[Krome] On the Road Again

[Rita Fenyo]

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The Half-Eídisi's eyes were dialted and vacent, even though he nodded she knew that he wasn't paying attention. He was fearfull, as was Rita, as was anyone on either side. The channaling of one's fear was something that took a long time to master. Grabbing his arm rougly she yanked him up and to better cover. A smashing of glass from behind them, flames taking hold of the cart now soaked in oil. Keeping she and her friend low, moving fast out of sight of archers. Gray moved up to them, a guard by his side.
"If you two can fight, come with me we could use the assistance." He called over the noise of the battle around them. Following him seemed like as good a plan as any. Rita nodded and replied.
"These people attacking us. They aren't bandits, even though they are very mix match their weapons and armour are too well made. No markings either. Not from these parts at least. Don't ask how I know that. " The Ithecal moved forward, making sure to keep Aelius moving least he freeze up and be harmed. Arrows zipping past the four, fire bombs smashing onto the useless waggons and the strongest of the attackers around what could be presumed to be the main purpose of this convoy.
Smoke had filled the air, the head being downwind of the burning cargo. The sounds of battle getting louder. The five attackers that Gray had targeted were reduced to four with the female guard taking a wounding blow.
" One each, split them up and keep them pinned. Watch for other attackers." Rita hung back, letting the guard and Gray get into the fray first, she wasn't sure about how well Aelius could fight up close having only seen him use an energy bolt against a tree. Waiting as long as she could she moved in getting a lucky hit on the hand of a man that was going for Gray. Instinctively he dropped what he was holding, the second sword swinging around to be deflected off the Ithecals stave, her body already clear of the blow. The mercenary paused, unsure of what to do, thinking the ithecal wasn't worth his time. She looked weak untrained if he could mob the other man then that would be more useful. Rita didn't care and took full advantage of this, attacking relentlessly in a trained pattern keeping him on his toes. He finally decided that the Ithecal woman was a problem and shoulder charged her in a flurry of anger. In his fit of rage, he had forgotten that Ithecal have strong tails able to coil around opponents. Rita kept her stave at an angle across her chest, bringing it to the man's throat and pushing him off to the side. Wrapping around him and squeezing on his chest. Unfortunately for her, he manages to twist his sword free and ram it into her tail. Screaming she moved back. This time he was more cautious.
She moved slower with the wound in her tail. Blocking a swing for her head and a swipe for her gut.
"Why don't you just die little girl" he taunted, stepping forward for a lunge. Rita tried to dodge but lost balance. He laughed his guard down. She wiped the smile off his face, bringing the stave hard against the side of his head. He dropped slain. She pulled herself up assessing her wound. Clean shallow cut low on her tail, it would be sore for a while but ultimately would be of no hindrance. The mercenary, however, would never wake. The other three mercenaries had ultimately been defeated. Rita chewed on a leaf to numb the pain. She shrugged off any questions about her condition saying she was fine. The bleeding had already stopped. A clean and some salve and Rita was good to go again. The guard was injured but would survive quite easily. Once she was patched up she signalled to the others.
"Come on, we need to either move forward and help or get out of this smoke. " Her eye's watering slightly. Ahead of them, the attackers had entrapped most of the caravan, forming a shield wall to keep the guards back. The main force had attacked from the front, taking out anyone that had avoided the pitfall and pushing them back into one easy to manage circle.
" I count about a score. Got a plan because that shield wall looks tough" She looked too Gray trusting him to be the most experienced. From the treeline, a hidden archer was taking shots at the shield wall, finding any gaps with deadly results. Rita guessed it was her friend, while she waited for a decision to be made, she kept an eye open for any attackers.

[/style]

Template made by Aelius for Rita

[Vincent D'Ordyn]

Gray examined the wall that the Ithecal had pointed out. It was well formed and though someone was dropping men in the formation with arrows from somewhere their spot was quickly filled by another.

"We need to open a hole in that formation so the rest of the caravan guard can get out and help." Gray stated, his eyes scanning the formation again. They were a decent distance away, and there were more enemies between them and the shield wall. Gray ducked back down behind the cart while he tried to think of how to cover the distance quickly. As he pondered the issue, the guard that had accompanied him began tapping her sword againist the cart wheel out, trying to relieve some of the anxious energy in her.

Tap, tap, tap, tap. The sound was distracting and Gray was about to ask her to stop when a thought struck him. Standing up again, he examined the positioning of the remaining carts in the caravan.

"Immortals be praised." Gray whispered as he saw that the wagons between them and the formation were still intact. "Follow me if you can. We're going to go break that wall down." Gray said before jumping into the wagon and began running down it's length before jumping to the next on in line. Shouts rang out after him as he ran, bowstrings sang, and arrows whistled passed, but Gray knew he couldn't stop or he'd be done for.

When he was but a cart away from the formation Gray whipped two of his throwing knives into the backs of those in the shield wall. The first fell short and buried itself in the ground at their feet, but the second landed in the middle of one of the backs of a shieldman. With a shout the man dropped his shield as he tried to reach the blade stuck in his back. That was were Gray aimed his leap for as he jumped from the final wagon.

He landed just shy of the formation, but with a roll game up right behind it and drove his boot into the mans knee. His sword singing as he drew it from its sheath, and met the first person to stand against him, quickly finding an opening and slipping into the man's skin just below his rips. With a kick to the chest Gray sent the man into another in the formation behind him, opening the formation.

With a sickening thunk behind him, Gray turned in time to watch another shieldman fall, an arrow burried in his neck. It seemed that there were still a few out here able to help him. Turning back to the hole he had made, began to work on holding it as the rest of the guards poured out of the trap and began helping rout the rest of the enemy.

[Yanahalqah]

Though the cavalry had effectively been stopped, another peril made itself known. A shield wall formed around the caravan guards, trapping all of them in one place. Not only that, but the circle shrunk every bit, pushing those inside closer and closer together. It did not matter how much they struggled, all blades were deflected by the wall, and even if one shieldman fell, another immediately replaced them. It was a well thought out strategy, a plan that had been in the works for a considerable amount of time, Yana thought.

She did her best to get all of them out of this situation, finding it a better option than being picked off one by one by arrows and bolts. While the shields did a great job of keeping the torso safe, it couldn’t protect the whole body. The shins and feet stuck out, and Yana took aim. It was a small area to hit, so the Yludih took great care not to miss, taking her time while keeping as calm as possible. Her hands trembled slightly, her mind working out how much she needed to correct the angle of her bow to make up for gravity and wind resistance, as well as the wind itself. She adjusted accordingly, willing her arms to stop shaking -which they didn’t- and fired her projectile.

As expected, she missed the person she was aiming for, but as the shield wall had all of its bearers close together it mattered little. She hit another person instead, even though it did not really help at all. It didn’t worsen the situation though, as a group of other guards broke through the circle from the outside, opening a gap for the trapped ones to escape through. Yana too fled through the breach, bow back on her back and blade in hand, slicing at any who dared to try and stop her.

Once out of the trapping circle, she decided to help break it down further, moving with the other mercenaries to overwhelm the enemy. With them being attacked from both the inside and out, there was little they could do to resist. They dropped like flies, tables turned and odds once again stacked against them now they had lost the element of surprise and their strategy had been overcome.

[Rita Fenyo]

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Rita

"We need to open a hole in that formation so the rest of the caravan guard can get out and help." Rita nodded in agreement watching the man scan the battleground.
"How do you propose we do that then?" She too analysing the scene for possible ways of opening them up, ideas running through her head. One of the guards was tapping her sword against a cart wheel, it was increasingly annoying even over the sound of battle. It gave Rita an idea, though, she was just about to voice it when Gray ran forward,
"Follow me if you can. We're going to go break that wall down." She grinned thinking that he had made a similar plan. Ducking down and slithering quickly behind him. The grin turning to a frown as he jumped up onto the cart and ran across it and into the line of shields.
"Really! That's your plan, just charge in hacking and slashing and..." Growling in frustration and turning to the guard tapping the wheel. "Give me a hand would you." Rita pulling herself up into the cart and ditching some of the cargo. The guard looked confused and first but Rita quickly explained her plan and a smile spread across her lips.
Gray was doing well to make a hole in the wall taking down mercenary with ease. Somewhere behind the wall of smoke, someone called his name, one of the mercenaries was transfixed on a big object speeding through the smoke.
"Gangway!" Rita called out, riding a cart at full speed towards the line. Gray would have time to escape the thundering mass but the mercenary would not. In a few seconds, the cart smashed into the shield wall sending them scattering, Rita pulling the break hard but coming to a quick stop in a ditch. It wasn't exactly a graceful landing but she wasn't hurt. Leaping into action with her stave and striking the closest mercenary.
"See, when you said you had a plan I thought that, you know, actually had a plan" She teased, joining up with Gray to keep the hole open. The fight seemed to be leaving them with a large number crushed or scattered by the cart and their formation failing.

[/style]

Template made by Aelius for Rita

[Vincent D'Ordyn]

As the cart came rushing towards him, Gray had a quick second to jump out of the way, and just barely avoid being run over. Though Gray was quick enough and lucky enough to avoid the cart, most of those in the shield formation were not as fortunate as the cart plowed through them further opening up that side of the formation, and effectively dissolving it. As the cart ground to a stop a few feet away the Ithecal and guard jumped out and began fighting those that remained standing.

"See, when you said you had a plan I thought that, you know, actually had a plan." The Ithecal said to him as she joined him a few bits later.

"I did." Gray responded as he flicked his blades to clean them of the blood and then wiped them clean on a nearby bandit's clothing. "My plan was that you'd come up with a better one." He lied as he slid his blades back into their sheathes. Looking around most of the bandits were either dead or routed, and though they had lost a number of guards and a few caravans for the most part the caravan was fine.

With a sigh Gray turned back to the Ithecal. "My name's Gray. Thanks for you help out there." he said as he extended his hand. "We should help get the caravan moving again. I feel the sooner we are back in a city the better it will be."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After the attack those that remained were on guard constantly. Gone were jokes and pleasantries. Everyone wore grim expressions. Some had lost friends, others had looked death in the face and some how walked away. Fortunately the rest of the journey was uneventful and quite. As the finally made their way into Krome. The handled the arrangements for those who had been slain, and collected their pay. Most took their coin and went to the nearest tavern or brothel. Vincent took his coin, and began his journey back to Andaris.

[Yanahalqah]

It seemed to be over now, the attacker had been subdued, killed or routed, and Yana was still alive. Her blade and armor were covered in blood, and her body had been on the receiving end of some sword swings, but the cuts were shallow for the most part. She scavenged for a bit, collecting arrows to refill her quiver with, and looking for a first aid kits among the possessions of those that had fallen, be they friend or foe. She got some hostile glances from survivors because of her actions, but she hardly cared. There was no point in wasting valuable items just because they belonged to the dead, now was there?

Some survivors with decent medical skills offered their services to the wounded, treating those with more serious injuries first. People like Yana, who had suffered only minor wounds would have to wait until they were done to get treatment, and generally started to disinfect and bandage the lacerations themselves. Yana did too, making sure to wrap the bandages tightly around the wounds so there was enough pressure on them, and they'd be encouraged to grow closed. She sighed when she was done, aware there was yet another matter she needed to take care of: her horse.

She whistled loud and sharp on her fingers, hoping the bandits she'd stolen the mount from when she'd deserted the army had trained the mare enough that it would come running when it heard the sound. It didn't. Well, at least not immediately. The Yludih had to figure out what direction her horse had run off into and head in that direction for a while whilst calling the mount before it finally showed up. Then it took her a while to catch the beast, as it was clearly not really willing to be ridden into battle again. However, she managed eventually, and rejoined the caravan soon after.

The rest of the journey was less eventful. As was to be expected, the atmosphere had turned tense and grim, with few people still willing to talk and chat. A lot of the guards reminisced about the friends they'd lost, mourning and regretting not being able to save them. Though she did not really care what happened to these meatlings, Yana found the tension to be uncomfortable and decided to spend most of her time alone, only every now and then going for a quick chat with the snake woman, though it never really did last very long.

When they finally arrived in Krome, and got paid, Yana decided to grant herself and her horse a break, allowing both to rest before she'd travel back to Andaris. Some other mercenaries did the same thing, and the Yludih did not think it wise to travel back alone. Though the chances of getting robbed were fairly slim, all things considered, she'd rather not lose all her hard-earned coin, nor her life. There was safety in numbers, even though the journey with the caravan had done its best to prove the opposite.

[Rita Fenyo]

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Rita

"I did." The man responded whilst cleaning his sword, the attackers beginning to route "My plan was that you'd come up with a better one." Rita chuckled in good humour, slightly embarised in the mans trust in her battle skills. The smoke was still hanging around but the fires had burned out, dead and dying lay around.
"My name's Gray. Thanks for you help out there." She turned back to the man, looking at his open hand. Taking it in hers and giving a strong shake.
"Rita. Same to you Gray, you got their attention and kept us safe till that point. " Smiling politely
"We should help get the caravan moving again. I feel the sooner we are back in a city the better it will be." Gray suggested, Rita aggreed starting with the wounded and making sure their attackers were taken hostage rather than slane outright

----------

The atmosphere was tense for the remainder of the journey, though her actions had earned her some respect and gone were the mocking jokes about the foreign healer. Either way, they were not far of Krome and the end of their journey. Her curiosity was not satisfied. From talking with those they had captured, her earlier suspicions of them being mercenary was confirmed. However, the mystery hit a dead end with their leader only meeting their employer and him now being nothing more than ash. What was left of the guard was centred around the mysteriously covered waggon which the mercenary had been trying so hard to capture. Rita was not allowed near it, though she was certain it wasn't anything living. When they made it to Krome they were given their pay. Rita was still undecided on investigating further.

[/style]

Template made by Aelius for Rita

[Maltruism]

Come and get your Loot!

(There's plenty more where that came from)

VINCENT D'ORDYN:

Rewards:

• Story: +5
• Collaboration: +5
• Structure: +5

These points can NOT be spent on magic.

Knowledges:

• Animal Husbandry: Food Testing For Your Mount
• Animal Husbandry: Seeing to Your Horse's Needs Before Yourself
• Animal Training: Friendliness to Strangers to Ease Horse's Fear
• Detection: Lack of Wildlife Sounds is a Bad Sign
• Discipline: When Surrounded by Enemies, You Can Hit Anything
• Intelligence: More Guards Means More Valuable Cargo
• Location: Andaris Western Gate
• Logistics: The More Routine a Guard Duty is, the Better
• Mount (Horse): Check and Double Check Your Gear
• Negotiation: Hired as Caravan Guard
• PC: Aelius: Half-Eidisi Caravan Guard Member
• PC: Rita Fenyo: Ithecal Healer
• PC: Yanahalqah (Rayna): "Human" Caravan Guard
• Tactics: Running Through Empty Wagons for Cover
• Thrown (Daggers): "Softening" Targets With Thrown Weps as You Charge
• Thrown (Daggers): Throwing With Both Arms' Movements as You Run
• Unarmed Combat: Slamming One Enemy Into Another
• Unarmed Combat: The Tuck, Roll and Knee-kick Maneuver

Loot:

50gn caravan guard pay

Loss:

a little blood, no big deal

Injuries:

a few cuts, scrapes and bruises

Fame: +17

Let's say Kill Bandit x5 (+15)
and Lead Outnumbered Troops (+2)

Devotion: 0

sorry, "Immortals be Praised" is not specific enough.

Comments:

I don't honestly know if there was a preset pay scale for this.
I did not see anything like it on the Bounty Board for Andaris.
If there was some previous source establishing more than the 50gn I gave each of you, let me know.
I almost called the UC knowledge I gave you "The Kirk Roll"
I like how we never do find out what was being guarded.
I find it more realistic that way.
There's no really clearly stated post showing an introduction between Vincent, Yanahalqah and Aelius. But I'm taking it for Granted.
PM me with any comments or concerns

___________________________________________________________

RITA FENYO:

Rewards:

• Story: +5
• Collaboration: +5
• Structure: +5

These points can NOT be spent on magic.

Knowledges:

• Aelius: A Little Too Free With His Secrets
• Andaris: Feudal, Filthy and Decadent
• Andaris: Makes You Miss Ivorian
• Animal Husbandry: Non-Ivorian Horses Don't Like Snakes
• Animal Training: An Apple to Gain a Horse's Favor
• Common: Take Note of New Words
• Detection: Ambushers Too Well Outfitted to be Mere Bandits
• Detection: Improper Set of Rayna's Saddle and Tack
• Detection: Lack of Wildlife Sounds is a Bad Sign
• Discipline: Don't Freeze Up During a Battle
• Intelligence: Ambushes Hit From Behind First
• Intelligence: More Guards Means More Valuable Cargo
• Location: Andaris Western Gate
• NPC: Esha: Exotic Beast Hunter
• Negotiation: Hired as Caravan Healer
• PC: Gray: Human Mercenary Guard
• PC: Yanahalqah (Rayna): "Human" Mercenary Guard
• Polearm (Stave): Defensive Horizontal Hold
• Polearm (Stave): Head Shot
• Polearm (Stave): Spinning Parry
• Politics: Caravan to Krome Unlikely Political Target
• Singing: An Old Ithecal Song to Calm Nerves
• Sociology: Jokes While Fighting Help Hold Off Fear
• Tactics: Caravan Wagon as Battering Ram
• Unarmed Combat: Ithecal Tails are Often Overlooked
• Yanahalqah (Rayna): Lost Her Eye in Combat

Loot:

50gn Caravan Guard pay
See Vincent's "Comments" section regarding this pay.

Loss:

Nothing to speak of

Injuries:

Nasty Slash on the Tail.
A couple weeks to heal

Fame: +14

Let's say General good deed - healing x5 (+5)
Kill bandit x2 (+6)
Timely Delivery (of wagon ) (+3)

Devotion: 0

Nothing to speak of

Comments:

I don't see a Fame ledger on your CS. This is an old enough thread that it would have been graded before the rule about that was enacted, so I won't withhold it. But please get that taken care of.
You're showing +7, but I have no way to confirm it.
I want to add, I thought the same thing about Vincent's plan that Rita did at the time. Like "Ooooh, yeah, crash a wagon into their ranks!!"
PM me with any comments or concerns

___________________________________________________________

YANAHALQAH:

Rewards:

• Story: +5
• Collaboration: +5
• Structure: +5

These points can NOT be spent on magic.

Knowledges:

• Aelius: Probably a Mage
• Aelius: Too Free With His Secrets
• Animal Husbandry: An Animal Can Sense Your Dislike
• Animal Husbandry: "Horse" Loves Company
• Detection: Frequent Scans of Treeline
• Detection: Lack of Wildlife Sounds is a Bad Sign
• Detection: The "1000-Yard Stare" Across Fields
• Intelligence: Ambushes Hit From Behind First
• Intelligence: Behavioral Differences Between Ithecal and Raskithecal
• Intelligence: Eavesdroppng on Guards Can Provide Information
• Intelligence: More Guards Means More Valuable Cargo
• Location: Andaris Western Gate
• Logistics: "Rayna" is The Better Adventuring Form
• Mount (Horse): Horse Will Rebel if Saddle is on Wrong
• Mount (Horse): Reattaching Saddle is Good Practice
• Negotiation: Hired as Caravan Guard
• PC: Aelius: Half-Eidisi Caravan Guard Member
• PC: Rita: Ithecal Healer
• Politics: Caravan to Krome Unlikely Political Target
• Ranged: A Crowd of Enemies is a Poor Archer's Friend
• Ranged: Get Behind Cover So You Can Take Time to Aim
• Ranged: A Horse is an Easier Target
• Tactics: Taking Down the Lead Horse in a Column

Loot:

50gn Caravan guard pay
See Vincent's "Comments" section regarding this pay.
An additional 15gn (looted from bodies)
2 more full med kits (looted from bodies)
20 additional arrows over and above your initial 40.
a second quiver, if you want (looted from bodies)

Loss:

Nothing, you even got your horse back

Injuries:

Nothing major

Fame: Rayna +12

I'm really sorry if Rayna is going for negative fame.
But you DID do some noteworthy archery.
Giving you credit for 4 dead bandits.

Devotion: 0

Nope. Didn't see any.

Comments:

Can't wait for you to go back and slap some stable-boys around .
You are the only one that specifically mentioned you were looting bodies.
A true, old-style table-top gamer I love it!
PM me with any comments or concerns

___________________________________________________________

AELIUS CALLISTUS:

Rewards:

• Story: +5
• Collaboration: +5
• Structure: +5

These points can NOT be spent on magic (see comments below).

Knowledges:

• Animal Husbandry: Large Saddlebag Niche for Sleeping Cat
• Detection: Cats Give a Sign When Something is Wrong
• Detection: Lack of Wildlife Sounds is a Bad Sign
• Intelligence: Ambushers Usually Hit from Behind First
• Intelligence: Cargo Value May be Due to Political Tensions
• Intelligence: More Guards Means More Valuable Cargo
• Intelligence: Taking a Moment to Survey a Battle
• Location: Andaris Western Gate
• Mount (Horse): Commanding Shout to Break Through Panic
• Mount (Horse): Ducking to the Side While Mounted Can Unseat You
• Mount (Horse): You Need to Stay in Practice
• Negotiation: Free Caravan Pass as 'Seeker'
• PC: Gray: Human Mercenary Guard
• PC: Yanahalqah (Rayna): "Human" Mercenary Guard
• Politics: Caravan to Krome Unlikely Political Target
• Psychology: Close-Minded Elitist is No Way to go Through Life
• Psychology: Secret Hope for Battle/Magic Practice
• Socializing: An "Inquisition" of Fast, Friendly Questions
• Sociology: Some Secrets are Best Revealed Indirectly
• Sovereign: Blasting the Bark Off Trees
• Sovereign: Holding Focus After a Cast is a Burden
• Sovereign: Pulling to Retrieve Your Conduit
• Stealth: Plain Clothes are Unrevealing
• Yanahalqah (Rayna): Lost Her Eye in Combat

Loot:

50gn Caravan guard pay
See Vincent's "Comments" section regarding this pay.

Loss:

Nothing to speak of

Injuries:

Bruises and lacerations from getting dragged.
Moving slowly and tenderly for a week or so

Fame: +2

I'm giving you positive fame for the act of magic, since it helped your side.

Devotion:

Nope. Didn't see any.

Comments:

I feel bad for being a little on the spot here. I can't let you spend these points on a magic that is not written up. But what you did was right in line with everything indicated in staff discussions. So I gave you a few knowledges to bank for when it IS completed. It's the best I can do.
I'm also overlooking the fact that your CS does not look current.
This thread should have been graded at a time when it WAS up-to-date.
In the meantime you have no indication of any activity, wages or expenses during Zi'Da.
Now if you truly did nothing during that season, let me know.
Otherwise please get that updated as soon as you can.
PM me with any comments or concerns