The cleric chooses his words carefully, lest he bring down the anger of the sorcerer upon himself…
"Is this correct?"
"Sir, you are a man of honour, and if you claim to be blessed by Chalyse I do not doubt it to be true."
"However, what Levechem says is correct in so far as the policy of the High Protectors cares not for where your talent originates, but is more concerned that your talent draws directly from the Weave," Jacen's tone becomes derisive to show these are not his words, "and therefore deemed unpredictable and needing regulation."
"I thank you for this assurance. This seems very simple then and the small one has some merit to his argument."
Armand passes more wine around.
"My temperament and my gifts come from the goddess herself, of this I am certain. If needs be I will argue the point with the High Protectors, for none may insult her or my honour without redress. I am a good son of the church, but not even she may challenge her creator, is that not so? This is for the future."
He smiles happily, possibly dreaming of the day when he and the High Protectors meet to debate this interesting theological point.
"For now, I am most grateful for your courtesy. This discussion interests me and your answer indicates that you too are a gentleman. I am honoured in your acquaintance."
Jacen nods,
"As am I. The honourable these days are few and far between while the honourless are legion."
"I, too, enjoy discussing matters philosophical, though life in the Legio means such opportunities are—unsurprisingly—also few and far between."
"For the time being I would advise against direct confrontation with the High Protectors," warns the cleric. "For they are both well connected and tenacious."
"You will need allies," he pauses to consider for a moment,
"I have heard rumours of a clandestine affiliation of regulated mages and sympathetic priests who feel the mistrust shown by the Council of Eight and the High Protectors does more harm than good. They advocate greater autonomy and responsibility for mages. Perhaps we shall talk more about this another time."
Jacen looks left and right suspiciously before quietly saying, "You seem to have a flair for the theatrical, maybe you could masquerade as an invoker of Chalyse if we encounter any High Protectors. I know the ordained would think twice before confronting a direct conduit to the divine."
After having their talk and chatting for a bit, the men decide to call it an evening before it gets too late.
In the morning the usual hustle and bustle about camp, and attending to your regular duties, finds you with what feels like less than adequate sleep. Then again, every day in the war has felt like that, so it appears business as usual.
Word comes down the line that each of you are to report to the tent of the officer that led the team last night, Tulgeikh, and to arrive ready to move.
When you are all assembled, he speaks "The orders recovered were fakes, someone or something" he looks at the space above Armand's left shoulder "must have switched them out. The platform was not supposed to be at that point on the field, whatever orders they were given are suspected of being recovered by whoever planted them."
He adopts a rigid mien before he continues, "I've been placed in charge of leading the investigation. I know I can trust the small group here, as we were together when we found the box. I want the six of you to go back to the site, and see if you can find any trace of someone's passing. Now that it is daylight, the search should be easier, go quickly before any two-legged scavengers make more mess of the place." Tulgeikh commands. "Follow any leads you get."
"A magnificent subterfuge. I shall adopt your suggestion. All of them, perhaps. It seems we have an interesting road to travel, my friend."
Armand's expression is grim as he leaves the tent, but he retains enough sense of caution not to speak to Levechem while those who are unaware of him are present.
"You will tell me now, Levechem is there is any truth in the minotaur's suggestion. You will do this under the honour of your surrender and if you prove to be lying, it will go very badly for you."
"The minotaur's suggestion Sir? What suggestion do you speak of? That the orders may have been switched?" Levechem questions.
"I would imagine he speaks true, unless he's involved, but then why would he send you on this mission? Unless, of course he means to throw you off track." He muses.
After a pause, he continues "I do not claim to understand the minds of men... or beast" he snickers "I am unable to discern whether there is ANY truth coming from the minotaur."
"Let's not waste daylight standin round here jaw-jacking."
To Tulgeikh: "Sir, if'n you ain't gonna be on dis trip wit us, who ya be placin' in charge in yer absence? I dun want the job meself see, but not sure I could stomach hav'n dem slaves given any orders, or trust em ta make da right choices. Per'haps Jacen or Armand?" Seljak volunteers his opinions in clear view of the others, not afraid to speak his mind concerning the slaves.
"Good point, soldier, given the awkward group make up." He ponders, "Armand is an officer among the mercenaries, and Jacen is an actual soldier of the Legio. I say the two of them can squabble over it, but it should fall to one of them."
"I'd support Jacen. No offense, Armand. I don't think you're a natural leader - not of slaves and soldiers anyway."
Roedd shows up as commanded, listening intently and hoping against hope that his life will not depend on the judgement of the imp with the pet officer.
Booj looks expectantly up at both candidates.
"For myself, I shall most happily defer to Senor Ramirez. His experience is of the most suitable."
Armand addresses his left shoulder.
"If you please, Levechem, render yourself both visible and audible to all. Your little whispers do not amuse me and I will have you remember that my honour is that of my companions also. You will not insult it. I wish also to know if you are responsible for the switching of the orders discovered in the box. I find myself growing angered by your duplicity."
Temper rising, Armand's dagger starts to glow.
"Oh - is that strange creature still with you?"
Perception:
Seljak says nothing further, happy that a choice has been made regardless of who was chosen or the imp's feelings about it.
"Very well," says Jacen, accepting the mantle of leadership, "neither you, nor the team, shall regret placing your trust in me."
"Alright, Boss," Booj says to Jacen, already ignoring Tulgeikh. "When do we start?"
Levechem replies as he becomes visible, "No Sir, I did not switch out those orders, I was not even aware of the box until you brave gentlemen had found it."
Pleadingly he adds, "I was not trying to dishonor anyone, good sir, I was merely trying to look out for your best interests. As your ward, your safety ensures my well being."
With a leader established, the group heads out. Jacen, designating march order as they leave.
Only a few short hours of walking pass when they arrive once again at the site. The night allowed for more scavengers to pick away at the corpses, and whichever scavengers remain depart as the squad arrives.
Surveying the battlefield again, the cleric turns towards the seeker,
"This ad hoc pack must defer to its most talented tracker. Roedd, what do your wolf eyes see?"
Jacen directs the rest of the team to scour the immediate area for clues they might have missed.
Roedd walks forward of the group and surveys the area, looking for movement, signs of life, anything that might resemble a container for orders or paper, etc...
Perception:
Roedd hunches low to the ground, appearing just a step more human than a hunting hound, and passes over the site. He wanders to and fro as he surveys the scene, and as he goes just north of the wreckage he spots tracks that belong to neither the hyenas or the squad.
They are the tracks of booted feet, roughly around two to three people. They move northward and a little westerly, as if they are following the angle of the river at a distance.
Roedd approaches Jacen, bares his teeth and whispers his report: "Alffa, I do not like the diafol. We will surely regret his company. Just past the wreckage there are signs. Two, maybe three soled individuals went north along the river."
Levechem replies as he becomes visible, "No Sir, I did not switch out those orders, I was not even aware of the box until you brave gentlemen had found it."
Pleadingly he adds, "I was not trying to dishonor anyone, good sir, I was merely trying to look out for your best interests. As your ward, your safety ensures my well being."
"I would remind you that my well being and thus yours depends upon the goodwill of my comrades. Be mindful of your words and make no more suggestions impugning my honour. This is strange to you, but I assure you, honour is nothing if it is not lived to the fullest. All else is but empty words. Now we will be silent and hear what Roedd has learned."
To Yuriel, Armand gestures simply and says "As you see."
Roedd looks to Jacen for his next command, clearly accepting him as Alffa.
Just past the wreckage there are signs. Two, maybe three soled individuals went north along the river."
"Do we follow this trail marked out for us?"
"Well, we was told ta foller any leads we got, I say we hunt down des fellers."
To Jacen, "Sir, what say ya?" Seljak realizes his mistake, "Errr, I mean, Sergeant."
Roedd looks to Jacen for his next command, clearly accepting him as Alffa.
"Excellent work, Roedd." Jacen acknowledges Roedd's warning with a knowing nod, implying that the cleric shares his concern and plans to investigate the matter.
Just past the wreckage there are signs. Two, maybe three soled individuals went north along the river.""Do we follow this trail marked out for us?"
"Yes, we follow behind Roedd as he continues to follow the trail."
He then turns to the seeker, "I know you prefer to work alone, but if things turn sour, don't be afraid to call upon the combined might of your pack."
To Jacen, "Sir, what say ya?" Seljak realizes his mistake, "Errr, I mean, Sergeant."
"Whatever feels comfortable to you," says the cleric, nonchalantly.
Seljak easily finds the trail that Roedd had spotted, and between the two of them manage to follow it along its path.
The trail goes for a good distance, a few hours worth of walking, and turns towards the edge of the forest off a bit in the distance. After another hour by foot the forest begins to loom ahead.
Just into the edge of the woods you can see what appears to be the remains of a small stone building. The walls appear broken in places and the roof doesn't appear to exist anymore. The tracks lead in the direction of the small edifice.
"We have, if I may suggest, a useful scout in Levechem. He may remain hidden and perhaps approach with Roedd."
"This slave can be quiet," Booj says, his tone perhaps a little hurt.
Seljak, attempts to find himself some semblance of cover amongst the scrub brush. The brown and dying fields leaving little to hide behind, makes the scrawny forest up ahead seem a verdant patch of life. Seljak's efforts are noble yet leave a bit to be desired. Sadly it appears the small expanse of open area before you reach the woods will leave most of you open to anyone that may be watching from the ramshackle structure.
Levechem whines at the suggestion, "Oh wise and noble Sir, is it reasonable to place me with the hound? He has voiced his dislike for me rabidly." He smirks at his choice of words, "I could fly over and have a look, but I would be a much bigger target in the open sky than you here on the ground, and I am nowhere near as mighty as any of you. If you would permit me, I could do so invisibly?"
"The filthy diafol can stay here. It will only hinder my work."
Stealth check: Perception check:
Possessing enviable confidence, Roedd moves into the tree line without care for the dead fall, looking for signs of their quarry.
Yuriel stays well back, leaning on his spear. "It is ever this way, waiting for the scouts to get in trouble and call for the soldiers. Not long now, I think."
Roedd, barely mustering up a little more cover than Seljak has, moves forward toward the old building.
Levechem groans at the attempts displayed so far to employ stealth. "I could go with the little guy, he seems congenial, and eager to scout."
"Booge, will you do me the honour to attempt reconnaisance with Levechem?"
He points his dagger at the imp. "Naturellement, Booge is as myself. You do not endanger him."
Booj jumps up, "Yes, Boss!"
Adjusting what little gear he seems to carry, the goblin waves to the imp and melts into the minimal cover.
Roedd looks back to Jacen, points two fingers at his own eyes, draws them towards the building and then holds as many fingers as figures he saw through the cracks.
The cleric replies with a thumbs-up and begins to formulate a plan.
Little Booj and the even smaller Levechem, disapper into the foliage and thin air respectively, making their way to the building.
Roedd, a few paces ahead of the group holds up three fingers to Jacen, who easily recognizes it to indicate the number of forms he sees inside the ruined hovel.
Yuriel sees the hand signal, only three. Or only three visible, anyway. Nothing, in his experience, was ever as easy as it looked.
Whispered to Jacen and Armand, "So the scouts can set up a flanking position just behind the structure. Then we three approach openly from this side. If the conversation doesn't end friendly, we'll be in a good position, and they'll be in all kinds of trouble."
"Certainly. For myself, I am not usually discreet."
"Methinks you mean 'we four' Yuriel"