He looks at Tusk with an eyebrow raised. "You all right, are you? No recent head injuries? Or do you prefer the company of men over women?"
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Ashara notices the obvious lies the four would be merchants are uttering and makes to interject when Tusk makes his proposal and Ashara feels like sinking into the ground:"What the 9 hells??? Is he touched in the head?"
Fortunatelt the oracle is quick to recover and tries to salvage the situation:"Forgive our friend... he's a good chap but has a very odd sense of humor at times, he meant no offense, believe me"
Ashara gives the men her best smile and adds:"Besides we could share a part of the journey in order to better defend each other if need arises. Please consider my offer, I'm sure our friend will behave himself from now on!"
As she finishes talking with the men Ashara retreats and moves near Menarul wisphering softly:"I don't trust these men, they are lying to our faces. Yet better to keep an eye on them up close than having possible murderers hiding in the shadows. Please spread the word to be careful... but take care not to make them suspicious!"
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Taklinn nods at Ashara's comment before replying "Me guess is that they'll be tryin' to rob us in the night. Let's set up camp and rest nearby. We take shifts to be watchin' each other's backs but leave the wagons unattended. With a bit o' luck, they'll have stolen the staff overnight and we'll be on the hunt by mornin'."
"Well you're welcome to share our campsite for the night. We don't have much in the way of provisions, but we can share. As for traveling together I doubt it, because we're going in the direction you just came from." He gestures back down the road. "Unless you mean to turn around," he adds with a shrug.
True to his word, as the evening wears on and the men settle down to dinner-- one of them leaves for a time and returns with two dead rabbits-- they share what they have. It's not much better than the food you've been provided with, but it adds some variety to the meal. They also procure a bottle of mead from their wagon hidden in the bushes, and offer you each a cup.
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Arngrim abstains, but with his thanks. "No thank you, good sirs. But I will take first watch." With this, Arngrim readies his gear and moves a short way into the woods.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Ashara smiles at the men but studies them before accepting their food. After a moment she speaks:"I'll join you later maybe. At the moment I'm eager for another kind of food... stories! I've heard the most wonderful things about this country and I would love if you could share some of its marvels with me, even if in tale only! For example I've heard about a most vicious bandit, supposedly a tiger in human flesh! What was his name, again... Zamar... Znamer... I'm not quite sure but I seem to remember his name started with a Z..."
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Tusk doesn't trust these guys either, but he though to himself as long as I can keep them entertaining they might trust me.
When Tusk eats what they brought us, he makes sure the food isn't poisoned by taking small bites first to notice if the food or water tastes a little off like is poisoned or anything.
"Zamir." The man grunts. "Nasty piece of work, that one. He's no tiger himself, but he keeps one as a pet. They say he feeds it with people who cross him. Probably started half the rumors himself, vain bastard."
One of his companions looks at the man and speaks softly in a foreign tongue. "Biz, həqiqətən, onlara izah etmək lazımdır?"
"Bu gözəl, onlar Cəmiyyət istəyirik," the leader responds. "Biz bilirik bütün üçün, bu çox ona özləri tapmaq göndərildi; Mihir onun sirlərini saxlanılır ilk dəfə deyil."
"It's fine, they're from the Society. For all we know, this lot was sent to find him themselves; wouldn't be the first time Mihir kept his secrets."
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Menarul gladly enjoys the food offered but declines the alcohol, "It doesn't mix well with half of the elixirs I make... but thank-you nonetheless."
Tigers are difficult to tame, he sounds like an... interesting man.
When Arngrim returns from his watch, Menarul stands up and moves away from the group. "I'd be glad to take the next shift."
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Ashara nods smiling excitedly:"Ah... yes! Zamir! That was the name. It's unfortunate he's just a con man though, I would have looooved to meet a weretiger up close! But tell me... does he lair in this forest? He seems someone we would not want to meet, but perhaps... perhaps he has interesting tales for the society to learn!"
"And I'll make sure he pays for every last one of them if I can help it!"
"Wouldn't recommend that, if I were you. Like as not he'll take the heads of your companions here, and leave you to run back with a tale of your own."
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Ashara laughs softly:"That could prove pretty difficult even for him... they might be pretty headstrong and I tend to believe parting their heads from their necks could be quite the task... That said I must admit I'm torn on a certain matter: I'm in need of help but I'm not sure you can help with it..." Ashara says batting her eyelashes
"Well I can't make promises, but I'd be more than happy to try. What's on your mind?"
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Ashara answers slowly, trying to pick her words carefully:"Well... as you have correctly guessed we are from the Society. What you might not have surmised is the reason we are here. You have not given us any reason to believe you mean us harm, although I can sense you have not been entirely truthful with us, yet before we tell you what we are doing here we need to be sure about your intentions: are you friends or foes? Answer now but know I can sense lies, so be truthful this time"
The man's eyes narrow as he looks at Ashara. For several long seconds, he says nothing. Then, "We've never done anything against the Society or anyone acting under its name, and intend to keep it that way unless they do something against us."
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Ashara nods:"Very well, I believe you. What would you say if I told you we are here to locate and bring Zamir to justice? And that we have a plan to do so? It seems to me you are sincere in your hatred for the bandit, and we could use some extra help on the matter. The reward would be a much more secure kingdom for everyone"
At that, the man chuckles. "Onlar bütün sonra Zamir sonra istəyirik, baxın. Mihir o, yalnız bizə cəlb etmədən, öz əlinə bu şeyi edə bilər düşünür."
One of the others pipes up again, speaking in the same tongue. "Kapitan, biz hətta Cəmiyyət hətta etdiyiniz bilmirəm. Onlar Zamir adamları bizə bezemek və ona bizi göndərdi ola bilər." He points at Menarul's wayfinder. "Necə ki, biz həmin wayfinders oğurlamaq etmədi bilirik?"
The first man sighs. "Bizi öldürmək istəyirdi, Samarjit, onlar artıq bunu görürük. Zamir çətin gizli, bəli, lakin qəsdən aldatma üçün məlum deyil."
He speaks again in Common. "We work for Thakur Kharswan, the governor here on Jalmeray. I'm Phalgun, captain of this little crew-- and a few others, but this wasn't meant as a show of force. We're after Zamir as well. Your venture-captain probably didn't tell you Zamir is wanted by the Thakur for his crimes; this isn't the first time he's tried to overstep his bounds into the jurisdiction of actual authorities. But, since you're here, you can help us; Mihir's a clever man, giving credit where credit is due, and I'm guessing the plan he gave you is a good one."
"Captain, we don't even know they're from the Society. Maybe Zamir sent them to trick us and take us to him. How do we know they didn't steal those wayfinders?"
"If they wanted to kill us, Samarjit, they'd have done so by now. Zamir isn't known for tricks-- stealth, yes, but not deliberate deception."
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Ashara smiles at the men and nods again:"Well met Phalgun, we are honored by your presence and we hope our collaboration will bring the bandit, Zamir to justice. Now that we cleared the air between us let's hear what you have in mind to catch the thief, so to speak. We have plans of our own but maybe your superior knowledge of the land gives you insights that elude us"
He jerks a thumb behind him, toward their hidden wagon. "We know his lot likes merchants, and merchant wagons especially, so we brought one. Figure they won't be able to resist. When they come, we'll be ready for them-- take one alive, make him tell us where the others are. What's yours?"
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Taklinn takes a deep breath, then carefully says "We got us a two-part device that'll track the buggers back to their hideout. Ye don't need to be knowin' what it be, just know that we aim to let 'em steal one part o' the device, then track 'em back to their lair with the other part. We're fer thinkin' that they'll be hittin' us tonight at some point, so ye best be on yer guard."
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Ashara nods at Taklinn's words and adds:"As master Baldurk explained we have the means to locate Zamir. We planned to allow the bandits to steal a false artefact, one we can trace, and when they deliver their ill gained loot to their master we'll have his location and we'll be able to catch him. What do you think?"
"We're fer thinkin' that they'll be hittin' us tonight at some point, so ye best be on yer guard."
"We're counting on it."
"Not bad, not bad. Mihir knows what he's doing, I'll say that. If you mean to track them to their hideout, we'll be along with you. Ten is better than six, don't you think?"
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Ashara scoffs:"We'll just have to make sure the caravan with our bait will be conveniently easy to steal. I suggest we feign surprise and mount a token defence, and we don't really need to show them our full force. For example some of us may stay hidden inside the wagon and wait there until they eat the hook..."
Phalgun considers for a moment. "Good point. We brought just the four of us because they tend to rove in bands of six or more, so it'd be more likely that they'd try to ambush us. But if we're ten, we're more formidable... How about this. You leave that artifact of yours in the open but near the wagon. One or two of you can sleep out here, but as many as possible should hide in the wagon. We'll need to put up sort of a fight, but if things get out of hand the distress word is 'owlbear.' That'll signal that we need your help."
"Agreed. Make yourselves at home in there, but try not to destroy anything-- those rugs are worth decent money, if we can manage to keep them."
The men finish setting up their camp, and Phalgun and two of the others lie down to sleep. Samarjit, the one who objected earlier, takes first watch. He spends some time talking to Taklinn while stoking the fire-- he's friendly enough, but his Common is heavily accented. He doesn't reveal much about the crimes levied against Zamir, mostly because he doesn't know many details beyond what you've already learned. He tells you that being somewhat low on the totem pole, he's only told the "what" of his assignments, not the "why."
A little after midnight, Samarjit turns his head sharply to the northwest. "Someone is coming."