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Crystal head to the gate. She is allowed entrance, and then heads swiftly towards the baron's keep. Lumberton proper is in an uproar, people running too and fro, guards walking about in large groups, and a feeling of fear hanging in the air like a stench.
At the castle, the main gate has been shut. An unsmiling squad of baronial guards stand with large billhooks at the postern gate, When Crystal approaches, they tense.
"No entry miss, by order of the baron." The sergeant calls out in a neutral policeman-type voice
Crystal smiles warmly at the fellow, , trying to gauge when this Baronial order was given,
"Of course, of course..." She glances still smiling, though glancing to Kolo, "We certainly wouldn't want just any one walking in during these troubled times..." She also wonders where the guards are who let herself an her friends out of the keep are now. Trying to catch a glimpse of them as they patrol the walls.
"Of course, of course..." She glances still smiling, though glancing to Kolo, "We certainly wouldn't want just any one walking in during these troubled times..." She also wonders where the guards are who let herself an her friends out of the keep are now. Trying to catch a glimpse of them as they patrol the walls.
The guards that let them out seem to be elsewhere. The motive of the guards is hard to read. They seem neutral in tone, but there is an undercurrent of agitation.
Kolo keeps quiet, letting the more eloquent Crystal talk to the guards, but he had experience with officious sorts before and decided to set himself looking for another way in. If Crystal managed to get them inside, there was no harm, and if not, there was maybe some benefit.
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Kolo notes that the castle seems to be very good at what is supposed to do: Keep unwanted folks out. The postern door that the guards are next to is a smaller door in the main door that one person at a time can enter. Kolo imagines he could scale the wall with the proper ladder, but that would be kind of obvious.
Sondergang looks round at those who are still there..
"Reet then lads and lasses...I doubt this herd.." he gestures to the milling group around the Rangers "..is going to get started anytime soon..so we'd best get started"
He calls after the departing group.."Get us some rations while your at it will you"
The guards that let them out seem to be elsewhere. The motive of the guards is hard to read. They seem neutral in tone, but there is an undercurrent of agitation.
Crystal smiles and begins walking slowly and casually away, waving and thanking the guards for their time. Though Kolo would notice Crystal is not walking back the way they have come, but turning the very first corner in sight and hence out of sight of the guards.
"" Crystal puzzles softly. "" She ponders out loud, though seeking her companions advice in this seeming strange turn of affairs.
Those that have mounts find them in good form at the inn stables. They saddle up and return to the gate. Finding rations is a bit harder. The local mercantiles are shuttered, and don't look amenable to opening for business.
At the plaza by the gate, the Order of the Raven is busy trying to sort the many irregulars into some form of fighting force. An older man sporting a seamed scar down his face seems to be in charge. The group hears a few other Blackbirds call him Brother Ralken. Ralken os busy directing his subordinates and taking input from various townsfolk and travelers.
Sondergang grins at Merzhans comment.."Aye..well lets see if the gate gauards will let us out or insist we join the rabble"
He walks up to gate..
"Ok Lads, let us out so we can be about the business of killing orcs will ye" he says to the guards on duty."We'll act better if we're not hampered by amateurs like thon' lot owr there"
Sondergang grins at Merzhans comment.."Aye..well lets see if the gate gauards will let us out or insist we join the rabble"
He walks up to gate..
"Ok Lads, let us out so we can be about the business of killing orcs will ye" he says to the guards on duty."We'll act better if we're not hampered by amateurs like thon' lot owr there"
The guard looks Sondergang over
"As you wish. There's plenty out there for all. Bring left ears back and we are paying a 5 Gold piece reward per."
The guards stand aside. The Mountain Gate is already open, and the party can see several mounted parties already riding off into the distance.
The glint in Sondergang s eye tells of the danger the Orcs are going to find themselves in.
"Well you heard the man...theres a bounty to be collected..he looks to where the mounted men are ranging and picks a direction away from the main thrust off those parties.
"We'll try some of the not so obvious routes back to Tharkad Kul I think...these greenskins are sneaky bastards and won't be riding down main paths in daylight...who knows this area best" he looks over the party especially at the newer local members
Crystal smiles and begins walking slowly and casually away, waving and thanking the guards for their time. Though Kolo would notice Crystal is not walking back the way they have come, but turning the very first corner in sight and hence out of sight of the guards.
"" Crystal puzzles softly. "" She ponders out loud, though seeking her companions advice in this seeming strange turn of affairs.
"" Kolo muses, ""
He stops and thinks for a moment more, then shakes his head and continues in a more normal voice. "By now the rest of the group are probably chasing after worgs all over creation and it would be a trial to track them down. Maybe there's some hints as to what caused all of this in town? It's surely no coincidence that the Baron was assassinated in such a gruesomely public fashion and the town was attacked at precisely the same moment? There must be some conspiracy within the walls at work, here."
So, how quickly do you think we can stow away somewhere on that thing? She muses to Kolo, indicating the approaching wagon.
"Oh, I've got lots of experiences stowing away in wagons. It doesn't take long at all. You just have to make sure you do it when no one's looking and that the driver doesn't feel you get on."
So saying, Kolo edges towards the wagon, getting ready to hop up and burrow into the bales of hay when it passes.
Corvus collects Myst from the stables, the grey mare frisky until handled by the cavalier.
"You sense something, don't you girl," Corvus whispers to the horse as she saddles it. "Or is it a smell? Your tracking skills may come in useful before the night is out. We've some catching up to do and we may not be able to go as quickly as you'd like."
Oddly, the young woman seems more at ease talking to the horse than she had to the group of adventurers. Sensing her own actions, she patted the horse on the nose. "We're working with company now. It'll take getting used to for both of us - but we'll get there. By the Light, we'll get there."
She then leads the horse by its reins back to where the group are gathered.
Kolo and Crystal sidle up to the wagon as it heads through the narrow streets towards the gate. They both leap for the hay-strewn back. Kolo's jump is a bit too short, and he feels himself falling backwards. The deep cobbles the street is paved with look massive as he desperately tries to find purchase. A slender hand grips his tunic in a viselike grip and hauls him into the dry sneezy hay.
Corvus collects Myst from the stables, the grey mare frisky until handled by the cavalier.
"You sense something, don't you girl," Corvus whispers to the horse as she saddles it. "Or is it a smell? Your tracking skills may come in useful before the night is out. We've some catching up to do and we may not be able to go as quickly as you'd like."
Oddly, the young woman seems more at ease talking to the horse than she had to the group of adventurers. Sensing her own actions, she patted the horse on the nose. "We're working with company now. It'll take getting used to for both of us - but we'll get there. By the Light, we'll get there."
She then leads the horse by its reins back to where the group are gathered.
Corvus makes sure her kit is settled on Myst. Her training gets the saddle and trappings on quickly. Myst whickers and strains eagerly out into the smoky air. The horse seems ready for action, her slender nose up and ears perked. Her grey dappled hide shines with health and vigor.
The farmer doesn't notice the addition of the two into his hay wain. He finally reaches the postern gate.
"'Lo Rallo. I got the hay for the stables and some pickled beets for the kitchen."
Crystal and Kolo hear the guard they talked to earlier respond:
"That's fine Wat. Give us a bit to open the gate."
A seemingly long period goes on as the two stifle the urge to itch and sneeze. Finally the wagon moves forward with a jerk. The guard calls out
"No lollygagging about today. You aren't allowed to saty inside any longer than needs be Wat, new baron's orders."
"Aye. I'll not tarry, I have my farm to protect."
The wagon travels a bit, then stops. The farmer chats with another person
"'Lo Dingy. I got the hay for the stables here, you want to send the stableboys out to unload it?"
"Aye Wat, no worries. LANK! HARDIN! GET YOUR LAZY SHANKS OUT HERE!"
Myst seems eager to be travelling faster. "Whoa girl," Corvus says in a calming voice, patting the horse's neck. "You can smell them can't you."
Turning to the group, Corvus adds, by way of an explanation, "She's been trained to track. The orc's smell is strong and she's keen to pursue. If even one of them splits from the main group, she'll be able to pick up the scent. It should make for fewer surprises."