Astor would rise, when he heard the arrow being fired, and the probable sound of pain that came with it, and would move out of the tent, sword drawn.
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"If we're planning ambushes, they'll expect a watch. If you'd like, I can simply wait inside of the tent with my back to the flap and pretend to whittle. I'm definitely not going to do anything besides pretend to be a tree if I'm out here." He offers as he removes the saddle from the horse and places the bow inside of the tent, as a valuable item he'd rather they not randomly snatch up.
"It wouldn't hurt to put space between yourself and them. Can you handle a bow?" he asks as he moves over to the other horse, and begins to press the bow taut with tremendous effort and reloop the string. "The pull might be a bit much, but if you can use it, you're welcome to it." he held it out to the man. "I could also offer a sword, but if I'm dismounted, I'll need it." he says as he begins to strap his shield on with a sigh. Then mutters beneathe his breath, "First people we meet, we're going to have to kill."
"Yes." he said as he got on the horse, and road out to hand it off. They looked worse than he'd initially seen, as they came closer.
Astor would head back out to preserve the elves' modesty as well, with a slight sigh and a roll of his eyes. "Trust them?" He asked Alexis as he moved over to retrieve a rested horse, putting a saddle on it, and latching it into place quickly. Getting them off their feet was a priority, and they'd quickly find the horse unfriendly if they tried to bolt with it while he lead them back, but he'd wait for Alexis's suggestion before he decided to walk out and offer the horse, or ride out instead. He leaves his lance, either way.
Astor moved into the tent through the tent-flap, stating loudly enough to be heard "We have guests approaching from the fort, most likely. I'm unsure if your presence is necessary, but I am certain it is preferred." If speech isn't enough to rouse the two, he'll actually move to rouse them at arm's length.
Was waiting on a reply, but I don't see any harm in stating my action while we wait for said reply. That way you two have one less person to wait for :) I just can't guarantee that my actions play out in that particular manner. Assume that if there are more possible hostiles, that he'd tell you about those as well.
I actually dropped my kindle at work before an ice storm. Thank goodness ice is low on minerals. I think it works better than it did before. Sorry for your luck. I'd have gone nuts losing my kindle. Being required to perform human interaction while out and about and bored? :S
Astor sighs. "Diplomacy, or rouse the elves?" he asked Alexis quietly. "The stumbling makes me worried they're in actual danger or injured." He looks over the opposite direction with a slow scan to make sure that they aren't being flanked.
"If there are roads, I'm going to accept them as my friends." Astor smiles, the smile a little crooked. "Because anyone who is maintaining that level of order out here... is doing a lot better than that trading post. The watches sound good to me."
Yeah, I was assuming it was Oleg's, and this is just what happens without the heroes around :P If just the elves watch, we have two 4 hour watches, and only 8 hours of downtime in a given day. Add in the tent and horse management and it's still not that bad. If we extend it to two people on each watch, it will be Method 1: 4 hours of elf1 + human1, 4 hours of elf1 + elf2, and 4 hours of human2 + elf2. Method 2: Humanx2 for 4, Elfx2 for 8. Which is probably actually better, as the two elves are primary casters. My vote goes here, unless we want limited downtime. So 12 hours of downtime, but also significantly easier to fit things like meals and such into the rotations. I'll leave it to Aris and Faun to determine if they want watch partners, and which watch they'll take. As an added bonus, if we camp nearer to twilight, then the humans will still have decent vision when the elves are waking up, and you guys will have lowlight throughout the night!
Astor turned to follow behind. "As for watches, the best people to watch at night would be those with elf sight. It is also beneficial that you require less time for adequate rest. That means that without doubling up on the watch, we can have an eight hour night shift. Do you each trust your eyes enough to watch alone?" he asked, as he followed along behind them. "And are you alright with being outside the tent during this time? If you feel that they will leave their fortifications to attack us, then it is wise to have our eyes where they do not expect them."
"Assaulting a fortified position, even freshly fortified is a very poor idea. We would have to get in, and we would have to be looking at it from the perspective of invaders. While we technically have the right of way wherever we go here, I'd prefer to make friends, not enemies, to begin with." he states, having never gotten off of the horse, waiting to see what the others wish to do.
"It would seem that any of the options are bad, but simply staying here is the worst. I don't trust this. He mentions it being a trading post, but then denies us, even when he sees that we have much in the way of supplies... which means we are the perfect targets for trade. I would prefer we did not go in, unless we were prepared for things going very wrong. It would likely be better to do the latter. It is not as though we need lodging. I... don't know, though. I don't want to view every situation as a potential battlefield, that's been my life for the better part of a decade. Do we see any other options?"
Interestingly enough... no one has mentioned to anyone that this is supposed to be Oleg's. I've been assuming it, but my character has no idea in character. It might just be another random modicum bastion of something approaching civilization, so far as he knows. Right now, he'd really rather just keep going onwards -towards- Oleg's trading post. These guys are a waste of time and are making him annoyed. (because there is really not much four people can do against a keep's walls that isn't evil.)
Astor is neutral. He'd honestly rather set up camp far away from this backwater place at this point.
April 11th is Tabletop Day! Or... so says a certain celebrity. :P ditto on the thanks for running this. :)
"From my point of view, diplomacy is the only option." Astor offered with a shrug. "So it is either that we talk or that we leave. It is unwise to stay nearby, I think, though."
Astor made a motion to Alex that was mostly a 'be my guest' equivalent. "I can't be sure." Astor shook his head to Faunlara. "I hadn't heard anything about this place, to be completely honest. It could be Deserters, or it could be bandits themselves. No self-respecting soldier would be wearing dress uniform while in such a state.
Astor just sighed, and slowed down to let her stay in front.
"That was what I meant, yes." He said... and then frowned as she rode out in front once more. He sped the horse up once more, "Why does everyone seek to be in front of me today?"
"Better to keep us together than split us up. I don't trust me to do the talking, and I'd prefer not to risk anyone more explicitly important to our endeavors."
Astor sped his horse up to a cantor to get back to the fore (if only slightly), and then maintained the speed necessary to stay in a similar position to Aris. If they ran into a pit or the like, he was certain his horse would be more able to respond than the average horse. Likewise, they were more likely to fire on a closer target if at all. He strapped his shield to his arm as they rode forward.
"Thank you, Alexis. That's, as usual, a lot of valuable information. So... not recognized. Thus, no foreign aid to be expected." He continued to trot forward slowly. "I've no idea. At some point, subtlety loses its effect. I don't know when that point will be, however. From a tactical standpoint, marching up to a fort with four men and suggesting you are the rightful owner... has no positive outcome. Understating our claim is likely going to be of value."
I believe that it will become a lot of work if you go out of your way to move things every time they get moved. It's -better- if you -can- keep up with all of that, but it would get jaunty pretty quickly, and I do not think it is worth that.
Astor calls his horses to slow to a trot at the revelation of the unusual flag. "I haven't seen anything involving heraldry that wasn't mine in so long, I wouldn't be able to tell you if I ever knew. If what you're saying is true, though... that suggests that the fort flies a flag of someone else, that isn't recognized. A new party? Or simply not something you've studied?" he cast a glance to her.
"So, What brings you out here, Faun? What allegiance do you owe to Brevoy?" he asks, absentmindedly as they work. "And What are you hoping to find out here?"
Astor, for his part, will stick with the horses, and do what maintenance and grooming he is capable of doing for them in the short time they're allowed. Giving them a chance to drink, and getting them out of their armor, even for a short time, will make for a better temperament (even if they likely don't mind the barding).
"From the looks of it, we each have bedrolls, there's no way to hide those away. What of blankets? It looks as though we have two sizable tents. Which is very good; we'll have a backup tent in the event something unfortunate occurs. I haven't brought any ready sources of light, because I felt it probable that magical light would be abundant. If this is not the case, we certainly should restock. I have plenty of extra water, and a fortnight's rations. I'm also able to summon water, so that is a nonissue. Unless none of you are skilled as hunters, I've no need to stay. That is, unless one of you simply needs a warm bed for one last night in civilization before we head off into the wilderness."
If she was trying to be condescending, it was wasted on the cavalryman. "Sounds a lot like the Fourth Crusade. Never knowing when the next person is going to die, having to watch children become men in weeks and watch men die in moments. Yours has certainly lasted longer, but try to remember the high points. Good family, good friends, and the sacrifices you make for others will be their own rewards. In that our people do not recognize us, we likewise remain united. Again, you have my condolences."
"Certainly not a Lord. Northeastern Brevoy in my youth, but when Surtova came into power, My family was sent to Mendev to aid in holding back the World Wound. We still support Orlovsky, but... we also have our duties." he shrugged. "I'm sorry for your loss. How exactly does one become orphaned from an entire people?
Ah. I more meant for streamlining things. We have four members and that can lead to ties. I was thinking out of character, maybe you could be the tiebreaker in such an event... Or could be the decider on this type of topic (which route or hex to explore) when the DM called for a decks on. :) I think I may also be getting too in-character with the whole efficiency thing here... hmm... :p. Either way, it's up to you, really! Your character has power-of-the-map in the same way Alexis probably has power-of-the-purse. I'm not sure what Astor or Faun have power of, though. Death and life? :p Also, if you missed it, is there anything on your character sheets that you don't want Alexis to track?
Neat :p. Astor's vote for where to set up headquarters is one of those :p
Astor's vote is for whatever gets us to doing at least one of our jobs faster. Normally, he'd be all for safety, but they have a very specific job set out for them, and daylight is burning, so to speak. So, most likely the three day version, where we immediately meet the wilds head-on. Do we want to go ahead and put some people in charge of specific things? I'm at a loss for what sorts of smoothing we can do just now, but Astor would certainly trust Aris to suggest how we travel. She is the one with the maps, after all. :)
"I feel compelled to tell you that I speak eleven, and still have no idea what that was about." Astor supplies, not looking back over his shoulder. "Though I'll definitely bear in mind that your studies of just this area extend beyond my career as a soldier. Thank you for sharing."
Astor inclines his head. "Very well." He nods as each of them speaks. "Bandits, secure resources, then worry about being able to stand on our own. How long ago did the colonies fail? I've a feeling with little or no outside support, if the ruins of the old colonies are still prevalent, then the bandits would have set up there and tried to renew fortifications. It would be much more efficient. If this was all too long ago, however, then the ruins' tactical advantage would probably have long-been-destroyed by nature."
Hexographer is honestly neat enough for me to be happy with for my campaigns, I think... when I do get around to making world maps. Thanks :)
"Ah." he nodded, his face turning grim. "So then, we must ensure that we can stand on our own. Defenses will be a priority, so that we can defend our lands in the event that Brevoy repeats its previous choices?" he asked. Of course, a soldier would think of defense first.
What program do you use for that, by the way?
"Stopping in towns will help us to maintain our supplies, and will be arguably safer than roaming directly across the country-side. On the other hand, if we're going to be mapping things anyway, is it not wiser to travel overland, mapping as we go?" Astor asked of the others.
"Nice to meet you both. I'm certainly glad they saw fit to send a medic. It would have been nice to have had larger numbers, though. It'd have made a significant difference in controlling the situations we come across." Astor said as they continued to ride.
Astor smiled at the information that the two were able to provide. "I also have some magic in the form of Iomedae's blessings. Most of them are personal, though I can heal others in a pinch. A very serious pinch. Otherwise, simply treat me as you would any oafish warrior with a stick and a horse. Unless I say something like 'get behind me', then it's very likely a good idea to listen. Once we solve our initial problems, is there anything in the charters against us trying to secure routes into Hooktongue to aid this Drelev?" He seemed very much like a soldier-on-duty in demeanor. He was more than happy to share, but he was taking everything perhaps a little -too- seriously. "Do either of you know the history of the settlement that failed? I'm afraid that wasn't disclosed to me."
Alrighty! :) Lots of carrying capacity amongst the unladen horse and the treeman it is! No complaints here.
Ah! I did not take notice of that in my quick look through people's capabilities! Does make me wonder about giving the horse to the siege-treant... :p I'm not even sure it could ride, though :p But it is an option, if we want to maintain our overland movement. :)
"Anything that comes to mind. It's a long trip, and will take much longer the further we go, so anything conversational will be useful. Moreso, things regarding strategic positions that we should attempt to explore first. I feel the rivers are more valuable, but there may be reasons to look elsewhere. As it stands, I'm most interested in minerals and ease-of-trade once we get set up. That is, after we deal with the local bandits. What do you know of local commerce? And what does everyone believe we should do about the bandits?" He continued to ride, at apparent ease in his armor. That, or his mount was better able to compensate for him, it was hard to tell, really. |