5:16 PM
@MikeQ The timeline is something like this. Bayleaf, of the survivors, is the one who has been there the longest. Mack has only been there a few months, and he was hired by the old man (the high priest, recently deceased during the fighing) a few months ago during an off hand discussion while some goods were being sold to a fence who Mack worked for.
Bayleaf and Ogmund did not Get along at all; Ogmund very much alpha male, had a string of victories (and trophies) from the very much illegal in Keoland but legal in some other places, blood sport/fight to the death contests that gladiators are good at. And he let anyone and everyone know it: more than once there was the old "I can kill you, and I might if you cross me." Ogmund and Ozymandias knew each other form before, long time ago.
Bayleaf was a superb teacher of basic blade and spear and dagger and crossbow skills to neophytes. A passable fencer as well. Remarkabley good in a tight spot, which they found themselves in quite a bit during the protracted battle against the Sea Prince reavers.
Longer time line I'll sketch in like this. The Salt Marsh reconnaisance party that landed on the beach was destroyed to a man (as far as Mack knows) but they while the reavers during made the last assault which ultimately drove the survivors underground, what with the roof being set fire again and the steele/tower/pinnacle coming crashing down. They've been living in the cellar for a little over a week with no way off the island, so far.
The recon mission reached the Island either 9 or 10 days ago. (Karl's own time line conflicts depending on which file I have open, I need to resolve that argument with myself).
The seige / attack had begun three days before that; it came as a surprise. Were it not for the undead in the dunes creating a non trivial obstacle for the reavers to overcome, the midnight raid would have likely been a 'coup de main' and overrun the temple, and the inhabitants, in a single battle.
With the warning the old man and his various subordinates were able to put together a stout defense.
The old man died as a result of a bunch of crossbow bolts hitting him at once: someone on the reaver side, after the initial repulse of the attack on the abbey had identified him as a critical leader; he was organizing a counter attack to an assault that in retrospect was designed to get him to expose himself.
The arrival of Fluta and Sieur Loinell; two or three days before the attack. They arrived with the last load of contraband/fenced goods before the reavers dropped their surprise attack on the Island. She knew the old man from way back. She did not know Ozy, nor respect him.
The Abbey had been on this Island for years and years; it wasn't always a cult site for worship of the sea deity - if it is even the sea that the Old Man worshipped. The rituals they performed had once included a kidnapped woman who'd been delivered with fenced goods by reavers. It was done by the cliffes to the east, and Mack refused to even get near to the event. Gave him the creeps.
(As Seven and Ignaz were discovering, the older construction seems to have been some kind of dragon cult, but that's even longer ago)
Fluta tid bits: an outgoing and strong willed person. Sieur was from minor nobility in Monmurg, family raised cattle {think Black Angus Beef quality} he was a knight seeking renown and increase in status. Told Mack he'd met Fluta while recruiting a small raiding party for a mission he'd been offered by some mysterious stranger; meeting her had changed his life and he came with her when she headed to the Island.
Odi Tidbit: Sieur had briefly shared with Mack that Odie was a rich scion of a noble family near Monmurg. He'd come of age, gone to schools had private tutors. He'd refused his family vis a vis a betrothal so he'd been sent to a seminary/monastery to see if he'd the aptitude to be a priest. Much to the surprise of many, he wasn't just an apt pupil, he was a natural.
