Thanatos groans. "What did I say Dagoth? Treat them the way you do and everyone WILL turn on us." Thanatos ducks under an attack only to take two blows which knock him flat on his ass.
DEADED
"1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 for 1d6 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 2 + (4) = 10 "
"Enough! The orc wanted to kill you, not I!"
As Nor shouts this, he drops the greatsword, and retreats to sixty feet away. From this distance, he spreads his arms apologetically.
"We have much in common, really. A lust for gold and a disdain for the law. Jed, put this behind us. The orc wanted you dead, and he got his."
Nor chews his lip before answering. Noticing Thanatos, he spits.
"Bugger that. I mean to leave the River Kingdoms in one piece, and I don't expect to do that with out my hide and falchion. You can have everything else, even my lucky ranseur. The equipment of my companions ought to sate your greed for a day."
Nor begins removing the items taken from Happs: longbow, arrows, alchemist fire flasks, dagger, and the silver Stag amulet. He shoulders off his backpack, javelins, and deliberately holds out his ransuer before dropping it to the ground.
"If you ask me, no amount of gear is going to replace man power, and you know how handy I am in a fight. But I can take a hint, I'll leave. I swear by my blade you will not see me again."
Day 1. We've been sent off to Oleg's Trading Post to meet up with the 1st Team. I don't know much about my traveling companions, but one looks like a pretentious swordsman. I hope his fighting ability is as smooth as his words. One of our companions is quiet, hasn't said a word. I believe her mute, but don't want to offend her by asking. My final companion I believe to be some sort of magic user; he keeps mumbling to himself and guards a tome as if it were his lifeblood. Let's see what has transpired at Oleg's.
The morning was cold, and small sheets of ice laid across the the spotty grass patches like blankets. Eddric stopped for a moment to use the dampness of the frost to wet his hair. "Aye, I figure Oleg's be some sorts of a last refuge. I think if were going to establish any sort of order, the goal should be to convince Oleg of our claim." He ended his short break and mounted his horse, continuing, "trade, more so money, is the key to strength and power." Eddric talked continuously for hours on end, arguing theories and their possible conjunctures, mostly with himself. Eddric wasn't the smartest, but his parents put him through a school centered around economics.
He thought the horses were a mild gesture to the group of unknown travelers. He hoped a small amount of money would yield a large amount of loyalty. But when in doubt he always resorted to his favored theory,"Money is the most powerful weapon against enemies. It can generate a large army or sway the pens of rulers."
It is a curious party Thaegrin finds himself with. Anything, though, sounded better than lingering in Brevoy.
The young man speaks often, enough to give Thaegrin the impression the boy depends more on his charm than any wit. But there is some benefit to this, for the knight seems to only require monosyllabic responses to keep him talking, and maintaining high spirits. Low morale on a long road can be as crippling as disease. When the boy first offered the horses to his companions, Thaegrin bristled at the thought of ambiguous debt. However, he was hardly one to look such a gift in the mouth and accepted politely. The other two are less usual races, fetchling and tiefling, respectively. The fetchling says nothing, to Thaegrin's unease. The tiefling likewise, is hardly outgoing, but seems agreeable. He appears to be adept with the bow, which is more than Thaegrin can say for himself.
Thaegrin's thoughts dwell on the assignment ahead: meet up with a group that began to explore and claim land south of this "Oleg's Trading Post". This implied askance of aid is what puzzles the elf. Incompetence, bad luck, or poor judgement could be the cause of their need. Too many loose ends. The charter made mention of bandits, perhaps that was the cause of the trouble. Or, it may all be a ruse, a trap. He shifts his pack uncomfortably. Thaegrin hoped the upcoming trading post could provide some shelter. The weather often threatened to dampen his supply of paper, and most importantly, his spellbook.
|
Oleg's Trading post is a squat structure with an aged palisade, and it seems that the folk of Brevoy may have made the place sound mightier than it is to get travelers down there.
The gate is open and an old man, who can only be Oleg, looks up from his shoeing an ancient mare; he marks you and promptly ignores you, going back to his work.
A woman with a worry stricken face tends a stew pot in the yard. She smiles weakly and motions for you to sit. Bowls appear before you and the woman makes a short apology, saying that there are more chores and that she and her husband will introduce themselves properly later.
There is a gruff, shadowy figure at the boards with you, he watched you enter.
Warily the gray eyes under the hood looked out at the newcomers, a Teifling, a Human, a Fetchling, and an.... Elf. This may be harder than he had thought. Quietly he spooned another bite of the hearty stew before pasting a grin on his face and addressing the Human.
Greetings! You must be the leader of this fine group of scallywags and roustabouts! I was told I could meet up with you and get in on this bandit-killing action! He leaned back in his chair and propped his feet on the solid table. This fighter looks to be an easy mark, but I'll have to keep an eye on that elf, nothing good can come of him. Lighting up his pipe he continued to survey the group, giving all of them an even stare and half smile.
"Aye, I am Sir Eddric. We've been told that bandits have been running amock, and we are the second wave." He pauses to sit and then continues, "By chance do you know what happened to the first team?"
"Oh I'm all for... negotiations." Kicking his feet off the table the Half-Elf leaned forward and stood in one smooth motion offering his hand to the knight. "The names Anga, though I tend to do my peace talks at the end of a blade." He turned his rakish grin across the room, his eyes hardening slightly as they passed the unnamed Elf, till it rested on the Leventons. Still addressing Sir Eddric, his gray gaze stayed fixed on Oleg and his wife. "I was unaware there had been a first wave. "Turning back to the fighter before him, "But it's no wonder they failed, they didn't have me with them."
Eddric pauses for a second starring him down, attempting to peer into the half-man. Then with a flash he reaches out his hand in acceptance, "Good, Good, what are your skills Anga?" While waiting for a response he moves towards the nearest chair for a seat. "The old saying is that you can accomplish more more with a kind word and a blade, then just a kind word."
Thaegrin flits a glance at Anga's introduction before returning to his stew, poking at it with his spoon. Eddric's comment seems to pull him out disinterest. "Hm, perhaps words carry a deeper power than you know, sir knight."
He gestures at Anga briefly, his baritone voice nonchalant. "Another companion troubles me none, especially one such as yourself. We will be overjoyed to add to our number one that makes his 'peace talks' with a blade."
His lips curl slightly as though he made a joke. But then again, Thaegrin laughs at things that are not funny. His smug look becomes more ponderous as he surveys the interior of the trading post. He frowns and angles his pointed ear slightly, as though listening to the table, or perhaps the bowl of stew, while sitting upright. He drums the table with the odd digits on his left hand. One, three, five, one, three, five.
He nods, facing the half-elf and resuming as though undistracted.
"Hm, yes. Though I cannot speak for them, I am no scallywag. I am a scholar. I am not a seer, sayer, or mummer. I do not pray or toss runes. I bend minds and matter, and I will be taken seriously."
Anga turned to the Elven wizard, his teeth grinding with a forced smile. "Oh you can rest assured Master Scholar," the poorly concealed disgust in his voice made the title something just short of an insult, "you will be take'n nothing if not seriously."
Addressing once more the group as a whole, the half-blooded man began to pace. His long legs carrying him in an smooth easy lope from the boards to the cookfire and back. "As for skills, mine are many and varied." At this Anga drew a well honed dagger from his sleeve and began to tick off points on his fingers. "I'm decent with a crossed bow, better with knives, and best with the thin blade." He patted the hilt of the rapier that hung at his side. "Outside of combat I'm a decent thief," He walked behind Eddrics seat. "and an expert cutpurse." Still grinning Anga dropped the fighters coin bag on the table before him, it's leather belt loop cleanly severed.
All at once the trained smile fell from his face, and his countenance grew hard as stone. "And I have been told," his voice dropped to a low growl, "that I am... ...skilled, at making people tell me what they know." A cloud seemed to pass, taking with it the dark thoughts, and darker memories. Once more the half easy half forced smile enroached on his face.
"But where are my manners," The Half-Elf turned to the quiet Fetchling woman, removing his hood and revealing his head for the first time. He had the characteristic fine looks of most Half-Elves, though his were marred by several small scars that left a patchwork of lines across his face. Medium length brown hair, the color of tree bark, crowned his head. And the storm gray eyes seemed at once to see everything, and yet never move from their place. But by far the most noticeable feature were his ears. Where once they had been long and pointed like most Elven and Half-Elven people, now the tops ended rounded and ragged. It almost looked like they had been torn, or filled down at some indeterminable point in the past.
Again grinning the cocky half-smile, Anga addressed the partys lone female. I've been so caught up in talking about me, I've neglected to inquire as to your..." He locked eyes with her. "...skillset."
The fetchling lass regards the Half-Elf coolly: almost indifferently. She stares into his eyes as if reading his mind. A long time she stares. Finally, she pulls a pad of paper from beneath her collar. It dangles from a cord around her neck. Using a piece of charcoal from the fire pit, she scribbles a hasty note and slides it to Anga.
I am Audrey. I am something of a healer, though I do not use my gifts for charity.
P.S. They say healers know best how to hurt people. Keep that in mind the next time you think to press your "advantage."
She smiles with mock sweetness before rolling her eyes back to her stew.
"Well done, Well done," Eddric chuckles. He continues with his soup wondering how the quasi-magic trick was preformed without his knowing, but he was in truth particularly bad at spotting such thievery.
Wraith looked around the camp searching for the 1st group after laughing quietly at the antics of the newcomer. "Good to have you with us Anga. Oleg, where is the first group? We were told to meet up with them here."
HIs eyes fall upon the battered gates of the trading post.
"Was there some sort of skirmish here? There's broken fences and blood in the dirt. That doesn't bode well." he asks as he sips his soup.
Oleg shrugs absently as he hauls a bale of hay toward the stable.
"I haven't seen them for over a week. They tracked some bandits back to their camp and never came back. I say they're dead, Svetlana thinks they're just exploring. We'll see I guess."
He walks off with difficulty under the weight of the hay.
Wraith shakes his head wearily. "Do you know what direction they headed off? Here, let me help you with that while we talk." Wraith offers his assistance with the bale of hay.
Oleg is suddenly enraged.
"Back off! I've handled this post near on 25 years and I'll be damned if I need your help!"
Oleg picks up his pace and adjusts the bale on his shoulder, muttering as he speeds away.
"Gods damned adventurers, always gettin' in the way. Causing more problems 'n they solve..."
"Damn Brevoy comin' down here, tryin' 'na take back their lost lands. I moved down here t' get away fr'm all these bastards..."
As Oleg stalks off, red with rage, his wife reenters the yard. She senses the mood and sees the shocked look on Wraith's face.
"Excuse my husband please, he really is a good man. We have..."
She pauses, thinks, smiles.
"We have had some troubles recently, and he blames himself. I am Svetlana Leventon, but I am afraid I don't know any of you."
She looks to Wraith first.
"Forgive me if this is rude, but, what is your parentage? I have never seen one such as you before."
Anga brought the note up to his face and inhaled deeply, winking at the mute Audrey. He made his way back to his seat and began listening to the conversation around him.
Wraith gave a short laugh. "I'm a form of tiefling, dear lady. I hope that doesn't disturb you too much. My horns aren't nearly as menacing as some of my other brethren. I'm not quite as ugly as them either," he quipped.
Svetlanna laughed nervously and looked to the elf to change the subject.
"That is quite a tome you carry! Are you a big reader? What's that book about?"
Thaegrin forces a wan smile, and replies with a deep, even voice, though faint irritation strains through. "Yes, madam, this is quite a tome. If by big, you mean avid or enthusiastic, then I am a very big reader indeed. I am afraid I cannot tell you what this book is about. You simply wouldn't understand; if misread, its contents could drive an average mind to madness."
Seated at the table, he rests a hand over the spellbook's cover, the worn leather under his fingertips seems to soften his contempt. He takes on an imploring look. "Apologies, what a savage introduction. I am Thaegrin Variel, scholar of the higher mysteries. I was hoping, Mrs. Leventon, for a place that is quiet and dry that I might do some writing? An office, perhaps? If these other adventurers are late in coming, if they come at all, I cannot remain idle. I have preparations to make."
Svetlana is too awed to be offended and eagerly shows Thaegrin where the "Office" is.
When Svetlana returns, looks at the knight.
"And you Sir? I do not recognize your heraldry. Who might you be?"
"I am Sir Eddric of house Mondane, and I as well would like to get down to business. Tell me of your hardships." Eddric's courtesy quickly fades into angst. After a good scratch on his leg he continued, "Realistically, at this point, we do not have even the slightest of understandings of what is out there, which is not acceptable. To push the point even further, I feel like the man of the house is a little high strung for just having a few travelers in his trading outpost. I, Sir Eddric, have taking on the responsibility of ridding this area of bandits, and I promise that I will see to your families protection personally." Taking a deep breath he looks at the woman and gives her a the best smile he has to offer.
Svetlana laughs.
"Oh, don't pay too much attention to Oleg's moodiness. It is not you that makes him cross. In truth, I do not even think it is the ruffians that have plagued us so often. I believe he is sullen because he fears that Brevoy's rekindled interest in the Stolen Lands will bring swells of people to the area. I sure he's right."
"Oleg moved us here to to trade and for the quiet. For our part, we have the better portion of the fur trade in Brevoy and that garners us some protection from the crown, but lately..."
Her voice trails off and she glances at a wagon in the yard. The wheel is off for repairs. She snaps back.
"Forgive me. The "first wave" as you called it arrived some 10 days ago. The morning after they arrived, some bandits came for what was our 5th extortion. We were to pay them in coin and goods for protection from themselves. However, these newcomers fought them off: killing all but their leader."
"They tracked him the next day and have no returned. I fear yesterday's drizzle might impede your finding them."
She smiles.
"Listen to me, rambling on like a giddy girl. You lot'll be tired I think. Beds have been prepared and I can have breakfast for you anytime after first light. Is there anything else you need at present?"