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Logging started for Blitzed:#7thseaic on Monday, 22 April 2019 18:58:22 British Summer Time
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** You have joined #7thseaic
(Molly) Molly) *Varick returns with another drawing, just as the clock strikes 12, leaving him only an hour before the head of security is due, and two before Mina is.
(Molly) * @Morgan looks at it
(Molly) (Molly) **the drawing is of Morgan and Molly being chased by Bows of the ribbon variety, the ends snaking around their ankles
(Molly) * Molly looks with a laugh, then pours some tea. There's a knock at the door.
* @Morgan looks at the door before going to open it
(Molly) **Outside are three servants, and several baskets
* @Morgan looks at the baskets, then back to the servants
(Molly) **one of the male servants speaks** My Lord, these were the things we were sent to town for.
** New query from Morgan (Available on submenu 'Windows')
* @Morgan nods, motioning just inside the door
(@Morgan) put them there
(Molly) **they put their baskets down as instructed, waiting for further orders
(@Morgan) That'll be all for now, thank you
(Molly) **They bow and go. Molly looks at the baskets with a hint of uneasiness
(@Morgan) These are yours I assume
* Molly nods, looking almost guilty
(Molly) I hadn't realised there was quite so much!
* @Morgan looks at her, confused
* Molly reverts to Avalon
(Molly) I haven't bought things with your money like this before.
* @Morgan shrugs
(@Morgan) I'm just wondering what it all is
(Molly) Fabric, sewing things,  a gift, some rope in case you had time to teach him some nautical knots,  and food.
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) good idea
* Molly goes looking through the basket, finding handwritten receipts. She frowns a little, but then pulls together a smile
(@Morgan) problem?
(Molly) No, it's all there. I am glad it's arrived, I suspect he'll be hungry soon. Are you staying to eat?
(@Morgan) I'll take some bread, I've got a few things to attend to before I meet with the Eisenfursts security
* Molly unpacks one of the baskets, sorting him some bread. Varick watches on with hungry interest, excited.
(Molly) Will you be back this evening?
(@Morgan) I'm certainly planning to be
* Molly smiles warmly
(Molly) I suspect you'll be greatly missed if not
(@Morgan) I wouldn't imagine I'll be kept away
* Molly hands him the bread wrapped in a large napkin
* @Morgan takes it
(@Morgan) thank you blossom
(Molly) Good. Are you off the influence things, my love? *her mouth forms a small smile of amusement, eyes sparkling*
(Molly) To*
(@Morgan) thats the plan
(Molly) I look forward to hearing about it *she turns a little more serious* Is there anything I can do? Anything I can help you with?
* @Morgan shakes his head
(@Morgan) not at the moment. Just stay safe. I'll send Claudia back to you
* Molly watches him a long moment, then smiles, moving away a little
(Molly) Thank you, liebling
* @Morgan nods before moving to the door
(@Morgan) be good Varick, I'll see you later
(Molly) *Varick waves, the other hand rooting in the basket
(Molly) **Claudia watches Morgan
* @Morgan looks at Claudia
(@Morgan) stay here or close by. Keep them safe, understand?
(Molly) **she nods** of course *gestures: I'll protect them with my life, you have my word
* @Morgan nods at her and heads off towards the gardens
(Molly) **As he's heading through the corridors, he hears voices ahead of him, both male, talking loud enough for him to hear but quiet enough to not disturb their employer or his guests
* @Morgan slows right down to listen
(Molly) G1: It was a really big row, according to the maid! G2: What was it about? G1: About him intentionally compromising the now Grafin G2:  *He laughs* And look what a monumental fuck up that has become! Now we're running protection for a random veisgrafin rather than doing our actual jobs! G1: Well, protecting the Eisenfurst is always going to be our top priority,  isn't it?
* @Morgan wanders up to them, slightly hunched
(Molly) **They immediately stop talking,  both bowing
(@Morgan) so then, gentlemen... who was the row involving, according to, as you put it, the maid
(Molly) **They both become neutral
(Molly) G1: Can't  say, my Lord.
(@Morgan) So... in under an hour, I'm meeting with the head of your security, with the task of fixing the security in this place... Do you want my first thoughts to be about removing you? Or having you arrested, perhaps?
(@Morgan) or are you going to show me you can work as a team to resolve the issues?
(Molly) **They look concerned*
(Molly) G2: Arrested?!
* @Morgan speaks quietly
(@Morgan) Did I stutter?
(Molly) G1: No my Lord.
(@Morgan) Then which is it to be?
(Molly) G2: work as a team, my Lord
(@Morgan) Excellent. Back to my original question, then...
(Molly) **a look passes between them * G1: The Eisenfurst and Graf Seeufer
(@Morgan) I see... Lets just clear one last thing up, yes? Who is responsible for the safety of the Eisenfurst, and any of his guests in this house?
(Molly) G2: The guards
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) so, to really clarify, who is responsible for making sure no-one gets poisoned in this house?
(Molly) *They look alarmed* G1: Well, the guards I guess
* @Morgan looks from one to the other
(@Morgan) lastly, who do you think a _very_ annoyed Veisgraf would personally hold responsible, should the aforementioned poisoning occur?
(Molly) G2: *He looks worried* Us, my Lord?
(@Morgan) I'm assuming you know who I am?
(Molly) *They nods warily*
* @Morgan watches them for a moment
(@Morgan) I'll be speaking with you later
(Molly) *They both bow* Yes, my Lord
* @Morgan turns and continues outside
(Molly) **the sky outside is rapidly clearing, the air pleasant now. He passes through the mix of gardens, maze-like hedges, stone walls towards the tree line. He spots a gardener working on a vibrant flower bed, red roses, orange marigolds, and huge swathes of blue forget-me-nots. It makes him think of the way the forget me nots looked in Molly's hair on their wedding day 7 weeks ago. The gardener looks up, then inclines his head
(Molly) G: good afternoon, my Lord
* @Morgan nods to the gardener
(@Morgan) How soon after the rain stopped did you come out?
(Molly) G: The moment it stopped. I was waiting for it to, my Lord
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) you've much left to do today?
(Molly) *He nods* Yes, my Lord. I can work elsewhere if you would like some solitude here though, my Lord
* @Morgan shakes his head
(@Morgan) is there an easy route into the woods?
(Molly) **He gives him brief but good directions*
* @Morgan thanks the gardener and heads in the direction he was given
(Molly) **He exists the formal gardens, and heads along a path that descends down and backtracks parallel to itself. The trees here are not dark or dense, and it's quiet, save for the birds in the branches above
(Molly) Exits*
* @Morgan finds a tree to hack at
(Molly) **The chosen tree is sturdy, providing an ideal vent for his frustration and anger
* @Morgan sets about hacking limbs from the tree
(Molly) *He easily chops off several limbs
* @Morgan attacks the main trunk
(Molly) **He gets to the point where he could fell it
* @Morgan sets to kicking at it
(Molly) **He hears two rifle shots.  The kicking is working well
* @Morgan stops, moving behind the tree while he tries to gauge the distance of the shots
(Molly) **there's another. It's in the forest rather than near the house, close enough to hear but not to hear footsteps or voices
* @Morgan moves low and fast towards the shots
(Molly) **He spots three men, all over 40, wearing peasants clothing, and looking around. Each is armed with a rifle, a sack and a knife. They seem to be a group but don't converse.  They do appear to be sneaking around
* @Morgan watches them for a moment
(Molly) **They appear to be poachers
* @Morgan sets about creeping up behind them
(Molly) **They aren't very astute, and he manages it easily
* @Morgan moves behind the rearmost one before grabbing his head and putting the axe blade under the mans ear
(Molly) P1: What the fuck?! *The others spin round, looking confused, then alarmed
* @Morgan speaks slowly
(@Morgan) I'm fairly sure that the animals you're shooting at don't belong to you
(Molly) P2: *He looks Morgan over, taking in the little he can see of his attire * Don't belong to you either, do they?
(Molly) P3: Yeah, maybe you just don't want the competition
* @Morgan laughs
(Molly) P1: If you two could pack it in til I don't have a blade at my neck, that'd be grand!
(@Morgan) No, my meals are provided as a guest of the Eisenfurst, so I don't need to be out hunting... 
(Molly) P2: *He looks scornful* Dressed like a tradesman? Why don't you go back to your business, and leave us to ours?
(Molly) P3: Yeah, we aren't hurting nobody
* @Morgan speaks to the man he's holding
(@Morgan) I don't think they understand the gravity of the situation you're in
(Molly) P1: They might not, but I do! *He shouts at the others* Are you bastards trying to get me killed?!
(Molly) **The other men laugh*
(@Morgan) oh I wouldn't worry about being killed... just maimed
(Molly) P1: How do I go about _not_ getting maimed?
(Molly) P3: How about you just clear off now, and leave him alone? *slowly he brings up his rifle as a threat*
(@Morgan) you and your... well, I don't think they're really friends, do you? Acquaintances, put your guns down, and leave the woods... you can collect them from the Eisenfursts security
(Molly) P1: But we'll be hanged!
(@Morgan) hows this... Show up suitably contrite and you'll not be hanged.
(Molly) *a look passes between  the other two poachers as if weighing up their options
(Molly) P1: How can you guarantee that?@
(@Morgan) You'll just have to trust me. I'll put in a good word with the Eisenfurst, You can't really be blamed that much, given how lax the security is
(Molly) P1: It is easy pickings here. But it helps keep my family fed
(Molly) **The others talk quietly to each other *
(@Morgan) So whats the problem with feeding the family?
(Molly) P1: Well, I used to do alright, but since the War ended work has been quieter. I'm a blacksmith, see?
(@Morgan) and what about this pair?
(Molly) P1 *He shrugs, nearly knocking into the axe* Dunno really. We just bumped into each other out here a few years ago and have hunted together since
* @Morgan looks at the other two
(Molly) *They appear to be making some sort of whispered plan
* @Morgan watches them, muttering
(@Morgan) of course, contrition won't help if I have to kill you first
(Molly) P1: I don't think they'll listen to me
(@Morgan) give me your gun
(Molly) *P1 slowly hands it over. P3 looks alarmed, and shoots in Morgan's direction. It rips his sleeve but causes no injury
* @Morgan moves behind a tree, dragging the man with him
(@Morgan) Go. Come get your gun from the Eisenfurst later
(Molly) *P1 runs off in the safest direction *
* @Morgan leans round the tree and flings the axe at the man who fired
(Molly) P3: There's two of us, and only one- *He gets hit by the axe, air rushing out of him from the impact, though the wound is not very deep*
* @Morgan moves into a crouch, aiming the rifle around the tree
(Molly) *P2 bolts deeper into the forest, though with it sparse, he is no match for Morgan's rifle skills
* @Morgan fires, aiming for the lower leg
(Molly) *P2 crumples to the ground, screaming*
* @Morgan moves towards the man he hit with the axe, drawing his knife
(Molly) *He holds his hands over the axe wound, slow spread of blood on his shirt
* @Morgan picks up the mans rifle, reloading it
(Molly) *He watches warily*
(@Morgan) up, now
(Molly) *He gets up*
(@Morgan) go and help your friend up. We're going for a walk
(Molly) *He trudges, wincing as he goes. The other poacher is still moaning when they get back, leaning on each other, to Morgan *
(@Morgan) You've got a choice here, gentlemen. You can either walk your way out of here and get what help you need... or, I can walk you to the big house and have you hanged. If you choose the former, I expect no more trouble from you, and you'll not be seeing your other partner in crime again. Understood?
(Molly) **They nod** Yessir
(@Morgan) Last thing gentlemen... you tried to kill a veisgraf. Any issues from you, I'll have you hung
(Molly) *the man who shot at him suddenly pales in a way that even an axe to the stomach couldn't achieve * Oh god, you're _that_ Veisgraf!
* @Morgan smiles
(@Morgan) yes... _that_ one
(@Morgan) This is your second, and final chance. Understood?
(Molly) P3 *He nods rapidly, eyes wide* Yes my Lord
(@Morgan) You'll be leaving your rifles with me
(Molly) *They both nod, not daring to speak
(@Morgan) off you go then
(Molly) **They head back the way they came. A hint of conversation heads back to him* P2: fucking hell, I can't believe we survived! P3 Nor me. My wife is gonna be livid when she sees this shirt... P2 You'd have been better off being killed!
* @Morgan smiles slightly, loading the two remaining rifles, and shouldering them, before heading back towards the house
(Molly) **The gardener is still there, cutting away large handfuls of the forget-me-nots and dropping them into his basket. He whistles somewhat out of tune
* @Morgan clears his throat
(@Morgan) I don't suppose you could put a few of those forget me nots into my pocket, here?
(Molly) **he looks up, smiling* Of course my Lord. How many?
(@Morgan) three or four would be fine
(Molly) *He looks through, quickly picking the 4  best ones, and puts them in as instructed
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) thank you kindly
(Molly) *He bows* you're welcome,  my Lord
* @Morgan heads back into the house, checking the time
(Molly) *The nearest clock say it is quarter before one
* @Morgan goes in search of the Eisenfursts security man
(Molly) **He sees servants taking food towards the Eisenfursts study
* @Morgan changes direction, and heads in that direction
(Molly) **Faulk's door is open when he arrives
* @Morgan taps on it with the butt of a rifle over his shoulder
** You're now known as Faulk
(Faulk) Come in
* @Morgan does so
* Faulk looks him over
(Faulk) I should expect he won't need _that_ much_ persuading *He smiles*
(@Morgan) these? No, I found these.
* Faulk frowns
(Faulk) In my house?
(@Morgan) Good lord no... in the woods
(Faulk) Intruders?
(@Morgan) poachers
* Faulk nods
(Faulk) Ah, them.
(@Morgan) Please don't tell me you accept that sort of thing
* Faulk watches him
(Faulk) I try to be fairly even handed with them. I'd prefer they don't,  but I also understand that times are tough in Eisen, and I'd rather they poached my land than stole from each other
(@Morgan) Why have a law if you're not going to enforce it
(Faulk) Because it deters the majority
(@Morgan) I suspect it deters mostly the needy
(Faulk) There are things in place here to help the most needy already.
(@Morgan) Then why allow the poaching, when its least likely to be those in need that do it
(Faulk) Because some are too proud to ask for the help offered. I assume your father is much stricter on his lands?
(@Morgan) We've been fairly lucky in that respect
(Faulk) Sudlachenburg fared better than many places during the War
(@Morgan) the benefits of being tucked out of the way, and close to that forest in a country filled with superstitious people
(Faulk) **servants continue to lay lunch out on the round table at the back of Faulk's study
* Faulk nods
(Faulk) You will inherit one of the more prosperous Grafdoms in the country
* @Morgan shrugs
(@Morgan) Hopefully by that time progress will have been made
* Faulk nods slowly
(Faulk) I really hope you're right
* Faulk looks to the table
(Faulk) Our dear veisgrafin tells me there are trees in the garden of the main house in Innesbruck that grow very dark cherries.
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) so I'm told
(Faulk) She and I thought we might see about mixing her cherries with my brandy to make a new type of cherry brandy
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) Thats not a bad idea
* @Morgan glances around, speaking quietly
(@Morgan) I hear you had a chat with your son
* Faulk nods solemnly
(Faulk) Indeed I did.
* Faulk tilts his head, observing Morgan
(Faulk) Where did you hear that?
(@Morgan) Quite a row, by all accounts
* Faulk nods
(Faulk) A spectacular row. We haven't had a row like that since the shambles with him montaigne mistresd
* @Morgan puts the rifles down before fishing in his pocket for a drawing
(@Morgan) Just to be safe... it wasn't this girl?
* Faulk shakes his head
(Faulk) No. Pretty though. Is this the montaigne prisoner's attempted assassin?
* @Morgan nods
* Faulk looks at him
(Faulk) You drew this?
* @Morgan tucks it back in his pocket
(@Morgan) Yes, I did
* Faulk looks impressed
(Faulk) It's good
(@Morgan) its adequate
(Faulk) **There's a knock at the door, jarring Faulk out of his momentary contemplation
** You are now disconnected