[TheLongRoad] The Road to Thustrata

[foproy]

there is nothing natural about anything going on here, the sickness seems to be hitting individuals and leaving the rest of the family alone. live twigs and blooms coming from long dead wood. and a beast stalking the night that can evade the most skilled hunters. there is certainly something supernatural going on around here.

[LordKruelos]

Morning on the Road
Outskirts of Dagger Falls



As the sun rises higher, partially obscured by the cloudy sky, the travelers break camp and move back toward the road to Dagger Falls. Shortly after putting foot on the trail, the clatter of mounted riders precedes the appearance of a large patrol of mounted riders around the wooded bend.



In the middle of the patrol walk several prisoners, hands bound before them, roped to a lead and hedged in by armed riders. In addition to these walkers rides a more curious sight, also tied to the lead rope -- The rider is a faerie, that much is plain. The man is slightly built with the fine features of an elf, but barely reaches knee-height to a human. His clothes are of tawed hide dyed in bright greens, blues, and reds. His cloak dark and mottled greens. All of these are embossed with intricate knot-work and the fastenings are gold and silver. His steed is a pure white, proportioned like a finest stallion you have ever seen but smaller than even a pony. Here and there the silvery hair is coloured in faded lines, spirals, and knot-work in greens, blue, violet, and red.

Spotting the travelers at the side of the road, the patrol fans around them.

Patrol Commander

The lead rider addresses the travelers "You -- who are you? State your business and be quick about it. What has you on this road, armed for trouble, and stalking along the morning fog?”

With riders fanning around the party along the road, they are hemmed in along the side of the road, with the woods to their back. Should the travelers try to flee, they could only flee into the woods unless they fought their way through the patrol of more than two dozen mounted warriors.

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The bound, pint-sized rider is Sainrith of the Three Sparrows, Catodon's Pech Archer Lancer.
Like the other prisoners, he was caught this morning traveling along the road to Dagger Falls. The patrol arrested him on suspicion of banditry and roped him into the line.
Sainrith noticed several horses at the rear of the patrol are riding with bodies slung across their backs.

[foproy]

we wish not trouble, but it can often seek you out on the road. best to prepare for it would you not agree? also tell me where did you find the small one?

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impress 1d20+0=19
action die to break the cap 1d4=4
EXPLOSION!!!!! 1d4=2

[LordKruelos]

The commander is visibly irritated. Once again, he's lost a handful of men here and there over the night. When they patroled in 2s and 4s, whole patrols would disappear, in patrols of 12 he finds nothing but gets sniped at in the dark.

Patrol Commander

The lead rider addresses the Shadefire's question We found him on the road this morning, armed with a bow and belligerent and we took him for questioning. Is he one of yours?”

Shadefire's query is swiftly followed by the attention to Vár

Vár	"I hear you're hiring. I survey the land before I ask about the job.    "

Guard Chorus

Murmurs among the riders show Vár is recognized at least by recent reputation. "He's the one we heard about yesterday in the market” Big fella. Caw look at the beastie next to him!

Patrol Commander

The lead rider addresses the travelers "If you're wanting to take up employment, you'll have to see the Sheriff on that -- you come along with us and we'll see he signs you up.”

[foproy]

no the small one is not one of ours, but i am familiar with him, his kind are not prone to violence though their mouths can get them into trouble.

[edit: wrong code]

[Fiendbasher]

Vár's nose wrinkles at the bridge as he eyes the fey rider, then the men, and back to the fey again. He rakes his nails under the scruff of his chin.

"I don't know. He looks familiar to me." He calls out to Sainrith, "Small one, what are you called?"

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I'm assuming he's not gagged (probably a big assumption, heh) and that he's a member of the Company.

[Catodon]

The Faerie speaks and his voice is cool and clear "I am Sairnith of the three sparrows, my mother was Ide Longsight and I am wrongly accused by these honourless brutes. Not one among them would face me alone in the trial of the hunt. It is they who are brigands who accost honorable travellers knowing wanderers have no family to speak for them in trial. I suppose it is the slave shackles for me." and he sighs in a mellodramatic way.
He looks over Var and Grimmar "You perhaps have travelled to the Isle of Manlir and seen my fair kin" He winks at Grimmar then fixes his emerald eyes on Shadefire:
"I know one among your number knows my people and perhaps will lend the wieght of his holy position to my defence. Shadefire there is long kinship between our people, will you stand idley by while low uncombed mortal brigands harrass and enslave fey folk?"
He glances at Var and fires off a quick wink "Woeful is my fate, to toil the fields of unwashed Men in chains" he proclaims with a cocky smile on his lips.

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unskilled Taunt roll against the guards
1d20+1=18
so 15 as I am unskilled

[Fiendbasher]

Vár grunts in bemusement after hearing Sairinth's reply. He turns to address the commander of the riders.

"I do think I have heard of this one. That would make him a mercenary, not a bandit... and from what I've seen so far he might be useful. While we have been out on the road at night we've seen some strange creatures lurking about the shadows. The last one I spotted looked like it might be some sort of dark fey or goblin, and it seemed able to easily evade any kind of normal tracking. Maybe this one..." he gestures with an open hand, palm up, toward the fey rider, "...can help you track it down. That is, if it's the sort of thing you lot have been running up and down the roads at night looking for. Might bear bringing him with us to see your boss and find out what he thinks."

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Impress check: 1d20+1=13

[Catodon]

Sainrith speaks "You are most observant. I am a fey hunter, these unwashed brigands in their sack-cloths would do well to unbind my stallion and let my skills loose upon the darknesses of these woods.  Then, as proof of thier unexpected wisdom, in short-time there would cause for hearth-light, wine, and song.
Instead I fear I face a life of slavery and toil; my days a haze of exhaustion in the fields, my nights to be spent in a chicken coup where thier toothless wives and ordourant mothers will deprive me of sleep until I'm listless and spent" He lets out a mock melancholy sigh and looks longingly at the rope tethering his mount.

[Jigger]

Wallace chortles. "We'll he certainly has some fight in him.", he says taking on a devious swagger, as he circles the pech. "Retainer for a recruitment is usually a weeks pay. Let us take the grig to the sheriff, and see if he's any use.  We'll front you the retainer, if theres anything extra, we'll keep it, and if it not, we'll take the lose." he say's producing a pouch of coins. "It's a win for everyone; the sheriff gets a new hunter, we get a boost up, and you we get the retainer without all the hassle of having to drag him in." Taking on a serious tone of a drill sergeant as he turns to the fey, "What say you 'Sairnith of the three sparrows', you willing to prove your metal, by helping the sheriff find the beast that's stalking these roads? Or would you rather spend the rest of the day trading jabs with these gentlemen".

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Impress + Bribe
1d20+3+0+AD
1d20+3+1d4.extra(4)=25

[LordKruelos]

In spite of Sairnith's ongoing verbal abuse concerning the guards, their less-than-faithful wives, and indeed the entire legitimacy of their parentage, coin talks -- especially since otherwise they'd be saddled with the small fey until who knows when.

An Audience with the Sheriff
Dagger Falls Inner Bailey


You are escorted into the courtyard, and then up to one of the upper floors, where the
walls are hung with bright tapestries and the floor is littered with dirty rushes.

Sheriff Jax, a wiry man with close-cropped grey beard and hair, a warrior's build, and a bureaucrat's temper is sitting at a heavy oaken table, listlessly toying with some papers. He rises and smiles tightly when you enter.

Sheriff Jax

So you are the mercenary trackers I've been told about? I may have some work for you.

[foproy]

it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. what do you need done?

[LordKruelos]

Sheriff Jax

I have need of trackers without local sympathies to help end this petty insurgency and show these rabble that the House of Morn is nothing left but a fairy tale and a distant memory. Even the ploy of whatever sorcery they've found to kill innocent women and children with their plague will not slow progress. Those rebellious dogs think they... The Sheriff pauses mid-rant, hesitates, then continues, changing tack and tone Well, really, the politics of the situation are surely beyond you, but there is work for you and loyal service is well-rewarded in my employ. To prove yourselves, go to the ruins of the Temple of Morning and investigate the tunnels and cellars beneath. Rid me -- and the people of Dagger Falls, of course -- of whatever has taken up dwelling in the depths below the temple and it will be worth 50 silver for each of you. Oh and one last thing -- should you in your travels uncover any of the so-called Freedom Riders or Morn-sympathizers, there is a 50 silver bonus for each you capture and bring me -- and twice that amount if you should track them and uncover their hiding places. Unless you have questions, Marrakt will see you out.

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The ruined Temple of Morning is #7 on this map.

[Fiendbasher]

Vár listens to the Sheriff speak with his arms crossed over his broad chest... only one rough brow pops up at the rant. Once he is done talking, Vár speaks up.

"Politics only concerns us where it comes down to what complications it's going to throw our way while we're working. With that in mind, I would welcome anything you're willing to tell us about this 'House of Morn'. Particularly any tactics they've already used against you. It would be a shame to be caught by surprise by something you've already dealt with before." "Plus, the better we're able to identify them, the quicker and more effectively we can deal with them for you should we encounter them."

[Catodon]

Sainrith
“I am from a hunting people and have skills you need but I assure you that this House of Morn is not a tale known among my people. Should I complete the task of ridding the temple of all unnatural terrors then I ask no silver only that you sing your praise of me in the market place. Swear before your gods and these witnesses that you will sing that song if I achive my goal and my service in this one matter is yours.
As for the riders, if you swear before your gods and these witnesses they will not be imprisoned, maimed, or killed and that they will face trial precided by an impartial priest then I will bring them to you in exchange for an a slice of beef, one slice per rider brought to me at the table of your home.
As for my recent allies here they can make their own bargains.
Do you agree to a Faerie’s terms? Do you agree knowing that to cross my kind has…consequences. This last you know well, you mortals do have your faerie tales.”