"We are most happy to have found this haven in the woods. If we may share your fire, we would be most grateful, but naturallement, we must show that we can repay in kind. Fresh food must always be welcome, no?"
Armand does his best to appear harmless and slightly foolish. It is not a difficult task.
Yuriel is a looming figure, standing well back from the gate, but within sight and clearly not trying to hide. First contact and negotiations are... not his strong point. He will let Armand and Roedd talk first.
Booj follows Yuriel, standing (but not hiding) in the elf's shadow.
As those at the gate see Armand stroll up they stop and point their weapons at him, letting him walk unharmed into camp. They turn their attentions back to the now visible Yuriel and Booj at the treeline. With all those wandering in, the man that spoke earlier addresses the crowd, "Let's lower our weapons, they don't appear to mean us harm, or they would have done so from the forests edge. Am I right?" he asks, looking to each of you. "I'm sorry for our abrupt reaction, it's these times of violence that we worry about the intent of anyone that comes our way. If you truly come with good intent then we welcome you to our community."
Jacen stands well back from the proceedings, alongside Yuriel.
"As you say, had we wished to destroy, surely we must have waited in the forest and created an ambush. We merely seek shelter and perhaps some information. These are troubled times for us all, is it not so?"
Armand smiles disarmingly.
"These rabbits aren't going to cook themselves. Any questions you have would be best answered between mouth-fulls of stew."
At the invitation, Yuriel walks forward through the gates, bronzed armor glinting in the pale light. He nods to the men with bows as he passes between them.
"Nice camp, very defensible."
The man who looks to be in charge, replies "Yes, yes, troubled times indeed," waving to those still lingering outside the gate, "Come in, come in, let us not be strangers across the distance of our threshold. Could someone take the proferred catch from this creature, let's make our guests feel welcome?" he calls to some of the townsfolk. "My name is Gerus, I'm the mayor of a sorts for our little community. What, may I ask, brings out to these parts?"
Creature they want, creature they'll get. Roedd barks and jerks very quickly toward whomever relieves him of the rabbits just before they take hold of the game. "You didn't say the magic words. Ha, ha, ha!"
Armand doffs his hat. "I am Armand. Milor Gerus, you have inadvertantly created a mishap. Monsieur here is no creature, but a valued comrade in arms. I am sure that so early in our acquaintance there is no need for such heedless words."
He turns to Roedd. "If this matter touches your honour, I will be most happy to provide support for any recompense you feel most suitable. However, we are strangers here and the laws of hospitality must hold sway, no?"
Roedd acknowledges Armand with a long look."It's alright. I've not seen other brawd i blaidd for some time... certainly none around these parts. The longtooth only speaks from ignorance." Turing his attention to Gerus and pointing to his badge, "Your symbol... I have not seen it among the Naltanos...
The Mayor, nods and puts his hands out to ease the bowstrings of his townsfolk at the shifter's ferocity. "My apologies, your kind is not known to us here, I can only imagine by your speech that hail from far away." He bows slightly to Roedd. "As for my symbol, it is not any type of rank used by the warmongers, so it may look different. It is more just a local made badge of office, for in our small community I act not only as the Mayor, but also as the sheriff." Back to Armand he addresses his intentions, "I would think that you and your friends would be willing to sit down and share a meal with me, and meanwhile we can discuss why you are this far in from the fighting?" He indicates the trappings you all wear that give you the look of soldiers.
"We thank you, Mayor Gerus for your hospitality. And what, may I humbly ask, is the name of the community over which you shepherd?"
And with that Jacen makes a wide, sweeping gesture with his sword hand encompassing most of the town.
Booj stands on tiptoe to peer at the badge from where he is, trying to make heads or tails.
"The Naltanos hunt my kind in the goedwig ar y ffin far to the north. Only when they out number us 4 to 1, do they take us for slaves, to fetch them wine and dispose of their waste."
Yuriel starts counting the fighting men in the camp. He's trying to judge whether all is as it seems, or whether this is some sort of disguised military base.
At Jacen's question Mayor Gerus replies, "Oh, my, pardon me. You all stand in the town of Merimer. It's a gentle name, and we feel it suits us just fine." turning to Roedd he continues, "We here have no love for the Empire's armies. It's like they are encouraging both our countries to fight one another. I think we had a chance at a truce with Ozelenit this last time, before the Naltanic 'emissaries' came to help in the negotiations."
The badge he wears is nothing fancy, a simple silver triangle, point down, and the men of the town look to have no great soldier beyond what one might consider some militia training. They do look more like loggers and farmers.
Booj bites his lip.
Armand bows, encompassing the whole of the camp.
"So, this may be correct. We have fought, as you see, but now - who is to say? The road forks for us too perhaps. The life of contemplation, of farming - it is agreeable to you?"
Eyeing the cook fire lustfully, Roedd speaks his mind...
"If you believe them to be playing both sides against the middle, why not meet with the Ozelenit without Naltanic emmissaries? Better yet, hold two meets, the first a decoy for the Naltanos, the second to be used to negotiate peace."
Booj tugs on the nearest sleeve, which happens to belong to Jacen. "Boss, Boss!"
As you talk, he walks forward into the town, toward what looks like a type of long house. "We'll sup in here, rest these old bones while we carry on. The life of a laborer wasn't one I had envisioned as a youth, but I found that with age comes an eagerness to settle and do something that you feel really matters." at Roedd's suggestion he chuckles, "Oh, my wild friend, you have a mind for political subterfuge far above what your appearance conveys, but I am no one, in no position to take such actions. More likely, they would arrest me as a deserter before I would get a chance to plead my intentions." He looks questioningly as the little one seems eager for the priest's attention.
To himself: Aha, out of his own mouth - deserters after all, not merely simple folk looking to avoid the ravages of war!!!!
Seeing the excitable goblin on his sleeve the priest asks,
"What is the matter, Booj?"
Booj asks in a possibly-too-loud whisper, "This slave is confused. Aren't we the army, Boss?"
"This slave is confused. Aren't we the army, Boss?"
"Correct, Private Booj," says Jacen as he turns towards Gerus to clarify and allay any fears of arrest.
"Though remember that we are a part of an important task force formed to investigate the necromancer that has been taking advantage of the chaos of war."
He produces the burnt-out shell of a black onyx gem as if the ritual component were a key piece of evidence.
"As Monseigneur says, we are tasked with uncovering an evil which will have consequences greater than the war if we do not act."
Armand's perception is never his strong point, but he sees no point in lying. That should be saved for necessary occasions.
chirp, chirp... chirp, chirp...
"Damn crickets!"
The Mayor looks up at the front of the building as you near. "Yes, it seems we have a few of them nesting up in the rafters. We can't seem to get to them though." As he gets inside the building, encourages you all to sit at a nearby table. He closes the lodge doors and stands at the end of the table, placing his fists on it to support his weight as he leans over. His face grows serious and he raises his voice slightly, "Now, what are you doing here? What do you want with our community? I'll not allow you to disrupt our peace." He is obviously angry.
Roedd mumbles something about a fool's errand. Quickly turning to face both Jacen and Gerus, Roedd looks Jacen square in the eyes, "Damn good question. And one that deserves a damn good answer." Addressing Jacen and Armand..."It's clear, Gerus and his pack have been ravaged by Naltanic greed. By the looks of things, most of the males old enough to fight or serve have been pressed into service or killed. My kith and kin have likely met the same fate."
"Mesieur Gerus, we stumbled upon your community in the course of tracking one who is likely, perhaps, to disrupt your lives more than they have already been disrupted. We are men of honour. We seek merely to continue our task and ask only for the such hospitality you feel you may honourably offer to such strangers. The peace of your people is not at risk from us. The garments are as nothing. It is to the soul beneath that one must look, is that not so?"
Mayor Gerus scowls as he listens to Armand's explanation, picking out the nuggets of information out of the courtesy filler. "So, let me get this straight. You are looking for someone, that you say may be a threat to us or more? By who's estimation of the threat they represent? Who is it you are looking for, and what is their crime?" This last he asks with an air of doubt, knowing that to some he would be considered a criminal.
His features soften a little, "If it is only rest you seek, and a warm meal, then we will grant you may stay. But if this fellow you seek is one of our community, you will find that I will not cooperate with your wishes." He stands up straight, and crosses his arms defiantly.
Armand shrugs.
"For myself, I have no information other than that which I have dispersed. The threat is the appearance of undead - which you will perhaps agree is not of the most desirable for your small community."
Roedd looks Jacen square in the eyes, "Damn good question. And one that deserves a damn good answer."
Jacen sees Roedd's confrontational gaze and raises him a cocked eyebrow combined with a squint of disbelief.
Turning to Gerus he says, "Although I find your philosophy of 'do what you will, so long as it harms none' to be admirable, I for one, feel it would add insult to injury if my friends and neighbours returned home not on stretchers nor in coffins but as shambling, abominable, mockeries of life."
The cleric turns sadly back to the shifter, "Your kith and kin have no special exemption from such an ignominious fate if this purveyor of undeath is not caught and brought to justice."
Yuriel stirs himself to speak, "We have no particular interest in your settlement. The trail we were following led along this road. Perhaps you have had another traveler pass through recently. Would be best to tell us, and send us on our way."
"We have no desire to see this place razed to the ground." Yuriel's tone admits to no doubts about the feasibility of such carnage, only its desirability.
Becoming visibly agitated..."Don't raise your eyebrows at me you mwnci di-flew! I've no idea what we're doing, trapsing around out here, other than endangering the lives of those we meet. IF you wereN'T SO HelLBeNt on KeepING secrets, YOu might've IMPartED to US WHo we are LOoking for aND WHY. BUT I GUESS YOU CAN'T SPARE ANY MEASURE OF CIVILITY FOR ANYONE YOU SEE AS LESS THAN YOURSELF. WELL THAT'S IT. I WILL SUBMIT TO YOU AND YOUR PRECIOUS LEGIOS NO LONGER." With that, Roedd springs back to a defensive crouch, javelin at the ready, and with his free hand, yanks the slave collar from his neck. " ANYONE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT!!!?"
Booj slips behind Armand, watching.
"For myself, I think the removal of this collar is an improvement. I see no difficulty here. You have freed yourself and may defend your honour as you see fit. You may perhaps wish to put down the rabbit. We may still consume it, after all."
At Yuriel's mention of an actual target, rather than the general threat that undead or a necromancer may represent, the mayor nods and thumbs his chin. "No need to engage in threats lad, you are a guest in our town and I would suggest you comport yourself as such. We have had a rider come through. I remember, as we do not often get visitors. He was veiled, so I cannot describe him to you, but he has been by here before. He left here to the north two days hence. He may have been headed for the old ruined keep." He pauses in reflection, "You know there is a band of kobolds up that way that has been giving us no end of trouble. If you were to remove them, we would be grateful... monetarily grateful."
At Roedd's outburst, Mayor Gerus can be seen shaking as from a silent chuckle, "It appears you may have a little dissension in your ranks, Sir. It seems not all are driven by the mission you may be on." he states after regaining his bearing.
"We must all have a breaking moment." Armand shrugs again.
"For myself, it was my brothers."
He bows to Gerus.
"So, it seems we are not in such difficulty at all. Our quarry has departed, you say and there is also a problem in the same area. Some birds with one stone. Let us eat this excellent rabbit that Monsieur has procured and discuss the details of the threat of these small lizards."
Jacen is relived that what could have been an explosive situation is defused by Yuriel.
"Well, we can certainly help you with your kobold problem," he declares, "it's the least we can do after such a… misunderstanding."
Turning to Roedd, Jacen addresses the misunderstanding between the shifter and himself, "My expression to you was merely my surprise at how moved you were to the plight of (as well as how willing you were to speak for) the good people of Merimer."
"I have never thought of you as 'less than' myself or anyone else in this venture. As far as I'm concerned, you were symbolically free long before you tore off the shackles of that ghastly collar. You did your thing, while we did ours, and it only mutual respect that bound us on the same journey."
"So if this grievance has become too painful to bear, then I would be reluctant to stop you if you sought sanctuary amongst the free men and women of Merimer." Jacen looks to Mayor Gerus for his reaction to this.
At Roedd's outburst, Mayor Gerus can be seen shaking as from a silent chuckle, "It appears you may have a little dissension in your ranks, Sir. It seems not all are driven by the mission you may be on." he states after regaining his bearing.
Armand turns to Booj and kneels down beside him.
"Would it be impolite to suggest that you too may remove your collar? It is, forgive me, unpleasing to me. You are a free goblin and I do not like to see this - thing - confining you."
He bow slightly.
"Naturally, if I have given offense, you must feel free to challenge me in defense of your honour. Doubtless Monsieur Roedd will be happy to assist you and peut etre I may call upon Yuriel if the need is there. Milor Jacen shall arbitrate, with Monsieur Seljak."
Roedd visibly relaxes and lowers his javelin, standing straighter than before.
Booj's look of startlement turns to terror as he realizes Armand's meaning. Clutching at his collar, he stammers, "B--B--Boss! No, this slave is not offended, but this slave is a slave. Goblins aren't free, Boss, but this slave doesn't want to fight."
Booj crumples somewhat as he realizes he is arguing.
"If it is a solace to you, then I dispute no more. I wish merely to be certain that you are serene in your employment and to assure you also that you are most valued among us. It is curious to me, but so be it."
Armand rises again, and turns to Gerus.
"I am of the opinion that our affairs are now settled. Perhaps it is time to eat, to talk and to discover the nature of the kobold threat and the masked rider you have discussed."
Booj settles somewhat, then stares off. "'Employment,'" he mumbles.
Roedd stares at Booj, confounded and disgusted.
The mayor sits down at the table once again, appearing comfortable with the way the group handled their own issues. He begins, "There is an old logging trail going north from here toward the Horizon Peaks. No one goes up that way any more. This veiled rider headed that direction when he left here, and there isn't anything up that way except the ruined keep. The keep itself appears to have been overrun by kobolds as we only have troubles with them when we try to log too close to it. If he went that way he either ran afoul of the little beasties, or has some sort of agreement with them."
He looks around the large empty room, before stating "You guys can stay here in the lodge for the night, we can put you up no problems. Other than that we may need to look into other accomodations."
As he finishes, a few of the townswomen enter bearing platters of food. The dishes are loaded with a stew, most likely rabbit, a few hunks of bread, and some cheese.