Episode 5: Norhund

Previously on Exalted: the Egg of Rodan:
Having rescued a nomad tribe from the depredations of the White Witch, a Fair Folk Noble, the Circle continues their journey southeast to the village of Norhund.

And now:

Norhund

Headless creates a Cloud Trapeze to carry everyone across the icy hills in style. The frozen terrain passes safely below them and the ice eventually gives way to gravel moraine, the occasional glacier, and deep fjords. Finally, they reach the village Norhund, a tiny coastal fishing village with a population of less than 300 and the most northern town accessible by sea, and even then only during the summer. Norhund is also a stopover point for the Haslanti Airship network. Appropriately, a tall derrick towers above the low sod buildings of the town.

Dontesse expects to find his personal yacht, the Marauding Enchantress, anchored in the harbor. Instead, he spies an Imperial squadron! Anchored in the fjord is an Imperial Trireme, four Biremes, and a Tender! A tent city has been set up on the outskirts of the town to accommodate 125 troops and support personnel! The circle wisely sets their cloud down in a fog bank in the valley on the other side of the hill south of town. They walk into Norhund at sunset and try to maintain as low a profile as possible. Headless, still glowing, waits with Jade and Traha in the valley.

Their first task was to attempt to question the dockmaster, but the poor soul was beset by a crowd of frustrated merchants. His offices had been co-opted by Imperial bureaucracy and he was too busy to respond to inquiries. So, while Dontesse, Broken Mountain Forge, and Gleaming Warrior retire to an out-of-the-way nook in the loft of “The Bloody Club”, a local inn favored by itinerant sailors, Netiso makes contact with Atun, a local smuggler he had met on his journey north.

Atun the Smuggler

Atun was the leader of a group of stevedores in Norhund. They load and unload the cargo, and redirect a small percentage to sell on the black market. Netiso buys Atun and his cronies dinner and drinks at the Bloody Club, ordering the finest Roast Beast (very expensive as the remote village is only accessible by water and all beef has to be imported) and a bottle of Lapish Firewater imported all the way from the Lap (the establishment had naught but 4 bottles, all procured by Atun himself). The innkeeper asked if he should set up a tab. Netiso put his finger through the hole in his empty pocket and replied “Yes”.

Atun expressed his frustration at the imperial presence. They had arrived seven days ago and blockaded the entire fjord. They kicked out all the ships in the harbor and prevented all other ships from docking. No reason was given and no logical explanation for the blockade could be imagined.

While he listened to Atun’s frustrations, Netiso pick-pocketed his coin-purse. When it came time to settle the tab, Netiso not only short-changed the innkeeper, he stiffed him on the tip and slipped away. The inn, by now, had filled with off-duty Imperial soldiers. Netiso moved among them unnoticed, listening to their conversations and measuring the temperature of uncensored Imperial opinion. Apparently, the common soldiers were at just as much a loss as to their purpose as the townsfolk. Then, over the din of the crowd, Netiso heard “You owe me more money!” He had been found by the innkeeper. Even though he owned up and paid the full amount of the tab, the innkeeper kicked him out and forbade him ever coming back.

The Affront

Late into the night, once the sun finally set in the Northwest, Headless, clad in a cloak, snuck into town. He initially missed his companions in the Bloody Club, but was spotted and retrieved by Dontesse. On their way up the stairs to their seat, Headless’s machine body stumbled and collided with a soldier. The soldier was outraged and demanded a new bottle of Lapish Firewater to replace his spilled drink, which, as Headless inwardly observed, was obviously cheap swill. Headless acquiesced, but secretly instructed the innkeeper to fill a recently emptied Lapish Firewater bottle with “Blind Man’s Bluff”, a cheap mixture of fruit juice laced with paint thinner favored by desperate sailors, and paid him accordingly.

Som Tang

The group was soon approached by a cloaked man. The man showed himself as a bald monk, a young man. He was nervous of the Imperial soldiers and furtively looked over his shoulders. He said his name was Som Tang and that their mutual employer told him to expect them. He had urgent news for them but it required more secrecy. When the innkeeper returned with their drinks, Dontesse requested a room. The innkeeper apologized because all the rooms had been rented by Imperials. He did, however, have a root cellar and some benches. Dontesse filled the innkeeper’s hands with gold, silver, jade, and gems from his purse and the innkeeper replied, “Give me a moment to make your room available”.

A few moments later, the innkeeper’s daughter informed the Circle that their room was ready, and that they should claim it quickly. As they hurried to their room, they passed the innkeeper desperately apologizing to an irate soldier and explaining that “due to an unfortunate leak, the beds in the room had been rendered unusable! We do, however, have a root cellar and some benches!”

Once in their room, Som Tang quickly searched for listening devices or peepholes. Once he was satisfied with the room’s security, he continued with his exposition.

He explained that he was a monk in the local temple and a compatriot of Iaro, the Seer that organized their quest, and that they should expect others like himself along their way. Each of them is in contact with Iaro and has been briefed on the situation and is to provide what aid they can.

The Imperials’ Motive

The Imperial squadron arrived seven days ago and took over the town and blockaded its port. It is uncertain what their motives are and it is unknown what the Haslanti League’s reaction will be, as Norhund is of little strategic importance whatsoever, and the Imperials will be forced to leave eventually, if only because the town is incapable of supporting so many people in the long term.

He said that Dontesse’s ship was forced to leave port when the Imperials arrived. The captain of the ship left word with Som Tang that he would hide out on the nearby Misty Island, a small island 40 miles off-shore. Although no ships are being allowed in or out of the fjord, Som Tang said he knew that an airship will be arriving in the morning as part of its scheduled run between Crystal and Icehome. Som Tang has arranged passage for the circle on the airship, which arrives at dawn. The Imperials will probably not allow any cargo to be loaded or unloaded, but they will be unable to stop the airship from docking. Som Tang said he has made arrangements with the captain to expect them and to drop them off at Misty Island, which is on the way. This airship will likely be their only way out of the town for some time. Headless harrumphed, but the Circle agreed, they would rest for the night and at dawn take the airship to Misty Island. Som Tang then left escorted by Broken Mountain Forge, who went off to find Netiso.

"Major Crescent of the Unblinking Eye"

Meanwhile, Netiso wandered the darkened boardwalks and gravel streets of the village looking for warmth. He saw the camp fires of the Imperial tent city built on the outskirts of town. The soldiers were standing around the fires while many had broken off to watch some competitive brawling. He screwed up his courage and walked straight towards it. He passed the guards unnoticed and walked straight up to the fire like he belonged there, affecting an aura of prestige and command. The other soldiers around the fire backed away uncertainly. Taking the initiative, he ordered them to obtain a bedroll for him, and while they were at it straighten up this camp and put more wood on the fire. They snapped to attention and went to work, grumbling. When some complained that there was no more wood, he ordered them to obtain some from neighboring camps. When they asked under whose authority, he impatiently barked “By the Authority of Major Crescent, that’s who!” Off they went.

Moments later, Netiso heard a loud voice from a neighboring camp, “Major WHO? We’ll see about this!” and over marched Major Nellons Haratha, commander of the 2nd Marine Wing of the 5th Dragon of the 14th Legion attached to House Peleps. Haratha demanded an explanation for why firewood was being confiscated from his own camp for another camp. Netsio confided with Haratha, explaining that he was Major Crescent, an agent of the Unblinking Eye, and that he was on a secret mission investigating the actions of Colonel Iselsi Tanar, commander of the 5th Dragon. He suspected this pointless mission might be some sort of distraction from a plot, or could be a part of some greater unknown plot the Eye was previously unaware of. Haratha was caught off guard and fell for the ruse, promising any secret help he could against his commanding officer, then ordered more firewood for Major Crescent.

Broken Mountain Forge soon found Netiso in the Imperial camp and retrieved him. They returned to the room in the inn which, given Netiso's reputation, required some diplomatic palm greasing with the innkeeper. Having to leave the Imperial camp annoyed Netiso. He was warm and comfortable by that fire!

Finally, a Good Night's Sleep

That night, Gleaming Warrior and Dontesse slept in one bed, Broken Mountain Forge and Netiso slept in the other, and Headless slept in his walking suit. The next morning, the Circle woke and prepared for the next leg of their journey.

They stopped off at the local blacksmith where Broken Mountain Forge exchanged a sword of his own forging for a chain hauberk. Offers from the Blacksmith to purchase the fine Orichalcum and Starmetal weapons and armor were turned down.

Leaving on an Airship

The derrick where the airship was moored was swarming with Imperial soldiers. The captain of the airship was arguing with the commander of the soldiers, Major Haratha. Netiso used his new “influence” to get past the soldiers and board the airship. He instructed Major Haratha to not only allow the airship’s cargo to be unloaded, but to take 10 percent of the cargo for himself. Haratha’s eyes sparkled and he let them past.

The Circle boarded the airship, under the command of Captain Meskalin, and they set off over the foggy ocean.

To be continued…