Enrei seems to brighten up and makes a sharp intake of breath, "Bad things?  You mean monsters?  You have more than sea serpent?" his fist tighten and he holds them up, looking very much like the child he handed a coin to earlier, "You do not need this line if monsters are slayed, yes?  I can do this!" he steps very close to the man and slaps his hands on the guard's shoulders, beaming at him, "I will be hero!"

Not waiting for a reply Enrei charges back into town to find Deev, and with little explanation drags him back toward the scene of their encounter with the "sea serpent."

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 309):

Enrei locates Deev after some hunting, and spends some time doing... things.  Probably eating and resting since he's exhausted.  Continuity creaks and heaves, the tides of retroaction thankfully not buckling under the pressure, and the players are somehow synchronized in time.

Outskirts of the Town

"It has been a while since we have seen mummers," the man admits.  "Or singers or..."  he nods.  "You are welcome to visit, to trade if you have goods, and I am sure there are many here who would welcome a song and news from the west."

He pauses.

"It is funny that you should arrive today, why just last night we were visited by some sort of giant man from the south... a simpleton I believe they said... along with his concubine.  They..."

The man notices that Titus and Brennan are staring at something over his shoulder and turns around.

Enrei, followed closely by Deev, comes bounding across the grasses from the town.

In reply to GM (msg # 310):

So that is where our idiot went...

Thinking quickly on his feet.

Strong as an ox.  Smart as one too.  I told a story last night and I think he took it literally, ran off across the mountains during his watch... probably to

he adopts Enrei's accent

To be big hero.

He didn't do any damage did he?
This message was last edited by the player at 13:03, Tue 17 May 2016.

Enrei looks at Titus a bit confused, "I went to do errand for Brennan," he gestures at the de facto leader of their band, shaking his head slightly at Titus's nonsense, "But we can't do errand yet, first we have to slay monster.  We fought sea serpent last night, but I don't know where it went." Enrei gives a curt nod to the man from the village, as if seeing him for the first time, and then strides toward the nearby tree in search of giant snakes.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 311):

Brennan waits until Enrei has passed into the brush, then turns to Titus.

"Figure out what he broke, if anything. I'll go talk to him about this sea serpent."

He then trots after Enrei and, provided he can catch up, asks him about what happened last night.

"How did the errand go? What sea serpent are you talking about? I'm glad to see you're both safe but if you accomplished the mission we probably need to get going sooner rather than later."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:56, Tue 17 May 2016.

"No, no, we did not do errand yet.  But I talk with man from village.  He says this line of powder circle is to protect against 'bad things,'" he gives Brennan a knowing nod, which fits him poorly, "So I think if we slay monsters, these are bad things, town does not need circle anymore, then maybe we will not die if we touch it.  Last night when Deev and me come to here," he waves vaguely to the summit they're standing on, "A sea serpent try to crush us like boats, and I try to slay it, but it run away. Now I finish slaying monster and we can finish errand."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:32, Tue 17 May 2016.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 314):

Titus gives a hangdog look and smiles sheepishly at the man.

This.  This is my life now.

He raises his voice in a way that doesn't carry at their backs.

He was playing a part you dolt.

With that Titus goes into town and begins probing for information and laying the groundwork for his show.  First he goes to the best inn in town and arranges for beds, a stage and an audience.  Then he begins probing into the events from last night to find if Enrei did anything remarkable other than being Enrei.  He also discreetly looks for a discreet blacksmith.

He smiles a plan begins to form in his head.

Never should have let Enrei go on his own, should have been me and Deev, it would have been done already. 

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 315):

Deev, torn as to who to follow, alternatively nods and cringes at each part of Enrei's account.

"It was... a big black SOMETHING," he agrees.  "Something like a snake."

In reply to Deev (msg # 316):

Titus is not barred or hindered from entering town, though the locals do keep an eye on him.

There is no tavern as such, but Titus is directed to a large building that is mostly empty save for a few simple but clean straw mattresses, a pile of small barrels and some looms.

The latter is being worked at by several women, the former are said to be available for the night, and the barrels noted to contain lager that the owner of the building will part with for a few coins.

The owner notes that, if your intentions in the town are good, he can arrange some food as well as lodging.  Titus can sleep, eat and drink at no cost in exchange for news and song.

The others are left to negotiate their value for themselves.

In reply to GM (msg # 317):

Deev come with me.

Titus says with a nod of his head back into town.

/ooc more to come but my stomach is not cooperating.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 318):

Intentions, what has anyone in this town done to me?  All the world's a stage and all its people are my audience.

He says with a grandiose bow.

Why is everyone here so nervous?

and adds

Also do you have a town smithy?  The road has not been kind to some of my costuming.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:28, Tue 17 May 2016.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 319):

"Maybe it only comes out at night," Brennan suggests carefully. "We could learn more, see if there's any appetite in the village for tracking it down and killing it?"

He smiles slightly.

"Where did you find this killing line, anyway? I'd like to have a look at it."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:24, Tue 17 May 2016.

"It is around village, I see it between the wall and the fields," Enrei waves in the direction of the town.  "You go to town, see if they know hotw to find sea serpent, I will keep looking up here." Enrei is about to return to sifting through the brush when he leans around Brennan to shout at the herder, "Do you know how to find sea serpent?"

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 321):

In Town

Deev toddles along at Titus' heels.

"And... there was no... snake when you crossed the mountain?"

In reply to Deev (msg # 322):

In Town

"We don't get many visitors," the owner of the beds replies cautiously.  "And lately, those we have gotten have been undesirable."

He points to another large building near the low wall.

"There's our workshop, if you ask around Garth'll be able to patch up anything you own."

Outskirts

The goatherd looks to Brennan before responding to Enrei, which he does with a simple shrug.

Nobody stops Brennan and Enrei from inspecting the line of powder around the wall, though as soon as you show any interest in it a man with a spear appears and keeps an eye on you.

In reply to GM (msg # 323):

"Now, now. Easy friend. I was just curious about this killing line. Enrei said something about a line, and... well, you know how it is. I had to see for myself. Enrei is not always accurate with his words, though he means well."

He nods at the guard and moves away from the line, having memorized its location and composition perfectly.

Would be a damn shame if a stiff wind were to pick up, wouldn't it? Though they obviously aren't worried about the elements affecting it. I must learn more. Let's see if we can't prompt a little more information.

Aloud, he continues speaking with the guard.

"Enrei says the line kills men yet keeps them safe. I'm guessing he got confused, and that it's a ward of some kind. One worth protecting, based on your eagerness to keep me away from it. Never fear, I mean it and you no harm.

"However, if I may, perhaps my men and I can help you with whatever it is warding off in exchange for food and shelter. Then you wouldn't have to guard the line, redraw it after a storm, keep it from getting washed away, and all that. Saves you some manpower to guard other things, or hunt, or farm, or relax. What do you say? Is there anyone here I might speak to regarding providing security solutions?"

He frowns inwardly as a thought occurs to him.

Troubling, though, that someone would know how to create such a ward. I wonder if someone sold them the service, or if whoever provided it is still here.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 324):

...Yeah we saw one.  Though Bryce just kinda looked at it and it slunk away.  Didn't think it was more than.. a snake.  Like it had staked out any kind of territory.  You have a bad run in with it?

He wanders over to Garth's shop and enters striding up to the blacksmith and taking the measure of the man.

/ooc does he have a stick up his ass, how practical is he? Does he run his mouth?/ooc

You must be Garth... Name's Titus.  I popped in for two reasons, firstly...
He shoulders his lute.

I understand I'll be your first entertainment in quite some time and I hope that you'll be present this evening.

Secondly, and more importantly, I have a... strange request for you...

/ooc the path of questioning I take on this will be determined by my read of the man.  /ooc

As Titus steals Deev away and Brennan engages the town guard with discussions of circles, Enrei turns back toward the nearby peak and sets off without a word toward the scene of his night fight in the interests of ridding the town of a monster.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 326):

The Wall and the Line

The man leans on his spear.

"Mercenaries then?  I don't suppose that's surprising.

I don't know much about HOW it works, only that it does.  We tend to the line and make sure it aint broken.  If it is, M'kon fixes it before sundown.  Once, years ago, some fool broke the line after dark.  Seven of us died, and only M'kon was able to save the rest.  He's old now is all and some worry he can't save us again if the line were to break."

His voice is almost hopeful as he continues.

"If you're saying you know the same secrets as M'kon, and can help us when he's gone, well I know that would earn you stay as long as you like.  I can take you to him if you like... only make sure the idiot doesn't break anything."

The Climb

Enrei climbs back up toward the peak.

The Workshop

Garth turns out to be a boy barely through puberty.

His eyes go wide at Titus.

"Where are you from?" he wants to know, "What cities have you been to?  What stories can you spin about the King and the war?"

He gestures to the workshop with his hand: it is a largish space with walls lined with woodworking and smithing tools of all kinds.  There is a small forge which looks to be designed both for smithing and for glassblowing.  Another pair of men are already at work repairing tools.

"What you see is what I can do.  Smith left some days ago on a hunting party, but I'm a fair hand at least."

In reply to GM (msg # 327):

Titus smiles broadly.

Oh this is good. 

He runs a hand through his hair as he takes a seat and stretches.

I've been everywhere you can name plus many you can't.

He says maintaining a shroud of mystery.

I can spin tales for you that will make you old before your time.  Ones that will make you draw a sword to run and join the battle... and those that will make you hide under your bed for fear of the things that go bump in the night. 

He checks something in his pocket.  Smiling broadly at the young lad slipping into nonchalance

But let me drop the mysterious wandering stranger rountine. 

His eyes dart to the two men working in the shop and he leans forward talking quietly

Who are they?  I have some things that need to be fixed quietly; you can do that for me can't you?  They're a part of my show... and I don't want my show ruined.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:05, Fri 20 May 2016.

In reply to GM (msg # 327):

"I would very much like to speak to this M'Kon," Brennan says, genuinely interested. "Thank you. Where can I find them?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:21, Fri 20 May 2016.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 329):

The Trail Upward

Enrei continues his ascent.

Once he reaches the top, he will find the sandy summit with the same thick grasses and tree from before, though it looks much different in the light of day.

There are some marks on the grass and ground that look like something was burned, but that is all.

The Workshop


Garth's eyes go wide and he nods sagely.

"Those two are Roy and his brother, Roy.  They work fixing tools some days."

"I would love to help with your show! What do you need?"

Outskirts


The man leads Brennan to a small house not far from the central bell tower.  It has little to distinguish it from other nearby houses except an elaborate bundle of cloth tassels affixed beside the leather doorway that flaps gently in the breeze.

"This is where M'kon lives," the man notes.  He signals for Brennan to wait, then climbs up the short ladder that all buildings have to account for the stilts.  He sticks his head through the flap for a moment, then climbs back down.

"Go on in, stranger."

In reply to GM (msg # 330):

Brennan thanks the man and goes on in.

Enrei takes a deep breath and huffs it out as he takes in the empty summit.  He walks to the burns in the brush, looking to see if there's signs of what might've burned or any pattern to them, and hopeful that maybe sea serpent tracks just happen to look like that so he can follow them to their source.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 332):

Titus leans forward conspiratorially.

We were doing a show about the first paladin as annointed by Magalan in my troupe.  Now a new tale has emerged from the war.  The Lord Fastbender and his men ride forward.  Their sigil black and white on a field of gray.

I have no need for effects marked as a paladin anymore.  I now have need of armor suiting the displaced lordling of the North.

Now I don't need to tell you that armor and swords are expensive.  So rather than buy new ones I would like to modify the old ones.  We need to at a minimum remove the markings, at best we need to 'rebrand' it as the house of Fastbender.

Now here is the deal, coin is tight in this day so I can offer you some coin and some trade.  You seem like a bright young lad with an interest in the outside world.  So here is the deal, I'll show you (and only you) a magic trick worthy of a king.  I will teach you a magic trick you can do for your friends... and if there is a girl you fancy in town I will write you a song or a poem to win her affections.

would that interest you?