RP Session 3: "The Diemen Gambit"

As the party formed up they found themselves making for the sprawling camp, which was laid out like a small town with die-straight avenues of well-trodden dirt were flanked by countless cook-fires, all casting the camp's own lamplight across their path. Voices were subdued in the growing night, but the low rumble of conversation was everywhere, and countless pairs of eyes rose beneath helms or from rasping whetstones to watch them pass. There was a sense of austere readiness in every direction, and even the rare bout of laughter had a tension about it.

At the centre of the camp the tents gave way to a cluster of large pavilions, each decked in banners bearing the arms of Diemed and those of the various nobles and companies present. But before they entered this circle of the most esteemed commanders the captain took a sharp right and descended down a less well-trodden pathway towards a clearing amongst the camp. The sudden void of campfires and torches made it seem like they were riding into a cloud of darkness, and the sounds of the camp growing distant only enhanced that sinister impression.

Once their eyes adjusted it became apparent that four modest tents sat in the void, apart from the rest of the camp despite being at its centre. Lanternlight gave their heavy walls a faint glow, but scarcely more than the dim of the now-sunless horizon. Here their escort stopped and only the captain continued until they rode into the circle of open ground between the tents. Here he dismounted, offering a crisp nod of greeting to a pair of guards at the door to the largest tent.

---

The moment that they were left alone Tovrunn gave a silent command, and a tawny shape circled out of the night and without a word followed along behind the departing riders. Closing her eyes gently she sent her senses to join with that of the distant shape and watched from far above as the horsemen made their way down a grid of golden streets and into a puddle of orphaned night.