The notice had been brief.

The Emperor seeks your service:

A necromancer has been discovered on the badlands of Al-Wazif, plotting evil deeds and warfare that could reignite the Border Wars.  A mission is being conscripted of known heroes to travel south across the border and vanquish this threat without provoking open hostilities.  Services of all heroes is requested, those serving in the army will have their service waived during the time of the campaign.

For weeks it had been the topic of conversation all about Raphael.  Its contents seemed dire, though juxtaposed with the fact that it was only posted at the army conscription station at the center of town seemed to suck at the marrow of its argument.  Magic was a known tool of warfare, used by few and little understood by the masses.  Many spoke of how the legions were trying to exploit the people's fears and earn free manpower to exploit and probe the Wazifi border defenses with no fear of retribution.

Enquiring further provided few details.  A time and location were provided, the southern gates at the dawn of the 8th of March but the recruiters had few other details.  And so, when the morning broke on Saturday the 8th it was a sparse crowd that gathered at the gate.  Most apparent was the mule and driver, hauling a cart filled with burlap bags.  Ahead of them a short man dressed in legion mail stood, envelope in hand with his head whisking from side to side as if waiting for the crowd to converge.  Stood off from these two, a small crowd of women and children has grown, peering on though keeping well clear enough to prevent associating them with the requested 'heroes'.

It is here, on the 8th of March that marked the beginning of the new era, a transition from the calm following the border wars into the new future of Megalos.  It is here that we meet our newest heroes of the new order.

OOC:  This is an exclusive thread for Odelia, Gustav, Magnus, and Ronald.  It is 0600 on the 8th of March.  It's a cold morning, in the low 50's F or low 10's C.  I've left things open for everyone to make their own entrance.  Ronald, you can assume Terri is with you but leave roleplaying her to me.  Thanks everyone for the patience and I'm glad we are finally getting started!
This message was last updated by the GM at 04:00, Tue 01 May 2018.

There are many different sorts of agony.

Childbirth has been described by some as a sort of agony, a bittersweet ordeal, the giver and taker and lives, the pain by which other pains are measured. Defeat also is sometime referenced as agony, the haunting knowledge of a loss, the pain of a fight fought well to no avail, and the subsequent dread over the terms or demands of the victor.

For the Minotaur than lingered about a half hours walk from the gate, the agony was the sort that comes from being at a fork in the road of life. It was a decision that he had long pondered, long felt that he had come to grips with, only to find himself hesitating when the moment was actually upon him.

He had been unable to sleep well with his nervous excitement and had clambered to his feet with the first feeble rays of dawn, broken his camp and had his morning meal. Everything was ready, his satchel sitting by the rock that he sat upon staring into the little creek that he had camped besides, but he did not move, even after he had been ready for some time.

His very posture spoke of worry, hands clasped, bent forward slightly, his black within black eyes far away beneath a furrowed brow. It was everything he had wanted, legitimate employment, the protection of the Kings Law and the coin to break the cycle of intermittent poverty that he had found himself in as he drifted from job to job at roadsides and caravan stops.

But it was also terrifying in a way, to simply stroll up to the gates of a city as if he really belonged there, to go into what could be a mass of fighting men, armed and armored, ready and eager for bloodshed. What if the Kings representative sent him away? What if the others would not have him, or worse yet, turned upon him? It would not be the first time he thought to himself grimly.

Finally, as the morning grew later, the impulsiveness of youth won the day. All the nervousness and anxiety within him spoiled and turned to a low simmering frustration, a hint of anger that stoked what meager pride he possessed and got him to his feet. He was going, whatever happened, he would not spend that night worried sick to his stomach and maudlin with guilt.

He was going.

And so he slung his bag, keeping his flanged mace out of sight within it, set himself towards the west and started walking with a purpose.

He would know soon enough, one way or another.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:50, Thu 14 Dec 2017.

Ronald arrives, with Terri in tow. The fur undergarments show through the mail, but it is the shield and crossbow that stand out most, almost obscuring the leather pouch on his back. He looks at her and smiles, before they both step forward, bringing with them scents of salt. Their clothes are those of the Sea, and his complexion is dark, but he looks like someone you could trust.

He noted the minotaur with interest. He had met some terrible humans, and found honour amongst those regarded as beasts, so time would tell with this one. He looked over the crowd, wondering about who else there was.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:20, Sun 05 Jan 2020.

    For the last few days, it had been all everyone had talked about. The notice that called for 'Heroes" had been posted and had originally gathered a small crowd around it, and had provided the small group of children and other roguish types with the chance to ply their trade. She'd noticed the young little things working themselves through the crowd, only one of them managed to get foiled by a particularly alert member of the crowd, and it had caused a small scene as the man and his guard chased after the boy, to the laughter and jeers of the others.

   She'd moved through the small crowd in the semi-darkness and pulled the dark green robe around her rounded curves and pulled the scarf over her head a little tighter.  Even though she wore padded cloth underneath her robe, she still shivered slightly while she made her way towards the gate where the Heroes were supposed to be meeting. She wanted to get a look at what sort of Heroes that the Imperial summons would bring.

   A hand went to her mouth as she tried to stifle the yawn that came unbidden to her lips. The olive-skinned digits remained in place as her emerald eyes caught sight of the tall ... beast ... that stood head and shoulders above the rest of the crowd. The sight of the horned beast slowed her movements while she watched in semi-fascination as it moved through the crowd, parting it like water in a river. She stopped behind the small gathering of women and children, recognizing a couple of them from the gathering from a few days ago. She managed a small smile to one of them as her nose caught what smelled like the sea.

   She looked to where two others were, a pair of darker skinned people that stood close enough together that it might be considered they were either related or married. She wasn't about to assume either, but the two seemed comfortable in their own company.

   Her eyes passed from the two seafolk to where the short Imperial was, dressed in the mail she knew was commonly worn. She waited for a moment to see if there would be any others, or if the Legionnaire would speak ...

Gustav found himself in a bind of sorts ...  any attempt to teach fencing would quickly draw attention, customers and the Carinal's fiends no doubt. He didn't really know any other skills well enough to live off them and he needed to get lost to the Cardinals agents. He had planned on running off to Caithness, but he had heard enough to discount that as a safe course of action. But this group of Heroes thing ... Megalos wasn't likely to let any of it's soldiers get wasted in some stupid revenge affair as hard a time as they found recruiting. The searchers would just be told he was dead. End of pursuit ... or so he hoped.

Money was getting thin, he couldn't keep on like this, so he packed up his gear and made his way to the Southern Gates, where he surveyed those he could see ... the small crowd looking on ... the little brat running toward him, whom he fixed in his sight with a hard smile... don't even think to try... he said softly, bring the boy up short.

He looked at the Huge Creature heading toward the Legionnaire ... now that might be a damn fine ally, if he was trustworthy. He looked at some of the others hanging back watching... hen squared his shoulders and walked up to the legionnaire... Count Me In.

As the walls of Raphael came into view Magnus could feel his heart begin to beat just a little faster. By the time he could make out the individuals, mostly women and children, milling around beneath the arch of the entrance in the distance his breathing was shallow and his mouth felt suddenly dry.

He has passed others on the way in, mostly people living in the countryside heading in to do business, or out eager to start their day and be home with their loved ones, most had stepped clear of the trail and watched him with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

When he finally caught sight of the Legionnaire he felt nauseous, his mind was racing, dredging up all sorts of dreadful imagined scenarios that mostly ended with shouting, drawn weapons or hateful stares.

When word of his arrival began to spread, people turning, whispering, the bile rose in his throat and there was a burning before he swallowed it. He could taste the remnants of breakfast, boiled oats, a sliced apple and some strong cider.

He lingered on the periphery of the crowd, watched one human come forward dressed in a manner that he was not familiar with...his weapons looking finely wrought  and probably worth more than Magnus had earned in his lifetime.

Even those simple words "Count me in", did more for Magnus than the man would probably ever know. The decision to move on, to continue with the business at hand was the best of all the possibilities that had haunted him the night past. Others were there, professional soldiers by the looks of them...and they had not seemed alarmed.

Hope, faint but there eased the tension in the beast man's muscles, but he did not move forward, waiting instead to see what the Legionnaire would make of his arrival.

In reply to Rondald Bertrand (msg # 3):

Ronald moves forward to the Legionairre.

"You can count on our help as well. Is this minotaur here to help too, or as a sort of introductory test?"

And so, the small group of adventurers converged on the soldier, two women, two men, and of all things a minotaur.  The man seems uneasy at first, especially with the minotaur stepping forward at the start, but as other men seem to fill the gaps, he steps forward, shaking a few hands, and as the crowd gathers he seems all the more at ease.

"Welcome Heroes!"  The man calls, a smile on his face as he seems to be playing to the crowd behind the five as much as to the so called 'heroes' themselves.  "Doubtless you have heard the call of the Emperor and have answered with unchecked fervor!  For a necromancer is in our midst."  The man casts his eyes in all directions as he wags his head back and forth slowly, now undoubtedly playing to the crowd.

"Your destination is the Fort on Three Corners whose troops have already discovered our villain.  Here,"  The legionnaire hands Ronald a sealed white envelope, stamped and addressed to Captain Nathan Brashear, Megalos Infantry.  "Take this to the fort, with our well wishes.  It is some two weeks hence, south along the River Conn and West along the Makarem.  But Rudyard will know which way to take you.  He goes once a month, bringing the mail and supplies."  The legionnaire gestures towards the man sitting at the mule cart.

"Raphael whishes you the best of luck and successful hunting!   May the Emperor's grace fair thee well!"

OOC:  Ok, everyone's introductions made, we will be off to the adventure in the near future.  The only thing separating you from a necromancer's lair is a 200 mile journey and the start of another thread :D.  The good news is that I will do my best to fast forward through the unimportant parts of the journey (the road is modestly well worn, so unless you plan on cutting corners no navigation rolls will be needed) but you will still have a few challenges in this intro thread.  Essentially, your task is to escort Rudyard, the supplies driver along the route to the south and west towards three corners where the mission against the necromancer is being staged.  Feel free to ask questions in OOC if they are relevant or private if you are unsure.  I'll give everyone 3 days (real time) to add any equipment to their sheet that they think is necessary for a 200 mile trip across grassy plains in March.  I will take food into account, so if you have not put rations into your equipment, I suggest doing so now or risk the generosity of your fellow characters.  No need to roleplay this, just PM me the things you want to buy.

edit: If you wish to see the trek you are making you can look at the mpas thread.  Three corners is very close to the southwest corner of Megalos on the second map: link to a message in this game
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:52, Sun 17 Dec 2017.

In reply to Raddek (msg # 8):

"Thank you sir. We will do our best not to disappoint. Would the merchant mind us putting our bags on his cart?

Folks, are we ready to move out? I am Rondald, respected pirate hunter, and this is my wife Terri."

He leaves his description short for now.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:43, Sun 17 Dec 2017.

As the Legionnaire grandstanded for the crowd and wished them well, Magnus felt a great weight seem to lift from his mind. The Minotaur took a shaky breath as he realized that everything had gone far, far better than expected...indeed, he could scarcely believe it and stood in something approaching mild shock as he smiled and looked around at the departing crowd.

With the space in front of the gates beginning to clear out he turned and began to make his way over closer to the cart, and took the time to look over the people that he would be travelling with, perhaps even fighting alongside here over the next few weeks.

The one with the thin sword was coming, only a professional man at arms had the coin and the pull to carry a weapon that fine about , and Magnus took some comfort in that thought as he had wondered what sorts of people the notice might attract. It just as easily could have been a pack of overeager farmhands with tools or hand-me-downs in tow.

He next looked over to the swarthy pair and smiled, even giving the couple a nod in greeting. There was something especially wholesome about a man bringing his family along on the road, for surely given their demeanor towards each other, they had to be close. They reminded him in some ways of his own parents, and he wondered if they might have children of their own.

The third was more of a mystery, obviously a woman even beneath her robes and the scarf that obscured her features. The way that she had mingled among the crowd made him wonder if she was just a well off local come to satisfy her curiosity, or perhaps some daughter of a well to do merchant or a lesser noble family. He took care not to stare at that one, just in case some dutiful escort or protector lurked nearby.

He knew he would need to provision for the trip, but for the moment he stood near the cart, peered into it for a moment to see what sort of room was left, then watched the others mill about, still a little hesitant to approach any of them directly.