Zyanya Game, Session 1

[mdsoze]

Sam

Oh, about 8 months. Long enough to get trained in basic negotiations, and to be sent along with trained combat troops to observe a mission.

As for my joining, it is very simple. It was made clear to me that my brothers, who both followed my father in life, were not going to give me a chance to make my own way with the family, thinking me somewhat useless. The army seems a path where those relations cannot undermine me.

[Lycar]

Jason

Jason greets Sister Alina with a short bow when she enters.

"We are honoured to be accompanied by you, Sister Alina. Oh and about equipment: Should you find the need, feel free to use the healing kit that I carry in my backpack. I am no trained healer, but I have some basic knowledge about applying bandages to bleeding wounds."

"Will you be carrying the boy by any chance?"

Once ready to ride, Jason seems eager to get the mission on the way.

For the time being however, he also seems content to just ride along and maybe pick up a bit from the conversation between Ib and Sam.

Lycar

[thorgrim29]

Lady Alina, it is a pleasure. André des Sarlièves, à votre service

He kisses her hand with his hat held to the left (damn, what's the guy equivalent of a curtsy again?).

After the lady explains her vows:

It is not an issue, leave ruffians of the human persuasion to us.

[SilverElf]

Sister Alina

Alina offers André and Jason a bright smile in greeting once introductions are made.

Pleased to meet you. I think I shall still pick up a kit, a spare will do us no harm. I will happily let you gentlemen take care of any ruffians, but will assist if necessary.

She smiles demurely at André, continuing.

It is just Sister Alina, dear sir. No additional honorifics are necessary.

And... what boy?

She seems a bit perplexed by that.

[OOC... I don't think she's caught everyone's name, unless it's assumed they've been offered as a matter of course.]

[KeresM]

The countryside is lightly wooded once you leave the areas of farmland. There are snow-covered rolling hills and a few frozen streams here and there. Icicles decorate the oak and maple trees.

You have the option of taking the main trade route, a well-maintained cobblestone road with guards that patrol regularly. It is a well-traveled road, even in winter. The main road would allow you an inn to stop in every night, and get you to a port city in about two weeks.

Alternately, you can take the farmer's paths, through the smaller villages, which are left to locals to guard and maintain. Some go weeks without travelers. You may have to sleep outside some nights, or entreat with farmers for a place in their homes. It will take you about three weeks by these routes, assuming they are all clear.

Or you can cut directly through the countryside, but those traveling in such a manner are often viewed with suspicion by guards. It would be the fastest method, getting you to the ports in less than a week and a half.

[thorgrim29]

Sister Alina

It is just Sister Alina, dear sir. No additional honorifics are necessary.

André laughs softly at that:

Not to worry, I simply beleive in proper introductions, Sister Alina it is. And please, call me André


afterwards:

I say we take the main road, after all, we are simply a group of Lord Vergil's soldiers on an errand, escorting Sister Alina, who is visiting family right?

[SilverElf]

Sister Alina

Alina nods at André, with a slight smile.

If I may offer an opinion, perhaps the more direct route through the countryside might be the better option. While we do not want to bring undue attention upon us, our mission is of utmost importance. You wear the colors of Lord Vergil, and as a Sister of Mercy, few would question my presence in the countryside. If questioned, you are accompanying me on Church business, I doubt anyone would press the issue further.

I leave it up to the rest of you, though, as I believe the risks are far greater off the main trade route.

She makes a small bow.

[Lycar]

Jason

Jason rides silently most of the time, keeping himself wrapped up in the winter blanket to stay warm. When the subject of travel strategies comes up, he offers his own insights.

"If I may offer my own thoughts on the subject: After his Eminency took so much pains to set up scores of experienced veterans as decoys to draw any unwanted attention away from us, it would behoove us not to squander that advantage by behaving suspicious in any way. Remember: While we are on an important mission, it is imperative that nobody realizes this, ideally until after we successfully completed it. It would therefore be advisable to behave as if we were not on an urgent mission. Therefore, just sticking to the main roads seems to offer the best compromise between speed and keeping up apperances."

"Oh that reminds me: If we should have to fight, those of you who prefer the offense over the defense, stick close to me. I am proficient at extending my shield's protection to my brothers in arms next to me. " Jason nods at Sister Alina with a smile "Or sisters as the case may be."

Lycar

[SilverElf]

Sister Alina

Alina shrugs.

(to Jason's comment)

Perhaps I over-estimate the influence of the Sisters, but I rather doubt that one of our number traveling with escort would arouse suspicion on the part of legitimate authorities, no matter where we chose to go, at least within the borders of Amareth.

She yawns and stretches in the saddle as she rides, seemingly unconcerned one way or another which path is chosen, though she seems to take a decidedly pragmatic outlook on things in general.

She smiles at Jason's comments about shields and battle.

And thank you for your kind consideration in battle, I shall keep that in mind should I be forced to engage.

[charl]

Baldor

"Sister Alina is right, but on the other hand so is Jason. A sister can go many places most people can not, but it will still attract a fair deal of attention if she goes to the... wrong places."

Baldor readjusts his position behind André, looking a bit uneasy.

"I suggest we do use the proper roads."

[KeresM]

Serfs have already cleared the snow from the main road, and while the travel is lighter in the winter, there are still quite a few merchants traveling.

A jewel merchant and a weapon merchant will invite you to take a look at their wares, but for the most part the merchants are in too big a hurry to get to their destinations to pay you much notice. The patrols that pass give you polite nods.

The first couple days pass without incident, and you can find a decent enough inn every night without having to dig beyond silver in your coinpurses.

Then on the third day out, you see a patrol riding fast towards the nearest village. A patrol normally includes six guards. This patrol has only 5, and two are held in the saddle by companions. At first they start to ride past you, then catch a glimpse of Sister Alina. As they get closer, you can see they do indeed number six, but the last is tied to his saddle, obviously deceased.

The leader, and apparently the least wounded of them, says 'My lady, we request your aid!'

[SilverElf]

Sister Alina

Alina nudges her horse to the group, moving to assist immediately.

She will spend a turn attempt to use Sacred Boost, and when she lays her hands upon one of the wounded guards, a burst of divine power surges forth from her. [Maximized CLW in a 60' burst (1d8+2)]

What has happened here?

[thorgrim29]

André

As the party approaches, André jumps to the ground and tightens his crossbow's string. He then calls to the soldiers:

Are you being pursued?

[KeresM]

The three men with minor wounds are restored to full health by Alina's actions, and the two badly wounded men regain consciousness.*


The leader flexes his now undamaged arm and says, I hope not. I do not think they were interested in us. We were simply between them and their primary targets. The wizard did not even bother with us, if he had, we'd all be dead.

Another man speaks up One of the caravan that was attacked shouted at us to run, that we were outmatched and to tell the Church they had fallen. He was the one of the three that survived the initial attack, and he was dead before we'd gone more than a few steps.

The leader shakes his head, obviously ashamed. They laughed at us as we ran. I wish...but there was nothing we could do, I'd have got my men killed trying. Thank you, Sister.



*(they were both at neg 7)

[Lycar]

Jason

At the first sight of the patrol, Jason is only slightly alarmed. The fact that they are below regulation number and in a hurry points at trouble, but it should not concern his party directly.

When they come to request aid and tell their story however, he gets somewhat concerned.

He is also duly impressed by Sister Alina's healing magic.

(A wizard... what if that was one of the other groups of heroes sent out as decoys?)

Jason nods at the leader "You did the right thing to disengage, there is no sense in throwing your lives away for nothing. Now you can pass the word on about what happened. So who or what attacked you?"

Jason

[SilverElf]

Sister Alina

Alina frowns worriedly.

She intones a prayer over the fallen guard to send his soul to Samad properly.

Are your men in good enough shape to continue on? Do they require additional healing before we send you along to report on what has occurred?

Her frown deepens.

Who would be so bold as to attack a caravan and a patrol on the main trade routes? Have you any idea who the perpetrators of this heinous act were?

[OOC: following up on Jason's line of questioning]

[KeresM]

We will be able to get to reinforcements. You should come with us until we can ascertain the roads are safe.

He gives a description of the wizard

[charl]

"I agree. We should help these people and keep them safe until the reinforcements arrive. It's the least we can do."

[Butch]

Hmm. This wizard character intrigues me. One cannot help but wonder why he would attack you. He sounds realy sinister and I am sure we would not want to encounter him. But going back the way we came seems like a bad idea. We are in a bit of a hurry, after all.

[SilverElf]

Sister Alina

Alina smiles graciously.

We are not in such a rush that we cannot aid these men, I would think.

She gives Ib a pointed look.

[OOC: We shouldn't be acting like we are in any particular hurry, I think, hence "the look."]

[Lycar]

Jason

Jason nods at Alina's words.

"Of course. If we help these men, we won't make it to the next inn before nightfall but that's okay, we can still spend the night in the village or something. And if we start early tomorrow, we can even easily make up the lost time. No problem."

"Ib. I'm as eager as everybody to get home to see my family again, but really, one day more or less isn't that big a deal. Right?"

Lycar

[thorgrim29]

Jason, Alina, I admire that your first instinct is to help those men, but that would be a very bad idea, we need a bit of privacy...

Assuming they do get a bit of privacy:

It's possible that this is unrelated to our mission, but it's more likely one of our decoys just got killed. That's bad, but they knew the risks, and we would accomplish nothing by getting killed. Those men should be alright on their own, I say we go a few miles away from the main road for a day or two, and then continue as we were.

[mdsoze]

Sam

Sam rocks uneasily on his heels as the men are revived from the brink of death, and seems decidedly uncomfortable with battle.

Clearly, the main road is being watched. Perhaps we would be best to start cutting across the countryside. Our errand is such that we are best going unobserved.

[KeresM]

The patrol leader nods to all of you and says, 'we appreciate the assistance, but I fear we cannot wait longer to report. Should you choose to come back to the village, we will be at the barracks and you are welcome there. Take care of the Sister.'

The patrol sets off for the village.

[SilverElf]

Sister Alina

May Samad watch over you and your men, Lieutenant.

Alina turns to the others, frowning slightly.

I think we are not doing well in keeping our cover of nonchalance. Sam is right, it is probably best now to attempt to cut across country and avoid any further ambushes they may have set along the main route. What do you think?

[Butch]

Fine. Though it goes against my principles I agree we should take a cross country path as well. I hate to see bad deeds go unpunished but I suppose our delivery should be our top priority. If we're through talking it over I suggest we get going.

Ib looks determined and if noone opposes he will lead the way.

[thorgrim29]

Alright then, let us be gone.

[charl]

"Where the mission goes, so must we. I suppose."

[KeresM]

By nightfall, you have reached an outlying farm. A light burns in the window, and you can hear dogs barking an alert.

[Lycar]

Jason

Jason didn't say much. He didn't like the plan of going cross-country much but still bowed to the mayority vote. Without a clear leader to give commands to be followed, they would have to work together somehow.

Strange that he, who was meant to become a leader of men one day, would be with a group that had no leader. Or maybe, just not yet.

But eventually the group arrives at the farmstead an Jason is distracted from his musings.

"Ah, that is a chance to find shelter for the night. A place in a barn is better then a tent. Come, let us make our presence known to the farmer."

Jason nudges his horse and continues riding towards the farm.

Lycar