Silas Gribb glares at all of you as his is taken away in manacles.

In disgust, your former boss calls out to you, "You unloyal backstabbers! I hope the sheriff sees you for who you really are in puts you all in a dungeon cell to rot!"

"Why are we even attacking this man, Silas? What has he done?"

"Since when do I need to give you a reason, Kardan?! You are being well paid to defend my caravan and follow my orders. However, since you asked and are clearly wavering in your conviction, I will tell you that this scoundrel who works for Belhaim is corrupt and he has set me up. Now he is trying to turn you against me!"

“We have all been fools.Quickly, follow Yardix’s lead. Don't fight these innocents. Silas has played us.”

"WHAT!?" exclaims, Silas Gribb. "Bungo, how could you say such a thing?! I let you guard my caravan and I even let you spout your stupid, I mean beautiful dwarf poem! Yardix, attack that Seargent! Did I mention that you tell the best jokes in all of Taldor and this Sergeant is not going to like them at all! In fact, before he attacked, I heard him say that your jokes suck. Lojhan, get up! Stop sleeping! I will let you sleep in the back of the wagon tonight! Come on, Kardan! Fight this oaf. I thought you said being a guard of my caravan was no challenge at all! This is what I was paying you for! Come on guys, fight this bald slug head!"

As Bungo approaches with his nodachi, Silas becomes much more panicked. "Stop! Stop! I surrender! Don't hurt me! I don't want to die! Please, I'll do whatever you want, but just don't hurt me!"

"Don't you listen to this bald headed back stabbing bastard of a sergeant!" Silas commands. "Draw your weapons and attack! What in hells am I paying you clowns for?!"

"Sergeant, you have nothing to worry about with these good fellows. They are decent, simple folk who are not use to dealing with authority such as yourself."

The merchant calls over Sergeant Hersk to his side and puts his arm around him and begins speaking in hushed tones.

"Don't bother yourself, young man." Gribb calls up to the guard. "Just stay where you are. My friend here is just joking. Aren't you, Bungo?!" He says with a serious stare to the Mwangi. "We have no such bananas. Come to think of it, we are not here to trade at all. I'm just carrying a lot of camping equipment."

Bluff: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

As the guard turns away, the unshaven merchant turns quickly to Bungo, glares at him and gives him a sharp comment, "You fool! Let me do the talking. Before you know it, we will have the whole regiment here inspecting my wagon! This is not what I meant when I said no productions!"

"Aye" Silas grunts a reply, trying not to say too much else.

"Start? Start?! Is that what I'm hearing? You start now! You're job is to guard this caravan and do whatever I tell you! Now, keep your eyes peeled for trouble and make sure that weapon of yours is nearby and ready to use."

"I will stride to keep a low profile while we are there, and what business are we talking about here?

"That's quite enough Kardan. My business is my business and it is something you need not concern yourself. I just trust that you will remember who is paying you and I expect you to follow orders and do your job when the time comes."

Yardix looks anxious to tell the joke. "I insist you hear it so here goes! An Ogre, Giant and Troll walk into a bar... But the kobald was able to duck under it."

"Enough. . . . Enough . . . . you crazy halfling. Stop it before I wet my pants!" Silas replies as he wipes tears from his eyes. "I am not used to laughing so much. I hired you four to protect my caravan, not to be making me laugh like some hyena. Yardix, you have great talent for a young fella such as yourself. However, I must admit, you halflings have a strange and quirky sense of humor!"

" “I call this: Life of a Dwarf”

“Pig…...Dig…….Rig…….Swig”

“There I lay, in the brig.”

"Well, Bungo, I see that you have a very simplistic view of dwarves. Have you ever met one, by chance?"

"I Kardan Adjul have dedicated my life in practice and studying the blade and magic,mixing both to with deadly synergy. Being a simple guard will be nothing of a challenge to me. "

"Magic and Blade, you say? I've never meant one who can do both well. However, let's just hope we don't have to put your words to the test."

Turning to the rest of the company, the unshaven Merchant yells out to the rest of you.

"Now, folks, I have a simple request for you. When we get to Belhaim, I want us to keep a bit of a low profile. I have some discreet business to attend to and I don't want us to stick out like a sore thumb. Do you understand what I'm saying? Perhaps we can just keep our heads down and refrain from making any big productions. Bungo, that may mean holding off on reading some of your Life of a Dwarf poetry."

"Haa, Haa, Haa!" bellows the merchant. "I had no idea that you were part bard! Well, if you wish to give me a little poetry, maybe that would help pass the time in this interminable trip. Let's hear one of your little rhymes, Jungo!"

"Kardan, Have you ever worked as a caravan guard before? I'm paying you good money to do your job and not ask questions. I need you to protect this shipment and if we run into bandits or goblins or any such fiend, I need you to dispatch them with great haste and keep my merchandise safe. We are not hear to socialize and get to know each other. Are we clear on that point?!"

A scruffy, stern, aging merchant sits in the front seat of a horse drawn wagon holding the reins. He calls back to the rest of you as he looks down to each of you who walk beside his wagon."So, tomorrow we reach Belhaim. I've got some business to conduct in the village and I need you guys to be ready to do your job. Are you all clear on that?"