Alaric looked out the window as well.

The clouds had been rolling in most of the morning. The rain fell heavily and the wind was blowing in gusts. It looked like a natural storm, a severe natural storm.

Nighthill gaze settled on Alleycat.

"I hope this will suffice for now. My family has many holdings up north."

"Hear me out," Bross starts, evenly- partly answering Amorette's question, "If we go soon, the better."

"The rain'll muddy up the trail." He started, plainly- no offense in it (it was no more 'complaining in front of the governor' than saying the sun shone on sunny days). "That'll slow them down, and if we're lucky, the sound of the storm will cover us coming."

Tallcut let the Governor go. He'd spoken with him, it accomplished what it accomplished, no need to keep pressing.

He left to go get supplied.

[OOC: So as to move things along:

-Bross grabs his pack and makes his "excuse mes" before preparing to go. He calmly invites everyone who is coming (rather than researching) to join him. He doesn't hang about after that.

-Stables: Borrows a horse, checking it out before he rides, and packs it up with the appropriate gear.
21:03, Today: Bross Tallcut rolled 10 using 1d20+2.  Animal handling.

He also collects Catrina's 'ride'. [He's a farm kid, this part is super-routine]

-He finds Ned, figures out how to get Ned to travel with them [this might take a while- maybe Faim's cart, if Ned can't ride?] (If necessary, he explains he doesn't have any shoes handy, but will owe him a pair, possibly off the people we're riding after.)

-Picks up food and water from the Quartermaster.

-Sees if they have any proper sling bullets (He has stones to throw, he scavenged them yesterday, but this would be a good time for better gear) Also, maybe some darts and a staff with steel caps, but that's just wishlisting.

-Asks for a shortbow and arrows (He's rusty on firing from horseback, but he knows he can't fire a longbow from horseback at all.).

-He personally skips the chainmail (it's what he has already).

-He prepares to go, and sees who will join him. (Possibly doing the "edge of town" thing to satisfy Nighthill's requirements for GreySky)


This message was last edited by the player at 02:23, Tue 08 Feb 2022.

Antru gives Nighthill an small bow from his seat, as he looks at Bross. He had been counting the time between the lighting and the thunder. Trying to gauge how fast the storm was moving.

Alleycat had been strumming his fingers on the table as the discussion moved around the room, as first one person and then the other spoke their mind. As he listened, it occurred to him that these days one did not find treasure by tripping over it in the middle of the road. No, anything worth having would need to be earned -- the old way, the hard way -- with sweat and blood, leather and steel.

But the good news, to Mekkar's way of thinking, was that it seemed a good bet that those who had attacked Greenest likely had built up a fair amount of treasure that was separate and apart from what they had just now looted. One just had to do what was required in order to pry it away from them.

Plus, over the course of the effort to free the prisoners and recover what had been stolen from Greenest's coffers, it seemed almost a given that he would learn some things about the attackers and their plans. All of that sounded like grist for Basoro's mill.

The Waterdhavian ceased his finger-strumming when Governor Nighthill began talking and laid his cards on the table, so to speak. Mekkar was pleased to hear that the adventuring party had permission to keep any loot that did not belong to the people of Greenest, or its treasury. The so-called "letter of gratitude" was icing on the cake. It might be a very tasty sort of icing, or it might not -- but it definitely had some intriguing possibilities.

He nodded his agreement to the Governor. "It will suffice. Thank you for making the effort to venture outside the bounds of the usual rewards offered to sellswords."

"Count me in."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:44, Tue 08 Feb 2022.

The storm is moving quickly. The flashes of lighting are but a few seconds ahead of the thunder.

"The storm will likely catch up to them before night fall. Given the speed at which it seems to be traveling. So they will be forced to camp earlier than usual. This should give us the advantage in scouting them out. But we should probably leave soon. I'm not keen on travel during a storm but if we leave after the center has passed we should have an easier time of it."

Sora nodded her thanks to tarbaw and turned, listening to Bross. She sighed, but nodded. "I'm no expert on this, so i will trust you on this." She turned and looked at Tarbaw. "Have the horses and gear ready in an hour...we leave tonight."

She looked at the others. "Everyone...get what you need, but travel light. Meet at the gate in one hour then we ride." She pulled Antru aside. [Language unknown: "Unnti he ecroal ca has ove maichi...i naek ei eencomoer lo it areret."]

With that she left the hall.

...there was much to be done

---

<OOC: Sora will

- Grab her gear and make sure it's ready.

-Get a horse and pack it appropratly

-Armory (Grab two extra daggers, a quarterstaff and a short sword)

-Get Kat

- Time to go!>

Hargrin watched Sora with a raised eyebrow. When, exactly, had they decided to put the elf woman in charge? Not that he objected to her personally, but he answered to Chauntea and Nighthill, not her, and she'd best remember that until she'd earned it.

"Excuse me," He stood before the others could leave the room. "When, exactly, did we decide to take that woman with us? I'd rather her safely here, where they're equipped to contain her mischief- a weapon liable to turn on you can be worse than none at all."


-Hargrin will take a mule, by the way, and the offered rations. Otherwise he's good with his own armament.

-He will make sure Ned's set up to travel with them, and may come across Bross doing so, or even pre-empt him depending on how much else Bross has to do.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:33, Tue 08 Feb 2022.

Sora stopped and looked at the dwarf, a serious look on her face. "That woman is a weapon. the Governor has made it clear he does not want her here in this town, and given the state of things, i don't blame him."

Her expression softens. "It's no secret that no one...no one wants her here. She stays, and we may have a death on our hands, and as stupid as that woman is, which she is....believe me, I'd rather not have someone die for it."

Her usual hard edge cam back as she looked at him. "She is a strong, capable fighter who knows she's messed up. She knows she has to make uo for it, and saving people will be one step. And the way i see it, we're going to face an army - we need all the help we can."

She bends over to his eye level. "But trust me....she screws up like that again, she does anything that is beyond what i say, and she won't last long enough to regret it. Now - unless you want to take this to a court hearing dwarf, we've got somewhere to be....so either move out of my way or move you ass."

Hargrin begrudgingly nods during her explanation, but his expression hardens when told to 'move your ass'. Hargrin strove for patience, holding onto his temper with both hands. "I don't think it unreasonable to have asked for that explanation if we're going to risk ourselves fighting beside her again. I concede your points and am satisfied if she has agreed to show some kind of discipline."

"But watch your tone, please, elf. And those orders. I'm not your lackey and there's no call to be so damned rude over a simple question." The dwarf obligingly stepped aside- no reason to be petty once he'd said his piece.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:40, Tue 08 Feb 2022.

Upon hearing the exchange with the half-elf and the dwarf, Amorette stood.

“There is much I owe to this group here- you, who translated on the prisoners’ behalf and drove the ransom cart at your own peril to bring us to safety. For that, I must thank you. But that woman could have cost me my life that day. Perhaps she is a good companion, but this cannot compromise us. If we have our lives and the lives of innocent people on the line, I need to know that I can trust my companions to make wise decisions. Not risk all of our necks for a feeble attempt at bravado. There are any number of strong arms that can wave a stick around. I need to know I won’t end up dead because of their pride. I must insist that if we take her, that anything delicate be left to those who have shown they can keep their heads.”

OOC: Amorette prepares for the trip, gets additional rations, and mends her lute. She gets a riding dog for transport.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:21, Tue 08 Feb 2022.

Antru sighs. He wasn’t thrilled with the idea of the hit head coming with them, but they did need the muscle. ”I’m sure Lady Sora has the woman well in hand. If not then the group as a whole will have a say in it.”

Looking at Sora he speaks to her in his native language. [Language unknown: Wit a eve i ilacho pe in ing tostr. O ereol som miha our to ondi Ur’ho larri cess of et al.  A chle’fo alame leset asttersom etac i nathre eiulic. “] His tone sounds a bit darker than usual for the clown.



OOC: Antru will grab what he needs form stores. Those gathering other things may see him collecting a few small items from the women in the keep as well. Once he’s done he’ll bring his horse and an extra pony to the bridge.

Alleycat rose to his feet. He agreed with Hargrin about Sora's pushy attitude, but reckoned that the Dwarf could take care of himself when it came to word-squabbles.

"Governor. Ladies and gentlemen," he said, nodding to Nighthill and the Council members. "If you will excuse me, I have some supplies to gather up and some preparations to make."

With that, the Waterdhavian left the room and headed off in search of the Keep's quartermaster. As he left the building, he pulled the hood of his cloak tighter against the storm. The downpour reminded him that he wanted to pick up a tent, some oilcloth, and a few other items in addition to what the Governor had  specifically offered to the rescuers.

He assumed that any of the guards would be able to point him in the right direction . . .

---

OOC: I have cleared Ac's "shopping list" with the DM. In order to keep things moving, I'm fine with having Ac obtain his new gear "off-stage".
This message was last edited by the player at 04:15, Wed 09 Feb 2022.

Sora looks at the dwarf, an even glare, but nods. "I mean no offence friend, and I'm not issuing orders. It was not my decision to leave so soon, and according to others..." I dicating Andru and the now gone Bross. "....this storm will help us, so don't mistake my urgency for orders."

She crossed her arms. "In saying that, I don't ask your permission for my decisions or reasoning. I agree the woman was stupid and foolish, but she is strong, and that strength could mean the lives of those prisoners, this group...even you."

She looked at Amorette then back. "I understand your hesitation, but we need all he help we can here. And as for her, we have spoken, and has come to an understanding. She will do what we say, but the govener has made it clear he doesn't want her back."

Then her eyes locked with Hargrin. "There is nothing simple about what we do....we are a handful against an army, and I want to come back alive. If it means keeping that mad dog on a leash until we point them at the enemy, so be it."

She looked at Antru. [Language unknown: "T lattraven ca tene, T din"] She muttered.

Then started walking, pausing at Hargrin's side "Oh...and I'm only half elf."

Those certainly were orders, whether she'd meant them that way or not. But Hargrin let that go. What he couldn't let go was "And I'm saying that you might need to start asking permission and sharing reasons if you're going to be working with us going forward. That's just part of what running with a group means, instead of getting to charge ahead on your own." He told Sora, as gently as he could. Hopefully some of it would make it through her single-minded focus on survival. Time was short, but some lessons were worth taking the time to learn- could even make the difference for their survival. "Just- consider it, eh?"

"Half-elf, and whole pain in the ass. Yep, lass, got it. Now let's go get this thing done and live long enough celebrate after." The dwarf grinned at her and began trotting off to see to his own supplies.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:04, Thu 10 Feb 2022.

Sora looked at teh dwarf, her face expressionless, then she actually smiled. "Your not the first to call me that, and i bet, not the last."

She walked out by his side, her tone low and serious. "What you've said is true...i have not had too much time in groups, and what few, theyve looked to me because of my stubborn streak." Despite not looking at him, she smiled. "...something your kind is known for. I appreciate your candor, but I will not apologies for being someone who speaks her mind, But i will bow to your wisdom when given."

She stops when they were about to separate. "My decision was as much for her safety as the town to bring the woman. She is an able fighter, i saw her with Bross. She lacks discipline. Perhaps that is something we can teach her...i believe people deserve a second chance." Her gaze went distant for a moment, then nodded at Hargrin.

"If we live through this, I'll buy the first meal for you dwarf - my word."

The storm rages on as Bross and Ned arrive at the bridge. Ned is barely recognizable in garrison clothing and a fine wool cloak sitting expertly on a tall grey horse. His left hand gently hold the reins and his right grasping a long spear. He remains silent, watching the gate of the keep for the rest of the group.

Faim arrives riding a small mule that has been carefully packed. He greets Bross with civility then mimics Ned's silent vigil on the gate.

In time, the sight of sora appeared, wearing a grey wooden cloak over her red dress. Her tell tale necklace with the pink crystal glinted in the limited light. At her hip was a dagger, while in her hands she held the reigns of a mare, white with black spots. Attached to the saddle was her pack and a staff that had a crystal Orb in the top. On the other side was another pack.

She looked at the men and sighed. "Nice night for a ride." she mutters to herself

Billy and Hector emerge from the gate with a prisoner walking between them. They lead her to the bridge without incident.

They stand her with her head in a sack and her hands bound in front of Sora.

Billy snorts,

"Best of luck. She's all yours, Don't bring her back."

He shakes his head, looks at Hector, then both of then jog back to the keep to get out of the rain.

Alleycat was uncomfortable in more ways than one. First of all, it was a miserable night to be out and about, on account of the weather. But he had worked jobs in bad weather before, and knew that stormy weather and rain gave certain advantages to those in his line of work.

If you didn't like it, you could become a scribe and sit inside by a nice warm fire all the live-long day and night. And say "How high?" when your master -- whoever he or she might be -- yelled "Jump, toad!" That sort of thing certainly wasn't Mekkar's cup of tea, though. To him, trading comfort for working as someone's minion was not a good trade. No, being out in bad weather sometimes was just the way things had to be, so the Waterdhavian didn't see any reason to whine about it.

The other reason Alleycat was uncomfortable was that he was sitting high up on a horse, and it looked like a long way down to the ground if he fell off. City lad that he was, as best he could remember, he had never been up on a horse before. He figured that he would get used to it in time, but for right now, it was . . . uncomfortable . . . in a different way than getting drenched by the rain was.

Mekkar instinctively found a spot back in the shadows, under a tree. There he quietly sat, atop the horse. He found that he liked it better when the beast was standing still. He could see that some of the others had already gathered out by the bridge, but all of his instincts told him to look over the area -- any area -- carefully before moving out in plain sight of everyone.

He knew that if some of those who had darkvision were looking in the right place, they might spot him. But then again, they might not. Those who didn't -- have darkvision, that is -- almost certainly wouldn't see him. Either way, it was better than just blithely showing up in plain sight of everyone -- including anyone else who might be off to the side, observing, as he was -- as if he was some lackwit who didn't have a care in the world . . .
This message was last edited by the player at 02:38, Thu 10 Feb 2022.

Sora sighed as the woman was delivered and when they ran, she took the hood and gag out of her mouth and untied her. She took a step back and looked at her. "Don't speak until we leave here. there is a horse coming.  Your pack is there..." pointing st the extra pack on the horse.

She looked her in the eyes. "I hope you realise the risk I'm talking bringing you....many don't want you here. This is your chance....listen to me and you may yet find redemption. But, you do anything foolish, and even the gods won't help you."

She leans in. "Right now you have few allies. do anything and you lose them - you are alone. Got it?"

"Phew!" Cat says as her bindings are off, she was about to say something to Sora but was cut off. So instead she made some hand gestures, motioning her mouth to zip tight and giving her a thumbs up. She then attempts to readjust her mask in silence to keep up her appearance and follows Sora's lead.

"Makes me wish we were back at the fair with me pulling jest on you." Antru says as he comes up behind Allycat. There is a bit of mirth in his eyes and his tone is lighter than it has been since the attack. Dressed in brown leathers now, rather than his more color outfit. A dark cloak covers him and provides some protection from the rain. What can be seen of his face is still covered in makeup, and it seems to be freshly done.

Antru leads two horses. One has a small pack with a bow and an overflowing quiver. Both the bow and arrows are covered to protect them from the rain. The second horse has just the basics for riding. He watches as the guards leave Catrina and Sora takes charge of her. "Lets hope the leash on that one holds" He says as he stops beside Allycat.