Greynull nods his acceptance of events and asks Bryon Does my lady prefer to ride astride or to use the sidesaddle?

[Bold for easier reading]

Bryon nodded to her “servant” and said, ”Side saddle...for now.” She reached up for him to help her up.

Greynull drops to hands and knees so his back serves as a step for Lady Bryon.

Bryon is confused and stage whispers, ”What are you doing?”

Greynull sighs. I'm a lowly servant; you're a lady. Step on my back to mount

Druk mounts his horse and says Go slave - lead the woman - we go East.

to Greynull

Bryon was very uncomfortable with this. She climbed into the saddle. It made her feel bad about herself, and she looked sad and glum all day.

When nobody is close to the party, Greynull maneuvers his horse beside Bryon's. My Lady, thank you for your glumness, but.... I'll be thankful for being treated nicely when it's just the party—nobody else around; but, when we're around others, you're subordinate to Druk and quite superior to me, a mere servant who is to be ordered around. If you act otherwise, you imperil us. He falls back.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:23, Mon 14 Sept 2020.

Druk says nothing, his face contorted with grim self righteous attitude when he sees others and fear when they pass.

His head and shoulders turn sometimes as if he would shout at everyone to be happy but as the day goes he turns his thoughts inward, envious of the man playing the servant. Glad to be out of the city for now.

The servant trails, head humbly bowed, leading a pack horse. He has two quivers on his back; his shortbow is strapped atop the bedroll back of the saddle.

Bryon’s eyes go large, ”A ruse...” She then gave a wink of knowing and continued to ride.

She looked up and said  ”I wonder where our lovely Fairie friend went off too.”

From her vantage point Mystal watched the long leggeds curious behaviour. Wondering what they would do next. Images of them attempting to coax a horse to climb a tree or even enticing the odious half giant to heft one accross it's shoulders and carry the unfortunate equine back to Massilia
This message was last edited by the player at 10:35, Wed 16 Sept 2020.

They take the direct route.  East, along the Via Aurelia, which is convenient because it means the title of the thread can stay the same.

One good thing about the province around Massilia:  the weather is almost always wonderful.  The Gaulish of the Mare Mediterraneum never sees the snowy winters of the north, and avoids the scorching temperatures of the south shore of the sea.  Sometimes it rains, but it seems like just enough to keep the crops going- the hillsides are gold as much as they are green.

Good weather for Orcs too, they rarely have to delay their campaigns due to mud and snow.  The road east shows signs of many Orcs, having recently passed.

The group is on the road several hours, and they reach a turnoff- the road ahead goes into Aquae Sextai, a significant town, a sort of "sister city" to Massilia, though with a much smaller Orc garrison.  There is a bypass to the East, which is a more direct way to reach the main part of the Via Aurelianorum.  It's quicker, but not used nearly so much, except by Orcs.  Most Humans take the extra time to stop in Aquae Sextiae.

Bryon turned her horse toward Aquea.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:43, Thu 17 Sept 2020.

Druk would have continued but seeing Byron choose his face relaxes a bit.

Are you upset?

He asks as they go.

Greynull has been bringing up the rear. Seeing those he serves in conversation, he lods up until they decide what to do.

Bryon shook her head, ”No, I just miss my friends. Gondioque especially. We would braid each other’s hair and talk about boys. She was the nicest Princess I’ve ever met.”

For centuries Aquae Sextiae got every official favor from the Romans over its sister city to the South.  Massilia was always "too Greek" for Imperial tastes, and so official functions of government were shunted over to the more comfortably Roman Aquae Sextiae.  It didn't help.  The city never managed to achieve the success or prosperity of Massilia.

Perhaps this was because it was full of government functions.

Whatever the case, when the Goths showed up, they treated Aquae Sextiae with disdain, and then apathy.  Massilia had wealth, Massilia had merchants to tax, and a port, and those big temples, and...  Aquae Sextiae had Imperial Offices.  How boring and useless.  Good for some quick plunder, that was about it.

And so while they occupied Massilia, Aquae Sextiae was good only for abuse.

The city is mostly ruin.  Buildings are toppled, columns lying like marble logs on the ground.

The people have made no real effort to rebuild.  What good would it do them, if it only tempts another round of destruction from the nearby Orcs?

The inn is an old Prefecture building still standing in the heart of town, at the crossroads.  Now the hub of the town.  It doesn't look like it has anything to offer buy the most basic services.  Cheap food, a place to sleep that may or may not have mice, etc.

The people don't look happy or inviting.  It looks like they are hoping you are a not a problem for them- and they seem to be reacting to Druk as if he is in charge.

Kind of a "you can rest here, please don't rob us or kill us or anything like that".

Bryon does not know what to make of all this. She is a bit frightened, and rides slowly. This trip is turning out badly, she misses her friends and no one seems happy to see them.

Greynull rides up by Bryon and mutters And how many princesses have you met? He adds But she is nice; she doesn't exactly treat one as an equal, but she does make one feel a person of worth. Now, look that way; show some pride.

Hooded, his eyes scan from left to right, and occasionally he looks behind him.

 Mystal continues circling the Half giant and it's vassels.

Bryon began to try and recall all the princess she had ever met. She knew she had met at least three...or maybe two. She did not answer as there seemed to be a lot of people who didn’t want them here. She smiled, ”Greetings, we are travelers and we need shelter. WE can pay for such a treat.”

The people here seem slightly puzzled that the Orc didn't tell her to speak, or at least signal permission to.

Once upon a time, Romans made it law that towns, even villages at road junctions would provide taverns for travelers.  The Goths have no idea.  They don't care.  But the Human merchants and other travelers demand that the tradition be kept, and like Bryon they are willing to pay for it.  Even where their masters abandoned their properties and left, the servants left behind took up the role of tavern keeper.

Here, due to the near presence of a great many Orcs, with a little reluctance.

The only one to answer Bryon's request is a young boy.

"It's okay with him, is it?" he asks, nodding towards Druk.  "We have no treats.  Those are only for holidays.  But there's water and wine, and soup and bread and a place to sleep.  That's all.  They take coins, or they take trade, whatever you have."

"Preferably trade," an older woman says, emboldened by the child.  "You can't eat coin, but you can rob it, and where does that get us, right?"

ugh I thought I posted - sorry

Bah! wine and meat now

the rest you can give them

Druk spits out and he dismounts and follows the boy throwing a smack to the back of his head.

Bryon looked at Greynull, twisting her fingers with worry. She asked him, ”What do we have to trade?”