"You are all nothing but blood hungry murderers. Calistria curse you and grant me revenge from beyond!"
When Actaeon tells her he misses home, Ludivine looks at him with something like pity. "I am home."
After the bandit is executed, Ludivine suggests a covering of leaves is sufficient for the body. "He still has a part to play here. He can give back to the forest now."
Emerald is thoughtful when the business is done. "He chose to die rather than express remorse. Even after we clearly said that he could live if he repented. I wonder if all of the bandits are such zealots. It isn't what I expected."
She does not seem overly troubled. "So it may be."
...Actaeon approaches the group, ”He,” nudging a chin towards the executed bandit, "mentioned that four more are still out there hunting. They could return at any moment. We should prepare to ambush them or prepare to follow them. Ambushing them and taking them out makes the most sense to me to dwindle their numbers. We should be able to track their movements enough back to this Stag Lord and his fort. Should we gather our horses and come up with a plan?”
"That is not a bad idea. If they spot us, they might head to the Stag Lord's fort, in which case we could track them.
But I don't think we have the strength to assault a fort with 20 warriors at this time. We might want to spend some time exploring this area and finding more allies."
Actaeon grimaces, scrunching his forehead in the process, at his sister’s statement.
He nods to Emerald. ”Agreed, a full assault on a fort would not be a good idea. I think my main concern is letting these four hunters get to the fort and warn this Staglord. Chances are good that our presence is still unknown. If this camp is the only one stealing from Oleg and Svetlana, we can avoid alerting a bigger force that may attack the outpost. At most, we should make this camp look abandoned, instead of attacked, to lower suspicion.”
Actaeon looks around the camp, searching for the best place to hide the bodies and make the place look abandoned. Then he states a thought, ”I wonder if Kressle has any information on her.”
”If we are to find more allies, maybe Oleg would be a good person to ask where to start. I would think that he is familiar with the terrain and has regular customers that might be capable and interested in ending the reign of this Staglord. If we head back to Oleg’s, we should take as much of this stuff that we can carry. Most of it was probably stolen from him anyway.”
Hadin looks at the handaxes, and try one of them.
I could do with one, and someone else take the other.
Whatever we investigate or take from here, I agree there is a high chance the other bandits will return here soon. We may run into them heading out for Oleg's. Perhaps an ambush is prudent. Sirinus muses out loud.
While they discuss this he helps Actaeon check over the bodies.
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After several days of traveling while eating rations and small game, Actaeon finds himself and his sister sitting at a long table with a bunch of strangers. His stomach grumbles from the journey and he eyes his sister and whispers to her, "Ludi, you sure about this?"
He attempts to surreptitiously look around the great hall at the others gathered with him. To his left is a pretty woman he assumes is a few years older than him. She seems to carry herself like a noble. He catches a glance of a whittled pendant of Erastil on a man dressed like a farmer sitting across from him. He offers the man a nod and smile. To the man's left is a cloaked man, his pale skin barely showing through the shadows of his hood.
In an unsteady voice, he speaks softly to these people around him, "Greetings, my name is Actaeon."
Sirinus is happy to be seated at the end of the table. The hood of his cloak is drawn, as he doesn't enjoy attention from others around his extraordinarily pale skin. Despite their multi-day journal back, he is not as hungry as the others. He chooses to let the others talk while he takes opportunistic glances around the table at what seem like key figures (the particularly important nobles).
He's not really very good at reading people.
Emerald finds herself seated next to a farmer boy. A Rostlander, by his accent. He's with a girl that looks to be his sister.
Then down at the end of the table are another farmboy and a strange-looking man.
She gives a nod to the farmboy next to her. "Well met, Actaeon. I am Emerald Garess of House Garess."
Across the table from her is Maegar Varn. He seems well-dressed and perhaps is of the nobility, or at least aspires to be.
There is some sort of savage next to her , and a creepy elf next to Maegar Varn.
She gives a slight smile. It looks like whoever placed us here wanted me to have no competition for Maegar's attention. Her smile fades for a moment. Unless he's one of those Taldans with a fetish for savages. Well, no matter, it is a rare battle that is won without taking the field.
Emerald introduces herself to the man across the table, using her most refined diction. "Greetings, sir. My name is Emerald Garess. Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?"
Ludivine sits quietly, looking about curiously and waiting for something to happen. In reply to Actaeon's whisper she turns to look at him with a puzzled expression.
"What?" Sure about what?"
Hadin was waiting patiently, sipping some water. He knew no one around, but then someone starts making introduction, a man called Actaeon.
He waits a reasonable time, until there is some silence, not willing to cut into someone's else speech.
I am Hadin Cassoren.
On his simple brown and dark clothes, clothes made for durability than for showing off, was the symbol of Erastil, which was displayed honestly.
By his humbles origins, he has no prior knowledge of noble houses, and so the name of the House of Garess rings no bell to him.
All of you for your own reasons, answered Lady Jamandi’s “call for heroes” and arrived at her impressive hilltop manor. A cobblestone path, bordered by regal oak trees and well‑manicured hedges, winds its way up the hill for nearly a mile, past a two‑story guard barracks, the stables, and a dozen thatched‑roof cottages that house the families of the manor’s servants and retainers. The manor itself is a sprawling,
three-story
structure constructed of light gray mortared stone, surrounded by hedge-lined rose gardens and ancient oak trees.
You are initially gathered between the oaks on the walkway leading to the manor’s front door, awaiting their turn to be led into the Great Hall. Others who have answered Lady Jamandi’s call for heroes also wait, but at this time, you are at the end of the line.
The sky above is gloomy, and distant thunder suggests a storm is imminent.
Eventually one of Lady Jamandi’s servants calls for you to enter the manor—you are the final adventurers to be led into the building. As you enter, the first raindrops of the storm begin to fall.
This spacious hall has been prepared for a great feast. Servants hustle and bustle about, while several armed soldiers—Lady Jamandi’s house guards—watch over the hall from their positions against the east and west walls. To the north, a fire crackles away in a large fireplace. An iron lever secured by a lock adorns the fireplace’s eastern face. Two massive crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling twenty feet above. The walls are decorated with painted murals of idyllic woodland scenes: nymphs frolicking amid waterfalls, satyrs dancing with fawns in wooded glades, and
various winged fairy creatures flitting through the trees. Nine long tables are arranged around the central portion of the room, each holding plates, utensils, mugs, goblets, and full, ready to be poured pitchers of ale, wine, mead, and water. The smell of roasted meat and other delicious scents fill the room, yet no food has yet been served.
All of you are led to the same long table. While most glance to acknowledge your presence none make any noticeable gestures or remarks but one.
A gnome with purple hair, regal clothing and well trimmed facial hair distinctly gives a few sneering looks of obvious disapproval
Emerald across from you sits, Maegar a ruggedly handsome man with a constant shadow of a beard on his jaw; he wears his dark gray hair in a small bun. He carries a distinctive sword that bears the crest of House Varn—four hatchets arranged in a circle—on its pommel guard.
The man smiles and returns a friendly greeting in a gruff but plesant voice. "A pleasure to meet you miss Emerald. Of house Garess you say? A fine family indeed. I am Maegar Varn, I assume like me you are a second or thrid or more child or cousin with no claim to anything of importance beyond your name. That is fine by me a name is nice for some but just by being here I can tell you have what it takes to earn your worth with or without that name."
Actaeon is overwhelmed with the grandeur of the estate and the gathering of the noble-born around him. To ease his tension, he pours himself some mead and swirls the mug in his hand. He stares down at the honeyed-wine and breathes in its deep aromas. ’Hmmm, smells like home. I wonder if this is some of Da’s honey.’ He looks over at his sister and smiles. ”Would you like some mead, Ludi?”
While enjoying the drink, Actaeon finds comfort in the warmth of the fire, the fanciful woodland murals along the walls, and the amazing smells coming from the highly-anticipated meal. His smile only breaks when he notices a Gnome giving him the stink-eye. ’What’s his deal? Hopefully Ludi and I do not get paired with him.’
He looks away from the Gnome and his eyes fall on a woman who must be Kellid. He recalls a simple greeting that his mother taught him. Lifting his mug and speaking in Hallit he says, ”Strength to you!”
When Emerald introduces herself, he recognizes her family name. 'A Barony in Brevoy, I believe. Do I call her Baroness? Use a different title?' Luckily, before Actaeon can embarrass himself, Maegar Varn introduces himself to her.
Ludivine signals her acceptance of Actaeon's mead offer with a sound somewhere between a hum and a grunt as she eats. Stopping on the food to take a couple of sips of mead, she looks around.
Nudging Actaeon, Ludivine leans in toward him and quietly says "stay clear of the gnome. His innards have gone sour. There's no coming back from that."
The tall strong kellid woman seated at the table with a massive sword strapped to her back speaks up. "Where is this Lady Whoever?" After this she realizes Actaeon is addressing her when he spoke in Kellid. She turn and smiles while flexing her well muscled arms. "You tryin' to flirt with me huh?" She says with a hint of sarcasm. "Nah I just messin' with ya. Strength to you too or whatever, I'm Amiri. Hey, do you know who these Aldori people are? I've been waiting in line and sitting on this hard bench all day. Why don't they hurry up and serve some food and tell us why were here. Who do they think they are anyway?"
Sirinus keeps his cloak drawn tight, and his gaze darts back and forth.
Who can I trust quickly? Most here won't understand where I come from, which certainly doesn't include any nobility. I need to make a friend fast.
If the gnome scowls at him specifically, it doesn't even register as he scrambles to find a seat to get comfortable in. He tends to look down alot as he trudges along.
End of the table... fewer to explain myself to.
He pulls up across from who he thinks looks like a reasonable humble, likely non-noble warrior . He notes that the young woman sitting next to him seems to have similar features. But then the warrior starts up with the intimidating Kellid woman.
That one would eat me alive.
So he turns next to him, to what looks like another warrior to introduce himself. When he speaks, his voice is ghostly, almost sickly. It certain doesn't demand attention above the boisterous din amidst this feast.
When the warrior likely doesn't even hear him, he taps the man on the shoulder, and offers a weak smile when he turns around. His hood is still up over his head, but his pale face and piercing ice-blue eyes peer out of it clearly.
Hello. I'm Sirinus. There are a lot of folk here today to help clean up the banditry in the land. How quickly do you suppose we could eliminate them with this many blades, bows, and such?
A bit naive perhaps, but as good as any topic to break the ice with.
"I am Maegar Varn, I assume like me you are a second or third or more child or cousin with no claim to anything of importance beyond your name. That is fine by me a name is nice for some but just by being here I can tell you have what it takes to earn your worth with or without that name."
"A cousin, as it happens. My father is somewhat distant in the line to lead the House. Though close enough that should a Vanishing happen to House Garess as it did to House Rogarvia, I would be among the missing."
"House Garess has given me more than a name, I must say," she adds, with gratitude evident in her voice. "I had the opportunity to train as both a cavalier and a priestess of Torag, and the status to serve in Brevoy's cavalry as an officer. My horse, my training, my gear?" She thinks about the Kellid next to her. My manners... "I am fortunate for what my family has been able to provide me, and I hope to bring honor to them."
Emerald finds it hard to avoid commenting on the savage's rudeness. Torag teaches patience, she thinks, and she waits a few moments to calm down before replying.
"I believe, Amiri, that they are providers of an opportunity. Perhaps this is a test of our patience, but we are under no obligation to stay."
She leaves it at that and wonders if the savage will get bored and wander off. Maybe she'll leave before I have to witness her table manners up close.
Ludivine is pleased to tell the barbarian woman what she knows about the Aldori. It's something to do while they wait at least.
"Aldori is mostly about the particular kind of sword they all have. This Aldori guy invented it a long time ago, along with a special way of fighting with it."
"It got very popular because it's flashy looking, fancy to watch, kind of like how people like magic shows you know. Anyway, people who get really excited about it and learn how to do it well often change their surname to Aldori, which must be very confusing after a couple of generations if you want to keep track of who your relatives are. There would be Aldoris you're related to, and Aldoris you're not related to because they're totally different families, but then on top of that there are completely new Aldoris popping up out of nowhere like mushrooms all the time. But I guess they don't care because being part of the sword fan club is more important than family, or is a new family. It's kind of like a religion or cult that way. Like you know how there are Caydenites who take the surname Cailean. But I think that's usually different because they are orphans who never had surnames to start with is what I've heard. So not completely the same but same-ish because it's all so important to them."
"Anyway, they have rankings of who's better or worse at fighting with the sword according to the rules. And they have duels to try moving up in the rankings. Some of them at the top are in politics, and important. That's because they have their own little army of sword lovers already on hand. It would be a bigger single army, but they feud a lot so it's always split into different little groups that are squabbling, mostly over duels I guess."
"They wouldn't be arguing too much about politics though I think, even though they're involved in that sort of stuff. Most all of them want Rostland to be independent is what I've heard. So that's what they are. It's kind of confusing, but you don't really need to think about it unless you want to become one. Otherwise it only comes up if you want something that touches on politics. Then you're probably okay anyway if you don't insult their swords, duels, or rankings. Oh! And Lady Jamandi Aldori is the very top Aldori of them all I think. We're at her place right now."
Ludivine blurts all this out at Amiri in a stream of thought, hardly slowing to take a breath. When she's finished she shrugs to indicate she's out of information and takes another sip of her drink.
Actaeon's tongue gets tied with Amiri's brashness. 'Flirting? I wouldn't even know how to . . . '
His thoughts fade when Ludi interjects and provides Amiri with a history lesson. He smiles and nods his head at his sister. 'I remember Ma and Pa's lessons too. Never knew why they were important, but I think I understand now.'
He does agree with the Amiri though. He is hungry and is wondering what the hold up is. He finishes his mug of mead and stands to pour himself another. He raises his mug of liquid courage and speaks to the others around him, "Well, I am in full support of Jamandi Aldori and a free and independent Rostland. And to also be rid of the bandits plaguing the land."
After a moment he realizes what he just said to a group of strangers and slowly lowers himself back to his seat. 'I need to get some food in me soon. This mead is getting the best of me'. He turns his head to Ludi and gives her an awkward, buzzed smile.
Hadin know the Aldori's history of prowess with their specific swords, and listen to Ludivine speech.
I haven't seen a duel with an Aldori swordsman, but everyone have heard of their skill with the sword. I don't know much about their political ambitions, however, but you seem to be well informed, Milady.
After a few moments a small bell rings and everyone quiets down.
A striking half-elf woman enters the hall, followed by an
aristocratic, middle-aged human man. The man wears
finely tailored clothing, fit for a noble, while the woman
appears dressed for battle. She wears a fine leather coat
over a sparkling mail shirt, and at her waist hangs an Aldori
dueling sword with a bright silver pommel. The two make
their way to the head table, where they remain standing.
The man speaks first. “Greetings, heroes! I am Ioseph
Sellemius, lord mayor of Restov. And this,” he gestures to
the woman beside him, “is Lady Jamandi Aldori. We both
thank you for answering her call for heroes. You may be
few, but we need only the best for this great task.”
Lady Jamandi offers the room a broad smile before she
speaks. “South of here, beyond Brevoy’s border, lie the
Stolen Lands. This disputed territory has been claimed time
and again by would-be settlers, but because the area has
been a haven for bandits and monsters, it has never been
held for long. Restov intends for this to change."
“If you have enough courage to drive off the dangerous
denizens of the Stolen Lands, you can seize territory for
yourselves and name yourselves baronesses or barons.
Restov intends to recognize the legitimacy of the new
rulers of this land, and none of the other neighboring
realms care enough to challenge you. We are prepared to
provide backing as a trade partner and military ally. If you
claim the land, you will have my—indeed, all of Restov’s—
support!”
Lady Jamandi raises her goblet. “But the details of your
individual missions and charters into the Stolen Lands can
wait. I raise my glass to you, brave heroes! For now, let us
eat and enjoy the evening. Tomorrow promises to be a very
busy day.”
After Lady Jamandi finishes speaking, her servants
begin circle around the room, filling mugs with ale, fruit
juice, or water and serving food from heaping platters.
Meek though he is, Sirinus decides to approach the scowling gnome, Tartuccio. His voice is still weak, and "distant."
Hello there. My name is Sirinus. I might be wrong, and tell me, but from your expressions I sense you have insight into the skills and talents (or lack thereof) of those present. Do you know things about some assembled here today?
The man before you is impeccably dressed in fine robes and silks, Tartuccio looks more like a stately gnome prince than an actual adventurer.
The Gnome scoffs "Of course I do! What kind of fool comes to such an event and doesn't know about their host and benefactors." The man stops to inspect who he is actually addressing, before making a seemingly knowing "hmm. I see you are 'new' and of course no one could expect to measure up to me, the great Tartuccio." Tartuccio replies arrogantly. "Our host is Jamandi Aldori, a Swordlord of some repute. It matters not much tho as long as she holds to her deal and makes me Baron when I make light work of claiming the stolen lands." Tartuccio finishes now standing in a regal manner expecting you to be impressed.
A fool if they had the chance, but yes in my case just new. You sound confident, I suspect you don't intend to do this alone and will try to bend others here to your will.
His stoic expression never breaks, but by now he's too amused by the gnome to be as nervous as he was before.
Some personalities far outsize the forms that contain them... he thinks.
Actaeon rolls his eyes at the foppish Gnome and attempts to ignore him. Biting deep into a roast chicken leg, he smiles at Ludi and looks around the room to listen in on any conversation.
Well, then. We are to be conquerors of a lawless land. By force, persuasion, or both. She is ready for the challenge.
Emerald tries to observe the relationship between the two speakers. The Lord Mayor would seem to have more official power, but does he defer to Lady Jamandi? Are they partners and equals? Rivals to a degree?
Ludivine stays where she's at eating. The room is full of strangers. She's also worried that if she leaves her food, someone will steal it or it will get taken away.
Ludivine looks around occasionally to see what people are doing. She does think she should have warned the pale man to avoid the gnome with the soured innards.
Hadin tries to make some small talk with the tall, powerfully build woman
I suppose you feel more at ease in the wilderness than inside a castle. May I ask you if you have already a plan, a part of the lands you wish to explore first?
Actaeon finishes another mug of mead as he watches the room. He notices a Halfling watching everybody else while she writes in a huge book. This intrigues him since he thinks that she would appear more at home at a college and moves closer to speak with her. "So, what are you writing about? Will you also be journeying into the Stolen Lands to fight off the bandits?"
"I suppose you feel more at ease in the wilderness than inside a castle. May I ask you if you have already a plan, a part of the lands you wish to explore first?"
Amiri "That's for sure." Amiri smiles "I prefer to be out swinging my sword. I plan to go with someone strong and fight strong monsters. Bandits will do for a bit but I hope there is something more exciting to fight out there." The Kellid woman says this while lifting her sword that is nearly as tall as she and mocking swings with her muscles nearly strained to their limit, even if her face doesn't show it.
"So, what are you writing about? Will you also be journeying into the Stolen Lands to fight off the bandits?"
A beautiful if slightly disheveled Gnome woman, finishes sketching for a moment before looking up at you with a smile. She turn her leather journal towards you."What do you think?" In the journal is a sketch of you (Actaeon), it is accurate if a bit rough, however on the pages are sketches of nearly everyone at the table as well as scrawled notes here and there, that could be poems or songs but you can't read them fast enough in the short time she shows you the book."I want to chronicle the creation of this new kingdom in the stolen lands and the exploits of the would be heros doing so. I'm Linzi by the way, I hope whoever I end up with is as friendly as you!"
@Emerald: The Lord mayor and Jamandi seem to be genuinely friendly toward each other. From what you know about them and what you observed you assume their goals are aligned and they believe what they have said to you.
Influence Round 1
Jamandi's servants swarm around the room after her speech is done. Pitchers of wine, ale, fruit juices and water are offered to be filled from by them before they begin to serve food from overly stacked platters. It appears the meal will be several courses. The first is crisp greens flavored with savory oils, followed by spicy seasoned waterfowl.
Amiri is a tall and muscular human woman, clad in a mix of animal skins, leathers, and battle-scarred hide armor. She wears a massive greatsword in a leather scabbard across her back.
Harrim is a middle-aged dwarf cleric with a bald head and a long, salt-and-pepper beard.
Jaethal is deathly pale and wears dark
clothing. Her raven-black hair is long, and she has no jewelry. Leaning against the table next to her is a massive, wickedly sharp scythe.
Linzi is a young halfling woman wearing leather armor and a weather-worn cloak. She keeps a large leather-bound journal in front of her, into which she sketches profile images of everyone present at the table and scribbles occasional notes and verses.
Maegar is a ruggedly handsome man with a constant shadow of a beard on his jaw; he wears his dark gray hair in a small bun. He carries a distinctive sword that bears the crest of House Varn—four hatchets arranged in a circle—on its pommel guard.
Impeccably dressed in fine robes and silks,
Tartuccio looks more like a stately gnome prince than an actual adventurer.
Valerie is a tall, exceptionally beautiful
woman with striking blue eyes and a warrior’s physique.
Sirinus moves to a new table to observe Linzi more closely. She seems distracted sketching Acteon, so perhaps he can safely observe something useful about her without making her uncomfortable.
Apparently not for the moment though...
Actaeon offers an honest smile at Linzi. He finds her very likable. Admiring her sketchbook, he says, ”Well, you surely have a knack for capturing the moment. A chronicle of this hopefully historic event is an excellent idea, and you seem perfect for the task.”
He keeps his smile, but slowly his mind goes to darker places, ’I hope we both survive so I can read it some day, Little One.’
After a short, but pleasant, conversion with the Halfling, Actaeon sits to enjoy the meal. As he eats, he attempts to observe the individuals around him. One, in particular, is Tartuccio with his confident demeanor and noble dress. Actaeon studies him most of all. ’As Ma would remind us, Keep an eye on your friends, but keep two on your enemies.’
Shortly after the meal, Actaeon approaches the foppish Gnome, ”You seem to know a lot but have you been to the ’Stolen Lands’? I am from southern Rostland, as you may have already guessed, and it can be a harsh land. Are you ready to rough it in the wilderness?”
Emerald sees that this Valerie (Valarie? name is different on the slide) seems more composed and civilized compared to the barbarian that Emerald had been sitting next to.
She approaches the other warrior woman and begins to swap stories of trying to move up through the ranks.
"It isn't so easy in Brevoy. Every man in the chain of command will tell me that it isn't what they think about my abilities if I'm up for a promotion, it's what their superiors would think. Because someone else might not like a woman in command. Not them, of course. Not a one willing to insult me to my face but also not a one willing to go out a limb for me. Keep their heads down and get paid seemed to be their goal.
I hear there are better experiences to be had in the more sensible parts of the world, like Lastwall or Mendev."
Hadin considers, quite suspiciously, the pale woman.
I've seen a few scythes in my youth on the farm, but never one so sharpened. I suppose you don't plan to use it to reap wheat?
After Ludivine has eaten everything within reach, she decides to go see who Actaeon is talking to. But, on the way to him she notices the tall woman and detours out of curiosity. She walks up to the woman and says "Hello, you look dangerous. Have you killed many people? My name is Ludivine."
AppearanceValerie is a tall, exceptionally beautiful
woman with striking blue eyes and a warrior’s physique.
Influence SkillsDC 11 Diplomacy (to act properly and
impress Valerie with your decorum), DC 16 Profession Solider or similar (to compare notes on fighting styles or chat about
military history)
Weaknesses Displays of honor and lawfulness appeal
to Valerie, and a PC who strikes her as particularly
honorable or lawful—including anyone openly wearing
religious symbols of a lawful good or lawful neutral
deity—gains a +2 circumstance bonus on checks made to
Influence her.
AppearanceJaethal is deathly pale and wears dark
clothing. Her raven-black hair is long, and she has no jewelry. Leaning against the table next to her is a massive, wickedly sharp scythe.
Influence SkillsDC 13 Knowledge Religion(To identify Jaethal's deity and talk about it.
Linzi offers a kind "Thanks" to Actaeon before noticing the strange pale man cite some magical information before returning to her drawings
Tartuccio gives a conceited sneer to Actaeon "I certainly know more than you and won't need the help of some farmboy like you to become a Baron."
Valerie responds to Emerald with kind regard and impeccable diction and civility "Yes, I once tried to take the proper and righteous path. But there are sycophants everywhere amongst the nobility and even in the church. I have taken it upon myself to love on my deeds, not my birth or the beauty the endless suitors and admirers claim I have. You seem to have similar experience, we should make fast friends and show the naysayers our swords are as strong as any other!"
Jaethal responds to Hadin quietly but with a bite of sarcasm. "Unless the wheat you are talking about screams and bleeds when reaped than no. Any 'stalks' that stand opposed to me will not be collected in baskets but in graves"
After addressing Emerald, Valerie turns to see Ludvine with food scraps on her face and clothes and frowns. "I only kill those who are deserving of death, law breakers, or evil doers. My sills with a blade and a shield are strong but I would sooner use them to offer protection than to end lives and will not brag about doing so.
Actaeon scowls at the Gnome, "If it wasn't for farms and us farmboys, barons would starve." He leaves the Gnome before listening to any more retorts. 'I'll end these bandits for Rostland, but there is no way I will allow the land to be subjugated by someone with his arrogance.'
After pouring another mug of mead, he works his way back to Linzi. 'After the Gnome, I need a friendly face to talk to,' he thinks to himself.
Approaching Linzi again, he asks,"With all of that beautiful sketching, I see that you have eyes for details and have been observing the room. What is your take on him?" he asks as he surreptitiously side-nods towards Tartuccio.