Kobal frowns.  "If we thump them at Badside, it might be too easy for them to call for more guards.  Or the fight might attract more guards (or the tavern's own guards).  Maybe better to wait til they're drunk, leave Badside and are on their patrol, before jumping them.  Either scout the area and look for places for an ambush, or pose as nomads transporting animals or meat."  He thinks as he speaks.  "Or maybe both.  Some of us pose as traders at the ambush site.  The rest hide.  When the thugs try to extort those of us posing as traders, we attack from all directions."  He looks at the others for their thoughts.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:09, Sun 20 May 2018.

"There's no more guards in Badside and that shit hole of a drinking place doesn't have any either."

Orlgar's wife interrupts

"Are you the braves who are ransoming Delenda of the Arinstoli to her people?"

"Yes, that's us. Trolls got her though, so looks like we'll have to buy bye her back at the slave market first."

She nods at this but says nothing more.

Kobal looks to Melock.  "In that case, maybe a bar-room brawl would be a good solution.  Less likely to be weapons drawn."

Now that Celine has popped back into the room, the brave takes the opportunity to thank her for the food and drink.  He adds, "We will be ransoming Delenda to her clan.  But at the same time,  we bear no ill will against her.  She's been captured by troll, who plan to sell her as a slave.  We do plan to try to save her, so if you can help with that, we'd be grateful."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:49, Mon 21 May 2018.

Since leaving Geo's, Hoskar has been deep in thought.

Bar room brawl might look like happenstance, not a lesson he observes. By Issaries that's why it's tricky. Want them to know why it's happened but not who did it.

Joy of a bar-room brawl is we needn't be wearing full kit. Distinctive stuff. Trouble is how we look different-but-normal. I can just shave, but the blue arm stands out like a wind lord at the Sun Dome.

In the Rubble, we can be covered and masked but there's more chance of a death. Weapons everywhere. And unless we walk in while they ride, our mounts give us away.

I think I favour the brawl, with someone large and impressive he glances at Kobal grating out an apt threat at the end. Maybe time it just before the Uz market so we can make ourselves scarce straight afterwards? Suss it out before we come back?

Kobal smiles at the look from Hoskar.  "Yeah, I think my brawling is even better than my skill with a sword.  Besides, once we've beat them to within an inch of their lives, they'll know why its happened.  As you said, we'll just grate out an apt threat at the end.  Does it matter if they know who did it?  Whatever measures we take to try to disguise ourselves, they'll make a divination if they really want to know.  We can take care of ourselves.

"And I won't be shaving.  The Khan of Khans never taught us to shave.  That's not his way."

Still getting to grips with the dynamic of the group, Grundar has kept silent until this point, letting others lead the way, but talk of a barroom brawl is too much for him to ignore, Oh, yes, the brawl is clearly the way to go. Much more chance for us manoeuvre things to our advantage. Not only do we not have to worry about weapons so much, but they will be less sensible than usual, and maybe we can call on others to help out in a way that might not be feasible elsewhere. Sounds to me like there will be others who might be willing to lay in with an extra punch or two if they saw that things we organised and they could get away with it - they're clearly not a popular bunch...

Kobal tilts his head to the side a moment, thinking.  "If you can convince others to help, I don't see why not.  But so long as they understand they're accepting risk and won't likely be getting any reward from the Garhound clan - I expect that's only offered to the Rangers.  Depends on what these others will be demanding from us as the price of their involvement, haha."

Still smiling intently, Hoskar nods.

I am thinking no-one is caring to ask the gods if it seems like some no-nothing transients do it. And if I offer them a smoke first they maybe wake up in a sewer with broken limbs and no recollection of how it comes about. Unless someone else with a grudge finishes them as they sleep and no blame to us.

His smile become softer at Grundar's comment. And after this we must make you a permanent joining offer, I'd reckon

Henal grins "fighting in a tavern can work for me as with less space being smaller can help".

"Normally, I wouldn't think so, but there are members of the Pavis Royal Guard we'll be beating up, so I don't know how seriously they'll take it.  And Hoskar, we want them to remember why they were attacked, so too much of a smoke won't help us, haha."



Kobal looks to Grundar.  "Yes, some time we'll get back to telling you what we're about.  And you can join us, if you're willing to leave Pavis with us.  I don't know about your Deadheads joining, though, haha.  If you decide to join us, we'll initiate you into the Rangers.  But an initiation just for a bar-room brawl would seem quite... underwhelming."

"So Orlgar, you can hire us as guards to get there then? That's all we need to know now I think."

Melock nods, "You're not the only one. All those times fighting in the bachelor tent are going to come in handy."



A look of worry crosses Melock's face, "Can I ask where did you hear about that?"

"To get to Badside, why would I do that?"

"Because many of her clan are here looking for you and you fit the description."

Grundar grins excitedly at the offer to join the Rangers from Hoskar and Kobal, speaking over them as soon as it becomes clear what they're talking about, Yes! Please! Who'd have thought that such a young brave could become both a Deadhead and Ranger. To be honest, the Deadhead bit isn't that exciting, a stepping stone to other things, although one day I shall take charge and make them the group they ought to be - probably change the name too, not a great one to be honest. Talking of the 'Heads, what do you reckon, should I try and persuade a few of them to come and help with our current business. No one would know them in Badside and they could either keep look out for us or help cause some trouble within? One last hurrah before I leave them to their own devices for a bit.

Kobal looks at Ohanzee.  "I think perhaps my blue-armed friend was thinking that if you were going to Badside, then escorting you would be a good pretext for our going there.  Plus, perhaps you would've liked to have been there at the tavern when we beat up these thugs.  Adds to the message.  But that's fine, we can deliver the message ourselves."



A good point, Melock.  "I hope you won't mention this to anyone," Kobal says to Celine.  "Could interfere with our current task.  We'll sort things out with the Arinstoli in due course."



Kobal looks around at the Rangers, then says to Grundar, "If some of them want to help, that's fine.  But be discrete asking them.  We don't want word getting around.  And they'll have to accept the risk.  We'll be leaving Pavis soon enough.  They'll remain, and have to deal with the Pavis Royal Guard in future."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:28, Wed 23 May 2018.

Too true, Kobal, those are wise words, but there are some who are anything but 'deadheads', youngsters who might appreciate a chance to prove themselves and advance a little. You've heard something of my triumphant fighting fish 'heist', there were certainly some who helped me in the run up to that who could be trusted and who are ambitious enough to take the risk. If I'm off with you lot, there will be a gap for one of them to occupy for a while if they can prove themselves.

Having kicked around with them for while now, Grundar reckons he's a good enough judge of character to know who might be up for lending a hand (with an appropriate gift to say thank you) and who might be more of a liability. He does a mental run down and selects a couple who he reckons can be relied upon and heads off to see if he can find them. Not wanting to hold things up though, he'll abandon the hunt if he doesn't track them down quickly.

Amara nodded listening to everyone "Surely a few coppers thrown here and there might persuade someone to throw the guards off the scent, should any be sent our way? Besides...umm...how can I put this? The guards I've seen here aren't likely to come running at someone reporting a fight breaking out in a drinking place." she pursed her lips "I think it's easiest to hit them in the bar. Out in the rubble deaths come easy. Inside the city everyone at least pays lip service to the law and deaths attract attention. I don't think it would be that hard to deliver a message over who might be the responsible party. We don't even need to be subtle about it. Thump. Stay out of garhound business or else next time we'll catch up with you where the guards can't protect you? or am I missing something?"

Kobal nods at Grundar and Amara's words.  He looks at Orglar.  "Well, it seems it's settled then.  Unless you have any other details for us, we'll get out of your," thinning, "hair".

Still thinking hard, Hoskar murmurs works for me.

"So, we just need to make sure we don't kill anyone by accident, though there's nothing stopping us taking their gear afterwards."

Or beforehand for that matter!
...as long as its done discretely that is