[Game Thread] Prologue Part II - Journey to Oleg's Trading Post

[Rohor]

Having prepared for the trip to Oleg's Trading Post, the party set off from the city of Restov along the South Rostland Road. The grassy plains and rolling hills, along with the clear skies signal winter's end and the early arrival of spring.

The journey to the Trading Post will take a few days, being located 100 miles from Restov. During these few days, the party had the opportunity to know each other better and gather information that might assist them on the journey ahead.

OOC The purposes of this thread are simple. During your journey to Oleg's Trading Post, it is assumed you had the opportunity to get to know each other better. Four days is a long time to not speak and without much else to do it is assumed you would talk about yourselves amongst other matters. Feel free to discuss in character whatever you want to. This thread is designed to allow you to roleplay your character and allow them the opportunity to know the other adventurers of the group better. Another purpose of this thread is the potential information you might gather from the travelers and merchants, whether it is about the Stolen Lands, the recent political situation or perhaps something else that might have crossed your characters mind. Feel free to start up the conversation with a random traveler or merchant. Roll diplomacy checks to gather information, or intimidate if that's the way you roll, as well as any additional checks you believe might be relevant (e.g. Knowledge checks).

[VaerSheth]

Brune rests his squat bulk on the left side of the board at the front of the cart, leaving the right for a more experienced handler*. He leaves the pole with his gear tied to the end of it sitting in the back of the cart. The butt of this pole juts out forward next to him though, within easy reach. Below his own gear are a number of large, uniform sacks. These contain oats and hay, and it looks like Brune went all-out and bought a solid ten days worth of the feed. It appears to be cheap, as feed goes, but not the cheapest. Bland, but long-lasting, it will keep his donkey (and the horses, if need be) alive if no grazing space can be found.

He smooths out his smock with both hands, and then checks to make sure the white kerchief is still safely tied to his right arm. Satisfied that it is, he unhooks his hammer from where it had been swinging and secures it behind him in the wagon. He leaves it out of sight of casual passers-by, but still within easy reach. All this done, he faces squarely forward, pulls his copy of the charter out of a belt pouch, uncrumples it, and starts reading again.

Oi. Tall folk. I did not want to say this in front of the Lord Mayor, I would be a blaze-arsed fool if I did not read this scrap closely. It says the punishment for unrepentant banditry remains, as always, execution by sword or rope. It says not much at all of repentant banditry. I suggest that we recruit. Aggressively. After all, there is at least one here that they will respect.

Brune glances up, looking significantly at Harken.

Speaking of bandits, though, I think we ought set up regular watches. If we are on the road eight hours, plus one more around midday to rest the mounts, that leaves... he pauses, calculating rapidly on his stubby fingers fifteen. I will take last watch, as I need to be up early anyhow. I look forward to being able to pray properly, but it will have to do.

OOC *I believe this is Rogan, but I'll let arguilios be the one to actually say that.

[Ryoga]

Harken shakes his head looking at Brune. 'No matter, if it's the Stag-Lord my cousins spoke of, his men are base, cruel brigands, no code. Now The Tusk had a code, We....we had some morals.' A scowl came to his face, thinking of their downfall. Yes, they broke the law, but they never harmed women of children, and they would not steal from the poor and sick. He was still furious with the people of this land, but the group present...At least not all of them could have been responsible in some way.
He then looked back to Brune, having looked away to his own thoughts. 'All the same, I will destroy them. They have no place in these lands...' He decided to add a bit of sarcasm in there. 'they stole these lands after all.' He gave a heavy laugh and scratched his chin, bristling. He could deal with this man Brune it seemed. ' I'll take the first watch with you...Brune? Aye, it was Brune.' He confirmed his own thoughts aloud, looking at Brune while doing so. He was never one for names.

[LupusRegalis]

Kostas reigns in and moves closer to the wagon carrying Brune. His stallion, Apotheosis, dancing in frustration at not being given his head. The mount snorts once and turns to look with a glare at its Rider, who laughs and pats the horse fondly. The Destrier swung its head back front and pranced somewhat, causing Kostas to laugh harder and say "You silly old csataló, showing off. Save your energy, szívem." With a twitch of his knee's he directs the bay horse next to the wagon, lacquered wooden barding shining wetly in the sunlight. The shaped and decorated chest piece, open face piece, neck, flanks and hind-quarters all segmented strips of fire-hardened wood attached to boiled leather, painted black with blue etchings.

"I am in agreement, kuruzsló Brune." Kostas speaks loudly from beneath his helmet. "Though the barbár is not wrong." he says indicating towards Harken with his right hand, the left holding an arrow in place on his bow. "We will need carefulness in choosing, to avoid betrayal. And too, I have not the coin to buy the loyalty of any brigante worth the risk."

[VaerSheth]

Brune frowns, listening to Harken. He rolls his eyes when Harken mentions the watches and opens his mouth to speak, but shuts it again in surprise when Kostas enters the conversation. The dwarf's bushy eyebrows rise steadily up his broad, sunbeaten forehead as the cavalier speaks.

Who said anything about buying loyalty? Ain't no such thing. I just say give them a chance to repent before we bash heads. Make sure there are survivors to tell the tale. Some of the bandits may see which way the wind blows and surrender peaceful-like.

He shrugs, turning to face Harken again.

How well do you know this Stag-Lord? Is he a man? Half-breed life you? Some kind of monster?

OOC By the way, I said "last watch", not "first watch". It doesn't matter though. *wink*

[LupusRegalis]

"If you would recruit such men, my friend Brune, you must be able to control them." Kostas replies back "Fear for their lives will not be enough. Some will appreciate a sense of duty or participation, but those are the few driven to banditry by circumstance. For the most, we must need have something they want, so that when we are not watching them they do not abandon us. You see? For most, this would be gold."

Kostas shrugs, an eloquent statement on the nature of people in general, and adds "I admit you are right kuruzsló , you cannot buy a man's loyalty. Only his service. The loyalty must be earned."