1. Lucien leads one of the main bandit groups operating in the area. His main rival is a another bandit lord which goes about the name of Modus. Currently the two groups maintain a check and balance regarding the others influence.
2. Surrounding the town are numerous groups of orc tribes which mostly reside in the mountains. Occasional raids against visiting caravans have been known.
3. The town has a free attitude regarding the temples allowed within its walls. This has been an undercurrent of rivalry between followers of gods hostile to each other.
Although you try not to attract too much attention, you cannot help but be a source of gossip each time you arrive at a new location.
As the rest of the party awaits Rianna' return, a couple of carriages passes by the way of the town. It looks like the party revelers from yesterday's festival are starting to go home. The out-riding guards keep a wary eye as they approach.
I certainly am NOT in favor of using Orcs for anything but target practice. I am sorry, but I will not entertain any sort of alliance.
That's fine, but I will not be partaking in conversations to convince them. I would simply not be able to resist the urge to attack. If you choose to use them, then I will politely not attend that meeting.
Skane also greets the news of the orcs warily...
"The Grimmur are fierce foes. Much more challenging than weak southern bandits. The mountains will make them strong and their blóð reiði almost matches our Berserkurs of the North... They respect only strength and red deeds. Bjorn and I should negotiate if it comes to that..."
grimmur = Brute [Orc]
blóð reiði = Blood Rage
Bjorn turns to level his gaze upon the elf. Just as he raises his fist to commence communicating in a "common" language, the sounds of horses can be heard approaching. Quickly dismounting, he hisses, 'Tími til blóð minn nýr orf á nýr morgunn góðan daginn uppskera*'
Bjorn moves to stand in the middle of the road, his war scythe readied to reap the crops rising up before him.
Tími til blóð minn nýr orf á nýr morgunn góðan daginn uppskera = Time to blood my new scythe on new morning's harvest
*Now with actual translations!
At his oarbrother's words, Skane curses, 'Svikja!' Quickly dismounting, he rushes after the bear-who-walks-on-two-legs. As he kicks off his of his horse, he calls out to the others, 'That berserkur auli actually meant it when he suggested killing everyone we come across on the way to the meeting place!'
Svikja = S#*@, f!#@
berserkur auli = berserk oaf
Diredon shakes his heaqd, dismounts and draws his Long Bow, notching an arrow in the event things get out of hand with the Northmen and the travelers.
Wesh asks the question "How can we trust the orcs really and not know they will betray us." With a suspicious look on his face.
Seeing a tall hairy scythed man standing belligerently in the middle of the road, the pair of escorting outriders halt. One of them blows two quick bursts on his whistle and the caravans behind slows down and stops. Soon a couple more riders from the rear rides to the front.
One of them dismounts, readies his shield and walks towards Bjorn in a calm practiced manner. You notice the rest of the guards have their heavy crossbows out, watching their comrade advance, clinking in their heavy armor.
The light breeze ruffles the leaves in the trees slightly as the man makes his way spanning the 100 feet between you. Keeping his hand well in view, it seems he tries not to escalate the confrontation further but you notice his sword is in easy reach.
A raised chatter could be heard from the two carriages behind. A couple more riders are seen, perhaps reassuring the occupants within.
Wesh tensely and trying to remain nonthreatening tries to read the outriders body language to see what he wants.
With long bow ready for use 20 feet from Bjorn's position, Dieredon whitles a short tweet in the direction of Rianna.
Rianna, please assist your betrothed in this discussion.
Diredon peruses the surrounding guards to get a quick headcount and choose likely targets.
Perception:
|
_HRF.jpg)
Before stepping out, Rianna softly whispers a prayer to Pharasma for a little fate to go their way and casts Prestidigitation. Dusting off her skirt and blouse as she walks out into the road, Rianna snaps her scarf causing a rainbow of colors to brighten in a checkered pattern on the scarf. She re-wraps the scarf and walks forward to stand in front of the lead soldier, careful to brush past Bjorn with a flirtatious touch as she walks past him. I wonder what group this is, perhaps their heraldry will look familiar.
Hail and well met. I am sorry to inconvenience you on your travels, but we have had more than our share of bandit attacks in the area and we just want to make sure all is well. We ask for no money, just that you please state your reason for traveling and destination.
Rianna pulls out her holy symbol of Pharasma. As Desna's caretakers, the road is our home and we only wish for travelers to be safe. She then puts the holy symbol back under her blouse.
When Dieredon sees Bjorn strike his threatening posture in the middle of the road, he changes to his elven curveblade and walks to a position ten feet to Bjorn's rear and five feet to his right. He then shouts to Countless,
Countless, Bjorn will definitely be in need of your translation skills.
Betony rides up beside Wesh. A confused look on her face. In a loud whisper up to him on his horse, "These aren't the bandits, are they? Why are we stopping them?"
Wesh says "I do not think so. Are they stopping us?"
Bjorn speaks, 'Segja þá þeir geta fara frjáls með óákveðinn greinir í ensku jafn hluti ef þeir hafast ekki að eða víkja á meðan við drepa þessir innan farþegavagn.'
Segja þá þeir geta fara frjáls með óákveðinn greinir í ensku jafn hluti ef þeir hafast ekki að eða víkja á meðan við drepa þessir innan the farþegavagn. = Tell them they can go free with an equal share if they stand aside while we kill those within the coach.
Skane does a double take at Bjorn's words. He looks to the stopped group. Smiling, he holds up his hand and calls out, 'Hold for a moment.'
Turning back to his fellow northman, he responds, 'A sanngjarn tilboð, til vera viss, en þeir ert ekki líklegur til taka okkur upp á það. Að auki þeir gera ekki útlit eins og stigamaður, hvernig sem; þeir gera útlit eins og þeir hafa peningar.'
To Dieredon, the viking loudly whispers, 'He offers the riders go free with equal shares if they do not stop us killing the occupants of the carriage. I don't know if they're the ones meeting Lucien or not. Either way, it's a good offer, nei?'
A sanngjarn tilboð , til vera viss , en þeir ert ekki líklegur til taka okkur upp á það. Að auki þeir gera ekki útlit eins og stigamaður , hvernig sem ; þeir gera útlit eins og þeir hafa peningar. = A fair offer, to be sure, but they are not likely to take us up on it. Besides they do not look like bandits, however; they do look like they have money.
Dieredon steps in front of Bjorn between the northmen and the approaching travelers, motioning Wesh to follow.
Whoa there big fella. I need to speak with whomever is in charge of your group. Where are you heading, exactly? There are bandits about, and you do not appear to be adequately protected.
He glances around at the guards and smiles.
He then turns to whisper at Wesh and Countless.
These may just be revelers heading home. No need to jump the gun. Wesh, please help me to determine if they have any poor intentions.
He can't be a bandit. Where is Lady Rianna? She needs to be here. I don't want us to bite and stab Bjorn. She just married him, so she will probably be mad...He can't be a bandit...
The Bramblekight slings her shield, and grips her lance. Thistledown sensing action turns to face the carriage, but Betony nudges him back toward the pair of Norseman.
Thistledown gives his head a vigorous shake and growls. "rrrr wuffff-wurrffff" Betony gives him a small kick and pulls on the lead. "Grrrarr, wuff-grrwufffar"
The approaching man raises his free hand as if to gesture 'hold'. He seems puzzled at the Northspeak, but addresses back at the elf.
Easy there, stranger. I can see there *are* bandits about, thank you for pointing it out.
He looks warily at your posse in all it's garbed glory.
Didn't think we'd be meeting them so soon out of Deeptown though. So, is it a shakedown, fine sirs? We're only going back after the festival and coin is well spent there. Shoulda caught us on our way in. Let us go in peace and in one piece. There should be plenty more plump pickings headed out of Deeptown. Why not waylay a satisfied merchant, belly filled after a good trade session?
The man's seems cool, you get the feeling he's come across this situation plenty a time.
Dieredon puts up a hand towards to nothmen.
Excuse our presumption good sir, but we are not bandits, but we do hunt them. Please accept our apologies. It is not our intent to shake you down or waylay you. Carry on with great caution because those we seek are about.
Dieredon turns his back to the man, and addressed Countless and Bjorn.
These travelers are no threat. We need to clear the road and let them pass. they are merely festival goers, and may even be traveling with children.
Diredon steps aside to let the carriages pass, hoping that the Northmen do as well.
Bjorn snorts at his fellows, shaking his shaggy head as he moves back to his horse.
'Well, that went better than I expected.' Skane mutters before following Bjorn back to the horses.
The man nods in thanks before he back up and mounts his horse. Soon the carriages resume their journey. The guards keep a wary eye on the group and soon they disappear as they round a bend.
Well, now that this is wrapped up, shall we proceed to our destination? The Bramble Knight and me will circle our progress scouting ahead and behind as we go.
Wesh nods and says "Yes we should proceed to our destination."
"Right, off to glory!"
To Bjorn he adds, "Við vilja fá þú nógur bolli til fylla þinn hjónaband borð, neitun? Har, har, har!"
Við vilja fá þú nógur bolli til fylla þinn hjónaband borð, neitun? = We will get you enough cups to fill your marriage table, no?
Við vilja fá þú nógur bolli til fylla þinn hjónaband borð, neitun? = Accustom wish get you enough cup to fill thy wedlock table, repulse?
Bjorn gives his returning wife a cool look before mounting up on his draft horse.
At Skane's jest, Bjorn sullenly replies, "Ef við had fastur til the áætlun, ÉG hafa sumir skot gleraugu eins og a gifting gjöf fyrir minn nýr eiginkona."
Ef við had fastur til the áætlun, ÉG hafa sumir skot gleraugu eins og a gifting gjöf fyrir minn nýr eiginkona. = If we had stuck to the plan, I could have made some shot glasses as a wedding gift for my new wife.
Ef við had fastur til the áætlun, ÉG hafa sumir skot gleraugu eins og a gifting gjöf fyrir minn nýr eiginkona. = Maybe accustom had stuck to the plan , I á brjósti some shot spectacles as though a wedding pass pay lip service to my new eiginkona.
Skane smiles at his shield brother's grim comment, and merely nods. To his companions he adds further explaination:
"Friends you must understand. We are Northmen, we have went a vikingr... Our gift is in red deeds and we hunger for more bloody glory..."
"Lets just keep it to those who deserve it. Alright?" Betony shulders her lance and turns Thistledown around.
"See Thist. And you thought there was going to be trouble."
Thistledown shakes his mane with a snorting sneeze and heads down the road with a low "rrrrrr"
I know that you Northmen hunger for blood, but I do not believe that you hunt for the blood of innocents, do you? You are not evil, are you? let's try to be a little more selective, eh? You will get your fill, I assure you.
Sitting atopt his draught horse the hairy lummox of a bear scowls at Dieredon's comment;
"Hvenær þeir ná til valhalla , þá það munu vera ákveðinn hver er saklaus og hver er ekki!"
"Pah!"; he then spits, shaking his shaggy head as he rides on...
Hvenær þeir ná til valhalla , þá það munu vera ákveðinn hver er saklaus og hver er ekki! = When they reach valhalla it shall be decided who is innocent and who is not!
Hvenær þeir ná til valhalla , þá það munu vera ákveðinn hver er saklaus og hver er ekki! = When they come over valhalla , then there shall be certain who is without guilt and who is not!
Skane smiles at his fellow Northman's comment and turns in his saddle to address Dieredon's questions;
"Nei, nei... we are all mynda bandalag... "allies" here. What I meant was it is in our blod to seek combat. In the North to presume a traveller is just that, is to tempt death to your campfire. Varúlfur und Draugr walk in the shapes of men... We are merely careful and always ready to fight... that is all."
He mulls in thought as he claps his horse, then speaks again;
"Had they ran or fought us, they may have been our third party nei? Then you would all be crediting us Northmen with insight and "the third eye" Har-har-har! So no harm done!"
He shoots a wolfish grin at his travelling companions and kicks his horse on...
Wesh goes down around the bend Rianna went around and says "Ah another day of travel"
At Rianna's question, Skane merely shrugs with a grin, then hails Dieredon & the Brambleknight;
"Hoi, álfur und little spekiorð! Your keen fey senses found our trail yet?"
spekiorð = gnome
Upon seeing his bride return, Bjorn lets his normally stern demeanor slip for a second, as he greets her with giddy grin as his fellow Northman shakes his head in despair...
"Minn ást , þú koma aftur til mig! Minn skap had þungur. eins og ÉG skortur the styrkur af eðli þessi Skane hefur , svona sumir brottför ferðamaður gera leiðan minn hindrun! Minn skap nú létta , í sannleika þú ert a björn gera sætan hunang."
Minn ást , þú koma aftur til mig! Minn skap had þungur. eins og ÉG skortur the styrkur af eðli þessi Skane hefur , svona sumir brottför ferðamaður gera leiðan minn hindrun! Minn skap nú létta , í sannleika þú ert a björn gera sætan hunang. = My love, you return to me! My mood had grown heavy... as I lack the strength of character that Skane has, thus some passing travellers bore my frustrations! My mood now lightens, verily you are a bear's sweetest honey...
Dieredon circles the current position of the party, looking for tracks, particularly Orc tracks.
Perception to locate tracks:
You consider your options, according to the map given Trail's End should lie North of Deeptown, at the banks of Dream river. The sun approaches its apex, lighting up the day ahead.
After circling their current position multiple times, Dieredon is seen looking at the ground and to the heavens in deep contemplation. He returns to the group and addresses everyone concerning their approach.
I could find no tracks other than those left by travelers on the well-worn route. We have two options as I see it. One, we head along the well traveled path in a northeastern direction until we reach the Dream River, then head in a northern direction until we reach the mansion at Trails End. Two, we head due north from here, off the beaten path and into the wilderness. We should eventually reach the Dream River, and we can then search for the mansion. The second route is more dangerous, but it is more likely to have us run across Orc tracks and satisfy the bloodlust of our Northen companions. Thoughts?
Skane narrows his eyes as he takes a long draw of his pipe...
"Feh. You know my thoughts. North is always best. If we find orc..."
He lets out a stream of smoke and smiles wolfishly at Bjorn.
"... all the better."