The few workers loading supplies blinked at the physical oddity that was Visrub, his words however set them quickly at ease.
"The guards eh? well then you'll be wanting to speak to master Sandow that building right over there."
One of the men began pointing to another nicer looking building set alongside the wall. it looked to be an office of a sort.
Inside the office there was a young woman, pretty enough with sandy brown hair at a desk. She appeared to be writing copious notes in a log from some paperwork. Before you could interupt her work a short and swarthy man with a well praticed smile came out of a back room.
"Ah There you are, just a moment early or two, as I expected. Your reputation proceeds you Shieldlings. The caravan will be ready to leave in a half dozen minutes or so, the trip should take about four days, you are ready I assume?"
The man asked rubbing his white clothed gloved hands together.
"I'm as ready as I can be, I reckon."
Hanz nods a few more times than necessary as confirmation.
"I do believe we are all prepared"
Of course, of course we Shields are always prepared.
As he places his monocle on his face and trys to read what the young woman is writing.
[dice=perception]1d20+8
It appears she is in the process of going through invoices and inventories. Quite boring work to most. Why it looks quite boring to her as well... you can see she is quite clearly not trying to gawk at your well interesting varied and ragtag group.
IN a very short period of time the small caravan is ready and you all begin to head north out of the town. The northern forest road is certainly a picturesque landscape... thick woods to your left, the river to your right.
The first days passes easily enough, you set up a small camp just north of the end of the forest. The wagon with foodstuffs for the caravan workers makes some sort of lamb stew with less than impressive biscuits... but its warm filling food.
With his large physique and strength, it was easy to see why Hanz was part of the shields. Such strength would lend itself well to a fight. He was also naturally nice and protective. But the longer one watched him, the more they started to question if he'd really be up to any fight. His face is full of such childish wonder as they travel down the road it is hard to see him ever hurting anyone, even in defense.
Maxim ambivalently accompanies the party in to the meeting with the merchant woman. He offers little explanation of himself, but when the caravan is assembled, leads his pony around to the left flank. He casually rides along with the company, humming and occasionally muttering to himself, with a rare burst of laughter sneaking out every few hours.
As the caravan makes camp, he smells the lamb stew being made and shakes his head. Sighing, he proceeds over, breaks out some spices from his kit, and makes some adjustments to improve the stew for everyone.
As they leave the town Inil takes a minute to summon Hormine, who appears in burst of flames.
After discussing with the group on were best to be positioned Inil and Hormine takes up positions behind the caravans at about 15 feet with crossbow loaded and ready at all times.
Turning to the caravan cook and Maxim
"Cheers for the food, it was delicious. Now in the unlikely chance someone or something trys to sneak up on us while we sleep we should probably have some people on watch tonight, two at a time would be best, so one can keep a eye on the people sleeping and the other on the cart,I can cover as two with the lovely Hormine here"
"أوو ولكن أريد أن أنام"
"You can sleep later darling, Anyway as I was saying me and Hormine can cover a shift by our selves if yous want, leaving one person to get a full nights sleep, but apart from that I would suggest maby four hours watch a piece, anyone against this idea?"
Offers up, not sure of the others ability to see in the dark, but knew she was able to. " Both me an Untari hunt at night. We can watch in darkness, no light."
The stew was already well made, but your selection of spices certainly flaired up the flavor. Everyone in the caravan was quite happy with it. The merchants as night fell quickly set up a few tents in a nice easy to spot row leaving the guard work to those paid for it... namely you folk.
The first night passes easily enough, though at the height of the evening whomever is on shift can easily hear the yapping of howling of coyote's in the distance. A few of the horses stir nervously in their sleep but nothing untorward happens.
Handing out some dried fruit and jerky rations for breakfast the caravan quickly gets underway. Midway through the day whomever is in the back of the caravan notices what appears to be 2 riders far behind them riding along the same road...a low cloud of dust trailing behind them clear enough to show they were in a hurry...
Spotting the riders behind us I bring notice it to the notice of the group.
"Hay, we have to riders coming up on us fast, it might be nothing but I am gonna check it out, just be ready in case.
Me and Hormine will try to spot if they are visibly armed.
If Hormine spots anything suspicious she will obviously relay it to me, but otherwise if we spot no noticeable signs of danger, I cast mage armor on myself and proceed to make my way toward the riders with my light crossbow loaded but lowered, while Hormine just behind me.
If we do see anything suspicious such as weapons drawn or people chasing them I will warn the group and cast mage Armour on myself.
"I can see in the dark too", Visruþ offers.
"Does come in handy at night time, of course."
He also keeps his eyes open for anything amiss as they travel.
Yawns and rubs the big cats head, and nods to Inils, moving a bit away from the group, and Untari flanking to the other side, so they would nwo be outriders. It seemed a practiced routine for the two, and they would stay within sight, obvious to anyone who could look, however it gave the appearance there would be more riders outside than just her and the big cat.
Hanz turns in the saddle and queries, "Enemies?" but takes not other action.
Even from the distance Inil you and Hormine can clearly see the details of a young woman in very nice dress and a gruff looking fellow in a breastplate. She is wearing a well made cream riding dress while he is in a breastplate. As they close even more you clearly see on the front of her dress an almost tabard like coat with the crest of the trading coster carrying the looms. The man is wearing a dark coat almost black and looking clearly bored out of his mind.
AS soon as they got within shouting range you heard the woman call out to you Inil.
"Ah there you are,my blasted brother I swear he knew I wanted to go with this trip. Dangers of the road pah!"
Inil still suspicious of the two holds his hand up to signal them to stop and shouts back.
"Hold right their, as much as I'd like to take your word at face value I will have to ask one of the caravan workers to identify you, if you are who you say it won't be to hard, so just wait a few minutes."
Leaving Hormine to keep an eye on the two while I go back to caravan and group to search for the leader of the caravan to help identify the two, while their I also quickly notify my companions.
"Looks like it might be a false alert, some lass claiming to be the sister of the company owner, stay alert tho in case it's a ruse, I will get the caravan leader to identify her if what she claims is true.
Visruþ will keep an eye on the approaching woman
but doesn't see anything amiss
At the description of the woman the caravan leader swallows rather nervously.
"Oh this trip just went south worse than bandits."
He muttered spitting of the edge of the lead wagon.
"Aye thats the half owner of the company alright, meddlesome lass that she is.Her brother was raised and schooled to run the business... she was schooled to be a merchant lords play pretty and wife. She refuses to do that of course now that their parents passed of sickness a few winters back."
He answered adjusting his clothing to look as presentable as possible.
Sighing dramatically Inil shakes his head.
"Well then I guess we have no choice in the matter but to invite them to join us."
turn to the rest of my group.
"They are telling the truth, tho from the our friends reaction I assume we have garner'd ourselves a headache waiting to happen."
Going back to back of the caravan were Hormine and Visrub are keeping a eye on the two Inil beckons the pair to join them.
"It appears you are who you's say you are, tho why in the blazes of hell you found it a good idea to come charging after us like a cat bat our of the nine levels of hell is anyone guess."
Once they are at the caravan Inil holds out his hand to shake.
"My names Inil and my lovely companion is Hormine, the short one is Maxim." points to Throg and Hanz "They are Throg and Hanz." then points lastly to Kalisa and Untari. "And they are Kalisa and Untari, Now who might you's be outta curiosity, I know you are the Co-Owner of the company that has hired us but alas we do not know your name and that of your companion."
After hearing chatter of the group, and getting the vibe from the rest of the party, she would say, just barely loud enough for the woman to hear, " One should stick with duties given to them by elders. They did not reach old age for no reason." As she would ride back into formation, a bit out from the caravan, hoping a look of outriders would lure any bandits into thinking they had more numbers than they truly did. Untari would stick close by, a chuffing sound as his mistress seemed annoyed at the woman, for very little reason. She was a bit practical minded, and shared the same opinion as Inil that the woman would be nothing but trouble, as most tag-alongs were
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Trained to be pretty what is wrong with humans. Keeping someone from being usefulness just means that they are a burden. No wonder they have never managed to whip out outside threats.
Throgg thinks in confusion.
Well since you have the other half of the investment shouldn't she be taught to be useful? You wouldn't want her slowing you down.
"It is my pleasure to meet you all, I am Charsi Sandow, you may address me as Miss Sandow if you deign to speak with me at all."
She said simply sniffing in quite a haughty manner catching sight of most of you. It was clear that she felt you all (includeing the caravan members) Didnt want her along much at all... (despite yourintroducing everyone Inil.)
"This is my guard, Granthe"
She added giving you all a shallow half bow from the back of her exquisate looking horse as she rode torwards the front of the caravan.
Kelisa sniffed from her out rider position, keeping what she felt was a close eye on her surroundings.
Maxim casually snacks on an apple as he watches the lady and her escort arrive. Following the interchange between Inil and Lady Sandow, he shrugs and turns his pony back up the road. As she rides past him to take her position at the front of the caravan, he utters out a few words.
"Another flower hath joined our flight,
With gentle petals of silky white,
Will her presence bring fortune or fright,
Perhaps the evening will grant a little sight."
"My pleasure, Miss Shadow", Visruþ says with a polite bow, trying to stoke her ego:
"Hi. I Hanz," Hanz says, clearly not put off by the haughty attitude.
In the distance, Most of you can see what appears to be three wagons, not unlike your own off to the side of the road....However
Throg,Hormines, and Untari you can see what looks like three wagons clearly in bad shape. two of them look to be smoldering and their is just the faintest hint of Char in the air.
Kelisi you dont notice the state of the wagons... mostly likely becuase your eye is busy following what appears to be perhaps a dozen different footprints in the ground heading North... Booted if your eyes are right, Heading torwards the road they seem lighter.. away from the road however they are deeper set, clearly carrying something heavy you would gather.
Hormine apon noticing the state of the wagons ahead automatically relays it to Inil.
"مدرب، تلك العربات هي أحرقت، لماذا هم أحرقوا؟"
Under his breath he curse's"Damn it all" before shouting to the rest of the caravan.
"Everyone get your weapons ready, those wagons look like they have been raided and recently at that considering some of them are still alight!"
Turning to Miss Sandows Inil promptly starts trying to direct her to the wagon with the most cover and that is easiest to defend.
"Sorry miss, gonna have to ask you to hide, we have no clue if whoever did this is still near and the last thing we need is to worry about your safety no offence intended"
After that Inil goes to the back of the caravan to make sure no one sneaks on up on them before remembering Hormines question from earlier.
"Sorry dear almost forgot to answer, it means theirs bad men nearby, bad men who want to hurt us and take our things, and as such its our job to dissuade them from doing so."
Hormine looks around warily after Inils explanation.
Suddenly a idea occurs to Inil.
"You know something dearest I have a idea, would you be ever so kind as to hide in the wagon with Miss Sandows and keep an eye on her for me, if you do well I'll even give you a treat later!"
At this Hormine happily shakes here head in agreement and visibly drools at the mention at a treat later if she does well.
Frowns to herself as she studies the boot prints, before calling out to Inil, " Wait. They took things. Should have seen by now. Look behind and on flanks. We already in narrow valley. At least 12 have been here. They lair nearby" She looks about, as if the footsteps have already came and gone, they had already passed the point the bandit knew they were there. There was nothing to do but keep a more watchful eye. Untari, as smart as he was, only gave the basic signs for fire, and she motions for him to hide, as he puffs out a bit, looking like a fluffy owl.
Visruþ dismounts and readies his crossbow and tries to keep alert
"Any idea of who or what might have done that?" he asks.
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Throg follows suit sliding off his horse slowly while making sure his spell component pouch was on his side and that his monocle was firmly screwed into his eye.
A dozen bandits by Kelisa's words. But where are the bodies and where is the smell of blood. Three wagons should have at least 6 and they should have killed at least one of the horses just to stop them?
Hanz looks over at Inil at his warning then over at the wagon he was indicating, squinting as if that would help him see it better. As people start moving and grabbing weapons, he dismounts and looks around for something to swing. He picks up a large stick, well more of a small, dead tree and readies to follow whatever order comes next.
AS you all close you can see movement... it appears what looks to be remains of the merchant caravan... or very well dressed bandits. One of the men waves you over, his left arm clearly dangling....
From what you can see they do appear to be merchants whom have been waylaid by bandits not some devious trap set
Visruþ approaches carefully
Frowns, as while this did not smell like a trap, she could not help but feel that something was afoot. She would stay on guard, continuing to slowly approach the caravan
"Why are we going so slow? They are clearly in need of help, We might be able to even bargain to get what remaining goods they have. Move this stupid thing."
Charsi Sandow began from atop the lead wagon near the caravan master. He shoulder hunch was clearly visable, though his sigh was inaudible. It was clear he would have favored a more cautious approach.
"Hey uh Shields? I dont suppose you could get ahead of us like a vangaurd just in case..."
The caravan master asked as you all began to close with - in a half mile or so... they certainly didnt look like bandits the closer you arrived.
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Hearing one oh his employers vacillate between impatience and blatant greed Throgg looks over his compatriots and gives a nod.
Well your the boss he says as he rubs his forehead we should probably move up more just in case.
Sighing audibly as he kicks his horse into a trot Throgg moves his horse 150ft in front of the lead caravan wagon. He slows down a bit and tries to maintain that distance between him and the wagon.