Troll Bridge
But First a Recap…
Last week, the Irish Knights ran around handling Damage Control. They hired Hoodies to act as spies and to make sure the teen gangers weren’t actively up to no good, they sent Dante and Roland to look into Sidhe torturing people, and they finally had a sit down meeting with the Irish Mafia… only to discover they were less mafia and more law and order.
The Irish will make a strong ally in the coming months and a peace has been brokered. Now they have to worry about the inevitable retaliation from Baron D, and they also have to deal with their public image. The locals are starting to knock on their door for every problem and that will only escalate as the invasion continues.
On their way back to the House they decide to check out this so-called “Troll Under a Bridge.”
The Troll
Heading south in their mini-van the trio move through streets that are medieval, they are the only working car on the road and people either stare at them or go indoors as they roll past. Eventually they come to a street that ends in a bridge across the Liffe, not a single person is moving on that road, for over a hundred feet it is clear of everything. Not a cart, a horse, or even an abandoned car. The bridge itself is a stout oak affair, that has firmly aligned with the cosm.
As they roll down the street and come to a stop twenty feet from the bridge, they notice two things. The first is the people gathering back behind them, watching and waiting for the mayhem to come. Though perhaps it is a bit unfair to assume the motive of the gawkers? Unfortunately 2 of the 3 knights in the van are cynics.
The second thing they notice is the barricade across the bridge, it is a mix of modern Earth and Aysle, in that it is mainly constructed of split rail fencing, but there are also bright orange caution cones mixed in the area and even some yellow streamers of police tape.
Davie kills the engine and pops out of the van and strides toward the bridge. It is arched over what was once a man-made concrete channel, but now the stones are covered in ivy and deep shadows move unnaturally. Dave squints but he can’t see anything under the bridge, the shadows seem to move against the wind, like they are solid and in no way created by an absence of light.
Challenge
Ash steps up beside Dave and yells his challenge into the darkness; “Come up out of there or flee this place, your presence is not welcome.”
There is a long pause and then a cough followed by a loud spitting sound and then a deep voice echoes out of the channel beneath the bridge; “Leave a toll and cross my bridge Elf, no need to die this day.”
Ash, sneering and for some reason spoiling for a fight; “Toll! There will be no tolls on our bridges! This is public property for all to enjoy.”
Davie places a calming hand on Ash’s arm and then yells down; “What is your toll?” Ragnall finally steps out of the van, but he hangs back from the edge of the channel.
“Anything will do… beer, food, coin… I’ll accept any or all, whatever ye’gots.” The voice sounds less menacing at this point.
Davie frowns, he glances at Ash, but the elf still wants a fight, and then looks back at Ragnall. The priest’s expression says that he might have the same thought as Dave, so Dave steps forward and yells down; “Come out from under the bridge and let us negotiate your fee.”
Something moves within the darkness and Dave and Ash take a few steps back from the bridge as the troll sheds his darkness and climbs out into the light.
Fae Troll
The troll stands over three meters, his arms and shoulders are massively muscled and his face is more human, and fairer than they expected. Being of Faerie he is more of an over-sized man than the monster that Davie had expected. He is wearing trousers of patched fabric and a shirt that is more holes than shirt. His hair is dirty, long, and pulled back into a matted tail.
The troll puffs up his chest and stands at his full height, towering over the trio of knights.
Davie, “Are you homeless?”
Troll, flushing in embarrassment, “I am a free man, I can live where ever I like. Now, my toll! Three of you and your metal box on wheels must pay to cross my home. Beer, Food, or Coin!”
Davie, “I have a better idea…”
Ragnall, nodding and understanding what Davie is thinking; “Yes.”
Ash, realizing he isn’t going to get his fight, sighs and his shoulders slump.
Davie; “How about… beer, food, and a roof over your head. I get the feeling that living under a bridge isn’t fun.”
Troll; “Frankly it sucks.”
Davie, nodding along, “I imagine its wet all the time and the ground is pretty hard. How about a bed? Maybe some new clothes.”
Making a Deal:
The troll rubs his chin, but he has a horrible poker face, its clear that he likes what Dave is saying. “What’s the catch? What do you want from me?”
Ragnall steps forward, “We want allies in the city. We are here to fight against the Darkness, and to that end we have power enemies. Staying with us would make you an ally against those enemies. You would have to fight and protect your home, and our allies.”
The troll cracks his knuckles and smiles, “Fight. Ok. And I get beer, bed, and food. It’s a deal.” He holds forth a massive hand and Davie reaches up and grabs two of the troll’s fingers and shakes.
Ash; “So how do we get him home?”
Davie, “The seats come out of the back of the van, he should fit.”
Ragnall; “What is your name?”
Troll; “Barristagnollius.”
All three pause and blink at the name.
Davie; “How about I call you Barry?”
Going Home
Davie yanks the rear seats out of the van and dumps it on the side of the road and then Barry folds up and shoves himself into the back of the van. The shocks manage to hold the great weight of the troll but it does push the limit.
They drive over the bridge and head back to the House.
They pull into the parking garage beside the house, parking next to the other cars and trucks. Ryan is working in his makeshift garage—merely an arrangement of tool boxes and workbenches that he has dragged into a number of parking spots—on his ambulance. And Cheryl is waiting for them next to the door into the House.
Her strange ability to always know when, and where she is needed is uncanny and Davie shakes his head in wonder. She is standing with her arms crossed and one foot tapping impatiently. Maybe they have finally found the thing that would break her heroic level of calm?
Barry climbs out of the back of the van and Ryan yells and ducks for cover. Ash laughs and Davie steps up to Cheryl.
Cheryl; “How am I supposed to house him? Find him a bed?”
Davie shrugs and grins; “How did you know he was coming back with us? You seem to have a way. Hey, Barry, this is Cheryl, she’s in charge of the House when we aren’t here. Now, obviously it will take us a little while to get a bed made for your size. But we have wool blankets and pillows and cushions. I was thinking you might want to live here in the garage. The ceilings are high and only this half of the building is within the Hardpoint. So, you can sleep over there. For right now, we’ll get you some beer and food, and then we’ll work on the bed, clothes and the rest. Sound good?”
Barry nods and thanks them, then he goes to introduce himself to Ryan. He seems to like his new home.
House Work:
Cheryl is still shaking her head and muttering to herself as they follow her into the House and into the main council room.
Cheryl: “Four… men… arrived a few minutes before you. They said they were new guards? I’ve given them rooms and fed them.”
Ragnall: “Gabriel gifted us a few of his knights. It’s part of the alliance we’re forming with the north of the city.”
Cheryl, drily, “Really…”
They enter the council room. On one side of the table are the House Garda and on the other side of the table are four men of similar build and the scarred knuckles of fighters. Nigel take his feet quickly, and the four men from Gabriel all stand and salute as well.
Ragnall, laughing; “We don’t need all the saluting gentlemen. Nigel these four men are soldiers in our employ… you four soldiers whose name I will learn eventually…maybe… you report to Nigel. He is master of arms for this House. If any of you have a problem with this you are eminently replaceable.” Ragnall drops into the chair at the head of the table, just as Davie was pulling it out to seat himself.
Davie moves into the second seat, “So, what have we missed in the few hours we were away.”
Fixing the House Issues:
Cheryl sighs and starts running through a list of news items; running from the state of the larder, to the sightings on the castle, to news of the Garda that were sent out to find more recruits. As she runs through the list, her voice cracks slightly and it is clear that she is stressed.
Davie stops her, “Cheryl… who does all of these things. Gathers the numbers, the reports, runs to the roof and logs the sightings on the castle, makes our meals?”
It soon becomes apparent that Cheryl is running everything and anything. Even the usually silent Ash is shocked.
Ragnall; “Cheryl… we’ve named you Seneschal of this House. You are a manager… forthwith you will hire a cook and other staff to handle the basic duties. Second, I’m sure one of these Garda, or all of them, could be taught to use the scope on the roof and log sightings. Make a schedule and make them do it. Have a crafts person make bed and clothes for Barry.”
Cheryl shakes her head, “The treasury wasn’t left in good stead under Henry.”
Davie, “We have $20,000 in silver sitting in the van in the garage. That should be more than enough to get started, also anyone hired gets offered room and board and protection. That’s worth far more than pay.”
With that out of the way, they then send Nigel out to try and win back the various Garda that quit when Henry was in charge. They figure with the new troops already back in the house, a Troll, and new management, that the Garda who fled in fear might be won back. Having a bunch of men trained to fight through disconnections and used to working with Stormknights is just a bonus.
Later that Night
Nigel manages to get 6 Garda back in the house; bringing the numbers up to 9 garda, 4 “thugs,” 2 medics, Cheryl, and a troll.
Around midnight Cheryl wakes Ragnall, who of course is just an angel when he is woken in the middle of the night. In other words, after blistering her ears with swears that will not be recorded here and then gulping down two large whiskeys the priest finally asks WHY he was woke.
“Dante and Roland have finally returned, and the two of them are in pretty bad shape. I believe they ignored the part of their mission where they only observe and report, and instead got involved. We need your healing.”
Moments later she leads Ragnall into the room where Davie and Ash are already asking the battered duo just what happened.
Dante and Roland’s story:
Roland has a black eye that has swollen shut, but he is laughing and energetic as he tells the story, beside him Dante wheezes, holding a hand to his side where a dagger has pierced his lung.
Ragnall heals the both of them and Roland continues with his story.
“So, we asked around and found a whole chain of people who had encountered these sidhe torturers. They are not exactly laying low. But they just appear, mess with people, and then disappear after this Keymaster figure. Everyone agrees they must be from the castle—”
Dante; “NOT everyone… just some people blame it on the castle…”
Roland; “Right. Whatever. So, it wasn’t hard to follow the line of these guys. They are in a sweeping pattern, going north and south through the neighborhoods and moving ever westward. These sidhe are total bastards, they are cutting people, burning people, doing all sorts of vile shit—”
Dante: “They beat people and cut off a couple fingers…”
Roland: “Right… stop interrupting I’m telling the story…”
Dante: “Less story and more facts…”
The rest of it:
After they stop the two from arguing they get the rest of the story from the two young knights. By sheer luck they stumbled upon fresh victims of the sidhe and despite orders they decided to “interview” the sidhe and discover what they were looking for.
The interview did not go well. Roland decided to go in alone, since he was an elf and he figured the sidhe might be willing to talk to him. But Roland was not so good at tricking and manipulating the sidhe.
Ash, “You tried to manipulate a race known for being the most cunning and twisted tricksters? And that didn’t go well?”
Roland: “Well it was going alright but things got tense and Dante jumped the gun and when they saw a human—”
Dante; “I took a knife for you! Dick!”
The rest of the story is they got their asses kicked by the sidhe, who then vanished into the night. Their camo-cloaks seemed to shift and color change and they just melted away. The only real thing they learned was that the Keymaster was from the castle where he is someone of importance.
Figuring it out:
Dante and Roland are sent to their beds to recover and the Trio mull over the new details.
Color changing camo-cloaks, sound a lot like the rangers they hunted the redcaps with, were these the same guys?
Keymaster was a denizen of the Castle? All the reports say the castle only had ghosts and creatures that hide behind ghosts within? This was the first thing to come out of the castle, at least that hadn’t gone in first. Was the keymaster actually a threat and the sidhe were merely using extreme measures because of the danger?
Either way it was starting to shape up to be something they had to deal with directly. Besides, no one must be allowed to attack their knights and get away with it.
But for tonight, they would finish their rest and, in the morning, they would decide the best course of action.
END of ACT 8
