Any indication of rank in any way? What sort of gear or uniforms are they sporting?

No, they all seem pretty equally qualified, to look at what they're wearing...

NOW, having said that, some have bows, and some don't. A few have these kind of three-shot crossbows, most don't. All have some sort of melee weapon, but while it's mostly swords, the kinds of sword differ, and a couple have maces, and there's a few axes or hatchets here and there...

Jack walks up and down the lines, looking at all of them. "Such devotion warms my heart," he declares. "But we go now to a land none of you will have visited before, and I cannot say if any of you will ever return. If you are not prepared, know that I will not hold fault with you, nor should any one else, for my judgment is final in these matters."

Looking over them, he spots none with defects or problems. Healthy, fitting of the service as he'd asked for them.

If none leave, he waits a moment and then says, "Good. Jaranth," he looks to her suddenly, "A word." Pulling her aside, he speaks clearly and to the point, "Pick those best suited, and have them ready to move out immediately."

Tactically, he needs to start moving her to be his second in command, and hopefully to enlist her to their cause. She in turn can help smooth the way with the others.

Absolutely none of them look for an instant like they have even the tiniest desire to leave.




"Yes, your majesty..." Jaranth is clearly still worried about Jack's identity. On the other hand, her reaction tells Jack that what he just said is very much how she would expect (and want?) her Jack to act/speak.

"But... with your permission..." she says at a volume that only Jack can hear, "...if it's up to me... I would take all of those present, if speed and stealth are not at issue. If 40 is too many for your needs as far as speed and stealth, I would take the first 20. If 20 is too many for the same reason, I should take the other nine besides myself that Lady Shamar has chosen." The vibe she's giving off at the moment is one of simple honesty (albeit multiplied by lots and lots of intensity. These are a very intense people, overall-- but what do you expect when they're in the presence of people they regard as gods? (Or, at least, people that might be the people they regard as gods?))...

"None of them left behind? You're certain? If we're to travel with so many, then I'll need you to find me a capable engineer or builder, and someone to manage a wagon with supplies, are any here capable of such a thing, and still fill my criteria?" Jack asks. "Or will we need to bloat our numbers further? Reduce them as appropriate. Forty is our limit."

"Cynfrith is an excellent combat engineer," says Jaranth, slightly louder. A woman with close-cropped brownish hair straightens up even straighter, apparently hearing her own name. "I've seen her get a wall, or fortifications-- or, one time, a bridge so strong you could pull a ballista across it-- built in half the time you'd expect. Anyone here can be trusted to serve as an excellent quartermaster."

Jaranth warms to her subject-- this is military shop talk, and she is definitely here for it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:21, Mon 08 June 2020.

"Excellent. If everything is in order, we're off, we will make additional acquisitions on our way, if anything is needed," Jack says and heads over to a horse. To Janessa, he suggests, "Ride in the carriage."

Leaping casually into the saddle with a superlative demonstration of his strength and agility, he starts the horse off at a trot. Heading out of the area with no particular destination in mind. As they get moving, he turns his head to look at Janessa, and moves his horse closer to the carriage.

"Small changes. Bring us back to your home, not too fast, nothing crazy, bring everyone riding with us along--just these," he suggests. Turning his head he indicates them, "Just them though. Not one extra."

Janessa has followed and listened. Keeping quiet for the sake of not wanting to put her foot in her mouth. She smiles at those assembled and follows Jack as he inspects them. She gives Jaranth a nod as they pass her. "Excellent idea." Janessa says as she climbs into the carriage. She looks around the group and nods to Jack. "No more, no less." She turns to the carriage driver and gives a nod and radiant smile. "Let's get moving." Once they're moving, she turns and motions to Jack to come closer. Once he's in range Janessa whispers. "Is there a way I could manipulate it so any of the crone's spies are left here?"

"Unfortunately not. You will need to win over their hearts and minds in time, and also introduce yourself to them, make it seem that you are their new friend; then take her aside and confide in Jaranth that I took a minor blow to the head and my memory is not what it was, she clearly expects me to act differently around her, perhaps my lesser was a lover or something. Regardless, do you think you can manage that? Once we have her, the rest will follow," Jack answers quietly, looking at her with a small smile.

"Anyway, whenever you're ready. Take it slow."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:34, Mon 08 June 2020.

The carriage and retinue leave the courtyard...

...Where more horses are waiting.

The 40 followers quickly start mounting up...

(If you want to not have 40 horses back at the ranch, better say something now... You've stated that you're in something of a hurry, and apparently the war requires a boat or ship to get to, so apparently these people think we're gonna ride hard to get to a dock somewhere or something...)

Nah, 40 horses is fine, especially given that it's on a ranch.

(Well then, go right ahead and head 'em up and move 'em out...)

The carriage and mounted guards head quickly through the streets of the city you're in... As you ride, the buildings slowly get less tall... At this rate, you should reach the edge of the city before long...

Janessa sighs and nods in response to Jack. "I'll do my best." She whispers back. Janessa looks around to see if she can spot where Jaranth is. She occasionally watches the woman in question, but mostly watches the city fade. Once far enough away she starts to change things. ~Small changes. Not too fast, nothing crazy, bring everyone riding along with us. No one extra.~ Janessa thinks to herself as slowly changes things.

15:10, Today: Janessa McCoy rolled 12 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 3,6.  Shadow Travel.

Is Janessa getting better at this? It would seem so, based on the problem-free journey. Soon, the sky is brighter, the grass more Montana-where-it-hasn't-rained-lately and less emerald green, and the clouds more white than platinum.

There's no one in sight anywhere but the carriage, its horses, and the 40 riders.

Jaranth rides up near the side of the carriage-- she looks quite alarmed. Guess she and her people have noticed they aren't in wherever-they-were anymore...

(Also, I guess we've got a carriage-driver or two along with us, right?

Well, anyway, if you want to stop and reassure Jaranth and her people, I won't make you roll a second time... When you start up again, it'll just be a continuation of the same roll back to Earth...)
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:34, Thu 11 June 2020.

"Her majesty is using magic to move us to our destination. Rest assured that everything is under control," Jack informs Jaranth, seeing the look on her face. Turning in the saddle then, he sits backwards on his horse and calls back to those behind them, "Good soldiers and guardsmen, know that all is as planned."

(OOC: That works for me. Just give me a bit. Heading to a dr appt. Will address Jaranth as well when I get back.)

Just waiting on Janessa.

Janessa nods and smiles at the troops and Jaranth. "All is well. Surely you've known or suspected I travel by magic." She chuckles softly. "Do not fret. There is still more traveling to do and more changes to come. I'm making sure we get to our destination without running into any ambushes. Your safety is one of my highest priorities." Janessa looks to Jaranth and motions her to come closer. "Jaranth, a moment please." She nods to Jack so he knows to ride away so she can privately talk with the warrior woman.

Jaranth looks notably less alarmed. She rides in closer for a more private word with Janessa.

(You can go post in your old private thread, if you like, Janessa, but I suspect that's not your aim.)

Jack falls back to start to introduce himself to his new fighters. "I don't know if you all know each other, but it has been some while, why don't you all introduce yourselves and tell me slash each other, about your given talents," he proposes to them, and will make mental note and memorize each of their names. Shaking hands with them as they ride, he goes from person to person, getting to know all of them, learning some single unique fact about each of them.

That they have a kid sister who wants to learn magic, that their life's ambition is to open a tavern, that they are experts at dice-games, he learns each thing and tries to build some rapport.

Where he can't build rapport he at least tries to learn about who they are, so that he can better deal with them later.

(OOC: Very astute.)

Janessa smiles at the woman when she gets close. "It's splendid to see you. I'm delighted you came along." She moves closer and lowers her voice. "I need to reveal something. Something I'm certain you've noted by now. Jack." She looks back at him and then back to Jaranth. "He's altered than he was. I know." Janessa sighs. "During one of the last skirmishes with the Thamites, he suffered a ferocious blow to the head. I was almost afraid we'd lose him." She looks up at the woman. "Thankfully, he's too obstinate to allow his head to be separated from his body." She smirks slightly before returning to an earnest face. "However, the injury did something to his mind. His memories, to be exact. Things he should know he either doesn't, or it's not clear." Janessa sighs again and looks back at him. "I've been helping him, but he's just so stubborn. He keeps on insisting nothing is amiss." She sits a moment before looking at Jaranth. "Be patient with him. I hope in time his memories mend themselves. Meantime, you should inform him about yourself. Reintroduce him to you. Aid him when he slips. Maybe discreetly inform the troops, so they will comprehend the difference they have or will detect in him." Janessa looks at her pleadingly. "Please Jaranth. Do this for me and him?"

Jaranth is both very concerned and relieved at the same time. "I will do as you say, your majesty." She seems very earnest, not at all sly or hesitating.

Janessa sighs in relief. "Thank you Jaranth. Now back to the task at hand." She smiles at the woman and continues manipulating shadow.

Soon enough, the carriage and riders arrive at Janessa's ranch house.

The riders stare with great interest at the alien-to-them architecture...

"Petey, Whitey!" Jack calls out to get their night watchmen moving so that he can introduce everyone. Simultaneously, he also tells Jaranth, "We'll be setting up a full sized fort here in the long term, but in the short term, let's have a camp set up over there, you can pasture the horses, we aren't expecting any enemies anytime soon."