Xi wanted to roar in outrage but before he gets another word out she charges towards him, looking as though she was going to kick him. In angry whispers she berates the Gnomis Leveton brother. "Dis is bandit country, how I know it you from dis damn hat mon? You have endangered us all. What if ya had been followed eh?" She slams her bow into the dirt and slams her fist into a tree, her arm shakes as she bottles up her rage just barely. Her angry whispers come after a deep breath. "Maybe ya learn if I shot ya! God's Damns Seraph for trusting a fool!" She picks up her bow, discards the broken arrow in Vodyanov's direction and glares daggers at him before moving to another area to guard their perimeter...
Vodyanov's appearance made Seraph sigh in a weary way. "Forgive my bluntness Young Master Leveton, but as Tarina suggested discard the hat. Pack it away but try not to draw attention to yourself. Also, stay clear of Xi. I will handle her but honestly I don't..." With an effort she stops herself sighing as she waves to Neji. Its obvious she is trying to be polite despite the pained look on her face. This was a tactical and possible situation nightmare and if he was recognized in the bandit fort... They would all die. However she left it to Neji then turning her attention back to Maria. "Apologies , please excuse me while you speak to your betrothed."
___________________________________________________________________________ __
Maria
For the first time since she met Seraph, Maria finally sees that the General was clearly angered. She even repeats the names and descriptions of the men that Maria most hated before gently setting a hand on her shoulder and whispering to her.
"On my honor I swear to you they won't leave alive. When we return to Trivium again you will be completely free Maria. I promise you as your closest friend."
As she finished speaking she gave her shoulder a light squeeze and Seraph was muc, much calmer again.
___________________________________________________________________________ _____
A moment with Xi
|
Vodyanov bows, and smiles to you.
"But my hat! It is my hat! Is like asking you to... dye your beautiful red hair. You are right, and I beg your forgiveness. Yes, I will hide my hat while on this mission."
====================================
Maria smiles at you.
Xi smiled whispering back to Seraph.
Perception:
Halcorg hears lots of whispering, but not the actual conversations.
Once some of the hot heads have cooled down.
Akiros do as asked. He want redemption.
However, emotion good. But must be control. Many warrior lose control. Result is orc axe in back. As he says this, he looks at Xi and Seraph.
Halcorg continues in his broken common.
We strong team. Now we have one more. Halcorg looks down at the gnome.
If you come, we must know what you do. This not fight for weak. If you know magic, we can use. If you know swords, we can use. If you know stealth, we can use. If you just here protect Neji, then we have problem. We not have force to protect you. If you with us, you follow orders of barons, not just stand next to Neji as extra target.
Xi sniffs dismissively at Halcorgs words but doesn't comment as she was tired of dw along with that blasted gnome. However her stomach was rolling, a bad feeling in her bones was making her uneasy...
She didn't like these events at all and remained silent for the time being.
Tarina is aware of the whispering, but not of what is being said
"Halcorg brings up a good point, what exactly do you do?" Tarina adds in looking over the gnome.
Daliedhur notices the exchange raising an eyebrow, as she always does when things are not spoken out in the open, lacking her brother's penchant for private affairs within a group, whether in the wild or in court.
She offers no reaction though, focusing her attention on the Leveton gnome, waiting for his answer regarding what he may bring on board for the mission at hand.
She understands Halcorgs words as she stands with Maria, but her outward calm had returned and a plan was in place. She could rely on Xi to do her job. Seraph however was content on letting the others deal with the gnome as she considers the change in their strategy now. She smiles at Maria's comment.
Xi looked to Daliedhur and motioned her to lean down so they could talk quietly. ""Got a bad feeling Mon. To easy. Way to easy. Just feel like we walking into a troup de loup. Dont like dis at all..."
Tatiana is focused on the mission at hand thinking through potential threats and opportunities to hear any of the whispering. Her attention finally gets drawn to Xi speaking to Daliedhur who rides next to her. She too offers no reaction to fuel the anxiety, believing that this group is too experienced for any words of encouragement from their nominal leader.
|
|
You all try so see a use in the Gnome, not seeing much as he doesn't have an armor, and his only weapons are a small sickle (Halcorg thinks he could clean his nails with it) and a small light crossbow (whose bolts are quite small). And that hat!
Vodyanov smiles, his eyes show a mischievous gleam to it.
A voice some 40' feet away starts talking.
"You don't think a Leventon is unable to deal with some bandits, right? Even if I look like little, I am worth many more times my size."
The gnome casts a spell and in his place you see now 5 of him! They all start to cast another spell, and they all suddenly vanish in thin air.
"But I can also pass unseen if I want to... "
He reappears (only one this time, a little bit off from where he was.
" Or I can make myself very flashy if I want. "
He gets covered in flames, becoming very big, heat and smoke flowing out of his form.
" So as you can see I can take care of Neji and myself, thank you very much. "
Will:
He is unsure what the gnome is up to, but having seen Kiri cast many spells over the years, Halcorg nods in appreciation.
Magic is good. For me, the choice is with Neji. If she is hurt, it on you.
Tatiana is nonplussed and turns her attention away from the gnome as she would from a child showing off.
"So your magic is flashy and fake, seems appropriate, don't waste it." Tarina stresses the last part, worrying that the gnome may very well waste all of his spells and then be unable to do anything other then be a target.
|
|
"Maybe fake, and very flashy, indeed. But don't think I only do harmless tricks. I can make you face your worst nightmares, fall into your own nightmares. I can kill you from fright."
His face, a mask of seriousness, then changes to a clean smile.
"Or I can make you fall on your back from laughing! So, when do the Stag hunt begins?"
Xi nods at the display before going back to her perimeter check unimpressed. Grumbling to herself. "If Magician were dangerous Saggy be dead long time ago..." The bad feeling in her gut distracted her a lot and she decided d it was better to focus on not getting ambushed...
Xi looked to Daliedhur and motioned her to lean down so they could talk quietly. ""Got a bad feeling Mon. To easy. Way to easy. Just feel like we walking into a troup de loup. Dont like dis at all..."
Daliedhur speaks to her companion, but does not attempt to lower her tone - "I am with you Xi'Tir - this is all too straightforward, and I feel we maybe we are being pushed forward for some private agenda" - the usual stern elf sketches a smile however - "But this is something we need to resolve nonetheless, and the Stag Lord must be stopped - if someone believes they can trick us, the surprise will be on their end when they witness how hard we can bite back"
She witnesses the display from the gnome as she talks, and wonders why he would expend resources simply to show off - "That one is strange" - she adds to Xi'Tir, remembering the words from her brother, and how he treasured the magical resources at his behest.
|
|
Maria makes a suggestion.
"If he has to come I would recommend he goes next to Neji. Just pray no bandit recognizes him."
=========
A couple days later you arrive to the edge of Tuskwater Lake. It's placid waters look inviting for a swim, something that you all pass by, as you are focused in the fort over a hill a short distance away.
The fort seem poorly kept, and the surrounding Hill crossed by a single path. At the bottom of the path the is a camp where half a dozen bandits are cooking, eating and drinking.
They eye you warily, but doesn't make any aggressive movement.
When you get near one of them tells you to leave your horses, and continue on foot.
"Not sure to be mounted up the hill, with the undead and everything."
If you proceed on foot you saw that there is not a blade of grass out of the path, only packed earth all around the fort, on the hill. Only around 30' outside the fort palisade some plants grow between the refuse and waste.
When you start climbing up the fort the doors open, and a group of some 7 bandits start coming down, towards you and the bandit camp. They are armed with polearms and bows, and are leader by a thin man covered in tattoos, sporting a cruel smile. You all recognize him from what you where told as Dovan, one of the Stag Lord's lieutenants. He eyes you from the distance.
Maria mumbles, nervous :
"Damn him!"
She tries to move without attracting attention, to the left of Seraph, away from Dovan and the bandits. Voydanoy does the same, next to Neji.
When the fort is in view, Tatiana casts Longstrider on herself.
Tatiana casually dismounts and maintains her position next to her elven friend.
-------
Halcorg grunts, and at the same time whispers.
Towers have no guards.
After the bandit camp, Daliedhur dismounts, guiding Leaf's reins with her left hand, and leaving her right side next to Tatiana.
She nods at Halcorg's assessment - "Indeed, it is strange though... Are they all coming to meet us?" - commenting with Tatiana.
"Seems like the welcoming committee."
When the bandits start placing hands on their weapons Xi smiles in a bone chilling way. She wore her grim necklace of human ears openly and eyed the bandits like a predator would to easy prey. In this kingdom all they had to do was goad her and her easy stride amid such men easily gave the impression of a seasoned manhunter...
As the others start to dismount she turns to the bandit who had spoken. Her eyes were narrowed as she spoke, in a dangerous way. "Ya tell ya friends der that if one ting is gone when we return I start gutting ya one at a time. Ya ken?" The dried ears hang as if to emphasize her point. "And if dey run, I will find dem and dey will know suffering mon." She smiles again but it doesn't reach her eyes as she looks over the bandits shoulder at his companions.
On foot was comfortable to Xi, but hearing there were no guards in the towers made her very suspicious. Her bad feeling was getting worse.
Seeing Dovan made her smile again thought, the very thought of killing that man made her shiver with excitement. I will take some of dem with me today. She didn't let her gaze linger though, lest he feel her watching him.
Taking on a more confident air Xi spoke again. "Tis a good day mon, a good day..."
She sat astride Swift a confidence that was easily seen, she portrayed herself as a seasoned mercenary who preferred mounted combat. She turned to regard the bandit that had spoken to her, ignoring his companions as she laid a hand on Xi's shoulder.
She spoke in a friendly tone, hoping to put them at ease. "Calm down Manhunter. These fine men won't do anything foolish and besides I have a bag of gold for them if our belongings are unmolested. Can you ensure no one makes off with our belongings?" She indicates the one that spoke first and then addresses their commander if there is one.
With it hopefully settled she dismounts and pats Xi on the shoulder again. "Come hunter, we have to deliver our tribute."
Walking towards the fort
When Maria shifted to her side Seraph spared Dovan the smallest of glances, never looking fully at him and using his peripheral vision. It was a trick Danath had taught her. She adjusted her raven black pony tail as she spoke to Maria. "Stick close Milady." She continued to play up her role as a bodyguard in the face of the enemy presence.
|
|
When Daliedhur starts to take Leaf with her the bandit in the camp calls her.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you... The horses get spooked up there...
But he doesn't seems like he is going to stop you if you persist.
When Xi'Tir talks to him his eyes, wide open, get fixed to her ears necklace. At her menace the color flush from his face, and he only nods.
But when Seraph calms him, he regains his composure (somewhat).
"Of course, mam, we will keep our distance from your stuff."
But his eyes doesn't part from Xi'Tir.
On the way up Halcorg realizes the towers seem empty, but for a second he thinks he sees something, maybe a bow, peeking out from the tower parapet.
You keep walking up, crossing paths with the bandits coming down. Dovan is mumbling something to other of the bandits.
When you are halfway them, he looks at Tatiana, smiles teasingly and stops.
" Hey, you! Stop right there! "
You keep walking up, crossing paths with the bandits coming down. Dovan is mumbling something to other of the bandits.
When you are halfway them, he looks at Tatiana, smiles teasingly and stops.
" Hey, you! Stop right there! "
Tatiana looks at Dovan out of the corner her eyes and keeps sauntering, "Why? You have something I want?"
"Interesting. But after business. Where can I find you?"
He's not the first slime to touch or talk to her and probably won't be the last in her line of "work". She keeps her comments neutral and lacking in specific lies, since this mission is business and he will be taken care of...
the conversation doesn't go unnoticed by Xi, she finds herself surprised that the fallen man succeeded. However it still felt to easy.
Xi'Tir turns to look at Do an as he calls out Tatiana, she refrains from growling at him but she does smile at his remarks. "Dat ones cute eh? Ya let me know if ya need help with him." She said this over her shoulder before sauntering off towards the fort once more.
When they get some distance from them she will whisper what she heard to those who are close enough to hear.
Naturally seeing men with Swords drawn put Xi on edge however as they got closer she smiled savagely at them.
Evidently, Dovan does have an effect on Tatiana.
"No guards you say, that seems suspicious." Tarina responds to Halcorg's comment, of course even if there were guards she couldn't see them or the fort from their distance.
---
As they move closer to the camp, and Tarina hears the bandit suggest that they dismount, she reassures her steed "Perhaps they get spooked for a reason, but this one seems to be doing just fine."
Dovan's approach on her left made her make sure Maria was tucked on her right side. Blocking the enemies view and shielding her from possible harm. Once they were past them Seraph brought Maria back to stand on her right side with a casual wave of her hand. Seeing the men up ahead with Swords though made her feel a knot grow in her stomach, it appeared as though the enemy had surrounded them. Undead on either side. Polearms and bows behind them and a fortress with men armed with swords and bows ahead...
This was a very poor spot to be. "Almost there everyone make sure you don't do anything to stir up the locals."
Halcorg hears and senses everything. He growls internally, but keeps himself hidden in the hooded cloak (or disguise self spell) as the evil men move past insulting the women of the group.
Halcorg looks to the others.
Quietly: Evil want us to think Stag drunk. He know Maria here.
Halcorg & Xi'Tir
Seraph, Maria
2 swords
Daliedhur, Tatiana
Neji, Vodyanov
Tania, Mulray
2 swords
Seraph, realizing the implication in Dovan's words, and was about to tap Xi on the shoulder when Halcorg spoke. She followed his words by speaking quietly to those near her. "It doesn't matter what they intend we keep going forward." She gently touches Maria's arm, never breaking her forward gaze at the fort as she keeps speaking. "Stay close to me Maria we may have to rush the gate."
With that said she taps Xi and Halcorg on the back, letting them know to listen but not to look at her. "Xi, Halcorg be ready to rush the gate if needed. We can't be left in the open."
She looks to the pair of four swords standing near her and Maria. "Swordsman hold the gate, be ready. We will only get one shot."
They continue to close the distance to the front of the fort as though nothing were amiss.
Seraph pays close attention to everything going on ahead of them as she still planned on breaking through the gates if they had too.
He never gave up his horse, preferring to die on his trusty mount if it came to it this day. He had his horsepick tucked across his lap and rode quietly behind the others. He missed the delicate situation going on but was confident that the others wouldn't lead him into a foolhardy venture.
Especially if Xi fought like she did back at the river nearly half a season ago...
Xi smiles at Seraphs words, she prefered to fight on her own terms and if they wanted to spice it up then they could bring it on! She refrained from gripping her sword just yet, content on closing the distance more before she did so...
She smiled as she spoke back at Seraph, nodding ever so slightly in response to her plan. "It's a good day Mon. A good day." She didn't plan on dying but if she had to join her sister then it would be after she butchered as many of these bandits as possible...
|
|
Nothing seems out of place, the bandits continue moving down, while the fort gates remain open.
A strong voice come from the fort.
"Let them pass!"
The four bandits in the gate sheathe their swords, and start moving into the fort.
Combat Map
Xi smiles as they sheathed their swords and she had an inkling as to who did the talking just now. "Good ting, I was wondering wat use was doin with dem pig stickers." She laughed at the thought of them actually wielding the swords against her before focusing on what lay ahead.
The fallen man had failed and today was gonna be fun.
Mulray is mounted and appearing somewhat nervous now...
Seraph heldb her head high as the confident voice ordered their men to stand down. She decided that silt was all or nothing then and whistled to have Swift come to her side.
Come what may they would do their best in the name of Slobada. She gives Maria a confidentsmile despite how uncertain she is at the moment. She hoped the poor baroness would remain strong and fight by their side.
Daliedhur remains unmounted as they move ahead, taking Leaf by the hand, and sticking close to the others.
She watches their surroundings closely, on edge for what is to come, observing her companions, the walls, the guards, and the area all around them.
She acknowledges the shared comments about Halcorg's deductions with a simple nod - feeling like a spring ready to snap if combat ensues, she pats Leaf to calm herself.