In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 8):

Only way to know if there is anything to salvage is to go and rummage

Titus add with sage wisdom.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 9):

Deev shakes his head.

"Didn' see no bodies... nobody lurking about neither... but I didn't get so close as they woulda seen me so could be hiding or locked up tight in their homes."

He thinks back.

"No cart tracks... no big grave neither."

In reply to Deev (msg # 10):

"Alright. Well done, Deev. Thank you for that report."

He turns to the others and urges his horse onward.

"Weapons ready but not drawn. Let's advance, see if there's anybody there to help or anything there to salvage, then be on our way. Northeast to our goal."

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 11):

Now I'm interested.

Titus says as he picks up his pace towards the village.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 12):

The road snakes around several boulders and up a small hill before cresting and heading down again.

The land becomes more cleared and shows more signs of human activity, footprints and the like, and in the distance a small cluster of houses.  These are built of stone with thatched roofs.

There are a couple dozen buildings the size of homes and three or four larger structures of the same shape.  There are also, ringing around the town, small low structures all of stone that stand no more than a few feet high.  These are likely storehouses.

All around the town are low wooden fences ringing fields of crops, though they look to be already harvested for the year.

Several houses have no roofs and smoke still curls up from them, but you see no sign of people or animal moving about.

As Deev said, there are a large number of tracks from horses that seem to ring around the small town you are approaching.

You reach the outskirts of the town unhindered and find an eerie stillness to be pervading the place.

In reply to GM (msg # 13):

Titus cocks an eyebrow at Brennan and shoulders his lute.

Shall we rouse the townsfolk?

He awaits Brennan's acquiesence.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 14):

"I... think we're it," Brennan says, slinging his bow to his side as he continues to ride toward the town. "But yes. We came all this way. Might as well say hello."

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 15):

There's smoke.

He says simply.  Either they are hiding or they were recently taken.

He starts out by playing low and sweet, his voice not shattering the silence but slowly waking the town to life.  He continues to increase in intensity and volume until he is singing in full throat.  He gracefully dances while he sings to look in all directions as often as possible for any potential audience.

Enrei doesn't stop as Titus does or at Brennan's comment, simply walking his horse straight into town.  The eeriness of the silence and desertion of the town apparently lost on him.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 17):

Deev, as well as Brennan and Bryce hang back while Titus plays his music.  Though he sings loud enough to wake the dead, there is no response.

Enrei continues on deeper into the town alone.  As he moves between empty or burned homes, he encounters no villagers or indeed any other living thing.  The town continues to appear deserted, until Enrei comes around a larger building and sees that there is at least one person left.

This person is a perfectly ordinary, even boring looking, man of maybe thirty years.  He has sandy hair, light freckles fading into early wrinkles and by his dress appears to be a farmer or maybe a low-level artisan.

Aside from being the only person you have encountered thus far, he is made interesting by the fact that he is fastened securely to a series of heavy wooden stakes by a mixture of heavy rope and chains.

He is spread eagle on his back with  each limb tied to at least four stakes by tight lines splaying out several feet from him.  There too is a line going around his neck and holding his head down.  He even has a thick rope wrapped tightly around his face and gagging him.

When Enrei appears, the man looks up at him desperately but cannot speak or move.

In reply to GM (msg # 18):

Titus keeps close to Enrei as the stillness is uninterrupted by his singing.  He gets more and more nervous and more agitated.  Eventually he stops singing entirely, the silence clapping back over the party like red sea swallowing pharoah.

He claps his hand on Enrei's shoulder when they see the restrained young man and appears to panic.

Go find Brennan.  NOW!

he says all in a rush.

Enrei looks at Titus a but confused, "Hello," he waves to the restrained man, following Brennans earlier instruction before turning around and jogging back to where the rest of the party took pause.  "I found someone.  Titus wants you," he shouts to Brennan as soon as the others are in sight.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 20):

Brennan follows Enrei to where Titus is situated, dismounting to get closer to the bound man without risking his steed.

"What have we here?" Brennan breathes quietly.

An accused witch? Or perhaps a sacrifice?

He walks toward the man. "You've made some enemies, it seems. Easy now... there's nothing to be afraid of. Let's hear your story, shall we?"

Brennan carefully approaches the man and, provided the man doesn't convulse like a lunatic, removes his gag.

OOC: Does he have an aura that I can see?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:09, Tue 09 Feb 2016.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 21):

Brennan....

Titus says warningly.

This is exactly how they bound the butcher of Dunn Loring.  You know the one where Magalan had to, personally, apprehend a man who slaughtered a village.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:22, Tue 09 Feb 2016.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 22):

"He didn't do it with his teeth," Brennan says. "But if it makes you feel any better, I hereby give you permission to stab him if he tries anything stupid."

To the man:

"Hello there. We're a band of mercenaries just passing through. Can you tell us what happened here, and why you're bound up like... well... like the butcher of Dunn Loring?"

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 23):



The man tenses as you approach, clearly straining futility against his bonds but he isn't able to move much.

When Brennan removes the gag, however, he relaxes.

"Oh thank you, thank you!  Now quick, untie me before they come back!  I'm grateful to you, surely I am, but if they catch you helping me..."

In reply to GM (msg # 24):

"Who? If WHO catches me helping you?"

He looks around.

"This is a village. They can't have expected you to perish to the elements here, unless it was meant to remain unpopulated. What happened here?"

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 25):

The man smiles pleasantly.

"I can tell you're not a rash man.  This is good.

The 'who' is a large band of mounted raiders bearing the standard of ex-prince Xander.  They thus restrained me, then rounded up the rest of the villagers and took them north.  I suspect, however, that they shall return soon and they would not be pleased to find you here.

I ask again, please untie me and thus do me a second favor.  Much to ask, I know, but I will see you repaid to the best of my abilities."

Bryce's face goes sour.

"Fuck... raiders...."  He looks around, possibly hoping to somehow gain the ability to see over buildings.  "He's right, we don't wanna be here if they're coming back."
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:57, Wed 10 Feb 2016.

In reply to GM (msg # 26):

"Why would they come back? Do they typically leave a villager like this, ostensibly as a warning to others, and then come back a few hours later and finish the job? That's just a waste of horses. It doesn't make any sense."

He looks at the man carefully, and the wheels in his head turn as he recalls all he's heard about Xander.

After he's finished thinking (this dredge takes but a moment), he turns to the man.

"Convince me that you're worth the risk. Quickly."
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:58, Wed 10 Feb 2016.

In reply to GM (msg # 26):

While Brennan is pausing Titus interjects his own question

What made you so special that they left you in this intricate bondage out of a fairy tale?
Titus draws a pair of knives, whether his intention is to cut to free or cut to bleed is uncertain.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:20, Tue 09 Feb 2016.

"And what is your name?" Enrei demands, caught up in the interrogative atmosphere.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:39, Tue 09 Feb 2016.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 29):

Titus' mean visage is entirely broken as he smiles and starts to laugh at Enrei's interjection.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 30):

The man takes a long pause to think about his answer, though he never stops smiling.

Although it is a pleasant smile, it doesn't seem totally natural.

"I don't know if special is quite the word but... well, they see me as a threat.  They're mad with fear.  I never meant them any harm nor to anyone in this village.  They didn't seem to agree.  Once they've led the villagers far enough away, they'll come back to destroy me.  When that happens, you won't want to be here."

He sighs.

"Friends, but that I could thank you properly for loosing at least a few of my bonds.  I can understand why you wouldn't trust me.  If there is nothing I can say to put your fears to rest, I recommend this:  run from this place.  Be long gone when they return."

In reply to GM (msg # 31):

"Do you pose a threat to them? To raiders, I mean? Or only to the villagers? What did you do?"

Brennan furrows his brow, the inkling of a plan forming within his mind.

"I'm asking because I happen to be an employer of skilled, violent people... but I'd prefer they not cause harm by accident. What did you mean by that?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:25, Wed 10 Feb 2016.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 32):

The man continues to smile.

"I offer that I am a threat to none.  Not to the villagers, not to you or your friends, and not to Xander's men.

They would disagree.  Let's just say they fear my words and my influence, but they are misguided."

He strains against his bonds to look around at the rest of the group, but isn't able to move much.

"They wish to silence me, but I tell you I preach only obedience to the King.  If you can tolerate such words, I pose no threat to you."