly” to the kill-the-hag party. Probably best to hunt down this daughter too – best not to have vengeful descendants creeping up on us. Just a little dash of “you have to kill the whole family” samurai thinking there.
– What else? I’m happy to try intimidation at some point and don’t have any problem threatening her pigs, her creepy hut, or her life. She seems pretty nasty and Belim wouldn’t have much compunction about ridding the world of her. She did say “kill me, see what that gets you!” and being the curious sort I’m tempted to find out.
– And of course think about what we have to bargain with, because she’s going to want to do that. Souls are right out. Ideally there’s something of Eliash’s that she covets and we could give her if we defeat him, but I’m not holding out much hope for that sort of thing. Date night with Rabat? (Hags really dig that emo look.) Set herself up in the tower after Eliash is gone? [shrug]
So yeah, probably lower than 50% odds of (trying to) kill her unless she does or implies something particularly awful. This is the feywild and I’m happy to leave her here if we can get away clean. But leaving an innocent in her clutches is a deal breaker, so there’s that.
I think the last couple sessions cemented some stuff for Belim, which is good. Alignment: LN makes sense. Believes in the hierarchy, honoring your word, etc; but flavored by his (possibly a little delusional) belief in restoring a chivalrous heroic society from the past. “I will bring order and a benevolent rule – with fire and sword if necessary.” Anybody who takes advantage of their position to screw over others (outside of legal taxation, etc) is in the crosshairs too.
Also cemented: Belim’s a simple guy and rooted in the “real world” of Gladnor. Any of this feywild, alternate worlds, whatever is a load o’ bull and just as good as fairy tales to him. Law, chaos, good, evil are of little concern to him in those woo-woo realms. (It eases the moral rationalizations you know.) But not so in the Steel Realms – there, “word is bond yo”.