In reply to GM (msg # 33):

Titus pulls Brennan aside and speaks rapidly

I have no idea what to make of this.  We aren't going to get a good answer one way or the other though and he is creepy as hell.  While I don't care if he preaches obedience to the king or not we have run afoul of his laws more than once, and I'd rather not have a stool pigeon in our midst... and we need to act fast as unless we want to re-gag him and act all friendly like with our neighborhood raiders who drag entire towns away for their safekeeping.

This reeks of fucked upness.

He speaks up for the group

Bryce, are these raiders your boys?

In reply to GM (msg # 33):

"I'm inclined to take this man with us, but I don't want raiders on our trail, Brennan says to Titus quietly. Is there a way to free him such that it looks like he somehow freed himself? Perhaps using a performer's trick?"

Enrei walks up to the restrained man and crouches down over his head, so that they are looking eye to eye, but upside-down to each other.  "What is your name?" he repeats levelly.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 36):

Bryce shakes his head.

"Not our style.  What good is an empty town?  Can't produce nothin'... and the... local talent is all gone.  If you catch my meaning."

The man tries his best to twist his view around to face Enrei properly, but that proves impossible.

"Duncan," he replies.  "What is yours?"

"I am Enrei," he informs the captured man, "It is nice to meet you." Enrei pats Duncan on the shoulder, a somewhat awkward gesture given their positions, then stands and examines his restraints, an almost academic look on the islander's face.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 38):


Certainly.  The way to make it look like he slipped the bonds himself is to retie them the exact way they were tied in the first place.  Hell of a trick with these bonds but I should be able to do it.

Though it may not do us much good if they see a bunch of footprints milling around here. 

He gestures expansively around them to see the footprints (or lack thereof) around them.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 39):

"I trust your ability to disguise the ropes and the footprints," he says to Titus. "Let's be quick about it."

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 40):

Titus gives a lopsided smile.

Quick it is.

[Cord + Escape Artist: 3x2]

Titus begins to work at a fever pitch.  He chews on some of the rope to show some damage to the strands, loosens other parts of the setup.  He unties one knot in the rope to allow him to move tying it infront of him as it was behind him.

Hope your flexible.

He says with a smile as he grabs, twists and pushes down on the man's shoulder slipping another rope.  With the man's arm free he pulls on the string to rip one of the stakes from the ground with a satisfying dirt clod to indicate it was indeed pulled from the center.  He unwinds the man with the stake end of the rope.  He then stands him up and has him walk away from both the raiders and their proposed path.  He drags the ropes for several feet and slips all but the ones around his wrist which he wraps up and takes with him.  Finally he takes the gag from the man and drops it carelessly about 70 feet down the road from the circle.  making it look like he took it off while walking away.

That should do.  Do we have time to check for salvage or should we move?
This message was last edited by the player at 14:13, Thu 11 Feb 2016.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 41):

The man waits patiently as he is untied and Titus makes his preparations.

"I thank you, friend.  Others would not have taken such a risk."

As if to answer Titus' question, the sound of distant hoofbeats can be heard coming from the north.  And approaching.

OOC:  If they are indeed headed toward you, you have but a few moments.  Your options include:

1. Running
2. Hiding in the abandoned town
3. Standing in the open to meet whoever it is
4. Something else you can come up with.

In reply to GM (msg # 42):

"No good deed goes unpunished," Brennan mutters. "On the plus side, they'd have seen us even if we left immediately."

He glances around the ruined village.

"When the see the man gone, they will search every nook and cranny of this town. Titus... can you create the illusion of the man galloping away? Or of an army in the distance, for which we would be the speakers? Though be warned if we tried that approach and it came to blows we'd all die..."

He licks his lips.

"We could make a run for it, but we'd be wagering our lives on the strength of our horses. Only two of our stock are likely a match for a military charger."

He waits for Titus's response. If the illusions aren't doable, he'll advocate for hiding.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:57, Thu 11 Feb 2016.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 43):

Army in the distance might be a bit much I'd rather not go that route.

I would advocate for a man galloping off in the distance and we hide our new friend here.  I would recommend chasing the illusion like it stole our horse...

*Titus whispers into the cup at Brennan's belt*

Enrei, in a moment you are going to see a bunch of horses from the men that are coming and one that is running off into the distance.  When you see this horse it is important that you chase it and bring it back here.  Yell and scream at it.  The lady in the cup says it will help.

He points at Duncan

You.  Hide.  Now.

[Intermission until riders appear]

[Illusions 3x2]


Titus looks at Enrei

Thats your queue.

And takes off running while screaming on a path that will take him directly across the first rider.

COME BACK HERE YOU SON OF A BITCH.  I SEE YOU AGAIN ILL CUT YOUR NUTS OFF AND FEED THEM TO GALEENA'S HORSES!

He stops infront of whoever looks to be the leader and gestures towards the circle where Duncan was bound.

Crazy son of a bitch was slipping his bonds when we got here then stole one of our horses.  Man had a creepy smile, real unnerving I assume you were the ones tied him up?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:04, Thu 11 Feb 2016.

Enrei looks at Titus in confusion, "I thought you couldn't hear lady in cup either.". He doesn't press the point, and when Titus ppints out his cue, he is about to inform him that he does not own any cues.  Then Titus takes off running and screaming, and Enrei catches his meaning.  He breaks into a dead sprint after the phantom horse.  He screams a bit as well, but not any particular words.  He just lets out an occasional inarticulate yell, given Titus's vague instruction.  Unlike Titus, he doesn't stop at the line of cavalry, or in fact anything until he catches Titus's illusion or it vanishes on him.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 45):

Duncan listens carefully to the brief plan.  He expresses his concerns for your well-being but Titus is easily able to rebuff him.

Duncan thanks you again, and proceeds to duck into a small home and hide as best he can.

The sound of horses draws nearer.  Deev, peeking around a building, informs you there are seven riders.  Armed.

With confidence that only he can muster, Titus winks at the group and marches out into the open.

Somewhere behind him "Duncan", mounted on a light quick horse, charges off to the south, leaping over small rocks and ducking behind as much cover as possible.

Enrei, presumably, charges after it.

Deev is suddenly nowhere to be seen.  Bryce takes up position behind Brennan.

The Town Square

When the riders appear, it is the standard of the traitor Xander that you see first, then their tall helmets plumed with horsehair.

The men appear to be scouts, they wear light studded leather armor except for metal grieves and knee cops.  They are lightly armed with sword and spear and their horses look to be built for speed and distance over size.  Still, they are a formidable force.

The riders pour into the town and quickly disperse, sweeping the small streets at a trot.  When they spy Titus they surround him.

"Ho!" one of them calls, "Leftennant, he's GONE!"


The Leftennant, whose only decoration is the red color of his plume, scowls at Titus and peers into the distance.

"Plax, Virgil, Cobb, make after him!"

Three of the riders break off and follow Enrei and the phantom.

The rest lower their spears to point at Titus.  The Leftennant eyes Titus carefully.  You notice now that he has a companion upon his horse, the largest and ugliest crow you have ever seen.  Its feathers are hairy and haggred and somehow darker than you would think possible.  It has a missing eye, but the other makes up for it in evil intensity.  When the officer comes to a halt it flaps up from his saddle to his shoulder and cocks its head at Titus.

"YOU!"  the Leftennant demands of Titus.  "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

South

The phantom horse continues to flee, and Enrei continues to chase it.

Behind, he can hear horses approaching.

"HALT!"  one calls.

In reply to GM (msg # 46):

Titus holds his hands up and smiles with disarming charm and assumes a gruff manner and tone of voice he feels would match the character and mesh well with the leftennant.

We are a band of mercenaries in search of work.

He exaggeratedly turns his head to yell to Brennan in a way indicating that he is not going to do anything fancy.

HEY BOSS!!! This may be a job for you.  We heard this town had suffered a terrible fate...

We thought... Hey!  Terrible fates make good money for mercs ya know?

We got here and all we found was that one crazy son of a bitch with the creepy smile was standing right there.

He points.

Well one thing lead to another... and he jumped up on one of our horses and... you know the rest.  He's riding like a bat out of hell.

When Enrei hears the men shouting behind him he does not obey the demand to halt, or even spare them a look over his shoulder.  He maintains his focus on catching Titus's ghost horse.  In fact, the only possible indication he heard them is a loud "AAAAAHHH!" shouted as long and hard as he can without risk of winding himself.  He makes a mental note of asking why Titus instructed he shout at the horse, as he feels a bit silly.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 48):

"Hand to god, if you want my attention you don't have to yell," Brennan says, marching over toward Titus without paying the horsemen much mind. "That horse was expensive stock. Now mount up so we can..."

He looks up at the horsemen, as though seeing them for the first time.

"...ah. Welcome to the village, such as it is. Keep an eye on your steeds, as these hovels are populated by horsetheives. Or at least one."

Brennan positions himself near enough to talk normally but not so close as to be easily speared.

"So. My colleague bellowed about work. Was there something my band of mercenaries could do for you fine gentlemen? I accept all sorts of contracts, for a fair coin, of course."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:00, Tue 16 Feb 2016.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 49):

Town Square

The Leftennant squints at Brennan.  "Stole your horse you say?"

He thinks about this for a moment while the bird on his shoulder shifts angrily.

"If that is so, tell me two things.  First, where did you come from?  Second, how did this horse thief fall upon you?  How is it that he caught you so unaware?"

South

The horsemen go charging past Enrei and vanish after the apparition behind a rock.

When Enrei catches up with them they are at a dead stop, looking about angrily.  The phantom rider has vanished.

They shout angry things at Enrei, but he cannot understand what they are saying.

He DOES understand that when they point spears at him and gesture toward the town, that they likely want him to return with them.

In reply to GM (msg # 50):

Titus looks at the ground and shuffles his feet.

It was my fault you see...

Bossman sends me in to scout and find anything useful to salvage.  I've got a good voice so I figured I'd sing them out.  Nobody came out or nothin' so I hop off my horse and start rummaging around tryin to find something worthwhile; see?  Then after a coupla minutes I look out a window and see this bloke with sandy hair on my horse walking through town.

I run out and say THAT'S MY HORSE!

And the bloke takes off like a bat out of hell.   I told Enrei to chase after the man and then you guys came up as I was trying to head him off. 

Enrei skids to a stop at spearpoint and after a moment raises his hands in surrender.  He stares dumbly as he's shouted at, but it doesn't take much before Enrei raises his own voice above theirs to state slowly and clearly, "I need to catch that horse."  His mission clarified, Enrei attempts to slowly circumnavigate the prickly crowd, his hands raised the whole time.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 52):

"It WAS your fault," Brennan says, raising a hand as though to smack Titus before feigning leniency and refraining. "Just so we're clear, if Enrei doesn't come back with that horse, I'm docking your pay until you've covered the difference. Get used to the idea of counting the valuable lessons you've learned instead of coins for a few years."

He turns to the horsemen.

"We come from all over. Most recently we were lookin' for work out near Thorngate, but everyone's so poor that it's hardly worth the effort. I was hoping there'd be more appetite to the northeast, where people aren't so soft and place a real value on strong hands and practical experience."

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 53):

South

The riders block Enrei's path and gesture angrily with their spears.  Possibly they've figured out that Enrei does not understand the language of the Kingdom, because they have given up on talking.


Town Square

The Leftennant considers this for a moment.

"You appear as you say, and you seem unfit to be spies, especially with that dumb dark lout yelling his brains out behind those rocks."

The black bird on his shoulder quorks quietly.  The Leftennant nods.

"Strong hands the north can use.  If it is riches you seek, you would do well to offer your blade to our Lord Xander.  He is generous to those who are loyal and hard of work."

He signals to his men and they raise their spears, then begin to ride south after their companions.

"Travel with caution," the Leftennant warns, "the mountains can be dangerous at night."  He smiles.  "And I've heard stories of Ogres up north."

In reply to GM (msg # 54):

Forgive me if I overstep my bounds... but what happened to the people of that village?  And what did that horse thief do that so concerned you as to come back for him after staking him up?  It must be a hell of a story.

Titus asks with genuine curiosity.

I'd rather not have to make up the story wholecloth.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:38, Tue 16 Feb 2016.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 55):

Town Square

"HO!" The Leftennant yells.  He makes a swinging motion with his arm and the riders swoop around and return to the square, once again surrounding Titus, Brennan, Deev and Bryce.

Their leader stares into Titus, his eyes shooting daggers.

When he speaks his voice is low, quiet and very dangerous.

"Who said anything about staking him up?  Did you not say he stole your horse and ran?"

South

The three riders prod Enrei non-violently but meaningfully with the butts of their spears, and point back toward the village.

In reply to GM (msg # 56):

Titus points at the circle of stakes.

That is very blatently the set up that Magalan used for trussing up the butcher of Dunn Loring.  I've played both Magalan and the butcher in the play a dozen times and told the story at more inns than I can count. 






...Learn to shut up when you've won dummy....
This message was last edited by the player at 21:06, Tue 16 Feb 2016.

Enrei lowers one hand to point with his finger just as meaningfully behind the group of soldiers.  When one of them prods him with a spear he looks indignant for a moment, then snatches the spear and wrenches it from the man's grasp, throwing it behind him in the same motion, "I am going to catch horse.  You poke someone else," he states with finality before marching straight between the scouts' horses.

((2x5 disarm))
This message was last edited by the player at 22:11, Tue 16 Feb 2016.