Kesta of Makkalet slept soundly until mid-morning when she rose in a single lithe movement from her bed with a blade in her hand. She glanced around at the various newcomers who had been sent to billet with her troop, and nodded at each one in turn, evaluating them with her eyes, but withholding judgment until she had had the chance to observe them in action.

She drew a bucket of cold water from the trough. Their barracks had been a stables in Fish Town within recent memory and the smell of the barnyard still hung heavy on the straw and daub walls. As she started to wash, crouched down on her haunches, she glanced at each one in turn.

"Tell me about yourself," she said. "Who you are, where you come from, what you can do? And is anyone in this town trying to kill you?"

OOC: Feel free to jump in and introduce yourself in character. I would suggest Demius do it as well, so they know about him.

As she listened, she finished washing and started to untangle her long hair with a simple wooden comb.

When everyone was done, she strapped on her armor and adjusted it to her liking -- which exposed more of her lithe body than the designer had ever intended. Then she picked up her weapons one by one, examining them and sheathing them with care and purpose.

"I'm Kesta. From Makkalet, and as of yesterday, I'm your squad leader. I'm not your boss, but I do tell you what has to be done. And if you don't do it, I'll kick yer ass. And if you try to kill me, I'll kill you first."

The final dirk slid into its sheath on her boot.

"Last night we caught a man killing a priest." She holds up a holy symbol. "The priest was wearing this symbol. He warned us about something called the Eye of the God and told us to find the hidden temple of the One Eyed God. Sounds like they go together, to me.

"The sergeant on duty last night," she stretched and popped a few sinews, "did not think it was important enough to follow up. I think he's an ass. And I intend to find that temple today. And you're going to help me.

"But first, we're going to visit the man we caught last night -- if he's still alive. He's in the stockade, one of the old animal pens by the West Gate.

"And if anyone's got a clever idea about how we get him to tell us what is going on, feel free to share with the group."

Valeria arrives during the morning and walked over to Kesta saying, "Hello Kesta, I've heard you're doing well, so congratulations.  I've been settling in to the city, hearing this and that, keeping my eyes peeled and there's a couple of things that come to mind as things that might interest you...

"Yesterday in the Souk, while discussing a recipe for lamb curry using a fiercely hot pepper, speaking Turanian and pretending I didn't know it as well as I do, as you do,  I heard two men speaking Hyrkanian at a stall across the pathway. Both were wearing simple robes and carried no obvious  weapons, but they were fit and strong with scars on faces and hands. And one man was wearing cavalry boots.  Anyway, one said to the other " . . . in the hills above the Sun Dome. The prince is safe. Guarded. We wait for the voice of Mahkmout the Seer to guide us,"  Then the other guy, not the cavalryman said, "He sees all and will send the signal when the time is ripe".  Seems to me, something's brewing."

She looked around and noticed the soldiers, some of whom she knew, others who she didn't.  She grinned and waved to those she knew.

Amaya was properly intimidated by the address of Kesta, their boss; and while she claimed not to be, telling you what to do and kicking your ass when you don't do it pretty much summed up the role of boss for her. But rather than voicing her thoughts out loud the young Nemedian bit her lip as she listened to the woman going on about the events of the night before and how she wanted to investigate. Just before the scout could answer Kesta's request for what they were able to do, another woman showed up and dropped even more information to digest.

The details that both women had shared were thin, Seers came in the dozen for the right coin, most of them frauds, so that could have been about anything. She looked at the dead priest's holy symbol and tried to recall if she had ever seen it before...

Valeria shifted from foot to foot as she waited to hear Kesta's response but she couldn't hold the next bit in and so she added that as well.  "Also, I caught a plot to poison the soldiers' food with laxatives last night.  A woman called Kerin convinced another kitchen worker that it was a love potion and would make the sergeant she had her eye on fall in love with her.  Unfortunately, I picked the wrong one to interrupt and Kerin escaped.  Clearly food is a weak point in the army's security."

Kesta laughs at the last bit.

"Their food is bad. Even if it were not poisoned it would be dangerous to eat it."

She eyes Valeria up and shrugs.

"You seem to be an inquisitive type, and I know you cooked meals for us on the trail. Will you cook for my squad? Make sure we get good food and no poison?"

She tells Valeria in turn a quick version of what happened to the squad on their dawn patrol and indicates that she and the others are going to interrogate the man they caught.

"Do you have any ideas about how we might persuade him to talk?"

She also shows the cook the holy symbol they found on the dead priest. She offers no opinion of the talk Valeria overheard in the market.

OOC: Anyone can make a reasonable Knowledge roll to try to recognize it -- not likely, it's DC 25 -- but nat 20's do happen. Also please feel free to jump in with your character's introduction to the group. I realize that the posting is sometimes at different rates, but it's easy enough to post something like:

When the squad leader asks who everyone is and what they can do, I speak up. "I'm . . "

If we all wait on turns, we move only as fast as the slowest poster.

Valeria nods.  "Of course.  Cooking for such a small number allows: for catering better for the tastes of my charges (pun intended); for creativity; and plenty of time for my own extracurricular pursuits.  I should warn you though, I may own a couple of people a favour and a certain thug owes me two feet and a hand, which I will take when the time is right."

19:30, Today: Valeria the Cook rolled 22 using 1d20+5.  knowledge local related to symbol.

A shudder ran down Amaya's spine when Valeria spoke of taking people's hands and feet, thinking "She can't be serious, can she?" The young woman bit her lip, taking in the additional information before shaking her head as if to clear it from some imaginary cobwebs. "I... uh..." the blonde began hesitatingly, "You wanted to know where we're from and ... stuff." she said, then gathered her courage to stand straight and continued with a firm voice "I'm from Nemedia," the girl stated, as if her tall but lean body and blue eyes and blond hair didn't give that away already. "I'm supposed to be one of your scouts, my favorite weapon is the bow, boss. Call me Amaya." with that said, the young woman tried to act cool and crossed her arms before her chest, which somehow got in her way and forced her to change her stance then awkwardly made another unsuccessful attempt at crossing her arms before giving up and just folding her hands in her lap. Blushing she lowered her gaze to the ground, wishing it would open up and swallow her whole...

 Demius spoke up. "If we want the prisoner to talk, we need rope. a wagon wheel or another flat surface. A small fire and a dagger. He will tell us things."

Valeria grinned. "Or I could just ask him nicely if you like."

Dawn joined the others near Kesta of Makkalet.  Although she wore the garb and gear that was handed her, leathers with matching gladius and shield, she also bore a set of outer garments that were well worn and seemed finer than her station as a soldier.  Her flawless umber toned skin, and jet hair, showed her lineage as Vendhyan.  However when she spoke, her honey sweet Aquilonian accent was quite recognizable and begged you to listen further.  "Torture will get answers, and can be far quicker than other methods.  However, his words will be poisoned and ripe for falsities.  Perhaps, if I was to wear the false symbol I could persuade him into thinking he might have a brighter future.  If we are pressed for time, I might even help him escape so he could lead us exactly where we wish to go."  She paused as if realizing that she might have just completely overstepped her bounds in the presence of her superiors.  She cleared her throat "Apologies, my name is Dawn and I am a priestess of Mitra sent here to aid your cause.  I am also fluent in seven different languages and a vast array of knowledge."  In her excitement and embarrassment she was unable to identify the faith associated with the priest's token or the name given, so she made no mention of it.  She hoped that it would come to her later.

Knowledge: Religion - roll: 15 using 1d20+9
This message was last edited by the player at 14:41, Fri 26 May 2023.

Valeria, not at all envious that she only speaks 6 languages and Dawn speaks 7, says "I like this one.  She has some brilliant ideas.  Of course, if the army really wanted to know, they'd provide us with elixirs of truth."

Dawn shifts to where her eyes will meet Valeria's and the two catch a moment locked in time.  "Mitra's will..." she says under her breath at the mention of the Elixir of Truth.  She'd only heard of the drought as something to be wary of...she was so excited in that brief moment.  This is exactly why she chose to leave the convent.  Amazing.