The morning air was filled with the dust and various smells of a large number of beings located in a very small area. Orderly though the camp was, each of you can see that the camp is separated by tribe, and furthermore each tribe is separated by clan; mainly, you would imagine, to prevent conflict between members of various tribes. A large tree that has been felled and then split in two is being used by a variety of people to inprocess the various recruits into the army of the faithful. As you are standing in line (those of you who have familiars or animal companions are being told to leave them at your assigned campsite), a half-orc young woman whose other half appears to be dwarven is running up and down the line, calling out names frantically: "I'm looking for the following people: Greith! Drax Adaaryn! Ragar Blackmane! Urgosh the Minotaur! Kurat! If onna these is you, sound off and come to me!"
Drax Adaaryn here!
A worgen in hybrid form steps out of line and heads over to the half-orc. He is short for a worgen but almost as broad as he his tall. He has a relatively flat face with a broad muzzle and long arms. His fur is smooth and bright though his scruff and beard are a bit too short. He is wearing a breastplate with a holy symbol of Auronis around his neck, a bastard sword in a sheath on his back under his backpack and a pair of straight daggers at his waist.
I wonder what they could want me for. I haven't even signed up yet.
The young woman in front of you is wearing a stripped-down black tunic, the sleeves of which have been removed, and a pair of dark green breeches that have been altered to remove the cloth from the knee down. She has no obvious weapons or armor, but is wearing a cloak pin (sans cloak) that has a silver arrowhead on it, along with some writing in sylvan that has the name Meera and states her rank as sergeant, She also isn't wearing any footgear.
Bouncing from one leg to another on the balls of her feet, she seems a barrel of barely contained energy.
"Ragar Blackmane."
The dwarf steps out of line. Ragar is not pretty, his face being marked with various scars and a thick black eye-patch covering his right eye. Beyond combing his hair out of his face his hair and beard fall down loose and tangled. His eye is a deep forest green that is full of curiosity.
The dwarf is clad head to toe in stone full-plate. On his back is a large stone shield that matches his armor, and underneath that is a dwarven waraxe, a dwarven darn dergar, and a composite longbow. All in all, it looks like a rather heavy load, but he moves forward with a moderate amount of grace.
Urgosh at first lost in his own thoughts didn't listen as the women passes by.
Realising a bit later that his name was indeed called out Urgosh step out of the line and catch up to the woman.
You called my name, I am urghost he says. The dwarf is wearing a full plate armor, shield and the favorite weapon of Auronis along with a backpack.
counting on her fingers, Meera looks at the three of you, says "Wait here!" and goes back to shouting up and down the line "Greith! Kurat! if that's you, come find me!"
Stepping from the line, a well-muscled yet lither hobgoblin steps forth. His feet bare, wearing buckskin and a glimmering silver chain shirt. Two curved knives in well-oiled sheaths adorn his hips. His arms are protected by leather bands covering both his fore- and upper-arms.
His light step is not even heard as he presents himself. "I is Greith!" As soon as he's told, he follows the half-orc woman.
Drax bounces on his toes looking from the half-orc back to Ragar to Urgash. After she finds Greith further down the line he leans over to the other two and in a low tone asks.
Do either of you know what this is about?
No idea he said shrugging his shouldersBut we will know soon enough
Ragar grunts, seconding what Urgosh said.
The young lady makes her way back to your group, and replies to Drax's question "I dunno what this is about, but I know the Cap'n told me to come get you all, so here we are." She then begins rapidly touching her thumb to each of her fingers, in order from pointer to pinky, and then back again.; it doesn't even appear that she's aware that she's doing it.
right then, lets march he says with a smile.
"Soon as I find this Kurat guy. Maybe you guys seen him? He's from the hobgoblin tribe." She then points at Greith: "And it's not that guy!"
Ragar grunts, shrugging his shoulders. "Don't spend much time 'mong the little 'uns."
Greith turns his head and raises an eybrow (as little of one as there is) at Ragar. "Greith taller than you, One-Eye!"
"Said you were little, not short." He chuckles, making the stone armor grate together.
Haven't heard of him. Course I only just arrived.
Nope sorry, don't know anyone by that name
Moving her finger touching to a speed that you almost can't see, Meera thinks for a minute, then says "I'll come back for him! Let's go get you to the Cap'n" and with that takes off at a high rate of speed.
Struggling to keep up with her, you have to call out once or twice to tell her to slow down, which she does until you get to the part of the camp that is reserved for officers. Walking past a tent for a large-sized creature, you arrive at a tent for a medium sized one where she stops and rings a small bell that is hanging from the flap and says completely without preamble "Bossman, I brought four of them. I'm gonna go back and look for the last one!" and then she's off once more, sprinting through the crowds to get back to the line.
Expecting an orc or perhaps an elf, you are surprised to see a goblin step out of the tent, wearing a adamantine cloak pin which reads Greel Dub-Bane, Captain. He has an eyepatch over his left eye, and his left arm has been replaced by a clockwork prosthetic, which hisses slightly on occasion when he bends it at the elbow.
Ragar looks at Greel, then says in a deadpan "Yer someone I could see eye-ta-eye with."
The blessing of Auronis be upon you captain. What can we do for ya?
Greel sighs, and then inhales a breath before looking up to the sky and speaking: "Spirits, I must have been cruel to puppies in a former life. First I get a 'soldier' who don't wear no armor and won't wield a weapon, and now I get a dwarf who thinks he's a comedian."
Looking to the group, he then says "So, I owe favors to several people, and they called in their markers to get you a trial in my Stalker unit; So, here you are. Tell me about yourselves and I'll see if you might be worth sending out on what the naval guys call a "shakedown" cruise." He then looks expectantly at each of you...
Ragar shrugs. "Can't blame a man fer trying." He begins citing off his skills. "Armor smith and expert, tracker, healer, know everything 'bout the wilderness above and under tha ground, fair bit o' spellcastin', and if I could bring him in camp I'd show ya me gorilla. Seen him rip a man's head off with his bare hands I did."
Drax pauses for Raggar then starts in.
Drax Adaaryn, worgen of the Werebear clan and a cleric of Auronis. Can't say I have much skill as a stalker but I've avoid my share of Psionic patrols looking like this.
Drax shifts to his bear form dropping to all 4 legs for just a moment as he does. His gear merges with his body and he appears to be little more than a large black bear. Standing back up on his hind legs he shifts back to hybrid form.
I'm still new to my studies of Auronis but nothing will stop me from answering Kathandrax's call.
Not being aware that he is "late" for anyhing, Kurat takes his place in line of recruits waiting to be signed up. Ragrat made him promise that he will serve the Skyreaver for 9 years, and young hobgoblin intended to keep his promise. Seeing that they were separated by tribes, he started to walk towards the other side where the other hobgoblins were lined up. A typical species of his race, Kurat stood around 4 ft. 10 in. tall, and weighted around 230 lbs. mostly muscles. He was obviously geared for war, his old green-brown breastplate, although showing signs of wear and tear since it was punctured, bruised and patched in several spots, and yet despite noticeable patches, armour was unmistakably still functional, offering ample protection. An impressive bundle of weapons was arrayed on his belt, hips and on his back.
Since he was not really used to so many creatures at one place, his senses were completelly overwhelmed by the sounds, sights and most of all different smells. Kurat was so under the impression that he did not even notice the young dwarf-orc girl clad in black running towards the hobgoblin section, until she colided with him. Helping her regain her composure, Kurat bent down to pick up his silver dagger which he dropped, when his mind finally realized that she was actually calling his name.
"Erm, yes, I be Kurat. Ragrat sent me. Who you be?!"
Greith listens to the others describe their skills. Then he begins. "Greith is Trapper by trade. Some time with the war band of Hobgoblin tribe. Skilled knife fighter, able scout. Trained in guerrilla tactics."
After a moment, he thinks about what he said. Then decides to add more. "Can't wait to skin some minders and make a new coat."
Moving over to Kurat, Meera says "We gots ta hustle. The Cap'n is gonna be yelling at people soon, and you don't wanna miss that; unless you're getting yelled at, I suppose. I wonder if he's gotten to the part yet about duty and sacrifice."
.......................................................................
"Sounds like you all might be worth adding to my Stalkers. As long as you realize that your duty to the army is more important than anything else, including your faith, and your life. No sacrifice is to great to insure the success of the mission. As soon as that girl gets back here..." "Oh, I've been here for a while now, boss. Here's the last recruit that you asked for. I'll let him tell you what he can do" Meera interrupts, perpetual smirk on her face.
"Well, boys, tell me about yourself." He says to both Kurat and Urgosh, adding "the others already have."
Not really getting the full grasp of Meera's fast-talking, Kurat manages to get a few words here or there, but none of the meaning behind it. So he tries his best to provide a proper answer: "I'm Kurat. I....she...I...she told me I'm here for yelling...or somethin'."
Glancing around, Kurat tries to make some sense of it all. All this people, and all these sounds and constant talking, everyone was just babbling all the time. Finally, he adds a few words, more as an afterthought or for himself: "I fight. I kill. I survive."
I and Urgosh, decent in a fight, great traker, good haggler, and awesome dwarven ale drinker. he says with a smile
Greel chuckles and says "Well, I can see that you're a bunch of great thinkers. 'Philosophers of the age', and what not."
pausing for a moment of contemplation, Greel says "Okay, here's the deal. Your 'shakedown cruise' will be stealing the flag from the Tent of Captain Hardbrow. The talking cow said that the idea of having an elite group of skirmishers was stupid. You're gonna change his opinion of that. Go get me his flag, and you're in. Fail, and you'll be cleaning the minotaur latrines for a month......with your tongues. I don't care how you do it, as long as you DON'T GET CAUGHT! or seen, for that matter. Basically, I want to have his flag, and him not to have any idea where it is. Questions?"
Yes where is his tent and who is his commanding officer?
Ragar tugs at his beard. "I'm not tha quietest guy." He indicates the nearly hundred pounds of stone covering his body.
Turning to Urgosh, Greel says "Like all captains in the army, we answer to the Skyreaver. There isn't anyone above us other than him. If we wanted an army like that, we woulda joined those boy lovers in Aeon."
In response to Ragar, Greel says "learn to think quick on your feet. I just said that you couldn't get caught; I didn't say what you how you had to go about it. consider this a test of how you think outside the box. I want more than just killers in my unit; I need adventurers."
Urgosh sensing the emotion coming from his kin will whisper to him Don't worry cousin i just might have a plan
Captain are there any meeting schedule soon that he will attend?
Greith looks at the two Dwarfs and the Worgen. Then he gives a nod to Kurat.
"You three can be loud. just somewhere close enough AND far enough to get us a path. Greith one of the quietest there is. Greith will get the flag without anyone knowing."
"And whom is this...Captain Hardbrow commanding?" - Kurat was still having troubles adjusting and properly expressing himself, but was ready to learn on his feet - "Is it one of regular units, or one composed of just one tribe? And we still did not hear where's his tent?"
Turning to others, he adds: "As many of my kin, I can be stealthy if the need arise. I am not the best of those sneakin' types, but should be 'nough to keep of our scent. Now, you dwarves seem to know somethin', or em I wrong?"
to Urgosh, Greel says "I dunno. Why don't you go find out? oh, and be prepared to explain how you did everything. I'd like to see your chains of thought."
I think its time to walk the camps. Urgosh might have a plan but I'm sure it won't hurt to fill out the details after we see how the ground lies. Probably shouldn't have all of us go but I'll head over with one or two others to take a look.
Drax appears to be be chewing on a bad piece of meat and lets out a growl after appearing to come to a decision.
Ragar, If you shed that armor for a bit I can pose as your companion while that Ape of yours hangs back. We may not be stealthy but there is no reason a hunter with a black bear would be associated with this group.
"I like the idea, but I don't quite get why I have ta take off me armor."
How many other suits of stone plate have you seen around; especially of that quality? Few enough that wearing it would bring an association to mind pretty quickly. I'd give you my sword to carry too if you would take it. Those are the kinds of details people remember when questioned after something goes missing. It isn't like pretending to be a pet my favorite activity either. If we end up having to make a distraction later it will be better that no-one remembers that we scouted the place ahead of time.
"Being killed ain't my favorite activity either. I could just borrow a regular set of full plate I 'spose."
If we are attacked in the middle of a friendly army encampment while taking a walk we have done something very wrong. . . you are welcome to my breastplate though. I wont be using it.
first part of the plan is t gather info on the captain and his tent. Is it guarded, who are his aid de camp, his Lt. Does he has meeting, is the tent guarded and such. The second part of the plan his to lure the captain or just have me waltzing in there and leaving with the darn thing..
Hobgoblin listens to exchange between Drax and Ragar intently, before deciding to interject: "Although I like the idea of one or few of us scouting the terrain, it might not work. From what I gather, all companions and familiars are to be left at campsite, and are forbidden from movin' around. Is that right Ragar?"
Kurat waits patiently for the answer before continuing: "What little wisdom I can offeris the following - if you're hunting for the animal, and you want to sneak up onto it from the left side, than usually it's a good idea to have something happenin' on it's right side, as to distract it's attention. I'm thinking it might help here - a diversion of a sorts. Have something happening somewhere else, closeby to distract the guards attention, while Greith here sneaks in and nicks the flag. How's that sound?"
its sounds ok. but first lets find info then lets construct a well made plan. its no use before. If greith is good at stealth then he can take a full day and watch from the shadows the movement in and around the tent. Drax can talk and follow his Lt in order to bring back interesting news or info, while Kurat can head out to tavern and talk to his troops in order to find out how they view their captain and and other info you can get from the rank and file, since you are also a soldier. Ragar can walk around town and make himself and talk to all the weapon / armor make to see if that captain might have place an order with them. Then lets all meet at a discreet place later tonight and talk about the stuff we learned.
Drax nods relieved he won't have to play at being a pet.
Captain. We got a deadline?
"Greith does not know which tent is the Captain's. Shall he ask someone, or wait until one of the other, more sociable, comrades locates it?"
that is why you are with me for the moment greith
Greel chuckles once more and says "What, you're still here? get moving!"
Walking over the camp, you get a feel for it.
] Map of the camp. [