'see Makus... they are our saviors....they will help us...' the severly wounded man says coughing up blood...
Putting his warhammer in his beltsling Bonifacius moves forward, holding the holy symbol of hanseath in his hands.
"Who needs healing most?"
Mogwag would say that the one not called Markus and is coughting up blood is the one that needs it the most
Bonny runs over and heals the man on the ground...
... saving the man from the brink of death.
The two men stand up and the one healed thanks the group saying "My name is Pol. Makus and I are merchants from Fax on our way to Safeton to deliver some goods when we were beset by the brigands you faced. The roads are getting more dangerous with each passing day. These roads used to be patrolled but with events in the south getting worse, the patrols have stopped. Seems protecting travelers is not so important anymore. We were blessed you all came along when you did. Were do you travel to friends?" the man says in labored breath.
Mogwag thinks you have it wrong there. The patrols have stoped because they are occupied by the évents down south. They can:t be at two places at once and yes blu'nting the advance of an orc hord is overall more important. You wouldn't like it if thèse lands fell in their control
"Aye, I'm afraid we're not goin' in the same direction as yeh. We're 'eadin' south ta kick some orc arse."
"But we came up the road and it should be safe!"
Indeed, we are the force to blunt the invasion and slow it down, to give the town time to prepare. I am sure your good will be welcome.
He offered the merchants before retrieving his horse.
The group helps the merchants to their feet and re-secure the horses to their wagons. The team discovers the merchants deal in armor as their wagon is filled with all sorts of armor and shields. Pol grabs a set of leather lameller armor and a suelic patterned breastplate and offers it to the team.
"I do not have enough money to pay you for saving us, but please take these gifts as payment for your rescuing us. I will not take no for an answer. It is the least we can do." and he hands the team the two sets of armor.
After more pleasantries are exchanged the group and the merchants part ways...the merchants towards Safeton towards the north and the group continuing south towards Fax.
Victrix checks out the breastplate appreciatively. "Ooh!"
Mogwag has all the armor Mogwag needs he says to the group
Looking at the items Bonifacius shrugs. "Made for longlegs. Help yourself. But it´s decent handwork. May I offer something in return. Hanseath be blessed, blessed by Hanseath!"And with that he hands them a bottle of ale.
The breastplate would just slow me down, I would have no need of it, but the leather armor might be nice, unless one of you would prefer it?
He began smiling at Bonifacius' blessing.
I would hurry along to Safeton friends, It wouldnt do to be on the road soon enough.
He offered the two merchants already scanning the skyline for other possible trouble while loosely bandaging the area where his defense lapsed long enough for the bandit to actually strike him.
Victrix accepts the offered breastplate.
Alistair disinterested blows past the merchants, ready to move on.
No more unscheduled stops! He will say once out of earshot of the merchants.
After leaving the merchants the group continues on for a while just passing pilgrims, other merchants and refugees. They make camp for the night which allows for Cerian to heal some of his wounds.
When the team makes camp for the evening, Victrix strips out of her scale mail and tries on the breastplate she received.
Doing his best to not pay attention he works on another peice of the canvas that night.
the night passes without major incident as the group sees other campfires along the road but no threats...
Cerian works on the suits knowing he is close to the elven lands of Celene...
Bonifacious has traveled this road before from his times growing up in Ulek. He knows they have less than a full days ride to the town of Fax.
Mogwag welcome the new day he says ready to move again
The next day the party sets off south along the road towards Fax. After a few hours time they realize the road has become devoid of other travelers.
Alistair:
Bonifacious:
Cerian:
Mogwag:
Victrix:
Victrix pokes Cerian as the party moves along the road. "I think I saw somethin'. Someone's watchin' us from the woods ta the west."
"Alright keep your eyes open."
He let his horse slow down and he drifted back to Mogwag.
"Victrix sees something moving to the west."
He shared before kicking his horse a bit more forward and to the eastern edge of the road. Trying to peer torwards where she thought she saw movement.
Mogwag isn't bother by eye that only care to watch. he replied
Cerian passes along a warning to the others and then looks to see if he can see anything.
Suddenly in front of and behind them in the woodline a score of figures suddenly appear...at first it seems as if the trees and bushes moved but when they figures leave the foliage of the forest they appear as elves....a dozen of them...6 in front of the group and 6 behind the group.
The elves are armed with bows and spears primarily... two advance towards the group from the front...both male... one armed with a long curved elven sword and the other with a bow...
the one armed with the sword speaks with a voice of authority...
"Are your eyes bothering you cousin? You did not see us. Must be all the time you spend with these other races. And you have an orc half breed with you. How strange. Who are you all, where do you come from and where do you go?"
He thought about returning their question in the language of the people but after a moment decided against it, speaking in common.
I have not been among the people, in some time, and never with the high olve. I am from the Phostwood to the north. Our employer has hired us to blunt and combat the orcish invasion from the Pomarj.
"We too hunt the invaders from the south. We are...unable to pursue them once they leave our lands...orders from the Queen. But we have been successful in...keeping them from getting close to our borders. More come every week...you would take care to watch that half breed with you. The ones we hunt also have half breeds with them, orc and elf alike...The way is clear to Fax... You should improve your elvish...Safe Travels"
He offered them a bow from his waist.
lle caela lye diola, lye will uma lye akh a' il- leneema i' Glamhoth hoth hae- tuulo' lle eska
He said raising up a single arm in farewell... He was slightly angry at himself. He should not have been as rude possibly to them, his views obviously colored by his home.
They have been patroling the borderlands of Celene to keep the orc rabble from it, they have had some dealings with them to the south.
He relayed their words to their little group.
Victrix scratches her head. "Oh? Kinda glad we didn't 'ave ta foight 'em, then."
A little further down the road, a few miles perhaps, the group spies smoke coming off the road and to the west close to the woods...upon investigation the party sees the piled burning and hacked remains of goblins and orcs...arrows piercing most of them...one orc head sits atop a nicely decorated elven spear jutting out from the ground...the orc faces south as if a warning to others... the air stinks of burning flesh...
Mogwag beleive this to be the welcoming sign post the elves left behind to show the beginning of their territory he says with amusement
You all make it to the town of Fax, but upon reaching close to the town it is clearly evident that the town has shut itself up and soldiers man the walls. There are some poor peasants and a few travelers trying to convince a person up on the ramparts to open the gates but that individual is steadfastly refusing to do so.
Are they scared of spy or something
"Let's foind out, shall we?" Victrix starts approaching the town gates.
He frowned at the sight of the town of Fax...His frown got deeper at the sight of the peasants and travelers outside the gates not being let in.
Take some care, they dont seem friendly in this town already.
He said lowly scanning the walls and their defenses
Alistair will walk into the town and begin performing as he walks down the street, trying to raise the spirits of these soldiery types with a tale of the grand victories over the orcish armies.
The party gets close to the walled town that has shut its gates. Outside the town are some of the regular cottages that spring up around towns. They look to be abandoned with a few of the peasants rummaging through them as others try to convince the guards to open the gate. Th walls themselves are of sturdy wood and earth, no moat, and a few watchtowers along the front.
Alistair plans what he will do if he does enter the town...
Looking at the fortifications the dwarf shruggs. "Those are a minor obstacle. No stones, no moat. At least they have barred the doors to keep the number of people to feed at a minimum!"
Victrix walks up to the gates and shouts
As my eloquent friend her stated, We are here to help deal with the orc threat. open up before we decide to take out talents elsewhere.
He added frowning at the sight of the people.
"On the authority of Baron Rollins you are to leave the gate of Fax and retreat to elsewheres!" a voice shouts out from the ramparts on the wall. A chubby man dressed much like a herald is the owner of the voice.
"What do you expect lads. They do not even let in their mommas!"
Alistair rolls his eyes So you solicit our services and then turn us away huh
Victrix's eyes widen in disbelief. "Oh, THAT'S 'ow it's gonna be? We get hired ta save yehr arses from orc axes, an' yeh decide ta keep us out at the say-so o' some twit of a baron?!"
"Yeh know what? If yeh don't let us in ta 'elp yeh, we'll do the worst possible thing we can to ya. We'll obey yeh and leave. Then yehr town and everyone in it will get butchered by orcs because yehr baron was too bloody stupid ta let the people HE HIRED in ta help him. Is that REALLY what yeh want?" Victrix shoots a venomous glare up at the herald.
Please say no. Please be sensible about this.