• Solo • [Forbidden Post] While the Hounds are Away, the Sheep will Stray

[Clavam]

1st of Cylus 722

Perhaps not the most opportune of seasons to consider mutiny or desertion. Yet Clavam had enough of the degradation, the spit of his 'comrades' for the cause of his punishment. And most of all, the desire to break free of it all, to run and make his own way in the world, rather than protecting the ant-hills these bucket-headed assholes relentlessly clung to. Clavam wanted no part of it, and though he had enough on his side in this place to make a go of it, they would be a challenge to sway.

So he brought the matter to Gladis. He figured she owed him a favor for distracting those assailants long enough to reunite her with her pet raven and guide her back to the Post. At least, that was his hope. He found her between the corridor leading into the Eyrie of Eilleen. He dipped his head in acknowledgment, yet she made no motion to pause but walked along by him.

He reached out to take her by the arm. "Hey, I need to talk." He said quietly.

"Oh?" She shook off his hand and squared with him as if to wait and hear what he had to say. Clavam was aware that it usually had to be compelling enough to get her to stay put.

"I want to discuss our options," Gladis had mentioned to him, or rather hinted subtly, that there was a way out of the Forbidden Post. And if ever they were to make good their escape, it would need to be within the next few seasons. He didn't know why she would risk telling him of all people. While yes he was technically a deserter, he had more to prove to the brass than others. It was a risk, in that he could've tried to redeem his reputation among the Post by reporting on her mutinous intentions.

He still wasn't entirely sure she was on the up and up, but he was fed up. Better to get carted back off to Etzos for execution, than waste another moment in this living hell. At least he stood a chance of getting beset by raiders or monsters on the way and making a risky escape from there. These were the fantastical thoughts that occurred to him from time to time. Scenarios where he might escape popped into his mind every now and again.

It was hard to tell which plans were hair-brained fantasy, and which had a legitimate chance of success. Thoughts of escape were the best way he had to keep his own spirits up, that and the company of six or so friends he'd made, to insulate himself against the rest of the Post.

"Meet me later, in Bassett's office," Gladis said as if the mention of Bassett wouldn't set him positively fucking off of his nerve. Bassett's office. Really? Why in the hell would she risk talking about escape in Bassett's office? Unless this was a trap. Or a test of trust.

Gladis was a capable sneak and seemed to have a handle on intelligence around the fort. She'd informed for Clavam and his unit on occasion and had good information. Almost too much so. He would have to think about this.

[Clavam]

Before Clavam even considered the mutinous, rebellious action of raiding Bassett's office with Gladis, before he contemplated leaving the Forbidden Post, he needed to know the mood of his corner of the barracks. He needed to be there anyway, as the requested meeting had been set for the middle of the night when Bassett would be otherwise occupied overseeing some routine operation on the Spit. It seemed like a good idea, anyway, to hole up where the rest of the soldiers slept, and creep off into the night when they'd all started snoring. So he sat in his bunk and looked out across the way at his closest mates in this forsaken post.

Nall Waller was the leader of them all. She had a tight grip on the leadership of their small party, a real drill sergeant type. But even she seemed to be off this evening. He couldn't quite place it, but something about the way she cast looked around and was real silent put him off his guard. So he didn't bother talking to her. Talking with Nall rarely led where you wanted it to, anyway. She was a hard case to get through to if ever there was one.

Leronis Lenderly was close to Mama Joe and tended the kitchen with her. She'd be their lifeline to much-needed rations if they were to take a break. As for her mood, Clavam couldn't well figure that out just by looking at her. But she did seem upset about something. Nall was too protective of her though, enough that Clavam didn't want to stick his nose in it.

Then there was Culler Roote, the Sev'ryn from Rhakros. If there was anything worse than a deserter in the eyes of the men and women of the Post, it was a traitor. He'd turned coat on his former masters in Rhakros, and joined the Etzori army willingly. Not only that, but on the way out of the chaos, when everyone had left Clavam for dead, Culler had been there to save his life, and pull him out of the green soup that Lisirra's forces had poured over them all. Truth was, Clavam still owed him that favor back. Yet if there was anyone he was sure he could convince to turncoat on the Post, it was Culler.

Then there was Kurt Vane, and Dock Massey. Kurt was once a cat burglar, operating in the lower districts of the Rock. Not the best at stealing, but he could sneak around and had a sharp ear and eyes. Thing was, he hated Dock Massey. Clavam never bothered to learn why, or if they had a history going back to before they were sent to the Post. But he suspected it may have been in Dock's background as a vandal and destroyer of personal property. He'd be their key to break out if they had one at all. He was a sapper and a competent siege engineer. Good at undermining structures and such. Since Kurt couldn't pick a lock worth a damn, Dock would be the way to break any barriers that were thrown in their way, or so Clavam assumed. Maybe that was why Kurt hated Dock. He just made it look easy to get into places.

Whatever the case, Clavam wasn't getting anything from the men about their mood, other than an underlying unease that was somewhat unusual. Perhaps Gladis had already gotten to them and worked her 'magic'. He supposed he'd find out later when he met her.

Clavam waited for the rest to fall asleep, before creeping up, and out of the barracks. He wound his way through the subterranean corridors to Bassett's office, ready to fly or die, whatever sleeper had in mind.

[Clavam]

Clavam crept out of the barracks, careful not to alert any of his sleeping comrades. He'd gauged the mood of his unit, and knew them to be on edge for one reason or another. He suspected that Gladis had gotten to them, and worked them over. He'd figure out what she'd told each, whether it was the same thing or a different lie catered to each one. She was a skilled liar, he knew, from their games playing pass the ace and poker in the mess hall. Gladis also had background as some sort of spy. He was sure of it, the way she always seemed to find her way into important information, such as the Houndmaster having been missing since Zi'da.

But all these thoughts melted away as he focused on his steps, keeping them soft and silent as he plodded through the barracks, past all the beds. Eventually he made it to the outer corridor, from which it was a short and easy trip to creep alone until he made it to Bassett's office.

Taking a silent, yet deep breath, he turned the corner from the threshold leading in. He was surprised to find a candle lit there, but no Bassett. No Gladis either. Odd.

He approached the candle, and saw a dossier of sorts laid out in front of it. Clavam furrowed his brow. His name was on it, Clavam. A dossier about him? Did they keep one on every soldier press ganged into this prison? He wondered about that.

Then, he opened the dossier, and what he saw he could barely believe. Mentions of a son of Raskalarn, of a destiny wrapped up in the fate of Etzos, of conspiracies and theories and prophecies. And a vague mention of a diri of Domination and the Prince of Eternal Mercies. Whatever the hell that meant. It sounded stupid to his ears.

But then... himself, a mortalborn? That would explain some things, like his uncanny luck that bordered on supernatural. His ability to heal from fatal wounds, such as the spear in the gut he'd received from that Webspinner in the Rhakros jungles.

He didn't dismiss the possibility. But read onward, only to see the rest was written in Ith'ession, a language he knew well enough when spoken, but wasn't the best at reading their script. He turned the dossier over, and closed it. With a deep breath, he leaned over the dossier, wondering if this was just a trick by Gladis to get him on her side for a mutiny or an escape.

Did it matter?

"So, it's time we were frank with each other.." Came a soft voice from the threshold. It was Gladis. "I've been looking a long time for you, Clavam. And now, I know you're the one I was sent to retrieve."

[Jackalope]

Experience: +10 xp

Knowledge:

Intelligence: x 2
Leadership: Gauging the mood among your party.
Leadership: Considering the background and proclivities of your party, to better understand how to lead them.
Stealth: x 2

Skillplay: Appropriate to level.

Loot: Clavam’s dossier.
Injuries/Overstepping: None.
Renown: None.
Wealth Points: None.
Collaboration: no
Magic Experience?: No.

Comments:

First some administrative stuff: some details on your CS are out-of-date. There are still a couple scattered references to discontinued skills, such as Trap Making. Also, it turns out that Untrained is no longe a skill tier. If you have anything at all in a skill, even just one knowledge or one xp, you’re Novice. There was some discussion amongst my colleagues just earlier about how much sense that rule actually makes, but for now, it’s the rule. So please edit your CS.

That aside, I enjoyed this thread. First, your concept for Clavam and how he relates to his Mortalborn status is interesting. I appreciated how his preternatural luck has skewed his sense of what sort of plans are feasible, and how he’s at least partly aware of this.

The reveal at the end by which he gets his first clue that he’s MB was well done, especially since you set things up as either an “Oceans X” type heist story, or as a double-cross. I was not expecting the ending I got at all!

I am interested to see what Clavam and Gladis and all the others get up to going forward. Does the revelation actually change Clavam’s intentions or even plans? We’ll see!

Enjoy your rewards!