Chapter 4: For the crown!

Dercia shows you the secret entrance to the tunnels, it was opening into an old and partially collapsed house, hidden by a few planks. When you come out, she puts the planks back to hide the entrance. You walk towards the city centre where you have last seen Sofia. The few hours you spent in the underground temple has completely transformed the city. Nobody is on the streets, all the windows are shut, you don't even see anybody patrolling the street. Everybody must be preparing for the incoming siege and better be in your house, rather than standing outside, where a stone could fall on your head at any moment.

{if Free = true}

{if Erik = true}When you reach the city centre however, you notice Erik and Robert with a band of Vikings standing around Sofia, who has been tied to a pole with her mouth gagged.

Erik (rushing to you): My lady, are you alright?!

Lily: Yes, I'm fine, besides a few scratches! How did you manage to catch her?

Erik: After you both fell down into that pit, it was only you we couldn't reach anymore. There was just enough space over the rubble for a person to go down there or come out. She was so certain the city guards would handle us, that she came out from under the rubble, where we promptly caught and bound her. Robert went to open a gate from the inside to allow our Viking friends to enter the city. Upon seeing this, the city mayor offered to open negotiations. We asked nothing of him, but to allow us to take this woman with us and we will be leaving today.

Astrid: Imagine how hard it was to tell the lads we weren't going to bath in Christian blood tonight! But they accepted it, not like they had a chance! If I say no killing, they won't be killing a single being!

Lily: Thank you for avoiding the bloodshed! That would have been the last thing we needed!

Astrid: No problem, but I'm expecting a hefty sum of gold for this favour later on!

Lily: You will have it, I promise!

Robert: What about Sofia? Should we have her executed? We were only waiting for your return to decide her fate. Such heretics deserve **** my lady!

Astrid: As much as I would like to have her killed, she still has something I need and before she gives it to me, I cannot allow her to die!

Lily: What is that?

Astrid: The orb! It's an old relic of my family, stolen from us generations ago by your people.

Erik: What are you talking about sister?! How could she have it in her possession?! It's in the king's treasury!

{endif}

{if Erik = false}When you reach the city centre however, you notice Robert with a band of Vikings standing around Sofia, who has been tied to a pole with her mouth gagged.

Robert (rushing to you): My lady, are you alright?!

Lily: Yes, I'm fine, besides a few scratches! How did you manage to catch her?

Robert: After you both fell down into that pit, it was only you I couldn't reach anymore. There was just enough space over the rubble for a person to go down there or come out. She was so certain the city guards would handle me, that she came out from under the rubble, where I promptly caught and bound her. I sent an old friend of mine to open a gate from the inside to allow our Viking friends to enter the city. Upon seeing this, the city mayor offered to open negotiations. I asked nothing of him, but to allow us to take this woman with us and we will be leaving today.

Astrid: Imagine how hard it was to tell the lads we weren't going to bath in Christian blood tonight! But they accepted it, not like they had a chance! If I say no killing, they won't be killing a single being!

Lily: Thank you for avoiding the bloodshed! That would have been the last thing we needed!

Astrid: No problem, but I'm expecting a hefty sum of gold for this favour later on!

Lily: You will have it, I promise!

Robert: What about Sofia? Should we have her executed? We were only waiting for your return to decide her fate. Such heretics deserve **** my lady!

Astrid: As much as I would like to have her killed, she still has something I need and before she gives it to me, I cannot allow her to die!

Lily: What is that?

Astrid: The orb! It's an old relic of my family, stolen from us generations ago by your people.

Robert: What are you talking about?! How could she have it in her possession?! It's in the king's treasury!

{endif}{endif}

{if Free = false}

{if Erik = true}When you reach the city centre however, you notice Erik and a knight with a band of Vikings standing around Sofia, who has been tied to a pole with her mouth gagged.

Erik (rushing to you): My lady, are you alright?! Here, we have brought you a spare dress in case Sofia didn't allow you to have any on you!

Lily: Yes, I'm fine, besides a few scratches! And thank you for thinking about that too, I'm truly grateful! How did you manage to catch her? Who are all these people?!

Erik: This is going to be a long story my lady... After you disappeared from the manor alongside Sofia, we sent out searching parties to find you, but we didn't have any luck. This man, Robert, who came along the inquisition to arrest Sofia, offered his full support to find both you and her.

Lily (to Robert): And why would you do that...?

Robert: I am a member of the Templar order, I am a knight, tasked with finding and eradicating this order of witches! Hence, our paths have crossed.

Lily: A knight of the Templar order! I have heard of your order, but never seen anybody personally!

Robert: We are humble knights of god, who swore to protect the pilgrims and the faithful. But we also have restrictions on our life, as for example we have taken an oath of celibacy, but I don't think you would be interested in any of that.

Lily: You can't have sex? Doesn't that make your lives hard?

Robert: Sometimes it does! But one can get used to it... In time... But anyway, we better focus on her, as my work here is not yet done! Sofia will not trouble you again, I will make sure of it! But first, we must locate her secret base of operations.

Lily: So, now that she is promptly arrested, you'll take your leave?

Robert: Lady Lily, I can't let you be on your own in these dark times, this order of crazy witches is ready to strike from the shadows whenever they get the chance... They will not forgive you for what you have accomplished here and so, it is my duty to protect you with everything at my disposal.

Lily: Thank you Robert, much appreciated!

Viking woman: Have you ladies finished gossiping...?

Lily: Even a woman is here...! Erik, who is this woman?

Erik: She is my sister, Astrid.

Lily: You have a sister?!

Erik: Long story! There are things I have never shared with you... In short, I'm a Viking...

Lily: You are a Viking...?!

Erik: My name could have told you as much! Erik Blondebeard is a very talkative name! Anyway... My father led a raid on a castle protected by Robert and his order a decade ago, my father and brother had been killed, but I and my sister survived the battle. She returned north with the other survivors while I fled and met Lord Michael, who saved me from some bandits. I offered him my services that day. Astrid is now the head of my clan, she has also discovered that Sofia's master, a man called the Shepherd, convinced my father to attack the castle where Robert and the Templars were staying. He was persuaded to attempt to regain the lost relic, the Orb of Odin from the castle.

Robert: However, the Shepherd had stolen the orb from my castle during the siege. Later he had it offered back to the king in return for a position of archbishop. Unfortunately, there were many bishop titles granted that year, we cannot know for certain which one of them is the Shepherd!

Erik: So now, my sister and my clan have come for ****.

Astrid: Yes, and we will have it, once her guts have been spilled! But only after she has told me where her precious grand master is, so I can feed him his balls!

Erik: Khm! When I heard of her raids, we got into contact and formed this alliance to find you and Sofia. Soon, Robert's contacts have found clues about her nearby location. Our small army of your knights, Vikings and Templars besieged the city to prevent her escape. After we stormed the city and you both fell down into that pit, there was just enough space over the rubble for a person to go down after Sofia. She was so certain the city guards would handle us, that she came out from under the rubble, where we promptly caught and bound her. Robert went to open a gate from the inside to allow more of our Viking friends to enter the city. Upon seeing this, the city mayor offered to open negotiations. We asked nothing of him, but to allow us to take this woman with us and we will be leaving today.

Astrid: Imagine how hard it was to tell the lads we weren't going to bath in Christian blood tonight! But they accepted it, not like they had a chance! If I say no killing, they won't be killing a single being!

Lily: Thank you for avoiding the bloodshed! That would have been the last thing we needed!

Astrid: No problem, but I'm expecting a hefty sum of gold for this favour later on!

Lily: You will have it, I promise!

Robert: What about Sofia? Should we have her executed? We were only waiting for your return to decide her fate. Such heretics deserve **** my lady!

Astrid: As much as I would like to have her killed, she still has something I need and before she gives it to me, I cannot allow her to die!

Lily: What is that?

Astrid: The orb! It's an old relic of my family, stolen from us generations ago by your people.

Erik: What are you talking about sister?! How could she have it in her possession?! It's in the king's treasury!

{endif}

{if Erik = false}When you reach the city centre however, you notice a knight with a band of Vikings standing around Sofia, who has been tied to a pole with her mouth gagged.

Knight: My lady, you must be Lady Lily if I'm not mistaken! Are you alright? Here, we have brought you a spare dress in case Sofia didn't allow you to have any on you, like in the other cases.

Lily: Yes, I'm fine, besides a few scratches! And thanks for the dress...! How do you know my name? How did you manage to catch her? Who are you people?!

Knight: This is going to be a long story my lady... After you disappeared from the manor alongside Sofia, your subjects sent out searching parties to find you, but they didn't have any luck. My name is Robert, I came along the inquisition to arrest Sofia and offered my full support to find both you and her.

Lily: And why would you do that...?

Robert: I am a member of the Templar order, I am a knight, tasked with finding and eradicating this order of witches! Hence, our paths have crossed.

Lily: A knight of the Templar order! I have heard of your order, but never seen anybody personally!

Robert: We are humble knights of god, who swore to protect the pilgrims and the faithful. But we also have restrictions on our life, as for example we have taken an oath of celibacy, but I don't think you would be interested in any of that.

Lily: You can't have sex? Doesn't that make your lives hard?

Robert: Sometimes it does! But one can get used to it... In time... But anyway, we better focus on her, as my work here is not yet done! Sofia will not trouble you again, I will make sure of it! But first, we must locate her secret base of operations.

Lily: So, now that she is promptly arrested, you'll take your leave?

Robert: Lady Lily, I can't let you be on your own in these dark times, this order of crazy witches is ready to strike from the shadows whenever they get the chance... They will not forgive you for what you have accomplished here and so, it is my duty to protect you with everything at my disposal.

Lily: Thank you Robert, much appreciated!

Viking woman: Have you ladies finished gossiping...?

Lily: Even a woman is here...! Who is she?

Robert: Her name is Astrid, she is a Viking, leading her clan.

Lily: Are you a Viking...?! I have never seen one!

Astrid: Don't make me laugh! You have known one quite close to you! My elder brother, Erik!

Lily: Erik?! He was a Viking...?! He never told me that...!

Astrid: His name could have told you as much! Erik Blondebeard is a very talkative name! Anyway... My father led a raid on a castle protected by Robert and his order a decade ago, my father and my eldest brother had been killed, but I and Erik survived the battle. I returned north with the other survivors while he fled and met Lord Michael, who saved him from some bandits. He offered him his services that day. I'm now the head of my clan, I have also discovered that Sofia's master, a man called the Shepherd, convinced my father to attack the castle where Robert and the Templars were staying. He was persuaded to attempt to regain the lost relic, the Orb of Odin from the castle.

Robert: However, the Shepherd had stolen the orb from my castle during the siege. Later he had it offered back to the king in return for a position of archbishop. Unfortunately, there were many bishop titles granted that year, we cannot know for certain which one of them is the Shepherd!

Lily: So... **** is what's driving you and your Viking...?

Astrid: Yes, and we will have it, once her guts have been spilled! But only after she has told me where her precious grand master is, so I can feed him his balls!

Lily: Such a noble and honourable goal...!

Astrid: Anyway, when I had been raiding the coasts near your manor, I heard she was located there. I sent a few of my scouts to investigate, but they said she got away and took you with her. I sent a message to Robert and we got into contact, formed this alliance to find you and Sofia. Soon, Robert's contacts have found clues about her nearby location. Our small army of your knights, Vikings and Templars besieged the city to prevent her escape. After we stormed the city and you both fell down into that pit, there was just enough space over the rubble for a person to go down after Sofia. She was so certain the city guards would handle us, that she came out from under the rubble, where we promptly caught and bound her. Robert went to open a gate from the inside to allow more of my Viking friends to enter the city. Upon seeing this, the city mayor offered to open negotiations. We asked nothing of him, but to allow us to take this woman with us and we will be leaving today. Imagine how hard it was to tell the lads we weren't going to bath in Christian blood tonight! But they accepted it, not like they had a chance! If I say no killing, they won't be killing a single being!

Lily: Thank you for avoiding the bloodshed! That would have been the last thing we needed!

Astrid: No problem, but I'm expecting a hefty sum of gold for this favour later on!

Lily: You will have it, I promise!

Robert: What about Sofia? Should we have her executed? We were only waiting for your return to decide her fate. Such heretics deserve **** my lady!

Astrid: As much as I would like to have her killed, she still has something I need and before she gives it to me, I cannot allow her to die!

Lily: What is that?

Astrid: The orb! It's an old relic of my family, stolen from us generations ago by your people.

Robert: What are you talking about?! How could she have it in her possession?! It's in the king's treasury!

{endif}{endif}

Astrid: It used to be, but it had been stolen recently and she knows where it is!

Lily: How do you know that?

Astrid: We have noble men supporting us within your kingdom, for a few golden coins.

Robert: Oh, those vile scums! I'll find them sooner or later!

Dercia (whispering to you): Lily, if it's true, than you must be the one to take possession of the orb!

Robert: So what will it be my lady? Should we execute the heretic here and now or should we let Astrid question her first with her... questionable methods?

Astrid: She will be telling us everything we want to know, even what we don't want to! Guaranteed!