Below is a capture of the continued roleplay of Lanfer’s capture.
*Lanfer Sits infront of his tent. The flap leading inside open to let some of the already stale air out. It was a rather large domed canvas the Baroness had designated as his, which suprised Lanfer a little as he had not expected her to make him so comfortable in this endevor. She had show little displeasure with the fact he choose to walk along side her the entire way, instead of ride a horse as most nobles would. Something about walking with the army felt right to him, it brought him back to the days he road ahead of her*
* Ayasana looks down from her position on the hill above the camp. Spying the old knight outside his tent, she nods at her escorts, then rides slowly down to where he is. *
Ayasana says to a squire ‘Bring an extra horse, I doubt he will want to make the climb to the manor on foot now. And bring a mule for his baggage, can’t have him lugging that on horseback.’
* Lanfer spies the baroness turning her horse towards him and chuckles slightly, “Seems your boss is coming to relieve you gents, though you’ve been excellent compeny with your silence and all.” He stands and strethces slightly, more like a man on vacation then a Solamnic in the midst of the Queens grasp. “I Bet shes in a good mood with everyone seeing as that trek took an extra three days by my count.” He chuckles again and folds his arms accross his chest waiting. *
* Ayasana rides up to Lanfer, the wind blowing her hair lightly, “Good morning, Sir Rose, I trust you rested well, and broke your fast comfortably?” *
* Lanfer looks up at the Blue Dragon Commander a slight smile parsing his lips, “I slept wonderfully Ayasana, the cot was very comfortable, though I did not eat yet. I suppose I will try and get something in tomorrow.” He flashes her a deeper grin as he continues, “We should make Neraka finally today if the weather holds out and we get to going. Im sorry these old legs dont move quite as fast as they use to do they?” *
* Ayasana smiles brightly, letting the sun warm her face,Oh, it’s not Neraka that we travel to, Sir Rose, we merely make our way to my humble home, in the mountains , we are closer to journey’s end than you think, I suspect. *
* Ayasana waves to the horse behind her,”I have taken the liberty of bringing you the finest stallion in the regiment, for your trip. Climbing this trail would put far too much stress on even the stoutest strider.” *
* Lanfer openly laughs this time knowing full well the rank and titles Ayasana had enjoyed for so long, “Humble estate Ayasana? I have seen the walls of your “estate” and humble is not the word I would use.” He looks past Aya to the horse behind her, “I will polietly decline the ride my dear, as ive said countless times now those things are beasts I care not know.” *
* Ayasana laughs along with the Grand Master, perhaps a bit more ironically, “My Lord, we have left Solamnia, no one to watch the travelling show any longer you might say. Now, it will be you riding as a knight, or tied to a gurney and dragged behing that same horse all the way up the mountain. That would not befit your dignity at all. would it? she adds with mock sincerity.” *
* Lanfer removes the silver gauntlet from his right hand and scrubbs it through his hair before replacing his hand into the metal glove. “I suppose if you put it that way then I could be presuaded to ride that thing,” he motions to the horse almost disdainfully. “It will get us to the root of this matter faster in any case. And I swear here Ayasana if you do not truly have her one of us will die before this night is over and im sure the victor will not walk away unscathed.” *
* Ayasana holding her hands out in mock innocence,”My Lord, I have given you all the information I can, it will be up to you to decide its validity. No need to threaten such violence. By now all of Solamnia knows of how peaceful and subservient you have been thus far, no need to mar that image now.” *
* Ayasana’s smile belies any innocence she could try to pretend. *
* Lanfer lowers his eyes from Ayasana and shakes his head slightly laughing quietly, “The army gathers even as we stand and speek. You best make this speedy before it stands at your door because if you think I sat and watch your parade around my cities on my laurels you are mistaken Baroness.” Lanfer gives the title a bit of a bite before continuing as he swings limberly into the saddle of the horse, “We shall see how this night plays out one way or the other all talk aside my dear.” *
Ayasana almost spits at lanfer, “Army? What army? You mean the rabble we chased across the plains? Or the one that limped away from Palanthas? Perhaps the one that ran from us near Sanction? ”
* Ayasana looks across the Blue regiment and says, “fifteen hundred strong,” and points across the valley. *
* Ayasana points towards the mountain pass. *
Ayasana says to Lanfer “That way lies the bulk of the returning Dragonarmy, well rested , awaiting orders to return to Sanction.”
* Ayasana turns back to face Lanfer. *
Ayasana says slowly “Will little Lords Railen and Wiglaf find enough able bodied troops to vie wit that? Or will they rely on the populace, who at this moment , wonder why they should save a Grand Master that willingly, nay, urgently wanted to travel into Her Majesty’s Realm?”
* Ayasana shrugs, “I think I have little to worry about Sir Rose, let’s just concentrate on the matters at hand, shall we? And enjoy the scenary, it is epic to look at” *
* Lanfer gently heels his horse forward down the pass heading to Ayasana’s home really showing no interest in the rant his counterpart just went on. “Ayasana you live far to high strung. The Queens never ending blood lust will do that to you my dear. It will swallow your soul and spit out a shell that is worthless to the world. Perhaps one day you will see this.” He shrgs to himself thinking back on the days he once lead her armies, “Nothing but death follows her ways, nothing but strife to those around her. How long has it been since you saw your home? Your loved ones? The Triumvert dosent take their followers away as She does unless your armies cause it.”
* Ayasana winces slightly at the words the senior knight speaks,”My home at least still stands unmolested, can you say that?” she snaps petulantly, immediately regreting her childishness *
Ayasana says slowly “My apologies, Sir Rose, the long ride, keeping the regiment moving, has withered me a bit. That was ungracious.”
* Ayasana draws a deep breath, then settles in the saddle for the ride up the pass. *
* Lanfer nods at his younger counter part slowly a slight glint in his eye. He knew he had gotten to her slightly and that was enough of a win for him in this moment. “No my dear I can not say that. Your army did a good job in their endevor and I can not take that from you. I just simply question that in which you follow so blindly.” He stops for a moment drawing in beside her albeit a bit uncomfortably on the stallion. “You knew me once Ayasana, I followed her better then any and was a good servent. For me to turn so suddenly from her path would speek volumns to you I would hope. Or perhaps your patron did not prepair you as well as I had imagined he had.” *
* Ayasana gives Lanfer a sidelong glare,” Do not speak ill of Lord Dharisath, Grand Master. Not even you have any weight to judge him. *
* Lanfer snaps a glare back, “I was nce his patron Knight Ayasana, I have every right to judge.” *
* Ayasana’s hand begins to reach to her katana, but stops short. “This is not who I am”, she thinks, “He will not bring that out again.” *
* Ayasana takes her reins in both hands, as a rider comes along side her, handing a message off. He salutes smartly then falls in with the escort. *
* Ayasana reads the note, then smiles, a bit wistfully,Seems we have a guest, Sir Rose, someone else you left behind in your misguided adveture, someone you once called friend as well” *
* Ayasana seems to regain her cheerful composure a bit. *
Lanfer nods again to the Baroness not taking his eyes from the slope before them, “There are many in your army still I once called friend Ayasana. May still left behind to Her mood swings and temper. Many who have endured the pain of emptyness at an absent goddess. I knew when I left with you I would not see just your face as one I use to know, one I counted as friend.” He sighs then heavily thinking on all the lives that had come and gone in those years. “We have sent many lives to death Ayasana, the both of us, and many more will go before we to are taken.”*
* Ayasana looks around the mountains wistfully, then quietly speaks. *
Ayasana says softly “You call Her absent, yet, where were your gods when we marched across your lands? You act as if you are right, but does that make me wrong?”
* Ayasana looks at him, a sad smile gracing her face.”YOu say you left friends behind, are you that much wiser than they? And I never hear you speak of friends you left behind in Solamnia. but you travel by my side deeper into Her Majesty’s embrace, on the hope one you knew is waiting there. *
Ayasana mutters “Just who is traveling down the right road, Sir Rose?” she asks almost silently.”
Lanfer sighs softly so only she can hear, {c”I have never made any comment that you and yours follow a wrong path. The Gods truly are the bane of existance here on Krynn Ayasana. They muddle the life which all should be allow to live. I will never say what you do is lesser then the path I now follow, but I can say with certainty that I feel better about the path I walk now then when I let Her guide me.”{x He turns his torso to her catching her eyes in his, {c”And if you remember anything about me it should be that i have always lived my life as expendable. If it means that what is right comes in the end my life is no more important then the pikemen we both send in against a
* Ayasana rides silently for a bit, still looking around at the lands that were hers, the regiment that followed her camped in the valley below, the dragon watching from a distant peak. A sense of calm, flowing power filled her., *Ayasana says “No, my Lord, sometimes, one can be more important than all. One can sit atop the summit, and all else below them. Someone is always more important.”
* Ayasana looks back at him.That was once you. Will you tell me you do not miss those days? *
* Lanfer nods again more to himself then Ayasana. “And it is your time with the Queen that has made you see things this way Baroness.” *
* Ayasana smiles brightly,”Indeed She has Sir Rose, indeed She has. And I am loving it.” *
* Lanfer kicks his stallion into a trot and moves a pace ahead of the Baroness calling over his shoulder as he passes, “I would expect nothing less from one so devoted from her. You have been an assette to her for a long time Baroness, yet I see no more love from her then the day I walked away.” He cuts his thought short and changes the subject, “How long till we reach your home?” *
* Ayasana points up at the nearest peak, where the outer battlement towers stretched into the sky. ‘About another hour, Sir Rose, it has been too long since you have visited. You forget the road across the canyon in you advanced years?” *
* Ayasana turns to her squire,”Signal the regiment to move up to the Manor now, they will want to get home as much as we do” *
* Lanfer looks up the trail to the battlements, “When we arrive I will retire to the rooms you have set aside for me to wash and change. I would hope you will extend me that honor before we proceed?” *
* Ayasana looks at Lanfer with a conspiratorial look,”Oh what you do once we reach there is entirely up to you. Of course you will have rooms befitting your rank. Why, I even have the perfect servant assigned to attend to your needs. *
Ayasana says softly “I am sure you will find your stay most interesting, yes”
* Lanfer nods to the Baroness curtly and pulls ahead of her up the trail towards the keep riding the rest of the way in silence. *