New Kingdoms #7

[GM Fenrir]

Most of the group has traveled through the tunnel underneath the Makkee’s northernmost barn and emerged in a small rocky clearing where the tunnel had been dug into the side of a hill. Stephanie decided to travel overland on horseback but, not knowing exactly where the tunnel would stop, gets turned around for a bit. She hears Sir Rovach talking to the others and so now knows they aren’t too far away.

Before the group can return for their horses and gear to start a pursuit, a young human girl, presumably the Makkee’s daughter, appears out of the woods and is extremely frightened. Further away, a man on horseback breaks through the woods out there and is the man Buchard that has been of great concern to Kaelyn.

"Hi, you must be the Makkee's daughter," Butternut says, smiling happily at the girl. None of her companions have yet seen her look anywhere near so pleased.

The girl blinks at Butternut, then begins crying and runs as fast as she possibly can towards the Halfling. While reaching for her sling and yelling at the mounted man, she feels small arms wrap around her tightly and the girl starts sobbing uncontrollably into Butternut’s chest.

Kealyn will attempt to move to an unattended horse and mount up. If successful he will ride as hard and fast as he can towards Buchard. Brandishing his shortsword in hand. “Whatever plan you orchestrated dies here with you, Buchard! I will see it that you rot in hell for all time.”

As Sir Rovach and Aesa begin to move forward, Kaelyn rushes towards the horses. The sudden movement scares them, but they can’t go far. While he fumbles with their leads, the others observe the rider spit, wheel his horse around and ride hard to the west. Within a moment he is lost in the trees and gone. Kaelyn can still fight the startled horse, mount up and ride off should he choose, but this horse may not do well in combat if he catches his quarry.


Meanwhile, Erizhi has had some success in getting information from the captured Immaterian, especially after she heals the wounds she had inflicted upon him mere minutes before. Apparently the goal for Pothos and his band was to stage this farm massacre using a group of elves that they had poisoned. By taking the children it would appear that this might send local troops into the Deep Wood and stir up the elves there, possibly escalating into a war between the Daeyshir and Maletar kingdoms.

"I see," she says, "and both sides would likely have reason to be angry. The elves because their people were poisoned, the Maletar because the elves raided them. What this process supposed to happen at other farms once you were finished with this one? And where were the children taken?"

“I don’t know,” he says surprised, as if the thought of any other attacks was never contemplated. “There is a place we were supposed to rendezvous at, but I only know the general area. It was to be two days from now. We were to keep the children until then at least.”

Erizhi thinks for a moment. It is similar to what has happened within her own house. "It is not so uncommon to betray your family and country for the sake of personal power and money. In the end, it rarely ends well," she says. "So Pothos was working for someone else who established the rendezvous with Buchard. And a woman perhaps?" She thnnks for a moment. "Where did you met Pothos? Where was he staying while there?"

“Pothos believed it was a woman,” he repeats, adding nothing further. “I knew Pothos from the Iltani household,” the man reveals. “I did errands for him that needed to be done but couldn’t be linked directly to your family. As far as I know he was still under your father’s employ,” he answers the last question seemingly confused.

"And what magick and items did Pothos receive to accomplish this task? How many more men were with you?"

“I’m no magician,” he admits. “Pothos read the scroll once we were at this side of the tunnel. We moved about without detection or sound after. No one knew we were here. He also had an instrument that made the tunnel. He mentioned the tunnel would be gone once we were done. If he had anything else, he didn‘t reveal it.”

“Seven of us in total,” the Immaterian adds. “Five of us from Lotan and two from here. Locals. One of which was Buchard.”

[Butternut]

Butternut:

The girl blinks at Butternut, then begins crying and runs as fast as she possibly can towards the Halfling. While reaching for her sling and yelling at the mounted man, she feels small arms wrap around her tightly and the girl starts sobbing uncontrollably into Butternut’s chest.

The young girl crashes into Butternut, nearly knocking the halfling over. With her free hand, Butternut pats her back somewhat awkwardly. "There, there, girl. You're safe now." Rather than face the group of them, the cowardly kidnapper flees.

With the immediate danger gone for the moment, Butternut settles onto one knee to talk with the girl. "What's your name, girl? I'm Butternut. You have a sibling that we still need to rescue, right?"

[Erisciana]

Erizhetiana Iltani of Lotan -

“I don’t know,” he says surprised, as if the thought of any other attacks was never contemplated. “There is a place we were supposed to rendezvous at, but I only know the general area. It was to be two days from now. We were to keep the children until then at least.”

"Interesting," she says for a moment. "I am not sure that one attack would be enough to create the situation for war, unless there were serious tensions already between the Maletarians and the elves. But you may have been getting more instructions in the future. And where is this rendezvous point?"

“Pothos believed it was a woman,” he repeats, adding nothing further. “I knew Pothos from the Iltani household,” the man reveals. “I did errands for him that needed to be done but couldn’t be linked directly to your family. As far as I know he was still under your father’s employ,” he answers the last question seemingly confused.

Erizhi does not say anything at first. "My father," she finally says, "yes, he was indeed." She leaves it at that.

“I’m no magician,” he admits. “Pothos read the scroll once we were at this side of the tunnel. We moved about without detection or sound after. No one knew we were here. He also had an instrument that made the tunnel. He mentioned the tunnel would be gone once we were done. If he had anything else, he didn‘t reveal it.”

“Seven of us in total,” the Immaterian adds. “Five of us from Lotan and two from here. Locals. One of which was Buchard.”

Erizhi's ears perk up at these last statements. A magical device. It was not found upon him. "Thereforeit is still here in this barn somewhere," she thinks to herself. "Seven, you say? That means that two others left with Buchard. I hope my friends are not caught in some sort of ambush. But then, we felled Pothos and his assassin rather easily. And when was this plot hatched. How long ago did Pothos recruit you and when did you leave immater?"

Erizhi thinks for a moment and stands up. "I am not going far, so if you try to escape, I will be most displeased," she says. She brandishes her mace as if to imply the consequences of such actions. Erizhi will move over to where the fallen Pothos lays. It is not far from the sight of the prisoner, so she should be able to keep an eye on him as she searches his body. She will try to be thorough, without becoming engrossed in the act. And also search the assassin's body carefully as well.

[GM Fenrir]

Butternut -

With the immediate danger gone for the moment, Butternut settles onto one knee to talk with the girl. "What's your name, girl? I'm Butternut. You have a sibling that we still need to rescue, right?"

“Ma.. Ma.. Mayla,” the girl finally gets out between sobs. “They killed him!” she cries out. “My brother! Oh brother… He told me to run and I did. They cut him down,” she starts crying again.

After several moments, Mayla manages to add, “Baby brother and Marke. The bad men still have them!”

Erizhi -

"Interesting," she says for a moment. "I am not sure that one attack would be enough to create the situation for war, unless there were serious tensions already between the Maletarians and the elves. But you may have been getting more instructions in the future. And where is this rendezvous point?"

“It was in a basin, with some sort of rock formation,” the Immaterian says. “I don’t know exactly where. North of here most certainly, and two days ride.”

Erizhi's ears perk up at these last statements. A magical device. It was not found upon him. "Thereforeit is still here in this barn somewhere," she thinks to herself. "Seven, you say? That means that two others left with Buchard. I hope my friends are not caught in some sort of ambush. But then, we felled Pothos and his assassin rather easily. And when was this plot hatched. How long ago did Pothos recruit you and when did you leave immater?"

“I was recruited mid-winter but Pothos said we must wait until spring,” the man says. “There was no room for question with that.”

Erizhi thinks for a moment and stands up. "I am not going far, so if you try to escape, I will be most displeased," she says. She brandishes her mace as if to imply the consequences of such actions. Erizhi will move over to where the fallen Pothos lays. It is not far from the sight of the prisoner, so she should be able to keep an eye on him as she searches his body. She will try to be thorough, without becoming engrossed in the act. And also search the assassin's body carefully as well.

The man says nothing and just lays there, his eyes watching her until leaving his field of vision. Erizhi finds the body of Pothos as Kaelyn left it, stripped of everything but his clothes. She finds nothing and moves on to the assassin. Once more, Kaelyn found everything of any note and removed it. Neither body provides any additional clues.

[Butternut]

Butternut:

“Ma.. Ma.. Mayla,” the girl finally gets out between sobs. “They killed him!” she cries out. “My brother! Oh brother… He told me to run and I did. They cut him down,” she starts crying again.

"I'm so sorry, Mayla," Butternut says, trying to be soothing but there is too much anger in her voice. "We will keep you safe."

After several moments, Mayla manages to add, “Baby brother and Marke. The bad men still have them!”

"Then it is our job to rescue them. Can you be strong for them, Mayla? We need your help to rescue them. Can you do that for them?"

[Sir Rovach]

Sir Rovach

As Sir Rovach and Aesa begin to move forward, Kaelyn rushes towards the horses. The sudden movement scares them, but they can’t go far. While he fumbles with their leads, the others observe the rider spit, wheel his horse around and ride hard to the west. Within a moment he is lost in the trees and gone. Kaelyn can still fight the startled horse, mount up and ride off should he choose, but this horse may not do well in combat if he catches his quarry.

So that is our quarry. This Buchard we are now after. Thinks Sir Rovach as he observed the rider flee in a most cowardly manner. Sir Rovach puts his sword away and observes the rest of the party around him.

"I'm so sorry, Mayla," Butternut says, trying to be soothing but there is too much anger in her voice. "We will keep you safe."

He observes Lady Butternut soothing the child, Mayla. No help needed there, he thinks. I'll just frighten her with my appearance anyway. Then again, after what she's seen, what can frighten her any more? He then will proceeded over where Mister Kaelyn is dealing with the startled horses.

"These horses will only hinder us, my friend. I understand your need for haste, but we need our own mounts to properly pursue Buchard." Sir Rovach will then assist Mister Kaelyn with calming the horses, hoping neither of them gets kicked in the head by a random hoof in the process. But if Mister Kaelyn wishes to pursue Buchard on these steeds, he will help him ready the horse he chooses.

[Erisciana]

Erizhetiana Iltani of Lotan -

“It was in a basin, with some sort of rock formation,” the Immaterian says. “I don’t know exactly where. North of here most certainly, and two days ride.”

"And who were you to rendezvous with? Who else were you expecting to meet? Were the seven of you to travel together or in groups to the rendezvous point?"


“I was recruited mid-winter but Pothos said we must wait until spring,” the man says. “There was no room for question with that.”

Erizhi is somewhat relieved at that. She at least was not being set-up from the beginning. And the circumstances of meeting Immaterians here and her suspected involvement with them, was likely just that: unlucky circumstance. But there was much yet to uncover about this plot.

Erizhi moves away rom her prisoner to search Pothis and his assassin. She unfortunately finds nothing more than what Kaelyn had already located. She returns to her prisoner. "If Pothos had some magickal device, then were is it?" she asks simply. "And what does it look like? He does not have it on his person, so it must be about somewhere." Erizhi looks about, but in the clutter of the barn, she does not see anything apparent.

[Aesa]

Aesa:

As Sir Rovach and Aesa begin to move forward, Kaelyn rushes towards the horses. The sudden movement scares them, but they can’t go far. While he fumbles with their leads, the others observe the rider spit, wheel his horse around and ride hard to the west. Within a moment he is lost in the trees and gone.

A crude and cruel man, Aesa thinks as she sees Kaelyn determined to go after him. Sir Rovach moves to try to calm him down, so she instead moves to aid Butternut should it be needed.

“Ma.. Ma.. Mayla,” the girl finally gets out between sobs. “They killed him!” she cries out. “My brother! Oh brother… He told me to run and I did. They cut him down,” she starts crying again.

The girl's words nearly break Aesa's heart. One of her brothers sacrificed himself so she could flee. Bless the Wilds we were here to save her, Aesa offers up silently.

She moves to where Mayla can see her so as not to scare her, hopefully. She kneels down, laying her weapons aside. She speaks softly and hopes to gain the girl's attention, "Are you hurt Mayla? I am a druid and can heal you if you have been injured."

[Stephanie]

Stephanie:

Most of the group has traveled through the tunnel underneath the Makkee’s northernmost barn and emerged in a small rocky clearing where the tunnel had been dug into the side of a hill. Stephanie decided to travel overland on horseback but, not knowing exactly where the tunnel would stop, gets turned around for a bit. She hears Sir Rovach talking to the others and so now knows they aren’t too far away.

“Like a lantern on an overcast night,” Stephanie thinks to herself upon hearing Sir Rovach's voice.

She'll urge her mount in that direction and ride towards the voice at a steady, but not reckless, pace.

[Kaelyn]

Kaelyn

As Sir Rovach and Aesa begin to move forward, Kaelyn rushes towards the horses. The sudden movement scares them, but they can’t go far. While he fumbles with their leads, the others observe the rider spit, wheel his horse around and ride hard to the west. Within a moment he is lost in the trees and gone. Kaelyn can still fight the startled horse, mount up and ride off should he choose, but this horse may not do well in combat if he catches his quarry.

Kaelyn vaguely is aware of the child running past him as he runs forward after Buchard. It is no surprise that the man flees at the sight of 5 individuals with weapons drawn. As he is attempting to get a horse to bear he hears the voice of Sir Rovach.

"These horses will only hinder us, my friend. I understand your need for haste, but we need our own mounts to properly pursue Buchard." Sir Rovach will then assist Mister Kaelyn with calming the horses, hoping neither of them gets kicked in the head by a random hoof in the process. But if Mister Kaelyn wishes to pursue Buchard on these steeds, he will help him ready the horse he chooses.

Kaelyn turns on the paladin, his icy blue eyes staring into the visor of his friend. “That may be true but you do not now the caliber of our foe, I do. This man would kill his own mother given the chance; it is rumored he has already done so.” He states, sheathing his shortswords and forgetting the horses. “Perhaps I should enlighten you all, when Erizathina is once again amongst us. I will say this though, I was once within Buchard’s employ and a brother within the Thieves’ Guild until I overheard him plotting.”

“We should act quickly as we can. Buchard has many friends within the guild and Maletar. This plot goes deeper than I expected…”

[Sir Rovach]

Sir Rovach

“That may be true but you do not now the caliber of our foe, I do. This man would kill his own mother given the chance, it is rumored he has already done so.”

He is evil. Has murdered an innocent family, including children. I know enough to justify striking him down with my sword. Thinks Sir Rovach to Mister Kaelyn's comment.

“Perhaps I should enlighten you all, when Erizathina is once again amongst us. I will say this though, I was once within Buchard’s employ and a brother within the Thieves’ Guild until I overheard him plotting.”

Sir Rovach is taken aback by Mister Kaelyn's admission that he was once a thief and an associate of Buchard. Some recent memories flood through his head as he thinks back upon his association with Mister Kaelyn...

"Are you a good man?" is the question Sir Rovach asks of the gentleman dressed in black next to him.
“Gentle I am when the need suits me. But to answer your question if I am good, that depends on your meaning of the word. When it comes to life, most of the time I do what I must, the rest of the time I do what I feel is right.”

"You can't change everyone, lad. Most won't listen. Or even care." says Sir Atohmos.
"I can try."

Sir Rovach releases the horses as they calm down more. He looks towards Mister Kaelyn, answering his recent admission. "So, you used to be a thief in the past, assisting Buchard in his dealings."

Squaring up his shoulders and standing at full height, he faces Mister Kaelyn. "And now you have turned your back on their evil ways, distancing yourself from their kind. And whether you realize it or not, are making amends by helping others like the Makkees." Sir Rovach bows to Mister Kaelyn. "It would be unhonorable not to lend my friend aid in such a noble, personal quest." But I would like to know more about this when we get the chance....

"But now let us go, immediately. We can talk on the way, or when we finally rest, but let's retrieve our horses and gear so we can pursue Buchard properly & swiftly deliver justice to him." We must also gather everyone together and plan how to handle our prisoner and the child who is now with us, he thinks as he begins to walk away from Mister Kaelyn, moving to re-enter the tunnel and head back to the farm.

[GM Fenrir]

The Makkee’s daughter is alive and currently in Butternut’s arms. Buchard spots the group and takes off in a different direction then he had arrived from, giving up the chase after Mayla. He had come from the north, like Mayla did, but he rode hard to the west.

"I'm so sorry, Mayla," Butternut says, trying to be soothing but there is too much anger in her voice. "We will keep you safe."

She tries to hide even further in your arms but seems to stop crying after another moment.

"Then it is our job to rescue them. Can you be strong for them, Mayla? We need your help to rescue them. Can you do that for them?"

“I.. I can try,” she says after pulling her tear-streaked face away from Butternut.

Aesa moves up and inquires about Mayla’s health, asking gently and non-threatening.

She speaks softly and hopes to gain the girl's attention, "Are you hurt Mayla? I am a druid and can heal you if you have been injured."

“No, mi’lady,” Mayla says with a sniffle. “They spoke scary but didn’t hurt us until, well, until we tried to escape.”

Stephanie rides up and she sees, from her vantage point on Thunder, the clearing and the group. Butternut and Aesa are speaking to a young girl and Kaelyn and Sir Rovach are talking over by some tied up horses.


All the while, Erizhi’s interrogation has become much smoother since healing up the wounds she had inflicted on her prisoner. She has yet however to find any magical item that the Immaterian has proclaimed Pothos was in possession of.

"And who were you to rendezvous with? Who else were you expecting to meet? Were the seven of you to travel together or in groups to the rendezvous point?"

“I do not know,” he replies. “We were supposed to stay together unless the plan fell apart and then we were to scatter and would be contacted eventually. I do not know how or by who.”

"If Pothos had some magickal device, then were is it?" she asks simply. "And what does it look like? He does not have it on his person, so it must be about somewhere." Erizhi looks about, but in the clutter of the barn, she does not see anything apparent.

The Immaterian looks like he’s going to say something quite inelegant but he seems to catch himself. “It’s an instrument as I told you,” he says, irritation creeping into his voice despite his efforts. “I’m no musician. Something with strings. A harp or something. It‘s most likely with the packs in the tunnel.”

[Erisciana]

Erizhetiana Iltani of Lotan -

Erizhi asks about the rendezvous, but the man does not have much concrete information.

“I do not know,” he replies. “We were supposed to stay together unless the plan fell apart and then we were to scatter and would be contacted eventually. I do not know how or by who.”

"Very well," she replies. There is still a way to take advantage of this situation, especially if the others do not find out that this one is a prisoner of theirs. "What is your name?" she asks.

When she asks about the musical instrument, the man has a bit of an irritated look on his face. But he stops what he is about to say.

“It’s an instrument as I told you,” he says, irritation creeping into his voice despite his efforts.

Erizhi will raise her left hand and very slowly wiggle her index finger at him a few times, while giving him a chastising look.

“I’m no musician. Something with strings. A harp or something. It‘s most likely with the packs in the tunnel.”

"There are many different types of instruments that are not musical," she will say, as she looks away towards where the tunnel would be and her friends decended. "An abacus is an instrument just as a sextant can be called an instrument of measurement." There is a hint of condescendence in her explanation. She takes a few steps in the direction of the tunnel entrance. "And would those packs be at this end of the tunnel or at the far end? And where does the tunnel lead?"

[Butternut]

Butternut:

“I.. I can try,” she says after pulling her tear-streaked face away from Butternut.

"Good girl. Let's go find your siblings," Butternut says, and starts to rise. Just then, a now-human Aesa approaches and offers to treat any injuries, but Mayla confirms that she is unhurt.

Taking Mayla's hand, Butternut moves toward where the girl emerged from the bushes. "Let's see if we can find where you were camped. Perhaps we can learn more there."

As she starts to make her way into the bush, the halfling looks back over her shoulder at the others. "Catch up with us once you have the horses and gear."

Then a thought occurs to the halfling and she looks at Mayla. "Do you know how to ride?"

[GM Fenrir]

Butternut -

Taking Mayla's hand, Butternut moves toward where the girl emerged from the bushes. "Let's see if we can find where you were camped. Perhaps we can learn more there."

“Um, what camp?” Mayla asked confused.

Then a thought occurs to the halfling and she looks at Mayla. "Do you know how to ride?"

“Marke said he was gonna teach me this summer,” she says.

Erizhi -

"Very well," she replies. There is still a way to take advantage of this situation, especially if the others do not find out that this one is a prisoner of theirs. "What is your name?" she asks.

It takes a moment for him to answer. Clearly he wasn’t expecting such a question, or maybe that Erizhi would even care. “Fah’jar,” he finally says.

"There are many different types of instruments that are not musical," she will say, as she looks away towards where the tunnel would be and her friends decended. "An abacus is an instrument just as a sextant can be called an instrument of measurement." There is a hint of condescendence in her explanation.

“A what? A bird?” Fah’jar asks about the first. “What kind of tent?” he asks incredulously about the second item. “Must be some sort of thing nobles use,” he says more to himself.

She takes a few steps in the direction of the tunnel entrance. "And would those packs be at this end of the tunnel or at the far end? And where does the tunnel lead?"

“The packs were left at the ladder,” Fah’jar says. “Easier to climb up without them. The tunnel starts past the farm. It was made into a hillside.”

[Erisciana]

Erizhetiana Iltani of Lotan -

Collecting information in case they have a chance to rendezvous with Pothos' leaders or whoever they are set to meet, Erizhi continues to ask questions.

It takes a moment for him to answer. Clearly he wasn’t expecting such a question, or maybe that Erizhi would even care. “Fah’jar,” he finally says.

Erizhi notes the response, but does not react in any way.

“A what? A bird?” Fah’jar asks about the first. “What kind of tent?” he asks incredulously about the second item. “Must be some sort of thing nobles use,” he says more to himself.

The priestess of Ishtar just rolls her eyes and shakes her head slightly. There was no point in trying to explain further and she had the information she wanted anyway.

“The packs were left at the ladder,” Fah’jar says. “Easier to climb up without them. The tunnel starts past the farm. It was made into a hillside.”

Erizhi considers for a moment. She is still not sure of the need for the tunnel in such a remote and undefended area. It seemed like a plan of excess to her, unless they were moving something large and slow in or out. Nevertheless, it was largely irrelevant at this point.

"As I said before, I will not be gone but mere moments. If I return and find you trying to escape, I will return you to your bludgeoned state and there will be no healing this time. Do not dissappoint me," she says, narrowing her eyes at the man.

Erizhi will head over to the ladder that Aesa found near the back of the barn. Looking down, she sees a tunnel and some packs and torches stacked near the ladder. Not wasting any time, she will quickly descend the 15 feet and cast her Detect Magic toward the packs here. She will also send it down the tunnel for a moment, just to be certain. She will try to position herself so that she can see down the dark tunnel (in case something approaches), as best as she can, while checking the packs.

[Aesa]

Aesa:

“No, mi’lady,” Mayla says with a sniffle. “They spoke scary but didn’t hurt us until, well, until we tried to escape.”

Aesa smiles, although it is a sad one given the day's events. "No need to be so formal dear girl," she replies. "You can call me Aesa."

Taking Mayla's hand, Butternut moves toward where the girl emerged from the bushes. "Let's see if we can find where you were camped. Perhaps we can learn more there."

“Um, what camp?” Mayla asked confused.

As the group reacts, Butternut is the first to see a young human girl emerge from the woods about two hundred feet north of your position. Her light brown hair is a mess and she is quite dirty, wearing bedclothes that are tattered and torn.

"A moment, Butternut," Aesa says. "I don't think you will walk through those bushes and find an abandoned camp. I doubt any such thing will exist."

"Mayla," Aesa gets the girl's attention. "Can you tell us what happened? Once those bad men brought you children here I mean," she doesn't want to tramautize the girl by making her relive what happened at the farm. It's pretty clear what occurred, she thinks, and I'm sure it's all just flashes and frightening images to Mayla at this point anyway.

[Kaelyn]

Kealyn

Sir Rovach releases the horses as they calm down more. He looks towards Mister Kaelyn, answering his recent admission. "So, you used to be a thief in the past, assisting Buchard in his dealings."

“More or less,” he says simply as he adverts his eyes from the paladin.

Squaring up his shoulders and standing at full height, he faces Mister Kaelyn. "And now you have turned your back on their evil ways, distancing yourself from their kind. And whether you realize it or not, are making amends by helping others like the Makkees." Sir Rovach bows to Mister Kaelyn. "It would be unhonorable not to lend my friend aid in such a noble, personal quest." But I would like to know more about this when we get the chance...

‘Evil ways’ he thinks with a smile. To steal food or others in order to pay for one’s food is evil? An odd sentiment, though he does not comment on it. “Thank you for your kind words, but do not put me on a path of righteousness. Buchard threatened my life as well as my families, unbeknownst to them. And for his kindness, I will revisit it back on him ten-fold,” he states, as the humor recedes from his blue eyes, leaving an icy cold look within them.

Hearing the others speaking to the girl, Kealyn walks over, “Is it wise to lead this girl into the woods after our quarry? Why not bring her back to the village, with word of what has happened?” He asks the druid and scout.

[GM Fenrir]

Sir Rovach is ready to head back through the tunnel to the farm, but there seems to be concern about the girl Mayla at the moment, so no one joins him as he enters.

"No need to be so formal dear girl," she replies. "You can call me Aesa."

“Okay,” is all she says in reply.

"Mayla," Aesa gets the girl's attention. "Can you tell us what happened? Once those bad men brought you children here I mean," she doesn't want to tramautize the girl by making her relive what happened at the farm.

Mayla’s eyes go big but when Aesa clarifies she seems to take it a little better. “Um,” she starts uncertainly. “We were taken to horses. They put me and Jeoff on one and Marke and baby brother on the other. It was still dark. We rode for a long time. I must have fallen asleep because I nearly fell off but Jeoff caught me.”

“He told me to run and before I could ask why, he jumped off the back of the horse and punched one of the men in the nose!” Mayla continues. “I slid off the horse and ran. I heard him yelling and I kept running. Then suddenly it was quiet. I turned around and Jeoff was laying very still,” tears start to fall from Mayla’s eyes at this part of the story. “I turned and ran and ran. I couldn’t see.”

She wipes her eyes with a dirty sleeve and then goes on, “I got lost for a long time. Then I saw it. Frog Pond! All those frogs hopping around and I knew I wasn’t far from home. I laid down in the grass and closed my eyes only for a moment. Then I heard the horse. I got up and saw a big man and I knew it was one of them from the attack. He looked surprised that I was there.”

Mayla looks back where Buchard had appeared from the tree line as if she might think he would still be there. “He tried catching me on foot, but I was faster! He said something awful and went back for his horse. I kept running but I heard him getting closer. Then I saw you,” she says the last looking into Butternut’s eyes.

A few moments later, Mayla asks, “Can I eat now?”

Erizhi will head over to the ladder that Aesa found near the back of the barn. Looking down, she shes a tunnel and some packs and torches stacked near the ladder. Not wasting any time, she will quickly descend the 15 feet and cast her Detect Magic toward the packs here. She will also send it down the tunnel for a moment, just to be certain. She will try to position herself so that she can see down the dark tunnel (in case something approaches), as best as she can, while checking the packs.

Erizhi sees the packs in the corner near the ladder as well as a bundle of torches. She reaches the bottom and casts her spell. A faint glow emits from one of the packs in the pile, although Erizhi believes it to be coming from something inside the pack and not the container itself, which would count somewhat for the dimness.

She sweeps the tunnel with plenty of remaining time on the spell but nothing else reveals itself. She sees the very distant light at the end of the darkness which must be where it dumps out into the countryside.

Confident she has found everything magical in the area she sets to work on the packs. Setting the torches aside, she turns herself in the small space to keep an eye on the tunnel. Opening the pack with the magical item inside first, she sees a musical instrument that takes up nearly the entire interior. It is made of a polished wood that is almost white. The base of the instrument is in the shape of a horned grazing animal, most likely an antelope. A crossbar connects the top of the horns and seven strings run from that crossbar down the length of the instrument until it connects at a point just below the carved animal’s mouth. The instrument seems hollow but sturdily made. The rest of the pack contains a few clothes, a small tinderbox and two days of hard rations.

Moving through the rest of the packs, they all contain a few extra clothing pieces and two days of hard rations each. One of the others has a coil of rope that looks like it’s probably twenty feet in length. A third has two small oil flasks wrapped so they don’t clink against one another. The last pack contains a good-sized, hinged-lid box. There are also several vials wrapped in similar fashion as the oil flasks. However, these vials seem empty.

[Sir Rovach]

Sir Rovach

Sir Rovach is ready to head back through the tunnel to the farm, but there seems to be concern about the girl Mayla at the moment, so no one joins him as he enters.

Sir Rovach watches as Mister Kaelyn walks over to where the Makkee's child is speaking with the Ladies Butternut & Aesa. While they are speaking with each other & the child, he will re-enter the tunnel to head back to the farm, drawing his dagger this time as he enters (in case any unexpected dangers have entered this tunnel since they travelled it). His plan is to quickly fill the Lady Erizhetiana in on recent events and then make most haste to retrieve what horses he can in order to pursue Buchard & rescue the children that fiend still has in his keeping.

If they had the ability to dig this tunnel, you'd think they would have been able to make it a few feet larger, Sir Rovach grumbles to himself as he bends down to fit his frame uncomfortably into the small tunnel and proceed back to the farm as quickly as he can.

[Butternut]

Butternut:

“Um, what camp?” Mayla asked confused.

"A moment, Butternut," Aesa says. "I don't think you will walk through those bushes and find an abandoned camp. I doubt any such thing will exist."

"I just kind of assumed... Nevermind."

Unfortunately, Mayla admits that her brother was going to teach her to ride soon, so other options will have to be considered.

"Mayla," Aesa gets the girl's attention. "Can you tell us what happened? Once those bad men brought you children here I mean," she doesn't want to tramautize the girl by making her relive what happened at the farm. It's pretty clear what occurred, she thinks, and I'm sure it's all just flashes and frightening images to Mayla at this point anyway.

Mayla answers the question with more detail than Butternut would have expected from a child that age. Clearly, she's a bright child. The story isn't so pleasant, though. It seems she lead them on quite a chase, so following the girl's path would likely take them nowhere fast.

A few moments later, Mayla asks, “Can I eat now?”

"Oh!" Butternut exclaims softly, realizing that she hadn't even considered that the girl might be hungry. "Uhm... sure, if we can find you some food." She turns and looks over her shoulder at the others nearby. "Anyone have any food handy they can share with Mayla here?"

Hearing the others speaking to the girl, Kealyn walks over, “Is it wise to lead this girl into the woods after our quarry? Why not bring her back to the village, with word of what has happened?” He asks the druid and scout.

Butternut grimaces. "The problem with that is the likelihood of the trail going cold in the meantime. I don't think we can afford so much delay if we want to catch Buchard and rescue the other kids. Also, it would be helpful to have Mayla along to help us identify her brothers. However, if you or someone else wants to volunteer to take her back while the rest of us press on, I won't argue the point."

If no food is offered, Butternut will look about for berries, fruit or other edible plants that might help assuage the child's hunger until they can recover their supplies.

[Aesa]

Aesa:

Aesa listens to the girl's story. This one is very intelligent, she thinks, but hard to know if the distances are accurate. She could have been wandering in circles for a long time. Still it makes it sound like it will not be a simple jaunt to catch the men.

A few moments later, Mayla asks, “Can I eat now?”

"Oh!" Butternut exclaims softly, realizing that she hadn't even considered that the girl might be hungry. "Uhm... sure, if we can find you some food." She turns and looks over her shoulder at the others nearby. "Anyone have any food handy they can share with Mayla here?"

Stephanie rides up and she sees, from her vantage point on Thunder, the clearing and the group.

"Stephanie just arrived on horseback, maybe she has some in her packs," Aesa replies. She will move up to the warrior woman and bring her up to speed. "We found one of the Makkee children, the girl," Aesa tells her. "It would seem she has been out in the wild most of the day hiding from the remaining villains and is hungry, do you have anything you can spare?"

Hearing the others speaking to the girl, Kealyn walks over, “Is it wise to lead this girl into the woods after our quarry? Why not bring her back to the village, with word of what has happened?” He asks the druid and scout.

Butternut grimaces. "The problem with that is the likelihood of the trail going cold in the meantime. I don't think we can afford so much delay if we want to catch Buchard and rescue the other kids. Also, it would be helpful to have Mayla along to help us identify her brothers. However, if you or someone else wants to volunteer to take her back while the rest of us press on, I won't argue the point."

Returning, hopefully either with Stephanie, or at least some food, Aesa listens to the conversation. "While I agree with you both, the child... Mayla," she catches herself and corrects the error, "is clearly hungry and most likely exhausted. I would wager she probably fell asleep at this 'Frog Pond' but I doubt it is enough recovery for what she has been through. If she wishes to help then I relent. Even without her aid, it shouldn't be hard to figure out a couple of foreigners on horseback carrying two small local boys against their will, or most likely cowed by this point, still in their bedclothes. I just don't imagine we will see a lot of that."

[Erisciana]

Erizhetiana Iltani of Lotan -

Erizhi reaches the bottom of the tunnel easily enough and even her diminutive frame presses in to the unpacked, soft dirt. A quick glance reveals four packs here as Fah'jar had indicated, near a stack of torches. Casting her Detect Magick spell, one of the packs emits a faint glow, or rather a glow from within. Nothing else is detected as magick and projecting the detection ability down the tunnel does not result in any further discoveries.

She can see where the tunnel must open to the outside again, as a distant light can be seen.

Manuvering herself, she steps carefully in the soft dirt and gives herself room to examine the packs with a view of the tunnel at the same time. The pack contaning the detected magickal item is opened first and Erizhi seems an impressive cordophone in the stylized shape of a horned herbivore. She takes the instrument in her hands and rubs her fingers over the polished wood. It is a very well-made and unusual instrument. She reaches for the strings for a second to strum them, but then stops and looks about her, remembering that this is the tool that created this tunnel and she had no desire to bring it down upon herself because of a clumsy accident.

She packs the lyre back into the pack carefully and inspects the remainder of the packs also. She finds some wrapped flasks in one and a hinged box in another. There is time to examine them later and so she forgoes the urge to rummage further. Erizhi will take up the pack with the instrument and then shaking the loose dirt from her sandals, climbs the ladder to the top once more.

She will immediately check on her prisoner. If all is well, she will remove the pack and set it some distance from the prisoner and near to the barn doors. She will then proceed to bring each of the other packs up, checking on the prisoner between each trip and placing the other packs near the first, but obviously apart from it. Continue until completed or the others return.

[Kaelyn]

Kealyn

Hearing the others speaking to the girl, Kealyn walks over, “Is it wise to lead this girl into the woods after our quarry? Why not bring her back to the village, with word of what has happened?” He asks the druid and scout.

Butternut grimaces. "The problem with that is the likelihood of the trail going cold in the meantime. I don't think we can afford so much delay if we want to catch Buchard and rescue the other kids. Also, it would be helpful to have Mayla along to help us identify her brothers. However, if you or someone else wants to volunteer to take her back while the rest of us press on, I won't argue the point."


Returning, hopefully either with Stephanie, or at least some food, Aesa listens to the conversation. "While I agree with you both, the child... Mayla," she catches herself and corrects the error, "is clearly hungry and most likely exhausted. I would wager she probably fell asleep at this 'Frog Pond' but I doubt it is enough recovery for what she has been through. If she wishes to help then I relent. Even without her aid, it shouldn't be hard to figure out a couple of foreigners on horseback carrying two small local boys against their will, or most likely cowed by this point, still in their bedclothes. I just don't imagine we will see a lot of that."

While he understands Butternut’s point he does not agree. Could they not just get a description of the other siblings. And if something were to happen to them Mayla would be in the same place as before. Reaching into his belt pouch he takes out a few pieces of beef jerky, “You know best, seeing as you are the scouts. It’s not much but it will hold her over until I get back with the horses. You should at least bring her into the tunnel while you wait or find some cover. Buchard could come back with reinforcements.”

Kealyn will then retreat and head down the tunnel and retrieve the horses.

[Stephanie]

Stephanie:

Arriving at the others, Aesa brings Stephanie up to speed.

Stephanie just arrived on horseback, maybe she has some in her packs," Aesa replies. She will move up to the warrior woman and bring her up to speed. "We found one of the Makkee children, the girl," Aesa tells her. "It would seem she has been out in the wild most of the day hiding from the remaining villains and is hungry, do you have anything you can spare?"

Reaching into her pack, Steph pulls out what she has left from the goods the innkeeper provided.

“Here”, Stephanie says, handing Aesa the small bag. “Its not much, but she's not large either. Which way did these villains run off to?”

After getting an idea of which direction to ride off in, Stephanie urges Thunder in pursuit of these evil men.

[Aesa]

Aesa:

“Here”, Stephanie says, handing Aesa the small bag. “Its not much, but she's not large either. Which way did these villains run off to?”

"Thank you," Aesa replies, taking the food. "Butternut seems to be following tracks north, but the man Kaelyn is after, Buchard, rode hard to the west. It would seem they're spliting up."

Aesa returns to Mayla. "Here you go," she tells her as she opens the bag for the girl to take what she wants.

Reaching into his belt pouch he takes out a few pieces of beef jerky, “You know best, seeing as you are the scouts. It’s not much but it will hold her over until I get back with the horses. You should at least bring her into the tunnel while you wait or find some cover. Buchard could come back with reinforcements.”

Aesa's not sure what Kaelyn means in the first part of his reply since she agreed with his course of action but she doesn't comment. "I was thinking maybe a nice shady spot," Aesa replies, not thinking the tunnel would be good since Mayla has no fond memories there. "Maybe over there," she says after looking around and pointing. She will walk over and sit under a nearby tree and see if Mayla wants to come join her.

Aesa will keep an eye out no matter where Mayla decides to sit and eat. While Butternut will probably be vigilant and Stephanie will surely draw attention thundering off in whichever direction she chooses, Kaelyn is right. They could be back to try to take the girl by force. That doesn't seem to be their game but it would be foolish to not be ready for any possibility.

[GM Fenrir]

Erizhi finishes looking through all the packs but doesn’t take any more time to discover what the flasks or the hinged box may hold. She knows for a certainty that none of them are magical for they would have shown up when she used her detection spell. Taking the pack with the musical instrument, Erizhi climbs out of the created hole using the ladder and then moves over to where she left her prisoner but stops short. A pile of discarded rope is all that remains of where the Immaterian once lay bound.


Sir Rovach reaches the ladder that leads out of the tunnel and takes that moment to stretch his back out. He didn’t pay the packs in the corner much mind when he used the tunnel the first time, but wasn’t there more of them, and weren’t they piled much neater than their current state? Maybe he’s just not remembering it too clearly..


Kaelyn enters the tunnel after saying his final words to Aesa and Butternut. The paladin is still a bit ahead of him, but he sees Sir Rovach reach the ladder without incident. Kaelyn should be there shortly himself.

Aesa returns to Mayla. "Here you go," she tells her as she opens the bag for the girl to take what she wants.

Mayla takes the offered bag and looks into it. She definitely likes what she sees and begins to stuff her mouth. Somewhere along the way, she manages a “thank you” around the food.

"I was thinking maybe a nice shady spot," Aesa replies, not thinking the tunnel would be good since Mayla has no fond memories there. "Maybe over there," she says after looking around and pointing. She will walk over and sit under a nearby tree and see if Mayla wants to come join her.

Mayla will wrap her fingers around one of Butternut’s hands and walk towards where Aesa is sitting. If Butternut doesn’t accompany her, the girl will pout for a moment but will join Aesa nonetheless. She will continue to devour the goodies inside the bag while stretching out under the tree.


Stephanie now has to decide whether to pursue this Buchard individual who rode off to the west or go in the direction the other horses went to the north.

[Butternut]

Butternut:

Aesa fetches some food for Mayla from Stephanie. Kaelyn contributes some jerky from his rations and Butternut adds some local berries to the mix. All in all, it makes a nice meal for the young girl, who dives in with a gusto. "Go easy, Mayla," Butternut cautions. "Don't want to choke from eating too fast."

Returning, hopefully either with Stephanie, or at least some food, Aesa listens to the conversation. "While I agree with you both, the child... Mayla," she catches herself and corrects the error, "is clearly hungry and most likely exhausted. I would wager she probably fell asleep at this 'Frog Pond' but I doubt it is enough recovery for what she has been through. If she wishes to help then I relent. Even without her aid, it shouldn't be hard to figure out a couple of foreigners on horseback carrying two small local boys against their will, or most likely cowed by this point, still in their bedclothes. I just don't imagine we will see a lot of that."

"We can certainly afford to let Mayla rest a little while, and now that we've all seen this Buchard fellow, identifying the boys shouldn't be hard. If you or Kaelyn want to volunteer to escort her back to town, that's fine, but I really don't think we can afford to wait three days to start tracking the others. Picking up the trail at that point would be much harder."

While he understands Butternut’s point he does not agree. Could they not just get a description of the other siblings. And if something were to happen to them Mayla would be in the same place as before. Reaching into his belt pouch he takes out a few pieces of beef jerky, “You know best, seeing as you are the scouts. It’s not much but it will hold her over until I get back with the horses. You should at least bring her into the tunnel while you wait or find some cover. Buchard could come back with reinforcements.”

After getting an idea of which direction to ride off in, Stephanie urges Thunder in pursuit of these evil men.

As she has done before, Stephanie charges off by herself, heedless of any danger. Clearly, the young woman envisions herself as being invincible. Butternut shakes her head, then looks over at Kaelyn. "If he does, no doubt we'll hear him encounter our reckless friend over there..."

Mayla will wrap her fingers around one of Butternut’s hands and walk towards where Aesa is sitting. If Butternut doesn’t accompany her, the girl will pout for a moment but will join Aesa nonetheless. She will continue to devour the goodies inside the bag while stretching out under the tree.

Butternut allows Mayla to lead her over under the tree where Aesa is sitting. Kneeling down, she watches the girl eat for a bit, then looks over at Aesa. "Based on Mayla's story, following the northern path would be a waste of time. Once we're ready to move, we'll need to follow Buchard's track, as it has the best chance of leading us to the boys."

[Sir Rovach]

Sir Rovach

Sir Rovach reaches the ladder that leads out of the tunnel and takes that moment to stretch his back out. He didn’t pay the packs in the corner much mind when he used the tunnel the first time, but wasn’t there more of them, and weren’t they piled much neater than their current state? Maybe he’s just not remembering it too clearly..

Next time, if you have a choice, take the overland route Sir Rovach thinks to himself as he reaches the ladder. Taking a second to stretch out his back and legs before climbing up, he looks down at the packs he vaguely remembers seeing upon first entering this hole. Perhaps Mister Kaelyn checked these out on his way through here before? Or one of the Ladies? It doesn't matter to him right now though; he needs to retrieve his horse in order to pursue Buchard and the missing children as fast as possible.

Replacing his dagger into its scabbard, Sir Rovach climbs up the ladder and out of the tunnel. He will first stop by the barn to quickly inform the Lady Erizhetiana what has occurred and then proceed to get the needed horses.

Taking the pack with the musical instrument, Erizhi climbs out of the created hole using the ladder and then moves over to where she left her prisoner...

As he comes around the corner he sees the Lady Erizhetiana at the front of the barn, one of the packs from the tunnel in her hand. Ah, that mystery solved he thinks. "My Lady, we must make haste. We..." he starts to say as he approaches the Lady Erizhetiana. Then he looks closer where she is standing and realizes the prisoner is gone! Looking around, he sees the ropes on the ground but not much else that tells him what happened.

Walking over to the Lady Erizhetiana, Sir Rovach asks her "Lady Erizhetiana, are you alright? What happened to the prisoner?"

[Erisciana]

Erizhetiana Iltani of Lotan -

(OOC: Not sure if Rovach made it to Erizhi before she leaves the barn, so leave that part up to the GM. Not ignoring you, just not sure where both are exactly. Can you please clarify, Mr. GM?)

Erizhi sees the prisoner is gone and stops. She curses in her native language, "Blyat!" There were no horses that she remembers seeing and surely he won't be riding off on a cow. And she did not dawdle much, so he can't have gotten far. Apparently they did not do a good enough job securing him or the little creep is more skillful than she expected. "That son of a fatherless dog," she thinks to herself.

The priestess will place the pack down where she stands and then run to the entrance, quickly scanning the farm to see if he is in sight yet. "Fah'jar!" she yells.

Not stopping, she will run back to the horses they left behind (unless she sees him). He likely would head to the north ideally, but not with the adventurers having gone through the tunnel and Fah'jar knowing that. She will yell his name again, hoping to disconcert him and cause an error on his part, assuming he is within earshot.

[Sir Rovach]

Sir Rovach

(OOC: No problem Eri! Rovach's plan is to go from the tunnel, to the front of the barn where he last saw you, then all the way to the horses. Wherever you or the GM determine they run into each other, if they do, is fine. The only difference I see right now in his reaction would be if he heard you yell; but hearing you would depend for the most part if he was in the tunnel or out at that time.)

[GM Fenrir]

(OOC: Not sure if Rovach made it to Erizhi before she leaves the barn, so leave that part up to the GM. Not ignoring you, just not sure where both are exactly. Can you please clarify, Mr. GM?)

That is the only issue with this kind of game is that if one person posts before another it can seem like that character can do all this incredible stuff and the other character is standing there dumbfounded. Basically I try to post in the order of things happening. That means that Erizhi climbed out of the tunnel and moved to the front part of the barn, then Sir Rovach arrived at the ladder and stretched, then Kaelyn made it about halfway through the tunnel.

That puts the three characters roughly a round behind each other, so while Rovach could climb up and reach Erizhi easily, we can't assume she is just going to stand there and gape at the missing prisoner (unless she really does RP that out - either way is feasible). Everyone pretty much does things at exactly the same time regardless of post order (unless in combat where initiative takes precedence). Obviously if someone doesn't post for a week or more I'm not going to have the party held in limbo, but both of you post very frequently, so you shouldn't "bump" into each other in this sort of situation.

The only difference I see right now in his reaction would be if he heard you yell; but hearing you would depend for the most part if he was in the tunnel or out at that time.

Yes, Sir Rovach would hear the foriegn curse word as he's stretching out and by the time he reaches where Erizhi is at the front of the barn, he will see and hear her call out a name. He will also notice the pile of rope. Since she is pausing before leaving the barn at a run, the two characters will be in the same general vicinity by the end of this "round" as it were, but only for a brief moment.

There were no horses that she remembers seeing and surely he won't be riding off on a cow.

GM Notes: I seem to remember there were a lot of horses that the party rode in on...

[Erisciana]

RE: GM INFO -

This is pretty much what I expected, but good to have the clarification.

As for the horses, I forgot some of the people rode all the way in to the farm and some are still in the woods.

[Erisciana]

Erizhetiana Iltani of Lotan -

Erizhi runs out of the barn and scans for Fah'jar without stopping. If she does not see him, she will head to the horses. Just then, it dawns on her that not all of the horses are with hers, hidden in the woods. Several of the group rode right up to the main farmhouse and left theirs there! "Blyat," she curses to herself again and runs as fast as she is capable.

[Sir Rovach]

Sir Rovach

Getting ready to climb the ladder out of this miserable tunnel, Sir Rovach hears a voice call out some kind of word. Was that "Bat"? he thinks. Hard to make out what the word was, but it kind of sounded like the Lady Erizhetiana. Wondering what might be happening, he will climb the ladder to the surface and draw his sword, moving with haste to the front of the barn where he last remembered the Lady being.

...by the time he reaches where Erizhi is at the front of the barn, he will see and hear her call out a name. He will also notice the pile of rope.

"Fah'jar!" she yells.

Seeing the Lady yell out this name, Sir Rovach wonders who "Fah'jar" is? Ready with his sword in his hands, Sir Rovach asks with concern in his voice "My Lady, are you alright?" His gaze then goes to the pile of rope, laying there on the ground. "Where is the prisoner?"

[Erisciana]

Erizhetiana Iltani of Lotan -

Erizhi is out in the farmyard, when she hears Rovach call out behind her. She will not stop to look or pause, instead focusing her attention on where that dog has run off to now.

"He is likely going for the horses!" she yells and continues off in that direction as quickly as she can (again unless he sees him heading a different direction).

[GM Fenrir]

As if to confirm Erizhi’s thoughts, she hears a sound of an unhappy horse as she reaches the barn doors.

The priestess will place the pack down where she stands and then run to the entrance, quickly scanning the farm to see if he is in sight yet. "Fah'jar!" she yells.

Erizhi scans the area but it is not the scene she expects. She spots a trio of men near the center of the packed dirt walkways connecting all of the buildings. Beyond this trio is a fourth man struggling to bring Sir Rovach’s warhorse under control. Beyond them appears to be two mounted warriors with several more horses in tow, some of which are most assuredly the group’s. Several of these men wear tabards of a light blue with a pair of devices on them. Most of the men wearing tabards are armored in chain mail and have long swords. Lances can be seen pointing to the sky held by the mounted men. A banner can be seen flying from the where the mounted men sit that shows a solid darker blue line running down the middle of the light blue field with a open book over a tower depicted on it.

The trio of men turn, having heard you call out, and one is Fah’jar! “Run my Lady Erizhetiana Iltani!” he yells to you, his accent rolling thick over the Common tongue. “Get the children away and finish the ritual!”

A striking human nearing middle age but quite fit steps past the Immaterian. In a voice that is obviously used to being obeyed, he yells, “Seize her! Storm the barn!” He is dressed in plate mail, the same tabard as the others blowing in the light breeze. His head is unarmored, and his rich brown hair cut short and his beard neatly trimmed. A long sword hangs from its scabbard at his waist.

The other man of the trio is armored in chain mail, but wears a heavy mace on his waist. From under his chain coif is a pock-marked face with a growth of whiskers the color of storm clouds. He holds Fah’jar sternly by one arm. The leader in plate mail spares a glance to this man next and says “Silence him,” most likely meaning Fah’jar.

Erizhi catches a glimpse of two men moving on her position from her left, near the closest guest house. One is another armored man in chain mail with the same tabard. He looks quite young but draws his own long sword without hesitation as he advances. The second is wearing a wide-shouldered studded leather tunic and leather breeches and is clearly an elf. His long blond hair is pulled back, showing off his prominent ears, and an icy gaze in his blue eyes. The elf is not wearing a tabard like the human males are. He kneels and is bringing a richly-crafted composite short bow to bear on your position - a broad-headed arrow staring keenly at you.

Erizhi also believes she can hear the sounds of an armored man moving to her right, possibly coming from the stables. A sound of a sword escaping a scabbard can be heard from that direction as well but she has yet to see anyone.

The other man is still struggling with Sir Rovach’s horse and the mounted warriors do not seem to be moving, yet.

GM Notes: I didn’t have Erizhi continue running given this drastic change of events. We will go to combat if you wish to resist or flee, otherwise post as normal.

Ready with his sword in his hands, Sir Rovach asks with concern in his voice "My Lady, are you alright?" His gaze then goes to the pile of rope, laying there on the ground. "Where is the prisoner?"

Sir Rovach's questions are ignored as he sees Erizhi stop at the open barn doors just after she calls out the name and look around frantically. Then the paladin hears the voices and knows there are at least several others outside the barn.


Kaelyn reaches the ladder leading up into the barn and notices the packs have been disturbed and it looks like one is missing. Then he hears voices that seem to be coming from the barn doors. He can pick out Sir Rovach’s and was that also Erizhi? There seem to be others but they are further away, quite possibly outside the barn itself, which he can not make out clearly.


Meanwhile, Butternut and Aesa sit under a tree with Mayla as she devours the last of the food she was given. With the light breeze in this shady spot in late spring it would be quite the peaceful afternoon at any other time. The day's discoveries have all but ruined that sort of thing however. Upon finishing eating, her hands and mouth dirty with food, Mayla's eyes beging to droop. The ranger and druid wonder just how much longer this little girl can carry on.

[Sir Rovach]

Sir Rovach

"He is likely going for the horses!" she yells

Hearing the Lady Erizhetiana yell this, Sir Rovach puts this statement together with the discarded ropes and assumes the Lady is speaking about the prisoner. He's escaped and is attempting to steal or disable our horses! We need those horses to rescue the children! he says to himself.

Then the paladin hears the voices and knows there are at least several others outside the barn.

Reinforcements of Buchards are here! "My Lady, beware! Allies of Buchard may be near!" he yells, hoping the Lady hears him in the spiraling chaos of events unfolding. Sword still drawn, Sir Rovach will proceed away from the barn towards where the horses were left, as fast and straight as possible. While doing this he will look around the area for enemies and handle the situation as it unfolds. We need those horses!!

[Aesa]

Aesa:

Kneeling down, she watches the girl eat for a bit, then looks over at Aesa. "Based on Mayla's story, following the northern path would be a waste of time. Once we're ready to move, we'll need to follow Buchard's track, as it has the best chance of leading us to the boys."

"These men are not beyond using poison," Aesa states the obvious. Seeing as how Mayla is engrossed with the food at the moment, she dares to continue, "Certainly they are quite vile but need the children for some unknown purpose else they would have dispatched them like the others, the escape attempt nonwithstanding. There will be need of my healing and my supplies should you run afoul of any more of their poisons."

Upon finishing eating, her hands and mouth dirty with food, Mayla's eyes beging to droop. The ranger and druid wonder just how much longer this little girl can carry on.

"As I suspected, she is exhausted from this trying day," Aesa remarks. "Hopefully Kaelyn or one of the others will agree to return her to the village, though I will if I must. I will give you some remedies from what I brought should I be not going with you," she tells Butternut.

[Erisciana]

Erizhetiana Iltani of Lotan -

Events become a chaotic swirl. Erizhi realized that the prisoner has escaped and rushes out after him. She becomes aware of Rovach returning, some distance behind her and she warns him that the escapee could be running for their horses. But as she breaks out in the daylight from the barn, she sees a most unexpected sight. There are men everywhere! Erizhi skids to a stop at the sudden unexpected situation.

Before she even has time to process the scene, the first thought is that the men are reinforcements of their enemies. But she quickly notices that they carry the banner of Maletar. A brief moment of relief is quickly evaporated as that dog Fah'jar attempts to somehow implicate her in all of this. Her mouth drops a moment hearing his words and her eyes go wide, as the leader of the Maletarian troops turns his attention to her.

"My Lady, beware! Allies of Buchard may be near!" Rovach runs up as well, as the soldiers close in. Erizhi instinctively takes a step back and the urge to run is strong in her mind. But seeing the arrow trained on her and the number of troops approaching makes it likely that such an option will only prove painful. Still worry grips her. She takes another step back.

There is only one solution to avoid making this situation worse than it already is. She will lower her shield to her side and take a few steps forward with her right arm raised, palm extended. "Stop! We have no conflict with you!" she will say loudly, in as commanding a voice as she can muster in the Common tongue. Meanwhile she will utilize her Charm/Fascinate ability as well as her Allure as best as she can. She will strike her most prominent pose. "That man is one of those responsible for the tragedy here! Several of his companions lay inside the barn! And there are others that have escaped us! Those vile men have taken the children!" She is careful not to mention any others of their group, leaving the statements purposefully vague.

[Sir Rovach]

Sir Rovach

Moving forward through the opening of the doors and heading out like an arrow in the direction of where the horses were tired up, Sir Rovach sees the Lady Erizhetiana stopped in the middle of the farms dirt walkway. In addition, there is another sight (and voice) to greet him...

“Run my Lady Erizhetiana Iltani!” he yells....his accent rolling thick over the Common tongue. “Get the children away and finish the ritual!”

That's the prisoner who was tied up! a shocked Sir Rovach realizes when he hears the man yell out. We've been down this road already. Their lies will not cause me to pause anymore!
However, that is not all he sees; for the individuals next to their former prisoner do make him pause & stop his rush forward.

A striking human nearing middle age but quite fit steps past the Immaterian. In a voice that is obviously used to being obeyed, he yells, “Seize her! Storm the barn!” He is dressed in plate mail, the same tabard as the others (light blue with a pair of devices on them) blowing in the light breeze. His head is unarmored, and his rich brown hair cut short and his beard neatly trimmed. A long sword hangs from its scabbard at his waist.

The other man of the trio is armored in chain mail, but wears a heavy mace on his waist. From under his chain coif is a pock-marked face with a growth of whiskers the color of storm clouds. He holds <their former prisoner> sternly by one arm. The leader in plate mail spares a glance to this man next and says “Silence him,” most likely meaning <the former prisoner>.

These newcomers do not appear to be assassins like Buchard's men, but official warriors of some kind. From this land? Hearing the man issue the command to seize the Lady Erizhetiana & storm the barn, Sir Rovach decides to take a chance & follow his heart. These appear to be warriors, so he will treat them as such until their actions, or Anu, shows them different. If they are good & just then conflict here will delay us, while a successful meeting may win us allies.

Stopping in the pathway, Sir Rovach stands straight up with sword at the ready. He looks directly at the middle aged man who he assumes to be the leader and salutes him with his sword, praying silently Anu, please give your servant the sight again! He will then return his sword to his scabbard, remove his helmet (carring it in his left arm) and proceed to walk forward at a normal but steady pace; his goal is to get close enough to use his gift of sight and be close enough to speak to them.

If he is able to get close enough to speak, he will address the two men. "I am Sir Rovach, Paladin of Anu. This is the Lady Erizhetiana, a virtuous and noble Lady. Noble not just of birth but also of character. We are here as agents of Gorvan, Constable of Dormare, to investigate the fate of the Makkees. Will you hear us?"

[Kaelyn]

Kaelyn

Kaelyn reaches the ladder leading up into the barn and notices the packs have been disturbed and it looks like one is missing. Then he hears voices that seem to be coming from the barn doors. He can pick out Sir Rovach’s and was that also Erizhi? There seem to be others but they are further away, quite possibly outside the barn itself, which he can not make out clearly.

Walking down the tunnel, Kaelyn makes his way with a lot on his mind. Buchard, whom he had dealings in the past, is involved in a conspiracy within Maletar and perhaps more. The mage thief reaches the ladder soon after the paladin, and he can hear them talking up above. But then other voices come forth, one he can neither make out or identify. He pauses for several moments and can hear his friends voices, Panic? Fear? Then he notices the packs and how dishevelled they are, ‘What is going on up there?’ he thinks to himself, as he puts a foot on the lowest rung of the ladder to further his investigation.

"My Lady, beware! Allies of Buchard may be near!" he yells.

And the others are no where near to help. Not dear pausing to think, Kaelyn takes his foot of the rung of the ladder and sprints(moves as fast as he can down the tunnel towards the others.) If he can’t make it to the end of the tunnel, Kealyn yells in the hopes that the others here him. “The others need us!!! There are others at the farm! Aesa!! Butternutt! Stephanie!!! HELP!!!!” not caring if those hear him above or not.

(assuming the only thing he can hear from above clearly is Sir Rovach's yelling.)

[GM Fenrir]

Post Closed