Mia stifles a chuckle at Harran's ignorance about what the hair of the dog really is. It's comforting to know that she isn't the only one that is still learning about life outside of her sheltered upbringing. Besides. he really is a nice fellow.
"Harran, Borden, and Dragomir. If we are planning on working together, maybe we should know what we're each capable of," Mia says, fixing their names and faces into her mind. People that are kind to her are worth remembering, even if they turn out to have less than savory motives for their kindness.
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Me? I'm good at everything... and at spinning a solid line of bull crap, Borden says with a laugh.
Me? I'm good at everything... and at spinning a solid line of bull crap, Borden says with a laugh.
Harran snorts, clearly amused. "Noted, and case in point?"
His grin fades as he thinks on what exactly to say next. "As for me... well, I'm good with a spear. I know tracking, survival tricks, and can tell my kingsfoil from my silverleaf. I share my long-lived parent's senses, though at times I wish I could do without his nose." He idly motions over the nearby alleys and the reeking trash scattered about in them here and there, made no better by the midday run above.
"I... know some druidic magic too and heal wounds, if needed. I think that's about it for me."
"I've been trained as a scout. I can move unseen and unheard, and my eyes are fairly sharp. I can see in the dark. I can handle myself in a fight, especially against the undead, and I guess I'm a fair cook. I've never had any complaints at least."
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I can handle myself in a fight, especially against the undead, and I guess I'm a fair cook. I've never had any complaints at least."[/smaller][/b]
This statement peaked Dragomir's interest. "You have experience in fighting undead? I do too. Corporeal and Incorporeal. What was your latest undead skirmish?"
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"Uh, I... I do, though not much outside of training. The order would have mages raise them for us to practice on. Th-that was a few years ago," Mia says. Her words start coming more slowly as she speaks, almost as if she's afraid that she's spoken too much. She looks away and starts walking a little more quickly towards the board.
No! Why didn't I just say yes? Now they're definitely going to hate me!
"I thought incorporal beings were pretty dangerous... and these people have already fought them? ...Wait, 'for training'!?" Harran wonders, pondering the Tiefling's words.
"They summoned ghosts ofor you to fight on purpose? He repeats, eyes wide. "Wow. This... order of yours sounds brutal, Mia. Who are they?"
"And are you still with them?" he thinks, noticing the way she kept trying to hide herself beneath her cloak and seemed uncomfortable in general. It wasn't quite what he'd expect a supposedly hardened soldier to do, but then again, he didn't have much experience, and he knew virtually nothing about the girl - or either of these other men, for that matter.
"N-no. Not ghosts, just skeletons and zombies," Mia says as she shrinks away from Harran and Dragomir.
Oh, no. This is bad.
"I should like to know the name of 'this order', miss." Dragomir asked firmly.
No need to come so stern friend, you'll scare the lass. Just recognise not all training is created the same. Pathfinder Society training is a bit weird as well.
Harran stops when her current or former affiliation appears a sensitive topic to Mia. "Did I say something wrong? But she just told us of her order on her own will?"
"Fair enough. I guess my Lodge's methods can be extreme too. One of my friends was locked up in a cage once until he could shapeshift to a bird to fly out. Though... to be fair, he'd been abusing his gift to play pranks on too many people, among... ah, 'other things', so he'd probably deserved it." The ranger seems to recall something with a wistful grin, then starts walking out the alley. "We should probably go. Don't want to miss the announcement at the square."
Maybe Bordan had the right idea and shifting the subject further would get the zealot of her back. It wouldn't hurt to try... hopefully.
As the group approaches the notice board, they notice a number of other hopefuls have already gathered. All look quite desperate, thin, wearing threadbare clothes, their hands and faces stained black from mining.
They look dejectedly at the arrival of much more healthy and capable looking candidates, but they show their mettle as they stick around.
Shortly after noon, a lieutenant and two solders march up . The lieutenant walks to the noticeboard and tears one notice off.
Holding it out, he start to read it....but is interrupted by the blaring of horns from the Garrison high on the nearby bluff. The horns are followed by bellowed commands and the sound of many marching feet.
The lieutenant looks down and to the side in annoyance, closing his eyes briefly and taking a deep breath. With a resigned look, he motions all to move to the side, away from the main entrance to the mains square.
He brusquely speaks to the soldiers, "Clear a path!". The soldiers nod and move out into the plaza, moving people and animals to the sides of the plaza.
Turning , all can see the host of the Garrison emerge from the fort, making their way down the hill and into the town. At their fore, the Captain , atop a fine horse, with two lieutenants not far behind, led the smartly marching soldiers through town and out onto the road leading East.
You know that the strength of the Garrison is 60 soldiers, plus 3 lieutenants and the Captain. A quick count of the marching soldiers gave you 50 soldiers, two lieutenants an the Captain marching out of town. Also, each soldier was completely kitted out...they were not going on patrol, but to war.
After giving the passing Captain a smart salute, the lieutenant turned back to his candidates and waited patiently for the noise of the marching soldiers had passed.
"Now then, I am Lieutenant Dobrun Trent. Thank you for attending my notice. With the reduction of the strength of the Garrison, Captain Trask has tasked be with finding some volunteers to assist our effort in maintaining the safety of the citizens of Diamond Lake. It has come to our attention a few cows and a young boy have been slain by a trio of stirges that have taken up roost near an old Mining Office some 30 minutes up the North East road. The Garrison cannot spare the manpower to handle this, so Captain Trask has authorized that any volunteers be given access to the Garrison armory, if need be. There is unfortunately no monetary reward, but apparently Captain Trask has made it possible for those that clear this threat will be granted the deed to the mining office, for their own purposes. Are there any questions? "
At the mention of monsters, the hopeful miners drifted away , one could be heard to mutter "Lookin' for heroes! I'm no hero...."
The paladin silently shakes his head 'no'.
Harran watches the soldiers go, wondering where so many of them where going, and more importantly, why. Had some great conflict broken out that he wasn't aware of...?
Though, more importantly, overgrown insects had outright killed a small boy and the garrison said they couldn't spare men to deal with it!? Surely the saftey of small children should be a priority!
"Though... Maybe I should give them the benefit of the doubt for now. At the very least, they try to recruit whatever potentially skilled outsiders were nearby to handle it. In a way, they're adressing the problem, even if it relies on chance and factors outside their control."
After the soldiers leave, he raises his hand to the Lieutenant. "Sir Trent, if I may, how do we know there are just three of them? Did someone actually see them at the building? There's a difference in certainty between doing a head count at the source and seeing three of them hunt somewhere. If the latter, there could be a lot more."
The teller of tall tales and hero of the bordello frowns at the noise of crunching and marching boots. He doesn't know just how many soldiers this place has but the number leaving looks sizeable for the small garrison... and likely permanently leaving given their full kits.
The total lack of a cash reward doesn't exactly give Borden the 'oooh ahhhs' either. Still... it could be decent fodder for future tales, bragging rights and wooing undecided ladies. The deed to the mining office probably could be spun to make some sort of money in a mining town as well.
Stirges... hmmm..., he thinks, racking his brains for old memories.
Flying blood suckers if I remember right... disease ridden to boot. Doable. With help.
The shapes up and takes a determined step forward.
Got any anti plague in that armoury Lieutenant?
Mia does her best to stay out of the way, something she's gotten good at over the years. The march from the garrison has her wondering what is going on, but then her attention is drawn back to the pronouncement. She listens to the lieutenant, but soon finds the small flicker of hope just beginning to spark to life doused as she hears that there is no reward.
No reward means no way to pay for passage out of this godsforsaken hellhole. No passage means no escape for her or her charges.
Her gaze falls to her feet. She could feel herself begging to crack under the strain. How much longer can she keep Heather and Violet from Madame Mezziana's clutches? For that matter, how much longer can she keep herself from those same greedy paws?
She half turns, listening to the crowd. She almost leaves.
What if the next time it's Toril or Havin? What if it was Heather? Violet? Conna? Mika? Elias? Bridget? Could I live with myself if something happened to them and I could have stopped it?
There is no money in it, but she can't stand by and do nothing.
"Astra would do it," she says to herself, unware that she'd really even spoken aloud.
She looks up at the lieutenant and shakes her head. She only need to know who would be joining her, and the man couldn't answer that.
Mac sees the marching soldiers and his first thought is that it was some sort of trap. He is ready to bolt when he notices that the soldiers do not seem interested in him. I am glad I am not wherever they're going! he thinks to himself.
Now for the business at hand. He listens to the lieutenant. When the lieutenant mentions there would be no money as a reward he is ready to walk off as well. Then he thinks. Maybe with some sleight of hand, one item from the armory might be two or three! Plus, with something nice and shiny from the armory, Ella will certainly be impressed. Why he cared what she thought, he couldn't say!
Mac steps from beyond thee shadows, Count me in! he says in a loud, clear voice.
Agreed mate, Borden says to the Halfling, but let's hear about the Anti-plague exilirs.
"A friend of yours, Borden?" Harran asks, hearing the instant consent to letting him join.
...Wait, where did he-? How-? Did the guy just appear from nowhere?? In an urban environment too, with very little cover?
"I'm Harran, a visitor. You seem like you have some real skills at hiding. 'Mate'." He nods at the newcomer with some respect, then slightly turns to Bordan as they wait for the lieutenant's answers to their questions. "Actually, what's this thing of yours about calling everyone a 'mate'? It seems... ah, overly intimate? IS that stating intent? Or are the two of you actually mated?"
Its a language thing mate.
Trent raises a hand to Harran, "Please, I am no knight. You may address me as Lieutenant, or Mr. Trent." he says firmly. Then , he relaxes somewhat, "The number of the beasts has been confirmed at three, both by witnesses to their attacks on the boy and livestock, and from observations of their roost in a tree near the old office. "
He turns at Borden's question, his face becoming a bit pinched at the sight of the bedraggled man. Borden can almost hear the man's thoughts, Is there really none better than this?".
But, he begins to answer, but is interrupted by Macavity's enthusiastic announcement. The lieutenant's face betrays his growing doubt, but he gamely continues his answer, "Nonesuch in the Garrison. Check with the General Store or perhaps one of the temples..."
It is then that he spies Dragomir standing quietly to one side, and the soldier's mien improves considerably. Then he looks appraisingly at Mia, recognizing her from the grocers, giving her an encouraging nod.
He crosses his arms and waits for additional questions, or for any more volunteers to make themselves known.
Well... that's a bugger Mister Trent but I suppose I am in too.
He straightens with a slight wince and looks beyond the town's boundaries and away from the departing troops, and points.
That way?
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Agreed mate, Borden says to the Halfling, but let's hear about the Anti-plague elixirs.
Mac is glad when the human also volunteers. So I won't be the only fool volunteering for this crazy job! He thinks to himself as he nods to the stranger.
When Harran introduces himself, Mac nods in acknowledgement. I believe I am a stranger to you both he nods in Mia's direction and to the lady. Mac's the name.
So much for picking their pockets...unless...
Its a language thing mate.
"You city folk have some strange language habits," Harran says, then shrugs. "So I gather it's the five of us, and we don't have any other preparations? If so I'd say we go and get out weapons out when we get close. And watch the sky, I guess. Don't want to get surprise stung by those oversized musquito's."
They're carriers of all sorts of nasty poxes and plagues too. Getting bit may lead to a week in bed with filth fever or the like.
Macavity nods in agreement. {b]It sounds like we are not going to get any help from the guard. We are on our own.[/b]
"Excuse me." The pharasman chimed up. "How far off the road is this Mining office?"
"If it's that bad, we should probably check the temple or the store to see if they have anything that would help," Mia says. "Being sick in this place is not something I would care to experience."
Aint cheap... tell ya what. IF someone gets stuck by the little buggers? We'll all chip in to buy a dose. They go for a whopping 50 gold... and I don't have that much. Not close. The old five finger discount is REALLY frowned on 'ere, so I don't rate that as an option.
The old five finger discount is REALLY frowned on 'ere, so I don't rate that as an option.
Not if you do it right! Mac thinks with a smile.
"Yeah... I don't have that much on me. Not by a long shot. And there's no way I'm giving someone my fingers instead. I'd take someone back to the lodge and gamble on getting help there long before I'd do something that drastic."
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Well, I got my gear. Let's get you lot ready and head out... I plan to be in Heaven by late afternoon. If she's busy, I suppose I'll settle for Trudy.
"Heaven? Trudy? Is he planning to die today? Is Trudy another afterlife destination or such? Or is this more cryptic 'city language'...? Why is no one else confused by the gibberish he keeps sprouting?"
Yeah... and that was probably telling. No one else was indeed reacting oddly so it was probably best to stop asking and pretend like he understood. "Don't have the money for any other supplies. I have a crossbow, a dagger and a spear. That will have to do. I say we go now before they strike again."
"I have everything I would need to get if we're going to forgo the remedies unless needed. Let us hope they are still in their nest."
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A little off in the shadows you might notice a small silhouette standing next to a big cat, silently stroking the cat and watching what's going on.
Listening to Trents speech, she steps forward.
That sounds quite unnatural. Is there a description of the beasts? I'll join you to see if everything is alright there. Nogwier would certainly approve. Maybe i can even be of assistance with some healing. At least i can help detect poison.
"Hello, Miss..." Mia asks as she turns to the newcomer, hoping to get her to introduce herself.
"Mia. Just, Mia. I've been here for the past few years."
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Trent eyes follows Bordens arm , looking towards the East where one could see the dust tossed up by the marching soldiers of the Garrison, an inscrutable look on his face.
He returns his gaze to Borden, "No. You'll want to take the north-east road, towards what the locals call the Whispering Cairn. The mining office is close to the road, in fact you'll know it by the large dead oak tree that lays just opposite the building. It is in that tree that the three stirges roost. My scout surmises that they've chased something or someone into the building, and are waiting them out. "
Hearing mention of lack of money for supplies, Trent speaks up , "As I said , the armory of the Garrison is at your disposal...on loan, of course. "
He then notices the newcomer, recognizing her from his own patrols, "Ah, Miss Gozen, welcome to town."
He pauses and takes account of each of the volunteers before him, looking each in the eye, then with a slightly skeptical look, shrugs, "Alright, if any wish to loan out any gear from our Armory, please accompany me. Otherwise, I'll leave you to your planning. Bring me three stirge corpses and, on the Captains' authority, the deed will be yours. "
That sounds quite unnatural. Is there a description of the beasts? I'll join you to see if everything is alright there. Nogwier would certainly approve. Maybe i can even be of assistance with some healing. At least i can help detect poison.
"Of course, you're welcome to-" Harran begins to say, but abruptly stops when he takes in the halfling. "Oh. It's you, Tomoe. What are you doing here? Don't tell me the old coot suddenly changed his mind, because it's a bit late for that."
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Mia? Well i'm not often in the town, easy for me to never see quite a lot of people here for years or at all. That's kinda the point of it.
She gives Trent a nod.
Thank you, i guess, Trent. Good to see you're still here. Still suspicious of every halfling?
Oh Harran.*cough* Must have missed you. Have you landed in the town now? I would have thought you left the region. If you mean Nogwier, he's the same old. Pretty disappointed it seems, but that's really not my business. How are you doing?
Dragomir just politely nods at the halfling woman. "Good day."
Mac bows to the newcomer, Well met! It is nice to see another halfling around for this foo..uh..adventure!
Mac then thinks for the next few minutes if he would not pick Tomoe's pocket because she is a fellow halfling, bit decides she is fair game like the rest. It sounds like these saps are as broke as me. Next time, adventure with a group that at least has some loot! he thinks to himself.
Can't stand here 'jawing all day... let's make like a baby and head out eh?
The erstwhile barfly cum storyteller squints against the noonday glare and orients himself the previously indicated direction.
But if you lot don't have any bows I recommend ya' borrow some from the armoury.
But if you lot don't have any bows I recommend ya' borrow some from the armoury.
"Sound idea", Dragomir responds. "I shall acquire a bow and arrows before we leave."
The paladin makes his way to The Armoury.
As Borden suggests getting some bows and arrows, Mia pulls her bow off her back and strings it.
"Would you mind getting me a quiver of arrows, Dragomir? I have a bow, and I think you'd have an easier time of getting them than I would."
The paladin bows silently at Mia's request on his way to The Armoury. "I shall meet you all just outside of town."
You're townsfolk. Best watch yer manners and keep yer hands to yeself!
Mac is surprised at the stern warning from the halfling lass. He holds his hands out disarmingly. I always keep my hands to myself! And if I didn't you wouldn't know until you reached for your coin purse later and found it missing! he thinks to himself.