"Home for you was a merchant wagon under frequent threat from bandits? I see you're combat hardened after all. Perhaps we shouldn't be so fast to dismiss his concerns, Nine-tail, it looks like he may have experience in these matter. Tell me Gremm, what dangers are rumoured to lurk in these parts?"
He gives Tok a sideways look.
Curse it! He's talking like I'm a liability. And...he's right. I've only shot fence posts with this crossbow, and I couldn't even hit them half the time. But it's not like I've got a choice. What common person would go to a clinic full of machinery to fix a broken bone when there's clerics in every town and village who'd do it for free? This is the only job going, and I've taken it now. Strike me down, I'm going to act the part
"Thanks for the reassurance Tok, but don't be too quick to call me helpless. You know as little of my abilities as I do of yours"
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"Well, this is all second-hand, so I can't confirm how much of these stories are true. However, here and there while dropping supplies off at taverns, father and I would enjoy a good meal. He'd exchange stories with other travelers and there were a few who would be formerly of Ustalav. They told stories of unbelievable men who would turn into wolves at night. Another man told us of people who would drink the blood of others and would be burned by the sun. The worst story I heard, though, was about a simple researcher who had gone mad.
"The researcher's wife had died some time ago and he was desperate to see her again. He began to dabble in the black magics in hopes of finding a way to see her again. Soon enough, the monstrosities that he was dealing in, began to rampage about. A monster with a face covered in eyes, a man with eight extra legs, or even the woman who's head was on the body of a decayed fox were just some of the things that escaped his hold and attacked the locals. The people in his town were scared of this man and confronted him at his home. That's when his most terrible monstrosity appeared. It was a man made of many other men. His arm was once Kellid, while his legs Shoanti, and his chest made of an Ulfen man's. No part of this man had a match elsewhere on the body. He was many men stitched together forming a giant even taller than me.
"The monster attacked the villagers and killed most of them. The researcher was crazy by this point and was a sick twisted person, enjoying the sight of the massacre. The thing is, the creation had become smart enough to know it was a terrible thing, its existence. In anger, the monster attacked its master in hopes that it would end its own life as well. The researcher was killed, but the monster lived. Knowing it was a curse, it began to run in hopes of finding a means to end its existence. According to the man in the tavern that day, the monster still roams Ustalav, very much alive.
"Now, I don't know how real that story is. The man was somewhat drunk by this point, but he told the story with terror in his eyes, as if he had seen the monster. This is why I'm not worried about any bandits. Bandits I can handle. Bandits are human like you and I. The monsters? Those are what I'm worried about."
Gremm smiles and takes a seat by the fire.
"By the way, if anyone would like me to stand watch outside their tent tonight, I would be happy to do so," he laughs.
Assembling a functional entity from multiple corpses? Where would the unifying spirit come from? The internal positive energy resevoirs of the 'doners' would interfere, no central consiousness should be able to motivate the whole. If that creature really exists, it would call into question some of Alk's core theories...
"It seems every one of you guys has your own gruesome tale. I suspect I'll be saddled with one of my own once I've been with this unit long enough. Anyway, thanks for the rumours. There must be some basis to them at least. I shall keep my eyes peeled tomorrow for signs of the inhuman. Tonight I'll sleep soundly though, I don't imagine a stitched together mass of corpses could slip past Fury"
HIs face clouds with worry
"You know, all this talk of deadly monsters is making me more and more worried about the fate of our final squad member. I know Two-bear told me to make sure I found my way to the camp before nightfall. Ah well, maybe it was just me he wanted to be careful. Acune got here safe enough."
Ahh, this is the life. Much better than being stuck in that stuffy manor and having to sneak women into my chambers at night. Not that I could really bring a lady round here, what with the lack of privacy. But, it's better than nothing.
A hansome looking Taldan man wearing fine clothes and vulminous sleeves stumbles into camp. His long hair raven black hair is held back with a ponytail. The firelight catches the almost blue tint in the color. His features are sharp and noble, his skin fair and unblemished. The man's features speak of high birth but his stance and air give it away. As he saunters into the camp he smells of pipe tobbacco and ale and calls out to someone in the night. His response is met with a chorus of giggles. Valen, giving a hearty slap on the back to Torque, sits down and joins his comrades.
"No need to fear Torque, my boy, I'll defend you from the nasties of the night," he says teasingly with a wink.
"Sorry I'm late. I got busy...availing myself of the local...customs. Did I miss anything?"
Your territory has just been marked...I mean dotted :)
Torque gesters to the last now-cool plate of spiced bird meat
"The meal, amongst other things. You'll be Valen then. And I'm afraid Hiros has already offered to protect me from any nasties, and he's considerably more intimidating than those pretty young things you've valiently left to find their own way home"
He smirks at the girl just visible at the edge of the firelight, and chuckles at the shock that she and her friends will get if Fury finds them on his rounds and lectures them on camp noise levels
"You, on the other hand, are probably a good match for them. From your heroic phisique I'm guessing you're a man of arcane skills"
"Heroic physique? I think you could take this one in a fight, Torque. Name's Tok. Is he correct, are you a spellcaster?"
Nine Tail laughs pretty hard until he seems to bark. He grabs his mask and slides it low on his face. In the reflection of the fire, a wide grin can still be seen.
Laughing heartily Valen nods standing. "I am.." After whishpering some words a small flash of sparks appear in the air with flaming letters spelling the name Valen Morse.
"The Carnival could use a showboat."
The image slowly disappates as Valen, throwing his cloak behind himself, sits down with a wry grin. "I'll have you know I am a show galley."
Humorlessly, Tok says, "Does your magic cause goblins and bandits to burn, or can you just write in fancy letters?"
"On occassion, when I have need of it to. But I generally prefer more, indirect means for the use of my powers." Valen gestures and mutters a few more words and out of his pack floats a long pipe and a small back of tobbacco. He prepares the pipe and lights up. "Anyone else want some? I got it from a pair of druids that spend years making this stuff."
Valen laughs taking a long draw from the pipe and turns to Hiros. "I wouldn't mind that at all," he retorts with a wink.
Despite the skeptisism of his comrades, Torque is clearly amused
"I dunno, I haven't met many men in my time who can make 'I am a show gally' funny. This guy hasn't spent a decade in a library, that's for sure. Look at his eyes! What we've got here is a sorcerer, and his kind are always capable of more than fancy letters. Though I'll pass on the pipe, thanks."
"You are indeed correct my Mwangian friend. Valen Morse, sorcerer extrodaire, at your service." Valen offers a hand to Torque.
In spite of himself, Tok chuckles at Valen's response and talent display. "All right Valen, welcome to camp."
Abruptly, Tok stands and moves away from the fire, towards his bedroll. He takes a seat on the ground, folds his legs, closes his eyes and begins meditating.
Torque shakes it, noting how pleasant it is to avoid the hand-crushing that went with his last few introductions.
"Torque Mitabu, as you apparently already know. I'm something of a magic user myself, though I come at the craft from the opposite direction to you. My spells stem from mechanisms rather than natural gifts, as you'll see. Between us we should be more than a match for anything five blades and a scafe can't handle"
Creeping from the trees, after escorting the young women back through the Forest to within sight of the Village, Jax lumbers his crossbow, crouching so as not to cast a shadow from the torches surrounding the clearing. Letting his crossbow hang from his belt, he slides the Shortsword from his belt and crawls towards the fire, before leaning up behind the Perfumed fool. Laying the blade against his throat, pulling his head back gently by the hair, he began to speak in a fierce tone.
"Do you know what dwells in these Forests Mage? Do you know how stupid it was for you to walk here alone, with only those doe eyed girls as protection? I am a trained Soldier, do you know what that means? It means that, should you die outside of this camp, the Corporal will look to me first, for someone to blame!"
Growling, copying the Corporals voice. "Fury you worm, where is that powdered dandy of a Mage of ours? DEAD? How is he dead? He went for a walk in the wood with two floosies? WHY DIDNT YOU STOP HIM?"
"Don't make me have to have that conversation with the Corporal, Mage. You may be dead but I will dig up your corpse and feed it to a Demon, just for the extra torment!" Releasing the Mages hair he stood, sliding the Shortsword back into its sheath. "Welcome to the Carnival!"
Nine Tail rises his wooden mask back off his face but remains reclined near the fire. "Nine Tail" and with a nod to the side of Valen, "And our dramatist, Fury."
Valen straightens himself and his shocked expression quickly turns back into a smile and laughs. "Haha, I assure you the demon wouldn't want me. I'd be too... chaotic, for it's tastes. But no worries. The young ladies wished to see me safely back to camp. I tried to tell them I was fine but they insisted. And who am I to refuse two sets of lovely eyes and pounting lips."
Valen nods. "A pleasure to meet you both."
"You are a Soldier of the Iron Carnival, that is who you are. We are not on leave Valen. Please be more careful next time. You are just lucky the Corporal is snoring his head off." Grinning, Jax threw a glance over his shoulder.
"Gremm I'll take a mug then everyone needs to get some sleep. I will take First watch then Tok, and Valen you have voluntered for the last!" Looking at the other three he smiled. "Sleep for the night you three, it will be your watch tomorrow!" Nodding, he pulled his Crossbow from his belt and loaded it once more, shrugging his shoulders as he moved to take his seat by the fire once again.
"Well, now that introductions are done it's time for me to start earning my keep. I'm off to bed. If these forests are as bad as everyone says I want to keep my wits about me tomorrow"
Torque walks over to his tent and pulls open the flap. He pulls himself into his bedroll, then picks up the glass and brass mask he was adjusting earlier and straps it tightly over his face. A leather pipe leads from it to his foot-squad machine, which whirls into life at the pull of a lever. Cogs and centrifuges start to spin in time with the faint ticking of clockwork and the mask begins to glow faintly as thin strands of silvery-white mist start to drift from Torque's nose and mouth. He breaths steadily and lies back - machine still ticking away - before finally pulling the flap of the tent into place, hiding him from view. The rhythum of the pump can still be heard, but no louder than the night-time sounds of the forest.
Taking the Tankard and smiling up at the huge man, Jax salutes him before taking a sip. 'Perfect. Bring on the morrow!'
Watching Toque in his tent. "Spirits take me! I thought my mask was supposed to be scary."
Shaking his head in disbelief, he pulls off his chain shirt. Spreads a blanket near the fire and lays down, still exposed to the elements. He props his mask on his head to keep the firelight off his face.
oh great, another strong armed meat head trying to tell me what to do. Yay! I guess I'll just have to make him a little prettier during my watch.
Valen salutes Jax casually. "Sir, yes, sir," he says slightly mockingly. Standing up Valen streches and yawns. "Well, I'll retire for the evening. Farewell." Valen makes his way to his tent and closes the flap and sets to getting to bed.
Valen, sticking his head outside the tent. "I heard that. I'm not vain. I just know I'm charming."
Staring off in to the shadows at the edge of Camp, Jax shakes his head softly. Too damn dark for him to see a thing. He would deal with whatever came out of the dark when he saw it, but for now he could barely make out the treeline.
Turning back round just in time to see and hear Valens little mocking display, Jax grins viciously. Raising his Crossbow, propping the butt against his shoulder, he takes a moment to clear his head of all distractions, before firing, side on at the mans tent, aiming for the back top corner, making sure not to hit him.
Watching the bolt stick in the toughened hide, Jax grins. "Damn unlucky Valen... You have a hole in your tent. Hope it doesn't rain!" Laughing softly, Jax reloads his crossbow and sets it down, before taking a mouthful of ale.
Exactly two hours after beginning his meditation, Tok stands and scans the camp for Fury. He walks toward him, gesturing that he will take his post at watch.
oh ho, that's it meat head. First it was just gonna be pretty, now you've made it personal.
"True, I hope it doesn't rain. But then again at least all I'll have is a hole in my tent and you'll be in it. Ah well." Valen rolls over to get the sleep he needs before his turn for watch.
Laughing softly, Jax shakes his head. "Good point Mage. Good point!"
His watch passes soundly enough, till Tok rises, signalling he would like to begin his own. Nodding softly, Jax stocks up the Fire again before moving to his makeshift shelter and sitting down. Taking out his whetstone again, he spends a little while sharpining the blades of his Greataxe. Gear ready, the Emblem on his shield and armor polished, he rolls over and slips in to a shallow sleep.
As Tok nears the end of his watch, he moves towards the camp's storage chest. Grabbing a needle and thread, he walks towards Valen's tent. He rips a small amount of fabric from the end of his bright scarf and attempts to silently sew a patch onto the tent.
Craft-Tailoring:
After he finishes his patchwork attempt, he alerts Valen that his watch has started.
Sliding his Greataxe and Tower shield on his back before loading a bolt in to his Crossbow, Jax steps forward.
"Corporal may I make a suggestion? Private Valen rides on the first wagon with the driver, Private Torque in the middle wagon and Private Acune on the last. That leaves myself and Private Gremm one flank and yourself and Private Silverfist the other. This seems, if you don't mind me saying, the best course of action!" Nodding softly, the half Ulfen Private slides his spear slant ways on his back and shrugs, making sure everything is tightly in place.
"The three in the Wagons can warn us of danger and act as support to either side!"
Valen listens and nods agreeing. "I'm inclined to agree with Private Fury. It seems to be the best set up. I would like to suggest though that we have our best eyes on the flanks riding horses. The smartest way to hit a target is from the sides."
Knowing he is inexperienced in military matters, Torque thinks for a few seconds, making sure he has missed nothing
"What of scouting? This road has many blind corners. If we all stay with the caravan we may find ourselves rounding a corner and coming to a halt right in front of a barricade, ambushers ready on either side. We should send our best rider ahead on the road or our best woodsman ahead through the forest, to check that the way ahead is clear. Though not too far, lest they themselves be ambushed"
"A good point Torque. But we don't want to spread ourselves too thin.' Turning to Corpral Two Bears. "Do we have a map of the route we'll be taking? That way we can choose when to send a scout ahead and check any turns or hills we may come across that block vision. That way we can keep the group together but send a scout out when needed."
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"If we need a scout, don't send me. As good as I am at spotting bandits, I'm not too hard to miss either. I'm fine with being a flank and I think I'd do best up front. Gods know I'm a pretty scary sight."
Gremm picks up his sword and satchel and heads towards the wagons.
"I can't tell you how many thieves I've scared off by merely leading my father's mule," Gremm chuckles.
"How about you Nine-Tail? You showed on the march yesterday that you're the fastest runner out of any of us and if we're going to send one person it makes sense for it to be one of our front line. Like Gremm says bandits want easy prey, they don't want to duel with someone who's obviously a swordsman."
Valen chuckles and pats Gremm on the upper arm. "I'm sure that number is at least as large as you, Gremm."
Grinning at Torque and Valen, Jax pats the men on the back. "By Gorum I'll make Soldiers out of you boys yet. Fine suggestions gentlemen. Indeed you noticed I had not mentioned Private Nine-Tails. An over sight I admit, on my part. I assume Nine-Tails will have no trouble being our advance Scout. Gorum knows his mask is scary enough anyway!"
Grinning and cuffing Gremm around the shoulder, Jax looks around a moment. "Me and you Big Fella! Ain't nothing gonna come across our Caravan, from the left, with us here!"
Tactical discussions always bored Tok. He had little mind for such things. He said, to no one in particular, "When my father and I would travel between settlements, he would have our guards dress as merchants or hide in the wagons. He felt that drawing such attention to ourselves would only increase the chance of an attack. And, should an attack come, we would surprise them, rather than the other way around."
"Normally I would agree with you Tok but alas... I do not think any amount of cloth is going to disguise Gremlin here!"
"I don't know Tok. Our job is not to kill bandits, it's to protect the caravan. As Gremm will testify, having a visable armed escort may make them decide to wait for the next one."
Torque idly rests his hand on the stock of the crossbow hung from his belt. It is lighter than Fury's weapon and polished rather than worn - clearly because it was bought recently
"If enough thieves are gathered to make a go of it, though, what will our tactics be one battle is joined? Obviously some of us must stay near the convoy - that's our mission after all - but there are many situations that might call for an offensive approach. Perhaps we should split the squad into two teams of four, and have an 'attack team' able to go on the offense to clear out bowmen in cover, hunt down spellcasters or what have you?"
Nodding softly, Jax frowns for a moment. "Good suggestion Torque. NineTails, Gremm and you and Valen would be the ideal offensive choice. That leaves me, Tok and the Corporal as a physical deterrent and our Acune as a Mystical one."
"I'm inclinded to agree with Torque. A visible presence of an armed escort will better serve the purpose of disuading would-be bandits. As for being either offensive or defensive I'm inclined to be more defensive. My area of focus is of more battlefield manipulation. I do have directly offensive spells in my repertoire, but I prefer to stay out of the fray. Should combat be joined I will surely act but know I will probably try to stay with the cart."