Brother Loran was still dispondent that his faith in someone had seemed misplaced and he still felt partly guilty for allowing the elf to pull the wool over his eyes.
He allowed the others make plans and followed quietly behind

The look of disappointment on Brother Loran’s face isn’t lost on Ser Perth, who gives him a sympathetic smile.

The highlands to the east cast heavy shadows on the pathway leading out of Redcliffe as the party makes haste to the Crossroads. They pass the Rhys’ farm just south of the village gate; the smell of bread warming on a stove wafts onto the trail as they pass.

Minutes later, they approach the old southern gate, with Richard a few yards ahead of the others as he scouts the way forward.

Despite his mood he couldn't help but smile at the smell of bread he remembered back three summers past when he helped deliver the family's third  child and their first daughter, beautiful thing she was with the face of an angel.

The memory lessened his mood somewhat and his side became more confident as he followed the others

Richard moves up and through the gate to continue forward keeping an eye out.

Richard pulls ahead, seeming to move with purpose before he uses the shadows to disappear from their sight. Those who’ve known him for a time understand that he does this when he’s investigating something he’s sighted. Ser Perth, ever watchful, allows his hand to rest on his blade, ready to respond to trouble.


After a short wait, the rest of the group hears a woman’s gasp, followed shortly by another and the unintelligible beginnings of a conversation. Two silhouettes can be seen just on the other side of the gate. One definitely looks like it could be Richard. Ser Perth looks to Fost, Mikhail, and Loren; by the questioning nature of his expression, they infer that he wonders if they should join Richard and his new companion.

What he thought was a moment to tease The young women. He quickly turned to the group putting his finger to his lips motioned to them all to move toward the wood. Grabbing Gemma’s hand he leads her to the woods where he hopes the rest of the group will rendezvous with him, “Gemma the group, the group Gemma,” speedily introducing them. “She just told me there is activity with our visiting friends. They are making to leave. How do you all think we should proceed?”

As the others are waiting together, Ser Perth notices Richard gesturing. "I think he wants us to slip into the trees to the right," he suggests.

"If by friends, you mean those we are pursuing, the faster we get to them, the better. I'm not sure we can beat them in a straight fight if it comes to it, but we need to at least start trailing them quickly." Mikhail nodded to this Gemma lady as she was introduced. "If we can flank them, let's do it. Hopefully, I can get their mage to focus on me. I stand the best chance of dealing with whoever it is, but no guarantees."

Though not a fighter Loran felt it was his fault that things were taken from the chantry so he would make it his business to bring them back safely.

"I will continue with what you believe is the best course of action" he stated in a hushed voice

"My men and I are with you," Ser Perth says, gesturing toward his four footmen. "I'm not keen on the idea of letting thieves get away with desecrating a chantry."

The knight glances up at sky over the highlands to the east, noticing the increasing light. "We should probably get moving, if we're to catch them before they leave."

You fall in behind Fost and Ser Perth. "Right. My magic is pretty good at defending against other magic. It still not the best, but I'll still try to interrupt or protect against what I can."

Mikhail grips his staff, keeping his eyes out for what he could.

“Perfect, I will circle around and get a view of combat starts I will concentrate my arrows on the Mage. Hopefully bringing him down quick. I will wait for your queue.” Grabbing Gemma and with a nod to the others, Richard makes his way  around the buildings. Not jogging or running, keeping a brisk pace.

Richard takes Gemma's hand and leads the way to the Crossroads. The way is familiar enough to most (even Mikhail passed through the Crossroads when he first traveled to Redcliffe), and they once again find a vantage point that allows them to overlook four buildings in the area. The house in question is conveniently separated from the others on the left side of the path, on a raised mound of earth. Hasty activity surrounds it, with a number of folks gathering sacks, chests, and a footlocker in a place next to the door; through the open door, raised voices filter out, though it's impossible to make out from this distance.

OOC: Okay folks, you see the house. Around the outside are five people: two men, and three women. Both men are in heavier gear, and may be the two Tevinter footmen you all encountered yesterday; the three women are all human, and are in the simple garb of servants...however, their manner of dress looks like it comes from someplace closer than Tevinter.

Oh, one more thing. Bear in mind that you're a force of 9 people right now, and only one a rogue with any talent for not being seen. You're a few dozen yards away, and you have some cover, but still. Lots of mages and warriors. And a pretty girl.

Looking over the scene, Mikhail starts to question this line of approach. "You know... we kind of look like... a fighting force. Maybe we should just, I don't know, pretend we're not here for them? I mean, wouldn't it be easier to catch them if they thought we were not here for them? Could that even work?" Then again, they had a Chantry Ley Brother with them, or whatever Brother Loran's actual title was. Unless they could convince them that he was... no, they would never buy that. He stood out as much as Mikhail himself, and Mikhail was a mage. Still... it might be a better idea than spooking them all into attacking on sight. If a malificar was among them, it would be best to not let on that they knew about it.

Fost calmly readied his longbow.
"If these two are the same we met before any attempt at a ruse is bound to fail."
"How many did you say was the whole entourage?
With Perth and four men at arms they could just claim thst they searched for a thief. Which was true, after all.

rolled 12 using 3d6+1 (4 stunt points) with the AGE System with rolls of {4}, 4, 3.  CUN, recognize garb of servants.

Fost frowned as he recalled what Richard and Orlin had reported.
"There are 7 of them. Three men-at-arms, two servants. Right now we only see these 5, none of which are either Lord or Lady. We van easily take the fighting men. We have six warriors, twice as much. Overwhelming odds. But the enemy mage is troublesome. And we must take prisoners, too, for questioning. Whoever they wanted to meet here to plot has seemingoy not arrived yet. If we wait much longer we won't outnumber them."

OOC: So, Richard's reported numbers might be off, since Fost sees three servant women and two men-at-arms outside the building. A third servant woman may indicate a group of eight, rather than a group of seven.

It's early enough in the morning that the farmers aren't necessarily out in full force. Most may be breaking their fast before stepping out into the fields. And, the three buildings on the right are clustered together, with one building obscuring the common area between them. There may be activity you just don't see (and the farms are beyond that, also not easy to see.

That said, Gemma, who lives at the Crossroads, hasn't reported a massacre of peasants since she met up with you.

Fost, though, does recognize the two men as the foot soldiers the group encountered yesterday. He doesn't see the bowman; and you remember they got a good look at the lot of you.

I can also say that all of you can tell there are at least three different voices filtering out through the front door of the house itself.

"With three servants out there, it may mean eight," Ser Perth observes. Turning to Fost, he asks. "Did those men get a good look at you when you first encountered them?"

Fost nodded.
"They definitely did. I am aure they would recognize us on first sight. That's why I believe a ruse will not work."
"You are a member of the Arl's household, Perth. You could approach them as you are empowered to search for a thief. You may be able to approach unmolested, if you find the elf take her prisoner. If she is not to be found... that's actually what I expect. You could search each home but then we cannot see you and you may be ambushed. Not a good idea. But you may get a better idea of the troops and on an agreed signal we could attack."
"It's risky, but I loathe the idea that we just let them go."
"I don't fear the footmen, but assessing the capabilities of the Tevinter mage is impossible and may bring ruin to us all. Still, dare we let the man just pass the Arl's lands like that?"

rolled 8 using 3d6+3 (1 stunt point) with the AGE System with rolls of {1}, 1, 3.  DEX, Initiative.

Only edited typos
This message was last edited by the player at 15:03, Tue 21 July 2020.

Mikhail nods along with Fost. "If these are the same from yesterday, than yeah. They got a real good look at us. We nearly attacked them right then and there as well. I'll see what I can do with regards of keeping them busy and contained. I'm still learning everyday, but I think I have at least one spell that should keep them on their toes. Well, as long as I have the mana."

16:42, Today: Mikhail Loren rolled 11 using 3d6+2 with the AGE System with rolls of {5}, 1, 3.  DEX Initiative.

Brother Loran brushed down his robes "I'm not exactly hard to recognise in my chantry robes and as I did a lot of talking when we met and I think I might even have threatened them if they tried taking the girl they would definitely recognise me"

"Don't forget they have at least one crossbowman.", Fost warned as he notched an arrow.

"If it helps, my men and I can go in and get their attention, giving you folks a chance to set up shots," Ser Perth says.

Mikhail looks torn on that regard. "Are you sure, Ser Perth? I don't want to put your men in the danger just to make it easier for us to hit them. What am I saying, of course you're not going down there just for that. It was more you just telling us that is how things might pan out. Sorry for saying anything."

Mikhail waited for the Arl's men to advance, preparing to call upon a spell as soon as he was able to help.

Having discussed Mikhail's capabilities Fost gnawed his lower lip.
"Right."
"Ser Perth, I suggest you approach the village, unthreatening but with determination. You are looking for a thief, after all."
"Try to place yourself in a way so we have clear sight and the enemy is close together. Place your men so they more or less surround those below."
"Tell you are looking for an elf thief and ask whether they have seen her."
"That's when Mikhail will work his magic on them and you have to close fast on the fighters and concentrate on them to dispatch them. That is: put them out of the fight, you do not truly need to kill them."
"Richard will wait on this signal, as will I."
"I would prefer to be with you in the melee but I fear they will lrecongize me and become immediately suspicious foiling our attempt at a surprise attack."
"Still, I will try to rush in as soon as possible.
"I am anxcious about that crossbowman, if you see him, point at thim, so Richard and I can dispach him."
"Mikhail, you know best what to do, help our men to keep the foes unbalanced."
"Loran, same. Unless someone is in deep and urgent trouble, try to keep your healing powers for the end of the fight. The three of us will steadily advance on the foes. If you prefer to hang back that is fine, but keep in mind that no one will be able to protect you should someone be able to break through."
"Are we agreed ?"

He did not want to take command and framed his words as asugegstion, referring to the knight as being the one in command - both for the knight's as for the footmen's comfort. After all, he had no true standing in Redcliffe.

Richard is at the doorway of a house off to the side, crouched down at the door jam, hidden from view of the targets, but can be seen by the group so they know he is in position. Bow in hand with arrow ready.

OOC:
Initiative
07:10, Today: Richard rolled 14 using 3d6+3 with the AGE System (({2}, 3, 6)).

Stealth
07:11, Today: Richard rolled 15 using 3d6+3 (3 stunt points) with the AGE System with rolls of {3}, 6, 3.  stealth

Let me know if I did it wrong, I am going back  and forth between this system and 5e.