Giles lays upon the infirmary bed, his back propped high with a pair of pillows as he uses the mid-day light cascading down from the high windows to read.  Though the subject matter was quite simple, Giles had thoroughly enjoyed the book Battlefield Medicine one of the handful of tomes he had managed to rescue from the Harpies' nest.  Several of the others still lay beside him, including a few which he could not read due to the entirely foreign language with which they were printed.  Though it was little more than an educated guess due to their proximity to the Wazifi border, Giles had decided the books were most likely written in Arabic, that language of the tribes to the south, the very tribes whose threats of incursion were the very reason he was stationed here at the border.

Flipping the page lazily, Giles moves on to Chapter 8 - Techniques for Staunching Overwhelming Blood Flow

As discussed in Chapter 5 - Securing the Patient, the most important and time critical priorities when treating a victim in the field follow the principles of APC:  Anaphylaxis, Pulmonary Circulation, and Cardionormalism.  However, no amount of breathing or beating of the heart will help when our patient is hemorrhaging blood from a severed limb!  Therefore, there will at times be injuries that we must treat even prior to administering Cardionormalizing Treatments (CNTS).  We will explore the treatments and options available based on combat supplies and the severity of the injury in this chapter.

Giles rubs his eyes, letting the book fall over on his stomach as he arches his back in a slow and powerful stretch.  Today was his Third day in the infirmary and he was already feeling much better, though the medic had insisted he stay the afternoon for monitoring in case the infection flared again.  At least the first day he had Pierce here to keep him company and there had been a thin stream of visitors who had heard of the curious turn of their tour and came seeking the story from the ones who had seen the action first hand.  Giles had smiled at first, letting Pierce do the majority of the storytelling, for the young man was boisterous and inventive in his retellings, progressively getting more and more outlandish until Giles eventually had to insist that he had not grabbed one of the things with two hands, bashing its head against the stone even as he had been grievously wounded about his head and face.  Even Captain Brashear had come, though briefly, to make sure his men were recovering well and Giles had taken the opportunity to hand his commanding officer one of his prized books from the haul, Raphael: The Geography and Environs.

Pierce however, had been released on his second day in the clinic and the steady stream of visitors had petered out, sucked back into their normal routines of watch, duty, eating, sleeping, and shooting the shit in the workspaces and galley.  So far today had been completely boring with no one but the medic, who was constantly hustling about the infirmary, assailing all types of busywork and minutia that constantly kept him from holding any sort of real conversation.  Instead, Giles had spent the whole day reading, staring off with the book he was holding in his hands.

Giles looks up as the doorway to the infirmary opens and in walks the captain, his heavy suit of mail jangling against his body and the hilt of his sword swinging lightly at his hip.  He smiles at Giles lightly as he sits down at the bed next to him.

"How are you feeling Giles?"  He starts off, leaning back slightly against the footboard of the infirmary bed.  "I heard you've been kicking and screaming but Halmad still won't let you go."

OOC:  This thread is only for Giles 'J'naeth' Hind.  Giles is now on his third day in the infirmary, and though he suffered infection from the cuts in his face, he was quickly treated by the medic with various salves that not only stemmed further damage, but mitigated most of the permanent scarring.  As of now, Giles still has some significant lacerations that have scabbed over and are not in danger of opening on their own.  You have recovered all HP and FP from he previous thread.  Halmad is the medic, who seems somewhat lacking in a personality and makes up for that deficiency by pretending to always be busy.
This message was last updated by the GM at 03:59, Tue 01 May 2018.

Giles had shown some stoicism in the tales that Pearced had spoken but had welcomed them. It always paid to tantalise soldiers with over-stories of mens' exploits - those were the basis of all heroes. As such, his efforts to stem the extravagance of Pearce's tales were more an attempt to appear humble in the face of their tales of glory. The books, while interesting, had been a dry read and ultimately the interactions had been a welcome break from the pages after the worst part of the pain had subsided.

By the third day Giles had started to feel a pull of concern that he was still the only one in the infirmary. It was true that his wounds had been most grievous but he didn't want to be holed up in bed long enough for the whispers of weakness to start being sounded, he noted that toughening up in the face of the hard life that soldiers lived was the way forward and something he would have to re-double his efforts to attain. As he thought this, he shifted his lips and body to feel the tug of the wounds and smiled to himself at the notion of the claw-scars across his face and on his body. HE recalled, long ago, the telling of tales, much like Pierce had, of how his father's men had acquired their battle trophies and overcome the odds and now his shone pink and scabbed across his face, without having done any real damage. They were his first real promotion.


Good morning Sir he said in response before taking a moment's pause to really reflect on his current state of being.

"I'm surprisingly well given that I am currently holed up in the infirmary. Say one thing about Halmad, it's that he knows his trade well. he added with a hint of a grin.

"In truth, the bed time had given me some opportunity to read through these... Speaking of which, is there anyone here able to read this?" he pointed to the arabic books and traced his finger (the wrong way) along the scribbly looking lines.  "I expect I'll be out and about soon, everything has mostly healed now.



Alright! Cool, maybe I should have added 1cp to 'riding' skill

"Yeah,"  Brashear starts tenuously as Giles mentions the books.  "That's actually what I came here to ask you about."  the Captain holds the very book Giles had given him by the spine, cracking it open to a random page.

"You see, as I was looking through this, I came across a few notes written into it."  He points at a thin, scrawling writing in the margin, of the same infuriating alphabet that the last two books were written with.  In truth, Giles had seen similar markings in his own book, a few scrawled lines during the several paragraphs about treating shock, and once again in the chapter dealing with moving the patient, though Giles knew little what to make of them.

"You said that you found these in a Harpie's nest right?"  Brashear's brow furrows slightly as he looks directly at Giles, his face thoughtful as opposed to disapproving.  "What else can you tell me about the place?  Where did you find it?  I'm assuming you did not cross the border by accident?"  Brashear sighs and leans back, letting the book fall onto the bed beside him.

"Actually, why don't you just tell me the whole story, from the beginning.  I have a feeling this is going to be important."

Actually, the place was kind of interesting. It was more than a cave with just a few of those bird-bitches and stench. There were areas for sleeping and what appeared to be an old study of sorts....

Giles, began the story from start to finish and missed no detail. It was reminiscent of his wizardly training where the correct format, syntax and structure of spells was so important that he would often have to recall perfectly his day's endeavours. It seemed such a bore at the time, but with his memory being sharper for it all, he felt retrospectively that the endeavour had been well worth his time.

... We had deviated from the patrol route slightly, but I couldn't say how far or where exactly due to my lack of familiarity with the area. Though, if we were across the border nobody gave any indication of it and so I assume we were still in Megalos...

He was sure to mention all the things that he had found curious. A picture of a snake-headed woman, the nest, the pit, the pool with wazifi coin, a study and the open aired exit from which the final harpy had made its escape. He recounted everything.

Brashear listens attentively as Giles recreates the story, the mild tiff between Redman and Broskow when the Lieutenant realized the group was lost, the subsequent push to correct, his own horses ill temperament, and the impromptu exploration of the small caves.  Giles tells briefly of the small pond with the bag of coin and the entryway, saving most of his detail for the largest room, the one with beds, the table, study and the giant figure of the medusa tiled out in mosaic on the floor.

Brasher nods as Giles finishes his brief tale.  "Thank you Giles, I think that helped, though I'm not sure it made things any easier.  I realize that I have had you dragging along, for which I must apologize, so I will explain myself fully.  You see, this"  He points at the book in his hands, waving across the particular page and the ink written therein, "Is a book about the local area here as you must have imagined.  However, to a military mind, knowing the area is of extreme importance.  You'll see where these notes are made are all areas that are talking about the topography about how the land itself moves..."  Brashear looks at Giles, whose face still betrays a hint of confusion.

"These notes."  The captain taps on the book.  "Are talking about tactics...  attack in the summer, when the grasses are high...  You can hide an army in the interleaving hills...  Cut off the river and you will cut off their lifeblood...  Giles, whoever made these notes was planning to attack somewhere here in Megalos, for the Wazifis have not held this land for nigh on eighty years and I can assure you these books are not that old...  And while it seems that this hideout may not have been used for some short time, perhaps thanks to the same harpies who injured you, it still rattles me that there might have been enemies that close to our fort without us ever knowing."

Brashear pauses in contemplation for a moment.  "I simply hope that there are no further consequences from this rebel group who seemed to be operating so close to us...  I wish I knew if they were still operating and if so, where...  The worst part of this is simply not knowing."

OOC:  To make sure you picked up on it, Brashear is reading you text from the Arabic notes, so he can read the language in answer to your earlier question (he didn't answer because he had other things on his mind).

Giles had sat up fully when Brashear began to speak. His face defied him for a moment, showing the confusion at the notion of the land itself moving but the elaboration by the captain cleared up things. A mention of harpies seemed to send a sharp jolt of pseudo-pain through his body but it hadn't sated his curious interest in the intrigue that had now surrounded them.

"So, a group is plotting to attack the area, this is only indicated by the cave and the notes in the book. The notes may have only been a scouting of the land and its benefits to an attack should it ever occur. The fact that the book never made it back to the Wazifi border might indicate that some attack had fallen short, or redefined its scope." he said contemplatively, while letting his now calloused hand stroke the fuzz that had been growing across his jaw.


"If the book has been there longer than a year, then it is likely any plotting had fallen on its face... But if something similar to this book's sentiment had been acquired by a group of rebels, or Wazifi, then they may indeed still have active people in the surrounding lands.

he added, having transitioned fully to the mode of thinking that he once enjoyed on a daily basis. It was analytical and cold and logically founded in reason. A curiosity whether a threat was still present and whether it would be able to overcome their fort.


"Perhaps the first thing to do, sir, is use those notes to try and determine exactly where the attack would take place, if it were to go ahead.

Using the tall grasses and hills as cover would only work if it were within a reasonably short range of its target. Any further distance would give the defenders time to signal for aid. He offered gently before continuing.


"Give me a group of capable men, and I will look for anything resembling such threat and find out if any attack is likely... he said, curiosity digging into his gut while he bit his tongue at maybe the inappropriateness of his suggestion.


// only if appropriate
Pausing a moment, the man stroked his chin and asked... "Rebels? is it not more likely to be an effort by the Wazif?




OOC:

OKay, he's tried to use some logic and reasoning to help figure out the implications of the book, the cave, the oldness, the language and all that good stuff.

I'll make a note of these ideas I have here, maybe something I can bring up in the next post depending on how it goes.

See if Captain has access to:

- any flying units.
- contacts enough to 'get/buy/barter/etc' some spell book containing anything vaguely related to movement/flight spells
- contacts or people that might know something.




The bit after the // note:

he used the term rebels, was that maybe a slip of the tongue? Or was it just the way he was phrasing when describing any arabic person in the area wishing to disrupt the MEgalan influence?

If it was a slip of the tongue, then maybe he has revealed his own connection to a rebel force.

Brashear nods as Giles talks, "You are thinking along the same lines as I sergeant, but perhaps you aren't giving them much credit.  If they plan to attack, moving at night and staying the high grass would nearly completely conceal their movement at least until they laid siege to a city...  It matters little as you say for this threat is no more but we do not know how many more caves hide how many more men that are spying over these lands..."

He pauses for a moment, considering Giles's suggestion.  "I don't know if we could find an exact plan for their attack...  I think their first target would be here, and then on to Raphael but we do not know what their goals are...  Apart from scouring this whole land I think it unlikely that we will find what we are looking for."  His gaze falls down in contemplation.

Giles mentions his use of the word 'rebels' and Brashear looks up, quickly addressing Giles's question.  "Oh, no, I think we are dealing with a rebel group, not the Wazifi infantry.  As I told you when you got here, the Wazifi ruling class have little appetite for war, but many of their clans feel otherwise.  I think it far more likely that one or two of the clans have broken off and have taken their thirst for revenge and battle beyond their means.  It would only take a single act of war before Megalos would respond, and all of Al-Wazif would be draw with them into battle."

"I think perhaps this medusa is our point to focus on.  But searching our lands will prove more difficult, for if they are here, then they will be well concealed... even the den that you stumbled upon was only by luck.  But the mass of their forces is surely still behind the border or we would have found them...  I can't spare a large group, we still have watches and patrols which limits our force every day, but if you wish, take two men, scout south of the border, and report on any disturbance you find.  But I do not want this turning into an incident...  wear no indication of your rank or military allegiance."

OOC:  Brashear is essentially asking you to take a small patrol and investigate south of the border.  There are obviously several skills that may help you with this and you can feel free to use the rest of your saved up character points before you leave.  Otherwise, the expectation would be to leave in a few days, whenever you are cleared by the medic.  If you wish, you can request men with specific skills to help you out.  Realize, the more skills you request (i.e. I want someone who is a good shot with a bow, a tracker, and speaks Arabic) the more watered down each of those skills is going to be (or possibly you won't find them at all).

Giles listened intently, and an odd ominous sensation befell him. It was an odd thing to be knowledgeable of a plot of your own demise but not privvy to any of the details, it gave his core an undertow of discontent that manifest in a vague sickness at the thought of dying unknown. He caught himself reaching for the hilt of a knife, as if automatically ensuring its presence, ready for some unknown endeavour to face off against demons that had risen from the chaos to confront him. You're just being dramatic Jnaeth... he said inwardly at the dramatic tale he'd spun in his head. He was just to scout and find a force of wazifi.

I will do as you ask and find any indicators of a hostile force, whether the head wears a clan herald or a helmet of snakes he said, sure that he would be up to the task and enjoying the possibility of coming across the Wazifis.

Should the opportunity present itself, somehow, I'll do what I can to ensure no progress is made by these possible rebels. (OOC: Almost added 'scum'  in homage to starwars :D)

Captain Brashear, could I borrow three of our quickest horses for the mission? I expect that time is a factor and therefore anything to help our celerity would be important


As for requirements:

A sword, Spear, small shield
cloak

1 Man who is a good bowman and ranger type (survivalist etc.)
1 Man who is capable of talking arabic and vaguely understands wazifi culture/customs etc.

Obviously I'd hope that each of these people would be at least vaguely familiar with a blade but frankly if they have a weapon and just run past people on a horse and swing something at them, they're probably okay.




I mentioned the horses because they're relatively big.

Brashear nods at Giles as he accepts the offer.  "Be exceedingly careful.  While the Wazifis have been peaceable, their trust for us does not extend very far.  If you approach them dressed in battle gear, it is likely they won't take well.  I'm counting on you because you were there and saw the sign, you saw what the men lived like, and perhaps might be more ready to recognize them if you saw it again.  I'll make sure you have three of the best horses we have and you may use my sword as you need.  With any luck I won't be needing it while you are gone."

Brashear smiles, and puts his hand atop Giles's for a moment.  "All that when you are ready.  The medic insists that you spend another day here and you may take another day to prepare if you need.

---

December 9th
2008 A.D.
River Makarem

Giles stands next to the rushing currents of the River Makarem some five miles east of the Fort.  Though the area has few trees to speak of, the banks of the river are built up with scrub brush and dull green grasses that stretch out for a few yards before the color fades to the yellow-brown of the surrounding terrain.

The two men around him eye the waters appraisingly.  Corporal Edenburg, the same man from Giles's last harrowing adventure, had been assigned as Giles's ranger for the scouting mission.  The other man was Private Rodrickson, another member of the company staff who worked mostly as an interpreter and intelligence analyst for the captain.

"I don't know that it's going to get any narrower, but it's hard to tell how deep that is."  Edenburg says from right beside him.

Giles agrees.  Though the rippling waters at the edges of the banks are easy indicators of the shallow waters the farther towards the middle the less and less the disturbances seem to be.  The water moves along at a reasonable clip, and Giles is not want to be knocked out of the saddle as they try to ford but this has been the most promising spot they have seen as of yet and at some point they will have to cross the river if they want to get into the borders of Al-Wazif.

"What do you think Sarge?"  Edenburg asks.  "We gonna cross here or keep looking?"

OOC:  Thanks for your patience with the delay.  I have marked down all your possetions in my notes.  Basically the stuff that you did not bring that is on your character sheet is your knife, club, axe, and the wolf statue and short staff.  I added these items:  Small shield, thrusting broadsword, group basics, 21 rations, water skins, personal basics, 3 man tent.  You also have 3 of the faster horses in the fort stables.  If there anything that you want to change from that list put it in your next post, otherwise you did not bring it.

The river is approximately twenty yards long at this particular junction, and it is hard to tell how deep it is in the middle.  You have the option to ford it here if you want, or to continue further up along the border.  If you opt to ford, please make a roll against riding at -1.

River Mackarem
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:41, Tue 06 June 2017.

ANother day in the infirmary caused a sigh from the half-elf, and he figured that maybe it was a little over-cautious. He used the time to continue reading, and familiarise himself with the area, considering the plot that might be uncovered and the suppositions that came with 'what if' scenarios. It was an important role that had been given and Giles felt that perhaps this would push his star into ascension if he was successful.

---

It seems that the Hind third child had been conditioned out of enjoying the vast open wilderness when his magic studies had begun. Pushed into reading books, it became habit that made sitting and reading in stone-worked rooms by the blue or grey skies or a softer yellow candle light the most fulfilling thing in his life. It was only of the past few months where he'd travelled and been able to see the texture of the land and its unfamiliarity as the beginnings of new adventure and the first steps to a potential realised. Here there was no strong connection to his family, to magic or even any part of his history - it was a good feeling he could metamorphose into an entirely different being.

Giles took a deep breath, enjoying his new comfort in the saddle, with a sword hanging from belt and the overwhelming importance of the mission on which his path currently rested. Good things to come, he reflected inwardly before addressing his men.

"I hope you healed fully and well Edenburg.

You should have seen him against those vicious beasts... he said first to his known companion and secondly to the new comer. Pushing peoples pride always helped, and he even had been genuinely impressed.


"Do you know anything of this mission that might help, Rodrickson? he asked casually as they rode, hoping that the private may have some additional data that Brashear had missed, forgotten or neglected to mention.

---

Giles loathed the idea of swimming, drowning or otherwise coming to an untimely demise in the water but it might have been right that this was the only decent place to attempt fording. But Giles thought he'd read somewhere that fortune often favoured those brave, bold and intrepid and here was no difference.

Okay, we can try here, but I don't want to take any unnecessary risks. Our mission is of critical importance..." he said, leaving the last statement as a way of shielding his discomfort with their current predicament. He definitely didn't want to die at the bottom of a river, nor risk killing any horses or troops in an unwise decision.

Giles, having found his rhythm on horse back, kicked his heels into its flank and let it trot to the water's edge. Wading into the river he let his horse's belly dip lightly into the water, to avoid the brunt of its downstream force and then lean forward in his saddle to reach out with his spear and try and find the floor further out. He figured using it as a probe would help make sure they did not delve deeper than his horse's ability to withstand.

"It's okay girl, just nice and slowly we'll find our way or turn back. I won't let anything bad happen to you" he said softly into his horse's ear and then let her wade a little deeper. He would take his time, and they really did have all day to get across, despite what he'd said about the criticality of the mission.





Riding -1 is probably going to kill me...


Okay:

Reaction roll for rodrickson, I'd hope rank and the 'boasting of pearce' might help here too:
13:14, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 15 using 3d6.  reaction rodrickson. // very glad that wasn't my riding roll....

riding: (i'm going to take plenty of extra time to do this... hopeing i might be able to get a bonus, also will use the spear as support, for measuring depth and bracing)
13:15, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 9 using 3d6.  riding. // PHEW!!




As for equipment:

Chakram, definitely.
Did the wolf statues give off any magical feelings? Giles would probasbly keep with him
I'll also keep a knife with me.

DO people usually take rope? I've already got the spear, (read: 10ft pole for setting off traps ;)

This message was last edited by the player at 12:16, Fri 21 Apr 2017.

Finding as good a place as any to ford the river, Giles decides to make their crossing here rather than to waste valuable time staying north of the border.  He prepares his horse, tightening the saddlebags and putting the food stores as high as they can be, and then pushes off into the river.  The banks ride swiftly down, and within just a few steps his horse is knee deep in the flow.  He nudges his horse gently on, letting the beast take careful but strident steps as the opposite bank approaches ever closer.

With a slow but constant pace, the water climbs ever higher, first to the beast's belly, then rump.  Having left his stirrups in place Giles finds the feet of his boots forced under the water to maintain control.  Giles holds his breath hoping that it does not get any higher...  Slowly his horse plods on, and with a sigh Giles finds that the waters are receding rather than getting deeper.

In another few moments, Giles's horse, Cutlass has driven his hooves back up onto dry ground.  There now.  He thinks to himself, that wasn't so...

"Shit!"  SPLASH!

Giles whips his head around and watches the form of Rodrickson hit the water as his horse nickers and shakes its head.

"Easy girl!"  Edenburg holds back in his movement, beckoning the horse behind him with a few kissing noises, but it proves unnecessary as the horse continues on in the river, eager to follow the other pack animals to dry ground.

As for Rodrickson, the man is whisked downriver by the current though he quickly aligns himself with the flow and starts swimming to the Wazifi shore.

Several minutes later, the group is together again on the bank, Rodrickson pulled up from the waters, his clothes stripped off for the moment to wring them out and dry as much as possible before they start moving on again.  "I lost my spear."  The private ejaculates the words in disgust, though in truth the man could have lost much more.

The men press on farther east after a short rest, Rodrickson dawning his equipment and mounting his horse and the group finds no further impediments to their trek.

"Won't be too much longer until sundown."  Edenburg says from behind Giles some hours later.  "What do you think Sarge, I haven't seen much in the way of shelter around here."  Giles agrees, scanning the horizon for any useful information though there is little to be had.  Off in the distance to the east and southeast, a wide mountain range crawls up from the horizon, casting a blue hue as it rises from the yellowed grasses.  To the southeast the badlands seem to continue on ad nausium.

OOC:  Sorry to have skipped over your question to Rodrickson but one of my pet peeves as a writer is bouncing back and forth between two different times, I'd rather just keep moving in one direction and solve everything that falls out in OOC or behind the scenes.  Suffice to say, Rodrickson does not have anything in particular that he can think of that will help the mission out.  He's sort of a specialist in the Arabic language and Islam, though most of his study is based on Cardiel, so he's less knowledgeable in specific Wazifi culture and social graces.  Thanks for the rection roll, I forgot to ask for it, but it is well appreciated.

It is about 1 hour to sunset.  You will have burned through 6 or your 21 rations that you brought for the mission as of tonight.  You refilled your water at the river.  If you wish you, (or one of your people - Edenburg likely) can roll vs. plains survival to try and find the opportunity to obtain food or water.  You'll also need to find someplace to bed down for the night.  Finding natural shelter will also require a survival roll, but you did bring a 3 man tent to use if you just want to plop down.  If you do set down camp then let me know 1. If you are starting a fire and 2. if you are setting a watch.

Also, roll vs. perception, if you succeed, PM me before posting.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:35, Sat 22 Apr 2017.

The heart plummeted when he heard the splashing and exclamation of horror by Rodrickson. Turning to glance at the man Giles had dashed back into the water to possibly help, but it was all a little late as the man fell from the horse and swept down into the water "Fuck..." the man said under his breath as he watched the other man struggle in the water. There was little else to do except take control of the riderless horse and hope.

---

Later that day, all relieved now that the man had relieved himself from the tug of the river and fed Giles turned to Edenburg and suggested that he build a fire, for their camp and see if he could find anything a little more satisfying for their dinner. The risk of being outdoors was no more or no less than any other traveller and it was tradition to build fires at night. No emblems were with them and so they could not readily be tied to Megalos, or the fort.

"Edenburg, lets get this fire going and pitch our tent and then if you're up to it, lets see if you can find us some dinner. Rodrickson, dry your clothes - today was a close call but luckily spears are easily enough replaced.


When we're fed, you both get your head down and sleep, I'll wake up Edenburg for second watch... he commented while curling his lips at the distaste of their rations - they definitely needed something better than this.




OOC:

1) I'm not quite sure 'how it is done normally' I guess casual conversation with edenburg would give this away but we will pitch the tent if it's required. Otherwise we'll sleep on our rolls. (if that's what is usually done in these parts)

2) We will make a fire...

3) we definitely will keep watch

4) Also, I would like Edenburg to go hunt for something. It doesn't have to be much, but at this rate we have 3 days worth of rations, which probably isn't enough without supplementing.

Edenburg nods.  "I'll go out now then, there's only an hour or so of light, if I wait much longer, there's not much chance I'll be able to find any food of note.  Rodrickson can help set up the camp, you're probably right sarge, we aughta have a fire at least to dry out his stuff.  Tent should be pretty easy to set up too."

And with that, Edenburg gets off his horse and makes his way off towards the distant mountains of the south.

Rodrickson makes likewise, dismounting before he loosens the straps on his saddle and removes the tack from his horse, laying out the saddle pad on top of the rest of the gear for the horse sweat to start to dry off.  Noticing that Edenburg has neglected to do the same, Rodrickson removes the tack on Edenburg's horse as well and Giles is sure that he can hear the man muttering under his breath.

Less than thirty minutes later the tent is set up, the horses are brushed and set off to graze and Rodrickson has stripped down to his underclothes, put his boots and socks out to dry, and collected enough of the dry grasses to act as kindling for the fire...  The problem is, there simply isn't enough large material to get anything of significance going.  "I suppose I'll see what I can gather."  Rodrickson offers, standing up and making his way out of camp as well.

As for Giles he gets out a few more of the rations from the packs and sets them out.  For while he knows he brought Edenburg specifically for his scouting and hunting abilities, he wouldn't bank on the man brining back dinner tonight for Giles had seen little more than a few birds and a groundhog poking its head out from the terrain for the briefest of moments.

And after another few minutes, Giles efforts are validated, for Edenburg returns with empty hands though he has a smile on his face.  "Found a game trail."  He says with obvious hopes.  "I set up a snare there, but there's not a lot I can do in the meantime, I'll check it tomorrow."

Rodrickson comes back shortly later although his gains are meager, an armful of thin sticks, some of which are green.  "Not a lot out there."  Rodrickson admits, laying the small stack down beside the tent, not enough for a meaningful fire for any length of time.

Deciding that they will wait for the fire for the case in which Edenburg's trap is successful, the three eat their rations and make plans for the following day as the sun is absorbed by the glowing horizon.

The next morning, Giles and Rodrickson pack up the tent and saddle the horses as Edenburg goes out to check his snare.  Giles is immensely happy they pitched the tent, for the temperatures last night must have gotten close to freezing, and without the fire there is little chance they would have managed any sleep without the added insulation.  Overhead, clouds have rolled in during the night bringing the promise of rain, though Giles can see none on the horizons.  Several minutes later, Edenburg comes back with a huge smile on his face and a hare hanging limp in his hand.  The three make use of the available dry grass and wood, and manage to cook the thing well enough once it is cut into small bits.  As they eat the three talk about the day ahead.

"We're going to need water soon, the horses are drinking a ton and we haven't filled up since the river."  Edenburg offers.   "Think we should start back north a ways?  Or keep heading east and try and pick some up as we move on?"

OOC:  It is about 7 a.m. on the 9th of December.  It is a chilly morning, though quickly warming from the overnight cold.

Giles nodded. "East along the river seems to be our best option. Whether we can find anything significant in the area of this barren is another matter. Edenburg, make sure you keep your eyes out for anything that stands out. We will need to investigate, and as such you will be free to be loose formation while we travel" he said as he finished chewing the remaining pieces of his breakfast.

Now that they were out here in the plains of Al-Wazif, the idea of finding a small contingent of rebel forces seemed a rather unreasonable one and Giles felt his heart ache for one of the flying beasts that he had read much about, yet never witnessed in person. Gryphons, rare as they were, were used by some of the Megalos army or perhaps acquired to safisfy a higher noble's luxury desires. Eventually, as he was packing and making himself ready to travel the noble born Hind caught himself thinking too deeply and wishing too hard for something that wasn't with them and so refocussed his mind.

"Roderickson, you stay close with me, and we'll head north and east making a stop at the river late in the day before continuing east towards the nearest settlement.

This area isn't too inviting for us people and so it's best not to deviate more than a hundred miles from the river. "

Giles gives concise marching orders and the three men pack up and move out of the campsite without much ado, Edenburg riding mostly ahead of the group, though at times he wanders off route or in trail, and Rodrickson and Giles riding together as the main body of the party.  It is only an hours ride north to the river, where the three men refill their waterskins, let the horses drink and take a short respite before pushing off again to the east.

Throughout the ride, Giles chats with Rodrickson, who seems to be a smart young man, studied in languages and cultures, though no graduate of university.  Giles spends much of the time asking about the Muslims and through the conversation he gleans the impression of a highly functioning but quirky society that valued combat prowess as one of their pinnacle achievements of leadership...  The more he learned, the more reasonable the Captain's fears seemed of a breakaway clan starting a war in the hopes of glory.

By midday, the group breaks again to rest the horses and let them graze on the thin plains grasses.  Edenburg breaks out his own waterskin and drinks deeply.  Overhead, the clouds roll on, with only small spots of blue sky showing through in the infrequent breaks.

OOC:  Ok, you've done about another 20 miles so far on horseback and have broken for lunch.  You may opt to eat more of the rations that you packed or skip a meal if desired.  Also, roll vs. perception and PM me if you succeed.

Giles had found the journey somewhat dull. The landscape was samey and rather unpopulated with anything of interest more than ground and sky. The conversation had been relatively light, but he did make efforts to get the other men to open up a little bit about themselves. KNowing their previous encounter with harpies Giles felt that Edenburg and he had developed at least some level of the fraternity he had once seen his fathers men have but ultimately it was a tenuous connection at this stage and would benefit from extra strength.

"Not much around here that I see just yet. Might as well get our fill while we can. Make sure you eat enough and drink, we don't want to get stuck out of here or caught off guard. he said gently.

"Did you find anything of note Edenburg? he then asked.

As he was speaking Giles did a double take on the ground. A frown spread across his face and he let out an audiable sigh of interest. "Look, there... he said before getting off his horse and handing the reigns to Roderickson.

Giles, glanced back to Edenburg  and then back to the ground where a large portion of grass had been flattened down on a north-south trajectory. "Edenburg, this part of the ground looks like it's been flattened out by people walking, can you tell if it's from people? he asked, captivated by his own discovery.

Edenburg walks back towards Giles, letting his horse off to graze as he investigates the bent grass more closely.

"Not men,"  Edenburg starts, his voice slow as he traces the ground with a finger.  "Horses.  At least one of them anyway, you can see the corner of a shoeprint down here.  Looks like they were heading north, hard to tell how long ago, but a few days maybe?  With all the dry ground and no rain they could have lasted here for a while."

"What do you think Sarge?  We can still break for lunch, I don't think these guys are anywhere near here right now but that's not to say they won't come back through here."

OOC:  Sorry for the lag, expected delays based on RL.  So Edenburg basically thinks there were a few horses that were moving south to north most likely a few days ago.  No need to roleplay if you want to break here or not just let me know what you want to do with the group and whether you want to eat or not in the process.

Giles paused a moment after looking at Edenburg's tracks before considering their situation while also taking a moment's pause to stretch his legs. He had improved at handling a horse but still didn't feel comfortable for extended periods sitting in the saddle; noting that many riders had a similar bow-leggedness the man found the idea of comfort on the back of a horse slightly off putting.

Can you tell how many?

It's the best evidence we have had so far, so is worth investigation. While they may be more distant from us based on the age of the prints, I feel that works against us. More aged tracks means they've had more time to plan and execute any moves against Megalos.

We should ride, eat while we move. he said before stepping off to remount his horse.

There weren't many options available to the trio and it might well be the act of a fool to follow these tracks to nowhere, especially if they were traders or something innocuous. Similarly, on the other hand of that coin there was foolery in ignoring such a sign. Giles grinned to himself at how unfair life seemed to be; a lifetime of careful stepping and planning and progress could be undone with a single moment. In the act of deciding something as simple as this the fate of the southern part of Megalos could hang in the balance.

"Odd how life seems to thread into a greater picture... he reflected to his men before kicking heels and turning to follow the trail.

At the question of how many horses, Edenburg simply shakes his head.  "Hard to tell, I think it's probably three or more, but it could just be one that's come through a few times.  Not too many distinguishing marks on a horseshoe and there aren't all that many full prints with all this grass around.  But I'd say three would be my guess."

At the orders from the sergeant, Edenburg pulls a few rations of dried elk and pickled beets out of his pack and passes them along to the other two before remounting and prodding his horse forward.  "We need to be careful of riding them too hard," Edenburg remarks in a more informational tone than reprimanding.  "We want them to be fresh if we need them."

Northward the three ride, every so often, Edenburg stopping to dismount and ensure they are still on the right track.  For another two hours they ride northward until they find themselves  just off the river Makarem for the third time in two days.  However this time the first clue of the river is not the rushing waters and slightly greener hue of the shrub, but rather the far off sight of willow branches swaying in the light afternoon breeze.

"Whoa."  Edenburg, stops his horse in its tracks several hundred paces from the river, pointing off in the distance.  It takes Giles a few second to see it, but there is a whole herd of antelope which has come to the water to drink, which is now scattered about the southern side, many standing in the shallows and others idling in the shade of the various trees.

Antelope

OOC:  It is now about 1400 on the 9th of December.  You see about 30 antelope down by the river.  The three of you are still about 200 yards off.  The tracks that you are following continue north and seem to be headed directly to the river itself.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:42, Tue 06 June 2017.

Giles nodded as they headed back towards the Makarem, but then realised that maybe nobody would notice that in their current mounted state. "Okay, we can get to the river and let the horses drink, east and rest. he said while tonguing a piece of dried meat stuck in his teeth. Little irritations brought everybody back to reality, it seemed, and he had been dealing with this one for the past hour.

Edenburg's exclamation stopped Giles in his stride, drawing his attention instantly from the irritant in his mouth. He looked out across to the river and smiled at its grandeur. The whole place was quite peaceful, punctuated by the herd of crazing antelope.

"I can't imagine that would help the tracks..." he said wryly to Edenburg. But then maybe there was something on the other side he thought to himself hopefully between a percussive repetition of expletives in his head.

"It looks like the river there is quite slow, so maybe we can check the other side for prints, to see which direction the tracks go.

Those things aren't dangerous are they? They look placid enough for us to get close" came the winding thought before adding "Could probably get a good few meals out of one of them too.." he added with a small chuckle.

"No."  Edenburg replies thoughtfully to Giles's comment about the tracks.  "I can't imagine they will help much, but you are right about the other side, I doubt the herd crossed over to get here, so the other side should still be fine if our quarry crossed."

As Giles continues, Edenburg shakes his head lightly.  "No antelope aren't much of a threat.  They're grazers and mostly use their horns for showboating with each other during mating season.  Other than that they are downright skittish, won't let anyone get anywhere near them.  Fast little devils too, I guess they'd have to be with all the other things that aren't so friendly out here on the plains.  I'll see if I can get a shot at one of them but don't get too close.  The herd will bolt the second they sense a threat."

Edenburg dismounts, grabbing his bow and pulling out an arrow, knocking it to the bowstring as he holds it in place against the bow with the forefinger of his left hand.  The man slinks off towards the herd, closing more than three quarters of the distance before he hunkers down and pulls back on the bowstring, waiting several seconds, and then letting the arrow fly.  Giles can just make out the shaft landing a few paces short of one of the closer animals.

Good to Edenburg's word, the whole herd is moving in an instant, loping at a speed far greater than any horse is capable of.  It is only a few moments before they have run eastward almost to the edges of Giles's vision.

Seeing the opportunity foiled, Giles motions for Rodrickson to come along with them as he leads his horse forwards toward the water.

"Well, the trees will provide some shade at least for a moment..."  Rodrickson offers as the two walk closer.

"Yup."  Edenburg is saying as the two walk closer.  "Not only did I miss him by about a hundred feet, but you can't see shit over here for horse prints anymore.  There's cleft hooves everywhere.  What do you think boss?  Want me to go over and check out the other side while the horses take a break?"

Giles took mental note while Edenburg talked and tried to piece together everything he knew for another clue. The horse prints on the ground was a shaky lead, and there wasn't much to go on. He considered now, while Edenburg was talking, how difficult the mission was and how they might best pursue the possibility of a rebellion, of sorts. The land was wide and offered many hiding places to a smallish, or even sizeable, force and just three people probably weren't enough to cover such a large geographic area.

He spent more time thinking as Edenburg began his hunt and casually asked Roderickson his opinion on the situation "You're a smart man, Rod" he offered with grace "What do you make of all this? You know the minds of these people better than any of us, if you wanted to cause an insurrection, rebellion or war how would you do it? it was a casual question that Giles suspected would be answered in a rather bland manner but he felt at the very least it would make the man feel useful.

Giles felt saddened by the failed attempt to catch an antelope, he'd never eaten one before and the prospect of getting some fresh cooked meat had sent his palette into overdrive. Ah well, he thought. "At least some of us will enjoy our time here he said, indicating the horses to the other men as he feigned over-disappointment with a chuckle.

"Go over the river, yea, and check if there are any prints. Be careful though and only cross where it's safe. A spear we can afford to lose, but a life is a price too much. he said  leaning against the tree before glancing in and taking a deep breath as he surveyed the wider land in which they all now stood.




Did Giles bring with him the books? I don't recall exactly, but I figure roderickson could read the arabic ones, and the 'geography and environs' might provide some insight.

Rodrickson thinks over Giles question for several moments before he finally answers.  "Not with three people..."  He finally admits.  "The Wazifis are tribal people, some of the clans are only a hundred or so people strong and though they are united in a sense, some of the ones who live this far away from real civilization are essentially independent.  That also means there isn't a whole ton of trade so that they have to do a lot of the farming, gathering, cloth making and tool making on their own.  Putting up a sizable force would likely drain one of the communities pretty hard..."

Rodrickson pauses for a moment, his shoulders laying forward putting his form in an uncomfortable looking slouch.  "Still, If their goal is to start a war they are going to have to use a force that is sizable enough to cause some real damage.  I suppose if I had to do it I would set up twenty man crews to cause some havoc...  Of course, fewer numbers could still be used for softening.  Spying, scouting and the like.  I might even try to put in a compatriot into the Megalan army.  So long as you had someone that looked Megalan enough and spoke well enough it would be simple to enlist and there is no way in hell they would deny you Three Corners if you requested it... Or the other forts on the south border."  He adds as an after thought.

Once the two reach the river, Giles agrees to Edenburg's suggestion, and the man strips off his boots, and leather armor and undershirt, leaving only a set of undergarments that cover his groin and thighs.  Edenburg walks a few feet into the water, before diving across when it gets hip deep, powering himself across the flow with skilled strokes.  When he finally reaches the other side some several seconds later, Giles realizes that he is nearly a stones throw downriver...  Though the current seemed calm enough from the distance, he realizes that in the center of the stream it is quite brisk.

Edenburg makes his way up and down the bank for the better part of the next twenty minutes, at times stooping over to peer at the ground for long moments of study.  "I don't see shit over here!"  Edenburg finally shouts across the river.  "I don't think they crossed here unless they were trying to hide their tracks,  I guess they could have come out a lot farther downriver, but that doesn't sound too smart to do with horses.  Easier go straight in and out rather than chance getting caught by the current."

OOC:  It is now 1430 on the 9th of December.  You actually did bring all the books with you, and Rodrickson would have been able to tell you that the two in Arabic are titled The warrior's code and The Masters: A study of great warriors.  He wouldn't have had a chance to read them yet though.  The Geography and Environs are specifically geared towards the area north of the river, towards Raphael and Craine rather than south into Wazifi held lands.  If you are looking for insight and would be reading I'll sprinkle some tidbits in as the thread paces along.

F..." Giles almost exclaimed in frustration until a flash of his father came to mind and the memory sifted back into his thought of advice that an older brother was once told. It was about war really, but it applied in all situations where one was trying to lead men, now that the Hind-born reflected.

Food or no, it matters naught. A blade like wind will only gust you so far but an indomitable, an inexorable spirit would lead even the most humble men to great things the sentiment made more sense these days; men with fire in their hearts and happy thoughts could be carried to the heavens. The sergeant smiled and then offered some praise to Edenburg. "Good man, Edenburg, we now know they wouldn't have gone that way. Lets take a few moments more rest, make sure we're all well watered and then head more east towards the nearer towns.

As they were finishing up a belayed response came to Roderickson, carefully thought.You're right I fear. Sowing discord, like seeds is best done over larger stretches of land. Smaller forces are more easily managed, fed and maneuevered while still having a wider impact. he said while hoisting himself up into the saddle. Whisping his cloak around, the man opened a satchel and pulled out two books. "Roderickson, can you teach me to read this? he asked, offering the first book and began to slowly trundle his horse forward.



OOC: If i'm heading way off, or anything please do feel free to let me know. I feel there are nuances of the world, setting and intellect of my character that I definitely odn't have :)

So, the general plan is to head further to the east and head towards the Wazifi town, we'll keep an eye open on the way but ultimately, the problem may be tackled better via people rather than expansive plains

As Edenburg swims skillfully back to the south side of the river and goes about the motions of drying himself and reequipping his gear, Giles continues his conversation with Rodrickson.

"Sure, I could teach you to read it."  Rodrickson says of the books...  "The language isn't all that hard, there are some significant differences from Anglish though...  They write in the other direction and whatnot, but it isn't that hard to learn."

Once the crew is ready once again to leave, Giles pushes the group on again, making their way eastward back into Wazifi territory.  The three ride for another hour or so before they come to a stream, much smaller than the powerful Mackarem, but a few yards across never the less, flowing northward no doubt to rejoin with the more powerful river before making its way toward Keyhole Bay.  Dismounting, Edenburg searches the ground here again and makes a shout of triumph nearly as soon as he squats to look at the ground.

"I think we found our horse tracks again!"  He smiles as he looks back up at Giles.  "They are headed south this time, so I bet you they hit the river, followed it east for a bit and then came back down southward.  These are just about as old as the other ones, and about the same number of them so I imagine it's all part of the same trip."

OOC:  It is about 1530 on the 9th of December.  The small tributary that you came across flows northward, but isn't big enough to be a significant obstacle to your travel if you want to keep going eastward.  The tracks are headed southward parallel to the small stream.  Just let me know which direction you want to continue at this point.  Don't worry about heading in the "wrong" direction, unfortunately, you were given pretty nebulous instructions for this mission, and success in the mission is pretty flexible too (and for all you know the group you guys are afraid of may not even exist anymore).  I won't push you around to try and steer you in the "right" direction.  So long as all your men come back to the fort eventually, I think the Captain would call this a success, with any additional information being a bonus.

The man smiled and nodded to Roderickson Thanks, Roderickson. I think, so close to the border it's a good thing to know... he said as they waited for Edenburg.

The ride east was as expected, slow going and relatively uneventful until they happened upon an estuary. Giles let out a small chuckle to himself and before he could mutter words to himself about luck Edenburg had exclaimed about rediscovering the tracks.

fantastic! Good work Edenburg he said while kicking heels to bring the horse upon the tracks and get a better look for himself.

"Any of you know where this leads?" he asked, hoping that they might have some idea of the geography of the region. It didn't matter, as he'd already concluded, it was better to have something to work towards than be seemingly wandering these plains with no aim at all. What was the phrase? His father had told him once, something about idle hands making the devil jealous or something; he didn't recall. The sentiment, at least, was to have something to do anyway.

"Okay, we'll follow these and see where they head. It might be what we're looking for, and if not then the owners of this trail might have some information we can use.





Will follow the tracks.

This message was last edited by the GM at 00:24, Thu 25 May 2017.

Giles asks the other two if they know where the tracks lead, any settlements or otherwise in the area, but when the other two only offer blank stares, Giles resolves to follow the lead anyway.  afterall, he muses.  Following something is better than searching out blindly.

The three ride on for several more miles, with Edenburg at times dismounting and looking more closely at the ground below, or backtracking slightly to find the path again.  However, the day seems to be shorter than their trail, and within a few hours the sun is already starting to sink into the plains of the west.

"Look, over there."  Rodrickson points off ahead and to the right, towards an area that is mostly devoid of the plains grasses that have been ubiquitous for the past several days march.  "That field's been tilled!  There's someone that lives near here that's farming the land."

Giles looks over again, noticing now the shallow, even trenches that are dug throughout the field, rising and falling in the gentle hills.

"Yeah, there's something that's got to be close."  Edenburg points out over one of the hills ahead.  "Look, there's smoke coming over that hillside."  Again, Giles follows the direction of his man and finds indeed, there is a small tail of thin, gray smoke that collects above the hillside before blinking out of existence as it is caught by the gentle winds...

"What's the matter Ky?"  Edenburg asks his horse as the philly whinnies loudly.  He leans over and pats the animal gently on the neck.  "You ready to be done for today?  Ain't been happy for a few miles now, but I figure a little grazing and water and you'll be right as rain."

Indeed, it seems all the horses are unhappy... Giles reaches down to reassure Cutlass for the animals ears are back as he snorts angrily...

OOC:  It is now 1730 on the 9th of December.  Ok, so it seems like you are on the edge of some sort of civilization, but the sun is setting quickly.  You have about a half an hour of daylight left.  Let me know if you want to continue, camp, or do anything else you see fit.

The noble born, failed wizard patted his horse gently and felt a tang of empathy as it snorted with some dampened frustration at the amount it had to travel the past few days you're doing my proud, Cutlass he said with equal softness We'll rest now and you can eat some of this grass and drink some water he added before pulling the horse to a complete stop.

The man sported a wide grin as he flicked his leg over the haunch of his horse and dropped to the ground "Good work. We'll set up here and give it some small time, before investigating across that hill once night falls. If it's a village, they'll still be around in the morning, and if there's camp then we can have all information we need to make any further decisions he said, satisfied with the plan.

As he dropped the back to the ground, Giles handed over one of the arabic books to Roderickson, figuring he might enjoy something to occupy his mind for the time being and then, once settled, sat down and pulled out the items carried individually and began to look at them more closely. Giles felt with all too certainty the familiar pull of magic at his innards when he handled the Chakram and wondered what exactly it would do. Well, he'd test it at least if they managed to get into a scuffle. He hoped they had another pop at those bastard harpies again... It took a moment before Giles wished that he hadn't thought of them as the images of the claws smashing into his face returned with a painful reminder of the scars that now adorned his face. Not too bad, from what people had told him and what he could feel - but they did ache every now and then.

Fucking harpies he siad to himself as he rubbed his belly and face alternatively to get rid of the dull ache he felt.




OOC:

Okay, the plan is to shore up here and make sure we have plenty of rest.  When night falls, Edenburg and I can make a small excursion to the hill to see what's on the otherside. It's just a bit of recon to make sur eit is a village and not some camp.

Once we know it's a village (if it is) then we'll just go back and do our usual sleeping shifts and proceed in the morning

IF it's not a vilalge, then we'll make the decision when we find out

The three men settle down, striking their tent and preparing themselves for another night on the plains.  Scarce as the firewood is, and as close as the settlement is, Giles decides they will not make a fire tonight, especially given the fact that they have no food to cook, and even their dried rations seem to be getting scarce.  Though Giles is not want to start rationing food so early in their journey, he wonders just how much longer this trip will take them and how short on food they will end up being...

Even as the sun is setting, Giles feels the temperature plunge again.  Though he is used to a much colder clime, and indeed, at home it is probably well below freezing right now, it does not make the prospect of spending the night out of doors any more appealing.

"Well, come on."  Giles bids Edenburg and the two men rise up, Edenburg grasping his bow in his left hand and leaving his right empty as they start walking on.

"I got things all taken care of here sarge!"  Rodrickson says happily as he sits with his body leaning against his full pack.

With slow, cautious strides, Giles and Edenburg make their way up the hill, hoping to have a good vantage of whatever village or town lies so close.  But as they make their way to the top, it is not so much the sight but the sounds that make Giles anxious.

"[Language unknown: Plbe thome ll eeet ri meulat for ion predincon she ckecta?  Und ithncewheticame ee stpraiut outandpro was!]"  A voice speaks out from a few dozen yards, Edenburg crouches and Giles does the same before he can get a good look at the speaker.

"[Language unknown: Somwilthe illatiwit inekorverill oufi ll tamo itne icain Hamad, ul napro Ibrahim ect ativorers u o he sscate leard a strrather chati manousble.]"  A second voice calls.  "[Language unknown: Ntidaydin, onbe hatsomnceintour urevennde vorconich miave asoste k n, il ac en et stitheectwhe alsalo te eleeus oerwheeau it ek.]"

OOC:  Test run for the language bits of RPOL to see if I like it and if it actually works without making things look ridiculous.  You hear at least two distinct voices, but you don't see anything yet.  You have made it about 50 yards from your camp, so Rodrickson and the horses are still well within view.  If you wish try and see what/how many are in the group, make a roll vs. stealth.  Also make a roll vs. Perception.  Otherwise you can sit in place and try and wait them out or attempt anything else that makes sense to Giles.

The moment he heard the voices, Giles had known the blunder of his efforts, no one presently within earshot could understand the arab voices. Instead, reflecting on his time at the magic academy, Giles signalled a pause and closed his eyes focusing his mind to remember the words and intonations of the speech.

He would take a minute or two to ensure that the conversation was committed to memory, making it almost like a melodic verse that would support its assimilation into his memory.


Then, after the voices had provided a sufficent pause in their cadence he dropped low as he could, spreading the cloak across his back wide to reduce any relief it presented against the ground and did his best to hold himself in darkness. He gestured for Edenburg to take the lead in their pace and did his best to follow, as he knew the man was a well practised stalker.

Interestingly, Giles reflected thudding that was beating a marching roll in his chest, sweat had started flowing more freely from his body and the man realised that he was scar... no, anxious. It would never do to admit fear.  The threat of this situation was much lower than both the harpy encounter and even the shield wall skirmishes he'd been part of as a younger boy, but somehow the clandestine slithering impregnated the air around him with the potential for true chaos and violence. Giles took a small breath and pushed on, seemingly having to take extra efforts to keep level.








OOC: I know that it's folly to try things unskilled, but I'm trying to be in the mind of the character rather than the stats of the character sheet...
Looks like I did alright on the stealth anyway, probably get a bonus for night time too.


10:46, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 7 using 3d6.  perveption.

10:46, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 8 using 3d6.  stealth.
// my actual IRL words when i saw  the result of this was "oh thank god"

Giles motions for Edenburg to go on ahead and crawls slowly behind him.  Though he is unable to stops the grass from crinkling underneath his hands and knees, the noise does not seem to alert anyone over the sounds of their own voices.

"[Language unknown:  Ilte consontra ee whi neith!  Ine mala li la ng lo houl os tedan er preast'intwhi.]"  The voice sounds annoyed, and as Giles crests the hilltop he can see the inky silhouettes of three people standing a few dozen yards away, down the slope of the hill.  Unfortunately, the darkness of the night, combined with the overcast clouds over their head blots out almost all of the light, but there is just enough to determine one of the men is crouching down, his attention on the ground below him.

"[Language unknown:  Capr o not maneenone icmele bepe foronstio a ameanyted!]"  The men's backs are turned, and it is hard to tell who is saying what, but there is no doubt that the tone has changed slightly and both voices are somewhat agitated.

"[Language unknown:  Saheed, Hamad e theortich, sanureing venousove ativerourmen ove ne haad k arivai.  I butstaons ncpodi encyinive taican ard olil fion ure mensonted nine.  U eve hi t ckelol virlararerea, essforive roal io onne ure o naadte p hisstrmenall ti he th as etatmo ec day sehoarsa.]"  The third voice seems calm, placating even, and after a moment, the man crouching down stands back up.

"[Language unknown:  Ll, outouthat pr, enc n Ibrahim ersyinthe tic ca prma o foos m p, thuhe atere all one ll wa a nafi ilwh ichfor'thelin.]"  The voice has calmed, and after a moment where the man who was crouching brushes himself off, the three turn southward and begin walking away...

Trying to regain his bearings, Giles moves his vision farther out, and though he is still just barely able to make out a small, highlighted trail of smoke curling towards the sky on the next hilltop over, the area is just too dark to make out any details this far away.

OOC:  The men are starting to slowly walk away from you, down the saddle between the two hills.  If you wish to follow them, please let me know at what range, and roll again vs. stealth.

The man gestured at Edenburg to keep watch on them. He had the bow and would easily have a first shot if it were needed. Sadly, the sergeant understood nothing of the language they spoke, and hoped he remembered enough to relay it to their companion.

Having expressed his wishes for Edenburg to stay, Giles shuffled back along the ground and then once moved a way down got up and started jogging lightly back to the camp.

"Roderickson... tell me what this means." he said bluntly before reeling off a string of words and phrases that he didn't really understand, with the hope of gleaning some meaningful information from it. As he spoke, the man reflected that the people could have been traders, merchants or anything, but it had piqued his interest to see them arguing and inspecting the ground also. He had also considered approaching them as fellow travellers and just speaking, but should they be anything approaching threatening the element of surprise would be the greatest ally of the small group.

Having finished reeling off, Giles prompted the translator again What does it mean? he asked hurriedly.



OOC:

Recall the words for Roderickson.

If the are anything innocuous, then there's no problem really I'll just post the next bit.

If they are anything related to the mission, or interesting to it.. They'll prepare two horses and mount up as quickly as possible.

The goal, if they are something of interest (in terms of the investigation) is to use Edenburg as support, and then ride them down, corral them and use their mounted spear range superiority to convince them to provide more details

As the three men walk back southward, Giles slowly backs away from the top of the hill, making his way towards the bottom of the hill where Rodrickson waits.

"What?"  Rodrickson asks as Giles starts blurting out as much as he can remember of the conversation.  "Gibberish.  That's entirely gibberish."

Giles exhales forcefully, starting again, this time trying to repeat as many discreet syllables or words as he can.

"That's a name, Ibrahim."  Rodrickson says on the fourth or fifth word.  "That one is the or a."  Frustrated with the slowness and ineffectiveness of the process, Giles nevertheless continues.  "That's their word for bushwolves."  Rodrickson looks up as the last few words that Giles repeats.

"Think they were looking at tracks?" Edenburg offers, looking inquisitively at Giles.

OOC:  Sorry for the delay, and the frustrating results of your plan.  The average human can hold 7 items in their short term memory without chunking the information into bigger pieces of information.  So basically you remembered about 7 syllables of the speech, modified by an IQ roll that I made for you.  Over to you if you still want to act on it as you posted above.

"Fuck..." Giles exclaimed at his lack of sense and then resolved more strongly to learn the language.

"Well, anyway, we can't have camp so close to them, without figuring out who they are - or even why they're following trails.

Lets mount up and prepare. Edenburg, you're going to stand way out of range on horseback with your bow. If anything goes badly, use your judgement.

Roderickson, you're with me" he said concisely, before getting to his own horse.


The men, on foot, wouldn't be able to take on three of Megalos's own that were on horseback and had ranged advantage. But, while it always paid to be prudent, Giles wasn't intending on any engagement, only to find out who they are.

It would definitely be a poor effort in command for the group to be discovered mid-sleep and so paid to press any advantage that may or may not be required.



OOC: No problem, really, it was a long-shot anyway.


Okay:

Get on horses and wide flank the small group of Wazifi; the goal is to stop them moving in the direction they want to go, and cut them off. Similarly, it'll confuse them as to our origins.

While this is happening Edenburg will flank wider, with his bow ready, but not nocked.

Ultimately, we don't want to be threatening - but we want to make sure they can't get any reinforcements or anything like that should the conversation go badly.

Roderickson will have my spear just in case, if it does go badly, then he can just stay at full range and all out attack past them (without them being able to return the hit).

And so, giving only a few instructions, and leaving the majority of what Rodrickson had already prepared of their camp in order to increase their haste, Giles pushes Edenburg off on his own.  The man rides swiftly off to the west, intending on arcing back around to find the two others as they approach the youths, giving them a last resort if their efforts are met with hostility.  Giles takes Rodrickson, and the two ride off at a gate towards the southwest, hoping to pin the young men between themselves and the river... or at least blocking their way back to wherever they were going.

With a healthy kick to Cutlass's flanks to keep the speed at a good clip, Giles arcs his horse back around towards the southeast, scanning the surrounding hills for the three forms.  However, as he crests one large hill he first sees the village the three are going to.  Perched on a wide swath of high ground adjacent to the small river, there seem to be several large buildings towards the center and a dozen or more smaller buildings pushed towards the sides of the encampment, with a short wall of stacked stones surrounding the whole.

Feverish to find his quarry before they make it to the city, Giles gives another kick to his horse, turning due east now.  Giles sees them it seems right just after they had seen him, for he can just make out one of the boys pointing at him with an outstretched arm.  Behind him, Rodrickson crests the hill at his flank.

OOC:  Ok, you are about 50 yards to the southwest of where the young men are now standing, the city is about another 10 times that farther south.  Both of you have seen each other at this point.  Please let me know how you plan on approaching these guys.  As a note, since Rodrickson had already started unpacking some of the gear, I opted to have you set out immediately, rather than putting everything back away and wasting what little time you might have to catch up with them after your conversation.  You haven't seen Edenburg since he set out.

Village

Catching the eye of the village there was a sense of relief that washed over the man as he bounced in the saddle, rhythmically cantering into position. He didn't really want a fight right now, especially with only partially advantageous odds.  In all honesty, a village was more likely to leak information of value and allow them to restock their supplies.

Having caught the eye of the men walking towards the village, Giles had intercepted. He looked over at the men and then said to Roderickson "Stay close to me, I'll need you to translate".

Nodding his acknowledgement to the men Giles waved in a friendly gesture and put his hands up to show they were empty as he casually walked the horse over to the trio. He hoped that Edenburg had sense to stay out of view, just in case anything bad happened.

Approaching, Giles ran through a series of possibilities in his mind and prepared himself for them, it was odd that the strange tenseness had returned to his body, even if they were clearly in a better position than the Wazifi men. Appearing to look unthreatening and casual, Giles let his hips and body roll gently with the gait of the horse as they made their way forward and then called out.

"Hello! Are you three from the village over there?" came the innocuous question.



OOC:

Fantastic, that's all to plan.

And a village is definitely a good thing
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:55, Tue 06 June 2017.

The three young men take a few hesitant steps backwards as Giles approaches, though they hold their ground when Giles stops short about a spear's throw away.  At the closer range, Giles manages a better look at the three, though it is still difficult to make out detail without the light of day and the overhead clouds blocking out even the starlight.

Giles would guess that all three of the men are between the ages of fourteen and eighteen.  They wear long sleeved garments of thin fabric, rolled out to their wrists and down to their ankles, It seems that at one point the garments were a light grey or hazy white though the stain of dirt and earth is laden all about the garments.  Giles notices that the boys have some weapons of their own, one with a knife sheathed at his hip, another with a lash, though the third and youngest seems to be unarmed.

"[Language unknown:  Latng areiv eves noomal!]"  One of the boys shouts, "[Language unknown: Wil ulatdi alni si nentfi!]" another remarks, pointing at Rodrickson.

"They are noticing we are... Megalan."  Rodrickson interprets.  "I'm not sure that they speak Anglish, what do you want me to tell them?"

"[Language unknown:  Pa onol weard onolse iou ssrat laratethe!  Ch ti ho io n ofee hatavewhe tra peess a ardstrate ugh ous eiall ti cero io moan itiesa plpr ne licom!]"  The oldest of the boys shouts back at Giles, his hands raised up in the air limply, his palms outward.

"[Language unknown:  E itre reand senc nt proro to.]"  Rodrickson answers calmly.  [Language unknown: K trion romtinant-wernce redme llma butlo itil eticnt itss th m nd cedi.  Te neliwi e son ostio adet i ith.]"

The three shift uncomfortably, but the largest one puts his hands down, glancing back and forth between Giles and Rodrickson.

OOC:  I had you close the range to about 10 yards since you didn't specify.  The three have stepped back slightly but now seem to be holding their ground.  They do not look confident in their position.

Young lads they were, probably not even too much younger than Giles, but they were right to be scared. Foreigners in their land, previous hostilities a cultural, religious and overwhelming societal disparity. But the man wasn't one for war mongering.

"Tell them we're just travelling and need to resupply, ask them about taverns and if they're from the village nearby. he paused a moment, keeping his posture non-threatening and then  added

"Tell them, we're not here to cause any kind of trouble and ask them the name of the town he said.

better to make friends and see what information we can get, rather than cause any incident..


Giles didn't think that they would be very welcome in the village and so a sleeping palate might be wishing for too much, but a friendly conversation with merchants or something of that nature might prove fruitful in the search for any forces along the border. He wasn't sure exactly what the plan was, but having contact with people was a surefire way to make things more interesting than sitting on Cutlass and trudging through this open half-desert.

As an added afterthought giles motioned to ROderickson. Ask them about the tracks...

10 yards is fine.

Again, try to seem non-threatening and ask the questions.

Before we head back though it'd be nice if we can ask about any forces they've seen lately and if those were the tracks they were inspecting.

Giles calmly and Rodrickson hesitates for a moment, before throwing off a few quick words in Arabic.  "[Language unknown: O somonsiou,]"  Rodrickson gestures his hand towards Giles.  "[Language unknown: Pl disan i os ri iotahe, teme pront n weat i ithall k plce neofhi.  Lewawa, et ac omutec ilou neprta, san e omeoveera sa iv li pollma.  Ng ect tereennot ivethiousrat leshat'menoun fi i haol olset il.  Ionst mounas artvirest fintwa, arort wh paill oswe ntfiadprie?]"

The oldest of the boy shakes his head as he answers back.  "[Language unknown:  Acecla i m ckma of prolatenc en st.  Ne i wa ek plroil for sonth as ardwashas asno n taaiel e peouad n taie nt thasaness omca ioumenort ou and wh be i toan ek sa omers nerolo tinessble.  O ll set terundpre Tabuk, as hitaen ulinom urpa!]"  The boy finishes with emphasis, although Rodrickson manages only a poorly contained smirk and a chuckle.

Rodrickson continues on, taking a hand off his spear to pat his horse on the neck as the beast nickers and shakes its head.  "[Language unknown:  A sonti roprof ngtaek incani inewheres as thi evtise her prhe acnti ie teone viroreati, ho trsiin ect sseehe?]"

The boy nods, his fearfulness seemingly abated for the moment, he seems to take confidence in the conversation.  "[Language unknown:  Li, ne liev ck naacni ceilen m leriac arsom prast poatll ers u prnt atloiv m ilons Nimoulwe, nt whiureanymen nde.]"  The boy says proudly.  Rodrickson's face turns slowly to a frown, though the boy does not stop his speech.  "[Language unknown: K evta out n peha ionus, rea ntheio e redessrom fila ent, intvirshe plll tait thaomence i taaind n enc iouonsdinear lo anyes ouslathis ivit lathi he tho a no.]"

As the boy finishes for the moment, Rodrickson turns over towards Giles to report.  "He says that there isn't much in the way of spare food in the village to sell or places to stay.  I get the impression that it is just families and extended families that provide for their own and trade for things they don't have.  I'd be surprised if you found a market there at all.  The village is named Tabuk and they seem rather proud of it.  He also mentioned the antelope up by the river as the easiest source of ready food.  He says they are up there somewhere just about every day.  He also mentioned something about lions prowling about...  I'm almost certain that they are active at night."

Giles mentions a few more things he is interested in and Rodrickson relays the questions back, the boy responding in kind with a few short sentences.

"They haven't seen any armies or forces around here... Other than us."  Rodrickson feels obligated to include.  "They weren't sure what I was talking about when I asked them about them looking at the tracks...  I did some digging and it seems like they were just out looking at their father's fields and got caught up working until the light was totally out.  Might have been a misinterpretation on Edenburg's part."

Suddenly though, the two hear something over their shoulder, a sort of loud shout from the village, though the voice sounds inquisitive rather than alarmed.  "[Language unknown:  Salim Th ter ncwh?]"

Rodrickson shakes his head slowly at Giles, though he quirks his head toward the village to better listen.

OOC:  I think you may realize the precariousness of your situation, but to make it entirely clear (as your character would understand), Megalos and Al Wazif have been to war three times in the past 150 years, and though Megalos pretty much wars with everybody as it's nation building strategy, the ones with Al-Wazif have in particular left some negative impressions.  Imagine that you are an Isreali walking into a rural town in central Iran... wearing commando gear and carrying an assault rifle (wearing chainmail and carrying spears).  Now I'm not saying that anyone is going to outright attack you, but asking to sleep in the town is downright foolish as word will no doubt spread and there is a great chance that someone will get some ideas.  Larger cities usually tolerate more diversity (and indeed there remains quite a bit of the remnants of Megalan bloodlines and culture after the city has changed hands so many times) because they are dependent on trade and in general greedy to prey on foreigners financially.  Just wanted to make sure that was clear, carry on.

Giles nodded and then continued "Ask them where the nearest city is relative to here" he said, to keep them talking instead of thinking while he had his own time.

Considering a moment, he figured that it might be worthwhile to talk to some more of the older people of the village, before making a move away. Having shown interest in the nearest town, it would be then prudent to set up camp in a different direction side, should anyone get any malicious intent during the night.


"We are searching for information on some things, is there anyone in the village we could speak with?

Do emphasise the point that we're only here to find out some information and have no ill-intention


I wasn't sure how apparent it would be that we were 'commandoes' exactly.

I'm just going off what I think is reasonable, if i do step into "you're being stupid" territory, i geuss Giles's intelligence might catch that before I do :) so thanks for this, and any future warnings.


Also, as regards to information, we have the symbol of the medusa right? Like an emblem that we could possibly describe/show/etc? If it's a cult, or group or something of that nature people may have heard of it prior to now

When Giles asks about the closest city, Rodrickson immediately turns over towards the boys and starts speaking with fluid gestures.  "[Language unknown:  Ichsetpre i ant uneles icala p seri?]"

The eldest of the boys looks confused and answers haltingly.  "[Language unknown:  Laons the.  Roint Tabuk.  Sonareshe Ennanc Ou.]"

Rodrickson seems to take his time before he responds, choosing his words carefully.  "[Language unknown:  Ll, Tabuk i artesshas itsa, ckantipa wil ar liund vorherame louree, moad hissheall i poropl mameio i?  Ithionine sompa se was ckilpe butintome ee on ounamerom vor?  Ullice ca Tabuk stevnt?]"

The young boy answers, his chest puffed out as he speaks with determination.  "[Language unknown:  Tabuk m tethca adli, na andncethu.  Dinomeect, mainliha]"  The young boy points to the south over the village and the high rolling hills.  "[Language unknown:  Ssreic Ieuret pl Thiioupre oursa whe und omreio.]"  The boy points off towards the west, in the direction of the Great Forrest.  "[Language unknown:  Ad ndeof man p ithck werthuint heroulort menho aststiund ol Atilpa, ce ou ereersort.]"  The young boy points off to the east, finishing his speech with a nod.

"[Language unknown:  Ng ure oultedstaith actio eratereenstatio str fi esslarshe el setounwhe lawa pre llrom ai el.]"  Rodrickson responds.  "[Language unknown:  O rutiveave stilinure nisi iouectcon redfo il rea laratered allon tinme oulanyund nti str meneaunde urwack?]"

"[Language unknown:  Fiee.]"  The boy answers.  "[Language unknown:  Acnce thereaere, Fasad sheredwil ioad hari besaan ss whendeter prsaanmo.  Le eauainpro ect iosi k era und he.]"

Rodrickson turns to Giles and tries to translate as efficiently as possible.  "It seems that there is little in the way of cities near here.  He mentioned that Quasz as Sawh is to the east, though there are no roads that go there.  He also mentioned that there is a merchant in the city who may be the best person for us to talk to...  It seems they get few interactions outside the village here."

"[Language unknown:  Salim.  T medin i tic ni i...  Maour al korha!]"  The voice back at the village is now shouting, thought it seems as confused as it is alarmed.

"I think they saw something."  Rodrickson says as he tightens the reins in his left hand.

OOC:  You guys did not take a medallion of the medusa, althought you can feel free to attempt to draw one, which will default to IQ-4 for drawing, with an additional -2 for not having tools to make the drawing with.  Unfortunately, it is specifically your chainmail which is giving the impression, or at least that and the spear that Rodrickson is using.  Those two items are not normlly allowed to be worn but anyone other than the nobility and the militias.  Since you are obviously not Wazifis it is not hard to deduce that you are military oriented.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:00, Mon 03 July 2017.

"Fantastic, tell your friends that  things are okay, you're welcome to go to them. As I said, we are here as friends and not seeking any confrontations.

If the merchant will see us, we would like to talk with him..." he said to the man, gesturing to his companion to translate before turning in his seat to look at the callings from the village.  He looked to the direction of alarm.

"Likely Edenburg..." he replied casually to Roderickson, willing to call the man from his wide flank.








I guess they may have spotted edenburg. If the alarm in the man's voice comes from Edenburg, Giles will wave to him to come closer. I guess as the gesture will be calm, Edenburg will realise the lack of threat.


If it is Edenburg


ROderickson... please translate that the man is with us and he was just sitting there to keep look out and ensure that nothing bad happened to us. A precaution is all. he said, keeping his calm demeanor apparent to avoid any startling of the people infront of them.

Rodrickson nods and speaks back to the boys in Arabic.  "[Language unknown:  Entardent, t llsan avere o ioac ame, nt u u thafi mollur, etman pa ei larwilion essantlat niwil mo, iv moushi ulthi n omethaout i son.  Ll ouran amereaous ro osbema deroulhative e evpo tioardwhiher di inttr res o iv ul.]"  Edenburg points a hand off to the northwest.

The boys nod appreciatively, and possibly with significant relief as they walk on past the two mounted men, nodding at Giles as they go, and breaking into a quick-paced run once they are outside of a few dozen steps.

"[Language unknown:  No ted et sa iepawe!]"  Rodrickson shouts at the voice coming back from the village.  "[Language unknown:  He inon nd e powael u ercom cackme usnd n ekugh as ecos ususat.]"  "Edenburg!"  Rodrickson adds as an afterthought.  "Get your ass over here!"

"[Language unknown: Fi se plho eauonswer!]"  The voice from the village responds.  "[Language unknown:  Of towh u it ckes amerutshe!  N werea!  A u of any astun tahiut sanntilat os!]"

Rodrickson's face sours slightly at the response.  "I'm not sure they're going to be entirely friendly sarge.  They sort of threatened to send their cavalry out, though I'm not sure they are entirely serious.  I think they just want us out of here."

In but a few moments, Giles can hear the sound of hoof beats approaching from the east...
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:40, Fri 16 June 2017.

Giles felt his posture slump a little and then, as he readjusted himself in his seat to regain posture a wry smile crossed his face and he addressed Roderickson in a very casual tone.

"Take note corporal, this is what happens when you do the right thing.

Gritting his teeth, frustrated, at the affront they had afforded such hospitality I heard that the Wazifi muslims were known for their hospitality.  Be sure to remind me, the next time we encounter such people that I am an overly sentimental and generous fool he added with a touch of irony.

Saluting the village, standing in his stirrups, Giles made an overly elaborate gesture to bow. Clearly parodying the idea of politeness and etiquette, before dropping back down and kicking his horse to movement.

As they caught up to Edenburg Giles added Keep an eye on those riders Edenburg, if any of them get close, put a fucking arrow in them. he added with a touch of venom.

Giles cantered the horse off away from the east and away from the direction of their camp. There was no use letting them find that this early on.

Rodrickson watches as Giles makes an elaborate bow from his horse, he shifts his own towards the east, regripping his spear as the sound of hoofbeats grows ever closer.  It turns out, however, that the gesture is unnecessary and the rider turns out to be Edenburg, rather than more of the Wazifi.

"I think they saw me."  Edenburg starts off even as the others start marching their horses to the southwest, toward the direction of their camp.  "I didn't really know what to do so I just stayed quiet.  Thanks for talking them down Rodrickson."

The other man nods.  "To be frank, things could have gone a lot worse.  I'm just glad they didn't send anyone out.  It's a tenuous relationship that Megalos and Al Wazif have kept over the past few years, and some of these border towns can be downright hostile.  I think we probably stumbled on to one that is even a little bit kinder than average."

"Still."  Edenburg adds with a smile.  "Would have been nice to get a little bit of a restock, a man can only eat so many meals of smoked meat and dry bread before..."

The three men had just crossed over the hill towards their camp and it is immediately apparent that something is wrong.  One of the bags has been upended and scattered, the contents of rope and personal gear flunk this way and that in the grass.

"I didn't mean it!"  Edenburg says to no one in particular as he gives his horse a nudge in the ribs to get her quickly to the site.  Edenburg dismounts, going quickly to the belongings and inspecting the area.

"Bushwolves!"  Edenburg nearly yells after studying the area but for a few moments.  "They must have been following us...  I knew the horses were jumpy earlier!"

Rodrickson likewise has dismounted, attempting to tidy up some of the gear that is still on the ground.

"Its the food!"  Edenburg adds, opening up the bag as he rifles through it's contents.  "All the food is gone!"

"I've got some in my saddlebags."  Rodrickson answers back.  "I never took those off when we got to camp.  Though I don't think it's much, maybe enough for tonight?"

After spending a few moments evaluating their inventory, the three travelers indeed find that the food is the only thing mission, although it is a large majority of what they had left.  What remains is enough for tonight, and perhaps a single meal to split amongst three people in the morning.

"Shit!"  Edenburg curses, throwing a punch at the ground in frustration.  "What do we do sarge?"

OOC:  Sorry for the confusion.  The rider in the last post (sound of hoofbeats) was actually Edenburg, and the town is off to the south.  You never heard any stirrings from that direction other than the shouted voices back and forth.  Sorry about the bushwolves, they were the result of a wandering encounter that I rolled earlier, but only after did I look at the description and realize that they don't attack people, especially groups, so they waited and sniped the food while you guys were gone.  You have 4 rations remaining and you have not eaten yet tonight.  Obviously you have several options for trying to acquire food.  Right now it is dark enough that Edenburg will resist any attempts to try and engage him to go foraging or hunting, and will encourage the group to try it in the morning instead.  But if you want him to try something now, he will defer to your authority.  Just let me know where you want to go from here and I can fast forward appropriately.

A slightly sense of foolishness washed over as the men began to speak and Giles kept silent while thinking what might be the next best course of action that might avoid them being rejected so wholly by the local townsfolk. Cities would probably be better.

"Yea, Rod, I guess a lot of these villages would react in the same way any Megalan village would to a trio of Wazifis. Maybe we did get a better welcome than one should have expected.

Giles reflected as they stepped up the slope of the hill, feeling a weird sort of peace in the sway of its gait under him, sat with companions with a tangible goal for the immediate future. Coupled with the freeing experience of the plains in which they currently stood there was an odd sort of freeing experience to the air.

If you had asked him only a few days ago he might have complained bout the dust in his throat, or any number of other things and it had only been in their most recent journey that the lifeless blandness of the environment had turned into something a little more.

He understood why people could live there.


That contemplative feeling got destroyed as Giles felt another punch to his lower gut when he saw the camp. "Fuck..." he said with a calmness that seemed in deep conflict with the inner mix of feelings he felt.

Kicking the side of Cutlass into a trot Giles pulled up beside Edenburg and then dropped from the saddle to inspect the area.

"Just the food? he walked around nudging a few things with his foot before adding more.

"

Don't worry Edenburg, food can be replaced.

We can get by tonight, go hunting at first light see what you can get us. Then we'll make way as straight as possible to the nearest city to see if we can buy some supplies.

I don't want to press those villagers too hard right now and it shouldn't take us too long to reach the next city. With your hunting and these rations we might do well - and if not we'll just be a little hungry for a while.

Just make sure we have water he said before re-pitching his tent.


After a short while Giles had the idea and then suggested it to the tracker "Maybe we could set a trap for one of those bushwolves... I hear they're tasty.." he offered, inadvertently touching his stomach as he began to feel the beginnings of hunger.


"Rod, take watch when we go to sleep, wake me up after a span of hours (2) he said before heading into his tent to snooze before nightfall hit proper.



Okay, plan will just be to camp for now.

4 rations will cover us for the night - and Edenburg can hunt in the morning. If there's any real problem we can just slow down our pace of movement and focus more and more on hunting to make sure we're well fed.

If a situation becomes dire, the river will have fish, and deer and all kinds of things nearby.

But other than that we'll camp for the night and move in the morning.


Giles will give Edenburg a full night's rest ... he needs less sleep so after he's relieved he'll take the rest of the night on guard.

Though his men despair with the news of their lost food, Giles throws a voice of reason into the mix, saying they can acquire more food either by skill or by purchase.  After all Quazr as-Sawh wasn't that far away.

The three tidy up their belongings, restage their camp, tend to the horses and ready themselves for the night.  Giles's head has barely hit the pillow however, before he is roused from his tent.

"I come to speak with the Christians!"  A deep baritone and commanding voice calls out from some distance away.  Though the voice speaks a competent Anglish, there is no doubt an Arabic accent to his voice.

"Sarge!"  Rodrickson's voice by comparison is harsh and panicked.  "Someone's here!"  He adds, quite unnecessarily.

Giles removes himself from his tent with some haste, attempting to get the most information as quickly as he can about the situation.  Off in the distance of the night, three forms stand silhouetted in the blackness, several dozen yards off.

"We come armed, but in peace.  We will not suffer tricks."

OOC:  It is about 2130 on the 9th of December.  You can tell it is going to be another cold night.  Rodrickson still has your spear, but you can elect to have taken your sword before you left the tent.  I'm assuming you took your armor off to sleep.  Edenburg has also stirred and followed you out, grabbing his axe, bow, and quiver and hastily attaching them to his body.

Giles was dozing nicely and thinking of the Araterre women that had been so famous in the stories of his family's land. He cursed under his breath at the disturbance but then quickly zoned into what it meant.

Ducking out from his tent Giles stood up and assessed the situation. Now they were on foot, and their horses unsaddled, without surprise. This was much more of an even fight if it were to happen and Giles cursed himself a little more. But at least they wanted to talk.

Stepping forward, he made a point of gesturing Edenburg and Roderickson to stay back as he stepped out into the clear between the two groups, sword still at his hip.

"I will talk with you! he called out to let his voice carry over the arid air.

"In Peace! he added as an after thought to highlight the lack of hostilities that he did want.

"There are no tricks, just us." he said before stepping out to the middle between the two groups.

As he walked a lone out into the cold night Giles reflected on the nakedness he now felt without his armour. When it had first been put on him it felt like a lead weight that only hindered everything he tried to do, and now it seemed to be such an integral part of his person that standing out in the cold wind felt like he would be cut down by a strong gust.

stronger he whispered to himself, under breath.




He'll keep the sword with him, but yea no armour etc.

Giles agrees to the simple terms of the meeting, and the three forms step ever closer until they are only a few paces away from Edenburg, Rodrickson and Giles.

The man in the middle seems clearly in charge of the small party.  He is stepped in front of the other two, he seems eldest, with grey streaks running through his black hair, but most of all his armors are adorned with decorations unlike the other two, and he wears a waist-long mantle over his shoulders.

All three of the men are wearing studded leather armor that covers their torsos and limbs and have the strong build of warriors.  Each of them carry at their hip a curved blade with a guarded handle that seems built for slashing.

"We have heard from our young that there are Christians here."  The man in the middle says in his halting Anglish.  "They say you have desires of trade with our village, but the Christians have never brought trade, only war.  What is it that you would have of our people and why do you appear at our gates at night?"

OOC:  The three of you guys are about 8 yards from the three Wazifi men.  Though the man in the middle seems open to discussion, the features of the men on either side of him are set in stone and distrusting if not downright hostile.  All three men have their weapons stowed at their hip, though in easy reach.

Giles opened his palms to his side and then made the gesture to look around. "There are only three of us, we wish no war, and have no desire to fight at all.

Simply, we are journeying around this area to find possibly connections and some information about those that live beyond. We had thought only to buy some extra food and supplies from your village and did not want to impose. he said while smiling.

"You speak good Anglish... how did you learn?" he askied with genuine curiosity.




I'll kjust get something out.

Been broken this week and run under.. so i'll just try to post as and whe I can, sorry if it delays you at all

"I am Fasad."  The man introduces himself plainly, pointing at his chest as he does so.

Fasad steps forward, a pace, seeming to strain his eyes with only the light of their campfire to illuminate the night, casting wide shadows over everything.  "Food we have none to spare.  The harvest is long past and the seeding of the fields is not yet done.  We will not know if this is a good year or ill until the planting season is over and our food stocks decimated.  Even now we send hunting parties to the river to supplement our stores with the antelope who drink by the willows."

Fasad nods, as if bringing the point to a close before continuing on again.  "Supplies we have some, what have you come to trade Christian?"

As Giles asks his last question, Fasad leans back, gazing at the night sky above.

"I fought in the Border Wars many years ago, the Caliph rode through the villages, calling up all men of age that could fight.  I battled at Bannock, and sieged Raphael before our forces were thrown back by the wizards of Megalos.  I spent years in Bannock before returning home because we feared the Christian King's truce was a false one.  There are still many Christians there and I learned your language speaking to your people who stayed.  I learned that some of us are not so different but that some of us cannot coexist."

OOC:  Sorry to hear that.  By no means do you need to feel like you are slowing my pace and I fear that things may drop in pace considerably after the weekend is out as my RL will be returned to upheaval as we finally get all our shit to unpack in the new house.  Hope things get better over your way and take your time if you need it.

The man listened and offered his own name in response to the introduction. "I am Giles" he said offering a hand shake. Before gesturing to the group that they could come closer to the fire

"You're welcome to sit with us, I'd offer you some of what we have, which is currently little due to the ransacking of our camp" he said with a chuckle and a slight shrug indicating that such things happen.  GIles intended to go sit by the fire, if the others were willing and then answered the next question.

"To be honest, the real trade was to be some food but more focussed on information and knowledge... he said, circling in his mind about how much of the truth should be revealed. This man, at least, seemed one of the more reasoned people he'd met who had been involved in war but it was still a tenuous encounter at best in that moment.

... I don't know a lot about Muslims, or Wazifi people, or even much of the history of here. So we were looking for villages, or larger groups of people wandering around these parts to open some connections with. As there are few of us, we don't have much in the way of trade goods exactly, but some coin and optimism" he said casually with a chuckle.

Giles, glanced to the sky and then back to Fasad when he began to tell of the story reflecting on his own encounters with north men when he was a young boy. He compared how he felt about them and mapped it to Fasad, and felt a little worry. Of the men he'd known, GIles had always tried to be more open to the idea that people can be good, bad or both depending on one's view of the situation. It was a sentiment not often shared, not even by his own siblings. Giles wondered what kind of man Fasad was.

"Having been involved in such battles and witness to the things war reveals to us must have made you cautious about people north of the border, indeed.

Such things really does seem to push a man down a path that leaves little middle-way. Wanting it to be done and finished through peace or destruction. I take you for the former, Fasad. he said, attempting to gently urge the man's dialogue on matters of war and peace. If Giles could guide the conversation well enough, Fasad might reveal more information about people with less willing to accept peace, it was early in the night and the Hind-born Megalan smiled.



I think a lot of this slowness from my part (other than actually just being a bit fucked and shattered) is 'wanting to measure up or make sure I think the scene through before just posting something.

Which is a good thing, I sduppose.

I wouldn't worry about slownerss, I get it that a lot of people have issues with RL taking over their free time - as long as the game doesn't dwindle to a stop, i'm really excited about it.


I don't know whether I need a roll for it, I suppose so. But basically Giles will try to guide the conversation to get more information about Fasad's views on the peace/relationship between MEgalos/Wazif and those that don't view it as a good thing.

Giles walks up to Fasad, and the other accepts the offered handshake, but at the invitation to come closer by the fire the other holds out his hand and shakes his head.  "My soldiers are jumpy enough without adding a need for haste.  We will stay here, although your courtesy is appreciated.  Stay by your fire and we will consider any peaceful resolution a success."

Giles continues on, attempting to mix humor with a tone that denotes the precarious nature of the situation.  Though he does not elicit any laughter from the other, the man smiles as he responds.  "We do not trade in optimism.  And though barter with coin is not often done here either, it is good to keep a supply on hand.  What information is it that you seek?"

Fasad listens on, nodding at times with Giles comments though his response is somewhat guarded.  "There are many who Megalos as the great foolish Cyclops, swinging it's power haphazardly.  There are few who would not cause it pain if they thought there was no risk.  The young ones are particularly drawn to this way of thinking, for they have not seen the nightmare of real war.  You will find fewer who seek to end the peace, and none who would say it to you openly...  Though certainly there are some who are seeking to gain power or favor who have that goal in their heart.  How much is this information worth to you Giles?"

OOC:  Ok, I stopped here since I'm not entirely sure what your intentions are.  The way I see it, you have a couple of options.  You could try and develop a relationship between the fort and Tabuk, if that is the case, roll vs. diplomacy.  It would help if you buffer that skill roll with a gift of some sort, anything from coin to future trade, though remember you only have the sway of a new sergeant at the fort.  If you want to buy information, roll vs. Merchant and let me know what coin you want to use towards buying it.  Note that you already have made a reaction roll vs. Fasad so a successful merchant (defaults to IQ-5) roll will simply make him think the information is less important to you (i.e. worth less) and a failed one more so.  It won't drastically change the amount of information he is willing to sell, just the price.  If you want to try and trick Fasad into giving you information/stuff or whatever, roll vs. fast talk, although this will be a contest vs. his IQ and failure may have worse consequences than the other options.

Giles nodded at the refusal and replied with what he hoped seemed to be graciousness Aye, peaceful is the better path to walk in such situations.. He said contemplating the situation. If he were this man, and had soldiers to his command, then they would be placed around the camp. It must be so, Giles casually glanced around and then up as if taking in the view of the sky for a moment.

After a pause, what he hoped appeared to be consideration he added "Well firstly we were curious about any larger groups moving around this area that perhaps aimed to cross into Megalos. They may be a caravan of merchants... he said with a wry grin, hoping that the caution Fasad had shown would give him perspective of the second meaning ... or indeed just an intrepid group of people wishing to see more of the world .

As Fasad spoke about Megalos, Giles held his face deadpan and flat revealing little of what he truly thought. He knew that Megalos had ambitious goals regarding its borders and they had warred with almost every province that shared one. They did like to throw their weight around, but similarly it was the society and civilisation that he knew. The northerners seemed to be barbarous and the Wazifi too devoted to their God to function properly. Giles had developed a small reputation for being catastrophically wrong. The thought of his exclusion from the magic academy stabbed at his thoughts for a moment.

Was what Fasad said true? Or perhaps just the resentment of a man fighting for a cause. MEgalos hadn't really won the war, but it was surely agreed that Fasad's own country was less mighty. Did he also imply that Giles was too young to have realised the nightmare of war. Perhaps he was...


The information is worth the price that you ask and the one that I'll accept. But the cost, I feel is paid more dearly than either of us really wish for.

Having suggested the reasons, GIles hoped that the response would be forthcoming. He didn't want to draw the medusa emblam, but felt that it might take him a step closer to some real answers.



You'll have to correct me if i'm wrong about any of this


I guess he'll keep from being explicit in what the information would look like, but instead allude to it through his speaking. I guess it's a good way to gauge that Fasad is indeed reasonably well put together in terms of his mind.

And if anything, it would be rude to imply that the Wazifi were possibly threatening war with MEgalos... and even perhaps dangerous to imply that it might be the end result of any actions.

So, he'll imply that the goals he has are the same as Fasads, i.e. to ensure that war doesn't happen and that the tenuous peace they have remains. In showing that his thoughts are similarly aligned, i guess this would help build some kind of relationship, even if not a strong one.
So, in this case diplomacy is probably the better roll


15:53, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 9 using 3d6.  Diplomacy. // PASS

Fasad nods his head at Giles's words, though his response is somewhat less helpful than Giles would hope.  "I do not know of what you ask.  There are none who seek to cross the border as I know but my knowledge of the other tribes' daily activities is little.  I can tell you that the Ghargh je Be' tribe is a day or more ride to the East."  Fasad points off towards the distance, his cloak fluttering gently at his feet.  "Otherwise, two days to the West you will find the VIghro''a' Cha'par tribe against the foothills of the mountains.  Both of them you will find to be more hostile to you I think, for I know both their chiefs lust for power and fame."

Fasad pauses for a moment but carries on his conversation with a single half raised eyebrow.  "I think perhaps it is odd that you seek to find groups headed north into Megalos, you who have come to cross our border without a second thought.  Be careful what you imply Giles.  There are those who would think you do not have peace at heart but only maintaining Megalos's superiority."

Giles grinned and  replied "Well, a trouble I would have to ensure Megalos's superiority in the Wazifi lands with but only a small few of us.

All I wish is knowledge, and like you only to ensure that rivers flow well and smooth and clear.. In reality, Megalos was superior, but only in some ways. There was a great difference between their cultures and Giles suspected that the desire to maintain ones own fortitude and influence was at least equal on both sides of the border. Indeed, if there was a planned hostilty then it seemed those very desires might give impetus to such plans.

He then paused a moment and  glanced again up at the sky and considered the disparity between their eternal calm and the storm that often one might find himself standing against. Hostility from another in this land, Giles hadn't expected such negative attitudes. Though the thought crossed him again about general feeligns to the northmen. It was easy to miss such things when you'd been raised a world away and weren't invested in the happenings on an emotional level.

"I'll take your advice about the nearby villages as sage. What of the nearest city?

I thank you for meeting Fasad, the next time I'm in these parts, I shall bring something more worthwhile to offer than just suspicion. he offered and then quickly added before misinterpretation could occur
"I'm sure merchants would be very interested in trading with an open and willing town in Al Wazif"




sorry for the delay and sorry for your IRL troubles.

Either way, I think there's probably not much in the way of maneuvering that I can do currently and pushing any more information might cause that successful diplomacy roll to become more dminished in its effect.

I'm back in the game now! fast and furious (or at least keeping pace with you)


Anyway, a quick OOC question:

Would it be reasonable to assume that the foothills  to the west might be well positioned to set up a forward outpost if their tribe leader happened to lust power and fame?


This message was last edited by the GM at 17:56, Sun 20 Aug 2017.

Fasad answers Giles's last question by shaking his head.  "There is no city near.  The Pillars of heaven are days West, though they are more a landmark than any real city.  Crossing the mountains south would put you near as-Siyassi, the capital...  you would be well received there, or if you travel east to Keyhole bay you will find Bannock and Qazr as-Sawh.  Either will be welcoming to you, although Qazr as-Sawh holds the northern garrisons and you will not be permitted to pass through armed as you are."


As Giles bids the other goodbye, Fasad nods at Giles offer with a coy smile.  "We would happily accept trade from the north though I cannot foresee it happening with any haste.  Good luck Giles and be careful not to stir up the villages.  I cannot imagine an outcome more disastrous than the tribes going back to war with the Christians.

With that, the three men back up slightly before turning and heading back south towards their village.

"Sarge..."  Rodrickson volunteers after a few moments of quiet.  "I think it might not be a bad idea to move on a little farther north... or at least to get away from this camp site.  I don't like being so close to the village and them knowing where we are even if they seem to be peaceful."

OOC:  Welcome back and again, apologies for the down time, hopefully things will keep up at least with a once a week pace if not more than that.  I guess I don't quite understand your question though.  You could say that either village, east or west was positioned to set up outposts although the one to the west would be closer to the fort.  Just to make sure it's clear, the general trend is the larger the city the more trade and the more foreigners people are used to seeing (and likely the more permissive they will be) although it's still not a great idea to wear armor and carry open weapons anywhere, especially where people may be biased against you.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:19, Thu 31 Aug 2017.

Giles nodded at Roderickson You may be right, lets see what we can do to move off this place and go to a more remote position. Some of those men with Fasad seemed to be a little more hostile than I like too.
he agreed and then began to pack his things.

As they continued Giles wracked his brain to think of how he might find any real signs of hostilities towards Raphael or their garrison, or Megalos too. <purple>"We should head north anyway, make our way up to the mountains and check out that area before making some effort to start heading back.

If anything more than a roaming band was gathering or operating against Raphael, then the mountains would be a good place from which to conduct operations. We'll spend some time there and see what information is revealed.

<purple>

Deciding after a few moments conversation that a move is prudent, and that the first direction that they should go is back towards the border, the three pack up the remains of their things and saddle up, the horses protesting mildly in the process.  They make their way at first along the river, though Rodrickson suggests a deviation (as it's already proven that the village uses the route along the river) and the group eventually decides to head east for a few miles before resetting their camp.  With some luck The group avoids any other encounters and wakes in the morning as the sun rises over the plains.

"Well Sarge?"  Edenburg asks as he puts all of his gear away again, yawning away the early morning tiredness.  "What do you think, try and find some game this morning to replenish our stocks?  Or do you want to keep cruising around looking for the medusa head gang?"

OOC:  You managed to avoid all your encounter rolls for the night and made it to the morning unscathed.  You are down 1 fatigue so far from an assumed missed breakfast and will go down 1 further fatigue each meal you miss.  You are about 2 miles east of the small tributary you followed to the village and probably a dozen miles south of the Megalos border still.  Let me know what your big picture plan is, you are welcome to try and stay and find game or food in other manners, continue to search Wazif for your villains, or head back to the fort (or Raphael if you want to go there).  Just let me know what your big picture plans are and we'll keep moving from here.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 04:08, Wed 06 Sept 2017.

Aye, lets go get some more food before we press on. See what you can find" he said in response to Edenburg. He let out a wry grin at the mention of the Medusa head gang, thinking perhaps his own spirits reflected those of the other two.

The journey for the most part had proven to be rather unfruitful, though with the meeting of Fasad and establishing some contact with the people of the village, there may be some promise fo the future - even if they weren't overwhelmingly friendly or welcoming.


Brashear had said.

He reached into his sack and pulled out the book. Roderickson, can you go over the notes in here and see if any indication is given about the location of anything that may be vaguely of interest? he asked while wracking his head.

The grassland with interleaving hills could hold an army. So maybe there was the path back to the fort.

"We'll have to head back to the fort via those lands, so make careful note of the scrawlings on those pages.




OOC: having re-read some of the posts prior to this, i'd missed one of Brashear's points (or at least figured that i'd sufficiently understated our military allegiance..

quote:

wear no indication of your rank or military allegiance

- I guess I just screwed that up a little.


Okay, big picture:

- trying to figure out any way of finding anything related to this, so looking for any kind of clue that could indicate

- At this stage, it's probably worth circling back towards the fort as Wazif is basically a wasteland and trawling through it is unlikely to be rewarding. With mostly hostile people in the vicinity, it's not worth probing other villages.

- So, we'll circle the way we came for the original adventure (roughly) and following clues that might be left in the text of the 'Environs' book.

- We'll take a slowish pace, to recover and keep strength and come up with ideas.

- When closer, or at some point, maybe before he goes to bed one night Giles will aim in the most likely direction (the hills) and probably try to do some kind of 'Seek Earth' spell to see if he can find anything. The key is identifying an earth-like substance that would be amassed in a group and not be arbitrarily found. Steel is my best bet at the moment.

- If nothing is forthcoming on the way back through those hills. Returning to the fort would be best - at least then we can say "there's nothing obvious, and locals aren't very willing to help" (even despite my (player) blunder) and that more people would be needed....

- perhaps he can use this as a way to commission a flying mount ;)


BTW, I can post pretty regularly now. Back on it, at least daily, so don't hold off because I've been slow recently.

"Sounds good Sarge."  Rodrickson nods as he takes the book from Giles, putting it in his saddle bags.  "I'll start working through it when we next take a break."

And without any fuss, the three set off at an easy pace.  Though the temperatures had become cold over the night, and the three men begin the day exhaling in puffs of steam, the low sun quickly rises in the sky, warming the air enough that the sting of the cold is only a mild discomfort until the sores from two days lengthy riding overwhelms it.  A low hanging sprawl of grey and white clouds are progressively splashed across the sky, growing worse in the west over the lands of Caithness and the Great Forrest.  It is perhaps two hours later when an excited Edenburg dismounts from his saddle to check the ground for a moment.

"More Antelope!"  He says as he looks back up and grins at the other two, remounting his horse and pushing off towards the northeast in the direction the tracks lead.  Edenburg dismounts a few more times over the better part of the next hour each time checking the game trail to ensure they are still headed in the right direction.

Finally, the three spot their game, a herd of fifteen or more antelope, stopped on the plain.  Most of the animals have their heads down in the grasses, feasting on the dry grasses though two or three of the outermost animals have their heads perked high, twitching this way and that as their tongues seem to taste the air for danger.  Edenburg motions of the other two to halt their progress before he dismounts and begins to skulk towards the beast pulling his bow out in front of him with his left hand.  Slowly, painstakingly Edenburg closes the distance to the herd until Giles thinks for sure that any movement from the man will cause the whole group to flee.  Edenburg slowly takes a knee on the ground and braces himself as he knocks and arrow and pulls back the string to his ear.

Twang!  The bow hums, but it is not the only noise in the calm air of the midmorning.  "Shit!"  Edenburg curses, barely attempting to keep the word below his normal volume.  In truth, Giles did not need the interjection to know the arrow had no chance of hitting its mark for the arrow sails high, probably eight feet over the middle of the herd before arcing back downwards to the dirt below.

Spooked yet again, the herd takes flight at an inhuman pace.  They leap in steady strides off towards the east, disappearing beneath the grasses as they crest over a small hill...

His face contorted in frustration, Edenburg makes his way back towards his compatriots, his bow still gripped in his hand as if his chance to redeem himself was coming at any moment and might be fleeting.  "Think we should try and trap them boss?  I'm not sure how well the bow is going to work unless I can get closer, those things are small and flighty as pigeons."

OOC:  it is 0900 on the 10th of December.  You have ridden about two and a half hours at a light pace and then Edenburg took at least the last half an hour to try stalking one of the antelope unsuccessfully (to be honest it was a tough shot and while he's good, he's no genius with a bow).  You have not yet suffered any additional fatigue due to hunger.  Let me know what you plan on doing, and if you want to stay here to let Edenburg lay some traps, how long you want to be.  You are probably another two hours from the border to the north.

Giles laughed when Edenburg returned, as if more to lighten the spirits. "Back at the fort I'll have you practising archery for 2hrs per day for the next month! he then patted the man on the shoulder. Inwardly, he was disappointed and acutely aware of the hunger that was grumbling his stomach but these things happen and it was never productive to criticise a good effort.

"Traps might be a good idea, we need to make sure we eat and we're not in any particular rush to get anywhere. Indeed the extra time might give Roderickson chance to read through the comments and help us find our 'Medusa gang'.

If we can wwait here then we will, if we need to be somewhere else then let us know where to be Edenburg he said jovially.

With that, he wandered off to the closest thing to shelter nearby and began to untack the horses.



He'll go to the nearest place to rest, and let the horses rest a little.

Roderickson could probably start reading the book, while edenburg is being a scourge to the antelope.

Acutely aware of his small group's lack of food, Giles agrees to settling down for a moment to allow for Edenburg to set his traps while Rodrickson goes over some of the books.  The horses graze leisurely while the rest of the group gets down to the business of waiting and investigating the clues that might be laid out in the books that they retrieved from the harpy cave.  Giles himself even breaks out some of the books that are written in English and marks the pages with notes written in Arabic for Rodrickson to translate later.  It is perhaps a few hours later when Edenburg rejoins the group, a small grin of satisfaction on his face.

"Well."  The other starts off.  "I think I've got a pretty good tree snare set up on one of those scrub bushes, but it will probably take a while and I don't think they are going to be too encouraged to pass through this trail again while we are still hanging around close by.  What do you say that we take off a mile or so to the north to offset ourselves a little from the game trail and then come back tonight to see if we've got anything?"  Edenburg looks at Giles with expectation.

OOC:  Ok, I need some guidance from you as to what your team is going to be doing.  Edenburg has set up a trap but obviously it won't work instantly and you need to at least give it until this evening for it to have a shot.  Edenburg recommends displacing for a mile or so to keep the human scent away from the game trail.  Please let me know what action you want to take as a group and then what watches you want to stand if any.  Also let me know how long you want to wait in your current location if at all.

Giles nodded, and then put the book back into his saddle before mounting up and getting ready to head out. "Alright, we'll move out a mile or so and give the traps some space. Once we set up camp, Roderickson, you translate as much as you can...

Edenburg while you're dealing with the trap, I'll take your shift for keeping an eye on what's around us. he said.





OKay, team will follow the suggestion:

 - We will move off ot the north
 - Edenburg will handle the trap
 - Roderickson can keep translating, keeping himself occupied with trying to identify anything.
 - Giles will mostly just help whomever needs it most.

 - Watches will be Giles taking 2 shifts and the other two taking 1 each. (that should cover the night)
 - Giles, Roderickson, Giles, Edenburg


 - If we catch anything, we will prepare it as best we can, cook and eat as heartily as possible and then prepare as much as we can afford to carry.

  - Once all the food cooking is done, we'll head up along the path already suggested: I assume that this is basically arcing back to the fort via a north-easterly direction (heading through the hilly lands that the original scouting party went through.

And so, without traveling for more than a few hours, the three men from the Fort on Three Corners set up camp again for the day, traveling a mile or so north of the snare Edenburg set up and finding a patch of shade under which to set up their tent.  Edenburg makes to set up the campsite as Rodrick works to translate and Giles sets up a post as the watch.

Every few minutes Rodrickson breaks the silence with a "hmm" under his breath before returning to look at the book.  On the fourth or fifth time, Giles finally gets annoyed enough to ask him what he's looking at.

"I think I just got to the part that the captain was talking about, it looks like attack notes...  It's talking about doing a summer campaign and about how Raphael is so dependent on the river.  It talks about disabling the bridge between Raphael and Craine as the first step...  I don't see anything in here that would point where they are coming from though."

Giles nods and it is perhaps another hour before Rodrickson speaks up again.  "This is something though!  They are talking about the foothills near home!  I think we were somewhere in the right area even if we didn't find the right village."

But Giles is hardly paying attention, over the foothills he sees a flicker of movement which catches his attention.  Honing in his vision, Giles makes out a single form about a hundred yards away slowly crossing over a small hill.

"What is it boss?"  Rodrickson asks, recognizing that Giles has his sights somewhere else.

OOC:  It is about 1200 on the 10th of December.  Your campsite is in the shade of a few scrub bushes, but there isn't really a whole lot of shelter or cover.  For the most part, this area is dry grass up to about your shins/knees.  What you see looks like a single person, but it's hard to make out a whole lot more.  It does not seem like he sees you yet.

His eyes squinted as he glanced out at the form on the hill and then spoke instinctively in a hushed tone "Look over there, on the hill

I wonder who that is he thought, trying to see past the darkened features of a silhouette. Who would be travelling alone, perhaps there are others beyond the apex of the hill he thought a moment later.

"Get the horses ready Roderickson... be quiet about it and then bring them out when they're done.

In truth, he was a little fed up of sitting in the brush reading and welcomed the idea of contact with some other people. While he liked his men fine, he wanted there to be some tale of the goings on of this trip and not just repetitive notions of sitting down, riding and eating every now and then.  The thorn in his mind too about the mission had grown to be more than a mild anxiety and was actively prickling him of late. The idea of heading back to the fort with no more information was galling.

All that didn't matter now, his curiosity was piqued and he rose from the grass to head in the direction of the other man. He wanted to get a better look at the figure. He'd considered sneaking, but if the other man saw a stalking figure in the grass he would definitely be panicked - not to mention the movement of horses could alert him either. Best to seem as little threat.




I'm assuming it's not just Edenburg?

Giles will move closer and walk towards the guy.
He'll also try to make some judgements based on his appearance. Wazifi/megalan/dress/armament?



This message was last edited by the GM at 02:48, Thu 28 Sept 2017.

Rodrickson looks out upon Giles's prompting but doesn't seem to see the man who has already disappeared from view behind the yellow tufting from a hilltop.  However, he nods at the command from Giles and starts quietly making the horses prepared for riding, beckoning Edenburg to help him with the task.

As for Giles, he quietly makes his way southward towards the man, not intentionally masking his steps, nor intentionally causing a ruckus that might alert the man.  With his senses on high alert, he picks his way through the plains grasses towards where he last saw the silhouette peaking over the hillside.  It is perhaps a minute that has passed when Giles's stops again in his tracks, his gaze fixed back on the hillside where he saw the last shadow pass by.  Now there is a second figure cresting the hill and this one looks up as he passes, locking gaze with Giles in a moment of silence before it is burst.  "[Language unknown: diurai!a  Moutpr e omeon nomasa unte k not!]"  The man nearly screams, pointing directly at Giles and staring with wide eyes.

OOC:  You are perhaps 50 yards away from the new arrival who by first glance seems to have the coloring of Al Wazif (though his speech/accent make it a moot point, he is by no means Megalan).  He has a hatchet of some sort dangling from his belt and there is a hilt that is protruding over his right shoulder.  He also has a pack that is slung over his back, though you can only see the leather straps that come over his shoulders and tie around his waist.  You are also about 50 yards from where you left Rodrickson and Edenburg and you haven't really double checked on their progress with the horses.  Roll vs. Perception, if you succeed, PM me prior to posting.

Giles spotted the man, rather close to his current position off to the left and it surprised him enough to cause him to jolt and turn on his heel.

His hand clutched to the swordhilt at his belt, ready to draw, after all you should never startle an armed man but before he did draw he raised his hand in a placating gesture to give some opportunity for the interaction to take place without becoming violent.

During this time, however Giles took a full moment or two to appraise the man infront of him, while attempting to keep an eye on the man - a less immediate threat - fifty yards up on the hill.



All out defence(double)

If any action is taken that is threatening  Giles will draw the blade and call out to Roderickson, in some tone that would indicate the severity of the situation

Giles attention is on the second man just cresting the hill, but a flicker off to his left makes him turn his head and it is just in time.  Another man, likely the first man he saw, is shockingly close to him and is charging at him with gaping steps!  It is all Giles can do to take in the scene.  The dark skinned male has empty arms swinging wildly as he closes the distance, his only weapon seeming to be a bow slung over his back and a quiver full of arrows.  The man has loose leather clothes which seem to flow easily along with his stride.  By the time he has taken all this in, Giles realizes the man has leaped straight towards him with both arms crossed as he grunts with effort!

"A little help!"  Giles screams out, twisting his body away from the projectile-man though his heavy armor hampers the quick movement and he takes a heavy thunk! straight in the chest.  Staggering backwards a step, Giles somehow manages to keep his feet as his attacker drops down prone beside him.  Pulling his sword free from the scabbard in a frantic motion, Giles watches the man below him already moving back to his feet and reaching out both arms to grab Giles!  Giles steps back, trying to cut his sword down in a blocking motion but his defense is too slow and he feels one arm grab about his back, the other about his upper leg as the man's face presses close to the mail links on his chest!

Some fifty yards away the other man is sprinting towards him as Rodrickson screams from behind, "Sarge!"

OOC:  A lot happened in two short seconds.  For your first turn I gave you an all out defense of two dodges to avoid the flying tackle since your sword wasn't ready yet.  Second turn you drew your sword with a step away as the man got to his knees.  Since your opponent is faster he acts first on the third turn and grappled you as he stood up with both arms, I gave you a retreating parry which was unsuccessful.  You are currently grappled with two hands and are at -4 to DX as well as in close combat.  You have your sword ready in your right hand and your left is empty.  At the moment it doesn't seem like you are in imminent danger of injure due to your opponent's lack of a weapon (and your armor), but he has heavily reduced your ability to attack as well.  Give me two seconds worth of action.

Giles was frustrated, with little way to effectively bring his weapon to bear. The man seemed to at least be capable enough to realise that pressing tightly against the Megalan soldier was the best way to avoid the cutting edge of the blade.  Giles grunted with the effort of trying to retreat away from the grip of his opponent, while simultaneously slapping a hammer-fist down across the man's face, pressed at his own waist.

If he could hit, he might be able to loosen the grip and give himself some space, but if not the chances are that he would be on the ground too in a moment bastard! he growled deeply as his fist aimed at the man's face.




23:37, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 10 using 3d6.  Telegraphic, AoA(determined) face -5 (skill total= 14). // hit!

23:38, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 1 using 1d6-1.  gloved hand, hammer fist. // damn - but I think if they take a hit to the face they can still be stunned, right?

Then, break grip and try to retreat to range 1

Knowing that only a few moments can make the difference in such a brawl, Giles begins attacking fiercely and with a reckless abandon.  He swings his left fist down as hard as he can towards the man's face though his hit only glances off due to the close and awkward fighting having none of the devastating effect that Giles had intended.

The man thrusts a shoulder into Giles as he tries to ram the soldier off his feet, but perhaps he did not account for the extra weight of the chain armor, and Giles manages to just barely keep his upright posture.  Giles responds with a half turn of his body and a ferocious elbow cutting down towards the man's arm, a blow which is much more effective than his previous one.  This time Giles manages to make just enough space to leverage his body away, breaking the man's grip as he steps back, his sword still readied.

His Wazifi foe has a face all anger and surprise and he charges back forward to close the gap!

OOC:  You didn't manage any damage on your punch to the face, but your attempt to break free was a critical success.  You broke the grapple, increased the range to 1 and earned yourself a hero point in the process which can be used as a one time use of a 15 point or less normal advantage such as luck or serendipity.  You are back in the normal combat sequence, realize that your foe acts first.  Please give me two seconds of combat.

Giles felt an inward tension break in release as the man's grip pulled away from his own body and the space between them became a reality. As he danced away he spun with the momentum  and let the arc of his blade curve in an arc towards his enemy.

It's always interesting to know what goes through a man's mind when he is walking the razor's edge between life and death and the ex-academy mage, now soldier, imagined that the movement of his body and blade probably made for a rather elegant and spectacular move...  but he hoped it would connect.

After the move Giles simply moved to press his armed advantage, with long swipe of the blade, aiming at causing the enemy to retreat.




Okay, firstly, if the enmy goes first: Giles will attempt a retreating parry (simply because the +1 will help, and it stands a chance of cutting the enemy)

On his first turn he will swipe defensively at the enemy to ensure he doesn't keep pressing forward (or at least second guess his idea to charge onto a moving blade)

the second round of combat will be a full swipe of the blade.

All of his attacks will be 'opportunistic': mechanically meaning that they'll be 'random' targeting.



Do I have any say about the serendipity? BEcause i'd like to spend the hero point of uncovering some vital information about the medusa group or a possible incursion/infiltration of megalos by the supposed enemy.

Onward the Wazifi man presses, reaching out with his arm to grab at Giles, trying to keep the fight so tight as to ruin the advantage of Giles's superior weaponry.  With all his strength, Giles meets the man's arm with the blade of his sword, cutting viciously through the light armor and the man's skin!  A ribbon of blood shoots from the wound, splattering Giles across his armor and face but even as the man staggers back from the blow Giles is pressing back his counter attack, swinging his sword in a wild arc!  Though Giles knows the blow would strike true, his foe moves far too quickly, skittering backward a step as the blow cuts only air.

His left arm grasped in his right, the blood dripping through his fingers in rivulets, the Wazifi man glares at Giles in hatred before pivoting off his foot, and sprinting in the other direction!

"[Language unknown: Rashid ur!  Pooun st dihast yin lintharat k oveandtha!]"  The man shouts out as his feet churn at the earth with a blazing speed.

OOC:  You managed to score a moderate blow to the arm in your parry but your foe had a successful dodge of his own on your actual attack.  Immediately after suffering the injury your foe has turned and fled and is now at a range of 5.  You are now out of combat mode, though if you wish to give chase, move and attack, or execute some sort of ranged attack on your foe you may.  Otherwise, general intentions are fine.

As for Serendipity, you have no say in what I use it on.  I will however make sure that it helps you along to your goal of finishing the adventure.

Panting with th exersion of combat, Giles turned and allowed the man to run. Chasing him would only allow the man to gain an advantage, and Giles guessed that the other would be faster than him anyway.

He turned, and shouted out "Roderickson, get over here! Bring the horses" before wiping the Wazifi blood from his face and spitting  to the ground the spray that had entered his mouth. "Bastard" he said in between deep breaths and then growled in frustration and spoke to himself with venom on his voice Where the rutting hell is Edenburg as if th enotion taht the man may have been off finding them food was an alien concept.

It was then that Giles was acutely aware that the man carried a bow on his back and given any reasonable distance could start firing off shots at Giles. He cursed aloud and then took off to follow the man and press him into thinking twice before trying to pull out his bow - though, with that in mind, Giles knew that the man had been wounded on the arm and figured that pulling a bow would be all that more difficult.


I guess i'd take a moment to call roderickson and catch a couple of breaths before starting after the other man.


He'll not run flat out, so much as jog to keep 'pressure' on the man so that he can't just get far enough away to start taking potshots at Giles.

The hope is that roderickson will catch up with the horses and then allow them to charge down the enemy.

Giles pauses for a moment, then recognizes his foe has a ranged weapon, and he starts to give chase at a measured jog.  The links of his mail jangle with the movement, swinging slightly with his body as his arms move back and forth.  His sword is especially burdensome, and Giles is forced to stop to sheath it after only a few moments of the run.  "I'm coming boss!"  Giles hears Edenburg shouting from behind him.

The effort, however seems to be in vain, for the man in front of him is both much faster than Giles, widening the gap between them to easily a hundred yards or more in less than a half a minute.  Even with this lead, the man does not turn, but joins with his companion and disappears over the far hill where Giles had seen them pop up in the first place.  Rushing on in chase, Giles notes that even if he did lose them entirely, he doubts that they could hide long as the man is leaving a trail of spittled blood that stains the grasses below.

From behind him, Giles hears the beat of footprints as Edenburg catches up with him breathing heavily.  "We going after them boss?"  It is mere moments later that Rodrickson is cantering up behind, mounted on his own steed and leading Giles horse by the reigns and Edenburg's by a lead rope.

"Where the hell did they come from?"  Rodrickson shouts as he approaches, pulling alongside the other two and dropping the reigns for Giles.  "Sorry Allan,"  He adds as he notices Edenburg's disgruntled response.  "I figured with all the shouting it was more important to get over here than to saddle up the last horse.  You can ride bareback, right?"

OOC:  By the time your team has caught up to you, everyone has crested the hill and you have the two men back in your sights over two hundred yards away, climbing up towards the next hill.  Both your and Rodrickson's horses are saddled, while Edenburg's is not, likely making his ride slower or more dangerous.  Let me know who is giving chase and how fast.  Remember also that the majority of the man's quiver was spilled when he tried to tackle you, though you saw a handful left in his quiver as he was running away.

it's necessary. We need to know who they are. Roderickson take point. Edenburg, follow as fast as you can, you're wide and can put a few arrows into them as you see fit. Do what you need to stay safe and Roderickson and I will take the grounded man.

After him!" he said quickly with excitement in his voice as he mounted up the horse.

Giles didn't take an extra moment to sit and talk, he kicked heels to his horse and took off after the man that had charged him.



They got a loing way!

Roderickson and I will follow, Edenburg too, but he can go at a more leisurely pace to ensure he doesn't fall off th ehorse.

I expect that once he gets to a medium range, he'll dismount and start shooting, or shoot while riding, whichever he feels most comfortable with.

Giles does not delay but barks out a few commands and saddles his philly, Cutlass, spurring the horse forward at a run to catch up with the pair of brigands.  Rodrickson quickly follows suit, taking up his right flank and though Edenburg does not have normal tack, he manages to thrust himself on top of his steed like a gymnast mounting a pommel and keep up pace so that he is only a half a dozen yards back on Giles left side.  Though the two men had gained to a significant lead, the addition of horses to the equation quickly brings things back into the soldier's favor.  Cutlass's beating hooves eat up the distance between them in great chunks as he flings dirt and grass high in the air behind him.  One of the men looks back and screams his surprise just as the two crest the top of the hill and begin running down the backside.

Encouraged by the progress, Giles spurs his horse yet faster, eager to gain sight of the fugitives again.  To his right, Rodrickson falls back slightly, but Giles presses onward, cresting the hill as he scans the horizon.  He finds the two again with ease, but what he says is not entirely what he expected.  The men are stopped a few dozen yards away, the man with the bow knocking an arrow and pointing it directly at Giles.

OOC:  Ok, so you have started catching up rapidly with the two men and are about 36 yards away from them at the end of this post.  His arrow is not quite ready yet, but he will be able to shoot as early as the next turn.  Make a roll against IQ to avoid a mental stun (it won't affect your ability to ride, just defense).  If you fail, keep rolling until you succeed.  If you succeed you will be able to defend normally.  Let me know what modifiers you want to add to your dodge (you can't parry arrows without a special skill and you don't have your shield ready) you can add +2 by spending one fatigue, and another +2 if you make it an all out defense.  I'm assuming you still have your sword ready.  If you want to attack, first roll against riding (at -1 for only having one hand on the reigns) and if you fail, you cannot attack that turn, if you critically fail you fall from your horse.  Rodrickson is about a horse length behind you with your spear in his right hand, and Edenburg is about three or four horselengths behind that, you can't tell what he is doing at the moment.

Yep, they did get pretty far away from you.  Remember, you have a heavy encumbrance with only a moderate move score, which puts you at a 2 for normal move.  At a jog, you are doing about 1.5 yards per second.  The man who tried to jump you had no encumbrance and was sprinting away, doing 7 yards per second.  It made for a pretty quick get away until you got on your horse.

Heart racing to the beat of hooves, Giles could taste iron in his mouth and seemed to be lost in the moment, the single-minded determination to put his target to the mud. It was an odd form of focus that if he had a thought spare might have been a novelty.

His face then went white.

The man preparing to shoot onto the charging horse, probably directly at him, was surprising to say the least but at this stage there was nothing he could do to get out of range of the bow before a shot and so it seemed that the best option was to threaten as much as possible. Giles dropped his head down and hugged the back of the horse as closely as possible without overly risking falling off or losing sight of the man. He took the time, however, to aim precisely at the man

"Ride true! Cutlass he shouted from the saddle, hoping to soon feel a crunch as the warhorse collided full-tilt with the Wazafi man that had so threatened him.




Ah no...

I wonder, does he also make a check against some form of stun due to being charged down by a big warhorse at full clip, while trying to aim a bow?

I'm only curious, I hear things from people that bowhunt or go into the forest with bears, that in cases of charging animals people might freeze or just flounder in one of the steps for drawing or releasing and make a horrible shot.

Though - i can't say I've ever experienced that.


Anyway, actions:

All out defence (to avoid the arrow)
Will attempt to ride the horse (slam) directly into the enemy - I guess this is a feasible option without automatically breaking the horses legs etc, as it happened a lot in old-time war.

Rolls:
11:53, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 11 using 3d6.  mental stun, 13+ 6 (combat reflexes?). // PASS
11:53, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 10 using 3d6.  riding
11:54, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 10 using 3d6.  defence!

Giles forgoes his sword and holds the reins tightly in his hands, directing Cutlass towards the rogue who had attempted to sneak up on him moments ago.  He hunches his shoulders low beind Cutlass's neck and presses the horse forward, knowing that there is no doubt the arrow will come, but at this point there is little he can do about it.

Twang, clink!  Giles sucks in on his teeth as he feels an arrowhead penetrate through the links of his armor and into his upper thigh, and he thanks his stars that he had chosen such heavy armor, as likely anything much lighter would have resulted in a much more serious wound.

The arrow spent, Giles charges his horse onwards, pressing ahead of Rodrickson and straight to the offending rogue, attempting to trample him underneath the horses shoes!  His foe recognizes the danger only at the last moment, and dives wildly to the side, narrowly avoiding Cutlass's hooves as the horse stirs up the dirt from underneath.

As he charges past, Giles hears a scream of surprise just behind, and the tearing sound of heavy garment, though he does not recognize the shout as either Rodrickson or Edenburg.

OOC:  You have charged past the fight and are about 6 yards past the foe who you tried to trample facing directly away.  You sustained a light injury to your right leg, though the shock penalty shouldn't be a factor unless you try some crazy stunt on your first turn.  Rodrickson somehow miraculously dodged the attacker targeting him and managed to score a light hit on the other Wazifi.  Edenburg is now far enough behind that you don't really have any awareness as to what he is doing.  The Wazifi you attacked dived to the side, which puts him in a prone position, the other is still standing.  Give me three more turns of action, and remember, if you want to execute a melee attack while mounted, you must roll against riding-1 first.

Giles cursed and spat as he felt the ribbon of fire cross his leg, reminiscing to the heroes of old that he'd always been told about. Their glory, standing firm in front of impossible odds and saving the day with merely a tale of their victory as the take away. But here Giles rode, wounded in his second encounter since joining the fort. He cursed again.

It was different on top of a horse, fighting a man on foot, the world didn't slow nearly as much when you were trying to crash into someone from the back of a horse, and he wasn't sure exactly what had happened until he stopped his mount and pulled to one side to get it to turn.  A wash of relief that tyhe man was now prone, followed a moment later with the knowledge that he had not been harmed in any significant way.

Gile kicked the flank of (OOC: I keep forgetting the horse's name!) and aimed at the back flank of the man that was still standing.


Welcome back! I hope things are better now.

OKay,

Giles will stop, turn around and then kick Cutlass!(remembered!) to charge at the back of the standing wazifi to make a strafing swipe at him with the sword.

10:48, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 13 using 3d6.  riding.
- I guess that means he doesn't get to attack.

Giles pulls his reins hard to one side as he swat's Cutlass's opposite flank with a heel, turning the horse in place then he urges the horse forward again with a quick jab on both sides.  The horse sprints forward, and Giles takes in the scene in front of him in just a quick moment.

Passing off to his right, Rodrickson is dismounting, spear in hand as he is eyed warily by the foe wearing heavy leathers.  The man carries a mace in his right hand and his left is empty, and Giles takes a wide pass, thinking to take a swing at the man as he cruises past.  However, Giles is not as gifted a cavalryman has he imagines and he nearly loses his balance in the maneuver, and pulls himself back hard towards the saddle to avoid falling off.  Once again, he rushes by the two men with no real damage done.

His men however, seem to be getting into the fray on a closer level.  Edenburg is dismounting his steed as well, axe in hand to rush into the arrow-slinger who is now gaining his feet and pulling out another arrow.  Giles turns his steed again, sword in hand, surveying the battle in front of him.

The bow and arrow wielder stands several paces in front of Edenburg, a readied arrow knocked and pulled back which twang!s out of its place flying high and far of its mark harmlessly.  A few steps away, the mace wielder swings savagely at Rodrickson, a blow which is swatted hard and low by the haft of Rodrickson's spear.  So savage is the connection that the man's momentum is redirected forward, pulling him off balance as he falls onto the ground below him at Rodrickson's feet!

OOC:  That was four rounds of action.  Yup, you were unable to attack the last time and rode past without swinging your sword.  Our bow and arrow man managed to gain his feet, pull and arrow and shoot (wildly) toward Edenburg, though he missed rather badly.  Both Edenburg and Rodrickson dismounted, and Rodrickson is now in combat with the mace wielder.  Rodrickson's critical success on his parry pulled his opponent off balance and he fell over.  Edenburg is about 4 yards away from his foe.  You are about 6 yards from the closest foe, which is the bow and arrow man.  He is facing you.  If you want to stay mounted, keep giving me general intentions, otherwise, if you want to dismount, give me 4 rounds of action (it takes 2 to dismount)

Giles knew when he was defeated by the horse, he patted Cutlass quickly on the flank, he'd grown to like the horse despite his inability to ride with any high level of skill, and then threw his leg over the side and dropped to the ground.

The skirmish seemed to drop to a snails pace and was a mile away from the chaos he'd experienced as a child watching shield walls, or even the previous encounter with the harpies. In those situations he had felt the thrill build in him and take over his world, but here there was a slow and deliberate movement that made him feel more like a predator moving in for a kill - it was another kind of thrill.

As he fell to the floor, Giles was acutely aware of his surroundings and felt the texture of the leather on his sword as he gripped tightly and circled the tip to feel its weight more viscerally. Horses he could not ride well, heavy rocks he could not move nor was he even close to mastering anything resembling mystic arcane power, but he had discovered early into his military career that a blade felt natural in his hand and that only the best of warriors could match his strokes. Perhaps this was his true calling, he reflected as he began to take steps towards the man that had grazed his leg.

"Now we finish this" he said automatically, locking eyes with the enemy and feeling the world come to stillness.

The moment he came to range, Giles stepped to the side first one way and then the other, shuffling as he closed the distance to the outside of his blade, and then swung.




Giles will:

- dismount
- move towards the man (which will, i suppose, keep attention on him)
- any reactionary all out defence(prior to engaging)
- then, feint, one way and attack (random location - opportunistic location) with a swipe of the blade.

Giles makes ready to dismount his horse as his two soldiers are right in the heat of the battle.

Several paces off, Rodrickson seeks to take advantage of his opponent's fall, thrusting his spear forward and down even as the man has made it back to his knee.  Rodrickson's blow strikes true, knocking the man back down to his back.  He follows the strike with yet another blow, this time plunging the spear deep into the man's collar.  A ribbon of hot gore streams from the wound as the man screams uncontrollably, clutching his wound with one hand as his weapon falls into the grass beside.

Closer to Giles, Edenburg finds himself paired off with the bow wielder who even now was grabbing for another arrow.  Edenburg charges the man, leading with his left shoulder, trying to knock his foe off his feet.  The Wazifi spins elusively from the blow, knocking his arrow and jumping back nimbly to dodge the following swing of Edenburg's axe.

Giles just makes his feet to the ground and starts running towards the fray when his breath catches in the back of his throat, for once again the bowstring draws back and the twang! of the string sings out at close range!  By some miracle, Edenburg swivels his body just enough that the arrow rips across the surface of his armor and bounces harmlessly aside.  What's more, the spin plays straight into his own attack, the axe in his hand arcing viciously towards the enemy.  The man doesn't even have a moment to react.  The axe slices deep and under his vision and defenses.  His light armor does not even slow the weapon as it sinks deep within the skin, cracking ribs and tearing at muscle.  The wazifi does not even scream, but his face goes from a look of horror to completely limp as he crumples to the ground, his lifeblood spilling from his wound in sheets.

And in just moments, the fight is over.  The bow wielding Wazifi lays unconscious in a growing pool of his own blood.  The other man lays on his side, still screaming through gritted teeth though somehow, miraculously, he has not succumbed to his wounds.  None of Giles's men is even wounded with the exception of the single arrow head lodged just inside of the links of his armor.

OOC:  Combat is effectively over, with one of your foes unconscious, and the other suffering from a staggering injury and on the brink of unconsciousness.  Rodrickson has kicked away the axe of the conscious foe, though it doesn't look like he'd be able to wield it anyway right now in his condition.  Somehow you guys managed to end that without taking a single significant injury and with a still conscious opponent, congratulations!

Giles had stomped forward with dark intent in his eyes, but ulimately had been savedby Edenburg's dervish-like spinning axe move. As the Wazifi man collapsed to the floor, with only the sound of a sucking axe wound coming free and a gently thud on the ground, Giles felt the tip of his sword dip to the ground limply, uneeded.

"That's the second time you've shown what kind of warrior you're going to become Edenburg" he lauded gently

"Check his things, anything of value that isn't essential to our mission, is yours he said while turning quickly and then jogging to the flailing WAzifi man.

Good work Roderickson he said while sheathing his blade and kneeling beside the wounded man. Giles pressed his hands to the wound of the other and then used the time to inspect the severity of the wound.



First aid on the enemy that's still alive.
15:21, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 11 using 3d6.  First Aid.

Though Giles quickly realizes that his skills at swordplay have become moot, the fact does not make him begrudge the success of his corporal and private.  Rather, he makes a point of complementing his men before he goes to continue his work.

"Thanks Sarge."  Edenburg responds with an easy smile as he wipes his axe off in the grasses below.  "You too, I saw you take that arrow and still go in for the kill.  Probably changed the fate of the battle that our archer had to dive to the side to keep from getting run through."

Giles nods and smiles at the complement, but focuses his attention on their conscious and breathing foe, appraising the man and his wounds with a trained eye.  There is no doubt the man is bleeding at an unhealthy rate, his wounds now ebbing in trickles through the two inch wide slits in his heavy leather armor.

Setting down on one knee to work, Giles winces in pain as his own wound, with an arrow still protruding from his quadricep.  Realizing that his own need is much less than his foe, Giles snaps the shaft off at the tip and winces in pain again as the arrowhead digs into his skin savagely.  He breathes a sigh of relief however, for now at least he is not concerned about a foot long projectile protruding from his leg and snagging his armor at every opportunity.

With his own affairs in order, Giles gets to work to the axe wielder, who is now paled with shallow breathing.  Lacking any real medical supplies, Giles tears a thick strip of fabric from under the man's armor at the base of his shirt.  Tearing the strip again into two similar sizes, Giles wads the material and plants them at the wound at his collarbone and the other at his side, letting the natural pressure of the sturdy leather armor do most of the work.  When he is finished, Giles leans back, wiping his bloodied hands on the grass beside him, and he is generally pleased with his work.  His impromptu bandages on the worst of the wounds seem to be holding and his patient is still breathing and open-eyed, though his expressions flit between entirely vacant, furious anger, and exquisite pain.

Giles notes that a small pool has collected at his own knee as the blood runs down about the links of his armor.  Though he yearns to get as much information as he can as quickly as he can, he knows that letting the wound fester could have equally grave consequences.

OOC:  Note that because you do not have a first aid kit, you are at -2 to skill for using improvised equipment.  Still, you managed to succeed in your roll (2 minutes spent to simply staunch the blood).  You are still bleeding however and though the wound is mostly an inconvenience, if you let the arrow sit in your leg it could make things worse.  Keep posting in about one minute increments.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:02, Mon 27 Nov 2017.

He'd done what he can with the enemy. And his reasons were mostly for the information that might bring, but it was a trait earned from his father, who had picked up all the fallen of the skirmishes that took place in the north, whether savage or Megalan.

"Could one of  you help me with this?" He said, leaning back against the ground and lying down for some rest, now that the intensity of battle was over and his focus was collected by nothing, a wash of sharp and burning pain pushed into his mind and the severity of his own exhaustion was felt.

As the man propped himself up on elbows to look at the arrow, he laughed aloud. "Didn't even realise I had this until after the fight, thought it'd been a glancing hit. Wonder if that book about battlefield medicine will say I can bite down on some arrow root and be miraculously healed" he spoke with light humour even through the grimacing clenched teeth.


"Anyway, we need to get this arrow out and seal the wound. I'd suggest building a fire, but we don't want to be sitting around near a corpse.

Any of you good at fixing people up?

He paused a moment and then thoughtfully added, despite the weary swimming feeling he was getting.
We'll also need to check the local are, make sure there are none others and prepare to move away and set up camp for some rest.

OOC:

I misunderstood the wound in Giles' leg, thinking it was a glancing cut rather than arrow fully in it.

I imagine in a while, a 100pts on, Giles will be the worst scarred veteran of the Megalan army! The guy really knows how to take a kicking.


Actions:

If nobody else is any good with first aid, then Giles will administer it himself with help from the two men.

If there are any supplies at all, he'll use what he can. Alcohol, fire, etc.

After that, packing up and going onward to set up another camp. (fire, rest, etc.)

Realizing that his own wounds need to be tended as well, Giles asks for a volunteer to help and Rodrickson is quick to take up the charge.  While the two are about their business, Edenburg moves about the area, searching for anything that might be of use.

Giles lays back with a bit of strain and undoes the draw string about his mail leggings, pulling the armor gently out from the snapped arrow before pulling them down to around his knees.  He grunts and lays back nauseated as he realizes that his underclothes are stained red from mid-leg to his knee, the snapped off shaft embedded to just under the skin, tweaking him painfully even as he sees it.  "No worries boss, I've got this."  Rodrickson states, pulling down the cloth pants so he can take a look at the actual injury.  It takes little more than a few moments, a second of exquisite discomfort as the arrowhead is removed but the wound settles out with the bleeding stopped in only a few minutes.  Pieces of the now blood-drenched pants were cut off to make the bandage, but Giles supposed he couldn't be too picky to salvage clothes that were likely never going to look the same anyway.

"Well."  Edenburg states as Giles pulls back up his armor and tests his wounded limb to his satisfaction.  "There's good news and bad news I guess."  He rubs the stubble on his face with his palm as he holds up a small satchel that one of the men had been carrying.  "They had some food, enough for a little bit anyway.  So we won't starve for the near term.  Found a bit of that money we found in the caves too.  However, that one over there isn't dead, he's still breathing but bleeding in buckets, I'm not sure he'll last if someone doesn't help him out, get him to shelter and feed him and whatnot.  This one,"  He motions towards the man still rolling around in agony.  "Ain't fit to be moved nowhere...  I imagine the moment we try and pull him out of here he's going to either pass out or worse.  I'd say if we want anything from them, we better get it soon unless we are prepared to litter them back to the fort."

OOC:  Sorry, I could have included some of that in the last post, but I missed it, so I'm cleaning it up here.  Your wound wasn't bad, but it was just bad enough to cause bleeding, which caused you an additional damage and a decent bit of pain, but you are patched up now.

I'm not entirely sure how to interpret your actions based on the intel from Edenburg.  You mentioned that you wanted to move on, you do have a 'camp' set up less than a mile away, but if you want to go there, please be specific on how you want to transport your captives (or if you want to just leave them here).  Edenburg also still has his trap set a mile or two to the south attempting to find food which you can leave or hang around and check in a few hours if you want to see if it was fruitful.

On the Wazifi men, Edenburg found the following items
Satchel (holds 15 lbs.)
Waterskin (half full)
2 x Knife good quality
Regular Bow
2 Normal Arrows
7 rations
$11 in copper coin
A balanced throwing axe
Leather Armor (punctured in the chest area)
Light leather armor (jacket unserviceable due to horrific slash)

Giles mimicked the motion of Edenburg unwittingly stroking the stubble that had grown and after noticing with irritation that it was lighter and less dense than the other man's, possibly due to a mixed heritage, he stopped and took the spear instead.

"Okay, lets see if we can stop this man from dying too he grunted while limping heavily over to the bleeding man to fix up the wounds as best he can. "We need to stop this bleeding if he'll live he said, more to himself as his hands swept over the man's wounds and added to the gore that was already spread generously across his now red skin.

As he worked, Giles inwardly cursed at focusing his original magic study on the arts of battle rather than something perhaps more utilitarian or even helpful to the world. It seemed to him, as he  waded through blood and felt the shocking sensations of his own torn muscles course through him, that the world seemed to constantly be at war somewhere. There's glory to be had vicariously, when people talk of war and battle and great songs to be sung of heroes passed but those virtuous praises often seemed to be tacked on after the fact. In reality, it was just carnage and having to watch men thrash, scream and slowly fade until they became nothing more than a stain on the mud.

His mind had darkened as he sought to staunch the bleeding and could hear the moans of the other.


"Roderickson, take the water, give him some, and see if you can find out anything about why they were here. Ask if he knows about the coins and see if you can find anything of a force around these parts. he said in a level tone, knowing that only Roderickson would be able to communicate with the fallen men. Pausing a moment he continued "... if you can get him to settle a little, that is.

Edenburg, we will need to camp soon, and we will need to rest and eat. You each take 2 rations, and I'll take one. The others we will save - we will need to find a place to camp and check our traps, and even make sure that there aren't any more Wazifi in this area.

He finished speaking, leaned back onto his haunches and wiped his brow with a sleeve that turned out to be soaked in three men's blood. Giles gave a deep sigh, and then rose to his feet.






First aid - 05:51, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 9 using 3d6.  First Aid.

Btw, the helping of the fallen men I think is just an expression of Giles's code of honour as well as his charitable nature.

Yea, the camping thing was just me misunderstanding the details of the situation.

Ultimately the goals are, in aa general sense:

- make sure the Wazifi don't die
- make sure the area is safe
- ensure we have a place to recover/rest/etc.
- question the Wazifi about their location and any acitivites in the area/etc. (obviously before they die if the wounds are too great)


This message was last edited by the GM at 18:26, Wed 29 Nov 2017.

Giles gives a few directions and then gets to work on the other Wazifi.  Using a knife, he cuts away the man's jacket and shirt, exposing the gruesome wound across his chest and his still bleeding cut across his arm that he had sustained from their brief scuffle before Rodrickson had arrived with the horses.  Giles washes both wounds off with water, frowning with concern as the blood continues to churn out of the axe wound at an alarming rate.  He tears a few patches of the shirt material away, placing one on top of the next to cover the cut and watches as the blot of crimson continues to soak through each layer.  As he uses his last patch, Giles cuts away at the backing of the jacket, making a similar large bandage to place on top.

Over his shoulder, Giles can hear Rodrickson jabbering on in Arabic, and by the sound of it is not making much progress as his sentences are becoming shorter and his tone more agitated.  Giles chuckles to himself lightly, thankful that he is tending to the man that can't resist.

With a few last modifications, using strips of leather to tie to his thicker bandage, Giles wraps the impromptu instrument around the man and ties it tightly, again content in his work.

When at last Giles stands, Rodrickson is doing the same, though he seems to be giving up in frustration.

"He's not really cooperating."  Rodrickson says, turning towards Giles.  "When I asked him what his name was, his response loosely translates to 'fuck you'.  Needless to say he didn't answer anything about where he was from, or the money.  What he did say was that someone named Haj Umr was going to kill us, kill us all... and I think he was talking about everyone at the fort, or maybe just everyone in Megalos.  When I asked him about who that was, or where he was or what particular manner of killing we were talking about he just repeated he was going to kill us all or cursed at me a lot.  I'm not sure if these were the guys we were looking for, but I can't imagine that the guys would be much more hostile than he is proving to be."

"We could take them prisoner back at the fort sarge."  Edenburg offers from a few strides away.  I'm sure their tongues will loosen up when they have a few days to mull over their options...  Besides,"  He adds after a moment of thought.  "It might not be a good idea to let them back to their village and tell everybody that there are three soldiers lurking about what with their condition and all - probably would make us out to be bad guys and all."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:23, Wed 29 Nov 2017.

Giles brushed his light stubble again with a stroke of his hand as he stood, inwardly considering the options. Again he realised that he may have just smeared his own face with blood and let out a small hiss of annoyance.

It did seem likely that returning them to any of the Wazifi villages would result in their own swift demise, especially if they leaned towards similar levels of animosity to the foreigners. He also didn't like the idea of turning over the Wazifi to the Megalan army. Despite knowing their commander to have some degree of good character Giles couldn't be sure what method of information extraction would be emplyed. The though of what might happen left an uneasey feeling in his gut.

Looking at Edenburg the man leaned heavily on the spear and answered "We'll see what happens  with them. At the moment we'll keep them close to avoid letting them die.

We're already the bad guys here, but the point is good. For now we'll keep them with us.
He took a step or two, and then forced himselfg to walk more upright and striding, despite the shocks of pain that seared through his leg. Patting Roderickson, he indicated he should follow, and then moved over to the cursing Wazifi.

Giles looked down at the man and then kneeled beside, laying a hand firmly but without an over exersion of force and locking his eyes on the man. His voice calm he spoke directly to the man (hoping that Roderickson will just trnaslate in the background) "Settle down now. Save your energy for recovery", leaving it a moment for the words to sinkin in Giles then spoke again.

"Whatever the wishes of your man, Haj Umr, none will be dying today. But understand that his wish to wage war with us will have to be answered for. And I'll be the one to whom he answers. he said, his almost gentle calm voice spoke.

After giving the man a few moments to reply, Giles then stood up and walked towards his men and said "Lets go find a place to camp. Edenburg, can you check the traps? and lets see if we're able to find something to build a litter with




Alright, so, giles is going to try and talk to the guy.

He was very conscious about what he said and how he spoke. If they understand Anglish, then they might realise that he's perhaps 'an honourable' man who won't just slaughter the dying - which might earn him credit.

Also when speaking to the cursing Wazifi, he is very purposeful in his intent. Calm and undisturbed by the man's thrashing insults and threats - I guess it's to show that there's no fear of whatever retribution they're planning (though, at present there's no fear anyway, they are the victors) - and when he spoke he said it with enough authority to make it seem that 'life and death' are his choice currently.

"Your man Haj Umr" is to prompt a counter if he isn't just one of their leaders. And the implication is that 'just a man' will fail to him. It's a kind of ploy to see if the man's pride or loyalty will provide more information. But it's also supposedly building the air of  power for himself to the man. Like "you won't even get through me - I decide whether people will go to war and I decide whether I allow your leadeer to kill anyone"

Perhaps it's an intimidation roll? ?Not sure exactly if that's even needed, possibly get a bonus for the Charisma? And/or Bonus for the 'threat of violence'.

20:21, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 11 using 3d6.  Intimidation maybe?

Giles stoops down to talk to the single conscious Wazifi and it becomes apparent quickly that the man does not know Anglish, at least not well enough to hold a conversation.  Rodrickson steps in to interpret and the man's reaction is swift.

He spits on the ground next to him, and looks Giles back in the eye, sitting up with effort.  "[Language unknown: llnd Pero naai ekwer ersnceint to ughut.  Men urec langne po erio, nccon le evlena ng ith omprwe.  Ee any ndai iondi ta sonantlin reas itany ee tidipe t oured ter con.]"

Rodrickson is quiet for the moment following, his face wrinkled with concern.  "He said that Haj Umr would feed you to demons, sarge.  That he would send your corpse to kill others...  Sarge, I think this guy's a necromancer."

Though Giles takes the words seriously, he knows regardless of what the man says, there is still much the group of three must do.  Edenburg and Giles construct a makeshift litter after using some of their own equipment and braiding some of the remaining torn leather from the man's jacket.  Though it is by no means the finest of medical equipment, it will do the job of transporting the unconscious man back to their camp.

After perhaps an hour, start the slow trek back to their equipment, deciding that this patch of high ground is as good as any to place their camp for the evening.  Edenburg suggests that since the animals are most active at dawn and dusk, their best bet for the traps will likely be in the morning, though he agrees it can't hurt to check now and see.

Edenburg resaddles his horse and heads southward, returning perhaps fifteen minutes later and confirming that the trap is indeed still empty.  After staging their camp, the second Wazifi stirs to wakefulness, groaning his agony as he writhes slightly in the grasses.

OOC:  It is 1430 on the 10th of December.  Your camp is set up and both of the Wazifi are now awake and seem capable of slight movement (1/2 move/dodge).  Edenburg suggests checking the traps in the morning for the best success.  Each of the three of you took a meal from the rations you purloined and are at least no longer hungry.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:16, Fri 01 Dec 2017.

The man seemed to be devout to their own cause and caused Giles to doubt whether the man could ever achieve a semblance of reason. He also inwardly questioned his reasoning to ensure the man lived - the world didn't need more people like this. But at least, he considered, It has to start somewhere meaning the goodwill between two peoples.

A threat, translated by Roderickson, sent a stream of chills through the once-mage who had felt the brunt of concern for interest in necromantic arts. He certainly felt repulsed at the idea of bringing the walking dead, but had always felt that the magic was a neutral tool rather than an inherant evil; that there might be utility in its teachings had occurred to Giles more than once, but there was little argument he could bring against one who sought to raise rotting corpses, shades of who they once were, to feed and maim and corrupt life in such a terrible way.

Giles smiled at the Wazifi and casually mentioned, as he stood Better men have tried. and then walked away to Roderickson.

He lead his men away from the wounded Wazifi and then stood, looking out southbound across the plain, contemplative and thoughtful. "Set the camp, I need to think on this he said as he went to retrieve Cutlass.

Losing thought for a moment, focussing on the horse, was a great way to hold back the tides of anxiety that had been riding with him since the captain had suggested a possible attack against Megalos. He'd never really had chance to learn how to properly care for horses, but as he stood beside Cutlass, looking into the animal's deep dark black and chesnut eyes, he felt some level of empathy for the creature. Speaking softly and soothing, he looked through the knapsack for something it might eat and then offered it gently, stroking and feeling its presence.

A necromancer. Feeding us to demons. Rather than a necromancer proper, could it be a man who had made pact with darker forces and in return be granted power over the dead?

I think that such a person would perhaps be beyond any form of reason, and if they were even capable of considering it a leash that rested upon them would prevent such diplomacy.


Sitting round the camp fire Giles finally spoke "The importance of this mission has increased, if the enemy force employs darker powers. And we will be the van in the conflict, I feel, but if Roderickson's suspicions are true, then irrelevant of politics or posturing, it is a force that we must deal with to its finality. he said, looking into the fire.  Taking a minute or two to let the words sink in to their full meaning, he added.

"Life before death."




I'm deeply sorry for stealing the line so obviously from this. But a good book  to read (that i've just finished): 'The Stormlight Archives'

# the first ideal
http://stormlightarchive.wikia...wiki/Knights_Radiant

Makes it fun, a little.



Actions are below. Obviously, this is kind of going from 'specific' to 'general' actions. But I'll play off the next update.
Actions:

- Camp
- Get Edenburg to see if he can find tracks of others (scouting/tracking) that might be with the Wazifi
- Rest
- Eat
- Check the traps
- Take the litter and move towards the foothills that we found the harpies in - continue with the plan.

This message was last edited by the player at 16:18, Fri 01 Dec 2017.

Giles simmers on the man's comments for a moment, but it seems their path from this point is clear.  The necromancer, regardless of it's association with the militant group using the medusa head emblem has now become the priority.

Still, the three men have only recently had their first meal of the day and the status of their next is likely in question.  Their march to the fort is a day long in even the best of conditions and if they are taking the prisoners with them it likely means they will be delayed beyond that timeline.  Besides, their prisoners were freshly injured and in serious condition and walking was likely not even possible until at least a little healing had happened.  Giles decided that their best options were to bed down here for the night to give some time for their traps - hopefully resulting in a boon good enough to tide them over until they could make the fort.  Then from there they would go back to the foothills where they had found the medusa lair to look for more clues.

Informing the others of his plan, the rest of the day passes swiftly, Edenburg scouring the area for tracks, of which he finds little, Rodrickson scouring the area for firewood, and Giles setting up the last pieces of the camp as he keeps an eye on the two prisoners.  The two men lay on blankets from the soldiers, provided by Giles.  They stir restlessly, though their bandages do not bleed through and it seems that even if they will not recover quickly, they will not likely die quickly either.

And on passes the afternoon and into the evening.  The smattering of clouds in the sky roll along into the dusk, flashing orange and purple as the sun sets behind the hillsides.  If Giles is thankful of one thing, it is that the temperature does not drop as it had the previous two nights and even as the darkness falls, the air only cools relieving any concern that their two prisoners might freeze without their own tent.

The three soldiers choose their watch, Giles first, Rodrickson second, and Edenburg third, and the two later shifts move into their tent early, hoping to be well rested for the next day.

The hours pass slowly.  The two men beside him stir restlessly, likely finding little and troubled sleep.  From within the small three-man the sounds the light snores of Rodrickson.  The sound rolls over and over in the night, a background noise that soothes him as he waits for his time for shift change...

Giles sits bolt upright.  Somewhere over the noise of the Rodrickson's breathing a low and guttural growl breaks.  Beside him, one of the Wazifi men pulls himself to one elbow slowly and gibbering under his breath as he rubs the sleep from his eye.

OOC:  It is 2300 on the 10th of December.  The growl you heard is low and bestial, likely from a large animal but you can't see anything yet.  You do not have a fire going at the moment, favoring to save the wood for the case where Edenburg's traps are successful.  One of the Wazifis is awake (the bigger of the two, the one that Rodrickson interrogated), the other seems to be still sleeping.  Both Rodrickson and Edenburg seem to be asleep.

Ah, what an interesting turn of events. Chasing phantoms and finding monsters and now shifting ourselves to those that stalk the night on four legs Giles thought wrly as he automatically reached for the sword.  Nudging the side of the three man tent forcefully to wake the other two, Giles twists into a half-kneeling position.

It was an interesting metaphor that he wasn't able to fully correlate to his life yet, but here he was clutching at a borrowed weapon, injured badly for the second time and about to head into the unknown against the real and present dangers of the night.

He idly itched the claw marks that crissed across his face and raised his blade into a ready position.

"Well hello there! he said through the rhythm of the drum beat in his chest. He didn't know why, but perhaps it was to counter the anxiety he felt from being alone in the dark. (OOC: great game btw).

GM Edit to reflect Giles was already outside the tent
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:28, Wed 06 Dec 2017.

At the slap of the side of the tent, Giles hears surprised grunts and a scurry of movement, it seems that at least one of the men had woken and was alert enough to be readying themselves.  The other Wazifi man has seemed to awake as well, and the two foreigners are now talking to each other in hushed and frantic voices.

As for Giles, he knows that there is little to be had from panicking and he instead directs his attention to those things he can affect.  To his right, the horses paw restlessly at the ground, and Cutlass shakes his with a whiny and a nicker.  In their situation of limited resources and features on the plains, Giles had simply tied the horses together the previous night in the hope that if they roamed somewhere, at least they wouldn't be spread all over the plains.  The same prospect was likely now, if the horses took off from fear, at least Giles would only they would only have to chase one group instead of three.

Giles scans back to his left, down the slope of the hill and sees twin orbs of reflected light in the darkness, some two feet off the ground.  Whatever it is that stalks them is likely large if it stands on four feet, or tiny if it stands on two.

OOC:  The two Wazifi men are still prone and jabbering fearfully.  Edenburg and Rodrickson are starting to make their way out of the tent.  Edenburg first.  You would guess that the thing is some twenty yards away but it is difficult to tell.  You have no light source as of now and the lighting penalty is at -7 due to the dim light of the moon and the partial cloud cover.

Those dark orbs glowing, bestial and animal like. Through quick accounting, Giles tried to hold back his instincts of fear and anxiety by accounting everything that could have been stalking them, but his own mind failed as he glared right at the eyes and felt the world fall away from him.

The dark was complete and all that seemed to exist was he and the animal to which those eyes belonged. But it was a night stalker, and seemed to rely on stealth.

"We need light" he called out to Edenburg and Roderickson.

As he stepped forward, uttering some words in an odd tongue Giles looked out, pointedly ignoring the Wazifi and focussed all his attention on the beast.



Description to you GM:


All out defence(double)

Giles racks his mind for the best way to defeat or scare off their intruder and in the end he falls on using his magic a tool which he finds himself practicing less and less.  In his mind the trick will at the very least give the beast reason to pause while his soldiers ready themselves for battle.  Whispering a few words under his breath as he gestures with his off hand, he attempts to make himself seem much more intimidating.

Though the spell itself works, it lacks some of the effect that Giles had hoped.  Instead of his armor gaining a shining halo like a beacon in the night, his outer armor and garments simply change color to a bright white and Giles finds that the effect does not move with him as he shifts.  Instead, there appears to be a disembodied mesh of fluorescent white that simply hangs in the darkness until Giles wills it to move.

"Shit boss!"  Edenburg states as he readies an axe, staring out into the night to catch sight of the tormentor.

Rodrickson digs through his equipment on all fours, cursing foully.

Giles holds onto his sword firmly in his right hand as his eyes scour the darkness.  He hears another growl and turns his head wildly, catching sight of a brownish form slinking through the night on all fours.  Though Giles hails from the north, he has seen enough cats and heard enough stories about the Emperor's forest of ferocious game to recognize a lion when he sees one.

The beast simply slinks around Giles in a clockwise fashion, his eyes focused on Giles intently.

Lion!

It never worked, his training was too little. Instead a phantom of himself, a shade, appeared bright white and stayed in place as he naturally moved around the Lion. Fuck he thought to himself, really surprised at his own crude term, but the situation called for it.

Wishing he had a shield, Giles circled around to position himself between the wounded and the beast, thinking that his allies would be capable of holding it off with their own spears. Though he didn't want to be too far away so that help could not move either way, if needed.  Giles casually wondered why he might fight to hold a beast off these people that were clearly the enemy, hated  him, and wanted him dead - he didn't know exactly, but it felt right and so he did it.

"Here kitty kitty, why don't you run on along now, little kitty... he said to the cat as it prowled around him. Levity appeared a good way to help release his own tension and reduce the stiffness that he felt before engaging. A man could fight with nervousness, but tension would be the end of them.

Shit Boss! came the words, but at this stage Giles was entirely focussed on the creature, hoping to react quickly to any of its attacks and attempting to draw its attention.






Actions: Defensive stance (defensive grip sword please, for +1 to defence)
Evaluate for as long as possible
All out defence(double)


Ah, i've been trying to figure out ways to use the magic in a way that didn't make him a vulgar wizard but also retained some of the investment i'd put into it.  At the moment he's a little crippledby the 25 or so points that he's got in something he doesn't really use - i mean it makes sense for the flavour, but I just wanted to make something of it. I guess it's one of those things that might just come with a bit of time :)

I appreciate that this might not be the perfect solution

For several moments, Giles watches the beast circle, its eyes glowing like the embers of a fire in the darkness.  Giles is sure the thing is staring right at him and he brandishes his sword as a warning for the cat lest he get any threatening ideas.  However, with the lack of light, Giles wonders if all his bluster isn't just for show.

It is that thought perhaps that gives the lion enough confidence to pounce, lurching out from his position in the night with a growl, covering what seems to be twenty yards in only a few short leaps!  Giles steps back to counter the blow, but in the last second he realizes that the beast is not charging for him, but for one of his downed prisoners!  The two men scream at the top of their lungs, as the cat leaps forward, far overshooting his mark as his shoulders droop forward to the ground in an effort to pause his momentum.

The sudden appearance of the predator in their midst causes chaos amongst the group.  One of the Wazifi men, barely saved from his body being torn to shreds shrieks again as he pushes himself back and to his feet, turning his back to the lion as he seeks to flee at top speed!  The other Wazifi man scrambles backwards with his feet and hands, sending a spray of vomit on his crotch and legs as he pushes himself backwards.  Likewise the horses' fear gets the better of them and Cutlass rears before bolting off into the night.  Rodrickson's filly seems unprepared for the movements, and the horse's face jerks forward harshly as the rope holding them together goes taught and the girl is pulled off her front legs, though miraculously she makes it back to her feet and the three bolt off into the night together.

Rodrickson, the lantern still not prepared and lit, turns and stands in an en guard position, the useless iron and glass item hoisted in one hand.

OOC:  Ok, I stopped the first turn of combat halfway through and these are the rough results.  Wazifi 1 (the one slashed through the chest) is horrorstruck and vomiting all over himself only 1 yard away from the lion, though it doesn't look like he is prepared to do anything to protect himself.  Wazifi 2 has made his way to his feet and is running away (though slowly, due to his injuries).  The horses failed their fright check and bolted, with one of them being injured, though luckily not enough to break a leg.  You and Edenburg are left to act.   The lion is 2 yards away from you on your left hand side.  Your sword is ready in your right hand.  Edenburg is on your right hand side, about 3 yards away from the lion.  As a reminder, vision is a -7 penalty due to darkness.  Give me only 1 round of combat.

Three heart beats. It took all three for the spike of shame to follow the wash of relief that he felt when the lion pounced for the other man. In that moment there was too much to take in, and Giles was only vaguely aware of the whinny of the horses and the screaming of the man, it seemed that the centre of existence focussed on the shadow coloured beast that began to savage the helpless Wazifi.

Four heartbeats later, pity took centre stage as the vomitting and helpless man shuffled as best he could away from the animal's maw - he had no chance. Each emotion washed through the soldier in waves but the heat of the moment, its intensity quickly burned away the excess as quickly as it came.

Stepping to the side, to face it directly,  and cursing with the added weight on his wounded leg he called out to Edenburg "Stay close! You attack, I defend" it was all he could get out in the moment. But Giles had positioned himself to interpose his own body with Edenburgs, giving the other man better opportunity to focus on the attack, while he himself prepared against  those glowing feline eyes turning attention towards them.




Actions:

- 1 step (face the lion, roughly half body/shoulder to shoulder with edenburg, and slightly infront)

- All out defence(double), (defensive grip)

The idea is that Giles will be closer to the animal than edenburg, by a fraction, and so if it devides to attack them, it should go for Giles, giving Edenburg the opportunity to attack more freely.

Does edenburg have a spear?

I dont think I ever mentioned explicitly it, and I guess maybe it would be an issue to do now, but would it be possible after the adventure to just switch Giles to being fully left-handed?

I usually make characters that are. It's not a big thing, just usually some flavour. But if it's alright, then that'd be great

"Got it sarge!"  Edenburg responds as Giles takes a step towards the beast, his sword brandished in front of him.  Edenburg takes a step forward, his axe carving a savage arc towards the beast.  Unfortunately for the three soldiers, the darkness of the night makes hitting the thing difficult despite its size and the swing goes wide.  Despite Giles's fears for the downed and useless Wazifi soldier, the beast leaps back into the night and out of range before turning to face the one man fleeing from the group.  It is a mere bound for the massive beast that puts him on the man, his forepaws bared and his whole body airborne as he catches the man at his side.

The Wazifi barely seems to see the thing before it is upon him, and though he staggers one way with a scream, he never had any real chance to evade the blow.  The man is sent into a spin, by the grace of some miracle keeping his feet.  However the man now finds himself squared with the beast, who has forsaken the others in the group for this one man on his own.

"[Language unknown: Any o!]"  The man screams at the top of his lungs, his hands pushed in front of him as he stumbles backwards.

OOC:  Two rounds of action please.  The lion is about 6 yards away from you, facing away.  Edenburg is a step ahead of you and on your left.  The Wazifi is another yard beyond the lion, facing toward you and retreating.

Edenburg is carrying his axe.  Rodrickson now has dropped the unlit lantern from his left hand, and is trying to light it again, his spear is also at his feet.

Giles cursed again at the Lion's elusiveness and then called out to Roderickson and Edenburg "Get the light! We'll go after them and see if we can save the other one too."

Before pushing out into the night, the half-elven sergeant took a sidewards glance at the man who had suffered maiming by the beast already and inwardly wondered whether he'd survive the encounter, especially with their focus diverted by the immediacy of the cat's threat. Unlikely, given his already poor health, but it is life.

"Come! he shouted to the group as he kicked up his heels and headed out to catch up with the other Wazifi and assailant. The going was hard and each movement was arduous through the pain caused by his own injury, but he gritted teeth and pushed on.

OOC:

Actions:

I guess we'll wait a moment for ROderickson to light the lantern, and then push out towards the beast. I expect we won't get there in time, but  it's worth taking the extra time for the light.

Same plan though, one light, one attacking and one defending.

Giles will be all out defending.

Giles holds in his attack as Rodrickson strikes the lantern.  Several moments it takes, all the while Giles can hear screams from the fled Wazifi.  The lion roars, and Giles can see the beast rear up at the edges of his vision, knocking the Wazifi down into silence.

"Got it!"  Rodrickson finally calls as the lantern flares to life and he holds it overhead as he grasps his spear with his other hand.

Light spills out in front of them, clearly illuminating the scene for the first time.  Some 10 yards away the Wazifi man lays prone and silent, blood spilled all over his body again.  The lion crouches, mouth closed about the man's shoulder as he drags the man backwards, leaving a trail of bloodied grass stalks.

The animal snarls as the light spills across it, his focus drawn to the light for a moment as he ceases his movement.

Giles pushes out a few steps, Rodrickson and Edenburg moving with him though slightly behind.  The lion snarls ferociously, dropping his kill for the moment as he stares down his attackers, each waiting for the others to strike.

"[Language unknown: A acoul ticourers for!]"  The second Wazifi man cries from behind them.

OOC:  It looks for the moment like the lion is willing to back off if you leave him with his kill (the first Wazifi - the dude that was an asshole when you questioned him).  I'm not suggesting you do that, but just giving you the option before going in for the attack.  Light penalty has been reduced to 0 within 3 yards and is good enough to see where the beast is reliably within 20.

It all seemed to go in exactly the direction Giles didn't want, but he supposed, with resignation, that was how things happen sometimes.

As the lion swiped and stomped on the man and his screams went quiet, Giles felt an odd sensation inside as he realised that death had likely come. The lion had caught its prey and the man slowed to a stop oncehe caguth a glimpse of the glowing yellow eyes in the dark. With its maw wrapped around the body, the lion had won.

"Hold,

What did he say?" he asked after standing a moment




Hey, sorry for the relatively short post. Just need to get the update on the other guy

Unsure of whether to advance or not, Giles calls for his companions to hold, and directs his question to Rodrickson, the only of their party that was able to speak Arabic.

"He said that the lion had killed him..."  Rodrickson breathes, his eyes wide and the lantern held high, trying to cast the light as far as possible.

Edenburg drops his axe and dives into his gear to grab his bow and quiver, rapidly throwing it over his shoulder as the arrows clatter together.

"[Language unknown:  Vir korus!  Enosnd chrial ha!]"  The Wazifi man screams again clamoring his way back to his knees.  "[Language unknown:  Day iv pe eeom!  No user ngort onsdi.]"  But even this effort causes the man to double over in pain.

"He wants to fight it."  Rodrickson says without being prompted this time.  "He says to give him a bow...  I think it's obvious to caution against that."

Meanwhile, the glowing embers of the lions eyes slowly recede into the darkness as Giles can hear the slinking rustle of disturbed grass.

OOC:  Only a few more moments have passed.  Rodrickson has the lantern ready with his spear in hand.  Edenburg now has a Bow ready in his left hand with the quiver secured over his right shoulder.  Giles has his sword ready in his right hand.  The lion is slowly retreating, dragging the body as he does so and has now made it to 15 yards away.  If you wish to continue the combat, give me 3 rounds, otherwise give me your general intentions.

Cursing again under his breath Giles waved a hand of dismissal at the man lying prone on the floor, having suffered a rather hideous set of wounds in the last day. "Tell him, I applaud his resolve to fight off the creature but he's not in a position to be killing it. It's over for now.

Roderickson, keep an eye out. I'm not letting anyone run off into the night to chase down a hungry beast. It's unfortunate, but it'll eat and probably be satisfied. The dark is no place to put ourselves against that, for now. he said, hoping inwardly that what he said was true. If the beast had chosen to kill for fun rather than feeding itself then the night could be a very long one.

"Edenburg, go get the horses with Roderickson and then get that fire stoked to keep our little piece of nowhere nice and bright"

Giles put his sword away and then went over to theman that was still alive and began to inspect the wounds, offering a placating gesture before squatting down neext to him.




Disengage from combat. The gambit is that the lion will basically just take its kill and bugger off for the evening. Once the day comes, it'll be worthwhile re-evaluating our situation.

Giles will take first guard after that.

It is an exhausted Giles that, in the end, decides letting a single of their captive enemy go was far better than to test their luck against a predator in the night.  After a short pause to ensure that the lion was indeed gone, Giles sets Edenburg and Rodrickson to find the horses and tasks himself with ensuring no further damage is done to their one remaining captive.

Giles finds that the man is uninjured (at least beyond the injuries he sustained in the previous day) and checks the bandages to ensure that they are not bleeding further.  The task is difficult without much light (for Edenburg and Rodrickson had taken the lantern to go and fetch the horses) but Giles manages well enough, and thirty minutes later as he is leaning back from his work as he sees the light of the lantern approaching from the distance, accompanied by the sounds of clomping hooves.

"Found 'em!"  Edenburg's voice carries from beyond the lantern in a jubilant mood.  "They wandered off south back where we came from a bit... it was so close I figured we might as well check my trap, and look!"

Giles can't help himself from smiling as the lantern shines back on Edenburg, who has an antelope slung over his shoulders.  Though the beast is smaller than most wild game, probably only a hundred pounds or less, Giles knows the thing will at the least keep them fed for long enough to make the fort.  "The thing was going crazy, yanking the trap this way and that as he was screaming!  We're lucky we looked now or otherwise he probably would have been taken out by some roaming predators as well!"

With little question that none of the men have much interest in going back to sleep, Rodrickson starts building a fire as Edenburg skins and filets the meat to get it ready to cook.  Meanwhile, their sole prisoner lays quietly, undoubtedly awake as well, though he makes no attempts to move or speak.

The night passes slowly, Giles offers the first watch but each Rodrickson and Edenburg admit to being too worked up from the encounter to sleep.  As Edenburg puts as much of the meat as he can on the fire to cook he makes the same offer, to stay up with the meat until it's ready.  Eventually, Giles makes his own attempt to get some sleep and manages after a time to drift into an easy sleep.

As the morning breaks, the three men find themselves with much improved spirits despite their tiredness.  They are now stocked with food to complete their trip, all survived the lion attack of the previous night and despite the doubt of whether or not they would have been able to fend it off from killing all of them, there are undoubtedly benefits to having one less captive.  Firstly, now they only have to let the one man ride, rather than both of them as they were both too injured to walk.  Secondly, the remaining captive seemed much subdued after the altercation, with no interest in fighting or continuing his hostile attitude in his battered state.

After a quick meal, the four set off, Rodrickson and Giles riding as the Wazifi is carried in a makeshift stretcher supported by Edenburg's horse as Edenburg leads the animal on.

As luck would have it, the three men come across the carcass of their other prisoner, torn to pieces and largely devoured with the open wounds and intestines supporting a host of flies.  Without any real equipment to bury the body but feeling somewhat responsible nevertheless, Giles takes the better of an hour for the three men to dig up enough dirt using axe and sword to at least put the man in a shallow grave.  All the while, their living captor looks on with a stoic silence.

As the daylight falls to afternoon, the three men find themselves at the river Makarem once again.  The waters swish along at a moderate pace, causing eddies by the shorelines.  Remembering the swim across previously on the trip, Giles is wary of sending a badly injured man either to ford it, or worse yet to swim, but he is not sure entirely what other options he has.

OOC:  I took some liberties to speed things along.  Feel free to post through your actions of the previous night or the morning, but I'm not going to go back and change what happened.  You managed to get most of a full night's sleep (down 1 fatigue) but you have restocked your rations enough to get all four of you back to the fort without missing any more meals.  Your last obstacle looks to be the Makarem, which is certain to be difficult for the injured Wazifi if not everyone else.  If you plan to ford it again, let me know exactly how you plan to do it (Wazifi riding, tied to the stirrups, having someone else ride across first and pulling the stretcher across on a rope, whatever.  If you plan to ford, make a roll against riding.  You may spend a hero point to reroll if you don't like the results.  I'll make the rolls for all the other NPCs once you let me know how you are going to attack it.

"Good work, lads" he complemented the man after returning and ate heartily.


The world gives everything to a man and the world will burn a man to ashes in its own way. Everything is a roll of the dice and people, just try to tilt them to land more favourably. It's the condition of people, trying to build themselves into a thing capable of moving odds in their favour rather than being a leaf blowing to the name of the wind. Unfortunately, the one Wazifi had a bad set of dice; such is life Giles thought philosophically as they buried the man.

Still, it was hard to feel too much sorrow for a man that had tried to kill him, and with his belly full and the spirits of his men improved, Giles had ridden with a wide smile for the whole day.

"Leave some food and water with him, so he can eat and drink as he wishes the sergeant had said as they strapped their injured captive to the makeshift litter. The man seemed subdued now and the previous night had not been able to help patting the man's shoulder with a comforting gesture to indicate his empathy at the loss of the man's friend.

The remainder of their trip to the river was spent mostly with GIles keeping to himself, running through a series of thoughts and scenarios about what they'd discovered and trying to think of a good solution. A threat to Raphael proper would have to be dealt with, and something that dealt with the darkest of arts was an additional worry. He himself had relatively little knowledge of necromancy, failing to really make headway into the field at the academy, but the things he did know  caused shivers to run up and down his spine. Picturing a dead man walking made Giles want to vomit.

After thinking for sometime Giles asked his men "Do either of you know anything of magic? Do you know what necromancy is? he suspected they had even less knowlege than he, but still would be aware of its terrible power.

---

Now the time was upon them, before cresting the small hillock in the earth, Giles could hear the gurgling of the river. It's pitched white noise sound was distinctive and the man had never felt so much apprehension about the approach of a river. They had been lucky last time in that they'd just lost a spear but the crossing had been precarious at best. Now it would be harder, even if they didn't have to take the Wazifi across in his injured state Giles himself was injured and tired from their excursion.

"Is there anywhere better to cross the river?" he asked the Wazifi, hoping that he might be more forthcoming with helpful information, but Giles didn't hold his breath for any support. Instead, he quickly turned to the others "Do we have any rope? We could tie it around us all and then cross. If any of us fall to the water, the strength of the others, on horseback could hold the third.
he asked.

Either way, he would push out first and make the crossing, it was something his father had once told him. "Never ask your men to do something you wouldn't do yourself". And so he kicked Cutlass and edged him cautiously into the water.



OOC: Cross the river,

if possible then we can tie around the waist of each man, so if any fall the others can bear the weight.

19:04, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 13 using 3d6.  riding.
- I guess i need to really use that HP

->19:05, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 3 using 3d6.  hp riding 3.
19:05, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 15 using 3d6.  HP riding 2.
19:05, Today: Giles 'J'naeth' Hind rolled 9 using 3d6.  HP riding 1.
// Critical Success

As expected, the Wazifi knows little of river crossings (for they do not often wander into Megalan land).  Knowing that they will have to cross the river in one way or another and unwilling to waste time, Giles takes the length of their rope, tying a bit of the cordage to each of himself, the Wazifi and Rodrickson at the end.  It is decided that Rodrickson will put the prisoner on his horse, both because Rodrickson is the lightest and because Edenburg is the more experienced rider and swimmer and there is not enough rope to secure all four of them.

And so the four men charge into the waters, Giles first, Rodrickson and their prisoner next, tied on to Giles with their length of rope.  Edenburg follows last, unsecured to the others, though highly confident in his ability to make the far shore.

As Giles presses his horse forward, it is apparent early that this stretch of the river is deeper than where they had previously crossed.  He has not yet made the middle of the river and the waters climb up to his horses flank, it's shoulder...  Giles shivers as the frigid water seeps into his boots and skirts around his lower back.  For a moment he thinks about turning back and finding another spot to cross but he is far too committed now, turning around would likely only entangle them in the waters further.  As the water climbs to the horse's neck, Giles prepares himself for the inevitable, slipping his bottom from the saddle, gripping onto the saddle horn as he kicks with his feet to ease the burden on Cutlass who by now is swimming as well.

The moment is short lived, and Giles pulls himself back up to the saddle, though a scream behind him pulls his attention over his shoulder.

Rodrickson and the Wazifi have been pulled from their horse, Rodrickson pushing downward with his arms, just keeping his head above water, though the Wazifi seems to be faring far worse.  His arms flap wildly over his head ineffectually and his head breaks the surface for only a moment at a time before returning back under the surface.  Giles feels the rope go taught at his waist as the rope pulls the two men downriver but closer to abreast of Giles than aft.

OOC:  Rodrickson seems to be holding his own, but the Wazifi is definitely drowning at the moment.  Nice work on your use of your hero point, your subsequent crit success earns you another to replace it and you won't need to make any further riding rolls as you cross.  Due to your crit success in riding (and lack of any points in swimming not to mention your encumbrance) it is highly encouraged that you not attempt to try and save the two by getting off your horse, but you may try and pull them towards you with a ST-2 roll.  Otherwise you may simply try and gain the opposite bank as quickly as possible and pull them in from there (which would allow you the full use of both arms and the removal of the modifier).  Both Edenburg and Rodrickson's horse seems to be fairing fine at this point behind you.

Giles' anxiety was apparent, but he didn't show it as he stepped Cutlass deeper into the water. For a moment he felt the horse had lost its footing and felt a bobbing of the horse. A surge in panic was quickly evaporated once he felt the thump of its feet on the ground again and begun to emerge from the water.

Phew he thought inwardly. Each time he'd crossed this place the man had put his lack of swimming ability to the back of his mind. Perhaps it was foolish so near a river, or when he'd grown up so near the sea. Either way, the relief washed over him as Cutlass brought him up onto the bank of the other.

"Damn" he called out, exlaiming when he heard the other mean shout as they were swept off their horse and down into the cold river. Thinking quickly, he took the back of his rope and yanked on it, to pull up the slack, before looping it twice around Cutlasses' saddle horn. Then, he turned Cutlass at an angle away from them and kicked him into a canter. "Come on, boy he said patting the horse as he pushed it to motion, hoping that the large horse would at least pull the others to the shallows at the side of the river, even if not out completely. As he did it, he leaned down into the saddle and held onto the creature with all his might, hoping to reduce any leverage on his own waist.

Never easy.... the thought flashed though his mind .


OOC: OKay, he's going to try and wrap the rope around cutlass's saddle horn and turn the horse directly away from the flow (the strongest direction). The goal is to use the horse's strength too in helping pull them to the side. If they're free-floating, even if down river, we should be able to generate enough force to at least pull them slightly off to the side.

Giles grips onto the rope with his right hand, trying to haul in enough slack to circle it around his saddle horn, but the force of the river against the two men is so much that the feat seems nigh impossible.  Dispirited by his failure but not beaten, Giles gives a stern kick to Cutlass’s flanks sending the horse surging forward in the river as he nickers.  The rope rubs painfully against Giles’s waist, though the links of his mail repels most of any real damage.

In a moment, Giles feels his feet clear the water, in another two Cutlass’s belly has cleared the flow.  Giles nudges her onward towards the bank as he spares a glance behind him, where he sees the Wazifi man entirely unconscious, though Rodrickson holds on to the rope with both hands, nudging the man’s head to keep it above water.

As Giles makes the opposite bank he nudges Cutlass onward, keeping the rope taught to ensure the two men make the bank.  And indeed Rodrickson and the Wazifi manage the bank on hands and knees as Rodrickson rolls to his back and the Wazifi stays huddled, his many bandages newly wetted with sodden blood.

”I can’t wait to get back to the fort.”  Rodrickson says miserably as he starts to strip himself of his clothes.

”I’ll second that.”  Edenburg shouts as his mare tromps ashore.  ”Though you really ought to pay some mind to riding Rodrickson, that’s the second time we’ve nearly lost you in the river and I recon you might not have made it if the sarge hadn’t run you ashore!”

---

It is only after another day that the three men ride back into the Fort on Three Corners.  Though the Wazifi man survived his crossing of the river, he is fit for little else than riding in the litter the entire way back.  As the three men make their way in Giles instructs his men to take their prisoner to the infirmary and makes his way straight to the Captain to report.

Giles debrief is thorough and detailed, admitting his own mistakes on foreign soil as well as his modest successes in diplomacy with the border town.  Though Brashear quirks an eyebrow at times, he remains silent for the entirety of Giles’s report, only speaking with the Sergeant is finished.

”Well, I can’t say that’s the way I would have done it.”  Brashear starts simply, though he smiles at Giles.  ”Though I’m impressed with your results.  You’ve found corroborating evidence of our foreign adversary if it is indeed the same one who used the cave you found some weeks ago and you’ve brought back one of his men to boot who will likely be a boon of information.  Though I’m skeptical if this foe is really a Necromancer I suppose we won’t know for sure until we ask our prisoner the right questions.  Thank you Giles for your excellent work.”

”Oh,”  The captain adds as an afterthought, grabbing a parcel at his desk that rattles as he grips it.  ”This came for you.”

Giles grabs first the letter at the front of the package, finding it contains two letters, the first embossed with the Imperial Megalan Seal.

He who sees these presence greetings.  This is to certify that that on this 1st day of December, 2014 Giles 'J'naeth' Hind did earn his commission in the Megalan Army.  From hence forth he shall be Lieutenant Hind and has earned all the rights and privileges there unto.

                                                        R. J. Blackwood
                                                        Adjutant General

Giles shoots a confused glance at the Captain before turning the letter over and looking at the next, which has writing that he recognizes as his father’s.

Giles,
Congratulations on finally finding a worthwhile profession!  Though I am disheartened that the effort was necessary, I have gone through all the necessary actions and petitioned the right people to earn your commission which is included in this message.  You are now a Lieutenant and if you show even a fraction of the skill of your brother I imagine you will be promoted to Captain forthwith!  Your letter finds us well and your mother and I are proud of you, we look forward to seeing you when you make your way back north.  Stay safe, the enclosed gift may help you to that end.

                                                        Love,
                                                        Olegard

”Congratulations, Lieutenant.”  Brashear smiles from across the desk.

OOC:  Congratulations on the successful thread!  Though perhaps not the most safe of techniques, swatting the beehive lightly managed to provoke just enough of a response to get you exactly what you needed.  In game rewards include a promotion to Lieutenant (no increase in point value, though you are now an officer and outrank a sergeant) as well as a fine mail coat which your father sent as a gift in the package.  You will also get bonus CPs and skills which will be sent to you in private.  You may write up a closing post here if you wish.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:56, Thu 25 Jan 2018.

The passing of the river was the their last great hurdle. And once Roderickson had crawled up onto the bank, spluttering, with the unconscious Wazifi by his side, Giles let out a sigh of relief. Rivers shouldn't be so demanding, and in that moment of lucidity he understood why the river was the true mark of a border between Megalos and Wazifi; getting an army across this would require engineering on a much larger scale and would take the longest time.  Bridgebuilders would be very useful though and he made a mental note of those that might be capable of such an undertaking - he would ask Brashear about it when he returned.

"Aye, it's been a long trip and we've encountered more than our fair share of lady luck's scorn. I agree with Edenburg though, when we return to the fort I'll have you assigned to some duties with the horses, you can practice riding.
he said with a grin.

The trip back gave the half-elf soldier some time to think on events and forumlate the time line into something coherant ready for his debreif with the Captain. The trip had been tough and even though he was sore from the riding, fighting and general lack of food, comfort and shelter, Giles couldn't help but break into a wide smile when the fort came into view.

"There she is, whatever grey and unforgiving sentinal she may be, we're home for now. he said in poetic fashion.

---

As they passed through the gate, Giles felt a wash of warm air that mingled with an array of familiar sounds and smells. Clashing iron, weapon oil, food and horses. They all were familiar and the man had a hard time trying to be stoic in his return. Forcing himself to sit  high in the horse and nod at the passing soldiers, acting like a dignified sergeant in the Legion, the man entered and dismounted. He grunted a frustrated sound as he landed on the injured leg, but quickly shifted over and tried not to limp as he walked through the courtyard.

"Get the Wazifi to the infirmary. Post a guard on him, make sure nobody presses him. I'll talk with the Captain about how best to deal with him. he said as he quick-paced, or as quickly as he could, to Brashear's office.

After recounting the tale to Brashear, Giles cocked a grin at the Captain in response to his admission of a difference of opinion on how he was to proceed.

"Mostly, sir, I just tried my best not to cause a war while being determined to find out of any threats to our fort or Raphael. he shuffled from his left foot to his right before continuing.

"Necromancers are uncommon indeed, I find it hard that any civilised society would welcome such arcane practices with open arms. I did, however, really get to see a shade of the animosity their people feel towards Megalos. It's said that necessity knows no law, so maybe they're desperate enough to put trust in such forces in order to secure Raphael and its province from the empire.

As the Captain handed Giles the parcel, he had taken a moment to pause and then add "Also, I do have a request. I understand that the Wazifi in the infirmary may be our enemy but I would sleep better knowing that the information he bears wasn't too.... violently... extracted from him.

If it is not too bold for me to say - If there really is ever to be some level of peace between the Empire and Al Wazif then it would appear to me that the most difficult step is the first taken. And that such a gesture would be taken by the better men. he said with a touch of apprehension to his voice. It was perhaps an unreasonable request to make of a Captain, from a mere sergeant, and perhaps a touch humourous that a man of the Legion - one on the front lines no less - would think to do so. But as they say he thought "Necessity knows no law", or at least only the law borne unto oneself.


Looking down at the sealed letter Giles felt a flash of panic. His expulsion from the academy had come by way of such letter. He took a breath and cracked the seal, opening it to read. An officer he took a moment's pause and then spoke

"Lieutenant... my commission. the news was surprising to say the least, and judging by the skipping of a beat or three in his chest, he would determine great news.

The armour brought a big smile to Giles, it was a fine piece and he laid it down on the table while he read the second letter. Father, always critical and always underestimating Giles, he was his mother's child more than his fathers, but it still didn't sate the hunger he had always felt to prove himself worth of his family. He sighed deeply and then smiled at the mention of his mother.

"My parents wish me well and write to say they're proud of my chosen life.  They gift the armour he said to Brashear to alleviate any curiosity the captain might have. He then added with a wry smile "Maybe it'll help me to avoid getting any more 'pretty' he said in reference to the scars across his face, and wound on his leg.

"... and thank you Captain. You'll not regret having me as an officer. he said simply before clicking his heels to attention, grimacing at the pain in his leg.




Thanks! it was great. the end was quite surprising, but a great one nevertheless. The armour will definitely help him get less wrecked by everything.


Now that I know the outcome, i'll start posting more earnestly in Giles' Journal.


I look forward to the next adventure. If you need ideas, A battle! :) hehe