Romon wakes with the brigtening of the sky. He rolls out from under his wool blanket. "Who's making breakfast?"
The morning dawns grey and dreary with low clouds scudding across the sky. You move into town and wait outside the jail..Soon rnough a wagon arrives on the back of which is what can only be termed a cage.The sherrif and his men lead a hobbled and manacled Tsuto out from the jail and place him in the prison cart without any resistance from him..he seems cowed as if the death of his lover has broken his will.
Ameiko stands apart from you all her eyes fixed on her brothers form. As he is secured she turns away and returns to the Inn.
Sherrif Hemlock looks to you.."Two days should see you in Magnimar..stay as long as you need to...the town needs to settle down a bit. There's provisions for your journey in the wagon"
Romon mounts the big charger a trifle awkwardly. "Thank you, Sheriff."
The horse circles while the half-elf gets reins in hand. "We'll see you in a week or so. "
Romon looks to see if the others are ready, then touches heels to the horse's flanks and leads the wagon to the Magnimar gate. Along the way he nods and smiles to the townspeople. He also keeps an eye out for dirt slingers and keeps one hand on his tanglefoot bag.
As the wagon with the two-legs in the metal cage is rolled closer, the smaller of the two wolves begins to growl at him. The beautiful, significantly larger black wolf with the white crest over his heart, picking up the emotions of his den sister also begins to growl as well, though not as passionately or menacingly.
As the party begins to move out, it seems a quick communication passes between the wolves and the larger black one, whom the party now knows as Lunas, begins to lope alongside the carriage, keeping a close eye on the two-legs within. Meanwhile the smaller gray wolf, whom all know as Ali in her canine form, gives a howl which changes into a screech as her form swiftly changes into a beautiful gray, white and black tipped hawk which swiftly raises high into the sky and begins to form slow lazy circles about the party below it.
The Shoanti watches the display of Tsuto's entrapment, and of the dishonor he has caused his family. In another land you would die for your actions. But these are the civilized lands he reminds himself.
As Romon leads the wagon off, Muchorak and Ursus fall into line behind the wagon, clearly making both of their presences known to their prisoner.
After leaving town the duo take up a position roughly 20' in front of the others, his eyes on his surroundings at all times, always alert for signs of nearby predators...
Ali's growing magic powers surprise Inikai but only for a moment. He has heard of being that can take on different forms but he has never witnessed it. "Well done, Ali" he calls to her as she takes flight. Then he takes his place behind the wagon and off to the right. He watches the roadside and regularly looks behind them and at Tsuto.
...
Meanwhile the smaller gray wolf, whom all know as Ali in her canine form, gives a howl which changes into a screech as her form swiftly changes into a beautiful gray, white and black tipped hawk which swiftly raises high into the sky and begins to form slow lazy circles about the party below it.
Atop the horse Romon watches Ali soar and grunts. Showoff.
***
Once clear of the town Romon relinquishes the lead to Muchorak without comment or protest. He drifts to the rear of the party, by now his accustomed place.
Naria sticks to the centre of the group Silent for the time being as she watches Ali's transformation.
Inikai wonders to himself if Tsuto's allies could have made efforts to rescue him with an ambush or in other ways. He calls out to the others.
"Did anyone check Tsuto's bonds or the lock on the cage? I think it would be worth a short delay to ensure that he is truly secured."
"I'll get it."
Romon urges the horse forward, then still holding the reins throws a leg over the horse's head and steps from stirrup to cart.
Ride
Still holding the reins, Romon looks at Tsuto's bonds and sidesteps around to the cage door where he checks the door lock.
Perception
Then he moves to the side of the wagon again and slides onto the saddle.
Ride
Acrobatics to lessen any damage or recover somehow.
Muchorak looks back to Inikai and speaks in Shoanti
Inikai replies in Shoanti:
You move down the road the grey hawk circling over head...half way to Magnimar at a point where many wagons stop for the night is a roadhouse...the place isn't busy..and theres no trouble getting you beds for the night..You set watches and a tense but peaceful night passes..in the morning you push on..and about midday the walls and roofs of Magnimar appear on the horizon. You make your way to the city through fertile farmlands the peasantry taking little notice off you as you pass by.
At the sight of Magnimar in the distance, Romon halts the group. "There's Magnimar, the greatest city in Varisia. You can see the Arvensoar, that tall spire there. It's home to the military and City Watch. Just over there to the side is the Irespan. It's a huge broken bridge to the sea from the old days." He is obviously proud of his home town.
But as you draw closer to the city itself, Romon hangs farther and farther back at the rear of the party.
"Let's deliver Tsuto to the Hells (Magnimar's prison) and be done with him. I suppose the Hellknights will want statements from us before we leave. After that, we should lay low for a bit."
Inikai thinks of his mother and wonders if she still lives in Magnimar, if she lives at all, and whether or not he has siblings by her. It might not be safe to visit her and bring attention to her, he thinks.
Muchorak nods at Inikai, "Yes let us be rid of him and move on to more fertile lands."
Naria doesn't seem all that impressed. Although she does seem amused by Marak's reaction
As the huge city comes into sight the hawk cries out and spirals down. Landing briefly on Muchorak's shoulder it then hops off changing into the cute little Gnome on the way down. From her expression and demeanour it is clear that she is more than a little nervous, even scared as she looks up asking "Big Bear, we need go There, to big big bad two legs place?" While Ali had come across the city before on her wanderings she had always given it a wide berth and had never seen it from an aerial vantage point so never before had trult grasped it's scope. It's clear she' nearly terrified of the idea of entering the city and her den brother Lunas is only slightly less so, although his concern seems to be more for her.
Wellard
I've not yet put much thought into where Ali is actually from, but obviously she's from somewhere and so my thought just now was that, depending on what future plans for us you have in mind, if you wish, perhaps at some point her past coming into the present could be something we could discuss and work on together?
"Marak, Naria you will find exquisite Thasilonion artifacts here in Magnimar. Certainly there will be things to interest you here."
You get closer and the tone of the party is sombre..Tsuto has not said a word all journey..he sits looking at the floor of the wagon.
You reach the city gates and an officious looking guard steps forward..he looks over your band with obvious scorn.
"No dangerous animals within the gates unless leashed and muzzled" he says pointing to Lunas and Ursas "All weapons to be peace bonded and all practicioners of Magic to register on arrival the fee for the registry is 1 gold."
Romon..give me a knowledge (local)
Ursus gives a low growl at the mention of being muzzled, Muchorak speaks in Shoanti
know(local)
As the party draws closer to the city walls, Romon hangs farther and farther back. About a quarter mile from the gate, he dismounts and checks the horse's hooves, letting the party go on. He gazes after them for some time before remounting and hurrying to catchup just as they reach the gate.
He stays at the back of the party looking intently at the gate guards.
Wellard:
He's been hanging back because he's very nervous about returning to Magnimar.
If any of them is known to him as an agent, he'll quietly tell Marak about the know(local). If not, he'll publicly discuss it.
Inikai makes a Suggestionto the guardsmen. "We did not bring muzzles, but surely we can find them in the bazaar and make good on your request."
As the party continues on Ali and Lunas continue to hang further and further back. Eventually as the gates are reached the pair are at the very back with Romon. Although she is still clearly dreading entering the city, the pretty little wild druid seems to be trying to put a brave face on things.
When the guard mentions a muzzle a dangerous growl issues from the back of the party but no one is sure if it originated fro$ the wolf or his smaller hunanoid companion.
Naria hangs back a bit on her riding dog watching how the others handle this situation.
|
While the others decide how to arrange their individual issues, Marak ties a length of cord around his dagger, and similar ties his morning star to his baldric with whatever sort of twine, cord or ribbon the town uses to identify their peacebonds have not been broken, so that it cannot be readied without some complicated effort.
He also produces a gold piece and hands it to the guardsman, identifying himself, "Marak Quan, Clergy of Nethys, do you have some token that I am to bear, to identify me as a registered magic-user?"
[Romon
Romon looks on despondently while Marak pays up before he can speak. He takes advantage of the guard focusing on Marak's gold to draw Inikai and Ali aside and whispers, "I don't want to draw attention to myself, so I won't protest Marak's charge, but there's no registration for spellcasters. Don't fess up." He thinks a little longer, Besides, if the guard thinks he's pulled a fast one, he'll be fat, dumb, and happy. This could work out.
Inikai nods at Romon's whispers. "I have been away so long that I forgot how the city operates"he replies to his crafty companion.
Ali gives a completely blank look to Romon's whispered conversation, but she seems to understand the gist is to remain quiet, which suits her just fine.
Wellard;
From Romon's background: It ended badly a few weeks ago, when a capo's eldest son (Marno, son of Eduardo Caumlo) walked in while Romon was rifling his father's strongbox.
" Gold makes the dragon smile. I imagine it works that way even in Sandpoint." Romon considers trying to bribe the guard to skip the peace bonding, but decides it's too likely to draw attention.
Muchorak looks on as Marak secures his weapons, not used to the costum himself, he does as Marak and secures his blade.
Inikai binds his morningstar and addresses the guard. "Our weapons are bound and the our magic wielder has paid the, ahem, fee to enter. May we proceed?"
Wellard; ** spoiler omitted **
The peacebonds only apply to non citizens.
TRhe guard waves you on in.."Make sure those beasts get muzzled right?" he says seemingly out of rote than any real interest..his fellows nod in agreement. You pass through the gates and into the city.
Muchorak moves into the city, his hand on Ursus, his only touch now to the wilds. The Shoanti stands strong and walks proud, but his gaze keeps shifting around, clearly evident he is not comfortable within these man built walls. To peer into his mind would reveal a man saddened by the change in the beautiful landscape that was here before this carved/crafted stone.
Naria follows in at the back of the others "I take it the local jail first then?"
"The jail, yes. I'll show you the best way."
Wellard :
"The jail, yes. I'll show you the best way."
"Hopefully, not from experience" Inikai says with a friendly grin.
"Muchorak, Ali, you are clearly ill at ease. Think of Magnimar as a tribal gathering that has grown quite large. Try looking past people rather than at them, keep them in your periferal vision. If you look at them directly they will often try to waste your time with idle talk."
"After ridding ourselves of this unpleasant cargo" Iniaki says as he points at Tsuto "we should secure logdings. Even though Magnimar can be loud and ill-smelling there are some things here worth seeing."
"The jail, yes. I'll show you the best way."
"Hopefully, not from experience" Inikai says with a friendly grin.
...
Romon snorts, then chuckles. "Oh, I may have had a few run-ins with the local constable in my youth, but you'd never catch me doing anything that would put me in there."
You pass a small park and moveup a wide processional street towards the Capial District.People stop and stare occasionaly at the wild aspect you present with wolf and bear alongside you..but most just duck their heads and scurry on by.
Surrounding the bustling square known as Founder’s Honor and the towering sculpture called “Indros cul Vydrarch” spread the high marble columns and ornate facades of the heart of Magnimar’s government and political arena. Here, the elaborately sculpted Usher’s Hall serves as the meeting place for the city’s Council of Ushers.
Near the Usher’s Hall stands the impassive gray stone fastness of the Pediment Building. While the impressive upper halls, replete with stern-faced gargoyles and grim judges, serve as the home of the Justice Court and the Halls of Virtue (each judge’s personalized audience hall), beneath lie the sweltering halls of Magnimar’s only prison, the Hells.
Only the city’s justices and most infamous criminals know how deep the prison’s claustrophobic floors run, but rumors tell of one of the deepest halls where guards no longer patrol, sealed in response to an unpublicized uprising and left to the worst of the city’s convicts.
Inikai looks for some official who will take Tsuto off their hands. Hopefully, they will simply take him and ask little of the group.
"If you want dour and traditional, go to Korvosa. This town is for movers and shakers, and it's built on ancient ... stuff." He twists around to make sure everyone's still together.
"Hey, it's --! " He waves. "So you're headed there. I've got to catch up with someone. I'll meet you back here in two hours. Don't get in trouble with the Watch. Pretend they're Sheriff Hemlock on the rag or something. Dump Tsuto and get clear as fast as you can is my advice. " He reins the horse aside. "Two hours, here."
"Buildings you say?" Muchorak looks at the structures, "A death to nature is what I see." He looks at Marak, "Vision the trees, that stood here, the animals that dwelt in these lands and the beauty of it all." He sweeps his arm to indicate the area they are in, "And now none of that life exists. Instead you have civilized men carvings, those same men fighting with one another for food or even worse." He looks at Marak, "Where has the peace gone?"
At the gate Ali hesitates and almosy doesn't enter but finally summoning all her courage she takes a deep breath end coomits herself. Once inside her terror scales even higher only surpassed by her heartbreak to see this scar and blight upon the land. "Ali did no know there was this many two legs in all the land" she mumbles barely audibly as she stares in utter horrified amazement at the sea of people. As the party moves along she remains pressed close against Big Bear on one side, sometimes making it difficult for him to walk and on her otyher side she keeps Lunas pressed against her, her small hand holding on firmly in his ruff.
As they pass the park her eyes gaze longingly but she does not falter in her steps. Most of Inikai's words pass over her head but she does understand that he is trying to confort her so she gives Icky a brave smile. When Roman leaves she feels slightly panicked to be losing one of her friends, not knowing if she could track him in this place of So many smells, and so manu of them so terrible, but all she does is ghive him a sad little wave goodbye.
As for Tutso, she had never understood what that was all about really, she was just going where her pack went and ignored the rest of it, trusting them completly to guide her and watch her flanks as she does theirs.