You all meet up on the mustering grounds the next morning.
Prince Oargev and Alaric arrive together to find Commander Blade and his 104-strong warforged unit waiting stoically for the six of you to arrive. Blade wields a wicked-looking double sword. His plating is dark adamantine with mithral in-lay. His bracers, shoulders, and legs all have small silver-colored blades jutting out from them. His stars of rank are etched into the metal of his armor.
Blade greets the Prince and Alaric with a slight bow of the head and a salute. His voice is hollow and emotionless.
"My men are prepared to march at your command sirs. With minimal stops, we should make it to Baron Leo ir'Hoffsted's keep just after nightfall tomorrow. If you wish, I will send a scout ahead to warn him of our imminent arrival. After that, we have a journey of nearly three days to the village of Stonehearth and the keep of the ir'Witz family. A day's ride from Stonehearth is the castle and lands of Duchess Penelope ir'Kaskie. A day from there, we will find our ultimate destination."
Dev and Kraken roll up in a wagon, laden with supplies for the trip. Two mules are hitched to it, plodding along determinedly.
Thom and Varis arrive shortly thereafter, stowing their things in the cart.
Your orders given, Blade forms up his ranks, and sets them to march.
[sblock=OOC] Any special instructions or marching orders? We can come back to this if you want.[/sblock]
The warforged can't be roused to speak more than a few perfunctory words on the trip. The first night, you select a large field in which to make camp. It seems eerie to have over one hundred night watchmen awake and vigilant, but you sleep comfortably and safely in your tents. The next morning, without incident, you continue on your way.
As noon passes and the sun begins to fall from the sky, you come across some farms and out-lying homes in service to Baron Leo. Just outside a small village, two riders approach you column.
The younger is dressed in nice clothes with the arms of the Hoffsted family on his doublet. The elder rider is dressed like a simple tradesman. The younger speaks first.
"Greetings Prince Oargev, in the name of Baron Leo ir'Hoffsted, loyal subject to you and you Queen mother. I am his page, Shel, and this is my father, Rog Barrelman. He's never met a prince before, and asked to ride with me and meet you. Lord Hoffsted is eager to meet with you and asked that I ride ahead to bring you along."
[sblock=OOC] This will be the beginning of a mini-skill challenge titled "Making the Eastern Lords Like Oargev." These are three key families in the area, and by staying with them, you have a chance to impress them with Oargev's abilities, friends, and personality. Round 1 of the challenge takes place on the way to Lord Hoffsted's castle. You are riding with Shel and his father, the local Barrel-maker through village and farmland, headed towards a castle on a cliff which overlooks the water that divides Karrnath and Cyre. What do you do?[/sblock]
