[sblock=Whilst travelling]Before leaving, John had paid the free-sword tax. Though he had agreed to work for free, he was also inclined to forage on the way and wanted to avoid any discrepancies about what he could and couldn't take. The licence would be useful in future anyway. Between farms, John will casually keep an eye out for nuts, berries or sweet grasses to suck on or plants with leaves he can dry out and smoke. John enjoys the good things in life everywhere he goes. He's not eager to fill his belly for the day necessarily so much as indulge in things from pleasant tastes and smells to the sound of birds or the warmth of the sun on his face. He will only do this on the way if he has the time. He does not want to slow down the party [roll0][/sblock]
As he began to pass the three figures a feeling of dread began to form in John's stomach. He did not like the look of these strangers hiding and watching the road. At the very best, the three men in hiding were being cautious of anyone ELSE they encountered on the road, but something told John it was something else. The stories of Bandits waiting on the roads, attempting to pick on the weak, whilst letting the strong pass by rang in his mind. If they were bandits, they probably would have run if the party consisted of town guard, but adventurers? The bandits would probably just let adventurers pass by.
John was concerned. If these men were bandits, he would not be able to allow them to prey on the weak. At the same time, if any bloodshed could be avoided, he would prefer it. "Blagh" The thought of cutting a man's scalp off to cash in later and calling it justice did not appeal to John. If he could, he would try to find an alternative.
He slowed his pace to walk besides the cleric. "Pardon me miss Samara. Do you see those men up behind the rocks? I MAY be just making assumptions, but I find their behaviour... Odd at best. I must inform you that I would feel obliged to go and speak with them. If they are up to no good, I cannot allow them to" John takes a breath and licks his lips nervously, trying to find the right words "-remain, up to not good. I would find any alternative to violence to be preferred of course"...