Starfall

[The Forgotten God]

The Seat of House Dayne. The beautiful castle sits on the Summer Sea and is the bastion against any Reach aggression. The legendary sword Dawn sits here, waiting for a knight worthy of it to claim the title of Sword of the Morning.

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

Septon Titus, formerly of House Gardener and now a member of the Moust Devout, arrives in the company of his entourage, which consists of a dozen knights of the Warrior's Sons, two junior septons and three servants. He announces himself to the guards.

"I've come to seek an audience with Lady Elsa," he explained.

[The Forgotten God]

The purple of House Dayne shines brightly in the bright Dornish sun, and the party is welcomed outside the town near the castle by two dozen men, led by a powerful looking knight with sandy blond hair. He looks at their banners and nods. "Members of the Faith are always welcome in Starfall," he said. "Lady Elsa is in her hall. I'm Ser Denys, her nephew," he added. He has his men wheel about as an escort. "Whom do I have the honor of addressing?"

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"Septon Titus, of the Most Devout, brother to the late king Grayson Gardener, and uncle to King Perceon. I come here on behalf of His Holiness the High Septon." Titus smiled warmly at the man.

He wore a black band around his wrist. Just because he was obliged to wear his septon's clothing, didn't mean he couldn't add a personal touch for mourning.

[The Forgotten God]

Denys nodded. "Condolences on your family's loss," he said. "I hope the son can..rectify some of his father's feelings towards Dorne." He looked at his retinue as he rode to the castle. "Lady Elsa has been busy of late, strange tidings have been reaching our ears of mass vanishings and murder most foul."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"We have heard the tales in Oldtown," Titus remarked. "The High Septon and the Most Devout are deeply concerned for the welfare of the people. "I have come to consult with Lady Elsa and to assure her that the Faith and the Reach are taking action to deal with similar problems we face across the border and to discuss whether the Faith may offer our support here in Dorne."

[The Forgotten God]

Denys nodded. "More good knights to hunt down scum is never bad," he said. "Lady Elsa's son and daughter scour the lands between here and High Harmitage even now." He looked about. "Ser Boros of the Warrior's Sons arrived from Skyreach a week ago, I am sure he'd love having a few extra men as well. The High Septon has declared the slavers some sort of public affront to the gods, according to a raven we received."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"And so they are," Titus replied. "Scum of the earth and heathens. He and I think as one on this matter. I am pleased to learn that House Dayne is working hard to rid their land of these vile creatures. It seems clear to me that it must be the same group operating both here and in the Reach. Do you know how far east they have been spotted?"

[The Forgotten God]

"Along the shores, all the way to Sandstone," he said, "they don't venture inland east of here. Fishing villages sacked and stripped of people and food, and much the same in the Reach, I hear. Princess Serena's fleet trapped and destroyed two of their vile number on the Sea of Dorne ten days ago, we received word yesterday," he said. "The ships burned with no survivors, but goods from Starfall and the Arbor were found floating in the debris after the vessels were torched. Would that Ghaston Grey were the size of Dorne," he said, "that we could fit all the scum on it then leave them to starve."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"Starvation is too good for such creatures," Titus replied. "You have my sympathies. I look forward to speaking with Lady Elsa."

[The Forgotten God]

They enter the castle, and Lady Elsa awaits them as promised. She is a stern looking woman in her late forties, but she rises and bows to the Most Devout as he enters. "Titus of the Most Devout," she said, "Welcome to Starfall," she said. "The presence of the Warrior's Sons has been of great comfort to the small folk of late. Please have a drink, let your followers have water and bread and fruit. I am sure youre all tired."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"You have my thanks for your kindness," Titus answered smoothly. "My men will gladly accept refreshment, as will I. You have a beautiful castle, my lady. I am delighted to discover that Starfall is truly as beautiful as they say. Did the High Septon send word ahead of my coming?"

[The Forgotten God]

"Of course," she said, "So we didn't consider it some sort of Reach invasion," she winked. "Also because this matter does greatly concern all good men and women, not strictly Reach or Dornish. You know how tensions get, so when the pontiff himself sends word, it assuages many doubts." She points to a guard who brings some people in, a woman missing half a nose, a few dead eyed children, and some men cut up and clearly beaten. "Survivors of the Elms, a town right next to the border, not two days away," she said. "A hundred fifty good fisherfolk and farmers and a sept the size of your bedroom in Oldtown, and this is all that's left," she admitted.

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"Gods be good," Titus murmured. "Unfortunate indeed. Are the poor things being cared for?" He spent more time feigning interest in the plight of the smallfolk than actually being concerned but this time he was genuinely moved to pity.

[The Forgotten God]

"They are staying in town for now," she said. "But this is the sixth village in Dorne to suffer the same fate. We hanged a few men we suspected of it not long ago, but many and more use the border to prevent either us or the Reachmen from pursuing too far." She shook her head. "And now there's a new king in Highgarden, and everything is uncertain."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"The new king is my own nephew and will surely wish to maintain the friendship of the Faith. I would hope he also sees the value of maintaining cordial relations with Dorne, particularly with the border lords and ladies like yourself. I could not say whether King Perceon has any notion of the trouble caused by these slavers but you may rest assured that I have every intention of ensuring that he does not remain in ignorance long," Titus replied. "A king should know all the troubles of his people, in order to help them where he may. After all, a king is father to his people."

[The Forgotten God]

"Well said," Lady Elsa agreed. "Let us hope this is a priority for him and Lady Hightower. I sense something powerful behind these men, never have common bandits been so cruel over such a territory. Usually they leave the locals alone to help conceal their presence from hunting knights."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"Troubling news," he murmured. "Have you managed to set anyone to watch and observe patterns in their behaviour? We need to find out where they are coming from?"

[The Forgotten God]

"They'd trike at night or day, their targets isolated and backward, no one who ill be initially missed. Survivors estimate there are perhaps a hundred of them, knowing peasants that means from fifteen to fifty, but they cause enough damage i find their guess reasonable. When our men arrive they cross the border until the food and water run low and then reform to strike again."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

Titus nodded. "Have you got anyone who can follow them and discover where exactly they are coming from, and who leads them? It seems to me that we would be best advised to take preventative measures if at all possible, since efforts to catch these men have so far proved ineffective."

[The Forgotten God]

She nodded. "We have tried and failed so far. I am hopefull that reinforcements will at least make their safe havens harder to get to and make them far more visible to us." She shook her head. "This is a different sort of threat than any of us are used to, indeed."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"We feel the same in Oldtown. You are right to protect your people as best you can we need to find a way to stop these men. As long as they are successful in their efforts, they will keep troubling you." He considered for a moment. "I wonder...have you interrogated the survivors of the Elms? I would like to speak to whichever of them is most capable of withstanding questions about their ordeal."

[The Forgotten God]

"We questioned them, but I am sure a septon of your standing is better suited for that delicate task," Elsa said. "Feel free to do as you must to assist us in eradicating this threat."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"Then I wish to speak to the most reliable of your survivors at your ladyship's earliest convenience," he replied. "Additionally, I would like to speak to your chief scout, if you have such a man."

[The Forgotten God]

She nodded. "I'll send him to you," she said. "Both of them, rather. Sandor," she called to a guard, "get the farmer, then send some men to retrieve Ser Myles, please." The guard headed off after nodding acknowledgement. "I'll have them sent to your quarters upstairs," she said. "Please get some refreshment while they are readied."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"I will, thank you.  I will remember my lady's kindness."

He headed up to his room to take refreshment and wait.

[The Forgotten God]

A bit later a farmer is ushered in, missing three teeth, looking bruised and broken. "My lord," he said as he bowed on hurt knees. "Please save us," he pled. "The demons are coming straight from hell!"

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"I don't doubt it," Titus replied solemnly. "What is your name, good man? I am here to help where I can. I would like to hear your version of the events that took place at your village, in the hope we may learn information to help stop these villains."

[The Forgotten God]

"I..I am Bowen," he said, "I farmed livestock and grain in our village. One night...we heard them come in," he said, "their horses' tails were fire, they had brown cloaks and masks on, like...like masks you'd see an apothecary wear. We have no warriors in our village, just a few men who fought in wars a decade or more ago, and they killed them all," he said, "or dragged them away, same with near everyone else. They all had these strange weapons, like spears but with collars on the end that had spikes, and they'd snap people up with them and draw them off. The fire...the fire," he whimpered. "There were eighty people in the village and only six of us made it out," he said. "There must have been a hundred of them!"

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

Titus cursed under his breath. "You have my deepest sympathies, Bowen. Nobody should suffer such experiences. It is a troubling tale to be sure. Did you notice anything particular about the leader of the enemy horsemen?"