It is difficult to see the emotion or the tells of the rider with his face still covered with a cowl. However, Drexon is experienced enough with reading people from his gambling days. There is a reason why the rider just suddenly stops in the middle of a clearing. It is just unclear what it is yet. At a glance, there don't seem to be any traps, but the relaxed gait of the rider tells otherwise. It is as if he is daring anyone to reach him, waiting for them to trigger something. But, there is also a sense of assurance in the rider's gait. He doesn't expect to stand in that clearing long.
"No arrows," the rider shrugs. "No need to fear an arrowless archer. We are essentially useless. I will keep it."
“You assume we feared you in the first place. We have a job to do.” Eremoz looks to his companions and keeps his voice low. “Hold.” He begins walking the perimeter of the clearing, heading towards Saikhan.
The rider only nods and lets Eremoz leave. As Eremoz does so, the rider's horse appears and trots slowly toward the rider, hovering slightly above the ground. The rider doesn't make any more movement as the group leaves except to pat and nuzzle his horse.
"That is it?" Drexon asks surprised. "You have run out of arrows and so given up?".
He narrows his eyes, "Maybe now you would care to enlighten us as to your employer then? You must be aware of the deplorable acts they are capable of. Do you really want to be a part of that?".
If the rider truly is willing to let them go, and has no more to add, he will slowly back away. It will be quite a distance before he stops turning to look back every few seconds.
"I have a job," the rider says, "and I'm sure you know what it is. After all, you are still here. The longer I can keep you here, the better. I have seen that a martial approach will not yield much result, so I have decided to wait and see."
"Deplorable is not the word I would use," the rider admits. "Terrible, yes, but not yet deplorable. There are things you have yet to see and know that will make you question why the wheel of the world is currently turning as it is. My employer, detestable as he is, wants to change this. He has done great things. Terrible and worthy of my disapproval, yes, but great nonetheless. Sometimes, to see a change, terrible action is required."
Eremoz stops his march along the edge of the clearing. “If that terrible an action is required to change the world for the better, it’s too far gone. Try doing the right thing in the moment and maybe there is a chance.”
He turns and resumes the trek to Saikhan. “We survived the arrows. Goodbye for now, rider.”
"If you truly believed that crap, you would elaborate. But we both know you are not going to do that", Drexon replies, before he too leaves, keeping a wary eye and ear over his shoulder.
The rider hums noncommittally and doesn't say another word.
When you are far enough away from the rider, Drexon and Amber, the only ones who keep an eye on the rider, see him mount his horse and become engulfed in black flame. A full set of blackened arrows appears in his quiver as he trots slowly south, away from you. The ground and trees around him become a little charred as he rides. The rider looks back and catches Drexon's eyes. He gives him a salute before disappearing from view behind the trees.
{{You are in the clear and out of combat. Make a Perception check for the rest of the journey.}}
"It seems he is honouring the wager about the ten arrows, and letting us go", Drexon says as he watches the rider leave. "Although he did lie about the bow being useless, as expected. Such an arrogant one, thinks we are stupid".
After the meeting with the rider, you become more careful in your journey. You have to stop a few times and find an alternative route when you think you see one of the rider's traps. You are not sure whether it is your paranoia or it is really a trap, but it is better to be cautious than caught off guard.
The sun has long set when you finally see the wall of the city of Saikhan in the distance. The city looks a little dilapidated, worn by the wind, sea, and salt, but it is bustling even this late in the evening. It is not as well-defended as the other cities you've visited, but you get the sense that the city is well-armed in the event of a conflict.
{{What do you want to do? Start searching the harbour/port or find an inn to rest?}}
Drexon is relieved when Saikhan finally comes into view. The trip having been far more difficult than he imagined, for multiple reasons.
"You have my thanks for seeing us here safely, Amber", he says smiling at their new companion. "I do feel the need to rest, but perhaps we should visit the dock-master's office first to find out when the first ship is scheduled to sail, and if the Cobalt Restitution is even moored here. I do not trust that their change of plans does not include a change of ship. I am not overly familiar with maritime procedures, but I imagine it will be after first light that the first leaves. At least I hope so".
It is not hard to look for the Fogcross Port, the closest place where a ship could moor from your entry at the south gate. Despite the late hour, the port is still bustling with activities. As its name implies, the place is covered in a very thin fog, not enough to obstruct visions, but gives a little bit of a chill to the air. Ships are being loaded with crates and barrels in preparation for the next morning's journey. Unfortunately, you cannot see any ships bearing the name Cobalt Restitution.
After loitering for some time, a weary-looking human takes notice and approaches you. He has a rumpled uniform of a city official and carries a thick roll of paper. This can only be the port manager. "If you are looking to smuggle yourself in one of the ships, I will have to call the city guards," he says with a bored tone as if this is a common occurrence. "If you're passengers, buy tickets from the harbour and board the ship there. The earliest ship leaves the port at three in the morning tomorrow heading to Vortesso. This place is all for cargo."
Drexon smiles at the port manager, "Rest assured we are not stowaways. We are however looking for a ship that is leaving soon that might be able to carry some cargo for us. I don't suppose you have the names of the ships and their captains that are leaving port in the next 24 hours?".
As he speaks, suddenly a copper coin appears in his hand, running up and down between his knuckles.
Drexon had hoped to be a little more discreet, but in truth the people they are chasing likely already know they are in town. Having a snitch port manager tell them is likely redundant.
He watches the man closely though, trying to se any sign of recognition towards the ships name.
Insight: 3+5=8 (Passive: 15)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
{{Drexon, it will take the full action. }}
It is difficult to see the emotion or the tells of the rider with his face still covered with a cowl. However, Drexon is experienced enough with reading people from his gambling days. There is a reason why the rider just suddenly stops in the middle of a clearing. It is just unclear what it is yet. At a glance, there don't seem to be any traps, but the relaxed gait of the rider tells otherwise. It is as if he is daring anyone to reach him, waiting for them to trigger something. But, there is also a sense of assurance in the rider's gait. He doesn't expect to stand in that clearing long.
"No arrows," the rider shrugs. "No need to fear an arrowless archer. We are essentially useless. I will keep it."
“You assume we feared you in the first place. We have a job to do.” Eremoz looks to his companions and keeps his voice low. “Hold.” He begins walking the perimeter of the clearing, heading towards Saikhan.
The rider only nods and lets Eremoz leave. As Eremoz does so, the rider's horse appears and trots slowly toward the rider, hovering slightly above the ground. The rider doesn't make any more movement as the group leaves except to pat and nuzzle his horse.
"Then, I bid you good luck," the rider says.
"That is it?" Drexon asks surprised. "You have run out of arrows and so given up?".
He narrows his eyes, "Maybe now you would care to enlighten us as to your employer then? You must be aware of the deplorable acts they are capable of. Do you really want to be a part of that?".
If the rider truly is willing to let them go, and has no more to add, he will slowly back away. It will be quite a distance before he stops turning to look back every few seconds.
Persuasion: 18+6=24
"I have a job," the rider says, "and I'm sure you know what it is. After all, you are still here. The longer I can keep you here, the better. I have seen that a martial approach will not yield much result, so I have decided to wait and see."
"Deplorable is not the word I would use," the rider admits. "Terrible, yes, but not yet deplorable. There are things you have yet to see and know that will make you question why the wheel of the world is currently turning as it is. My employer, detestable as he is, wants to change this. He has done great things. Terrible and worthy of my disapproval, yes, but great nonetheless. Sometimes, to see a change, terrible action is required."
Cob suspects the terrible action might involve missing children.
"Just because it can be done, doesn't mean it should be done," Cob says, but he doesn't stop, he keeps moving along their original path.
Eremoz stops his march along the edge of the clearing. “If that terrible an action is required to change the world for the better, it’s too far gone. Try doing the right thing in the moment and maybe there is a chance.”
He turns and resumes the trek to Saikhan. “We survived the arrows. Goodbye for now, rider.”
"If you truly believed that crap, you would elaborate. But we both know you are not going to do that", Drexon replies, before he too leaves, keeping a wary eye and ear over his shoulder.
Cob relies on the others to keep an eye over their shoulders and instead focuses on what's ahead.
"If there was one sent out to slow us down, there might be others."
The rider hums noncommittally and doesn't say another word.
When you are far enough away from the rider, Drexon and Amber, the only ones who keep an eye on the rider, see him mount his horse and become engulfed in black flame. A full set of blackened arrows appears in his quiver as he trots slowly south, away from you. The ground and trees around him become a little charred as he rides. The rider looks back and catches Drexon's eyes. He gives him a salute before disappearing from view behind the trees.
{{You are in the clear and out of combat. Make a Perception check for the rest of the journey.}}
"It seems he is honouring the wager about the ten arrows, and letting us go", Drexon says as he watches the rider leave. "Although he did lie about the bow being useless, as expected. Such an arrogant one, thinks we are stupid".
Perception: 12+5=17
Cob Perception: 18
Perception: 15
After the meeting with the rider, you become more careful in your journey. You have to stop a few times and find an alternative route when you think you see one of the rider's traps. You are not sure whether it is your paranoia or it is really a trap, but it is better to be cautious than caught off guard.
The sun has long set when you finally see the wall of the city of Saikhan in the distance. The city looks a little dilapidated, worn by the wind, sea, and salt, but it is bustling even this late in the evening. It is not as well-defended as the other cities you've visited, but you get the sense that the city is well-armed in the event of a conflict.
{{What do you want to do? Start searching the harbour/port or find an inn to rest?}}
Drexon is relieved when Saikhan finally comes into view. The trip having been far more difficult than he imagined, for multiple reasons.
"You have my thanks for seeing us here safely, Amber", he says smiling at their new companion. "I do feel the need to rest, but perhaps we should visit the dock-master's office first to find out when the first ship is scheduled to sail, and if the Cobalt Restitution is even moored here. I do not trust that their change of plans does not include a change of ship. I am not overly familiar with maritime procedures, but I imagine it will be after first light that the first leaves. At least I hope so".
Cob agrees with Drexon.
"Yes, we should head to the harbour first," Cob says. "And there's bound to be an inn over there too."
It is not hard to look for the Fogcross Port, the closest place where a ship could moor from your entry at the south gate. Despite the late hour, the port is still bustling with activities. As its name implies, the place is covered in a very thin fog, not enough to obstruct visions, but gives a little bit of a chill to the air. Ships are being loaded with crates and barrels in preparation for the next morning's journey. Unfortunately, you cannot see any ships bearing the name Cobalt Restitution.
After loitering for some time, a weary-looking human takes notice and approaches you. He has a rumpled uniform of a city official and carries a thick roll of paper. This can only be the port manager. "If you are looking to smuggle yourself in one of the ships, I will have to call the city guards," he says with a bored tone as if this is a common occurrence. "If you're passengers, buy tickets from the harbour and board the ship there. The earliest ship leaves the port at three in the morning tomorrow heading to Vortesso. This place is all for cargo."
Drexon smiles at the port manager, "Rest assured we are not stowaways. We are however looking for a ship that is leaving soon that might be able to carry some cargo for us. I don't suppose you have the names of the ships and their captains that are leaving port in the next 24 hours?".
As he speaks, suddenly a copper coin appears in his hand, running up and down between his knuckles.
The weary looking-man doesn't seem like his heart is in this job.
"If it's easier, we really just want to find the Cobalt Restitution," Cob says to the man.
He then look over at Drexon and Eremoz "Do you think the rangers have a post here?"
Drexon had hoped to be a little more discreet, but in truth the people they are chasing likely already know they are in town. Having a snitch port manager tell them is likely redundant.
He watches the man closely though, trying to se any sign of recognition towards the ships name.
Insight: 3+5=8 (Passive: 15)