| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Upon learning about Taychar's former service in the Phalanx Marius' demeanor towards him becomes even colder. "You shame your service and your country, Taychar--though I suppose it is good that you're serving Merkondus rather than Taldor herself, in the light of your incompetence. Tell me what you've done or found over the course of your 'investigations' and I will assure the Baron that you've been cooperative."
He rounds upon Embla Hightune upon learning of her connection to the Earl. "Tell me, Miss Hightower, have you anything on you that the Earl would recognize as yours?"
Elmar keeps his silence, as Marius was leading an excellent interrogation and he didn't want to cause an upset in his cadence. However he does transmit a mental message via his familiar, the sing-songy voice coming through quietly in Marius's head.
There may be an opportunity to get them on our side, at least as low level henchmen. They know they're no match for us in guile or strength now, and the offer to look past their crimes in exchange for their cooperation could be enticing.
As the conversation goes on, Rose stands watch with her crossbow nearby, happy to let the interrogation play out. Yet in between glances, she intently studies Embla's mannerisms, quietly muttering to herself as if tasting the other woman's voice until she felt she could reproduce that of the bard on a moment's notice.
There may be an opportunity to get them on our side, at least as low level henchmen. They know they're no match for us in guile or strength now, and the offer to look past their crimes in exchange for their cooperation could be enticing.
She seems confused when Marius glances her way and gives her a sudden look, upon which she looks even more confused. No, it really wasn't her - this time.
"I presume this means we're handing them over to our allies prior to handing them over to the Baron," She eventually says when the interrogration ends and the group convenes mostly amongst themselves. "There's no point in trying to imitate Embla towards Earl Merkorius if he knows she's been taken captive. And it seems foolhardy to return to the city with the mercenaries and expect him not to learn."
Elmar shrugs. "They've shown themselves to not be a threat, we've proven we can outwit them on investigations and out power them in a fight. We have them and can decide their fate. To me it makes sense as a potential bargain to be struck to make themselves indebted to us in exchange for not being turned in for their crimes. Then we have possible allies, possibly infiltrating the enemy. They're not powerful pieces, but taking control of an enemies pawns is more advantageous than removing them from the board. Especially if he thinks they're still on his side, which would prevent him from retaliating to taking them off the board."
He takes a deep inhale and looks to the sky. "However, if the purpose of our being here is to publicly display our superiority, it would make more sense to turn them in. That would be more advantageous for public relations perhaps. I still think it's better to turn them into turncoats and work for us, but I can see the merit in throwing the book at them."
"The question is if they will. The mercenaries were directly hired by the Earl, and Embla is a socialite associated with him. Can we expect them to double cross both loyalties when we are no longer present? I am no sellsword, but I imagine if it came out that I betrayed an employer, that would look bad on my future career prospects."
She sighs and gazes over the plains. "I suppose we could offer to take them into the princess' employ. However..." She lowers her voice further and is almost embarassed to elaborate. "Have you SEEN how bad they are at their job? Do we *really* want them on our side? I'm almost more tempted to let them be so their mere presence alone sabotages Merkorius' efforts."
Marius finishes tying off the hands of the last of the opposing group and comes to join the discussion.
"So far all they've demonstrated is poor judgement and a willingness to commit murder. This is a brazen assassination attempt and we should make hay from it, since I don't trust this group to be competent turncoats even if I thought they'd be sincere about it. Which they wouldn't."
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
"I was not suggesting an allyship in earnest, more of a blackmail situation. And then discard them when convenient. But your concerns are valid, perhaps the effort would not be worth the value of the low level pieces." Elmar waves his hand, as if making an agreement on what they would be having for brunch. "Let's keep it simple than, turn them in."
With some grumbling and many dark glares in the direction of Eutropia's agents, the Kozan Bravos let themselves be dragged back to Yanmass. Embla Hightune seems the least concerned, likely trusting in her patron to protect her from any repercussions, while Grammell Taychar's countenance gets stormier the closer they get to the city.
The Firewatch patrol they come across escorts them to the headquarters, where the bravos will be questioned.
"We've lost enough time to these villains already, let's not waste any more daylight."
As the Bravos are turned over to the city watch, Marius provides a sworn testimony on the attempted assassination attempt, and dispatches a runner to deliver a note to Baron Kustios.
The note is short and to the point, briefly describing the attack and the Bravos' arrest, and asking the Baron to for the favor of keeping them imprisoned even if Earl Merkondus should attempt to intervene--at least until Marius and his entourage returned from their bandit-hunting mission.
Kela has nothing to say regarding the nature of the next steps with the prisoners, only vouching briefly that the others’ statements are true, and admitting openly to threatening to get them if they didn’t surrender - after all, it would have been self defense…
She makes it clear to the ringleader that if the party was attacked again, his paramour would be the first to die - and she would go out screaming.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
With this incident behind them, the party is able to resume their journey into the Whistling Plains. As a local, Elmar is able to provide some additional background on Tallgrasses, the caravanserai that might be serving as a base to these bandits that have been raiding the caravans.
Catering to Qadiran travelers coming from the east and merchants leaving Taldor from the south or west, Tallgrasses has always occupied a tense position between the two nations. The original owners of the caravanserai were the Douniette family, Taldan aristocrats able to trace their noble lineage back for several centuries. For decades, they operated Tallgrasses with keen diplomacy. In the end though, the caravanserai was doomed not by politics or violence, but by weather: a particularly hot series of summers 20 years ago caused the caravanserai’s wells to dry up. The baron at that time seized the opportunity to drive out the "horselord sympathizers" by raising the price on exported water. The Douniettes had no choice but to close the caravanserai and move back to Yanmass. When the rains returned, the two primary legal claimants to Tallgrasses killed each other in a duel, leaving the caravanserai’s ownership unclear. The site has remained shuttered since then.
The caravanserai lies about 15 miles east of Yanmass, and the road that leads to it has become overgrown.
Hobbling his horse and tying it off to a small tree out of view of the caravanserai, Marius creeps forward with the others to get a better look at the waystation. Kneeling in the grass at the top of a small rise, he looks for signs of inhabitation or occupation.
As Marius takes a few steps away from his horse he hears a high, whistling sound just before an arrow thuds into his upper arm. Several others hit the dry earth mere inches from him. The horse nickers in alarm, pulling at the reins. At the same time, two huge lions bound out of the tall grasses, making for Barcos and Baron Barksley.
Before anyone can recover from the surprise, another volley of arrows slices the air, a few finding their targets. Their assailants are still mostly concealed in the grass, only their heads and shoulders visible. They seem to be wearing typical Qadiran attire, their heads swathed in long strips of fabric that cover most of the face. They wield short, powerful bows featuring the compact recurve typical of horse archers.
Kela scoffs, ”you swine, you cowards! You will regret this…” and she pats her horse as she imbues her speech with magical potency, and then summons slowing magic on all the enemies.
Elmar bares his teeth in response to the arrow, ripping it out with a wince of pain. Then he chants a familiar incantation and moves himself back and behind cover.
Reasoning that a druid is equipped to handle a lion, Marius whispers a prayer and goes invisible, pushing forward towards the archers.
All but one of the attackers seem to fall under Kela's slowing magic and they scowl as they feel their movements become sluggish.
Barcos takes a step back from the lions and places a hand on the back of his canine companion. He mutters a phrase in druidic and Baron Barksley's mighty bite gets just a bit stronger.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Cat versus dog, the classic showdown.
Baron Barksley was sure he would win.
With magically enhanced speed he bites at the lion that had attacked him.
But big-time whiffs it.
Slowed down by magic and with the element of surprise now lost to them, the ambushers are quickly overwhelmed. One of the dire lions manages to flee after being wounded, while the other is killed together with three of the human attackers. The other two are captured, badly injured but alive.
Despite their Qadiran garb, they seem to be ethnically Taldan, and bear the tattoos that mark them as part of the Taldan Horse.
"What the blazing Hells is this?!" Marius snarls when he sees the cavalry tattoos on their ambushers. "Those are Imperial Horse markings!" He whirls toward their prisoners, knocking one of them to the ground and planting his foot on their chest as he leans close, his expression dark with anger.
"Spill your guts, deserter, if you fear the gallows. Why are riders of the Horse attacking peers of the realm and engaged in banditry?"
Kela hisses as well, ”isn’t it obvious, boss? These goons are just trying to foment hatred for Qadria. They have no loyalty to Yanmass or its traditions.” She’s shaking as she points the blade of her falchion at the seeming leader, saying ”this is not the way of our city - we seek to trade, not fight!” She curses in Kelish a few short words.
The captives avert their gazes and attempt half-shrugs, tight-lipped in the face of rage and contempt.
Though Barcos is charming, he's not quite charming enough to get anything out of the assailants.
Elmar casually flicks a fan of flames in the background, considering their captives quietly while they're being interrogated.
Kela scoffs, disgusted, ”these are agents of Eutropia, and they have standards for behavior. So do I, as long as I work for them. But one day, and soon, they’ll leave, and you’ll have to answer to the people of Yanmass for what you’ve done.” She leans forward, her eyes blazing with rage, ”you will find us less forgiving, and you will find me less.. restrained.” She seems like she can barely contain herself, and her hand shaking, she nicks the nominal leader with the tip of the curved blade.
Through clenched teeth, she hisses like a viper ”Speak, now خنزير.”
Shaken by the bodyguard's display of fury, one of the (former) cavalry soldiers reveals the name of their commander - and the apparent instigator of this scheme: Jaliessa Staubel. She and most of the traitors are encamped nearby, in the abandoned caravanserai called Tallgrasses.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Rose grimaces as she pulls the arrow out of her stomach, staunching the bleeding with some cloth of the dead assailants and pressuring it until someone magically closed it. By now, she'd gotten injured so many times that it was becoming standard practise.
But by the goddess if it wasn't annoying getting the stains and tears out of her self-designed wear!
"For your crimes against fashion, I hereby sentence you to death," She thinks as she glares at the ambushers, wishing she could do it but knowing Marius would never agree even if they were, at best, soldiers resorting to banditry and at worst, intentionally trying to stir up tension between two countries.
She also wondered what it said about her life when she got shot twice in the same day and her main concern was with her clothes.
"This scheme seems to favor Pythareus. If Kela is correct and the goal is to steer Taldor and Qadira to war, the people are more likely to rally around a general," She muses once the bandits are tied and out of immediate earshot. "But we can't rule out outside interference. This 'Grey Kingmaker' could very well have a hand in this," She gives the captured men an apprasing look. "Regardless, it seems a confrontation with the commander is inevitable. I see options of direct assault, impersonating the guards to get close - or perhaps invisibly sneaking in?" She gives Elmar a questioning glance at the last part. "Of course, I'm open to suggestions."
Elmar closes his hand, brows going up at Faenias interrogation. He smirks as she divulges the information. "I think step one is some sunlight. Have them confess to their crimes and motivations in exchange for lenient sentencing, allowing the public to become aware of this trickery. Start cornering our adversary, limiting their options."
"Not a bad idea. It risks our adversary being able to warn this unit of our coming, of them fleeing capture entirely, but it is probably still the safest play. There would at least be some proof of these happenings, even in a worst case scenario," Rose responds, mentally preparing for yet another backtrack to the city before really getting things done. "Okay, let's move and hand them in, then get back to tracking down this commander."
Kela grunts, ”eh? No time. The commander probably knows they’re not coming. We should take care of these goons now.” She looms over them, menacingly, for a moment, and taps her curved blade. ”Then go kill the rest of the deserters.”
"I suppose we are on the march. Why corner the enemy pieces when you can simply take the king?"
Barcos nods, "Grim but necessary work. Care to do the honors?"
"Indeed--the wages of treason. Take this Staubel captive if you can, the Horse should know of this shame and I want Pythareus' name dragged through the mud."
After the prisoners are tied up Marius grabs one of them by the hair and slams the pommel of Koriana into the base of their skull to knock them out, trusting that Kela will do the same for the other. Once they've been tucked out of sight, the youngest Erallan takes turns to face away and takes a few slow, calming breaths.
"Let's move quickly, the caravanserai isn't far. If you've any lingering magical aid to invoke now is probably our last chance ere we come under fire again."
Leaving the unconscious traitors to the mercy of whatever predators might lurk in the grasses, the party finalizes their preparations and moves carefully towards the caravanserai. Tallgrasses is a sprawling structure made of smooth gray stone and surrounded by a low mudbrick wall. A strange mixture of Taldan and Qadiran styles, the building bears several arches, a large dome between two balconied upper levels, and an encircling covered porch. Wooden shutters close over most windows, protecting the interior from the blazing afternoon sun and the heat. Several small, wiry horses are hitched to the porch posts, while a lone elephant stomps about in the courtyard.
Cloaked by Elmar's magic, Rose invisibly hangs around the back of the group, crossbow drawn and ready to engage whatever would come out.
"Elmar - and Kela. Perhaps I am too trusting in informing you of this so soon, but there are too many enemies around this city out for our heads for me to worry about overt secrecy. I have... a talent of sorts. I can make any sound, imitate any voice, and throw it over a distance if needed - make it seem like it's coming from elsewhere. It is only really limited by my imagination. Should you think of a good use for it, a good distraction, impersonation of whatever else might serve us well, please let me know. Five heads are better than three, after all," She whispers as the group studies the compound. "Otherwise, in a straight fight I will attempt to shoot whatever comes close to us. I believe I can say I am a decent shot with a bow."
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Elmar rolls his neck. "Alright, give me a minute." He retrieves his spellbook, a moderately thick tome with modern dull metallic bindings and very old elven designs. He flips through it for a few moments, mouthing silently to himself, then nods.
Elmar places his hands in a contorted triangle in front of his face. "Hirvear trilvol." He spreads his hands out, and a number of illusory doubles spread out directly in the space around him.
Then he steps over to Raesilia. From his component pouch he pulls out what appears to be a chewed wad of tree sap. He plucks one of his own eyelashes and wraps the gum arabic around it. Then he tosses it above Raesilia's head where it hovers. He places his hands on either side and mimics breaking an egg. "Rifstejarwim." The coated eyelash spreads and dissipates into nothingness, but that same nothingness coats her and she disappears completely from view.
Next he approaches Marius. Without looking he reaches up to his shoulder, where Shendra had already moved to pluck one of her own colorful feathers to hand to him. "Yellow. She likes you." He takes it in his hands, placing the palms against each other with one pointing up and one pointing down. Then he pulls his arms into his chest, followed by throwing out the motion with a large exhale. "Wiap!" There is a small gust of wind...but apparently no other effect. After a suitably dramatic pause, Elmar smiles, takes both of Marius's shoulders, and effortlessly lifts him. He releases his hands and Marius slowly drifts upward.
Shendra whispers something in Elmar's ear which causes him to give a smirk of amusement. He walks over to Baron Barksley and repeats the process, this time with a blue feather given by Shendra who seems to have a taunting expression. As the wind gusts over the good Baron, Elmar reaches down and also gently pulls him into the air.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Shendra shrieks in amusement as Baron Barksley floats into the air, leaping from Elmar's shoulder and darting around him. "A flying dog, a flying dog! It's not quite a flying pig, but some may disagree with how he eats!" She shrieks again at her own joke as she playfully darts in and out of his reach.
Baron Barksley begins to float into the air. He lets out a brief whine of terror dealing with something he absolutely doesn't understand, but Barcos places a hand on his flank and says softly, "It's alright, friend. It's a spell that lets you fly. Think about going forward, or up, and you'll go there."
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
With that, the dog begins to get the hang of it, doing a loop in the air before letting out a triumphant howl and exclaiming, "Oh, hells yeah! I'm the best damn dog in all of Taldor, it's over for all the rest of the mangy mutts!"
As the group carefully approaches the building, a few things become clear. First, there's a grumpy-looking elephant in the courtyard. While it would be possible to avoid the courtyard and look for other ways into the caravanserai, it is currently the most direct route. Secondly, for someone who knows their horses, the ones hitched to the porch posts look to be the small, lithe ones that Qadirans favour. There is no sign of Taldan war horses that would be the standard issue for cavalry. Third, part of the courtyard is obscured by a heavy hanging canvas supported by thick ropes strung between the east and west balconies.
Barcos creeps closer to the elephant. While the song of the city is weak out here, he can still connect to beasts. He takes a deep breath and his posture gets noticeably more confident as his gaze grows sharper. He reaches out a hand to the elephant. It's a wordless method of communication, but it serves to say, "You deserve to be free. We can free you, if you let us."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The elephant stops stomping around and trains one eye on Barcos, ears flapping and its trunk swaying gently. Barcos senses that the creature will not attack them if they get closer, and might even condescend to follow a simple request. To actually free it, someone would need to do something about the thick chain that runs from one of its front legs to an iron ring driven into the stone foundation of the building.
Moreover, it doesn't seem like freedom is what this animal craves. The way it keeps shaking its head in distress and pacing around the courtyard, its trunk overturning the hay piled up in a corner and nosing over and under every inch of space... Barcos gets the feeling that the elephant is looking for something, or someone. Perhaps it misses its mate, the petrified elephant they found at Orverstikar Manor.
"I'll sneak a bit closer and look around the courtyard, then." Rose whispers as her invisble form begins inching closer to the courtyard, where she attempts to study her surroundings and whether or not the group was walking into an ambush.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Rose's invisibility and her training in quiet approaches make her fairly certain she has not been detected as she begins to inspect the building and its surroundings. And now that the grumpy elephant has ceased its stomping about, she can hear the subtler sounds - like the nickering of more horses behind the heavy canvas curtain, or faint snores coming from the right-hand wing of the caravanserai.
She also observes the porch, a covered wooden veranda 6 feet wide that runs around three sides of Tallgrasses, broken off in the middle by the entry into the courtyard. A stout wooden railing about 3 feet high delineates this structure, and the floor above is supported by thick posts 15 feet apart, with graceful archways of dun-colored wood between them. Two flights of step provide access from the courtyard, and Rose can see a few doors leading from the porch into the building, as well as two exterior staircases ascending to the upper floor.
Pushing in a bit further, Rose sneaks along the right side of the courtyard, heading towards the snoring and trying to get a glimpse of nearby inhabitants. If any are present, she would sneak a peak through some windows, hoping her invisibility offered enough protection from any viewers from the rear.