"Zenobia!  Zenobia!  The rider from Swiftpier has come!"  Janny bent over out of breath from running.  She was always the excitable little girl.

In recent weeks Swiftpier had been having trouble with human bandits.  They are asking Riverhill for help.  The bandits have grown more numerous and ferocious.  In recent days a new leader has risen among them, a tactician and skilled fighter.

Swiftpier lies on the east side of the river called Stormflow at a place where the river widens into a small lake for a few miles then turns into rapids before cascading over a beautiful twenty foot staggered falls into the plains.  The eastern edge of the city is just shy of the jungle and Anthros territory.

The town has a lot of small fishing/boating piers jutting out into the lake and their main fare is fish and freshwater crab, a species of giant crawfish, and sometimes clams.  Most of the three hundred villagers that live there are healthy, strong, fisherfolk, excellent swimmers but not so great fighters.  They have a standing militia of about twenty and, of course, no walls.

The bandits on the other hand have grown to around forty.  If Swiftpier does not receive reenforcements soon, the bandits could cause serious damage.  Likely though, they will only come to steal rather than destroy.  Destroying the town would end a renewable source of plunder for them and their leader is too smart for that.

It is not necessary for you to go, personally (although that might bolster spirits quite a bit), but you do need to decide out of your fifty available defenders how many you will send to help Swiftpier.  Riverhill is easily defended against human attack and anything more would overwhelm even those fifty.

Riverhill Defenders:

30 standard soldiers (fighter class)
5 horsemen
14 scouts (archers, rangers, rogues)
1 wizard in training

The wizard in training is Cal Stephir, an older man who has managed to befriend an Invar wizard who has deigned to train him in the arcane arts.  His spell list is not impressive but he's getting the hang of it and can contact his Invar friend over long distances via a large garnet at the end of his staff.  Cal can produce some minor visual and auditory illusions and has one attack spell that you know of.

The rider is trotting up the road now and is not a man you recognize personally but he is definitely from Swiftpier.

"Thank you Janny, you are a good girl." answers Zenobia with a smile and warm praise. "Mother has just finished making some sweetbreads I think, go in and ask her for one."

That would keep Janny busy out of the reach of any potential harm, thought Zenobia. It would not do to have children around armed strangers riding from bandit country.

Zenobia fresh from helping with the thatching of a roof, and with a dirty smudge across her face, seems less than noble this morning (she helps out where she can), turns to her chamberlain, himself sweaty from the morning's labor, and says quietly before the rider is in hearing distance..

"Dominic, quietly arrange for a mounted messenger to go to Tenderwood. Have him ready to go in short order. I will pass you the message when I have spoken to this stranger. It may be that they will ask for help, but perhaps the intention of the brigand that haunts their fields is to draw our men away, so that he can strike here. I shall have to act carefully to ensure our people's safety."

"Have the archers Hal and Bron watch the way out as well. I don't know this fellow."

Maeve takes a clean cloth and dipping it in some water, rubs the dirt from it. She reaches down with her left hand and grabs the collar of her over-enthusiastic hound, Havoc, who is already regarding the oncoming stranger with sharp toothed suspicion. Havoc doesn't bark. He doesn't do that when his Mistress' hand is on his collar, he's been smacked for that before.

"Hush.." she murmurs..

Zenobia directs her bravest, most welcoming smile to the rider as he aproaches. Zenobia is standing virtually in the doorway of her home. Deep in the shadows of doorway stand her personal guard of two soldiers (also sweaty from thatching -they are still putting their armor on). They are wary but unobtrusive. If the rider tries to ride her down, she need only step back within the building, while releasing her hold on Havoc. Her eyes move over the stranger, examining his clothing, carefully looking for anything untoward [Spot and Search].

"Welcome to Riverhill, I am Zenobia, your host." she says.

She tries to read the man before her (sense motive) while bringing the full weight of her beauty and charisma to bear.

Janny runs off with a smile after the sweets.

All the mental preparation and anxiety of a stranger melts away as the rider pulls up before the beautiful, if dindgy leader of the town.  He is barely old enough to be considered a man, probably no more than seventeen years old.  As he plops down, everyone can see that he is a bit excited and weary all at the same time, but as Zenobia really begins to turn on the charm, everything else melts away to be replaced by complete infatuation, a common enough reaction in young men who don't know her.

"My...I...we, er," for several moments he can't find words.  Finally, after clearing his road dusted throat unsuccessfully several times, he hands a hasitly scrawled parchment out to the bard.

In reply to Game Master (msg #3):

Zenobia takes the parchment, but ignores it for a moment as she turns and calls into the house. "We have a dry throated messenger who has travelled far standing out here." she says, her voice both lilting and slightly husky at the same time. She can't read it in any case, she is still holding onto Havoc's collar. Havoc, in tune with his mistress' reaction calms down and merely sniffs the newcomer, adding him to the repertoire of not to be bitten, worried or eaten.

Zenobia glances down at Havoc and sensing that he's no longer thinking of marrowbone let's go his collar. She then beckons courteously to the young messenger to follow her inside.

"Come.." she says with a smile and, turning sinuously on her heels, her hips unconsciously adding their touch of magic to the moment, leads the young man into her home, which is plain and simple in decor and appointment. It is however clean.

"Someone please bring this brave young man something refreshing to drink before he expires in our home" she calls again.

This is Zenobia, at home among her people, she doesn't say "welcome to my hall", or "stand at ease", or even read the message first. There's a weary and thirsty young man before her who is serving his people well and that's what she thinks of first. She continues reading (sense motive) him as she leads him inside into the comfort and shade of her home.

"Corwin, if you could see to the man's horse." she says passing one of her guards standing inside the shade of the doorway. "I'm sorry I don't believe we've been introduced, I am Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus", she says looking at the messsenger with shining eyes.

She listens to his response as she sits down, opens the parchment and reads what is contained therein.

"Kennon, ma'am," the boy finally gulps out around a big glass of weak wine.  "I wasn't s'pposed to read them papers, an...and I didn't, but I know what they say well enough.  Halbrech has given his ultimatum for Swiftpier.  He aims to be king."

The news does not sit well with the few gathered there.  Sure enough, the papers are from the town council of Swiftpier.

Lady Nightingale.  We hope this letter finds you well.  We have little time so this letter will be short and to the point.  Please forgive our inelegance.  Swiftpier is under assault, or will be by the time you receive this.  Halbrech, leader of the bandits, means to be king, not just of Swiftpier but of all human towns in this area.  He'll use Swiftpier as a base to build his numbers and strike out at other nearby towns, but his sights are set on Riverhill.

We beg your aide, but we can only hold off for a few days.  The only reason this is possible is that the thug doesn't want to destroy the town.  He does not want to rule a ruin.  We know it is in your heart to help, but we also know that you may feel that you cannot wisely do so.  If you do not come, we will understand, and hope you will at least heed this as fair warning of Halbrech's aims.  No doubt if Swiftpier falls, he will gather more to his banner.

The blessings of Halai be with you.

Swiftpier Town Council

The brief letter is bound with the official Swiftpier Council seal.

"Trouble?" Lucius asks stepping through the door from the outside.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:49, Sat 26 July 2008.

"Trouble?" Lucius asks stepping through the door from the outside.

Zenobia cocks her head to one side as Lucius enters and says "trouble?". She considers the word for a moment. "In a sense, certainly a lack of harmony, almost certainly the prospect of murder."

Zenobia's eyes return to the messenger. "Brave Kennon, you should make yourself ready to take the message back to your people." she says with resolve. "Do not fret unduly, for we shall not stand idly by while your people are subjugated. We all stand or fall together. We are all us after all".

"Corwin.." she says, speakin to the guard who had dealt with the young boy man's "horse, "make sure Kennon has everything he needs to make the return journey".

When Kennon leaves the room Zenobia returns her gaze to her advisors.

"We should move to help Swiftpier with all speed. We are the central town and leadership in this matter falls to us. The way we live our lives and all we hold dear cannot be subject to the whims of a would be dictator."

"Here is my plan.."

"I have no doubt that his eyes are set on Riverhill, it may be that the attack on Swiftpier is little more than a diversion, designed to draw defenders away from Riverhill so that he could come here and take this town with impunity, therefore we must show caution. We must seek assistance from the villages furthest from the fight, so that they send fighters here. This will allow us to move more strongly against this Halbrech, knowing that should he move against Riverhill we will be behind him."

"The problem lies in that we can only match this Halbrech in the field if we pull every last guard from Riverhill. This I am unwilling to do. However anything less introduces the possibility that we would easily lose a fight should Halbrech intercepts us between Riverhill and Swiftpier.”

"Kennon the messenger must be given a message that in essence spells out our decision accurately, that we are coming to help. However it should also outline how we will do this. This brigand doubtless has scouts out, so it may be that Kennon is intercepted and the letter read. If we can delude him into thinking we are approaching from one direction while approaching from another, then we will pull the wool over his eyes and gain some advantage in doing so."

"At home we do not have a wall for the defense of our people and it is something that I think we shall require in the future, however, the walls of our buildings are high enough that each hut and cottage could act as a little fort in itself. We should have ladders so that our people can harangue any invaders with stones, slingstones and the like. With luck it should not come to that but in war anything can happen.”

“When it comes to a fight I mean to delay this as much as possible, so that we can parley. In talks I would hold a clear advantage. If I can encourage defections from his ranks, for who knows with what threats he holds his men together with, then it maybe that many lives shall be spared on both sides.”

"We should also seek help from the elder races. They ignore us for the moment for we cause them no trouble, but a bandit king in their midst might be something that will cause them to exert themselves on our behalf, if only lightly, by using their magic to cover our movements and inform us of the movements of the enemy. Word we can send quickly to our neighbors, some will arrive immediately, but others will require horseman. I do not believe we are alone in this fight. Friends we have if we are just and honorable."

Zenobia pauses , takes a breath, smiles shyly. It is more leadership now than she has ever attempted before. She smiles almost shyly..

“My family has ever spoken for this town, but I am not its sole counsel. What say you my friends to what I have proposed? I would not be King like this Halbrech, but rather a Speaker for the People and the Hand of their Will.”

The two elder advisors nod at the wisdom of Zenobia's words.  The few younger folks gathered about add a few suggestions here and there but the essence of the plan remains intact.

Kennon returns somewhat refreshed and ready to take word back.  He must travel along the eastern shore of the river to make Swiftpier lest he be forced to swim or row across the lake.  He assures everyone he did not see anyone on the way in, but a boy his age would not necessarily have the ability to see someone more skilled.  With fresh water bottles and hope, the young man is sent away to bring the same to the southern town.

"Zenobia, surely you will not ride out with our warriors?  Cannot Corwin or one of the other men lead while you coordinate things here?"  Dominic is ever the overprotective one, but he means well.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:50, Sat 26 July 2008.

In reply to Game Master (msg #7):

"Kennon, if your way is blocked by the enemy and you find yourself unable to flee do not try to fight your way free." she places a hand on the young man's shoulder. Indeed he is not much younger than she is. "Conceal the message [OOC: This message falsely describes the Riverhill approach] but do not fight to keep them from taking it. Mark my words, I want to see you in one piece when this is over. May Halaia watch over and keep you. Now, ride like the wind."

She turns to Dominic..

"I will ride out with the warriors, but I will leave leadership of the men to Corwin. I mean to speak to these brigands if I can and in doing so save lives. I doubt not that this Halbrech has men with little allegiance to his cause, men who deserve a better leader than the one they now follow. If it comes to a fight I shall stay with my guard and sing the songs of power I have learned from my people.  Either way I will save lives. Therefore I must go. Men I have known their whole lives will fight and die on the decisions I make. I could not in good conscience ask them to face that risk alone, when my skills could mean the difference between their living and dying."

"Now send words to friendly villages, furthest from the fight that we need what warriors they can spare to guard Riverhill while our fighting men are away. I will write to Marcus myself and ask that he protect my mother and sisters."

Zenobia turns to the Wizard Cal Stephir..

"I ask that you send word to your teacher of what is occurring here. I would have these lands remain peaceable and not be governed by a bandit King. Tell him that we seek to learn from the elder races, learn from their example, learn whatever skills they have to teach us. If this bandit King prevails then these lands shall fall under the sway of one who only respects power. This would in the years ahead lay the seeds of discord with all our neighbors. While I recognise that such trouble would be but a minor annoyance, soon ended. It would require the deaths of many humans, the blood of both innocent and guilty alike. Thus as Speaker for the these lands I ask that you offer us what assistance you deem sufficient and appropriate. I do not ask that you fight, this conflict has been started by humans and we must pay the price to finish it. However, if you could light our way, conceal our movements from the enemy then this would be greatly appreciated. If you could intercede with the other advanced nations on our behalf, for instance by spreading word of our plight faster than we could spread word ourselves then this would be of great assistance. There is a blight in our land that threatens to spread and we shall do what we can to end it with your help."

"There, I think that just about does it."

Zenobia sets forth the plan. It involves a ranger getting word to the people of Swiftpier by having him come float down the stream under the cover of darkness and coming ashore at the village. The boats of the village will then quietly ferry Maeve, Cal Stephir, 20 soldiers including Corwin and 5 scouts across the water. The plan is to lure them into a village, past huts where the doors have been fortified by piling dirt behind them and whose roofs roofs have been soaked with water. The Swiftpier guard will then refuse combat drawing Halbrech in, while the Riverhill guard suddenly jumps out from concealment behind. At the sound of a horn, all the huts will sprout folk with spears, bows and stone, from the smoke hole in the roof. An illusion of some elder troops would definitely help. Everyone is under orders not to start a fight. Zenobia needs a chance to talk some of these people down. The idea is that the war should be won by this point so that there doesn't need to be a war. Halbrech wants in, let him in. Just don't let him out again.

The plan basically consists of

An unorthodox approach designed to bypass watchers on the obvious route between the town and the village. Coupled with a message which says help is coming, along the obvious route. This message may or may not be intercepted, but the chances are it will.

The arrival of a Ranger well known to the folk of Swiftpier, bearing the message that the Riverfall guard is not coming by the east bank route sometime later, but is already concealed on the other side of the lake waiting to be ferried across. The movement of troops by night across water, bringing them into the Swiftpier unobserved.

The plan thus encourages the enemy to think that

soldiers from Riverfall are coming later,
by a route they can watch, and potentially ambush
this could move them out of position and get them to wait


it may be that Zenobia's plan will allow the good guys to get the drop on the bad guys by means of subtlety and misdirection. If the bad guys think that a portion of the Riverfall army is on the way by the obvious route they might well wait in an ambush position, leaving the good guys to get good position while reinforcements come from other villages to riverfall.

If everything goes as planned, then Zenobia will get the Swiftpier folk to begin fortifying the village. It may be that when the bad guys find out they will come rushing back to put a stop to that. In any case such inadequate preparations will block exits for enemy troops who wish to run, though a rout path is provided for the weak of heart - it'll be a dead end but they wont know that when they start running.

Zenobia gets all the scouts and rangers out to form a skirmish line to chase off harry any possible enemy scouts/watchers prior to leaving Riverfall with the military contingent. These skirmishers fall back to Riverfall when their job is done. If the landscape does not favor the concealment of a large body of men, then Zenobia has the men leave in small groups in different directions only to have them meet up again in cover. As much as possible the main reconstituted body of men stays to areas with a lot of concealment, the ranger moving on the periphery enough to see out but not enough to be seen himself.

As the second to last of the small groups leaves Riverhill, Dominic and Lucius stand near their beloved leader.  Finally Dominic asks again, "Zenobia, will you stay or go with them?"

In reply to Dominic (msg #11):

"I'm going. Build a mighty bonfire, if the enemy passes us, light it and we shall return with all speed."

[Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus: Did you bring the wizard, Cal, with you or are you leaving him to defend Riverhill?]

Dominic's look lingers for a moment, then he bows without further question.  He will do what needs be done.

With supplies in hand, weapons at the ready, the last group trots out of Riverhill and makes for Swiftpier.  The journey takes only half a day by horse, but the elaborate trap set by Zenobia puts her in the lake town well after midnight.  There was no sign of Halbrech's men the entire way.  No one grumbles at the extra effort that was seemingly wasted.  Better to have been cautious and not need to be than incautious and have a need for it.

Once in the town, the councilman Mattaeus Vander greets Zenobia.  "Lady Nightingale.  Thank you for coming.  We are unsure what this bandit chief is playing at.  He hangs out at the fringes of the jungle and occasionally sends catcalls our way, but does nothing to attack.  He must know we've sent for help.  With Riverhill's reenforcements, we now match their numbers.  What do you think he means to do?"

In reply to Mattaeus Vander (msg #13):


OOC: Zenobia left Cal in Riverhill.

Zenobia frowns as she hears this, looks back in the direction of Riverhill.

“Did your messenger Kennon return?” she asks first.

"Yes, he made it back a few hours before your first contingent of scouts arrived and delivered your message."  Vander is unsure of the situation and waits expectantly for Zenobia.  Obviously she has a plan.

In reply to Mattaeus Vander (msg #15):

Zenobia grins devilishly, well it's an attempt. She looks far too angelic to carry it off.

"I told Kennon not to put up too much of a struggle if he was intercepted. The idea being that if whe was then they'd read the deceitful message I had written for him, that they'd get wrong footed."

She pauses for a moment, then looks back in the direction of Riverhill..

"If 'our' people are attacked in Riverhill they will light a great mound of wood that we shall see, a great glow at night and a pillar of smoke during the day. Can I ask that you have one of your people on a rooftop maintain a constant watch for this."

"Do you have huntsmen here in the village, I brought one such man, skilled in woodcraft with me. We need to know whether this brigand's full strength is there or whether it is just one man left behind to fool us. We need to know one way or another."

"We need to find out whether he is there or not. If he is gone and the intent of his threat to this village was a mere diversion then it will go badly for my people whom I have left mostly unprotected, though aid should come from the furthest villages."

"Now with luck he doesn't know that we are here at all. If we now feign weakness, make preparations for the defences that he must disrupt then we could draw him out, providing he is there at all."

"Tonight, have your people quietly prepare their homes for an attack, a board piled high with dirt should do. If an attack comes, have then dump the dirt at the base of the door and barricade it by leaning the board against it. Enlarge the smoke hole in the roof and have your people bring spears, arrows, rocks up there. We do not have a wall so we can’t keep him out if he wants to come in. But we can make him wish he hadn’t.

"Before sunrise, when the sky lightens enough to see, have your people begin digging ditches around the village and piling the dirt from the ditches on the village side. Making the villages stronger, makes his position weaker. It also shows desperation."

"For if he is not there then I shall have return with my men to Riverfall, which is doubtless the main prize in his eyes."

"In the meantime I will go sing for my supper while you hide my folk amongst yours."

"If he falls for the trap and comes rushing in overconfidently then your people should fall back to encourage them to come right in. Fire a few arrows but do so hurriedly and do not hit anyone."

Form up your men opposite to where my men can hide. Ask for parley, saying that reinforcements haven't come and you are prepared to discuss terms. At this point we'll emerge from behind them.

When he starts to dictate terms you can say no, you misunderstand. I mean the terms of 'your' surrender. Someone blows a horn and your folk, missiles in hand burst from the hut roofs. With enemies on both sides and lots of arrows stones and the like raised in hands against them I reckon they'll throw down their weapons. If they don't I will put forth my magic to aid all our fighters."

"There, what do you think?"

The councilman blinks a few times at the complexity of the plan as he absorbs it, but then he nods and gets his people moving.  The huntsman Zenobia asks for arrives a few moments later.  When he is told what her plans are for him he smiles.

"Lady Nightingale, I just returned from there.  His scouts never saw me, but Halbrech is there with his full forces minus a scout or two of his own, no doubt surveying us.  As long as you don't go near the edge of town, I doubt they will know you are here."  He looks around at her men.  "They do know our people well enough to know these are visitors, but in the darkness of night...I don't think there'll be a problem."

"Let us hope they do not know our full strength now. A few visitors here and there won't concern Halbrech too much, but if he know twenty soldiers have come then this won't work. If he knows the village has 20 more soldiers when we do as I have set forth he'll know we're trying to lure him into a trap."

"On the other hand if the plan does not work, then I will sing and speak from the village. I doubt he has anyone there who can sway any here to his cause. Our cause being just has more power than his."

"Therefore let us proceed with the plan I have set forth, if he does not take the bait then I shall sing and speak in an attempt to win over his men to our cause."

Vander finishes giving orders and the townsfolk ready themselves per Zenobia's instructions.  All is laid out to the best of their ability.

Across the open field the catcalls finally cease and the bandit encampment quiets down.  Slowly their fire's die to a low flame but they do not let them go out.  The number of shadows moving about the camp indicate that if any men have left, it has only been a few...not enough to cause any real problem in Riverhill or anywhere else for that matter.

Still none can guess what Halbrech is up to, but all is ready.  It is Nightingale's move.

In reply to Mattaeus Vander (msg #19):

OOC: So they didn't come out when the villagers started digging or doing anything else? Interesting..

If none of the lures work, then Zenobia heads to the edge of the village and starts singing songs of family, home, love and life, of the welcoming home of errant sons. She doesn't put herself out there to be targets for rangers, she has a couple of men with shields with her, and the rest within striking distance but hidden..

As the song permeates the night air, men in the village began to stop working just to listen.  Vander walks around and one by one encourages them to get back to work on the fortifications and to listen while they work.  Soon the ditches are shaping up well.

An hour into the singing, a distant shadow appears at the edge of the village lights.  A lone man can be seen listening raptly to the music.  When none of the villagers move to attack him, he approaches closer.  Soon he is within the light and can be seen.

He is rather handsome in a rugged way.  His armor is scale mail of in-ornate but well-kempt materials.  He sees the singer and smiles.  His hands are spread wide to show that he wields no weapon.  It is soon evident that he wants to approach.

Zenobia bows to him, not deeply however and she keeps her eyes on him. She smiles, exuding charm, seeming more cautious than unfriendly.

"Approach as you wish Sir, but tell me your name and your business here as well. Doing that you shall come to no harm for as long as you exchange naught but words with me."

She looks to her guards, stepping back within the shadow of their shields, wary of some attack, whether it be a thrown knife, a poisoned dart.

The man looks around at all the goings on then back to the bard.  "My name is Cort."  His voice is a rich, deep baritone.  "I came because the music intrigued me.  You are outnumbered by bandits yet still have time for song.  And such lilting voice.  In essence, I came to meet the famed Lady Nightingale."

In reply to Bandit (msg #23):

Zenobia smiles at Cort, (reading him for clues - Sense Motive). "Well, you have met her now". She cocks her head to one side, the mannerism suggesting curiosity and grins cheekily at him.

"Songs lift what blades would cut whether it be hearts, spirits or limbs. Songs remind us of who we are and were our dreams might yet take us. Songs make for the harmony of the choir, not the screams of the battlefield. It is a better way is it not?"

"I do not know what Halbrech wants, perhaps to be Lord of these lands, perhaps merely to have his way with it as his appetites dictate. Perhaps his motives are loftier, but I cannot tell since doubtless he would have to tell me himself."

"We could be a great people Cort, but only if we pull together. As to why I am here and singing. Well Cort my actions define me, and right will have out."

Zenobia smiles at him, genuinely happy to see him, waiting for his response.

He seems truthful, his smile easy and genuine.  "A better way?  Loftier motives?"  The bandit ponders for a moment.  "I don't know if those things have ever occurred to Halbrech before.  I know that he does sometimes go on about our station with regards to the other species.  He does order his men not to kill and to my knowledge, that order has been kept...so far."  This bandit is well spoken for a knave.  Somewhere in his background is something of an education.  It is a good bet he can read and write, too.

Cort hangs his head and sighs wearily, "His men, though, some of the new ones are blood thirsty.  What was just a game, at least for those of us who have been with him since the beginning, is becoming deadly."

The bandit looks up directly into Zenobia's eyes.  "Lady Nightingale, some of us want out but don't know how.  We staged this to meet with you because Halbrech heard of your wisdom and your desires that are so akin to his own.  Had he known that the stories of your beauty and your voice paled next to the reality, he may have chanced meeting with you in person sooner."  Here he looks up and out towards the bandit encampment.  "As it is, he is forced to remain leader of the bandits to keep the meaner ones in check.  If he defects and becomes respectable, those will elect a new leader and then blood will spill.  Halbrech doesn't want that and a lot of us, me included, don't want it either.  We were hoping that we might work out a solution."

He starts counting on his fingers and naming of names.  When he arrives at fifteen he pauses, "and I make sixteen of Halbrech's men that want to quit.  That leaves twenty eight renegades.  And mind you, these are not just rabble, these men...and women...are mean, my lady, very vicious.  They, well, they take pleasure in causing others pain and loss.  I believe the word is 'sadistic' if you know it.  If things go south, which they may do soon, they'll kill Halbrech and all us who side with him."

"What do you mean, 'go south'?" Mattaeus Vander asks.

Cort turns to Vander and smirks.  "What I mean is that this elaborate plan to attack Swiftpier is an elaborate hoax to meet with Lady Nightingale.  The renegades are beginning to question Halbrech's, er, tactics and are getting ansy.  We have tonight, maybe, to deal with them or sixteen good men are going to die and then a lot more are going to die when those idiots start attacking the villages in earnest."

He looks back at Zenobia then down at the ground.  You can almost feel the hope seeping out of him like water through a sieve.

Zenobia listens carefully. "Then Halbrech should hold them back no longer. The only way the better part of your band will survive is if you come to attack Swiftpier."

"Swiftpier is the only place where the good and the honest outnumber the those who are neither. These others will not allow you to desert them, and will kill you if you try. More than this, we cannot allow them to roam these lands freely doing what evil they will. This ends here, for them at least."

"So you must come together and that means an attack. We have force enough to deal with Halbrech's entire band and enough to ensure that none escape to the forest once more. Many of the villagers here are not soldiers but they will fight nonetheless, and will give a good account of themselves. They know what is at stake. The attack should come soon for soon the village will be too well defended to attack. The evil among you will appreciate the need to move quickly I am sure."

"Now, you must now figure out a way to lure these evil ones with thoughts of greed, rape and murder so that they separate from the good among you."

"If you say that all the women and valuables are being gathered in the chieftain's house over there, then thought of spoil and rapine will lead them in that direction all the faster.

"Let them take th lead then as their passions dictate. However once this is done and your honest man are in the rear then you must throw yourself into the fray. For as well intentioned as you say this started, it is far from that now. It is only just and prudent now that greater part of the risk must fall on you and those among you who do not wish for blood."

"You must show your intent before we come to your aid. As much as you seem a fair and honest man to me I cannot vouch for these others you speak of before my people and so it falls to you to ensure that there can be no alliance between your factions once the bloodletting starts."

"Once your men have proven their good faith in this, then we shall fall on these evildoers also."

Zenobia her expression sympathetic adds.."It may be that one or two of you will fall in the fighting, but aside from aid from my magic there is nothing else my people or myself can offer you."

"So when you come keep your friends close by, it should not be difficult, doubtless these others trust you and your friends little. Bring this to Halbrech but word of this plan should be kept to a few, for if the others become aware of it, they will fall on you without mercy."

Zenobia glances across at Matteus..

"Is this acceptable to you Matteus, as village leader and protector of our people here?"

Cort looks skeptical at Zenobia's mention of magic.  Few humans have ever seen it and fewer still can wield it.  It is obvious that he has never seen one who could.

"It is acceptable to me," Mattaeus answers almost eagerly.  If what Cort said is true, then the bandits will be outnumbered in reality.  Vengeance will be in the hands of the villagers this night.

"By your leave, my lady?" Cort asks.  "If I do not survive this night, it has been an honor and a pleasure to finally meet you."  He winks and walks off towards the bandit camp.

Zenobia smiles..

"When the time comes, and it shall and soon, you shall hear the whisper of my voice in your ears even when the clamour is greatest. No other shall hear this. If you but murmur a reply I will hear it."

(OOC: Still your move.  Everyone is waiting for you to tell them what to do.)

Zenobia turns to Matteus..

"Have your people get ready to run to their homes. The sight of your people fleeing  to the supposed safety of their houses will spur on the black hearted among the bandits."

"When the bandits enter they should see your shield wall in front of the headman's house with your people streaming through the door. This will spur the evil amongst them once more, taking them past the huts where my men and I wait for the signal.

"When they are past I shall use my magic to signal Cort that now is the time. Halbrech will fall on the black hearted men of his band and the hidden villagers will emerge from their fortified huts with stones, rocks, spears and slings.We  shall burst out of concealment and seal the trap shut. Have a few of your people on the roofs act as witnesses on what occurs and who does what, taking no action but for that."

"With luck it will be over in the space of ten breaths. Those trying to flee will run the gauntlet of stones, spears and arrows. If Halbrech attempts trickery we shall know it. If they do not act in good faith then we shall sow their blood in the soil till they drop their weapons and surrender."

"I shall now return to where my men have been in hiding this night, and we shall see how the dice fall."

Vander catches Zenobia before she goes.  "How will we know who is the wicked and who the defector?  Will we not run the risk of harming Halbrech's true men?"

In reply to Mattaeus Vander (msg #31):

Zenobia nods,,

"Halbrech's men will hang back while the others charge the Chieftain's house. The ones before you at this point will be the the vilest of the lot. Once Halbrech's men form a line at the rear, anything between you and them will be an enemy."

"We cant risk the good ones wearing an arm band or a feather or some such thing for fear it will give the plan away. I will give Cort further instructions on what to do to identify his friends and himself when they come. This might change from one moment to the next."

"Just to be on the safe side if you have lime, dye or some such thing, place a barrel near the entrance to allow the good ones to mark themselves apart. This is dangerous though, since it would be highly visible to the others, so much depends on whether the good and the bad are mixed in with each other when they come. I think it likely that this will not be the case since the fair and the twisted will likely stick together. I think the fair showing some reluctance would doubtless not raise suspicions too greatly."

(OOC: Using the spell message)

All the preparations are made and the people of Swiftpier are in place.  The attack comes two hours before dawn.  At first things go like clockwork.  The more anxious, aggressive of the bandits storm in and begin causing havoc.  Another group hangs back and finds the barrels quickly marking themselves while the others aren't watching.

When Halbrech's more noble men begin to attack the renegades, they are surprised and a few fall.  The others quickly regroup, angered by the betrayal.  The villagers attack is a bit disorganized and not as effective as hoped and the renegades manage to shield themselves and split up.  Three of Halbrech's men go down and then the renegades find the barrels.

Now the town is filled with individuals and couples of bandits and it is nearly impossible to tell who is who...

Zenobia emerges with her men. They form a shield wall blocking retreat and begin advancing into the fight.

Message spell - "Cort, gather your men to you in a circle".

Then using her voice to its full potential she cries over the sound of battle..

"Renegades of Halbrech's band, throw down your arms and surrender. If you want to live your only chance now is to throw yourself upon our mercy".

She points to Cort, wherever she sees him...

Defenders of Swiftpier do not attack the men around the [she describes Cort's appearance] and points to his location with her sword.

With that done Zenobia begins singing a song of bravery. +1 to morale versus fear, +1 to hit and +1 damage.

Her troops then advance towards Cort's position. Her captain at arms says "drop your weapons" to any fighting pairs they encounter, those who surrender are bound, those who do not drop their weapons are treated as enemies and brought down.

With the arrival of reinforcements and the bard's song, the sounds of battle soon fade.  Cort, along with about ten other men, stand in a circle off to the side.  Another fifteen are on their knees, completely disarmed, most wounded, and all of them boiling.

Throughout the town there are a few who are too wounded to move to the center and a few more who are dead.  Thankfully only one of these is a citizen of Swiftpier.  All of the others are bandits of one ilk or another.

"Well played, my lady," Cort smiles from the circle.

Zenobia is too concerned about the dead and the wounded to do more than nod at Cort's words.

"Villagers of Swiftpier, soldiers of Riverhill, it is finished. No more shall you live under the shadow. No more." Zenobia sheathes her sword.

It's plain from her face that she did not enjoy this experience, indeed she is pale from seeing so much blood and hearing the screams of the wounded and the dying. She looks back to Cort, her message spell still in effect, she subvocalizes a question to him.. "Are you Halbrech?".

The villagers start to emerge from their homes.

She then looks sternly at the fifteen on their knees. "Bind them and keep a close guard on them. Ensure that they make no mischief. Tend to their wounds, one by one under close guard. See that they come to no further hurt so long as they cooperate but if they try anything you have my leave to hurt them."

Zenobia walks away from that moving towards those lying still or groaning in pain.

"Now we must tend to the wounded and the dying". She looks over at Cort "Do you have any healers among you?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:16, Sun 03 Aug 2008.

"We have none," Cort replies.

Before he can say more, the young messenger, Kennon, comes running up.  "They've...taken...Naria."  He is out of breath and distraught so his words are barely understandable.

Cort looks around and does a quick mental count.  "There are five men not accounted for.  All renegades."  He turns to the young man.  "Which way did they go?"

Kennon, bent over, hands on his knees, points back towards the jungle.  "Trees," he gasps.

Cort looks pointedly at Zenobia, asking permission to persue.  He is still not telling everything.

Zenobia looks at Cort, "There's something you're not telling me. It'd be best if you tell me soon. I'll take it badly to find out later. Go, we'll be right behind you."

Then she calls for Ramthorn and Sydor her ranger/scouts.

"We have to go into the forest. Ramthorn, I need you to move unseen and locate the girl. Do what you can to make sure she comes to no harm, I figure if you shadow us you'll likely have your opportunity. Also if there's treachery I don't want you to try and get me out. Send a message to Riverhill, Marcus Apulus is there. He'll know what to do."

"Sydor, I need you to make contact with the Anthros if you can, and bring them to me if you can."

Zenobia gathers her ten best men around her, and leads them into the forest, pushing hard to catch up with Cort and the others.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:55, Mon 04 Aug 2008.

Dawn comes and with it, the signs of a brief struggle and footprints of the assailants.  It is difficult to ascertain how they are carrying the missing woman.  Cort leads a few of Halbrech's men off into the jungle after the trail.  Zenobia's rangers leap to obey her commands and soon, she and ten others are following.

At first the trail is easy to follow, but eventually the renegades split up.  One here, another there.  At each place, Cort and the three other men that came with him pick one set and follow that trail.  Zenobia follows more slowly because of her larger force.  As she comes to the first split in the trails of the renegade forces, she sees a trail blaze marking which way Cort and the other of Halbrech's men went.

[Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus: Roll spot check.]

I rolled a spot check, it was a 4, for a 10 in total. It's on the dice page. Sorry I have no idea if, or how, I can have it displayed here.

Zenobia is wary now, this smells like a trap to her. She signals her men to parallel the path, so as not to be sitting ducks by moving in a column. It's a skirmish formation, designed to allow lightly armed and armoured men to take the most advantage of cover. Some of her men draw missile weapons, javelins and darts and the like to supplement their shields and provide cover to the leading elements. She falls to the rear and centre with four swordsman around her.

[Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus: You just copy and paste the line from down below the dice roller on the dice roller page.  Also, you can add the +10 into the roll when you roll it. :)

Also, do you wish to take the path Cort took or the other one or split your men and follow both?]

[Private to GM: A +10? Is that what they mean by taking a 10 then?]

Zenobia ponders whether to split her forces for only a moment. No, this was new territory and some folk were being economical with the truth. She sticks with her skirmish line and advances shadowing the path that Cort took, her men and herself moving from cover to cover.

[Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus: Sorry, I meant +6 for a total of 10. :)]

Eventually Zenobia's group catches up with Cort.  He alone stands at another split in the trail.  "I don't know.  They are good.  I can't tell which direction the one with the woman went."

The rustling in the trees is the only warning anyone has.  Suddenly a furred ball of claws and teeth barrels into Cort and knocks him down.  Several more dive out of the trees and attack men.

[Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus: Roll Initiative.]

[Private to GM: You rolled 14 using 1d20+1 ((13)).]

Statement of Intent:
Full Defence (get back to a tree if one is available within a five foot step, so that it's difficult to get bowled over.
Shouts "To me!" to get everyone into a circle.
Start Singing for the +1 to hit, damage and morale.

Hopefully the soldiers carrying javelins and thrown weapons with shields as the skirmish second rank will get a chance to use them as the enemy closes. Do Zenobia's insightful anti-ambush preparations give us any additional bonuses?

Keenly aware that something was not right, though incorrectly identifying the nature of the problem, Zenobia's men instantly react to her command.  Several move in front of her to protect while the rest wrestle with the attackers, stabbing them and trying to pull them off of those underneath.

Three of the attackers go down as pincushions owing to the ranger's vigilance.  Cort is saved that way, though he has a terrible gash running the length of his left arm.

The song helps a bit too and keeps the humans from immediately succumbing to the threat.  There are more than thirty of the things, though.  Easy enough to kill, but overwhelming number-wise.

Zenobia's quick thinking gets everyone circled up around her (and the tree) and creates a momentary stand off where everyone finally gets a good look at the attackers.  They are no more than chest high, covered in fur and loosely resemble cream-colored raccoons with tan masks.  They walk upright and their only weapons are wicked looking claws and a mouth full of over-long teeth.  Triangular ears sit near the top of their heads and twitch this way and that.  It is evident that the singing is curious to them, something they don't understand, but it does not otherwise affect them.

Zenobia has but a moment to issue orders.  Her men are better trained against the wild beasts who look semi-intelligent, better armed for sure, but outnumbered three to one with one or two more of the things trickling in every few moments.

Shield wall make and hold
Hold here and be not bold

On the off-chance that this is not merely a territorial reaction from wild beasts but rather an attack directed by some intelligent master she also sings..

We enter here seek a stolen child
Please be at peace do not be riled

She sings her orders not wishing to end her singing. Behind her shield wall Zenobia reaches for flint and steel.

The thought occurring to her that these things seemed only semi intelligent, making their fear of fire perhaps their only hope. If the elder races were of a mind to watch over their forests they would might see the smoke rise and come to investigate.

Once Zenobia has a fire going, and if the attacks continue unabated, she will start throwing burning branches over the shield wall. By virtue of a channel ringed with fire, and burning brands tightly held, she hopes to lead her people out of the ambush.

If the attacks cease she will pass brands to her soldiers, one to each pair and wait for a short time to see what happens.

The soldiers hold, even after the brief respite ends and the furred attackers begin again.  One man goes down, wounded, but without armor and longer reach weapons, the monsters can't get through.

When the fires get lit and begin to ring around the outside of the fighters, the monsters do back up a bit.  One touches the bright flame, wondering what it is, and yelps as it singes his fur.

Archers take out four more of the things before the rest decide they've had enough and scamper off into the jungle.

"Bravely done. Put those fires out. We don't want to make enemies of the Anthros whose lands we are in, a forest fire would do that."

She points to every second soldier, the sword armed ones, even as she kneels to help with first aid to the wounded man.

"Grab a burning brand and hold a tight, if it dies find another branch and light that. The fire will hold off wild creatures and our arrows will take care of the rest."

She turns her attention to the wounded men.

"We'll have you patched up in no time, Finn, Cort. It's but a scratch." She says this even if it's not a scratch, by way of comfort.

Zenobia ruffles Finn's hair, grinning, and gives him a sip of water from her waterskin. She's known Finn since forever and her care for him is obvious. Cort is older than she is, almost like a big brother in some respects, so she doesn't ruffle his hair and grin, but treats him with more deference. This is Zenobia's war band, it's not like an army, it's more like a travelling family with swords and armor.

"Well Cort, this could be a wild goose chase we're on. I think the only way we're going to find this little girl is if we can attract the attention of the Anthros.  If you can walk a while longer, we'll set to singing as we walk with fire to hand. With luck we'll meet the natives and find this little girl before it's too late."

"I don't think it will take long," he nods towards the trees.

In the morning light coming through the edges of the jungle, five extremely tall humanoids covered in fur step out of the trees.  At first some of the men tense, thinking these are larger versions of the small creatures, but then relax as they recognize the familiar form of Anthros.

They wear little more than their fur.  A belt here, a wrap there, mostly to hold items.  One carries a large sack that is relatively empty.  Another, wearing a flowery crown, walks with a massive branch as a staff.

"The fijur are nasty little monsters, but they will bother you no further," says the one with the staff.  She looks familiar and soon Zenobia recognizes it as her friend, Spatha, whom she met a few years ago and who likes the bard's voice.  Zenobia's torc was a gift from the kind jungle giant.

"Put out the brands and lower your weapons." says Zenobia to her people.

Zenobia steps out from behind her ring of iron, sheathing her sword, and bows her head respectfully. Zenobia then uses all her considerable charm, her ability to read the intent of others and her skill at diplomacy to ensure that this meeting goes well.

"Mistress Spatha, I ask your pardon for entering the lands of the Anthros. We are friends to your people and would not enter your lands without good reason. However, one of your young has been taken, by a rogue human, from the nearby village and we are in pursuit seeking to recover the girl."

"Sadly, our quarry is forest wise, whereas we are not, and so our chances of finding the girl before she is slain or mistreated is slim."

The worry for the child is plain in Zenobia's face and her voice even trembles a little as she adds..

"Thus I humbly request the aid of the Anthros, honored people of the woods, in finding the child."

Spatha looks at the other Anthros.  One quickly hides a smirk.  Spatha cuffs him behind one of his ears and rolls her eyes.  "My friends here will escort yours back to the village you call Swiftpier.  If you will come with me, I've something to show you."  The massive druid pauses and looks at Cort.  "He must come, too.  The woman is safe in Anthros care.  We will meet her where we go."

Zenobia, like Spatha, doesn't find anything funny in this, until of course Spatha cuffs one of her own behind the ear. This however elicits no more than a raised eyebrow.

She nods at the request. "We would be honoured to accompany you." She turns to the rest of her men.

"Go with the Anthros back to the village. I will come back in a while."

Then she helps Cort, who is remains injured, by carrying some of his equipment, and  giving him her shoulder should he need it.

"We are ready." she says, preparing to move.

Zenobia, supports Cort, as she follows the Anthros into the woods. She checks on Cort's injury. She frowns and says...

"My kinsman, Cort, is injured, do any of your folk have skill in healing? It is not my calling and so I cannot assist him myself."

While the Anthros are tending to Cort's wounds. Zenobia speaks with Spatha again.

"I am ever aware that we are like errant cubs to your kind. We are a young people and our livespans mean that our communities learn slowly. If your people have a mind to show us a better path than the one we are presently on, then there are those among my people who would be willing students. Many of my people seek dominion over the land, but it occurs to me that we could also be caretakers and guardians of the land, if we were shown how."

Spatha looks at Zenobia.  "Still as formal as ever."  The big female grins.  Then she turns to Cort.  "Let me see your arm."

Cort shies back a bit from the Anthros, but she snatches his arm, faster than the human eye can follow, and pulls it gently towards her.  "Hah!" she barks.  "This is nothing.  Rapha zeroah."  The flesh flows, weaving together into a closed wound.  The pink scar fades leaving only a tiny ghost of a mark to indicate that there ever was a wound.

"It will take us two hours traveling to get to where we are going.  We will travel at a pace that will not weary you."  Then the giant creature smiles down at the bard as she leads the two humans off into the jungle.  "It is good to see you again."

Zenobia grins broadly at this..

"The weight of my responsibilities, the care of my people, lies like a mountain upon my shoulders. Or at the very least a small hill."

"I put a foot wrong and my people could suffer, or I could suffer. Besides which, I do not wish to have a small hill on my foot. Sometimes others mistake this for formality."

"In any case I am a singer, I seek harmony. If I were a trumpeter or played the bagpipes perhaps things would be different."

Zenobia winds up her witty banter skill and follows Spatha deeper into the woods.

"You know them?" Cort whispers during a moment of distance from the Anthros druid.

Zenobia gives the barest of nods. "I know Spatha the one we follow. The Anthros are a generous folk, and we can learn much from them."

"All tales I've heard is that they are vicious, that they hate humans."  He looked forward as if to make sure the druidess could not hear him.  "They kill any of us who venture too far into their lands.  Is that not common knowledge among us?"

Zenobia also keeps her voice low when answering Cort.

"It may be true of some. Doubtless if you saw one of them in our village your reaction would be to draw steel first and ask questions after. Anyway, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Especially since it was Spatha that gifted me my torc. It is magical you know."

"They have knowledge that we need. We need their skills. We are a people who spread quickly, it is in their best interests for them to ensure we do this so that we will step on as few of their toes as possible."

"In time for all the the other peoples to trade with each other they will have to come through human lands, that is both a responsibility and an opportunity. We should set ourselves on that road while we have the chance."

Cort remains silent, contemplative for the rest of the journey.

Soon Spatha stops in front of a large valley that seems carved by a dull, giant axe.  It begins shallow and rounded, no more than six feet deep where the three travelers stand.  Further down it becomes wider, deeper until several miles away it ends in a large cave mouth that swallows the valley.  Grass and trees and even a river running down and through the valley make it seem natural, a formation randomly formed to seem artificial, but the whole, the cave entrance denies it.  Something crashed to the world's surface at least a century or two ago and dug the trench until it hit the side of the mountain that sat at the top of the cave.

At the entrance to the strange jungle valley, three more Anthros waited with a younger human woman.

Naria.

Zenobia exchanges a significant glance with Cort then waits to see what happens. She sifts through her collection of rumors, half told tales ans such to see if there is some mention of a falling star and or a woman called Naria.

[Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus: Naria is the girl that was kidnapped.]

Naria seems find, though a bit intimidated by Cort whom she does not know.

There are stories, whispered fragments really, that humans were not originally from this world.  Something about being highly favored but then comitting some great sin and being cast down by foreign gods.  Some believe the Evangiel to be humans in exaulted form, though the Evangiel deny this and they do not lie.

The cave below may provide some answers but Spatha sees Zenobia's glance and reads her thoughts from her facial expressions.  "You are not ready to adventure into that cave, young one.  It is enough for now that you know it is here.  We will take the girl back.  Return to your people.  Build.  Grow.  When you are ready, the cave will call I am sure."

With that, Spatha and the other Anthros who had been watching over Naria begin to walk back to human lands.

Zenobia smiles at Naria..

"I am Zenobia of Riverhill and this is Cort of Riverhill, my friend and protector. We're here to take you home." Zenobia extends her hand. "Let's go, your mother and father are waiting for you."

On the route back..

"Spatha, we could do with help and instruction from your people. My people clear and cut and all seems well, but in truth we act in ignorance and so we are building  mistakes on top of mistakes. My people are fearful of yours and that is a tragedy waiting to happen."
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:32, Tue 12 Aug 2008.

Naria smiles, relieved that you are here to take her home.  Undoubtedly she is greatful to the Anthros for rescuing her, but they are strange to her and so they are frightening.  Cort smiles at her and speaks smoothly, settling her down.  They talk quietly all the way back and soon she is laughing and flirting with the bandit.  He does a bit of that himself.

Spatha has not said what happened to the bandits that kidnapped the young woman.

Spatha nods.  "It is encouraging that someone like you leads them, Zenobia.  Someone who has the wisdom to ask for help and to worry that you are hurting others by your actions.  We druids strive for balance, for harmony with nature..." she pauses to muse a moment on something.

"I will talk to my clan and see if we can't find someone willing to act as a go-between for us.  Not many know your language like I do, but if I could find someone willing to learn it, they could trade that skill for education about the Anthros that you want."

Zenobia smiles as she watches the girl flirt with Cort. She then turns her mind to answering Spatha.

"I am a singer, I know the beauty that can come from harmony and the ugliness that can come from discord. I also know that true harmony requires skill and while my people have an abundance of courage, generosity and love, they have little skill. I would show my people the benefits of cooperation with your people, before one with discord in his heart can lead them down the path of discord, both to our regret and others."

"If nothing else it will build understanding between our people and lessen the possibility for discord. So, I thank you for the pains you will undertake on our behalf, Spatha."

Spatha leads the humans quickly and safely through the jungle to the edge just shy of Swiftpier.  There she says her good-byes with a reiteration of her promise to send one of her clansmen to Riverhill soon.  Three days have passed since the night of the bandit attack.

Naria is welcomed back by friends and family whom she regales with tales of the Anthros swooping in to save her from the renegade bandits.  The young woman, surrounded by many of her friends also in their early twenties, giggles and points at Cort several times.  The ex-bandit worked really hard at not looking at them.

"Welcome back, Nightingale," Mattaeus Vander says in welcome.  "We have imprisoned the renegades, fed them, and let them be.  Those who followed Halbrech we have under house arrest, but they are comfortable.  Also, we have turned our town hall into a make-shift injury treatment place.  I believe the Kradok call it a 'hospital'."  He stops there, but it is obvious he has more to say, more that is not good news.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:18, Wed 13 Aug 2008.

This takes Zenobia by surprise, she had obviously been expecting a party. Her eyebrows rise and her shoulders fall.

"Is it Riverhill?" she asks, getting worried now.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:59, Wed 13 Aug 2008.

[Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus: *LOL*  You have been consistently calling your home town Riverfall.  It's name is Riverhill because it sits on the side of a large hill (or a small mountain) which gives it good defense.]

Vander scratches his beard, a well kept affair with no grey yet.  "Your friend Cal Stephir sent a message not to long back.  He said Sanguine Village refused to send any kind of help.  They got three brothers over there leadin' 'em and one of 'em said that they didn't take orders from Riverhill, especially not from a woman."  He looks apologetic for even being the one to just deliver that message.

"I guess they are right, Riverhill ain't no capital or anything.  We just look to you for advice and help from time to time seeing that you are central to the rest of us.  But those boys are mean out there and that was just plain rude.  If they were to ever need help, I'd be of a mind to throw their response back in their teeth," he finishes angrily having worked himself up a bit.

Riverhill.. ok..

Zenobia laughs out loud, apparently thinking this is amusing.

"Well, I guess they can be as they want to be. Who am I to ask them to do anything? But you're right Matteus, what goes around comes around and so I'll likely send another messenger, saying that Riverhill respects their decision and their right to be alone".

"I don't think I need to belabour the point, do I Matteus?"

"In any case, all's well that ends well." Zenobia slaps him on the back. "I don't imagine I'll be able to join the celebration until I sort this bandit thing out, but keep a chair for me, my feet are sore."

Zenobia grins, once again showing her common touch. She then turns to Cort.

"Ah Cort, can I have a private word with you?"

Assuming he says yes, Zenobia takes him aside, her guards nearby and within visual range..

"I think you've played me long enough, don't you? I think now you have to tell me who Halbrech is and doing that, I've a mind to ask him how this got started and where he recruited those ill-handed men and women we have under armed guard."

Cort takes a deep breath and sits down.  "I am not Halbrech, well, not the Halbrech."

Zenobia raises an eyebrow. She's not very happy about this, but on the bright side Cort's answer does seem to have aroused her bardic curiosity.

"You mean there's more than one, or that there's some kind of succession involved?"

The ex-bandit chuckles.  "Um, nothing so grand.  You see, the Halbrech was my brother, Reagan.  I'm Cort Halbrech."

He looks off into the jungle wistfully.  "My brother and I come from a human settlement far south of here well beyond Stormbridge."  Stormbridge was the southern-most human community under Riverhill's influence.  "He decided to explore Loartec.  That's what we call this world," he said by way of explanation.  "We gathered some like minded young men and off we went.  Didn't take long till we started collecting them, one, two at a time.  Some had it in their minds to find treasure, maybe something the Kradok or Invar had left behind somewhere.  They got it all in their heads that we were going to be rich, to live like kings."

"As you can imagine, it didn't quite work out that way.  Kradok and Invar don't 'leave stuff behind' and our exploration-turned-treasure-hunt started growing meaner.  At first Reagan and I didn't see what was happening.  Some of the guys would volunteer to go off and 'purchase' food and supplies in this new human settlement we'd run into up north.  By the time we found out they were robbing the townsfolk it was a bit late."

Zenobia nods, the "not the Halbrech" throwing her momentarily.

"Crowds have a tendency to take on a life of their own. It's the main reason that my father had me educated as an orator and a musician. Before he died he told me that as the villages grow larger and breathing space diminishes that there would be but two outcomes."

"Either there would leaders provoking kinslaying and murder, competition with steel. The village of Sanguine is where that would begin I think. Or there would leaders who would bring people togeher in harmony, through force of vision and the power of words."

"It is ever easier to destroy than it is to build, so since I mean for my people to live in harmony I must work harder and take more risks than others. That is how I see leadership. I hope to be the Speaker for my folk, not their Lord and Master. If is necessary I will get down on my knees and beg the elder races for their knowledge, if that is what it takes to show all the people of this land that there is more to be gained from harmony, open-ness and trade than there could ever be in conquest and bloodshed."

"Those are the riches I am seeking and I doubt not that it will be adventurous. For you see to get to the other elder races we shall need a sponsor from the Anthros."

Zenobia starts smiling..

"Three brothers from Sanguine huh?"

"What do you intend to do about them?"  Cort asked.

But before he finished the question, Mattaeus returned.  "The prisoners are settled down.  Everyone would love to have you at the town square.  With the city hall being used as a hospital, our celebration will have to be out of doors.  Will you sing for us?"

Zenobia smiles broadly at Matteus. "I would be honored to sing for our people." She follow Matteus to the town square".

As she walks to the square she adds to Cort.. "The three brothers can wait. I mean to show the benefits of cooperation to the other villages. If we are very, very lucky their people will clamour to be a part of it. It's either the vision or the sword. The sword is easier, more seductive but swords only cut, they do not build."

Zenobia arrives at the town square..

She gives a mercifully short speech in which she pays her respects to the dead, talks of hope for the future and the creation of a better world. Then after having being stirringly serious she sings party songs, good for dancing, good for singing along to.

The villagers of Swiftpier are enthralled by the evening.  This one village is firmly supportive of Riverhill's agenda.  Throughout the night the people come by and compliment Zenobia's music and her efforts to return Naria to them.  Apparently the young woman is very popular.

Cort Halbrech and Mattaeus Vander both speak through the night asking lots of questions but providing few answers.  Mattaeus is the type that will do will running his town, but the grander scope of a budding kingdom is beyond him.  He is solid, hard working, and well liked by his people, but the bigger tasks will be beyond him.

Cort, on the other hand, has a wider range of skills including diplomatic.  He informs Zenobia that after Reagan found out that some of the renegades were stealing rather than buying, he tried to subtly alter the group's direction back towards exploration.  It was not going well.  Eventually Reagan put Cort in charge and headed off into the jungle, coincidentally near where Spatha took Zenobia and he to meet Naria.  He has not been seen since.  Cort has been working miracles to keep the bandits off the villagers up till now.  It was all he could do to give Zenobia time to plan a counter attack.

The renegades of his group are not happy with the other Halbrech and have vowed to kill him as they did his brother.

The party continues until everyone is exhausted.  Zenobia and her men are put up in the homes of various townsfolk, with Zenobia in the Vander home.  Cort stays in the town hall with his men, partly to comfort them and to begin reparations for his part in the renegade's actions, and partly to provide a guard against the renegades there causing trouble.

There are of course other guards to make sure Cort and his men are not trying to pull a fast one as well.

Zenobia spends some time going over the options for the prisoners with Matteus and Cort.

It is a difficult thing she says but the problem is that none of the villages have the wherewithal to take care of violent men and women like this. Even if they did have the wherewithal to do this it would be akin to starting slave and work gangs, something which she is very unwilling to do. You start down that road and who knows who would still be free in four generations.

They can't just chase them away beause they would only come back or prey on others.  The villagers have a responsibility to ensure the welfare of others. To let them go now would be passing the responsibility onto someone else. Their claim that they killed Cort's brother weighs heavily on her. Their decision to seek the same end for Cort only adds to this.

As much as it pains Zenobia to come to the decision she says the only way she sees this turning out well for anyone is if these folk are put to death. The manner of that killing should not be a show or a spectacle, but as merciful as the situation allows. "We can't keep them and we can't send them away so what other choice do we have?"

Zenobia herself will spend some time with each criminal trying to read them and know their mind. If there's any who could be turned from the dark path they are on, some who are led into it by others then she will separate them for later judgment. Those who are murderers, rapists and looters waiting for an opportunity to do evil will be put to the sword.

Zenobia is obviously looking for better ideas from the other two men, obviously not enjoying the prospect of killing, but determined to go through with it if there's no other choice.

"I see the pain this choice brings you.  I don't think it would hurt anything to ask our jungle neighbors for their thoughts on this."  Cort has heard the boast and the thread from his former 'friends', but he dismisses both.  Reagan was exploring and didn't come back.  There wasn't time or opportunity for the renegades to do anything to him.  For a while now, Cort thought it was the Anthros, but having met them he knows better.

"They aren't men enough to come after me," he grins mischeviously.

Zenobia nods, looking fairly miserable at the prospect of executing anyone..

"There's probably going to be one or two among them orchestrating the others to evil ends, one they are scared to cross. I need to find out who they are."

She sighs, "I believe I am a good judge of character I will do what I can to separate the wood that can be saved from the cankerous growth."

"Asking the advice of the Anthros would do no harm, but this is at heart a problem of how we organize ourselves and how we deal with those afflicted with dark hearts and minds."

"It may well be that the the final authority lies with me and if that is the case then I will not shirk from it."

Cort nods in understanding.

[Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus: Still your move.]

Zenobia has the prisoners brought to her one at a time. She talks to each of them asking them to tell her something about their life. She asks each one to explain their actions. She asks each one what they think should be done with them, and what should be done with others.

She plays her cards very close to her chest, using her Bluff +10 skill to keep them off balance. She's reading them, using her other collected skills.

The result for the prisoner is a bewildering rollercoaster ride of bluff (+10), gather information (+8), bardic lore (+5), bad cop -intimidate (+10) and diplomacy - good cop (+10), making them sweat. The idea is to see what they are really like, who reacts as they should, and who are sociopaths. She's trying to find out who has been led astray, who just needs to calm down and who'll embark on a vendetta, biding their time till they can do some real damage.

She takes her time. She figures it could stretch to a couple of days at a minimum.

Sadly, all but three of the renegades seem to be beyond redemption.  One of those three is a difficult read, though cooperative enough.

Through the course of the next couple of days, they provide excuses, blubber like babies, and recount stories of depravity that most humans should never have to hear.  A large number of these men are cunning.  They boast how they convinced Halbrech (Reagan that is) to accept them and then began using his gang as a base for their assault on the nearby villages.  These men are from the south and west, banished from their own human settlements beyond Riverhill's influence for crimes they should have been executed for.  Humanity's numbers are so small, though, none of those other leaders had the heart to kill them, hoping the wilds of Loartec would do it for them.

Except for those three, as Zenobia listens, the choice becomes more and more simple for her to make concerning the final destiny of the renegades.

Zenobia doesn't have the heart to pass this job to her men. She uses bluff to lull each prisoner into a false sense of security. They're tied to their very heavy chair, but doubtless fairly relaxed if Zenobia wishes them to feel that way. The main door to the room is behind them so that Zenobia walks out of their line of sight when she is leaving the room.

If her men protest, taking some of the burden on themselves for her sake she allows it.

She speaks conversationally, using her voice to sound further away than she is. She (or one of her men)  quietly enters, puts a hand over the mouth of each one from behind, and pushes her knife up the back of their necks and into their brains. She hopes it will be quick and relatively painless.

If the family of the dead villager want to get involved she does not allow it. This is justice not revenge. They will feel differently in time she explains.

After each killing Zenobia asks her guards to take the bodies away discretely, so that the other prisoners do not know about it. She hopes that they should be used to being separated and grilled by this time and won't think it remarkable that their numbers are diminishing. They might be expecting a public execution Zenobia does it quietly. It's not something she's proud of. It's something that's necessary. She's not interested in terrorizing them any more.

Zenobia explains it this way.

"If I sentence a man to death for his crimes and my fear of the crimes he will one day commit if given his freedom, then it falls to me to carry it out. This should never be an easy decision. I will be taking away from the judged everything they have or will ever have. If it is to be done I must do it, not ask another to do it where I will not see. Up close we see things the way they are. Distance can make horrible actions far to easy."

Zenobia lies to them if they enquire, saying that the Anthros are trying to separate the truly corrupt from the merely misguided. If there are screams she says the Anthros interrogations are not very pleasant. Only two get the opportunity to try and redeem themselves. The one who is difficult to read frightens Zenobia most of all.

In the end Zenobia ends up executing 13 of the 15 men, as mercifully and as painlessly as she can. It's more than they would have offered their victims she thinks, but still she is pale and shaking by the end of it, her mask of control slipping.

"It had to be done." she says to Cort and to her men. "Villages far from here chased them off knowing what they were but not able to do what they knew in their hearts needed to be done."

"It had to be done." she says again, but she's holding her hands together to stop the shaking.

The two survivors get to see the line of bodies. "I have judged you deserving of a second chance." she says to them while they look at the thirteen men. She throws each of them a shovel, with her soldiers looking on.

"There will be no third. Continue on the path you are on and I will kill you."

Zenobia uses her message spell on each of them individually (rather like Galadriel mind speaking to the Fellowship). She is grim and earnest..

"Make no mistake, I have the resources to find you wherever you may go."

Everyone involved is silent.  No one smiles and not a few are looking at Zenobia with a look she has never seen directed towards her before...fear.  With only two survivors of the interrogations and armed with the knowledge that there never were any Anthros involved (as they have not arrived yet whatever Zenobia told the prisoners), the villagers know that only Zenobia could have done what was done, only she and her men ever entered the building other than the prisoners.

It takes a while before any approach her, but soon a few remember what had been done to their village.  They remember the kidnapping of Naria and no doubt imagine her fate if the Anthros had not rescued her, as story chilling in its own way.  Soon a large number of the village approach Zenobia, sometimes in one's and two's, sometimes in larger groups, to thank her.  There is still fear there, an awe of recognition of what she is capable of, but it is respect and appreciation, too.

Cort, too, is silent.  He waits for judgment against he and the rest of his men, including the two that were not slain.  The whole town is sombre.

And duties in Riverhill beckon...

Zenobia, looking harrowed, stares at Cort and his men. She is wearing her dark cloak and the hood is pulled up, almost turning her into another person. This is done publicly, Zenobia calling the people together to hear her decision.

"Cort, you and those who followed you in the fight, made your decision in the fight here in this village. You turned back from the dark road, the path that leads to misery or death for others, for my people."

"The cost of that turning was that you and your men faced death by the sword. That is a grave decision and the honorable mark of one facing up to their responsibilities to their fellow man. Thus neither you, nor the brave men who eventually followed you in doing what was right, are guilty of anything in my eyes."

"You are all thus you are free to go on your way as you wish. We all take wrong turnings."

Zenobia's voice takes on a reflective tone, as her mind seemingly wanders..

"It may well be that I myself took a wrong turn here today. If so time will make me pay for the blood on my hands. Nevertheless the burden is mine, I could not ask others to take it. Power must be responsible or it is nothing more than tyranny. Thus, I do as my service to my people dictates..."

Her voice breaks at this point so that Zenobia has to stop speaking for a moment, her eyes shine with tears and she blinks rapidly to clear them, and looks up to sky. She visibly gathers her composure around herself once more.

"...though those actions may go against the very bones of my hand and forever haunt my sleep."

Zenobia looks around those gathered there..

"If any here feel differently I ask you to speak now, or forever hold your peace on this matter. In my eyes these men have proven that they deserve the right to live as free men, but mine is not the only voice."

Zenobia turns to the two others, her face bleak, her voice ominous.

"I deem it possible that both of you can live lifes in harmony with your neighbors. Possible, but not inevitable. Thus you are not yet free to do as you wish. I will not loose you upon these lands, or any other, until I am satisfied that you can be trusted with that liberty. Therefore you will accompany me to Riverhill and there reside until I am satisfied that I have made the correct decision in sparing your lives."

"If you prove yourself worthy of the risk I have taken then I shall return to you your liberty, whereupon you may go where you wish in the knowledge that only by  a knife's edge did you escape death here today. Perhaps knowing how close you were to death will show you the value of life, your own and that of others, who value theirs just as highly."

Zenobia's words gently roll over the crowd, soothing out the tension and fear.  Many many more come to understand and accept what she did.  The freeing of Cort's men being the key.

The two men under house arrest meekly accept the bard's will and wait patiently to return with her to Riverhill.  Cort comes up with his men behind him.

"Well, without my brother to lead us in exploration," Cort explains, "we find we lack both purpose and home.  Some of us have slightly shaded backgrounds, but these are all good men, Nightingale.  Might they find some use in service to these surrounding communities?"

Zenobia, visibly drawn from her experiences of the last few hours, visibly folds up within herself for a few moments as if looking inside at the ruins of her innocence. She visibly starts when Cort speaks, her eyes focussing outwards once more.

A ghost of a smile, nothing but a shattered fragment of the infectious glory that is her grin, plays across her features as Cort speaks.

"It was almost too much for me to hope for. My actions here today have forever sealed the days when I was but a carefree girl behind me. Sometimes there is no going back, however much we would wish it otherwise."

"There is great work to be done. Heralds from the sky speak of an encroaching danger, perhaps our doom."

"There is a mountain of great works to be done if we are to survive what may come. If it turns out to be nothing more than a rumor still it matters not. Great work feeds the well of our souls. If you and your men wish to be part of that I will make of this land something that the elder races marvel at."

"We are but children in their eyes. They have arts and knowledge that we can but dream of. But for every one of them there are five of us. And nobility is the domain of all who strive for it, whether elder race or human."

"Accompany me to Riverhill and it will begin."

Zenobia runs out of steam, apparently the only thing keeping her moving is fear of the future and the glory of her vision.

"If you will excuse me gentlemen I will go to the river now. I need to spend some time alone."

Zenobia rises, and walks through the village heading towards the water.

Zenobia spends several hours down at the lake, with her guards keeping their distance. She floats in the shallows of the lake. She changes into a spare gown, putting the dry one over the wet one for modesty's sake before letting the wet clothes fall out the bottom of the wet dress. It takes on the look of a ritual purification. She's pretty obviously shook up and this seems to be her way of regaining her equilibrium, away from people for a while (which is strange for a bard).

She returns to Swiftpier, asks Matteus to make sure that work on a ditch and rudimentary wall begins soon. She also tells him that if an Anthros comes to Riverhill he will have knowledge of living and growing things that will be useful to farmers and fishermen, but that it might be best if Swiftpier folk don't delve too deeply into the forest.

She informs him of her intention of trying to contact the other races and perhaps build a school in Riverhill.

She attends prayers for the souls of the dead, both the dead villager and the slain or executed bandits.

She then leads her men back to Riverhill.

Cort's men follow Zenobia, but he does not.  His brief explanation the morning the group leaves for Riverhill is that he wishes to head back into the wild and search for his missing brother.  He believes that cave the Anthros showed will provide a clue.  It would draw Reagan like a starmoth to flame.

Zenobia's arrival back in Riverhill is greeted with much energy.  The town is bustling with work including the beginings of a keep on the side of the mountain high above the rest of the town.  Stone for the thing is being quarried out of the mountainside right at the place where the keep is being built.  At the moment it is little more than faint semblance of a front wall.

The one directing, and indeed doing most of, the carving is Cal.  It seems he's learned a new spell or two since Zenobia left a week back.

[Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus:

XP:
25xp * 30 bandits = 750 combat
300 roleplaying = 300 non-combat
300 non-combat + 750 combat = 1050 total xp

Great job on the roleplaying.]

Zenobia addresses her people. She is grim as she recounts what happened.

"The threat to Swiftpier is ended, though not entirely without loss. Our people there are safe, kith and kin in Swiftpier secure. Some of the newcomers among us are members of that bandit band. They turned on their fellows who were intent on slaughter and thus have proven themselves our friends in need."

"Sadly, most of the remainder were intent on murder, rape and banditry. Most had  been exiled from their own people for similar crimes, to prey on good folk in other lands. Only two of that number showed believable remorse and commitment to try better from now on and they are also here with us."

"The rest, thirteen men in total, I personally executed in as painless fashion as I could devise. The alternative was to do as others had done and let them go, making of them someone else's problem, someone else's pain and death, just waiting to happen."

"I suppose I could have enslaved them but to do would foul ourselves with the keeping of slaves. Soon we would have lost respect for the sanctity of life and become a brutal and ignoble people. Enslave one today and enslave a people tomorrow."

"Approach my people open handed in peace and I shall call you brother, call you sister, and welcome you into my home and the warmth of our hospitality. Approach with naked sword and murder in your eyes and you shall find me ready to meet fire with fire."

[Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus: Yes, you are second level. :)  Adjust your character sheet accordingly.]

The people of Riverhill have a different reaction altogether to the proclamation of the defeat and death of the bandits.  A hearty cheer goes up for the victory and for the safety of their friends down river.  People pat Zenobia on the back and congratulate her as well as her guards and the other men who went with her.  They also tentatively accept the ex-bandits into their community.

After some conversations, some of those ex-bandits are offered jobs by community members.  The rest find work up at the keep.

Your advisers, Dominic and Lucius wait to meet with the bard quietly for half the day.  When given a moment to speak, they say that the Cal wishes to meet with Zenobia and they up at the keep away from everyone else.

Zenobia finds the reaction of her people both gratifying and saddening at the same time.

It is good to know that her people believe her to have done the right thing for doubt gnaws at her.

Nevertheless the killing of thirteen men is no small matter and it grieves her that the dead men once had bright hopes and fair dreams. It grieves her that those dreams and the dreams of their kin that bore and raised them should come to such an end.

However, she accepts such feelings as the burden of leadership, which her father had told her is a burden that leaders should carry alone, in silence, without complaint.

Thus Zenobia smiles and accepts with good grace the high esteem and favor of her people. She sings a song of brotherhood and harmony, something of an anthem to her people and takes joy in the fact that her people love and care for each other.

That knowledge still comforts her later as she walks up to the Keep to meet with Cal, Dominic and Lucius.

Considering my skills..

What would social organization, system administration etc come under? How would it work?

[Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus: Knowledge (Government Administration) maybe?  You can use that and have a +2 Synergy (Misc) modifier to it if you like.  You have a lot of skills that would work well with it.]

As you climb the hill, Cal finishes his current spell carving out another portion of what will eventually be the wall.  He surveys his handy work then turns to greet you (he saw you earlier apparently) but immediately looks up and points.

Above you, flying and likely to land between you is a magnificent sight.  A human of graceful, perfect form and beauty wearing shining white clothing -- a sleeveless vest, full length pants, and matching leather boots -- is born aloft by massive feathered wings.  The wings are bright white with shimmering silver highlights.

Next to you Dominic drops to his knees and whispers, "it's true."  Lucius has a similar response, though he keeps his feet.  Cal just frowns and waits patiently.  He seems to know the creature and expects to be annoyed, but not threatened by him.

Oddly enough as the man draws closer you can see that he is carrying a young, blonde woman in his arms.  She is very pretty, for her part -- though no comparison to you -- and dressed all in leathers.  Maybe a scout of some kind?

[Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus: You only know of the Anthros, Invar, and Kradok personally.  You have heard of the Unbular, briefly.  You know nothing of the Echtinik or Evangiel and have no skills (Lore or other) that would help you know anything about him.  The girl is not from a village in Riverhill's influence.  Her dress and hairstyle are strange.]

Zenobia's awe at the sight, her mouth actually drops open for a moment, is tempered by her care for her people, which whispers at her to be cautious with anything new.  However her bardic training has left her open to seduction by beauty. Thus for a few moments Zenobia does little more than freeze with indecision as the being comes closer.

"What's true?" she murmurs, surprised that someone should know more than her about strange things and beings.

[Private to GM: Ok, so only Anthros, Kradok and Invar, got it.  Nice to see the angel showing up though. As for the Government Admin skill, it sounds good, though I was maybe thinking along the lines of social organization or something, basically cultural bodybuilding or something. It's quite vague even in my mind. The kind of skill that allows for massed choirs, the kind of skill that forges individuals into teams, making them more than the sum of their parts - physically, socially, perhaps even spiritually. I'm thinking here that the other races powerful as they are individually would not have as much need of this kind of science of harmony as humans. Mmm... metaconcert? Great now I'm babbling..]

[Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus: That all falls under Diplomacy. :)]

The winged man lands gracefully and sets the human girl down lightly.  He bows deeply, his wings spread wide.

"We are true, oh noble hearted Zenobia."  Standing before you is the most beautiful person you have ever seen in your entire life, even your dreams cannot compare.  A human of immense personal power and charisma smiles at you, lighting up the day as if you had been in the darkest night even though the sun is well past the horizon into morning.  His arms, well muscled and perfectly tan extend from a sleeveless, white vest of some silky cloth.  He wears matching pants and white leather boots.

Flowing from his broad, powerful shoulders are his massive, feathered wings.  They, too, are white, but lined in sparkling silver.

"We are called the Evangiel, the Divine Preachers," the winged man says.  "I am A'damel."  His voice is rich and soothing.  You practically ache to hear more.  Even though he is the epitome of physical perfection and beauty, there is something about him that transcends base sexuality.  In his presence you feel secure, as if nothing in the world could ever harm you.  It is the feeling a child might have in their father's arms.

catching her breathe after the landing she looks sheepishly at the fire haired lady.

"Yeah he had that effect on me too."

He turns to Dominic.  "Please stand, my friend.  I am a servant, nothing more.  None must worship the messenger, only the sender of the message, the Divine."

Silently the old man rises.

Cal snorts and rolls his eyes but then he laughs in good nature.  There is no doubt he's had experience with the winged folk before.

[Private to GM: Ok I guess that all needs money and management. I guess admin-government will cut down on waste and duplication- Great I'm the world's first MBA:)]

Zenobia is standing there in stunned awe, she feels like the creatures of the forest when they encountered fire.

Then it penetrates.."He called me noble hearted.", she thinks starting to blush. "Got to put my best foot forward as the speaker for my people. Say something! don't just stand there gaping."

Just then the girl's wry remark shocks her out of her astonishment and Zenobia, forgetting for a moment the trials and tribulations of recent days, laughs in evident surprise. The shining glory of this being, the sense that everything will  now work and the incongruous blase delivery of those words quite overcome her for a moment.

Not that this is a bad thing, Zenobia's laugh is as musical as a song and as infectious as a plague in a siege.

"A'damel of the Evangiel, and guest. I offer you the hospitality of Riverhill, my home and home to my kith and kin. Glad we are to have you as our guests."

Zenobia is evidently a stickler for courtesy.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:19, Sat 23 Aug 2008.

The Evangiel smiles and nods.  "Your hospitality is appreciated.  We have much to discuss.  I believe Genovia here has information for you as well.  She was on her way to meet with you when I...found her.  After you?"  He motions down the hill back towards the village proper.

Cal sighs.  "I suppose the keep will keep till I get back."

Lucius chuckles at the old wizard's wit.  The group moves down into the town and Cal strikes up a conversation with the Evangiel as if they were old friends.

"So how is old A'matsel?"

Without batting an eye, A'damel replies, "he is doing well  The Message ranges all across Loartec.  Only those who do not heed it will be unprepared.  He does fear that the Unbular see this as a challenge to test themselves against and the Echtinik do not take the threat seriously except for a small few."

The wizard scratches his chin.  "Well, can't say that I'm surprised.  It's a wonder those spider-folk took the time to listen at all.  They'll hide in their caves and think that will save them from anything."  He pauses for a moment, thinking.  "Come to think about it, I haven't heard this Message of yours.  Have you spoken directly to humans before now?"

"We have not.  Zenobia here is our first.  All of the other races have been informed."  He says nothing more but looks around at the humans gathered as if to see what their reaction might be to those words.

Cal nods as if he understands all about it and keeps quiet for the rest of the walk.

She just follows along listening to the conversation, taking in the new people and new situation.

Zenobia's house is in form and structure, no different from any other in the village. It is a lot larger though and to newcomers it appears like the house of a local, and perhaps predatory, nobleman.

This doesn't quite fit though since Zenobia wears pretty much the same clothes as everyone else. Her hard-wearing hemp sunhat looks to be a decade old at least. However there is the braided gold torc on her neck and the ring on her finger, neither of which are of human craftsmanship. It's the little things that set her apart.

As they walk down the hill to the Zenobia's house the local people just stop and stare, weavers stop weaving, gardeners in blooming gardens stop howing and pruning.

The back door of Zenobia's house opens onto a few tables and here a few of the village elders sit nursing their ales and talking about simple things. They stop when A'damel approaches. The livery stables for the town guards are off to one side and here some of the town soldiers are working on harnesses. It's plain that a fair amount of the town's economy is centred on her house. It's not a big fancy dwelling, it's a working building.

"We have guests. I shall talk to them first. I shall speak to the town shortly. Bring our folk in from the fields I don't doubt that our guests have important things to say."

The soldiers mount up and ride out in several directions.

The interior of Zenobia's house, the only two storeyed floor in the town, does not disappoint. There is a common room, with benches and tables. The classroom of children, using it in the middle of the day, look around with astonishment as Zenobia walks in. Zenobia smiles and Laira, their teacher, hustles the children outside. They pass by A'damel looking up at him with curiosity so intense it almost has material form. Some try to touch A'damel's wings but Laira scolds them  and so they pass out into sunlight.

Zenobia passes through the room and into what might be called a parlour. It smells of ale and so doubtless doubles as the town's drinking establishment. It's clean and homely, it's rather dim as well. The leather window covers, paper thin to the point of translucency, not doing as good a job as glass would.

A short corridor leads to a side room from which the sounds and smells of cooking  emanate.

"First things first, would you like something to eat or drink?" asks Zenobia.

Outside the sound of the blacksmith hammering. Zenobia brought back half the metal she got from the bandits and it is being put to work. Tbis thought flickers through her mind, causing a twinge of regret. It doesn't reach her smile though which remains broad and welcoming.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:40, Sun 24 Aug 2008.

"Perhaps a glass of water," the Evangiel responds.  "My friend here might be interested in something significantly more substantial."  He turns to the young woman.  "Genovia?"

Zenobia doesn't call a servant. She walks into the kitchen from which chopping sounds quickly emanate. There's a cook in there and there is a brief, friendly not to say sarcastic conversation.

She comes back quickly, with a selection of cheeses, fresh bread, preserved meats, a sliver of butter, a plate of olives and an apple cut in half. There is a cup of what smells like watered mead and a cup of water. There are several smaller cups.

She puts it down on the table.

Please she says. She pops an olive in her mouth and taking one of the smaller cups disposes of the seed there.

"Gardeners want them." she explains.

"So what do we own the pleasure?"

smiling at A'damel and rubbing her leg a moment she takes some of the cheese.

nodding at Zenobia "Thank you for the food, it's been a long trip from my home."

while munching on the cheese she glances around at her surroundings admiring the things she sees.

The surroundings are pretty plain. This is basically a farming commununity.

The Evangiel sips his water and shuffles a bit to get more comfortable.  Suddenly every eye focuses on him as if there is nothing else in the world but him, no words are more important than those he is about to speak.  The compulsion is overwhelming, irresistible.

"They come.  In less than three years this world will be overrun with beings more horrible than mortals can imagine.  They are the Overlords.  They come to enslave, to corrupt, and to ultimately win the souls of all sentient beings.  They are not invincible, but they are extraordinarily hard to kill.  They are cruel beyond imagining.  No one can expect mercy from them for they never" -- he pauses there.  The pause is long and uncomfortable but it serves to utterly emphasize the word -- "give it."

"The only chance Loartec has against them is for the elder races of the world to unite against them."  At that moment he looks down.  A look of profound sadness is in his eyes when he looks back up, tears stream down his face, but his voice remains strong.  "The Overlords hate humans above all others.  They will seek to exterminate your kind so that not one of you remains.  You must make preparations to survive this.  It is not within your race now to stand as a whole with the elder races of Loartec and withstand these evil beings.  It will be all you can do to survive.  We will help as we can in this, but we are few in number and will be thinly spread as it is.  Mayhap you can find other ways to fight, to survive, that we cannot offer you, but it will be up to you, and you alone to find them.  It grieves me to tell you these things, but heed them as the truth.  Your whole race here on Loartec depends on it."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:20, Mon 20 Apr 2009.

Zenobia's eyes widen and puts her hand over her mouth in shock.

"So it's war without end then, until we are all dead, or they are?"

It is possible that the Zenobia of a week ago would have lost hope and her eyes dimmed, but the Zenobia of this week has been tempered in fire, her metal quenched in blood.

" But come now A'damel we are but simple farming folk, what could we do to stop such evil. The other races have their magic, their metalcraft and their woodlore. We have little save our numbers."

"We need a path to follow and assistance to travel it."

Zenobia is meanwhile thinking...

"If this is true, and we only have his word that it is, then we are going to need help."

"If the rulers in their forests and mountains are giving this prophecy short shrift then there will likely be ones amongst them who disagree and will be open to an invitation from a ruler who is taking this seriously. For every ten that scoff there will be one that feels the same fear that I feel now."

Whether it transpires or not it is still an opportunity to bring the learned and the powerful here. Preparations

The fragility of her home comes to her then.

"Our town is indefensible on the surface. We have to dwell within the mountain. We do not have those skills. We shall have to find them. Additionally we shall have to spread word throughout these lands. My word alone will never do. it will be up to you to show your face and speak your message to those with ears to listen and a mind to heed your warning."

She pauses in her thoughts. Speaking to the Evangiel..

"Every creature has a weakness. If it's skin cannot be punctured it can still be netted. If walls cannot stop it then a stone pit might, then drop a roof on it. If it moves through stone, how will it fare underwater?"

"Rock, Knife, Paper. It's a common game that we have."

"Trap and Lure, show them what they expect to see. Use trickery where force will not prevail. There's more than one way to skin a cat. We are the children of Halai, if force cannot prevail then we must rely on our wits."

while listening she pulls out a small missive and gently taps on it in thought.

She looks as if about to say something but she holds herself back seemingly unsure if to speak up now or wait until after A'damel and Zenobia are finished.

"I'm sorry, Lady Gracchus, but those things will not work on them.  They are the masters of deception and trickery.  Except for there lowest cast, there are not enough humans to destroy even one of the Overlords.  I bring you the Message to give you the capacity to survive if you prepare, not to fight.  The fight will be carried by others."  His face is crestfallen, as if he feels he has failed.  "It is not my intention to give you a false hope or to say something that will have you focus your people on anything but survival preparation.  However, I do know that all things are possible given the right conditions.  Should those conditions come to exist, you may yet find a way to fight back against your own extinction. I have no more information I can give you.  I am sorry."

Then he turns to Genovia.  "Milotes is my next stop.  Have you a message for me to take to your people?"

she nods to A'damel

"Yes I will have one to send in a moment, I just need to draw it up."

she then pulls out some parchment and her writing utensils and writes a quick letter to her people

"If you could make sure this gets to them I would appreciate it.  I am thankful for everything you've done for me to help get me here and I wish there was something more that I could do.  Also I know I am sending the letter but please let everyone know that i'm allright, and please don't say anything about what happened."

She would then turn to the gathered people and wait.

[Private to GM: The note says "I've made it to Riverhill, will find out what information I can, if you don't hear back from me in a month then send another person.  I will send updates when I find out more.  I will also find out what I can about this supposed threat that A'damel is telling us about."]
This message was last edited by the player at 14:06, Tue 26 Aug 2008.

Zenobia's nostrils flare. The source of her irritation quickly becomes evident.

"So should we scatter taking to the seas and forests and wild lonely places of the world? Should we dig into mountains and hide in the darkness eating blind fish and eating mushrooms?"

"Should we seek the protection of the Invar or the other races? And so become little more than serfs in their land?"

"You have told us nothing of their form, their powers, their shape. Nothing in fact save that they are deadly and that they hate us. How are we to prepare for things that we know nothing of."

"I don't know why looking so much like us as you do that you provide so little guidance in what is to be done. It is like chaining someone to the bottom of a river and telling us that a flood will soon come."

"Tell me what is the use of that. Warnings without solutions or even hope is little more than waiting to die. It is worse than no warning, for it takes away any joy in what little time we have left."

A'damel's eyes flare up in white flame.  His hair swirls around him in a maelstrom and he appears to grow to twice his normal size, though that can't be because that would put him through the ceiling.

"Do not whine to me, girl, or accuse me of things you know nothing about!" He thunders.  "I did not come to take your joy and hope from you.  I came to warn you to give you a chance to survive!  With no warning your people would surely perish!  Now you know to seek after some means of survival.  In that seeking you will gain the strength you need."

The flames die and he seems to shrink back down to his normal size.  His hair falls neatly back into its original style as if it had never moved.  He leans in and whispers, "If I even knew the source of your salvation, I could not tell you for in telling you it would take it's power to save away from you.  As it is, that information was withheld from me.  The temptation to aid you is too great in our kind."

A'damel stands straight again and looks around.  "Gathered here are some of men's wisest and most cunning.  I have faith that you will endure."  Then he turns to Genovia.  "I will be sure your message is received and your people warned.  Fare well, my friends.  My prayers are with you...always."  With that last benediction he is out the door and gone before an eyeblink, moving faster than humanly possible.  In his wake he leaves a vacuum to be filled with despair or resolve, whichever the humans present choose to fill it with.

Zenobia shakes her head and apparently takes to thinking out loud..

"Your doom is upon you. I can tell you that much, but I can't tell you anything more than that. It's a secret you see."

She laughs a bitter laugh.

"That's the best one I've heard in a good while. Holy Halaia would be much amused I am thinking."

"As for A'damel, I shall call him hopebringer in my songs, or perhaps illuminator. Perhaps in time he will bring either hope or illumination and cause me to reweave the words into new shape."

She smirks, adding...

"Accuse him of things I know nothing about. Didn't it occur to him that in order to accuse anyone of anything you have to know what it is first? And then after practically saying there is nothing you can do to avail yourself of a defence he says in seeking you will find the strength to defend yourself. Halaia would laugh himself silly I am sure."

"I reckon we thank him for the warning and then comprehensively ignore him. If he means well we shall find out in due course."

"At the very least we should prepare in the time we may have left us. I doubt not that answers we will find from others rather more locquacious than our new incendiary friend."

Zenobia grins, it's a pissed off angry grin to be sure, but it's a grin nonetheless.

"We must look to our own resources and not expect salvation from on high. I feel we would be surely disappointed."

shrugs slightly as Zenobia vents.

"We can only do what we can do.  If it's up to us to find a way to combat a coming enemy then we must find our strength to do it.  Which comes to one of the reasons as to why i'm here.  The leaders of my village sent me to meet the leader of Riverhill, and so I have."

She the hands over the missive that she had been tapping

"That is a message from the leader of Milotes, we were seeking trade and possibly something else.  Since this has happened though Fredrick, our leader, may want to discuss other things.  After A'damel talks with them I expect I will recieve some message myself on what they are wanting to do."

she looks at those assembled a moment

"If you would allow me to abide here for a while I would like to try and find out what I can about this threat he was talking about.  I could do work around the village to help pay for my room and board here somewhere.

Zenobia, thoroughly vented now, [apparently the red hair and temper thing is true in her case] nods...

"We will need to approach the other races. For the moment you are the ambassador from Milotes."

Zenobia turns to her advisors and the wizard..

"See about digging into the hill now. Anything above the ground is dangerously vulnerable. We also need to think about how to hide our shelter from unfriendly eyes. Seemingly we cannot make a stand so we must make sure it cannot be seen."

"We also need to think about ways of cultivating food, heating and cooking, accessing water that does not draw attention."

"All of this requires that we go and see the Kradok first."

listens as Zenobia lays out her plans.

"I know some Kradok myself and may be able to help in getting a representative to talk to.  I also have some ideas that you could probably use to help in hiding some areas of interest in mountainous regions, if you'd like some friendly input."

taps her finger to her chin while she talks, her eyes getting an eager gleam

"Be my guest, not that you weren't before, but you know what I mean." says Zenobia with a grin, it's still a fierce "let them try it" grin, but it is mellowing.

Dominic coughs and speaks up with a worried tremble in his voice.  "Zenobia, if this message is true, I have no idea what we could do.  But I for one have no intention of laying down and letting these so-called Overlords exterminate us like vermin."

Lucius chimes in, "humans have the strength to endure.  I suggest we send out representatives to all the races and ask for ideas.  Cal knows the Invar.  You are familiar with the Anthros.  We could send others to the Unbular and Echtinik.  Mayhap they will have an answer the Evangiel could not provide."

Cal, who has been lost in thought all this time, smiles.  "Them Evangiel ain't so bad.  They do the best they can with what information they are allowed to pass out.  My bet is that we'll stumble on something on our own.  Until then, I suggest we continue on with the keep.  I'll be sure to double the wall strength as I can.  Mebee not make it such an open thing like I's gonna."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:14, Wed 27 Aug 2008.

still taps her chin thinking.

"I will need a little bit of time to fully draw up my plans but that keep I saw being built is a good start, to help with what could be the actual real living area."

looks to the one named Cal

"You are the mage of the group correct?  Can you send messages magically or know of a way to get a message to another town quickly?  I have need to ask some questions to my leader.  Until I find out when I can get an audience and get the other information I need.  Until I can get a response from them I will need to setup camp here and write out the details more fully.  My mind tends to outrun my mouth sometimes so I need to get it straight first."

Cal laughs.  It's a gruff sound most would take offense to thinking he was laughing at them, but his face indicates real merriment and softens the effect.  "Sweetheart, I'm the only human 'mage' I've ever met.  Probably the only being that's a wizard for two hundred miles.  And I'm old.  It took me decades just to catch on to the basics.  Thankfully the Invar that taught me was patient.  Not a common trait among their kind."

He grins over at Dominic and Lucius as if including them in a private joke.  "Unless your village has a wizard I ain't heard of, I can't do a conversation like what you want. I barely have the power to send a quiet little whisper across the room, much less all the way down to Swiftpier."  Cal shakes his head apologetically.  "Sorry, kid, I just don't have that kind of power."

Zenobia nods at the suggestions.

"I will visit all our neighbors. Diplomacy is what I'm good at. Genovia you should come with me if you have friends among the Kradok.

Zenobia turns to the wizard. "Cal you should message the Invar to tell them that I humbly request an audience with them."

"Cal you should stay here and get things started. We need this town in that mountain if we can. Anything outdoors will be too easy to wreck. Anyway, do what you can."

"Fields and other cultivated lands will be like a beacon inviting destruction. I will speak to the Invar about changing the look of our land to both hide and feed us. They are very much concerned with nature magic."

"Zenobia, I recommend that we continue on with what you had in mind all along."  Lucius says.  "Unite the villages into a strong kingdom, something to begin to rival the elder races.  We have a more focused purpose than before if this Overlord thing is true.  We'll build our buildings, like the keep, with a bit more strength and function but perhaps not so much beauty as we might if we took our time."

He looks over at Dominic to see if he agrees.  The other older man is nodding his assent.  "We should take care of Sanguine, bring them back into the fold.  Really shore up our communities here into a real kingdom.  Then we can start making contacts with other places like where this girl is from."  He waves in the general direction of Genovia who is speaking with Cal about messages or something.

Dominic comes alive.  The Evangiel's message had depressed him it looked like, but a new energy flooded everyone now including the old advisor.  "Very good my lady.  I'll handle Sanguine while you are gone.  I'm still fit enough to ride.  Maybe Marcus will come go with me if I can get word to him fast enough.  Lucius and I will tighten things down here in our neck of the woods while you gather allies from abroad.  Cal isn't half bad at running Riverhill when he has to."

Cal splutters and blusters about having to stay and run the town and not having time to work on the keep, but in the end he agrees.  If Kradok and Invar allies arrive, they'll be able to fashion a much better, safer structure than he could with all the time left to his life, and they would do it in just a few months.

"I suppose Janny would love to be my little messenger for things around town."  He grumbles and gets up to leave.  "I've got plenty of things to do.  Zenobia, you have anything else for me before I get to 'em?"

Zenobia listens to all and responds..

"Bringing elder race allies here will bring Sanguine quickly into the fold. Securing their aid is our highest priority. Thus I will ride as soon as we are set here."

"The other villages will take note of our actions against the bandits and look to us for leadership. Once that happens the villagers of Sanguine will likely see the way the wind is blowing. If the three brothers attempt to keep their people in line with force then they are no better than bandits and I will not permit our people be subject to violence. I believe I could sway the hearts and minds of the people there with words of reason."

"Leave Sanguine until my return. Going there yourself could be the spark that sets the tinder of suspicion to violence. Bring the news to the other villages, and gather each headman who is willing to accompany you as you move through the villages. People like to see groups of people of one mind, it makes them want to join."

nods to Zenobia

"I can come with you, maybe I can help be the extra set of eyes and ears in the crowd.  This will give me a chance to learn more about the surroundings as well."

she looks down at her clothes and how they are still ripped and blushes slightly.

"But before we leave is there somewhere here that I can get my armour patched up?  I already have the hides needed to patch, I just need someone who knows how to tailor a little better than me."

Dominic hears Zenobia's words and bows.  "As you wish, Zenobia.  I'll help Cal and Lucius around here."

Then he turns to Genovia.  "First thing I can do is get you down to Maddy.  She'll get your armor patched up real good.  She won't charge you anything since you are helping us.  If you'll follow me?"

As the small group of humans makes their way around preparing for Zenobia and Genova's departure, a tall, furred form strides in to town.  The Anthros is ever so much taller and more muscled than Spatha.  His ears are sleek and pointed at the top where Spatha's are rounded.  Also he has no lobes hanging at his chin like Spatha does.  His ears end right below his nose-line.

As a villager shies away from him, he slowly sits down on a wooden post used to tie up horses.  His grin, meant to be friendly, frightens anyone who comes near.  This makes his ears droop a bit, but still he tries.

"Zen-o-bi-a?" he pronounces slowly to anyone who gets close enough to hear him.  Finally an older man points him to Zenobia's home where she and her advisors have gathered again with Genovia to make last preparations to leave.

Zenobia comes out and grins back at the Anthros when it grins at her. A smile is a smile is a smile to her. It had previously occurred to her that it's generally a rule that you get more trouble from your own kind than you ever get from others. Though that seems to be changing in the near future.

She bows lightly, courteously..

"I am Zenobia and welcome to our home. We were just heading out actually to visit the Anthros, the Kradok and the Invar. We are going to seek aid from our neighbors. Would you like to come with us?"

The Anthros is obviously a young male.  Zenobia's words look like they are confusing to him, perhaps spoken too fast or perhaps not words he understands at all.  He purses his lips, an extremely youthful expression, then his eyes light up.  He points to the bard, "Zen-o-bi-a?"  Then he points to himself.  "Bed-aw-ry."

Then he purses his lips again and his eyebrows sink down nearly to his wide nose as he thinks.  "I am here to learn you and teach from you."  His words are slower as if each must be translated independently to form a sentence.  "You go Anthros," he points to self and then off to jungle.  "Invar...Kradok," he pantomimes walking and then points way off towards the south.  "Bedawry to go above you?"

It seems he does get some of the point, if he is horrible with prepositions.

Zenobia smiles, after all he's getting the message across. She then nods, points to herself.. "Zenobia" and then points at the Anthros.. "Bedawry". She shows no fear, which must be quite something to her people. Perhaps they will admire her bravery, perhaps they will think her strange or otherworldly.

Nevertheless it is for her to risk what they will not and do what is necessary to preserve their well being.

Zenobia points to the sky.

"Danger comes soon. I go to find help."

smiles as the Anthros talks to Zenobia, and listens to see what the next step is.

Zenobia stands there, within striking distance of the Anthros named Bedawry, her dark auburn hair fluttering in the breeze. She has her hemp cloth sunhat in her hand...

"Friends help ..." she says smiling. "Friends bring joy..."

The other side of this is that she hasn't had an opportunity to take off her chain mail short, or unstrap her longsword. The one peeks out from under her blouse, the other hangs at her side.

Zenobia looks like an armed farming girl, just one with more bravery than most, and not like a noble parading airs and graces.

Lillith the tiny daughter of the blacksmith, looks up at the Anthros with wide eyes and tugs on Zenobia's skirt. With barely a blink Zenobia reaches down and picks up the child, who wraps a companionable arm around Zenobia's neck and twists around to stare at Bedawry, open mouthed.

Zenobia laughs, since that's what children make you do.

Slowly, gently the Anthros reaches out and pats the little girl on the head.  "Friends?" he asks.  Squealing in delight, Lillith reaches out to the Anthros to be held.  Only the unjaded innocence of such youth could produce such a moment.  Bedawry holds out his hands and accepts the young girl into his embrace.  Immediately Lillith begins to explore through all the fur and across his strange facial features tickling the giant being and making him chuckle.

Dominic returns with satchels loaded down with supplies for a long journey (assume the supplies on your character sheet.  Feel free to refill or add any food or other cheap replaceable things you might want).  "Zenobia, we'll get the people assembled if you want to speak to them before you leave.  If you are going today, you may wish to bathe and change before leaving.  It might be some time before you'll have a real bath again."

Zenobia smiles, rather pleased at how things turned out. She could always rely on Lilith to play with strangers. It was ever an easy way to cut through fear and suspicion at outsiders.

"That works for me." she says to Dominic.

Zenobia addresses her people who are coming in from the fields after having been summoned home by the town's defenders on horses.

"My kin, my friends. One came to us earlier, one like us and yet not like us."

"Ya, you don't have wings." is the sarcastic reply to that one, which sets people to laughing.

"That's true and yet I must ride like the wind today. Our guest an Evangiel came with a warning and a prophecy. A great evil is coming to our lands, a great evil that wishes to empty the land of us and our people, an evil that would see us dead. I believe his warning. I feel in my bones that it is true."

"I do not know what we have done to offend such mighty darkness but I go now to find out and to gather such allies from the neighboring races as may be willing to help us."

"There is much to be done if we are to save ourselves and our children. I know that while I am gone on this errand that you will set about it.

"Our people have prospered despite the fact that we are a younger race, filling the land like the sea around the island territories of the other races. We are noble and we shall endure this coming test as we have endured every other time of testing before. This testing to come will be hard as no other, but nevertheless we shall endure and overcome. We are Halaia's chosen people and have more than a few tricks up our sleeve."

[Private to GM: I rolled for Zenobia's oration to the people using diplomacy skill. You rolled 35 using 1d20+17 ((18)).]

The town stands and cheers loudly.  Their words are of faith and encouragement and resolve to survive and more.  Many shout promises to care for and build up the town and their neighbors.

After the tumult dies down, many come up and shake hands or give hugs to encourage Zenobia (and to meet Genovia and Bedawry).  An impromptu send-off party ensues with a great meal prepared for the adventurers.  Talk is light, a memorial to human endeavor so far and to the vision of the future for humanity.

All too soon the party reaches its climax and it is time to go.  There is nothing left to be said but farewell.  Nothing left to do but pray and go.

After all the festivities are over she would find Zenobia.

"Zenobia I would like to ask a favor on our trip.  I would like to swing by my home on our way to the other races.  It would give us a chance to meet the Kradok, and I know the Leader would want to talk to you."

Zenobia is deep in thought, as they make their way out of the town but comes out of her reverie when Genovia speaks. Though her oratory ability is well nigh Messianic it doesn't seem to swell her head.

"Certainly.." she says with a faint smile.

"Ah, Genovia, might I ask where precisely your skills lie?"

looks at Zenobia a moment

"I guess you would say that i'm a scout when i'm out in the wilderness, and an information broker when i'm in town.  I like to learn things really.  That's one of the reasons why I came to Riverhill in fact was to learn about a story I heard.  It was about the beginning of man, and how a star was where we came from.  It is said that a star fell from the sky, landing near Riverhill and when it did that it brought forth the human race."

"There is a cave in Anthros lands. Something did strike the land there, but a long time ago I am thinking." says Zenobia conversationally.

"I wonder what is there or if anyone has searched the area to find out what happened.  Surely someone would have in all this time.  The Kradok that told the story really didn't go into very many details about it."

pulls out her waterskin and takes a drink

"What is Riverhill like?  I had a decent look at it when I flew in.  It looks like some of the surrounding land is pretty harsh"

"Kradok not know cave.  Anthros not know cave.  None know cave.  None go in."  The Anthros replies to Genovia's first comment.

"Why doesn't anyone know about the cave?  Surely someone has gone in there."

Bedawry concentrates as if the words are difficult.  "They not know what is in the cave.  Know cave there.  Don't know what in cave...because not able to go in."

gets a confused look on her face

"Not able to go in?  I wonder why that is.  I would really like to see this cave at some point, maybe after we get done with this expedition I can.  Well that is for another time anyway, for now though, what is this next town we will come to?  It was the only one I could see when we flew to Riverhill.  I had just made it to a river that was close to it before my incident happened."

She says the last with a bit of a wince.

Zenobia quietly listens as the conversation ranges over no entry caves and incidents.

"What was this incident?" she asks.

rubs her hand down her armor where it's patched

"Well you see since i'm such a good scout, I found a nice full tree that looked inviting and was built for protection, and it was getting late.  So I thought this is a good place to hole up for the night.  Being next to the river I set up on the land side of the tree so as not to get the breeze from the river coming up, and I bedded down.  Me being tired and all I didn't set up any kind of noise traps or do any of the scouting tricks I should have."

she shudders a moment before continuing

"The next thing I know i'm waking up with this horrible excruciating pain in my leg, or what was left of my leg from the thigh up.  A crocodile had come up in the night and tore my leg off."

She looks down at her leg then

"I was woozy from bloodloss and pain but I knew that if I was going to die then I would at least take the stupid beast with me and I fought with my last remaining strength.  The last thing I remember of it was wounding the beast so much that it lashed out in pain itself and bit my arm off.  When it did I was able to angle my knife so that when it bit down that it was a fatal blow to it."

then flexes her hand and arm

"The next thing I know i'm waking up looking at the most handsome man i've ever seen staring down at me.  If it wasn't for the stinging in my leg and arm I would have thought I went to the blessed lands.  That's how I got my nice flight to Riverhill"

Zenobia smiles.. "The more friends, the better. I'd quote the single arrow, sheaf of arrows parable, but I figure you've heard that old chestnut a thousand times."

The path south to Swiftpier is generally peaceful.  A few sheep here and there graze.  Cattle rest in the shade of trees.  Dotting the country side is the occasional farm, though there are fewer than ten on the six hour journey.

During a peaceful stroll through a small wooded area about halfway to the town, Bedawry sputters and starts swinging wildly at nothing.  As he collapses and begins rolling around on the ground, still waving his hands around, he cries out, "Eight, eight!"

Zenobia is off her horse so quickly, she stumbles as she hits the ground. She motions with her hands, and speaks a few words, her voice changing somehow.

[Private to GM: Casting Detect Magic]

As Bedawry continues to struggle he still cries out "eight" over and over again.

[Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus:

No magic is detected.]

doesn't get off of her horse but circles the group and looks around for someone or something

"Eight what?  Eight people, Eight pains, you ate something bad.  What is it?"

"Circle the horses..look to all sides." Zenobia has her sword out. There's nothing she can do for Bedawry, it looks like some kind of fit. So she surveys the surrounding land.

Still rolling around frustrated, Bedawry says no more.  But as he rolls around you can see that he is enmeshed in some kind of silky, stringy substance.  As he struggles, it grows thicker and thicker.  The excess is being pulled from nearby trees several yards back into the woods.

Zenobia, unable to decide what else to do sheathes her sword and draws her knife. She starts hacking at the strands.

"We need to cut him free and pull him over that way." She indicates with a toss of her head, a direction away from the trees.

The strands cut easily enough, but they are sticky and tend to collect on the sword.  Bedawry is free soon enough, but his fur is sticking out at weird angles making him look rather silly.  Zenobia's sword is covered in a gooey mess of strands which makes the sword a bit heavier to carry and off balance.  The blade doesn't look like it could cut through much of anything at the moment [Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus: -1 attack, -2 damage].

Suddenly a weight falls on the back of each of you from the trees.  A stinging prick slashes into your backs.  (Roll Fort. saves)

[Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus: You take 1 point of damage.]
[Private to Genovia Swiftfoot: You take 2 points of damage.]



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 |     T           T      GT      T
 |         T     T    T  h   T      T     T
 |        TTT          Z   T              TT
 |        TT        T  B         T      T
 |        T     T    T      T      T     T
 |           T       T   T        TT      T    T
\|/            T                T             T
 |      T            T                T
         T       T   T        TT      T    T
 S         T            T                T
          T       T   T        TT      T    T
               T     T          T    T
          T           T       T      T



G - Genovia
Z - Zenobia
B - Bedawry
h - horse
T - Tree
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:30, Mon 15 Sept 2008.

[Private to GM:

GM -> Sorry, did not check the die roller to see there.  Used to folks stating their rolls here in their posts.

16:13, Thu 11 Sept: Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus rolled 8 using 1d20+1. Fort Save.]

Zenobia attemps to pull one of Bedawry's arms up to a horse stirrup, and push the hand through the loop. She intends to mount up and ride low to her horse's back while urging it forward.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:33, Mon 15 Sept 2008.

[Private to Genovia Swiftfoot: It helps if you paste your rolls here in the post so that I can see them.  I never remember to check the Dice Roller. :)  Like this:

15:09, Thu 11 Sept: Genovia Swiftfoot rolled 5 using 1d20+2. fort save.]

Zenobia feels a chill spread from the sting and begin to flow through the rest of her body.  Her attempts to move the large Anthros are sluggish.  The already terrified horse rears and pulls its reigns out of reach before bolting off into the trees.

Genovia feels the same chill.  Her focus begins to wane and it is hard to stay in the saddle.  It might be best to dismount by choice before the combination of height and delirium remove the choice from her.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:32, Sun 21 Sept 2008.

OOC: Whose horse?

(Yours.  Genovia is still on hers, hopefully dismounting.)

slides out of the saddle and moves to the tree right next to her to try and get a grip on the situation.

she looks around the clearing trying to see if she can see where the strands are coming from.

Still covered in sticky goo, the Anthros heaves to his feet.  He looks around as best he can, though his eyes are partially obscured and closed by the strands.  As he sees Zenobia, he immediately lunges for her and takes a swing powerful enough to take her head off.  The agile bard ducks the blow, which barely misses.

Zenobia tries to get away from this monumental disaster with as much grace as she can muster. Bedawry, now an enemy apparently, is too dangerous to try and save. She moves as quickly as she can away from the strands, using her knife to cut through strands.

The strands quickly wrap the knife up, making it as useless as the short sword.

Bedawry looks Zenobia over quickly then spins to find Genovia.  He is at her side in two strides, again taking a mighty swing, and again just barely missing the agile young woman, drunk though she appears to be.  This time both humans hear a distinct crunch and SPLAT against a tree thirty yards away.

Zenobia continues doing what she is doing. [Private to GM: I'm a bit confused, are we poisoned, drugged or what?

GM -> Zenobia:  It feels like a light poison.  You can't tell what is attacking you yet, but its probably small.  Most likely Bedawry is going after that rather than you.  Whatever that stinging feel was, it was on your back.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:42, Mon 22 Sept 2008.

cringes slighty as she hears the smack

"That could have been my head."

She draws her bow and nocks and arrow trying to catch a glimpse of what it is Bedawry is swinging at.
[Private to GM: perception roll of 7]

As Bedawry stands upright and halts his attacking, the group is able to recover.  It is evident now that the big Anthros was not after his companions but something near to them.  What the group finally sees is three remaining spider like creatures the size of small dogs.  As quickly as he can, Bedawry pulls out an unlit torch and flint.

Only animal in intelligence, the spider-things creep forward together deciding if lunch is still attainable now that surprise is gone.  It gives the furred giant enough time to light the torch, which he immediately touches to one of the strands streaming from his body.  There is a brief *woosh* of sound accompanying a hurried set of lines of flame.  It leaves his body entirely free from the sticky webbing and his fur slightly singed.

Upon seeing the fire, the spider-things flee.

watches the spider like things run and shakes her head

"Again with the scary animals, I can't seem to get away from them.  This is turning into a bad habit that I need to get out of.  I need to pay more attention to my surroundings."

looks to Bedawry

"I'm sorry I doubted you when you came towards me,  I just don't like it when people I barely know start swinging in my direction"

The Anthros smiles at Genovia, a big, toothy grin that is more frightening than reassuring.  "I am learning your speaking.  In the moment I knew not words to use and so acted.  I sorrow that I caused fear in you.  One reason I come with you is to learn your speaking."

He turns to include Zenobia in his apology.  "They are named arachinae.  Echtinik sometimes hold as pets.  These are wild.  Drink.  The poison you feel passes with much water.  No enduring effect from poison is.  Only when many arachinae bite at same time is poison dangerous."

He looks down grimly at his singed fur.  "Fire burns all connected web of arachinae.  They fear fire for if it burns web as they are spitting it, the web inside also ignites and they POP!"  He says the last word with a loud voice and an exaggerated exploding motion with his hand.

___________________


[Private to Genovia Swiftfoot; Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus: +150 XP for encounter.  +50 for roleplaying.]

listens to Bedawry intently

"So is there a way that we can watch for these in the future?  I really don't want to run into them again on the trip?"

turns to Zenobia

"We need to see if we can find your horse since he took off,  If we need to you could ride with me since the horse would be less likely to get tired as fast."

looks around the clearing then back to the two

"Also how much further is it to the next town?  I know it's a fairly long distance from whatever that town is to my home, and we need to get started trying to get the meetings started."

"Thank you Bedawry, I thought you had some trembling ailment and was rushing to help. It's a pity we didn't see them as well. It would have made things much simpler. Beasts are usually scared of fire. I thought it was coming from the trees."

'Yes, let's get that horse.." she adds to Genovia.

The horse is soon found and only takes a few minutes to settle down enough to ride.  Once more the group is on the move to the south.  Bedawry keeps the torch lit and burns any webbing he sees.  It is thin, and hard to see unless you are looking for it.  No other arachinae accost the travelers on the way out of the woods and soon the trees open up into rolling prairie hills.

[Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus; Genovia Swiftfoot: Roll spot check.]

Along the way, Bedawry is chatty.  He speaks of the jungles and the various creatures there, all of which sound a lot more dangerous than the arachinae.  [Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus; Genovia Swiftfoot: Add +2 Knowledge (Jungle Fauna) to your sheets.]  It is a pleasant conversation and Bedawry is quickly learning the human language.  It seems he is rather intelligent as well as charming.

Zenobia is happy with the way things are going, though less happy about the idea that there are more dangerous things than the devil spiders in these woods.

[Private to GM: Zenobia rolled 23 using 1d20+7 ((16)) Spot Check]

As the trees part out, and the group heads into the hills, Zenobia notices one hill in particular that has some odd features.  Moving closer she recognizes some particular patterns in some of the rocks that Dominic had shown her once.  These were a rare metal a lot stronger than regular iron.  The Kradok use them to enchant with magic.  If humans were to establish a mine here, the things they could forge would be hardier in defense and for the inevitable attack of the coming doom.  If it was plenteous enough, even the new fort the wizard was digging out could be reinforced with it, making it that much stronger.

This is a very fortuitous find.

Zenobia turns to Bedawry..

"Would it be possible for my people to come here and examine that rockcropping? Unless I miss my guess it contains metals useful for the defence of my people."

"Why is it you ask me?  Do you not lead the humans of Riverhill?  I do not doubt capacity to mine this you have and my permission you do not need."  He sweeps his long arms around as if to take in the whole countryside.  "Anthros abide in jungle, the Invar in deep forests, Kradok in their mountains, the Unbular in their wastelands, and the Echtinik deep in the dark places of the world.  This land is no one's and none want it but perhaps your kind."

He smiles big and turns away to continue the journey to Milotes.  "No, Nightingale.  You need not ask permission in this."

The rest of the trip, which was more than 200 miles all told, to Genovia's hometown, which she calls Milotes, is uneventful.  The tiny village of Milotes has existed for several centuries.  It's people migrated from the north long ago and found a perfectly defensible place against the wild creatures that populate this world humans have taken to calling Loartec.  Milotes sits in a high valley nestled among some rather imposing mountains.  The soil is fertile, the water supply a massive lake which also provides plenteous fishing.  Fruits trees grow thickly from the forest growing west of the village.  Milotes itself takes up only a square mile at the eastern end of the valley.  The western entrance is a wide switchback road that wagons can traverse with a little bit of care.

As the three of you walk through the valley, Genovia explains a bit about the history of the town and its small Kradok population.  A century into the village's existence, the Kradok arrived.  They were curious about the human settlement and while it was clear they believed the humans to be inferior to them in many ways, they were never cruel about it, especially since the humans turned out to be voracious customers, purchasing almost anything the Kradok brought to sell in the way of artifice.  They even showed the humans how to mine a load of hard mineral they called impervion, which they then traded for.  The Kradok were an honest, if demanding people and soon the humans of Milotes grew to respect their wisdom and knowledge.  It was from the Kradok that Milotes learned of its past and of Riverhill and the human settlements to the north.  Frederick Milotes, the mayor of Milotes and descendant of its founder, was the one who'd sent Genovia north to find out more.

The group arrives at nightfall and rather than attempt to bother the mayor or other administrators, the group instead retires to Genovia's home.

[Private to Genovia Swiftfoot: As a scout in the Milotes armed services you have an income and are able to afford a small home.  Something with two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a central living area.  You can collect your pay on the way in, but it amounts to 15 silver a week so you have collected about 30 silver since you left.]

The home is a nice little cottage near the backdrop of the mountains.  It has two bedrooms a small kitchen, and a comfortable living area.  The decorations and furnishings are sparse, but very clean indicating that Genovia has probably just moved in.

"Please, everyone make theirselves at home.  Since i've been out for a while there isn't much in the way of food so we will need to go to the tavern to eat, but you can drop your packs off and get cleaned up a bit.  If you'd like to actually take a full bath i'll have to drag the tub in and get it setup, or there is a local bath house that we use that is heated."

she drops her own stuff off in a corner and goes into one of the bedrooms, where some shuffling is heard.

Zenobia does make herself at home. She is comparing all she can see with her own home. Could be trading, or just competitiveness.

the house's furnishings are modest.  It has a rustic feel to it.

On the walls there are a couple of small tapestries that appear to be very old.

Also hanging on the walls there are the beginnings of a weapons collection, an old battered longsword and shortsword are crossed on one wall, upon closer inspection one would notice some worn runic symbols along the blades.

In one corner of the living area there are a couple of stringed instruments.

"Genovia.  I am liking your place of living very much."  The Anthro's voice is a deep hum, like a cat's heavy purr when resting on a sunlight windowsill.  "Cozy is my choice of word for here.  I mean no slight to you but I will sleep in trees seen on the way in tonight.  Your den is not Anthros sized."  His big toothy grin dispels any hint of ill intent in his words.  And with Bedawry in the home, it does seem to be a bit cramped.

"I will happy be to join you for dinner at this tavern, though.  Your folks here I would much like to meet."

"We're here for a reason and we should not delay." says Zenobia with a smile.

There is little for anyone to do that evening because the government shuts down around sundown so that the leaders, mostly men, have time with their families.  Genovia leads her two guests to the local tavern and introduces them to her friends and the folk of the city.

Milotes is rather large for a human settlement, encompassing a population greater than Riverhill, Swiftpier, and Tenderwood altogether, around 2500 people.  The tavern itself has little in the way of rooms for rent since the idea of an inn for travelers is a strange one given that there are few strangers that come through, and most of those are Kradok emissaries who are put up in homes of the local blacksmiths or the mayor.  Therefore the tavern is a large meeting house able to seat several hundred patrons.  It has more than twenty teen and young adult servers, all human of course.

Tonight there are fewer than a hundred in the massive place, winding down their day with a cold beer.  Few are eating anything more than the bowls of chikal nuts, a naturally salty nut found growing throughout the forest.  The weed itself is symbiotic with the rest of the flora and is part of what makes the valley such a rich area for farming.

As soon as Bedawry enters the tavern, it goes quiet as eyes turn to look at him.  Humans know of their Anthros neighbors to the north, but few of them have ever seen one.  Bedawry smiles, causing a few humans nearest him to gasp in momentary fear, but soon a crowd gathers around him to assail him with questions.  The easy going Anthros happily answers all he can.

A few of the older patrons notice Zenobia as well and welcome her.  They ask about Riverhill and the human settlements to the north.  They also welcome Genovia back.  Most know that she was gone but few knew where or why.  Once they find out Zenobia is a singer, they ask her to perform.

[Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus: Unfortunately your reputation has not spread this far.  They don't know who you are or who the Nightingale is.  They just like to hear performances.]

Zenobia is more than happy to perform for these people. She steps the centre and slowly begins. It's a drinking night and so Zenobia chooses one where people can sing along and bang mugs on tables. She opens with a reasonable performance as she's getting warmed up. [Private to GM: Performance 18]. She throws in a little oratory to warm the audience up [Private to GM: Diplomacy 33]. Then heads into another song [Private to GM: Performance roll 26]. She then talks to the people a little more to continue establishing the link, knowing she's more of an orator than a singer [Private to GM: Diplomacy 38] she talks about her people and her community.

The crowd thoroughly enjoys the performance and Zenobia soon learns that there are few entertainers in the short centuries of human history[Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus: and fewer still true bards].  Coins are tossed in a large cup for her [Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus: about 1 gold and 35 silver].  But the bigger reward is a spread of her fame.

The night wears on and soon Genovia indicates they should sleep.  She has arranged a meeting with Fredrick Milotes, the mayor of the city.  Soon Bedawry is gone off into the trees to rest and it is just the two women getting ready for the night.

"Well tonight went well.  You made a great impression on everyone, which will add to our discussions with the Mayor tomorrow.  We should get some sleep now though, we have an early morning ahead of us.  I'm sure there will be lots of questions about the matters at hand."

Zenobia smiles, it's the kind of smile that lights up rooms, she seems to virtually glow from being in her element. Away from crowds of people she seems like a fish out of water in contrast.

"Certainly, I'll just say my goodbyes." she says smoothly.

Zenobia, not the kind to hold her head high, or depart imperiously takes her time. She slowly bids the patrons of the Inn a good night. She shakes not a few hands, kisses one or two, touches shoulders here and there, shares a few significant glances; recognizing the importance of individuals. It's not quick but it leaves people with the impression that they know her.

Night comes and goes in the small home and soon the morning breaks into the secluded valley.  Breakfast is practically a feast as some of Genovia's friends welcome her home by treating her and her new friends to a morning meal before the big meeting.

While they eat, a messenger arrives saying that Frederick Milotes is available to meet today as soon as the group can arrive at the town hall.

Zenobia is all sunny grace and effortless charm as she dines with Genovia's friends. You would think from looking at her that she wasn't thinking about the upcoming meeting with Frederick Milotes.

Midway through breakfast Zenobia casually remarks.. "This seems like a very prosperous community, Frederick Milotes must be a great man since his leadership seems to preside over it all."

[Private to GM: Sense Motive 18]

"He's actually pretty good and keeping everyone motivated to work and get along."  One of Genovia's friends, Tristie, says.

Another, Vace, replies, "He has a light hand and the valley does provide a lot of what we need.  Also, the Kradok are fair traders."  Tristie is a fuller figured woman with thick, pink lips and blonde hair.  Vace is a tall, slender man with wiry muscles and dark brown hair.  "His whole family, from father to father has been like that.  They know what needs to be done, gently push people in that direction, and then lets them be.  Our life here is easy going and bountiful."

[Private to Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus: From their words you can tell they like Frederick and that most people in the town do.  One problem you get wind of though is that it will be hard to change their minds from this easy life to one of preparation for an invasion on the level the Evangiel implied.]

"He has always done right by me.  Everyone here has had some dealings with him though, whether it's at a funeral or wedding, or with advice on something."

She seems to respect her mayor.

Soon the breakfast ends and Genovia's friends say goodbye as the group heads to the main office of the mayor.

Upon arriving, you are all told to wait for a few minutes in a simple anteroom where you are served fresh water.  The wait is not long and soon Fredrick Milotes stands before you.  He is a middle aged human with thinning hair and a fit body.  The remaining hair he has is accented by a similar colored, black beard shot through with dark grey.  His eyes are surrounded by the wrinkles of a man who laughs a lot.  His clothing is well kempt but not ostentatious, a reflection of his office.  Around him is a semi-cluttered room with more papers and maps than anything.  It seems Frederick is big on exploration, though most of the maps circle south and east.  One mostly blank one is labeled 'Riverhill Lands'.

Seeing you come in, he sets yet another piece of paper down on his desk and walks around, his hand out to shake.  Bedawry shakes it first.  Frederick seems only slightly taken aback by the giant furball, but genuinely glad to meet one of the Anthros in person.

"Genovia!  So glad to have you back," he smiles warmly, shaking the scout's hand next.  "And who is your beautiful, young guest here?" he asks, turning to Zenobia.

"Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus of Riverhill, at your service" she says, with a curtsey.

"Ah!  The singer we've heard so much about.  A true pleasure."  He takes the bard's hand in a firm grip.  "When I sent Genovia north to learn about you, I never expected her to actually bring you back."  He chuckles.  "What brings you to Milotes?"

Zenobia doesn't mince words or candy coat the message she has..

"I am surprised Genovia hasn't told you." Zenobia glances across at Genovia, the look a measuring one. Then she turns back to Milotes.

"I came to warn you of a coming storm. We recieved word that an army of enormous might and power is on its way to these lands with a mind to kill or enslave us. The one who brought the warning, came down from the sky and made it sound like that this army had a hatred for our race in particular and that our very existence is in peril. Thus my people are busy fortifying our lands and sharpening swords."

"For the moment I do not know whether this army will also come from the sky. In my experience when there's evil about there's invariably one or two who turn from the dark path and seek to warn the future victims. If that is the case then we are all in trouble. I very much doubt whether all my people assembled together would have been able to harm this 'one' messenger." 

"I look to the defence of my own people and now that myself and the Anthros Ambassador have brought this warning to you and your folk I will leave you to lead your people in the preparations."

"Ah, yes."  The mayor scratches his head and lets out a deep breath.  "We have had a visit from the Evangiel.  They are a strange people and their warning seems almost, comical?  I have spoken with Kradok, Unbular, amd Invar messengers and none of them say that there is any greater threat in all the world than what the Echtinik used to be.  Nothing in sky, or land, or sea, or caves below is alive in this world that the combined might of the elder races cannot hold back."

He smiles an ingratiating smile.  "We will continue as we have before.  If we see actual evidence of this threat, then we will do something.  I cannot panic my people on the whims of some bird-men's word.  If something does come, our valley is easily defended."

He holds out his hand to shake again.  "Well, Zenobia, it has been a real pleasure and I wish you well in your journey.  Stop back by on your way home and we will have a real feast to celebrate the contact with our brethren from the north."  It is a dismissal, clearly.

"As you say.." says Zenobia somewhat cryptically. Though she is difficult to read at the best of times, there's the suggestion in her tone and bearing that she's not entirely convinced with the Evangiel's message either. "I hope yours is the right decision."

She smiles broadly, the act lighting up the room, and adds "Thank you for your and your people's hospitality, we should be getting on."

The mayor bows and kindly holds the door for his guests, again wishing them well.  Soon the three of you find yourselves back at the place you'd eaten breakfast, now sampling an early lunch while planning your next move.

"A good person he seemed, though this message he did not believe.  I am sorrowful for the loss of him."  The Anthros says sadly.  "Will we now move to speak with the elder races or seek salvation for your people?"

"If I am wrong to act on this then he will be shaking his head at me in due course."

Zenobia' demeanor belies her words though. She obviously feels that she is correct to worry.

"But no, I rather think that forewarned is forearmed and that strong towns and buildings will be to our advantage whether this assault happens or not. We should move on to speak with the elder races. If what we were told is true then their friendship and protection will matter more than walls and steel, though doubtless we shall come to need both."

"However it may yet be that some here will wish to journey to see the elder races, whether they believe in the warning or not. Such journeys are wonderful in and of themselves."


"I shall see if any here are in the mood for an adventure. It may be by that route that we shall save some of these carefree people. Thus I shall mingle with the people tonight and we shall set off tomorrow for the elder races with perhaps a few more among our number. Doubtless the mayor would take it badly if we were to try and convince his people of the existence of a danger that he himself does not think exists."

Danela enters the tavern.

The tall and muscular blond girl carried four rabbits over her shoulder. Her bow is stringed, indicating recent use, and her leather armor and boots are muddy.

"Daily haul, keep," she says, passing the game to the innkeeper. "Dad says he knows he promised deer, but something's got them spooked today."

Turning around, she spots the petite blond girl at the table.

"Hey, Genovia! What's up?" she asks, looking curiously at the redhead stranger.

 He had been busy working with a farmer that had managed to nick himself with his scyte while working, thus he had missed breakfast, enough to cause his stomach to voice its disapproval loudly.

 Chuckling at the sound of his stomach he enters the inn and waves at the patrons he knew by sight, pausing at the sight of a brace of conneys that the hunter woman was handing over to the inn keeper, his stomach growled again.

 Peace my stomach, food is soon to come your way. he mutters to lightly. Finding a booth he catches sight of the one he only knew as Genovia, She was suppose to be on some adventure the last i heard, mayhaps she has heard something of those rumors about winged men?.

 Waiting till the barmaid comes by and takes his order of whatever the special of the day was and a tankard of ale to wash it down with.

 Glaning back to Genovia he waves a hand as she looks up from the table. Since she had another at her table he chose not to bother her or interupt their dinner.

The red haired woman returns the look of curiosity with an effervescent smile that probably has featured twice nightly in the dreams of local men of late. Her eyes sparkle with barely concealed good humor or mirth.

"Please join us.." she says.

"Hey Danela!" Genovia smiles happily.  "After you dump the meat, come have a seat with us."

She turns to Zenobia, "this is Danela Sundusk.  She and her dad hunt around this area and bring in game for the town.  She might be willing to go with us.  Her tracking and survival skills would be pretty useful where we are going."

She looks over at Tyler.  "That's Tyler Darkwatch, a priest of Halai.  If he's interested, he'll definitely help out.  A lot of people here like him.  Hey, Brother Darkwatch, come join us!"  She waves the priest over.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:24, Tue 11 Nov 2008.

 Spotting Genovia waving to him from her table he glanced over to her companion sitting with her with a little curious tilt to his head.
 Breaking out with an infectious grin he grabs his tankard and waves to the waitress before pointing to Genovias table.

 Moving lightly thru the customers he shares a quick word here and there with some of the patrons that knew him before finding and empty chair and sitting down at the table. Peace lady Genovia and friend. Have you finished your tasks for the mayor?.

 His eyes sparkled as he made small talk but the impression it left on others was that he didnt miss much that went on around him.

 Glancing to Zenobia, Lady, with manners in my thoughts iam called Tyler, Tyler Darkwatch, a priest of Halai, and what do i call you?.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:28, Mon 10 Nov 2008.

"Zenobia." she says with a smile, putting a face to the rumor of a talented singer who soon after arriving became the talk of the town. "I do hope that you can take time away from your devotions to sit and talk a while."

Zenobia appears almost as an open book, honest and straightforward, direct and forthright but then again performers often do. Green eyes, red hair and very fair skin. Her clothes appear quite plain, almost as if the plain look were a conscious decision, but nevertheless she wears them well.

"Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus but you can call me Zenobia, all my friends do."

"Nice to meet you, Zenobia," said the tall woman, a little gruffly. She was not used to all that politeness business.

"Where are you going?" she asked, her interest piqued by the rogue's words.

Zenobia, only the slightest suggestion of a grin on her face answers the huntresses question.

"We're doing a circuit of the elder races, asking them for help. There's the distinct possibility that something very, very bad is coming our way and as the
leader of the town of Riverhill that means going to get help from the elder races".

"I'll get down and beg if that's what it takes." Zenobia doesn't look like she's joking when she says this. Deadly serious would be a better description.

"Your mayor though doesn't think anything bad is coming, though he got the same word from the same source; an Evangiel. Could be he's right, but I'm of a mind to take precautions just the same. I can't for the life of me understand why he doesn't see the need for precautions, but the people hereabouts are not my people and they seem to trust him."

"I err on the side of caution where my people's welfare is concerned. So that's where we're going and why."

Danela's eyes sparkle as the bard speaks, a strange reaction, considering a grave danger was discussed.

"Count me in!" she hurried to say as soon as the readhead paused. "I've been dying to get out of this-, well, to get out and see the world. Don't get me wrong- this is my home, and I love it and the people in it. But I know every nook and cranny around here, and i want to see more. A tour of the elder races..." she says wistfully longing heavy in her voice.

"My swords are at your disposal, and my survival skills will certainly come in handy, I should hope."

"Leader of Riverhill? Aren't you, well, young?" she asks Zenobia curiously.

Zenobia smiles wanly..

"I've never been young in some ways. My father was the leader before me and his father before him. All were swordsmen, farmers, politicians and builders. My family has paid for the position in blood, ours and our enemies, because that's what it takes to keep everyone under a roof with enough food to eat."

"I've judged and executed men and women who've come against my people and I've done it with my own hand. I'll do what needs doing even if it goes against the very bones of my hand because that's what it takes."

Danela nods solemnly to Zenobia, the smile gone from her lips. She felt she was going to like this woman. She was someone to follow.

"What about you, altar-boy?" she said, turning to Tyler and patting him rather heavily on the shoulder. "Ready for some roughing it out in the wild?"

 The smile has disappeared from his face as he listen's to Zenobia, sitting back and rubbing the tankard with a thumb he appears to be considering the idea as he looks at Danela.

 Hmm, the mayor loves his people and they him, i think that if trouble comes he would fight well as would the guards.
 Taking a sip as if to stall for a few seconds, he glances at Genovia, What do you know of this troubling news ?, have you yourself seen these winged messengers?. No offensive lady Zenobia but while it is pleasent to meet you i know you not, still if Lady Genovia puts her word out that all is as stated then i will offer what services i can to help stop this troubles.

 Sighing he finish's his tankard, With another infectious short laugh and grin, It would be like my god to play this die roll into my corner and let me travel some. Hmm, it seems your timing is perfect, since i have the next couple of months free to do my outrider circuit.
 Looking over to Genovia he locks eyes with her to see her answer.

"So, when and where?" asks Danela. "Say the word, 'couse I still have things to take care of before I can leave. You know, some goodbyes to say, some debts to settle and so on." She looked pointedly at the red haired bard.

"Before dawn tomorrow, we'll get off to a start so as to catch sunup on the road." says Zenobia simply.

"I'll be here," she says with a smile, and exits.

"I have seen the Evangiel and heard his message.  I, for one, believe him.  They," she paused thinking back to some memory, "they have great power and are benevolent beings.  The one that Zenobia and I met...his name was Adam'el.  He saved my life.  I don't think Frederick understands the full force of the Evangiel's message.  These creatures that are coming -- in less than three years now -- they aren't just vicious attackers against anyone.  Adam'el said that they want to enslave all the elder races, but that they want to completely wipe out we humans."

Genovia looked up at a giant, hairy figure that entered the inn just then.  Her look turned apologetic towards him as he joined the group.  "This is Bedawry Longreach, one of the Anthros.  Adam'el said that our salvation does not lie with the elder races, though we are speaking with them to hopefully find some clue as to how we can survive this coming onslaught.  Otherwise, I don't know where we should look."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:24, Tue 11 Nov 2008.

Danela gawked as she squeezed by the hairy furball entering the inn. When it became apparent he was one of Zenobia's companions, a broad smile came across the blond youth's lips.

This journey is something to look forward to, she thought.

 As he listened to Genovia and her tale of what happened with the winged messanger, he watches her intently to see if there might be parts she had covered up or not mentioned.

 Satisfied, he smiles at her and her friends, Well then it seems we have some traveling to do. I will go inform the abbot of my need to start my rounds this day and to gather my travel gear.

 Finishing his tankard until it was dry, he pause's long enough to stare at the big furry creature coming into the inn. Umm, i think they are called the andros, an older race then us to be sure. He looks formidable anyway, and he is friends with Genovia ?, interesting.

"Pleased I am to meet you," Bedawry says in uninterrupted Human.  His word placement is strange, as if he learned to speak the human language word by word and connected it in the manner his people speak their own language.  Verbs, nouns, and the like are somewhat out of order, but still understandable.

"These two are those who with us travel, then?" he asks.  With affirmative nods from his friends, he smiles (a fangy, frightening thing to behold at first).  "I then look forward to our mutual travels.  We shall see you upon the return of yourselves to this inn after retrieval of your belongings and the saying of your goodbyes.  This will be at the dawning of the star, I think?"

Zenobia speaks then, exhibiting all the gravitas of a Shakespearean actor closing a play.

"It is decided then. I am sure we all have preparations to make for the road ahead and it is probably best that we concern ourselves with them before we rest, for there shall be no time tomorrow to set affairs in order."

"For my part I will peruse the goods and wares of this town with a mind to  establishing trading links and such with Riverhill. Likely as not there are things that our two communities could trade to the advantage of both."

"And it is high time that our two communities had a means of communicating with each other, even if I cannot convince the Mayor here of its necessity for the future."

 Glancing around to Bedawry, he makes a nod of his head and offers Be welcome to our town and enjoy the brief time you have here, much better if you had time to see us for several days.

 Looking the table over he lets his eyes drift over the others, Then i will see you here for breakfast, i will see to my chores.

With a flash his smile breaks thru and it changes his whole face as he turns and heads out the doors. Once outside he does a brisk walk to his temple and finds his way to the abbots office, knocking lightly he leans in, Have you time to see me sir?.

Danela spends the rest of the day preparing. First order of business is her parents.

The talk goes fairly well. her mother sheds a tear or two, but both parents can't say this is a surprise. Her father knows wander lust all to well, and has sensed it in his daughter for some time now. The young girl promises to be careful, not to take any unnecessary risks, and wear something warm on the cold nights. It probably helps she does not mention the end-of-days prophecy, and just speaks of a tour to visit the elder races.

Telling her sisters is harder. Silyne acts as if she does not care and that the whole thing is stupid. Nirrin is wide eyed at first, but soon breaks into tears and hugs her older sister tightly, not wanting to let her go.

Then there is the packing. Varn, her father, makes sure she takes everything- dried meat, fruit and nuts, plenty of water, a coil of good rope, a warm blanket, a bedroll, and so on and so on.

But there is one surprise in store- late at night, when all is ready, her mother presents her with her father's armor, fitted to her figure. The fine leather, studded with metal leaves and augmented by magic, is their farewell present to their eldest daughter.

Too quickly for some and too slowly for others, the morning comes.  The five new friends are gathered together at Genovia's house with gear in tow and last so-long's said.

Frederick Milotes sees to it that the group is supplied with fresh horses, or if any insist on taking a favored horse along, that at least they are well provisioned.  His only other concession to the possibility that the Evangiel "Message" is true is to guide the five of you to the secret entrance to the Kradok path.  He only shows this after obtaining the word of each of you that you will not reveal it to anyone else. (So if any of you refuse this promise, let me know now.)

"Genovia, Denala, Tyler...come back safe and sound," Frederick says sternly.  Then he smiles and shakes each of your hands before turning to the bard.  "The People of Milotes wish you good journey and success, Lady Gracchus.  May the gods of this world watch over all of you and protect you.  If we can help in any other way, let us know.  It has been a pleasure to meet our kin from the North.  I hope to expand and improve our communications."

Lastly he turns to Bedawry.  "Master Anthros, your presence here has been a boon to my people.  Long have we heard of the wisdom of the Anthros.  We hope to have more interaction with your people as well in the coming years."

The Anthros smiles his fangy smile back and bows low.  "My visit has been a pleasure to me as well.  When my people we reach, I shall convey your wishes for more communication between our peoples to my leaders.  Fond farewell, Frederick Milotes."

The Anthros steps back to let others speak.  He is the only one not on a horse.

"You have my thanks for your assistance. You may be assured of the future good will of my people towards their southern neighbors." says Zenobia simply, as she gifts the mayor with a respectful nod.

She waits for the others to say their goodbyes before saying.

"Come, let us be on our way. Time is precious even when it appears that we have all the time in the world. Saving it now will mean more time when he have need of it."

 Looking at the horse with less then admiration he rather crudly climbs aboard the horse. Leaning forward he whispers into the horse's ear, If you buck me off and make me look like a fool, i will chase you to the doorsteps of the chasm. Now i expect you to teach me what i  need to know about riding correctly on you.

 He checks one last time by twisting in his saddle to make sure his equipment was secure and tied down.

 With a glance at the others, I trust we are going at a decent sensible pace?. With his eyes dancing lightly he grins as he holds out his holy symbol, Halai roll the dice in our favor and keep the dealers honest and the wine clear and tasty.

 Turning his horse to face the way the others are pointed, Tyler is Ready, we can begin the quest.

Danela is accompanied to the inn, at the wee hours of the morning, by her two sisters. The farewell is tearful, even from Silyne.

Approaching the horses, the young woman picks a young brown mare with a restless canter to her. Danela pats the animal, rubbing the front of her head, and offering her a small apple. After a few moments, the horse is rubbing her head against the ranger's arm fondly.
[Private to GM: Taking 10 on Wild empathy.]

Clearing her eyes from a mite of dust that must have flown in, Danela nods to the rest.

"I am ready. I can take the lead, if you tell me where we are headed."

Zenobia grins at Danela. She appears to have quite the lust for life.

"It seems that we are headed for a meeting with the Kradok, since that is the secret road whose source we are presently standing on.

"I certainly don't know the way. Perhaps Danela you can help us keep our feet so that we do not get swept away to places and experiences beyond the ken of mere mortals."

"Rumor has it that the Kradok are wonderful craftsmen, I expect to be duly astonished by their wonders in due course."

With a parting smile to the town's mayor and the assembled well wishers, she smiles and says.. "See you later."

Zenobia turns her horse carefully and sets off down the road.

Danela leads the way, first on foot, until the exit the secret passageway, and then on horseback. She stops and dismounts from time to time, especially by muddy spots, to examine tracks of the local fauna and avoid any nasty surprises. [Private to GM: Taking 10 on survival.]

The young blond invites Bedawry to ride by her side.
"Er... so, you are an Anthros..." she begins lamely. "Do your dwellings look like ours? I know little of your people," she says apologetically.

 Learning to somewhat move with his horse after a few minutes, he thinks back to the meeting with his abbot, I was surprised that he let me travel without his usual lecture on being a faithful servant and of bring the word to those who have not heard it yet. Still it was nice of him to grace us with some of the temples healing potions, i should hand it out later when we camp for the night.

 Spending part of his time going over the scriptures in his mind as he rode onward the other part watching the area around them. Calling ahead So scout Danela, do you know this road to the Kradoks?.

"Our dwellings are among the living trees of our jungles, Denala Sundusk.  We do not craft homes with tools as do most of the races, nor even with magic as do the Invar.  Should I invite you ever to my 'home' I would gather you in my arms and carry you high into the branches of my family tree.  There you could walk without fear of every falling, so broad are the branches."

Bedawry looks wistfully off to the North as he speaks.

The path out of Milotes grows deeper and thinner within the rock until it is indistinguishable from a very high-ceiling cave.  Bedawry looks somewhat uneasy, but adjusts well enough for now.  As the light fades, as the last vestiges of the upper world disappear, there is a large glyph etched into the cavern wall.

"It says 'Beware: Destrachan, Deep Stingers, Chaos Fungus and worse ahead.  Do not leave the path we have hewn or your probability of return is less than 1:1000'," Bedawry interprets.

There was something almost intimate in the Anthros description.
"It sounds like a marvelous place. I would like to see it very much," says Danela almost shyly.



"Someone has been very... mathematical about all this," says the ranger, eying the darkness ahead. "I guess we better keep to the path, then."

[private to GM: does Danela know anything of those beasts mentioned?]

Zenobia, quiet and with a careworn look about her, reads the warning and thinks for a moment before speaking.

"We should light whatever light sources we have, save for Danela who should have light behind her, but not in front of her. We dismount now and trust to our feet rather than to hooves. If the horses spook and run do not try to hold them. We should drape belongings in bags over the saddles and have ropes on them. The horses can carry them, but should they spook we won't lose our supplies."

 Surprised to see the warning sign at the side of the pathway, he did wondered if it was real or someones idea of a prank, still as far as he could remember the Kradoc didn't have much sense of humor except when dealing with their children.

 Taking the advice of Zenobia he unlaced the saddlebags and tied a short line to them in case something did panic his horse. Rubbing his backside till he could feel something back there he paused and remembered something a merchant had told him about horses and mules. Iam no expert on horse's but i remember a teamster telling me once that they sometimes had to tie a blindfold across horse's and mules eyes to keep them from panicing, should we do that here?.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:44, Mon 17 Nov 2008.

"We would love to have you visit us, Denala Sundusk," the Anthros responds.

[Private to Danela Sundusk: You have heard of the destrachan (standard MM creature - Knowledge Nature Check - 17):

Destrachan are large, bipedal reptiles (or possibly featherless birds, most are unsure), with leathery skin and strong forearms bearing hands with long, vicious claws and opposable thumbs.  They are rumored to be blind, but have acute hearing with three ear sections that they can modify to be more or less sensitive to certain types of sound, and which protect them from sound based attacks.  They use a powerful form of eco-location that helps them 'see' with their ears better than most see with their eyes.  Destrachan are vicious, evil creatures that love to torture then eat living humanoid prey.  In combat, they use their long razor sharp claws as a last resort.  Their throats can emit a wide frequency and amplitude of sound that can alternately powder bone or shatter wood, metal, glass, or stone.  Given the relative youth and inexperience of your group if you encounter even one right now in full combat, you will all most likely die.

You have no idea what the other two things are, probably because they are either not natural creatures as the destrachan is, or because they are rare.]

"I don't think we should blindfold our horses, in case we need to move fast," says Danela.

"And if we run into any destrachan, we really want to move fast," she adds with a shudder. The Tales she's heard of the beasts... she really hopes the path is safe.

Leading her horse behind her, the ranger enters the cave.

Zenobia nods at Danela's advice and suggestions.

"Maybe we should get more light sources before proceeding. Being underground, or nearly so, is something of a surprise at this point." she says.

"Gotcha covered," Genovia says.  "I should have passed these out earlier, but better late than never."  As she speaks, she passes everyone a pair of glasses bound in leather that wraps snugly around the head.  "These will allows us to see in all but pitch black if you say the word layil.  If you say the word chom (she pronounces it like 'comb') then it allows you to see differences in heat, which is not quite as good as the other, but works even with no light."

She puts hers on and it makes her eyes bug out and she looks a bit silly.  "Oh yeah, I almost forgot.  A word of warning, do not use these in the open light of day or look directly into a source of light like a torch.  It will blind you in either mode.  To turn off the glasses, say the word shabath (pronounced shaw-bath'), and the magic will immediately cease."

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

For those of you familiar with the wizard language called Lashown Chartom the words Genovia used are known to you.

layil - night
chom - heat
shabath - cease

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 15:45, Tue 18 Nov 2008.

 Taking one of the strange devices, he sets them on his face as they descend into the this strange underground pathway. He has the natural fear of being trapped in dark places as well as being underground but the warning did say to stay on the path and they should not have any trouble, i mean the kradoc use it all the time so it should be safe.

 Uttering the command word to make the goggles work he spends a few seconds getting used to the strange glow that he was seeing before following after the others. Surprisingly his horse was not going to be a problem it seems for now as it followed with care behind him.

 Trying to make small talk to ease his rising fears he says to all, anyone know how long this pathway goes underground?.

"These are great!" says Danela, peering into the darkness through the goggles.

She turns around to see if everyone's ready, and bursts into laughter.
"You all, I guess we all, look like crazy insect people..." she drains the tears of mirth from her goggles, and presses on.

"No, I have no idea how long with passage is," she adds to Tyler's question.

"'Crazy insect people?'  I suppose technically spiders are not insects given they have eight legs instead of six, but around the Echtinik that phrase I would not use, especially given the language barrier."  He blinks several times after putting on his own goggles, which magically adjust to the size of his head and face.  The effect is rather comical.

"If I remember correctly, though down this path I have never been, eight days are required this road to travel."  He blinks again and turns away to face the tunnel, nearly sending Genovia into fits of laughter.

"Eight days?!" Danela is clearly shocked. "I hoped for something like eight hours..." Still she lead on into the darkness, her sword in one hand, the reins of her horse in the other.

With goggles firmly in place, the group begins to move further and further underground.  Two hours into the trip, they begin to notice the ceiling getting lower and lower until it halts nearly 30 feet above their heads.  From time to time the tunnel splits off into side passages.  It is easy, though, to tell which way to go.  Kradok have kept the main passage well marked for one thing.  Additionally, the main passage has a more artificial look to it.  Shaped walls, square portals that serve as doorways into off-shoot tunnels beyond, all manner of artifice run along the main cavern.

In places, the magical lenses need to be shut off.  Beautiful underground grottos with phosphorescent lifeforms expand out and fill large chambers.  Pools of luminescent liquid reflect and emit light to highlight gentle flutterbys and other flora and fauna.  The effect is absolutely serene.

In the largest of these subterranean gardens, there is even a stone-carved pavilion with stone benches and tables.   Here nearly a hundred people could sit and eat and enjoy the scenery.

 Having gotten over his unease at being underground for the first time, he had settled into the march pattern of the others with little difficulty. Still the odd piece of debrie and wear in the pathway seemed not to show up from the goggles he had and he would stumble a little as he went past.

 In those places where there was natural light of a sort, he spent alot of time marveling at the strange sights that seemed to be almost flowing like a flood of water. Looking as the came by the pavillion carved out of the rock he smiled at the sight. Look there, Hmm, what a service i could hold there, i would guess the sound would carry along ways with ease. I wonder what the dwarves themselves used it for?.

"Family holds great importance with the Kradok.  Here families gather annually to meet and converse with one another when for the rest of a year they may not see one another at all.  Places like this are considered holy during those times."  Bedawry walks up to the pavilion.  "However, we could use it for lunch if we so wished.  The tables are enchanted so that poisons are removed, food and drink are cleansed of all forms of entropy, and the benches were we sit will renew our health and vigor."

He opens his pack and begins removing food, which he sets out all over one of the tables with a bench high enough to accommodate his longer legs.  Once the food is out, he takes a seat.  As soon as his bottom touches the bench, he stops moving and remains still as a statue.

For Danela, this is a trip through wonderland. The flora, the fauna, all those colors and smells, and even the earthy sense of the tunnel all amaze the young woman.

But none compare to the Gathering pavilion. The ranger stands open mouthed, taking in the scene.

Elder races indeed, she thinks in awe. They have accomplished so much, compared to humans... We have a lot to aspire to...

Leading her horse, she enters the pavilion and takes a seat by Bedawry.

Zenobia's sense of wonder seems alloyed with more practicality than one would expect from a bard..

"Seems like a good place to hide as well, if need be. If the darkness we have been warned of should come to pass we may well have to seek sanctuary with the elder races. Doubtless deep in the earth would be the safest of all.

"We should note that which might be useful."

Danela looks intently as the Anthros.

"Do you think this was supposed to happen? I mean, him freezing up like that? Because he prepared all this food, so I'd imagine he want to eat, no? Perhaps this place is changed... trapped somehow?"

 Watching the Big anthros carefully a few seconds he says softly, He did say it was now magical and that it would restore vitality and health to who ever sit on it but of a truth i have never heard of any device like that save potions and wands, lets give it a few more minutes and see if he snaps out of it.

The group hears a deep, rolling chuckle emanating from the Anthros large body.  His shoulders move with the laughter.  "I imagine, young one, that there are many things you have not heard of.  The tables will not harm you. I remain still to savor the spell of the enchanted craft of the Kradok like one might savor a particularly delightful morsel of steak or aromatic wine."

The chuckling subsides and Bedawry turns.  "Please.  Come.  Sit.  Renew yourself."  And to that end, he digs in to his own food with gusto.

Danela blushes.

"I see I have many things yet to learn," she says in a half grumbling, half appeased tone. She did not like to be embarrassed, but faced with such wonders and great wisdom, she had to admit that she was lucky for a human to witness it all and learn.

Sitting down by the Anthros, she prepares for whatever the magic will feel like.

 While he is willing to experience new events and sights, he pause's a few more seconds to see if there might be something of a drawback to using the dwarves "Magic" as it were. When nothing happens he lops the reins over a piece of rock and forages his trail rations out.

 Finding a seat next to Danela he spreads the feist out before him and offered a small quick prayer of thanks over it before enjoying the repast.

 Glancing up to Danela he ask's, Good lady, i have seen you now and then as you stopped off in the city, this is my first time to have the chance to talk to you in person and learn something about you.  How did you choose this lifestyle?.

Danela was genuinely surprised by the question. Perhaps it was because no one had asked before, or perhaps she had not considered her life as having a 'lifestyle'.

"I follow in my father's footsteps," she simply said. Feeling that more was expected, she tries harder.

"I love the outdoors. Nature is so... simple. You are either the hunter or the hunted. If you are stupid, you die. If you are not observant, you die. If you not fast enough, you die."

"People are... not as simple." she admits with a weaker voice.

Having seen none of the wonders of the cave, Genovia is in awe.  She, too, takes a seat at the table and pulls out her food and begins to eat, yet says nothing.  She is content to listen to the others and enjoy the meal.  Somehow, even the trail rations are delightfully tasty.

The horses seem to mill around a spot on the cavern floor and it is soon apparent that they have found a tasty stand of mushrooms to eat.

The meal goes by quietly (cause none of you apparently has anything to say) and soon Bedawry suggests that the group get a move on.

Each of you feels greatly refreshed and find that your food takes up the same amount of space it had before. (No loss of food rations; +5 hp/lvl for a day)

The 'road' continues on for the rest of the day, though only Bedawry and Danela have any sense of how long has actually passed being more in touch with nature.

At one point the cavern opens off to the side and a strange symbol marks the wall next to the branch.  "Here we can find shelter for the night, a bed and a locked door.  This side passage leads to a small cottage cut out of the stone.  Also, this symbol is a ward against most of the dungeon denizens that might otherwise accost us as we sleep.  There will be no need to set a guard tonight.  Any objections?"  Bedawry looks among the members of the group.

Zenobia, acting more like a fish out of water than a born leader, merely nods at Bedawry's suggestion.

Danela gets a pained expression at the Anthros' words.

"With all due respect, Bedawry, I think we shall post a guard tonight. I believe you that this sigil will fend of any beasts, but what if someone, I mean of the people sort of monster, decide to pay us a visit? I'd sleep better knowing someone among us had his eye open."

 With a slightly better performance at handling his horse then this morning, he leads it to the area for their horse's and spends time to make sure the horse's have fodder and water, afterwards he rubs the horse down with a dry clothe.

 Entering the rest area he is still somewhat in a impressed mind as to the skill of the ones who built this tunnel and the years it must have taken to finish it.

 Well, the ward looks to still be in effect so if you wish we will take turns at watch, iam of the opinion that its more likely that bandits or thieves would  hazard us then those other denziens would.

 Laying out his sleeping blankets within range of any nearby fire, it doesnt take long before his sore backside is forgotten and sleep overcomes him.

"If it makes you more comfortable to do so, then we can set a watch.  I shall take the first." Bedawry smiles and shivers somewhat as if chuckling inwardly at a private joke.

Zenobia smiles, almost shyly..

"The entire reason we're here is that it's better to be safe than sorry. So, I for one, will be taking a watch, though perhaps silent meditation would be a better description."

Doubtless being a singer Zenobia feels the need to explain further..

"I have to think on how I relate to this place and how it relates to me. Some people act as if they are merely observors in the world rather than intrinsic parts of it. But I think the truth of the matter is that you, me and everything around is all connected."

"When I sing most people see a singer and an audience, one apart from the rest. But really when you think about it there is something larger than both, which the singer feeds and all derive nourishment from."

"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

Bedawry nods.  "We call you a younger race, and here on this world, perhaps you are, but youth does not preclude wisdom."  He turns to the others.  "Listen to this one, my friends.  She has wisdom to match that of the elder races."

Bedawry leads the group up to the 'cottage' which turns out to be nothing less than a small, sealed two-story fortress of stone.  There are rooms enough for everyone to have their own and twice again as much for others.  Amenities such as soap, hot running water for baths, and even dried goods are stocked.  The beds are a bit hard in most rooms, but there are some to accommodate the frail Invar bodies so that humans will find the beds rather plush.

"Make yourselves at home.  The caverns remain the same temperature all the time, so I will start a small fire.  We do not use wood here, but the be'erah stones provide heat and light that simulate a good Kradok fireplace.  I shall take watch in the main living area.  It has a good view of the stairs and the front door."

With that, Bedawry kneels over the large block of dark stone in the 'fireplace' and mumbles some words.  Instantly the room begins to warm.  Then the furry giant takes a seat in a thick leather chair complete with long leg rests and snuggles in for his watch.

For any wishing to speak with him, there are other chairs around and no doubt the Anthros would love to talk of his people and hear more of humans.  But he also knows that the road will be long and humans need their sleep.

Marveling the craftsmanship of the Kradok, Danela is even more awed by the wood-less fireplace.

"Wake we for the second shift," she asked the Anthros.

But the ranger is not one to waste an opportunity for a good night's sleep. She finds an appropriate bed and was soon fast asleep.

Slowly the group drifts off to sleep, one by one.  Silence like a blanket keeps them.  Some refuse to speak, soaking in the wonders of the day, others contemplate a grim future.  For whatever reason, no one speaks with the furry giant stretched out before the be'erah fireplace.

Before the humans know it, Bedawry is waking each of them one at a time.

"Come, it is time to go my young friend," he says softly to each of you.

As you wake, you feel refreshed...and a little hungry.  Bedawry tells you to meet down on the first floor in the room opposite the be'erah.  There the four of you find a meal of jerked pork and unleavened bread sealed away by Invar magic.  There is crisp water piped into a large basin as we well.

Danela does not wait for the others, and begins to ravish the offered breakfast.

"Have you been awake all night?" she asks the anthros around the crumbs of bread and chunks of meat. "You really shouldn't have, I'm used to watch shifts. Are you tired?"

Zenobia arrives at the breakfast table, as usual looking anything but a town leader, or a killer of men. Indeed she looks more like the type that would be concerned with her hair. She sets her equipment down next to her seat, apparently eager to be off.

She immediately gets stuck in, after a brief perfunctory "Good Morning".

 Looking like he had just got out of a bath he steps up to the table and looked over the fare. Hmmm, i dont recall being awakened last night for a turn on watch?, did any thing happen?. as he glanced over to Gracchus.

 Looking down at his food he bowed his head and offered a small prayer to bless his food and the jouney ahead. Then with his hunger urgently reminding him of its need he begins to eat with relish till he was satisfied.

 Turning his head toward Gracchus, will we have a chance of meeting those things the sign warned us about today?.

nodding a good morning to everyone she sits down at the table and begins to eat like everyone else.

Bedawry looks over at Denala and chuckles.  "We are a hardy race, my friend.  I did not wake any of you because you looked to need the sleep.  Anthros may go several nights without rest with no adverse affect.  Think nothing of it.  Eat well, my friends."

Tyler then asks his question and Bedawry responds, "we may.  If my memory of this place serves, we shall see an interesting cavern ahead.  Though it will be more something to look at than any trouble for us so long as we stay on the path and the Kradok have kept it clear."

"I truly hope we do not," says Danela, wiping her mouth clean. "Well, maybe from afar. Or if the thing is dead already..."

"Shall we set out?" she asks quite eagerly, getting up.

"Yes, time we were off." says Zenobia, agreeing with Danela. "And no I don't want anything hostile getting too close. We're not here hunting, just passing through. The sooner we reach the Kradok the better."

"We should check the signs we come across, make sure they've not been tampered with. A tampered sign would make a wonderful trap I'm thinking."

Bedawry leads the group back down the hidden path to the main trail.  The journey is uneventful for a few hours, but at one point, just before rounding a blind bend, Bedawry holds out his arms to stop you.

"There is something moving up ahead in the dark.  There are a few of them, they are about your size, and they are crawling along the wall.  I would suggest spider-kin of some sort, but I cannot see well from here.  Perhaps someone a bit quieter than I am can take a look?  Be careful not to disturb their webs.  You will alert them to our presence."

Zenobia steps back beckoning the others to follow.

"We should decide what we are going to do from a safe distance. It could be that they are intelligent, if so they will have no fear of fire. In any case we should draw them to us, not allow ourselves to be drawn into their webs. It is up to us to choose the when, the where and the how of the combat."

 Looking off into the darkness ahead, he frowns and goes over the prayers he has asked for this day and if any might be good enough or not good enough.

 I thought the Kradok was supposed to keep the path clear of such dangers?, umm, if it falls to a fight with such things anyone know what works best against that creature?.

 Loosening his mace, he gulps and looks down the pathway finding that the breakfast is setting a little hard in his stomach.

listens to everyone

"The last spider thingies we fought were afraid of the fire, maybe these are the same way.  Bedawry said if the fire hits the spiders while they are emitting the silk then they go pop.  So if we can have someone ready to light a torch it might be a good thing."

"You have a good memory," Bedawry says to Genovia.  "But these are not the same.  They are larger and their web is too thick to burn through easily.  It is not as flammable as the other.  However," he turns to Zenobia.  "I do not believe they are intelligent.  Light, especially fire, may at least give them pause if not outright fear."

He muses for a moment then looks back to Genovia to answer Tyler's question.  "The Kradok do not come all that often to visit human lands, if I am not mistaken.  If such is the case, the spiders move in quickly, just as any animal may do.  Think of ants in a camp, or perhaps in your home.  Leave something sweet on the ground and it only takes a few days before you are entirely infested."

[Private to Danela Sundusk: Denala.  If you take a look around the bend, you should get an easy Knowledge Nature or some other relevant check to decide how best to take these on.  I'm not throwing anything complicated your way your first combat. -- GM]

[Private to GM: Sorry, things were hectic at my end. I planned to post this yesterday, but is got lost in the transit :-)]

"Let me take a look," says Danela, fastening her armor so it won't jingle while she was sneaking. "If they are intelligent, it is always possible we may talk our way out of a fight. I'll be right back."

[Private to GM: Stealth 18, knowledge: nature 22.]

While the group waits, Danela eases up to take a look...

[Private to Danela Sundusk: Simple run of the mill giant spiders.  They have a nasty, poisonous bite that paralyzes for a few seconds (1d6 rounds/Fort Save negates) in which they will begin to wrap up the victim, but they do not jump nor do they have any ranged capacity.  Your group, if you choose to fight them, can take them pretty easy.  There are nine of them, but they aren't all that tough.

The webbing looks pretty new, too, and is not very dense.  Its possible (with successful DEX checks) to get everyone through without fighting.  XP is the same either way.]

Zenobia quietly follows Danela at a distance, staying 40-50 feet behind her. She's there only as backup.

[Private to GM: readied action, if Danela is attacked, Zenobia will move forward and distract the spiders by using her mage hand spell to tug and wrench at the web strands. If the spiders start moving towards her she'll withdraw to the group and its torches]

Danela returns and reports.

"Nine giant spiders. Not hard to kill, unless you are alone. Their venom is not lethal- it will just cause your muscles to cramp so you can't move. It's pretty lethal if you are alone and the spiders get you, but between us, we can cut them down easily. Best way is to do it from a safe range- they can't do anything to you if they can't bite you. Probably afraid from fire, too."

"We may be able to skirt around them, but I say we clear the road from the pests- we don't want others coming this way to fall prey to them."

 While he debated with himself over what his roll in this fight would other then possibly healing someone who got them selves hurt, also he knew the ranger was more knowlegable about wildlife them himself so if she said it was neccesary then it will be.

 Slipping his X-bow around and stringing it then pulling it back and setting bolt to the channel before making sure the safety was on, he looks up to Danela
 Iam ready, not sure of how good i am in a fight but we shall see.

nods to Danela and gets her bow ready

"I'm ready whenever you are. Do we have any way of making the appearance of a big fire quickly?"

"Fire should be ready to go before we do anything." Zenobia appears to not have a bow. She has her longsword drawn.

"Genovia, if I remember correctly from last Robin fest and from poor McRee, you're pretty good at sneaking, right? Take this torch, and light up the cobweb maze. Come right back and don't risk getting spotted by the spiders."

"Preacher boy and me will pepper them with arrows. When and if they close range, Z and I will face them with our swords, while the rst of you continue to shoot them from behind us."

"Master Anthros, you... I really don't know what you do best, so you just do that."

Danela realized she must have seen most battle among the humans, and thus decided that handing out orders was not cheeky or out of place.

"Sneak with a torch?" ask Zenobia.

"I think it would be better if we look around for stuff that'll burn, make a barrier or two out of them. Taunt them to us, set the alight and have at them with arrows and the like till they're dead."

 Glancing over at Danela with a raised eyebrow and a amused grin to his tanned face, Preacher Boy?,  i shall mull that over.

 Sobering he turned to watch the others as they prepared to clean out the spiders from the pathway. He did wonder if the kardoks had much trouble with them and how did they clean up the pathways?.

 He readys a prayer for when the spiders might come down to them, grasping his bow and arrow to his left hand and going over the lessons his arms teacher had attempted to teach them at the church.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:12, Wed 10 Dec 2008.

"You're right about the torch" says Danela gruffly, feeling stupid.

"But I don't think there's anything around to make a barrier. Why don't I just fire an arrow with a burning cloth round it into their webs and burn them out?"

Zenobia frowns.. "We should look for something that burns, even it takes a while. There's nine of them, and even if they're not hard to kill, numbers will count. I can sing while I am fighting and that will help, a bit. "