Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="pathfinderq1" data-source="post: 3577317" data-attributes="member: 48394">For the first portion of the journey, Johanna seemed to simply enjoy the trip itself.  While she had traveled through terrain like this on her initial route to the festival, this was different- now she had battle-tested friends, and folk who knew the local stories of the area.  The walking itself did not seem to trouble her at all- with her bedroll and extra gear stowed on one of the pack mules, she seemed to have boundless energy and was ready to help set up camp when most of the others seemed weary from the day's trek.As the riders approached, she stepped up behind Nathaniel- while she had not drawn the greatsword from across her back, her hands clenched in anticpation of a possible fight.  The young townsman's words were well-spoken indeed, as sweet to the ear as Redbeard's apple had been to the stomach during the long walk.But things did not turn out so simply after all, of course.  Still, the leader of the riders had said perhaps more than he intended, and a number of possible alternatives presented themselves.  Johanna stepped forward a pace or two, past Nathaniel and Larren- she clapped the bard on the shoulder gently for his effort, and whispered a "Looks like Chaos well-served," to Larren under the cover of Redbeard's quick question.  Then she stood in a wary stance, facing the leader of the riders.  Her voice was not as sweet as the bard's, but it was pleasant enough, trained tones that held the undercurrent of great cat.  "We've heard of the men of Mallon Hill, and of their valor- in fact we might be able to tell you tales even you don't know of your ancestors' prowess and honor, for we've found lost and ancient record of those deeds.  But we are free folk as well, and we'll not be forced to pay up, when all we want is passage to slay the beasts that the Thane has asked us to kill.    Maybe you're tired of killing such scum, but we've not yet had our fill of orc-blood.  So as I see it, we've two ways of putting this problem behind us...""You can grant us passage, of your own free choice, and we'll do our best to wipe out the orcish rabble- even if we were to fail, we'll thin their numbers by a good bit, and if we triumph we'll be glad to tell of your generosity when we sing of this.  Perhaps we can even share camp with you tonight, and trade food and tales, and we'll all come out friends.  But if that choice isn't to your liking, I've another idea that will make just as good a song.  Let me know if you'd like to hear it..." </blockquote>

Verification