Although offended by the barbarian's outburst, Creston desides to silently respect his claim on the Minotaur horn. "Whoever wears the other suit of chainmail, they will have to give up their old armor to the thief," he says. "Amalrik, are you willing to do that?"

"Whoever wears the other suit of chainmail, they will have to give up their old armor to the thief," he says. "Amalrik, are you willing to do that?"

"I can do that," Brodd says crisply, revealing well-oiled boiled leather padding under his robes.  He only wore it during quarterstaff drills and those were not something he did very often.  With a frown, Brodd wonders if he'll regret being more bookish than most of his fellows.

"Assuming they will fit, but with enough straps it can be done I am sure."

Moving closer to the criminal, he attempts to make an even introduction.  "Least Brother Brodd, of the Solar Temple and leader of this expedition.  You were slated for execution?  May I ask what crime you were accused of, and if you have skills as an archer."

My character would like a suit of chainmail, a shield, a cudgel and the rations.  If there are no objections, adding those to sheet in a bit
This message was last edited by the player at 04:37, Tue 18 Sept 2018.

Iphigeneia can only nod her gratitude at the noble when he mentions sentences being lifted.  She studies the elf and priest for a moment, and is surprised when the priest actually asks her her crime!

"Smuggling," the thief states very matter-of-factly.  "Piercing rats and pocketing coins only pays so much, yeah?  Dog caught a whiff of whatever I was holding onto, guard investigated..." She sucks her teeth and looks at the priest, as if to say, "and that, as they say, is that".

"Good at archery, yeh.  Never be as good as an elf at it, but I can hit a deer or a bird more often than not..." Did Iphigeneia just confess to committing other crimes outside of petty theft and smuggling?  Golly!  She adds, "Other weapons, too."

Sasar looks at his newfound companions around the table and blinks rapidly. An acolyte, Pixie, Criminal, Sasar himself... He clears his throat.

"Ahem. Yes. Perhaps we are not much of a fighting force to reckon, so to speak. We must use cunning and, er, stealth? ...instead to avoid trouble."

"And another pack animal could be very useful too; for carrying the rations and other gear on our way there - and when traveling back carrying your daughter, Your Grace... or the sword and the shield, if not other things... Myself, I have a mule - I call her Angie. We can load some of party's gear on her as long as we don't break poor animal's back, of course."

"Your equippment does't weight a lot, does it?" The wizard asks from Eron.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:42, Tue 18 Sept 2018.

The Baron glances at the aspiring wizard.

"Hopefully my daughter will still have her horse with her. Failing that you can probably buy a mule or a wagon from the spoils of war on your way back."

"Of course. Let's hope she does, and that she... they both are in all good health and unscratched, Sir." The wizard says, nodding slightly.

She sucks her teeth and looks at the priest, as if to say, "and that, as they say, is that".

Brodd is quite relieved to hear of an offense less serious, than say, child-slaving or mother-killing.  The death penalty for smuggling .. it was a bit shocking.  The young acolyte makes a note to review the laws of the land, perhaps there was something to be debated in his next lesson with Father Lugodossan.

When the audience has reached its polite and politically correct conclusion, Brodd leads the way to the quartermaster.  He assumes they would spend the rest of the evening here, outfitting and learning more about each other and their mission: what the Baroness looked like precisely and any information about the situation in Braunstein.

Thinking practically, he asks each mage what kind of magics they specialised in and what could be expected of them during conflict.  Like most layfolk, he has a general understanding of spells and such, but not the details.  Tales abounded of wizards conjuring demons, blasting things with fireballs and flying around invisible.

The pixie is busy making sure that his wineskin is topped off.  In between pours, he drinks as much as a fish.  Oh my, how much that little body can hold!  He seems to be getting a little tipsy.  **hic**

"Ah! A path less trodden, behind enemy lines, fateful romance, mis-distributed weaponry and a horny foe... Sounds like the sort of thing I've been doing all my life! I accept and will gladly offer my esteemed and sought-after tutelage of this young lot, Your Grace. May our Path of return be shortened by He Who Travels Before Us."

The old-timer scratched his faithful dog and lingered around the map table, taking it in as much as he could.

"Your Grace... may I?" Regoc asked permission to walk around it and inspect it in more detail. The Wandering God might reward his diligence in the future if he took the time to commit unknown details to memory.

"What kind of magic I specialize?" Sasar scratches his forehead.

"Well, if you mean what I can cast, it's an enchantment, kind of. I can make friends. Very, very good friends. It's quite useful for getting information or help, if it holds -  which it often does not and then they don't like me at all. And regarding the Minotaur - I'm pretty sure it won't work on that. So in case of imminent conflict - unless their leader is a humanoid I can try to put under my spell - I'm quite useless, I'm afraid. Unless throwing flammable oil at them doesn't count - does it count? Because that is something I perhaps should do... My dagger? I only use it for cutting bread and cheese. Or have used until now..."

Iphigeneia, for her part, requests one of the cudgels and the cross bow, and laments the loss of her knives.  She informs the others that while she is a good shot with a bow, her use of one would be a disservice to the stronger bow-arms.

When questioned about her abilities, she will casually state that she is quiet enough on her feet to surprise wildlife, and possessed of deft hands and nimble fingers attached to them.

Requesting cudgel, cross bow.  If cudgels taken, then why not something else to swing!

Thinking that his drinking may be a bit out of line, Amalrik sits down and sips the drink in his goblet.  Listening as the others talk of the equipment and abilities he follows Brodd out of the hall and when at the quartermaster he walks over to one of the larger suits of chain and says; "If I were to get one of these suits of chain then I would give up my armor...yes, without a doubt." Then turning to Brodd; "I have no magic just my reliable and trusty sword."

"The quartermaster can store your spare armour here?" Brodd suggests.  "However, I'm told it wise when in the field to carry a spare leather jack, for scouting, swimming, and even sleeping in.  We can see if the mule can accomodate our spare suits."

The acolyte informs Sasar that he believes Charm magic to be very useful in certain situations.  Lacking an understanding of the particulars, he trusts the wizard to use it for maximum effect.

Baron: “I somehow doubt your warrior’s hides will fit well on this slender thief...”
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:21, Thu 20 Sept 2018.

"I have always found that you can never carry too much food, light and rope when in the wild. I'll fill my pack with as much of these things as I can, as well as some spare arrows."

Creston's pack didn't look like there was much in it. He could probably carry a lot of extra food.

"Don't ask me to carry iron rations, though," shuddering at his own mention of iron.

Sasar nods at the elf.

"I quite agree. We can never be sure if we will run into delays. Be it weather or other...circumstances. Like I said, I'll offer my mule to carry some of the party's provisions. I understand your concern regarding iron, Creston. It's only natural for your kind. So your rations can be carried by good old Angie, if you so choose."

The Baron nods to a lady who enters in plate mail and a tabard with a similar, but not identical design of the Baron's coat of arms.

"...and this is my brother-in-law, Lord Einhard. He has volunteered to accompany you on your journey. She already has her own supplies."

"Lady Einhard...the clergyman here, Brother Brodd, has taken the mantle of party leader. Since I wasn't sure if you were going to make it, I've already agreed. As you see we've had a abundance of recruits...If you two wish to divide up responsibilities, you're free to discuss among yourselves."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:24, Fri 21 Sept 2018.

Brodd bows to the noble, as is befitting.  "Yes, it was decided in a tavern with very little presumption, your, er, lordship."

"I am happy to carry on, or step aside, or simply advise, as you will."

Regdoc poked a gnarled finger into his large ear and waggled it several times in an attempt to clear out anything that may have gotten in there.

"Did I hear him correctly Chomper? She's his brother-in-law? Bah! By the Frayed Hem this is confusing..."

He turned back to the map, letting the 'leader' sort everything out...

"By the way, I want my own tent, and I'll NOT be sharing with this one... He's got quite the odor when he's wet..." Regdoc demanded over his shoulder to Brother Brodd and the Quartermaster.

The pixie struggles to stay upright and ambles over to the newly arrived nobleperson.  His eyes close for a moment, and he looks about to fall down, when suddenly he forces his eyes wide open again.  He looks up and smiles at Lord/Lady Einhard.  "Nice to meet you lord...ladyship." **hic**

"Ladyship? I amfairly certain I am, not a woman, you know..." He chuckles. My husband is the Baron's brother."

The Baron chuckles. “My apologies. Such marriages are not common in this region, at least in this age. The Solar Temple did have prayers for them I noticed...”

"Well met, your Lordship." Iphigeneia is not much of one for words right now, what-with her still being a little shocked at her circumstances.

In reply to DM (msg # 77):

“Your Lordship.” Sasar bows formally.

“I am Sasar Hazdum, the chronicler and aspiring wizard of the party, at your service. I think I speak for everyone  when I say that we are extremely happy to have your strong arm and sharp blade supporting us in this expedition. Indeed, we are in desperate need of fighting men.”

((If no one objects, I'll set the stage for Scene II.))