Ihon continues looking about the room at nothing in particular.
"Information?" Andre shrugs. "Can't say as I have all that much of anything--I was just told to meet you here and help out as best I could." He frowns. "And don't worry--I have no intention of leaving."
Andre, Ihon, and Rona, you notice a group of three humanoids (seemingly human from the quick glance you get) walking past the door of the tavern when it is opened for a brief moment. They are notable only because they have a mark on their shoulders similar to the man from the inn at the last trading post. They don't seem to be causing any issues or even looking for anything, but from the momentary glance, it looks like they are just going about their normal business.
When the server approaches, Andre asks, "'Scuse me, I don't mean to pry, but...have you seen any folk walking around with a tattoo on them that looks like this?" Using any materials that come to hand (including dipping his finger in someone's drink and drawing on the tabletop) he sketches out the unholy symbol.
Ihon gives no indication that he's seen anything and leans back looking at the ceiling. Interesting. In the open. He looks thoughtful for a moment and then repeats, Interesting.
"Anyway..." Andre blinks when Ihon speaks. "What's that? What's in the open?"
I also spot the figures in the doorway and sigh, "Looks like we have another follower of the Rovagug beast god. I think we are being followed, the last one rushed off as soon as we saw him and now these guys just happen to be here as well as us."
"Hum, perhaps we should try to talk to them once more, right?" Baolus gets up from the table and moves outside the building, trying to spot them.
I get up with Baolus and look to see if I can see the strange figures.
Hrm? What? His gaze comes down from the ceiling. Oh, yes...that.
"Eh, I say we just kick their asses if they try to bother us."
Phaedra flags down a serving wench for another flagon of mead.
"Rovagug, the beast god?!" Andre stands up, looking furious. "That's more than just something to deal with if they bother us--that destructive, divisive religion is outlawed here! And in all sane lands, for that matter..." Following Baolus and Rona outside, he peers around.
Once outside it is quite easy to see them as they aren't trying to be evasive at all. They are currently just shopping at some of the merchant stalls and don't seem to be paying any attention to you at all.
I look to anyone who came out with me and point to the men, then speak in a quiet voice. "Do you think we should follow them to see where they go?"
"Sure... it is always a good idea to follow them instead of just attacking blindly... even though I doubt they will not spot all of us. If we are luck they will at least hint us to where they sleep before they notice our move."
Just as Baolus was preparing himself for a stealthy approach, he kicks a chicken that was passing nearby.
Ihon shrugs and follows the others out. The small companion on his shoulder chirps as he stands but otherwise stays curled up, with its eyes closed. They are dangerous. But we can make them more of a danger if we are not careful. He frowns as he walks, Do not assume that the locals hold our views.
Ihon wanders the stalls, seemingly having no direction or purpose but to meander behind the group.
"I would see where they are off to," Andre says grimly, doing his best to remain unobtrusive.
His best isn't very good, it turns out. Straightening up, he growls, "Perhaps if the locals aren't set against the cult--as they well should be--then this group won't find out approach suspicious. We can just walk up and ask them what the hells they're doing here."
They pick their way through the merchants at it seems, at least from what you can tell, that they are likely purchasing for more than just the three of them. As you try to follow, after about five minutes, at least one of them seems to notice your group and while they continue to shop, they are clearly now watching you.
"Clearly none of this lot are bothered by them," Andre growls, indicating the community at large with a wave of his arm. "I say that we confront them, find out who they are and what they're doing here!"
Ihon shrugs and smiles idly, That seems unlikely to yield the answers we wish.
"Greetings! And Salutations!"
You react in your normal fashion as a loud voice rings out from behind you. You turn to find a gnome looking up at you all, his eyes squinting as if to memorize the details of your faces.
"Yes! You are indeed who I'm looking for!" He exclaims again, smiling, and not bothering to keep his voice down.
"My name is Sazu Magauge!" He introduces himself as he ruffles through the large side pockets of his pants and then in the side much of his large pack he carries on his back. He eventually finds what he's after and holds out a missive from the Queen complete with sigil and seal.
Balous moves quickly to grab the gnome and cover his mouth.
With the little one secured, he takes a look at the letter and whispers back to his companions. "Hum! Looks like our queen is sending her letters like a tea party invitation... ok, Mr. Sausage, I'll let you go but you remain quite, ok? We WERE trying to tail some guys so we should be less noisy... introductions will come later."
Turning his attention to Ihon, Baolus nods. "I agree with you... They clearly now we are watching them and eventually they will leave the town. When this happens, we follow them."
As we start heading after the Beast worshippers, I find that my footsteps are soft and quiet. I give out a silent sigh of relief and nod as Ihon also seems to be just as quiet ... then there is a loud squawk, I spin around quickly to see Baolus' foot stumbling around a chicken, I hold my breath hoping that they may still not have seen us. But then Andre almost doesn't try fr stealth and just starts speaking normally, I hang my head and shake it a couple of times while releasing a deep sigh. But seeing as there is a chance they may have thought of that as just some crowd noise, I continue forwards.
It doesn't take long to realise that they have no spotted us and as we are watching each other deciding what to do there is a loud voice from behind us. I spin on the spot as fast as I can, hand starting to pull out my small blade. I stop as I see yet another letter with the sigil of the queen on it and Baolus grabbing the speaker and covering his mouth as quickly as possible, I then start muttering to myself, "Yet another one, one would think that Her Highness doesn't believe we can succeed in our mission." I slide the blade back into it's sheath before looking at the small man critically, "Sazu, was it? You know we were trying to follow some cultists, consider yourself fortunate that they had already spotted us and that you didn't give us away ..."
Realising that my attention has been taken away from the group, I quickly turn about again to make sure the men haven'd disappeared down an alley. With my eyes fixed firmly on the cultists I speak quietly to the newcomer, "So ... what is it that you can do for the group? Andre just joined us and he seems to be a woodsman." I nod at Baolus' suggestion, "That makes sense, see if they can lead us to the nest."
Andre shrugs. "If that is what you think best, Baolus, by all means let's do that. Though whether they'll lead us to their lair when they know that we are following them, I'm unsure." He looks down at Sazu disapprovingly. Taking the sealed letter, he examines it closely to verify the seal, then thrusts it back. "Well. I don't know what Her Majesty and Gantry are thinking, but if taking you along is part of their order, so be it. Welcome to the team, Sazu. Now keep up, and try to stay relatively quiet..."
Sazu eventually wiggles out of Baolus's grasp, though if Baolus was serious about keeping a hold on him he wouldn't have been able to escape.
He coughs softly, a bit winded from using his thin muscles.
"Apologies. I did not realize you were behaving in a covert manner. Rest assured, if I were privy to such information I would act accordingly."
He looks squarely at Rona'Nathaniel.
"For your information..." it seems he takes pride in this phrase, "I am a very learned gnome, and the Queen believes my penchant for knowledge will be very handy in coming days.Not to mention..."
He raps his knuckles against the fiddle case under his backpack.
"A bit of music to raise the mood."
You follow the men for an uncomfortably long time and they seems to shop for nearly hours. When they start to leave the trading post, they head in the direction of the forest. Before you can follow them further than just past the edge of the trading post, you see a man and a woman in leathers running toward you from one side. It looks like they are calling out, but aren't really audible yet.
Ihon seems to be perfectly at ease walking around the trading post aimlessly. He barely even responds when the gnome appears and the fuss goes on around him, only giving the small man a very brief look. You and Phaedra will get along.
In his usual manner, Ihon doesn't seem to notice the people approaching at all.
I return the gaze of Sazu and at the mention of music a longing smile plays across my face, "Well master Gnome, if you know any Elven tunes I can guarantee you and I will get along brilliantly. It would also be nice to pick your mind for knowledge too, as I like to learn as much as I possibly can." With that I let out a small laugh before holding my hand in front of me to shake his hand.
As we wander around the market place I fall into my patrol stride automatically and make sure to observe everything that is going on around me, I still answer any questions that are put before me. As the couple run towards us I glance at our group, "I think one or two of us should stay to see what these two want while the rest of us carry on following the group into the forest. Does that sound reasonable to you all?"
Phaedra follows several paces behind the group, having not been willing to leave the bar before being served the mead she asked for. She tries to wander nonchalantly through the crowds, sipping her mead while she tries to use her rear of the group position to observe whoever is observing her group.
Andre harrumphs. "If we must, then I suggest whoever's least likely to be noticed follow that group...and don't get too far. A father can't watch children who are running around in someone else's back yard."
Baolus shakes his head at Rona's suggestion. "No, I think it is a bad idea to split our group. They already know we are following them and it would be easy to make an ambush against all of us... sending just one or two might likely kill them." He looks to the men going for the forest and then to the two coming towards them. "No, we wait. We already know the direction our target is heading and since our mission is to investigate the forest, we should search for information first and we already have clues that our mission and these cultists are connected... our best move right now is to talk to these people first."
Sazu looks at the approaching couple curiously. He hasn't been with the group long so he isn't sure of the protocol here. He didn't want to bungle any further interactions, so he merely pulls out one of his thickly bound journals and starts scrawling about his interactions with the group thus far, listing off gender, apparent race, mannerisms, and maybe a few detailed sketches.
I look as the group of cultists evaporate into the forest line and let out a sigh, "I suppose you are right, I think I may be a little over eager to complete this Royal task. The last thing I want is to endanger the mission or any of our lives though." I look to both Andre and Sazu, "Are either of you skilled wordsmiths? My tongue has no honey on it only rose thorns, and a honeyed tongue here could make things proceed more smoothly."
I turn and watch the couple arriving, readying my hand so that I can quickly reach of my blade if things go sour.
"My talents lay with the written word," Sazu remarks without looking up. "Though, given some time I'm sure I'll pick a few tricks up."
The people in leathers approach closer, wearing longbows on their backs and a longsword at their waists.
Just stay away from those, you really don't want to follow them, the woman says once they have approach within range to talk without shouting.
Ihon smiles wistfully, Want is not the word any of us would use. The small creature on his shoulder lifts its head and chirps agreeably.
I remain perfectly still, ready to draw my blade at any sign of aggression, "Why do we not want to follow them?"
"Could I have your names?"
Sazu looks up to address the woman. Many logs of history remained unfinished and catalogued and assigning experiences to named people helped to for the record.
Baolus also smiles. "Oh, I think the exact opposite, lady... I absolutely want to follow them! But we could also wait and get some information first and you two seem to have a lot to talk, right?"
Andre clears his throat. "This young man is, perhaps, overhasty. Well met, both of you. My name is Andre Karoxin. I'm a stranger to these parts." He offers his hand to the man and woman, if either looks like they'll take it. Once introductions have been made, he continues. "I certainly hear what you're saying--no one in their right mind would want to get near those dangerous madmen. But we have work to do here that may involve them, I'm afraid. What can you tell us of them? Why does the town seem so...tolerant...of their presence?"
The pair shake their heads and the man speaks this time, Our names aren't important. But they are walking into a very dangerous place and you don't want to involve yourself in a conflict you know nothing about. Just do yourselves a favor and go back to wherever you came from.
The woman then speaks again, What possible work could you have to do with people that you obviously do not know? And out here where I doubt you've ever been before.
I look ever so slightly confused at the mention of unknown information, "Could you tell us about this conflict we know nothing about over drinks?"
Ihon continues to look off after those they meant to follow. His head tilted to the side. Assumptions will lead to danger. He shakes his head and looks back at the two newcomers and those of his group speaking to them. This is the wrong path.
Phaedra catches up as the group is talking to the couple.
"What dangerous place are they walking into to? You already know that we are new to this area and are traveling through it. Thus knowing where not to go would be a good thing for us."
The man speaks again, Those people are dangerous, violent, and will not hesitate to attack you. We do not have time to entertain you over drinks, but it is in your best interest not to get involved.
Warning comes from two strangers, unidentified, to avoid following possibly dangerous men.
Sazu jots down this quick detail for later.
"Thank you for the warning."
Ihon looks back towards the cultists. Warning. Threat. This is going as expected. He frowns as he turns around and taps the ground with his walking stick. We are going in the wrong direction.
Andre gazes steadily at the group, eyes narrowed. "You know, where I'm from, it's considered polite to at least introduce yourself before you tell a stranger to get lost..." He drops his hand, face hardening. "But what would I know? I'm in agreement with my elf friend, here. I'd love to hear more about what these violent folk are involved in and what this 'conflict' is. Who's the other side?"
As he asks the questions, he watches the man and woman sharply for any sign of their allegiance, bias, or inclinations.
The woman shakes her head, then looks to the man. They shrug at each other and the woman then speaks, We've warned you. But we cannot help it if you don't heed our words. Besides, you lot do not seem interested in introducing yourselves either. And I'm sure all of us have more important things to tend to than chatter.
They turn to leave, but clearly aren't in a rush about it and can easily still be spoken to or stopped.