Kingmaker: The Stolen Lands [Gestalt]

Game Master Æroden

Lelouch looks to Xantria.

I don't think we've been introduced officially, but it's a pleasure to meet you. Xantria was it?

With a confident look on his face, Lelouch claims This Kingdom will be the one people remember. It will be open for all to live and crime will absolutely not be tolerated. When I reach my goal, people will be able to live in peace, without fear or poverty. I will make sure of that!

Lelouch looks over to Klaus as he laughs, glaring but with a smirk on his face.

Foolishness. Does he wish to be proven wrong? My goals and ambitions will be achieved. HE CAN COUNT ON IT!

Xantria nods to Lelouch when she asks if he had her name right before turning to the huntsman.

"Perhaps there's something we can do to help you in exchange for any information you have on the bandits around here?" Xantria suggests. It may not be a good idea to give such an open-ended offer, but it was bound to be more successful than offers of a place in an as-yet non-existent kingdom who's creation was not guaranteed.

I can have him stay away for as long as you guys need to talk, though for the sake of RL time, I am going to move things up. If you feel like you need to discuss it out more feel free to do such, just title your post 'Before the Huntsman gets Back'.

The Huntsman gets to the group and for a nominal fee, of 25 gp, he will guide you to find the ones you are searching for. He would normally charge 25 gp per day, but because of Lelouch's offer and diplomacy he would be fine with the 25 gp and the promise. He also tells you that he will likely know where they are, especially after talking to a few friends. At that point he pulls out a little wooden bird, whispers to it, says, Drelexraoi. Sylvan for Little green one. The bird flies away.

"My question to you now is, do you want a hard ride on the plains or a slow trek through the woods?"

The wizard rubs at his eyes, speaking blindly. "Rid yourself of that grimace, boy-king. It isn't your potential for ruling over an ocean of mewling infants I find so amusing..."

When Torq offers his own gold pieces up, Klaus titters a bit. "Huntsman! Oh, huntsman! One day I shall be an archmagician of significant power and renown. On the very day of my apotheosis, I will strike back down to the earth in the form of a lightning bolt and from the earth build you a flying castle where you may live in harmony with all the birds and fairy creatures of the Greenbelt, and hunt the lands to your heart's content. You may accept this offer, huntsman, OR..."

Klaus withdraws and counts out five single gold coins and jingles them in his palm. "...you can take a guaranteed five gold from me. Now. And even keep it if you don't get your full asking price of twenty-five. Still in a gambling mood?"

What was so amusing earlier?

Upon the return of the Huntsman, Lelouch looks to him and speaks once more.

My terms are valid for only if we can have your aid free of charge. I understand you may be untrusting of such bold claims, but I am well educated and know a great deal about leadership, so it would be foolish to take my words lightly.

The boy looks over to Klaus as he continues.

You've had an offer from myself which will bring you great wealth in the near future, in addition to the offer mentioned by my new companion Klaus here. The choice is yours, but turning down future wealth in favour of a pittance now is not something I'd personally decide on. Though, I have to question something. Why do you need wealth now, when you are skilled enough to catch your own food?

Honestly im glad he came along, so we wouldn't get lost and take even more time finding the rest of our party.. It's almost like that priests blessing has immediately taken affect.

Thank you sir for helping us out.." He hands the 5 coins to the man and gives his opinion of the taking the faster route..[/b]

Come we have a long journey likely, and we will ride hard on the plains!"
So unless there is more to be said, you all ride hard for the next 8 hours. In that time his little bird comes back to him and he sends it out again.

Then once you all are resting, Logan says, "The horses need to drink, and be unladened from the saddles and packs. They should also be rubbed down."

After a few minutes or so the wooden bird comes again. "I may have found those that you are searching for, it seems they are waylaid by some sort of humanoid dragons. We should hurry, it is but a 5 minute run over there!"

Still looking at Klaus, Lelouch simply smirks and nods.

As the hunting boy comes back, Lelouch speaks out to him.

I'm glad we are all in agreement then.

Smiling, Lelouch swishes the horse reins and urges the Horse to gallop forwards, staying parallel with the hunter for most of the journey.

As everyone comes to a halt at the mention of the horses needing water, Lelouch jumps down from his horse and points towards the perfectly white creature, with his finger ever so slightly angled upwards.

Drink! says Lelouch, as 4 gallons of water seems to materialise above and in front of the horses head, with the horse instinctively doing so, before the boy climbs back onto his Horse once more.

As the company rides for eight hours, Klaus is mostly engaged in whatever conversation he can engage the hunter in to learn details about the Greenbelt. It consists less of friendly schmoozing and more of a pointed barrage of inquiries which he may or may not choose to answer.

When the company stops, Klaus dismounts and leads his horse to a nearby source of water. But then Logan tells him to rub the horse down. The wizard is incredulous. "This beast, which would just be dinner for a tribe of hungry trolls, wants a massage, you say." As the horse drinks, he circles it, menacingly. "Would you also like your hooves shined? Your mane combed? A bath in buttermilk?"

At last he comes to stand behind the horse's rear flank and bows to the horse's ass, as if to a king. "If I'm going to stick around here for a few years, it seems I'm going to have to get used to this sight."

Any joviality there might have been abruptly comes to an end and he grumbles, awkwardly massaging the horse's flanks and legs, having no clue what the hell he is supposed to be doing rubbing down a horse. It almost sounded like a coined term from animal husbandry...

Logan's announcement leads Klaus to abandon any sense of caution. He remounts the steed and gives it a swift kick in the ribs with his heels until it rides in Logan's indicated direction (if he didn't indicate a direction, Klaus waits until he does, and then takes off like the wind.)

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAAAAA!!!!

The boy takes a deep breath, pauses for a second, then looks at the man once more, laughing even harder and louder than before!

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA !

The boy struggles to remain on his horse, but holds on regardless.

This is a side of Lelouch that those he travels with have not yet seen.

In response to Klaus making comments of taking care of his horse, "Yes, I am sure that the horse would enjoy all of those things, though the bath in buttermilk maybe a little over the top!" He smiles at Klaus and laughs. Logan would come up to him and show him what to do. Of course once Klaus is behind the horse it kicks him before he can even massage it, 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 hoof attack, 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 hoof damage.

Logan quickly jumps onto his horse, bareback. To catch up with Klaus. Lelouch, Torq, Xantira, Maxel & T..... are all left in the dust. Kesten mounts up on his horse quickly, first getting the saddle on his horse. He attempts to follow. Likely the rest of you will also, but please state it.