[Game Thread] Chapter One: Erupting Chaos

[VALIS]

Originally Posted by FoggyKnight

"Maybe the other one is mute?"

Maybe the other one is going to keep his mouth shut and watch these fools get into trouble. Noticing loud violent activity That butcher is mad. Perhaps we shall wait and see what these people do.

To Valandil:

Name is Tinhun. The meatcutters actions will speak for themselves."

[Iberus]

The warlord is surprised when the Dragonborn at long last opens his mouth. "Nice one, Tinhun. I'm Valandil, but those who don't despise me - and there are lots who do, even some quite close to us now - usually call me Val. In my experience butchers are usually not the best of people. Then again, anyone who chooses to spend his time cutting up bloody carcasses from dawn till dusk..."

[FoggyKnight]

Cocking her head slightly, Jenna raises both eyebrows at Dim. The request surprises her, considering the faith of the gnome, not usually known for shadowy actions. Nick papers off the Provost's Dogs? I'd be better off nicking shines from them, there would be less squealing. It would be a feather in my cap if I could pull it off though. Nobles tend to have their noses so high in the air, they can't see past them, so I might be safe.

"Alright. I'm going to go see what I can scrounge for dinner before my watch. See you later." Nodding to each of them, she turns around and heads off to the west.

[juxtaposition]

Dim raises an eyebrow at Jenna at the response he received, or lack there of. 'Did she even understand what I was asking her?' He thought, as he watched her skip off to find some food. He shook it off, and looked back to regard the rest of those standing around him. Or maybe one kneeling beside him. 'He looks like he's taken care of that nick in his leg well enough. I doubt he needs my help with it.'

Dim spoke to Armond, "AH, you know the Captain? You must know this area very well, to be so intimate with its people. Perhaps we can discuss Sanbarn, and more specifically our trip there, in a more private location." He says, as he flashes his eyes towards Ufland. Dim leads Armond a little away from the crowd to speak unheard, if he follows.

[Vicfalcon]

Armond considders Dim for a second, then nods. Getting up and following him, Armond speaks softly. "What would you have of me good priest? I do know the 'Captain' yes, we were in the academy. But that was years ago, we didn't get along very well, so I doubt I would have any pull with him." Armond says, sitting down on the grass.

[juxtaposition]

"It's not about the captain that I wish to speak with you," Dim says to Armond once they are out of earshot. "It is about Sanbarn and it's people. To help the priest on his errand getting into the city, we need certain paperwork carried by people who serve the judicial court inside the city. I am asking you because you're from the area, and would be most likely to recognize one of these people." Dim hopes to get the man's cooperation. "I understand you only agreed to guide us there, but isn't helping us enter the city also part of that duty? All I really ask is that you keep a watchful eye for people from inside the city, and let me know if you see anyone."

'I hope I'm not asking too much of the young fellow.' Dim thinks. So far, none of the people he's talked with about getting into the city have been too keen on his tasks.

[Vicfalcon]

Armond thinks for a few seconds, then speaks. "There might be someone from Sanbarn within the caravan, I will look around." Armond says, looking up into the sky. "I would like to know what is going on within the walls of Sanbarn, not even it's guards would tell me and I know many of them." Armond then looks at Dim, extending his hand. "I believe we really haven't formally introduced ourselves, I am Armond Braithwaite." As he holds out his hand you can see a signet ring upon his finger, the symbol of Corellon Lorethian encompassing a rose, as it's marker.

[juxtaposition]

"A pleasure," Dim says, shaking the man's hand. "I hope everything goes well for us on watch tonight, and getting into the city tomorrow. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get some reading done." Dim wanders off to his chest, and withdraws a book and begins to read up on Sanbarn's court systems and judicial laws as he waits for guard duty. His book is a bit outdated, but anything could help him.

[Iberus]

Seeing the group who have agreed to accompany the priest begin to disperse, Valandil wanders off towards somewhere that looks as though it might have some decent food and ale. He wants to get a quick bite and quaff some strong brew before first shift begins.

[FoggyKnight]

After ten minutes of wandering and looking, Jenna gives up her search for the moment. Her lack of height had turned into a disadvantage in the crowd; looking for a judicial errand fop would be like looking for a specific tree in a forrest. Turning to the east, Jenna starts making her way to the wall, stopping at a cart selling meat pies on her way. Buying one, she takes her dinner to a clear spot on a wagon and sits, eating quickly in case the driver came back and shooed her away. As she eats, she looks over the crowd again, using her higher vantage point to her advantage.

Perception 2 Dice Roll: (as this is an older post, these rolls are interpreted by the older (more basic) dice roller code) d20+6: (6) + 6 Total = 12

[Vicfalcon]

Armond gets up after awhile, and begins to walk through the caravan, taking his time and watching everyone. I hope someone from Sanbarn is here, and has some of those papers, or can provide.

(OOC: I am going to take ten on my perception, because I am taking my time and looking carefully. This will use my passive perception, which is 16.)

[FoggyKnight]

For a moment, Jenna thinks she saw a gaudily dressed human pass through the crowd, but a second look shows her only a gaily dressed merchant; nothing like what she imagined Dim's judicial errand boys to be. A third glance told her that the owner of the wagon she was sitting on was headed her way, his face turning red and angry, and she hopped off quickly, scooping the last gooey bite of meat pie into her mouth as she merged with the crowd on the ground. Depositing the pie plate on the counter of the pie vendor's stall, she trots off to the east wall at a rapid clip.

"Jenna Sunleaf reporting for watch" she tells a bored looking man a few minutes later, tossing off a mock-salute before heading for a clear space on the wall. "Sunleaf" is growing on me the more I say it. Jenna grins to no one in particular. Turning to the man beside her, she chirps "So what are we supposed to be looking at?"

[Hesstruk]

The blue scaled dragonborn sits idly by, awaiting the first watch to start. He sizes up the others it looked like he would be dealing with for the foreseeable future. Approaching the other one of his kind named Tinhun he speaks in a low voice. "Which watch did you take? It is rare to talk to another of our kind, and I have a proposition for you if interested."

[bacchist]

Seemingly relieved that everyone showed up on time for watch, Ulfand unceremoniously issued their orders.

"We shouldn't have any trouble tonight. We never do. Or we didn't. Anyhow, we just need you to stand watch around the camp," He pointed towards the southern road, and a clearing towards the east. "We'll take care of the edge of town, as we always do..."

"Don't let anybody sneak in. We've had enough to deal with so far and it looks like we've been lucky to not have any troublemakers. I'll be nearby, as will my men. If anything happens, we'll step in. I'll have one of my men come get you when your time is up." He took one last look over the group, and hesitated for a moment as if to consider saying something. Apparently thinking better of it he turned and headed back towards the town.

---

As the party prepared to take their posts the young priest, and a few dwarven profanities, emerged from the back of a wagon. He struggled with a backpack nearly twice his size until he waddled to the base of an oak tree. The concern on his face was evident even in the meager evening light. He appeared shaken as he knelt down in prayer.
___

The gentle breeze that had blown through the camp began to fade as the evening wore on.The air was cold and crisp, but not unpleasant. Underneath a clear sky filled with shimmering stars, camp fires began to spring up as travelers settled in for the night. Groups of travelers huddled around the fire for warmth and conversation, before drifting off to sleep. The crackling of the flames was soon all that could be heard, as the serene night wore on.

As the captain had instructed, the first watch was posted around the perimeter of the camp. As the night deepened, they struggled to even stay awake. There was no sign of danger, and it was hard to conceive of any in such a peaceful setting. They began to wonder why it was necessary to keep watch at all.

A small dot of light briefly appeared off in the distance, drawing their attention towards the road. It was gone as suddenly as it had appeared, but it was surely there. A few minutes past, and it reemerged. It seemed to be getting closer, and this time it did not disappear again. As the watchmen watched it slowly getting larger, getting closer, they began to make out that it was a torch.

There was no sign of Ulfand or his men, nor had there been nearly the entire time they'd been at their posts. As the light drew nearer, several figures could be seen in its light. At least five or six of them. Two of the figures to the rear appeared to be dragging something behind them.

The flames of the torch danced off of blades, alerting the guards to the fact that at least some of them were armed, yet it was impossible to tell whether they were a threat.... Until the flame got close enough to reveal the face of a man at the front of the pack.

His visage radiated hatred. He had the look of a depraved homicidal maniac who had dropped all pretense of normalcy. His head was completely bald, and bore tattoos that appeared to bear homage to some demonic force. Behind him, it became clear that the objects his men were dragging were in fact people, half stumbling and half being dragged along.

[FoggyKnight]

Sit. Stay. Jenna told herself as the night went on. There's nothing to watch around here.she whined to herself as she kept herself preoccupied with knife tricks to keep herself awake. The only consolation she had was that Valandil and the others looked as bored as she felt. Even the Boss wouldn't make us watch the grass grow for this long. When the light appeared, she stood, eager for any break in the tedium. How does the Watch do this night after night?

As the light revealed the approaching figures, however, she started to regret her wish for excitement. That's a bad coin. she shivered as she saw the homicidal maniac in the front. She had always tried to avoid men like in the city, and she was unsure of what to do now. Looking at the eladrin nearby, she whispers, "Hey! You're the talker here, aren't you? You want to tell him that he can't come in? You're the best with words here." she finishes, attempting to flatter him into the task. Her instincts began screaming at her to flee, that someone dragging bodies around nearly openly was not someone to cross, that she should run to her bed and pull covers over her head until the scary man had done what he came for and gone away. "If he means well, I'm the Bishop."