In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 694):

The Nor says (via Brennan) that one vial is enough to coat a sword or a pair of knives.  The venom, he notes, will remain potent for a long while, but will wipe off fairly easily.  He recommends not relying on it to remain on the blade more than a day or two.

His handshake is firm and quick and at the mention of Fastbender he cocks his head to one side as if remembering something.

(Again via Brennan), he explains that "Fastbender" is similar to the name of a famed lord from Nor, "Facebendeer".  When asked, he will recall little specific, only that the man lord of a family that lived and died out generations ago.

In reply to GM (msg # 695):

Titus smiles.

The same.  He says with a deep bow.

I hope to restore my family name to its former prestige.

He pauses for a moment.

Tell you what... If you are interested in hearing about him, would you be willing to trade a story, a song and a penny for the tattoo kit?  That sounds nicely traditional doesn't it?

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 696):

The merchant listens to Brennan translate the proposal, then makes a face that's as close to a smile as you've ever seen a Nor make.

"I know man name Facebender too," Enrei recalls without further explanation.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 698):

Titus slaps the man on the shoulder, smiles, laughs and responds in kind.


With that Titus turns on a heel cloak flaring out.  Looking every bit the lordling.

Ready whenever you are.

He broadcasts to the rest of the team.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 699):

Brennan nods, waiting until the man is out of earshot to speak or even move with much speed.

"Salzar comes from the west, and heads east toward Thorngate and then to the Long Plain. I wish you had not given him a name for the locals in Thorngate to fixate on. Or those at the Mill, where he is likely to stay. Or the bandits we just escaped from, who know that a certain Lord Fastbender and his men just stole their precious cup."

He gives Titus a severe look.

"I know you want your tale to take hold, but you have to be more careful about where you lay out your hooks. If we tell people you're Fastbender, we must ensure that our actions equate to those appropriate for a man of such a lordly caliber. Else, what will people say about Lord Fastbender? A man displaced, roaming the countryside with his rabble the sew mischief? Have a care, is all I'm saying."

Brennan lowers his voice to Titus.

"I suspect in the future we can EITHER be Brennan's mercenaries OR Lord Fastbender's troupe. We should stick with one or the other until we move to the next town, choosing accordingly. Unless you can find a way for us to convincingly be both at all times. Though... truth be told, I'm not sure either is as much of a deception as it once was."

He beckons Bryce, Enrei, and Deev toward him.

"Salzar warned me that the upcoming towns are not to be trusted. We should set a watch carefully at night, in town or outside of one, and to approach the towns carefully in the first place."

"When we exit these woods, we'll find a small hamlet to the northeast. He advised that we avoid it, for something terrible has befallen it. He wouldn't elaborate, but instead said we should stay on the road east or go southward."

Brennan takes a breath.

"He then said that east in general is fraught with perils -- robbers, raiders, and more. Some towns have been put to the torch. And we can't go back to the west any time soon. Thus, southward is the only safe option."

Brennan looks at Bryce.

"But the northeast is where the witch's hut lies, correct? We'll have little choice if that's the case. And even if it's not, the answers we seek lie far to the north."

He clears his throat softly.

"I would ask your opinions on this matter, because it concerns us all. We should discuss whether we want to explore that hamlet anyway. We are mercenaries, after all, and misfortune for others means coin for us. I would see what has befallen this hamlet. We are uniquely suited to help... and to profit from it. Thoughts?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:51, Fri 15 Jan 2016.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 700):

Titus opens his mouth to refute Brennan's rebuke.



Then shuts it as the full brunt of his logic hits him.  He nods mutely and fiddles with something in his cloak

We should reinforce our roles in the not too distant future.  Let me do some thinking on the point and we'll make some guidelines... hand signals would not go amiss either... subtle ones.

I should say that this has been fun!  If dangerous.  I'm not planning on heading to the safety of the south for no readily apparent reason....

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 701):

Bryce smiles.

"Aye, the witches are to the northeast.  I'd just as soon avoid things a Nor would describe as 'terrible', though if by 'robbers' he meant my crew, they aren't all bad."

"I knew a Rob, he was not bad at all," Enrei concurs with Bryce.  "If we need to go northeast I am not scared of terrible fall.  We can pick up hamlet, is okay," he claims confidently.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 703):


Titus says thoughtful and still a bit chastened from the rebuke

Lets check out the village... as mercenaries.  We could use some business.

He turns back to Enrei

Tell me about your friend facebender.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 704):

"Oh, he work at a tavern I go to sometimes when I was sailor.  My friend tells me his job is to stop people from fighting, but he never stop me when I fight in tavern," Enrei recounts simply for Titus.  He does not go into further detail, clearly not having a sense of narrative.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 705):

Why did they call him facebender?  Was there a specific event?

"Because is his name," Enrei makes a concerned face as Titus has apparently lost an important thread of the conversation, " But people ask him that all the time. He just point to someone in tavern and then person who asks goes 'oh.' He always point to someone who look like he lose a fight a long time ago.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 707):

fair enough.

He looks at the horn of the saddle

I wonder if I can smash my head on this and end it all.  Why do I keep asking?

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 708):

Brennan will lead the party onward through the woods until the road presents them with a choice or until daylight fades, whichever comes first.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 709):

While Enrei and Titus debate, Brennan leads the group with Bryce nearby.  Deev alternates between the rear of the party and the middle as his anxiety rises and falls.

The walk is pleasant enough, though tight at times and you encounter nothing further of note.

Around early evening, with a few hours of light remaining, you find yourself exiting the woods.  The road widens as the trees thin until you break out into rolling rocky hills sloping up toward the mountains East.

Judging by the remnants of fire pits and discarded bits of this and that laying about, you'd judge many a group has camped here over the years.

The path meets up with a larger road shortly ahead where there stands a long-faded signpost.  The signs themselves were either removed or destroyed years ago leaving only the vertical wooden shaft and a small pile of rocks at its base.

The options (apart from turning around) are to head directly south, along the woods, continue East toward the mountains, or turn Northeast.

Bryce points to this latter path.

"That there is the quickest way to the Witches, if that's still your intention.  Could head East as well, then follow the mountains up to them, but that way is far trickier.  South takes us to a largish enough town."

In reply to GM (msg # 710):

Brennan nods thoughtfully.

"Let's camp off the road for the night, setting a watch, of course. We'll discuss it more over dinner, but I'm inclined to head northeast as well. The fastest route to our goal, and also the surest route toward an opportunity to make some coin."

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 711):

Titus rubs the back of his neck and looks around as if pursued.

.... Hang out at a crossroads at sunset? 

He laughs nervously.

Are you sure that's a good idea?

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 712):

"It's a common enough camping spot. I see fire pits, not graves. But we'll be slightly off the road, and we'll be ready to move if necessary."

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 713):

.... If they decide to come you won't be able to run.  You felt it yourself.

"Then we will fight, we are good at that," Enrei replies confidently to Titus as he dismounts and begins to unpack their things.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 715):

One day, we may just do that.

If you insist on bedding down here then lets do it and then tomorrow hit the Northeast path.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 716):

The company is undisturbed as preparations for sleep are made.  Between a few of you, there is enough skill to assemble a decent fire and cook a passable meal.

The remaining few hours of light pass without event and very little intrusion from even small animals.

More than likely, the local fauna are well aware that men like to camp and hunt in the immediate vicinity.

Deev asks many questions about the woods and the road ahead.  It is a mixture of his usual nervousness and a curiosity at the world outside of his city.

Bryce keeps mostly quiet, slumping down to the dirt as soon as there is enough fire to warm his hands.  From the faces he makes from time to time, the days travel has given him a terrible headache.

/OOC:  Any preparations, activity etc. before going to sleep?

In reply to GM (msg # 717):

Titus more agitated than usual keeps pacing and look up one road and down another.  Once the sun sets he seems to be calm some.

After eating he will try out some new material, a song about the North cold and haunting and sweet.

He then creates a funny story about how one of Fastbender's vassals stole a cup because he was convinced that it contained the soul of his neighbor's dog and 'it was such a nice dog.'

Other than that he makes sure that he sleeps with his usual retinue of equipment and knives easy to hand.  He turns in a bit earlier than the other and seems eager to get to sleep.

Wake me when its my turn to watch.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 718):

Brennan helps make camp and small talk, and agrees to take first watch.