09/04/2024 - Confrontation with Blair (4)

Return to Greenest

In the morning, the Companions discuss whether to go back. Banquo is concerned that Gulnar is manipulating the Allardice clan. Brother Gregory points out Fraser MacRuaidhri is quite badly injured and it would be better if he went back.

Logan says he does not like the idea of Gulnar being behind them, threatening to ambush them at any time. They decide to return to the village and deal with that problem first.

They pack up camp and head back to Greenest, following the trail and their own tracks back to the village. This time the Allardice men do not notice their approach until they are in village centre.

They head for the Keep and head for the main hall to talk to Blair. When they arrive, they see Blair sat at the far end of the table, flanked on both sides by a number of armed Allardice men.

Blair asks then why they have come back. Logan tells them they were attacked by cultists in the wood, led by Blair’s advisor, Gulnar. Blair is sceptical about this and Gulnar steps out from behind his chair, saying that Logan is lying. He then questions if the Companions are who they calm to be. Is that really Samuel Allardice, or that they all MacRuaidhri spies, come to kill them all.

Blair stands up and says that is a serious allegation. His Allardice men begin to close in on them. Logan attempts to talk Blair around, but he is refuses. Blair tells them to drop their weapons, they are under arrest.

Banquo tells them he is a Guardian and they had better back down, or there will be less of them at breakfast tomorrow. Some of the soldiers are unsure when they see his tabard, but Blair tells them it must have been stolen. He tells his men to cut them down.

Malcolm realises there are some guards behind them, who they passed on the way in and has Brother Gregory and Baldrick, Logan’s servant, try to bar the door.

Banquo and Ruairi end up facing five Allardice men on one side of the table, while Logan, Eóghan and Lochlann face another five on the other side. Sam and Malcolm stay further back using crossbows.

Sam tells everyone to aim at Gulnar, then he begins to conjure some fire magic, causing a small flame to begin to burn in his hand. When Gulnar sees this, he is aghast. When Sam then causes the fire place to flare up and burn one of the Allardice men, Gulnar cringes and hides behind Blair’s chair.

Banquo struggles against two attackers, getting further injured following his wounds from the previous night. His superior combat skills eventually turn the tide, cutting down one of his attackers, but it’s closer than he would have liked. He is aided by Malcolm firing crossbow bolts at one of his attackers.

Logan is able to cut down one of the Allardice men quickly and on his right Eóghan is able to hold his own, but Lochlann is badly injured and goes down. Logan is then forced to tackle the two man who took Lochlann down.

The three Allardice men attacking Ruairi are cautious, but are eventually able to corner him and mortally wound him. Banquo then has to take the three men of them.

Blair Intervenes

Blair has until now stood at the end of the table, but now he draws his sword and rushes towards Sam. Sam causes the fireplace to flare up again and wound Blair, but he is able to shake it off and continue advancing. Both Sam and Malcolm then turn their crossbows on him, injuring him badly.

Blair manages to reach Sam and hit him, but he has been badly wounded and collapses before he can put much power behind the blow and Sam is not badly wounded.

Eóghan’s fortunes take a bad turn and he is wounded, collapsing from the pain. Logan continues to fight well, cutting down another Allardice man and hold the rest off.

Gregory and Baldrick struggle to keep the remaining two guards from entering the room and Baldrick is badly injured in the arm.

Fight Over

With Blair being down, the Allardice men stop attacking and start to back off. Sam points his crossbow at Blair’s head and tells them to surrender.

Logan checks Lochlann and realises there is nothing to do to save him. He quietly puts him out of his misery.

Sam attempts to give Blair first aid, but Malcolm’s crossbow bolt hit him in his heart. He dies in Sam’s arms.

Logan tells the remaining Allardice men to put down their weapons. Their remaining leader considers then puts his sword into his scabbard, then goes to help his injured friends.

Banquo goes around the Allardice men and tells them they are guilty of supporting cultists and must face justice. They mutter something about following orders.

Ruairi is crying from his wounds and sobbing. Malcolm tries to help him, but realises he is going to die soon and helps him pass on, slightly reluctantly.

The guards who were trying to get into the door look angry when they see Blair dead. When they look like they are about to re-start the fight, Brother Gregory tells them they have betrayed their clan and attacked the brother of the Clan Laird. Sam tells them they are all under arrest.

Logan then turns to Eóghan, who is wounded in the leg and patches up the wound as best he can.

Sam asks Banquo to get Gulnar for him. When Banquo approaches, Gulnar jumps up, shouting and trying to spook him and run. Banquo instinctively swings his sword and cuts his leg off as he tries to pass by. Banquo tells him he has cast his last spell and executes him, cutting his head off.

Sam now tells the remaining Allardice men they must down their weapons and submit to his authority, which they reluctantly do. Some of them pointi out they were following the orders of their commander.

Sam then announces that Eóghan is going to be in charge in this village from now on. He tells the Allardice men they have lost their chance to be in charge, which Logan agrees with, but recommends Eóghan works with Tomas.

Brother Gregory points out that Baldrick is badly wounded and will need to stay behind and heal, along with Fraser.

Banquo is not pleased about giving Tomas any authority, pointing out he was a cultist and needs to be punished. Logan disagrees and says Tomas has repented. Banquo is not pleased and says he will report this to Simon Montrose.

Eóghan would rather go with them to the north, but Logan points out he needs him to look after Baldrick and he needs a man he can trust to keep this place safe and protect their backs. Eóghan agrees to do whatever Logan wants.

Sam retrieves the skull staff from the body of Gulnar.

30/04/2024 - Settling Matters in Greenest

Fight Aftermath

The remaining Allardice men remain in fear of Sam, due to his magical powers over fire. They look at the burnt body of Blair’s second in command and grimace. Sam’s face is also covered in the blood of Blair Allardice, which only adds to his formidable appearance.

Baldrick has been injured badly in the right arm, but Brother Gregory is tending to him. The Allardice people put to rest a couple of their people who are mortally injured, leaving seven of them left.

Logan suggests that Baldrick be given the armour of one of the deceased Allardice people.

The Fate of the Allardice Men

The local villagers who served Blair come in now and ask what they should do now. Sam says they don’t need to tidy up, the traitors from his clan can do the work. Sam also announces that they have been stripped of their titles and privileges and they will have to help the villages rebuild.

Logan suggests that the Allardice men will simply take over again. He suggests getting their new friend Tomas to take over the village and work with Eóghan, who is staying behind. Banquo says as traitors they should all be beheaded.

Sam remembers that Blair wanted to go home and the remaining men would probably willingly go home. Logan suggests Sam write a sealed letter to his brother, telling him what happened and they should be tried and hanged. They agree to do this.

Tomas for Village Leader

Tomas enters the hall. He is pleased that Gulnar is dead, but points out other members of the Cult are still in the village and they have his wife and son. Logan suggests that he become Eóghan’s right hand man and effective leader of the village.

LoTomas thinks about this. He was not expecting to take up such a role, but if it will save his family and keep them safe from the Cult, he will. He asks for their help to rescue his family from the Cult members and they agree to go with him.

End of Episode Four