Setonian Empire [the search]

[Yawielas]

Ely smiles a half smile, a soft expression on her usually cheery or cheeky face. "Ely....It's strange, I've only had that name for little more than a week, and already it's a short form. I used to be Vanwa, that's what Julius called me. A priest told me it means "lost". But when I found my mom again not long before we found you, really, she told me my real name. I'd forgot. But I remembered her hair...and the village. It was good to have family. Now we're helping Jisika find her own people to. I know I can trust you guys. Everyone has proven so. And I've tried to help in my way. We all escaped the arena together, except from Martin, we met him on the way, he helped us. We were all slaves, or rather...almost all of us, Marcuus was pretending to be to oppose slavery in his own way. Told you he's a little crazy." She smiles a little fondly at this. "Let's hope it doesn't run in the family. We just found out we share a father. How's that for a twist of fate?"

[Truwar]

Butch’s eyes bug a bit at Elysia’a admission about Marcuus.

Yer Mr. Churchypants McPraysalot’s sis?

He roars in laughter.

Well I guess ya really never can tell. Guess he gets his chruchiness from his mams side o’ the family.

Wiping tears from his eyes as the paroxysms of laughter begin to subside, Butch gets a bit more serious.

Ya know, the more I hear about slavers the more fond I get about the idea o’ guttin’ ‘em whenever I cross their paths… Ya think I would o’ been a bit more exposed to it, growin’ up in Seton but I guess nobody has any slaves in the slums… Anyhoo, we beter get ourselves back to the camp, we need ta get some breakfast in ya or ya might cut a hole in yer saddle with that boney little backside o’ yers.

Winks and attempts to makes a break for the camp before she can punch him.

[Uthuk]

Martin

As Butch and Ely leaves camp, Martin packs up the gear and prepare the camp for departure.

While putting his part of the gear on his mule, Martin checks to see if anyonelse need a hand.

[Yawielas]

Ely throws a handful of pebbles after Butch and darts back to camp.

[Truwar]

Ducking his head and chuckling as he is pelted by Elysia’s accurate gravel toss, Butch come jogging into camp. Seeing the others packing up he hitches his mule and pulls out some bread and cheese along with a couple of flasks of wine. Tossing the flask and good sized portion of the bread and cheese to Elysia, Butch hops onto hit cart seat.

Looks like we’re eatin’ on the road, missy!

[Yawielas]

Ely catches the food and mounts up, balancing her meal in one hand and holding the reins in the other. "So....Where to? The road again untill we find somewhere to sell the mules?"

[Truwar]

Well, how much further until we reach this town we’re headin’ fer? I guess it all comes down ta’ jist how bad this war is, don’t it?

Thinks for a moment, chomping on his unlit cigar.

We had best ditch me cart before the day’s out, much as it pains me ta say so. We should probably start headin’ cross country as soon as possible…

[Geech000]

Krahl

Krahl is up and ready to leave.

[amanodel]

You've been travelling for one or two hours, when you spot a small group in the distance. They are too far away to see who they are, even for those who have extraordinary eyes.

They are about ten minutes before you on the road, and they are coming towards you, it seems.

[Yawielas]

Ely shades her eyes from the sun with her hand, squinting at the group. "Well...If we've seen them, they've probably seen us..."

[Jongluer]

Marcuus nods as he reins up gazing out at them, "Most likely...so...shall we call ourselves merchants?" He says as he turns to the group.

[Geech000]

Krahl

Krahl scrunches up his face and scratches his head, "But Krahl not have any-t'ing to give for shinies."

[Truwar]

Butch grins broadly, in his element.

Ok, how does this sound? Marcuus, yer a once wealthy merchant, you’ve hit a rough patch and you and yer faithful servant, Butch looks meaningfully at Martin, have had to really scrape the bottom o’ the barrel ta find guards, that’d be us non-humans, ta escort ya to yer wealthy and sympathetic cousin in a distant city, which jist happens ta be the city wer’re already travelin’ to. Sound like a plan?

[Jongluer]

Marcuus nods, "Brilliant plan. Form around me and I'll hail them if they try to speak with us." Marcuus places himself in the center of the group and waits for the men to approach.

[Geech000]

Krahl

Krahl scratches his head again, not really understanding the plan. He shrugs and walks next to Marcuus with his axe in hand.

[Yawielas]

Ely moves up front, acting as a scout.

[Uthuk]

Martin

With a small grin,"Always at your service, old Master"

[amanodel]

As the group gets closer you can see that they are a group of warriors, and they seems to belong to the Ciwellan army guessing from their armors and clothes. You count eight soldiers. Finally they approach you and stop about sixty feets ahead of you, with weapons drawn.

"Stop there wayfarers! What brings you to this rough path with dangers guiding the way?"

Speaks a tall man, seemingly their leader. He emphasizes he word "danger" in his speech.

(( Does anyone have a deeper knowledge of Ciwellan military, or trying some knowledge or other checks for some reason? ))

[Geech000]

Krahl

Krahl steps inbetween Marcuus and the soldiers, glaring around with axe at ready. What does he mean by rough paths? This is smooth land. Ii haven't seen anything which could really be called rough since...I got sold. If that human tries anything I will snap his neck! If any dangers threaten my tribe I shall crush them!

[Jongluer]

Marcuus steps forth, angling himself expertly so that Krahl is still inbetween him and the men. He then calls out to the leader, "Hello my good sir, fine day is it not? My faithful servant and I are on our way to visit my cousin in a far off city. Anticipating the dangers of this land we hired on some very strong guards to escort us. I am sure there is no problem with us passing through, we mean no harm. Even if there is, I'm sure we could come to some sort of arrangement?" His speaks in a projecting, aristocratic voice, almost conveying a sense that he is the one entirely in control of the situation. As he spoke he seemed to glow with an inner golden light.

((Activate Eagle's Splendor, Diplomacy +14.))

[amanodel]

A strong human steps ahead of the others. The strange thing that he's dressed just like the others, no sign of his rank can be seen on his clothes. He seathes his sword, and adresses Marcuus.

"Arrangement, yes. With all these warring, our border watch naturally weakened. Bandits, desertours and highwaymen can form groups, and are maybe free to roam the area. To make long words short, for the case of ridding this land from these dangerous outlaws, we must ask you to help us with some gold. We ask not so many, a few ten golds from every group surely would do to get rid of these dangerous criminals, so they won't kill trespassers."

[Truwar]

At the words of the leader of the “soldiers” Butch stands up from his seat and hops down from the cart.

Whelp, that’s it. I quit.

Butch eyes the soldiers, casually looking for any kind of insignia linking them to a noble familly or government entity.

Good luck in getting’ ten gold outta this fella. He aint got more than three or four gold on ‘im, tops. Been sleepin’ under this cart fer the last three days. Who ever herd o’ a merchant that sleeps under a stinkin’ cart at night? He SAYS he’s gonna pay us once he gets ta his rich brother, he SAYS that once we find him, this brother will give a fortune to each o’ us fer helpin’ him out. I fer one, am stratin’ ta lose faith in him.

[Yawielas]

Ely keeps herself ready, pretty sure these are just the type of brigands they are warning them about. She listens as Butch goes into con mode, ready to back him up if needed.

[Uthuk]

Martin

Martin stands a couple steps behind Marcuus, waiting to see what happens.

[amanodel]

The leader of the group watches carefully Marcuus, and then Butch.

"Just a fair warning for you, good travelers. The bandits here you'll likely to meet will ask for gold. And if you don't give it to them, they will probably become angry and kill you all and after loot your corpses, to see if you lied to them. They are especially merciless."

The soldiers wear the Ciwellan military uniform, but in a very rugged and dirty fashion.

[Yawielas]

Ely glances at the others, weapon at the ready, then looks at the deserters:"I think you need to reconsider...Such a group may try to kill us, but chances are that many of them would die trying. Maybe they'd win, maybe not. Maybe they'd be lucky and not encounter a group of trained gladiators, but then again, perhaps that's exactly who they'd meet....So...The question is....Do you feel lucky?" She smiles sweetly.

[Geech000]

Krahl

Krahl gives a low growl, takes a step forward and brandishes his axe. "Krahl kill stupid human that try harm Krahl's tribe! Krahl make blood bath of stupid human!" He isn't quite sure if he is threatening these 'soldiers' or if he is threatening some bandits they haven't met yet, but he does percieve a threat to his tribe.

((Intimidate check: 2+4=6))

[Jongluer]

Marcuus smiles, taking the man's warning and giving his own, stepping before Krahl he glowers out at the men and says, "If such men were to attack me, not only would they have to deal with my hired guards, but with my own blade. I'm sure that these men would understand desperation, and should know what happens when you back something in a corner, the end result is not very pretty." He smirks haughtily as he lets his words hang in the air, letting the massive hilt of his bastard sword be shown.

((Intimidate 17+5=22...))

[amanodel]

"I would be muxh nicer when I'm talking to heavily armed stranger. Get 'em, boys!"

They draw their swords and are slowly taking up a military formation.

Time to roll those initiatives and first actions.

[Yawielas]

(Init 8 )

Ely will slide down from her mule, taking partial cover behind it and fire at the leader with her bow. "That was stupid...Cause win or no, we're gonna take some of you with us. Will it be you?"

(mod +9, dmg 1d6, crit x3, AC 18, HP 18 )