(Casual D&D III) The Man in Black

[dpdx]

Fendric looks at Nurthk with respect and admiration.

"Wise words, indeed, my friend. But for that matter, neither is Niccolo or Aerda cut out to handle combat such as we expect Tatlock and the rest of us will be thrust into, magical ability notwithstanding, yet they have pitched in their lots with us from the very start!

As a Fellowship, we have never before demanded of anyone, anything they weren't already willing to give to us, since we began this mission. I see no reason to institute entrance requirements now, simply because Manderock and the woodsman want a valet.

I have my doubts about Tatlock's ability the same as you both do.

But I also doubted Oliver's ability in light of his advancing age when he clung to me, sobbing, at Yattro's Station, devastated by the seige of our fair city; still, I welcomed his company, and he did not have to act as my porter, or fetch us water. Which I suspect is part of the reason why he took Tatlock along when most of us couldn't see the benefit of it.

And I doubted that there would be any benefit, either, to traveling alongside a woodsman who looks with derision, opposition and misunderstanding upon us all, and tells us of it without hesitation. But he invited himself along, and I did not object, nor did I pile upon him any ethic but one: stay alive. And though he vexes me still, he has proven valuable to this quest, even indispensable in certain situations.

So if the intent is to sour the boy on following his conscience altogether, they're doing a very good job of it. But I do not happen to stand for it, and will press that argument home at the end of Vespers' tracks in the dirt, or my weapon, if need be.

Coddled, no; but By All That Is Holy, respected until proven to deserve otherwise."

 

[Guilt Puppy]

Tatlock stays back away from the argument, though he watches with open concern. Once it appears to have settled, he approaches Fendric, sheepishly.

"Pardon me for sayin' so, Father, but I really don' mind doin' a few chores for helpin' out, if I can be good for it. An' Jake seems like a fine mule, so I don' mind much keepin' him company, either."

He stutters air briefly, gathering up what eventually appears to be a look of pride, and confidence.

"And as for fightin'," he says, glancing at Nurthk with a grin, "I ain't worried much about that. The Woondsum boys back home used to try an' give me a hard time, but I got to be so quick and good at hiding places that they had to give it up. And I can sling a stone okay, too -- the way I figure, that orc was a way of testing that, you see? That's why Pelor sent him, so I'd know I could take care of myself, like a warrior."

He raises his head and broadens his shoulders, grinning tentatively.

(feel free to backtrack to this... in the interest of moving forward, though) ...

As evening comes on your journey south, you catch signs indicating your approach upon Emmethrach -- a fairly large farming community, judging by what Tatlock knows of it. Just as you begin to pass the first fields, however, a man bearing a torch and wearing mismatched armor comes rushing toward you.

"Hoy!" he calls out, in a loud whisper. "Get down, get back! Don't let them see you!"

He waves his free hand in a large gesture, toward the back of the fence of the nearby field.

(OOC: Before it becomes too evident why I'm asking, who currently possesses the three periapts of wisdom you've accumulated? And are wearing them, and if so, are you wearing them over or under your shirts/armor?)

 

[Festy_Dog]

"Wise words, indeed, my friend. But for that matter, neither is Niccolo or Aerda cut out to handle combat such as we expect Tatlock and the rest of us will be thrust into, magical ability notwithstanding, yet they have pitched in their lots with us from the very start!"

Nurthk nods in understanding.

"I see no reason to institute entrance requirements now, simply because Manderock and the woodsman want a valet."

Nurthk chuckles.

"Well, they see an opportunity of some kind, and as much as I am vaguely opposed to bringing the lad, I can't hold it against them for wanting to," he shrugs and smiles, I guess it's alright as long as he doesn't jeopardise our objectives."

"And as for fightin'," he says, glancing at Nurthk with a grin, "I ain't worried much about that. The Woondsum boys back home used to try an' give me a hard time, but I got to be so quick and good at hiding places that they had to give it up. And I can sling a stone okay, too -- the way I figure, that orc was a way of testing that, you see? That's why Pelor sent him, so I'd know I could take care of myself, like a warrior."

He raises his head and broadens his shoulders, grinning tentatively.

Nurthk leans back and casts a much less threatening eye upon the lad than done prior.

"Well, it looks like you've got the spirit for it. If you show potential, I'm sure we could teach you a few things by the time we get to the Glades," he says, a little optimistically.

***

"We'd best take his advice," Nurthk mutters and hops off his horse.

Nurthk leads his horse briskly over to where the farmer is hiding, making sure to keep Gale between him and the general direction of whatever the farmer is hiding from.

 

[dpdx]

"Pardon me for sayin' so, Father, but I really don' mind doin' a few chores for helpin' out, if I can be good for it. An' Jake seems like a fine mule, so I don' mind much keepin' him company, either."

"I admire your attitude and your willingness to help, Mr. Tatlock, so I will cease to argue the point with the others. However, allow me to make one thing clear:

You are responsible for your own well-being, that is first and foremost. Because of that, you are not to exhaust yourself with these 'chores.' If you find yourself exhausted or feeling... 'funny,' you will stop, and find myself, Nurthk, Shavah, or Hiritus, so that you can recover.

Similarly, if you are having trouble with one of the Fellowship that you cannot sort on your own, you may feel free at whatever time is best convenient to you, to involve any of us.

I impose this condition not to 'coddle' you. Instead, I do this so that you are at your best when the situation demands it, and by that I mean combat. If you are exhausted, or otherwise discomfited, you cannot operate the sling as you are capable of, is that not right?

So, welcome to the Fellowship. May You Remain In Light for the rest of our journey."

He stutters air briefly, gathering up what eventually appears to be a look of pride, and confidence.

"And as for fightin'," he says, glancing at Nurthk with a grin, "I ain't worried much about that. The Woondsum boys back home used to try an' give me a hard time, but I got to be so quick and good at hiding places that they had to give it up. And I can sling a stone okay, too -- the way I figure, that orc was a way of testing that, you see? That's why Pelor sent him, so I'd know I could take care of myself, like a warrior."

He raises his head and broadens his shoulders, grinning tentatively.

Fendric chuckles as he remembers Nurthk's religious leanings. "Perhaps St. Cuthbert sent you, Nurthk, so that Mr. Tatlock could properly don his new armor."

**********

As evening comes on your journey south, you catch signs indicating your approach upon Emmethrach -- a fairly large farming community, judging by what Tatlock knows of it. Just as you begin to pass the first fields, however, a man bearing a torch and wearing mismatched armor comes rushing toward you.

"Hoy!" he calls out, in a loud whisper. "Get down, get back! Don't let them see you!"

He waves his free hand in a large gesture, toward the back of the fence of the nearby field.

(OOC: Before it becomes too evident why I'm asking, who currently possesses the three periapts of wisdom you've accumulated? And are wearing them, and if so, are you wearing them over or under your shirts/armor?)

Fendric has one, worn underneath his overshirt, but above his armor, as is his holy symbol. Niccolo has another, and the third periapt's whereabouts are unknown - possibly Aerda?

The (ordained) Pelorites halt their horses as quietly as possible, dismount, and lead them along with Nurthk.

As Hiritus detects evil briefly on the man to determine which side he should be on, Fendric inquires (in a whisper) as to what the man is talking about.

"What is it, my good man?"

 

[wings]

(Sheesh, take some time to take final exams and you guys post a page and a half...)

Aerda raises a brow when it is mentioned that he is not perhaps suited for combat when magic is excluded. He had cast very few magics in their presence he realized, so he could forgive them for doubting his use in combat..

Aerda takes to summoning the magic steed when they set off, his magic preserving long enough to be ridden a normal 8 hour shift and even a couple hours longer. He doesn't have much to say about the Tatlock discussion either way, swinging up onto the horse and staying on the peripherary of the conversation. He is glad to be moving, using the time to plot out a rough course of where they have been and how he thinks they should continue.

As the man makes his way to them, and warns them to get down he does so, moving over near Fendric and the torchbearer. He sends Astrule up into the sky, and watches the man, awaiting his answer.

 

[DrZombie]

(Raven is wearing the periapt of wisdom ever since it was given to him by one of the hillmen at the cabin. He wears it under his leather vest.)

 

[Sparky]

Oliver, irritated with the whole conversation, pushes his way into the knot of horses, shaking his head. How little you understand, Fendric. He growls, "I apologize for inviting the boy along with us against the better wishes of the Company. That apology goes to you, as well, boy. More so, really." He clenches his jaw and pushes the rest of the way through the cluster of horses to fall in beside Nicollo, who's remained oddly silent throughout. He looks sympathetically down at the gnome.

Wonder what's eating him. I could use the silence, though. Winkle warbles in his sleep and Oliver curses himself roundly for breaking the fragile comraderie he'd sensed at the Inn.

*************
Struggling off the tall horse, Oliver hits the ground with a grunt and leads his mount and Bastrop along with the others, paying mind to keep the animals behind him. He scans the distance in the direction the man had indicated, looking, listening, for them, "Where's Raven?"

Spot: 17
Listen: 22

 

[DrZombie]

From the bushes at the side of the road Raven watches the farmer approach the group. He listens to what the man has to say.

"Stay" He whispers to his horse as he pats it on the neck and secures the leash loosely to a tree. He strings his bow and quietly stalks a little to the side,looking at what the farmer was pointing at.


(spot 10+11=21)
(move silently 12+15 = 27)
(hide 12+6=18)

 

[Guilt Puppy]

The man -- who does not detect as evil, to Hiritus -- crouches down beside you, still talking in whisper.

"Are you the men Rall and Spiro hired?" He takes a quick look at your response, then shakes his head. "No, you wouldn't be..."

He stares down for a moment, blinking his sagging eyelids briefly.

"We've... the orcs have come into town, here. They've taken over the mayor's house, and have his daughter hostage... If you come coming into town looking like that, armed and on horses, they'll probably kill her."

He looks over his shoulder, but it doesn't seem that this mayor's house is anywhere in sight.

Not considering much your interest, and seeming a little eager, he goes into detail:

"They came the night 'fore last... Out of nowhere, really. We almost never have any problems with them, this far from the mountains, but I guess this time they wanted something bigger than they could get in the foothill villages. Anyway, we were all so caught of guard -- we only have a couple of men on nightwatch, mostly to make sure everyone gets home safe after a good drunk, is all. This time of year, passing out on the walk can be deadly..." He pauses for a moment, shakes his head lose of the sidetrek. "Anyway, they pretty much turned the whole town upside-down by the time anyone had woke up to notice. Must have been nigh a hundred of the bastards... But they couldn't find everything they wanted from us, so they gathered us up at the center of town -- they'd already taken over the mayor's house by that point, and had him, his wife, and his girl in there, too... Demanded we turn over some large amount of food, arms, and armor... The food we had, but the rest we don't have around town, not in the numbers they were asking."

He pauses for a moment, clearly coming to what he finds to be a solemn part of the story.

"When we told them we'd have to go to Eivanrach to get everything, they killed Mag-... killed the mayor's wife, and gave us three days 'fore they'd kill the rest. Most of them had fled by that point, save the ones who'd ended up at the manor... As a town we could fight them and win easily, once we got ourselves together. But the hostages... the hostage, now... After we gathered up all the money we could send North, we realized we'd probably come up short, so Tanor, our priest, went to try to renegotiate... but the moment he even came near the place, the orcs guarding the front shouted some sort of signal, and charged at him. He ran, and they didn't chase, but it wasn't a minute later... the upstairs window opens, and they toss the mayor's head out, right into the middle of the street. At that point we decided that what money we'd gathered should be spent hiring men in Eivanrach, who could get in quickly or quietly enough that the girl could be saved... That's who I thought you might be, at first, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Whoever's supposed to come's supposed to come in hiding, on carts... They can't tell much of what goes on from the manor, but every few hours they do send out an orc to patrol the town, I guess to make sure we aren't planning an attack."

He glances over his shoulder again, looking nervous once more.

"Anyway, that's our situation... Don't know if you folk can help at all or would want to... We've got not much left to offer in reward. But at the very least, if you only seek to pass, pass around town, on the west side, where they won't see you."

 

[dpdx]

Hiritus turns to Fendric, whispering very softly, so as not to be heard by passing patrols:

"Brother Fendric, I'm sorry, but I have to help these people. I can catch up with you after this is taken care of, if the rest of you want to move on..."

"Of course not. I will help, as well."

"Thank you."

Fendric turns to the rest of the group assembled:

"Quietly now, who else wishes to assist these townsfolk? Hiritus and I are bound here, but there is no reason the rest of you should be required to join us in this assistance."

Fendric then returns his attention to the farmer.

"Introductions are in order, since it appears that at least some of us will help you. I am Brother Fendric, of Pelor. This is Sir Hiritus, also of Pelor. These you see here are our companions: Aerda, Niccolo, Shavah, Nurthk, Oliver, and Tatlock. Raven is one of us, as well, and he should be returning shortly. Are we sufficiently undetectable here, or is there a safer place to keep our horses to avoid detection while we speak to each other?"