IC Scene - The Duke's Wharf

The Dawnite continued to approach the knight, cautious and expecting the worst. He started to reconsider what he was doing, but he was interrupted by Klaus. He ceased his approach.

Lucius considered the Griffon's words and gathered his thoughts. "What is there to discuss?" he questioned. "Have the Griffons reconsidered supporting the Duchess? And who is this injured man you speak of?" The suspicion in the Dawnite's voice was quite clear, even to those unfamiliar with his Amalan accent.

The three noble knights paused a moment. They exchanged looks then slowly leaned over and placed their swords and shields on the ground, each item clinking as it hit the pavement. Several outriders dismounted and detained the men, who were already dismounting.

Activity down the road caught the attention of those gathered. The men they had rescued were filing into a nearby building, one borne on a stretcher, still others being braced by their fellows. Sir John was already returning, his face grim.

"Sir Gilaver, news from Sir Klaus! Several of the rebel orders are approaching from the end of the street. Cross, Dawn and Dragons. He asked for you to meet him in the building where his men are setting up. However...." He grimaced. "I think he's gone to talk to the approaching orders. I'm not quite sure why, perhaps to stall them, but..." He let the words hang.
______

The peasants slowed as they heard the priests' words. Unfortunately, they had dropped their arms long before; their hands were empty. It didn't take long for both men to notice there were only four, a dirty, sweat-stained group whose eyes still looked terrified. Whatever they had encountered had shaken them.

Of course, the Mettenheimer they were speaking to now was likely not the only man they had encountered beyond the bend.

[OOC: I'm just going to let the conversation continue as is. Also, any apologies if John is acting out of character. >.>]

The man above the gate looked clearly perplexed by Javier's antics.

"Do you even have any idea what you're talking about? I mean, you deduced the colors correctly, but I'm not sure how you thought that would convince me to let you in. You just made it clear that you're just trying to deceive me by claiming to support Captain Barbarossa and Valdor."

He stood silent again, waiting for a response. Though he was a bit far, it was entirely possible he was grinning.

"Sir Lucius," Aelos said joyfully as he approached on his courser from somewhere in the back. While the armorless knight rode up to the meeting of sorts, his Dragons joined the ranks behind them without a word.

"In Ravenstern we say that you can always trust a King's man to play a ruse,"

He then looked at the Griffon who had spoken in that funny accent and his face hardened a little.

"Don't issue threats, foreigner. It wasn't so long ago that the King's men attacked the poor people of Windholm without warning. Explain yourself first and then, perhaps, your man shall live."

Klaus looked about to reply when the Dragon interrupted, and shook his head in consternation at the man's inference.

"It was not threat, forgive. My Pendor, not so good. I try learn, but it make time. I try say that enemy not who we think. Not rebel, not duchess. If I in your place, I think ruse too. I feel stupid stand here, but if I must do to save man's life, then I make do it. Show import of his life, no?" he then turned back to Sir Lucius, addressing the Dawnite directly.

"You are Dawn man, yes? This is goed! The wounded man, he is innocent, men try to murder. We stop it. Rebels attack, situation get very bad. We try withdraw when you arrive. I think you fight for justice? Then give him justice. Send doctor, we talk and tell you what happened. Make own decision then."

He then glanced at the empty buildings uncertainly, although his face was neutral his fingers were fidgeting and betraying his discomfort.

"But not here, I no like stand here in middle of road. Very danger. Make hurry though, he bleed still. We try to dress wound, but I am not skill doctor like radiant!"

Gilaver looked at Sir John.

"Affirmative, Sir John. Go back to Klaus' troop and wait for commands. I will follow shortly."

As John left, Gilaver turned to look at the troops near him.

"Gryphons with me, consider yourselves part of Klaus' unit from this moment on and follow his orders. Join the group in the house. Knights, stay here with the Clarion Call and Nobles. My promise still holds, even if I'm elsewhere: so no abusing or intimidating the prisoners."

After issuing his orders, Gilaver joined the Gryphons in the walk to the house Sir John had pointed to.

Lucius looked to the Dragon on horseback and offered him a nod. "Good of you to join us, Sir Aelos," the Dawnite said.

He then turned his attention to Sir Klaus and leveled a fiery stare at him, even though his helmet kept his expression hidden. "You say that neither the Duchess or the Rebels are the enemy, yet you and your compatriots clearly just slaughtered citizens of Windholm in the name of the Duchess," Sir Lucius began. "You say this wounded man is innocent, yet you provide no proof nor do you identify him. You say your men are withdrawing, but I see no evidence of this. You offer nothing but words."

The Dawnite paused, letting the silence linger longer than necessary. He took that moment to study the building that Klaus previously indicated, then broke the silence. "Why should I believe you? Why should I allow us to walk into a potential trap with those who clearly stand against the Goddess?" he asked, resting his right hand on the hilt of his weapon.

"We not make massacre men of Windholm, you forget the city watch also live here. It is they city too..." Klaus immediately answered, the accusation clearly cutting him. Klaus suddenly fell silent after his curt answer, his gaze lingering on the hilt of the Dawnite's sword, his own hand now clenching and unclenching with the strain. Looking up suddenly, he glared right at Sir Lucius.

"I make many offer, I offer men as hostage, I offer myself as hostage." Klaus stated, his voice flat but louder and more confident. He then continued, his voice growing deliberately louder still.

"We not need to talk, we need a doctor! We have wounded man! If we not get doctor, then he will die!" he continued, voice rising more, purposefully emphasizing certain words, hoping that the watching radiant cross would hear.

"So do we get help, or will you leave the man to bleed?" he added, voice low once again, eyes narrowed as his gaze bored accusingly into the two men standing before him.

"Drop your weapons and accept the role of hostage, foreigner. You seem to have command, so I want you at the mercy of the Dragons if this is indeed a ruse."

Aelos smiled and signalled his knights to approach slowly. The plated knights of the Dragon made full use of their fearfull reputation by keeping their faceplates shut and shield at the ready.

"Last chance or your man dies, drop your weapons and let my knights escort you into our lines."

Morek had fixed the rebels that had run with a stern helmeted gaze before sending them back to the lord commanding the forces at the wharf to give a report. The cowards had thrown away their weapons, they were of no use here unarmed. They would fight harder to redeem themseles of their shame, at least morek hoped they would. The emphazised words caught the radiants attention afterwards.

The front rank of the assembled battle line parted and a large man in black armor with white crosses emblazoned on his chest and helmet moved towards the meeting. Morek had heard what klaus had shouted and moved towards the small knot of men. His conquistadors present at his back, their shields ready and fearsmoe claymores resting on their shoulders.

"Men are wounded and die in battle, mettenheimer. Im sure the rebels that did not managed to run require my attentions as well. What makes this man of yours any different. If I am to risk myself or mymen just him is unacceptable. His greatswords will join him."

Klaus glanced at the advancing dragons out the corner of his eye, his hand now fully clenched, the knuckles white with tension. When the commander of the radiant cross appeared, he relaxed and nodded at the demand. Raising his hand to the buckle holding his greatsword, he undid it and threw the scabbarded weapon to one of the dragons, followed shortly by the longsword at his side.

"I will have to go with you" Klaus stated "or my men will shoot you. I will tell you all when we are inside, my greatswords will trade places with you and the doctor when we arrive, accept?"

"Not acceptible. You have a healthy voice, yell them to come over. "

Aelos dismounted and gave Sir Karstan the reigns. His swordhand firmly on his longsword now, he approached the now unarmed Griffon.

"Mount my horse and tell your men to follow your gracious example."

The radiant knight shook his head. "Before you go to fetch him you will tell me who he is and what is so important about him that he is worth the lives of griffon knights."

Klaus glanced at the horse, and with a deep breath he approached it taking the reigns from the knight. The horse shook his head, almost yanking the leather from Klaus's grip. The Mettenheimer put his hand out to steady the beast, but he would not touch it. His hand visibly shook as he held it over the head of the horse. Klaus clenched his hand to try and still it, and taking a another deep breath he reached out again but this time the trembling was far worse, his whole arm shook. So engrossed was he that he entirely missed the radiant speaking.

Sir Aelos frowned at the spectacle and ignored the priest. His focus was on the Griffon and that man took too much of his time.

"I thought your man was bleeding to death, now mount that horse or be the reason he dies."

With an angry look towards the largest of the Dragon knights, he added "Alm, go help him get on that horse."

Morek shrugged before clapping a hand on aelos shoulder.

"Dragon knight, have him tell the greatswordsto approach unarmed and armored. Have then bring the wounded man here upon a stretcher to us as well."

Sir Aelos nodded, but turned to face the priest' helmet before returning his focus on the Griffon.

"I'll have him on that horse first. You are a wise man, priest, but these are not affairs for a man of the medicinal profession."

His voice hardened when he spoke to the hostage again, "you heard the priest."

Sir Lucius remained silent as he observed what transpired, seemingly finding the terms dictated by the Dragon acceptable. However, his hand very clearly remained on his weapon as he watched Klaus attempt to mount the horse. Whatever he was thinking certainly wasn't clear.

[Sir Javier Kristoph Doyle]

"My good sir, I am absolutely certain I have no idea what I speak of." was Javier's response to the guardian's statement.

"I know not of this color system, or know much of the entire rebellion itself. My orders are to simply report to the Harbor, however..."

Javier glanced around to his men. A smile crept on their faces as they began thinking in unison.

"We may very well be available for some free time. You see, we have been terribly bored as of late. Besides the evacuation order, my men and I would like to shred a little bit of blood before possibly leaving Windholm."

"Besides," continued Javier as he slipped further from sanity, "one hundred men or more affiliated of the Duchess, well stockpiled and fortified may very well be a interesting diversion...

Perhaps... We may pillage that precious ship of hers and scuttle the others to prevent her possible departure from sea..."

With that, Javier went silent, possibly going through other scenarios in his head.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[Javier's Messengers]

The trio of Robert, Nikolai, and Victor arrive at the Duke's Wharf from the Harbor. However, Javier and his men were nowhere to be found.

"What now?" asked Robert.

"...We stand watch. Let us find a vantage point and observe both Duchess and Rebel forces. We shall await Javier's arrival." commanded Victor.

"Shall we split up to perform better in our reconnaissance?" suggested Nikolai.

"...No. We must remain as we are. Let us find that vantage point."

"Yes sir!" replied the two Ghilmen.

[Action: The trio attempt to find a vantage point that can observe both Rebel and Duchess forces.]

"Unnatuur..." Klaus mumbled to himself, still staring at the horse. His hand dropped to his side forgotten. The horse swung his massive head over to regard the Mettenheimer, its nostrils flaring at the metallic smell that emanated from the man, before neighing loudly and shaking its head so that its mane swung. Klaus ignored the display, seemingly transfixed by the animal.

Alm approached the horse, and putting a hand on it calmed the animal, then gestured to the Mettenheimer, but Klaus did not react.

OCC : Wasn't sure how to use Alm in this, I suspect that he would try to lift Klaus on to it next but I didn't want to presume.

Sir Aelos walked over to Klaus' swords and picked them up from the ground. He started to feel a little uncomfortable this far in front of Lucius' wyverns and the urge to wrap this up grew while the Griffon refused to saddle up.

"Dragons, fall back. Alm escort our prisoner on foot. Karstan, take his swords from my hands."

Simple orders and a few moments later Karstan had Klaus' greatsword on his back and the sword strapped on his destrier. Alm had put one of his huge plated hands on Klaus' back and slightly pushed him towards the Wyvern line while holding his own destriers' reigns in the other hand.

Aelos mounted his courser and smiled at Lucius and Morek,

"Personally, I'd ignore the man this foreigner speaks off. But it is your choice, priest. May Astraea shine on your path, where ever it leads you to."

With a small bow, he turned to follow his Dragons who had formed a triangle around Klaus. Alm in the back, and Sirs Karstan and Wulven on both sides of the Griffon.

Morekn stood in their path, blocking it.

"That is the wrong way dragon knight. Take him back towards his own lines to deliever the terms so that I might have this man brought to me. I will see what I can do, but not waste my time on a lost cause."

"Step aside, priest. This man belongs to Dragon Order of Rane and it is foolish to approach those archers."

The three Dragons closed their formation and had their hands ready to draw swords. Sir Alm, who was backed by his destrier, even went so far to unsheath his sword the second Aelos spoke.

Sir Aelos' eyes were fixed on the priest's helmet with an angry stare.

Moreks helmet was staring back with its usual blank expression. "the cold up north must have frozen your brain. You'd take one griffon kinght over six?"

Moreks voice was level, and it was a fight to keep a tone that one would use when talking to a fool out of his voice.

"Just stick him around the corner, have him call his orders out and bring him back. The archers will see him and no other."

Moreks conquistadors did not like how alm was bearing steel at them, and closed in front of morek in response. Behind their wyvern shielders, the plaugewarden crossbowmen checked one last time to ensure they were loaded and ready. They were.

"You are a damned fool if you think that would actually work, Priest. And keep your conquistadors in check, Ferdinand of Barclay saw no use in their kind and I'd gladly finish his work right here and now."

Aelos' courser was kicking the road beneath and felt its master's intention.

"You should've stayed doing whatever you did before joining that Pendoran crusade. The Griffon is mine and any attempt to stop me ends with his head detached from his body."