'Tace' doesn't respond to the rebuke from the Sergeant, but says no more to the prisoner so it is obvious he got the message. And back to having that stick up his backside. So I have to watch my tone with him and everyone else as well now.
Now he has two reasons to sit at the back of the carriage with the Lieutenant.
Together, Arren and Bryn lead the prisoner and tie him to one of the nearby trees, despite his struggles and the ceaseless stream of insults. But once they're done and the carriage starts moving again, it doesn't take long before the prisoner is out of sight, and not long after, his shouts stop. Either his comrades came to rescue him, or he just gave up once the subject of his anger disappeared.
Bryn:
If nothing else, the prisoner is at least impressive in his ability to roll well on performance checks act well. When Arren approaches, he starts struggling a little harder, so Arren feels his help is needed.
Through his insults, the prisoner manages to pass on one last message before the crew leaves: "If possible." As far as Bryn can tell, he seems truthful in this response, but there's no question that, if deemed impossible, he wouldn't care much if they're not taken alive either.
The soft rain continues periodically. Occasionally raining for a few minutes and occasionally stopping. Since the sky isn't completely covered by the clouds, the sun shines through occasionally, and despite the clouds and the rain, the weather is just slightly warm for this season and at this altitude. Occasionally, someone might even spot a rainbow. If it is the Lieutenant who spotted it first, he'll call it out every time.
But aside from the occasional rainbow, the spirits aren't too high in the carriage. Maybe it's because of the raid, maybe it's the short interrogation that followed, or maybe it's the figures in the mountains. They still attempt to hide, but after spotting several of them along the way, or perhaps the same one moving around to keep an eye on the carriage, there's no doubt they're out there. Both Arren and Bryn spot these figures. Perhaps they don't both spot each of them, but each spots a few. The Lieutenant seems also aware of this. However, each time you spot such a figure, they soon step out of sight, and apart from watching the carriage, they don't seem to do anything, yet.
"I don't know. I've never passed through here." The Lieutenant answers Bryn's question, perhaps after spotting one of these figures. "We could check the map, I suppose, but I imagine we're going to pass through whatever is ahead, even if it doesn't look right." He speaks loud enough, perhaps on purpose, that both Arren and surely the Commandant can hear. Maybe the hidden figures, too. "Aside from turning around, I don't think there are many other options."
In truth, that's not entirely true. The carriage passed through an intersection not too long after leaving the tarn, and the Commandant says you can expect to see more soon. After all, the mountain path isn't one straight line connecting Ersta and Pyorre, but a network of roads through the mountains that connect all of Katto. Nonetheless, climbing down one of these paths to the shoreline remains undesirable to the Commandant.
"But, you shouldn't worry too much," Lieutenant Tireur continues, now without raising his voice too much. "The bandits we fought off yesternight were about as dangerous as any other we've fought before your arrival, and we're still alive after several years on the job, eh? Besides, you're not so bad either. I had expected the fighting skills of someone who only had to keep the order in a prison to have dulled, but yours are good. I'm glad to know I leave the Commandant in capable hands."
'Tace' is unaccustomed to being in the mountains, and he is quite moved by the vistas around them as they travel. If there wasn't an impending ambush it would be quite a pleasant journey, even despite the rain. At least he feels a little better prepared since they left the tarn, with the crossbow he now keeps close. Is that for the protection or because the prisoner told me to wield it so I will be recognised?
He sits in silence next to the Lieutenant for a few long minutes, before replying to his superior. Is he confident or merely hopeful that it is over?
"The Ledge Lodge has never been abandoned before, Sir. Something is different. Something is brewing", he says as he surveils their surroundings, before briefly looking at the back of the Sergeant ahead of him on the carriage.
He pauses as he thinks things through. Can I really let them move headlong into a trap without saying something? These are not the Meyens that invaded. These are soldiers, but that doesn't define them. Not all of them. The Sergeant is proof of that, with his kindness and empathy underneath the rigid training. But how to explain what I know without tipping my hand. And would it matter? They are unlikely to surrender. Only an order from the Commandant herself could make them do that.
And then he remembers something. The prisoner knew they were heading to Pyorre. Perhaps if they deviated from that path and took one of the paths that led to the coast, they would be able to avoid the ambush. The Commandant seemed careless mentioning our destination, but perhaps she was just canny. Laying false breadcrumbs. But perhaps not.
"Sometimes in Tus, you could just sense something was brewing. I just get that feeling, and no matter how much of what that elf said was bluster, he believed in his cause. And there are other folk out there who are likely as fanatical as him", he finally says, his voice barely loud enough to carry to the Sergeant. "They expect us to be heading to Pyorre, but what if we don't?", he suggests tentatively.
Insight: 1+5=6 (on the Lieutenant to see if he is concerned or not. Or if he knows something he hasn't shared yet. Not that it matters with that roll haha)
(OOC: He is careful when bringing up Tus.I don't think he is deceiving anyone, even as a prisoner you would need to be able to read the place to survive. He also isn't telling the full truth of what he knows though)
Arren doesn't speak for most of the journey. From time to time he raises his eyes from the road to watch their surroundings, or when Walnut calls out after spotting something. Each time, Arren expects bandits—yet more than once it turns out to be another rainbow. By the third time he makes the same mistake, he lets out a quiet snort and allows himself a faint smile.
It doesn't last, though. Soon after, when the figures in the mountains begin to appear, his mood darkens again. Or is it only one figure, moving with them? He can't be sure. What strikes him most is how easily they're being seen now. Perhaps it's just that the raid has made them more aware. But part of him wonders if it's deliberate. A tactic meant to keep them on edge?
Arren listens as Tace speaks with Walnuts, but doesn't respond right away. After a pause, he asks, "Do you mean taking a longer route. Through the shoreline?" He suspects the Commandant will reject the idea. And truth be told, he isn't entirely certain it's wise to alter their plan. Raids like the last one had become familiar, almost routine, and it seemed strange to alter their course when they've never needed to do that before. The shoreline may bring its own dangers, as well.
Finally, he says, "It might not be a bad idea. It would take us longer to reach the capital," he admits, stating the obvious on purpose, as it might make the Commandant weight the suggestion more seriously, knowing how she hates it when they have to stay in Pyorre. "But ... a change might be good. Things have been too strange since we took the mountain route. The inn. The absence of other travellers on the road. The figures watching." He leaves out the bandit raid. That, sadly, is all too ordinary for them.
He leaves it there, certain the Commandant will soon give her view.
"Hmm, maybe you're right. That lodge was strange, alright," Lieutenant Tireur answers thoughtfully. "I did wonder, what if they just left? I mean, what if they decided to leave, abandon the lodge? I can't figure out why they'd do that - well, other than the bandits we've run into - but that could explain why everything was gone. Just... taken away, you know? With the people to whom it belonged. Well, whatever the case, I agree we shouldn't be carefree here. Especially given our distant admirers." He gestures in the general direction of the mountains above, where the figures were spotted.
Bryn can't read the Lieutenant much. The Drow is focused on the journey most of the time - on the watch for either potential threats or rainbows - and all on board the carriage know they can't speak too often and too much without disturbing the Commandant's work, so they don't talk a lot while riding, which often seems to work in Bryn's favour. At least, while keeping his false identity is the objective.
After hearing Bryn's suggestion and Arren's response, the Lieutenant gives the matter some thought, perhaps waiting with you for the Commandant's response, but as that doesn't come, he finally gives his own opinion. "No, I don't think so. Those bandits last night were... well, they were normal, in terms of combat prowess. We've been encountering robbers like these along our path for years now, and, well, we're still alive, aren't we? I'm not saying we should fall into a feeling of complacency, but they're also not a threat worth altering our course for. I mean, we're also likely to encounter such threats on the shore, so it's not like a detour will guarantee safety. Besides, if our admirers want to meet us, I imagine they'll see us changing route and just... follow? We might avoid an ambush at one point, but wouldn't we just fall into another at some other point? We don't even know the terrain well enough to know if one route is strategically safer than the other."
The Commandant keeps quiet for now, but when you reach the next crossroad, she'll direct Arren to the shortest route towards Pyorre, without adding any further comments.
By mid-late afternoon, the crew reaches a small hut. Above the front door facing the road, in the Common Humans' Tongue is written: "Lory's Hostlery". While there are still a few hours of light left today, Commandant Nattensbarn decides to stop here for the night. "After last night, it would be best if we slept in a place that's easier to protect," she justifies, though the thought probably passed through everyone's mind even before she voiced it.
Lory's Hostlery is a small wooden building with a single floor and just three rooms. The room to which the front door opens is the largest of the three, though far from large by most standards. It is empty, save for a bell fixed above the front door, which probably used to ring when the door was opened. The bell seems to have been smashed, however, and the squashed metal no longer touches the door as it opens, and doesn't seem capable of producing any bell-like sound. Aside from that bell, the place looks mostly well-maintained; however, one of the windows is broken, and rainwater has pooled inside underneath.
The second and third rooms, only one of which is directly connected to the first, make up a small house where, from the looks of it, a single person lived. They are both very small, and while furniture remains, there is nobody there, as well as no food, no water and nothing else that isn't too heavy to carry. From the looks of it, the small counter that must have been used for making food wasn't used to prepare food for many people. Perhaps food wasn't served here, or maybe the owner just never prepared for more than a handful of guests.
There is a hitching post outside, and a trough full of rainwater, but nothing to shelter the horses and the carriage from the weather.
"You know best, sir", 'Tace' replies to the Lieutenant, and not wanting to be seem to be insubordinate, drops the subject. At least the Sergeant had seen merit in the idea, which meant he didn't sound completely crazy. Maybe the lieutenant is right, and that prisoner was exaggerating or outright bluffing. Either way, without revealing what I know there is nothing more to say.
He will spend the remainder of the days travel trying to pick out distinct bandits so he can get some kind of count of them. It is hard from this distance, but he looks for anything that might differentiate one from another. But it is at least a distraction from the feeling of guilt at having killed the man outside "Ledge Lodge". He keeps an eye out for any markings along the path written in Thieves' Cant.
He also switches places to sit by the Sergeant at the front the next time they stop. "Thanks for taking me seriously about changing routes, sir. I had to say my piece, even though the Lieutenant didn't agree", he says whilst gazing up at the mountains, bandit spotting.
He relaxes a little when they come upon "Lory's Hostlery" without incident, or any sign of this rock that the prisoner mentioned, and they get the order to stop for the night. Finding it abandoned just like "Ledge Lodge" adds to the mystery. We have still not come across any other traveller's as well.
He helps sort the horses out before taking a better look around, especially at the bell and broken window to see what might have caused it. Was the window broken from the inside or outside?
Assuming they sit and eat together, he will bring up his reservation once again, "You mentioned an ambush point before, sir. I suppose if there is one ahead, that might be why we have not seen any traveller's. Of course, that would mean the bandits are not just robbing traveller's and sending them on their way. Perhaps they are sending them back, or....". He tries not to sound afraid, just curious, but leaves the thought unfinished.
Investigation (looking around "Lory's Hostlery" at the window etc): 3+5=8
(OOC: What is the weather like at the moment? Are they drenched? Is keeping watch from outside going to be uncomfortable?)
Walnut's dismissal and the Commandant's choice of route settle the matter for good. Arren can't say he hadn't expected it, but he still thinks the Corporal's suggestion had merit.
"I admit I wasn't sure about the idea myself," he says when the Corporal addresses him. "Part of me wants to think as the Lieutenant does—that this isn't any different from the journeys we've made so far. But at the same time…"He pauses, eyes sweeping the surrounding mountains. "...I don't know. Something isn't right, and I don't mean the bandits. I don't think I'll be entirely at ease until we reach Pyorre—or until we figure out what's going on."
He falls silent for a moment, then adds, "Either way, from my experience, suggestions are always welcome in this company. They might be turned down, but I've never felt like we couldn't speak our minds. It was a good call to bring it up."
When they reach Lory's Hostlery and find it is abandoned as well, Arren shares a look with the others. "Another deserted place? Too much of a coincidence," he says, though he agrees with the Commandant's reasoning: they'll be better off defending solid walls than open ground.
Same as in previous nights, he begins spreading the bedrolls in the largest room. "I'll sleep here, by the front door," he offers, then turns to the Commandant. "Ma'am, would you prefer one of the smaller rooms? Anyone trying to enter would have to pass by this room first."
Like the Corporal, he inspects the building, searching for anything they might have missed in their first quick assesment. Beyond the bell and the broken window, he looks for other signs of disturbance. He half-expects traces of a fight—like those at the Ledge Lodge—though it's possible none occurred here, since the building seems to have never hosted more than a handful of customers at once. (Investigation: 19+1 = 20)
He also takes a stroll around the outside of the hut. To anyone watching—for example, their admirers, as Walnut has begun calling them—he appears to be simply inspecting the building or keeping a casual watch while the others set up inside. What he will do, from time to time, is drop a few of his caltrops at specific points outside: near every window, and a few more before the main entrance (though not directly in front, so they won't give away their position themselves when entering or switching watches).
Once he returns inside, Arren announces where the caltrops have been set, so no one steps on them. (ooc: I'm hoping he will be able to retrieve them the next morning, knowing exactly where he left them.)
(OOC: What is the weather like at the moment? Are they drenched? Is keeping watch from outside going to be uncomfortable?)
It's been raining periodically all day, but the rain is soft when it rains. The raincoats do an acceptable job of protecting from this soft rain, so they'll be dry where the coats protect them, and wet in areas that aren't protected by the coat (face, shins, hands...). But even there, they're not really drenched. Just... wet.
What he will do, from time to time, is drop a few of his caltrops at specific points outside: near every window, and a few more before the main entrance (though not directly in front, so they won't give away their position themselves when entering or switching watches).
Once he returns inside, Arren announces where the caltrops have been set, so no one steps on them. (ooc: I'm hoping he will be able to retrieve them the next morning, knowing exactly where he left them.)
The caltrops can be spread over 5 square feet. Maybe 10 if Bryn also has a bag of them and decides to follow Arren's example. You can't cover all windows and doors without spreading the caltrops thin, making them less effective. Let's say, for each portion (5 square feet) of caltrops, you can divide the amount into as many places as you want (let's say, N spots), but lower the DC of the save for each (let's say, a DC of 16-N, so one spot is the normal 15, two spots are 14 each, three are 13 each and so on).
There are a total of two external doors and four windows in the entire hostlery, or one external door, one internal door and two windows if you only account for those that lead in\out of the main hall. Only one of those windows is broken.
Given this layout, tell me how Arren spreads the caltrops. Also, since Arren's suggestion that the Commandant sleeps in one of the other rooms doesn't make much sense (to me), I'll assume he didn't suggest it. If he still does, let me know.
The bell looks like it was smashed by a blunt object, with enough force to squash the metal. Could be a rock, a club, even a durable mug, maybe. The window, meanwhile, was broken from the inside, as evident by the shards of glass that still line the mud under the window outside. Upon a closer inspection, Arren notices traces of blood on the broken glass that's still attached to the wooden frame. Most likely, someone either broke the glass and then went through or broke the glass while going through, and got cut in the process. Or maybe someone got cut by it without going through, it's hard to tell.
As Arren looks for signs of a fight, he notices that what he originally thought was a nail in the wall that might have held a poster or a painting is actually a crossbow bolt stuck deep in one of the wooden walls.
Commandant Nattensbarn, after briefly inspecting the hostlery, walks over to the carriage to take out her small wooden table and a stool to sit on. But before she resumes her work, she comments on "Tace's" reservations. "Indeed. I wouldn't be surprised if they just killed all who passed through their turf, given the lack of other travellers and the vacancy found both here and in the previous lodge, after seeing that prisoner this morning. But, in that case, what did the-" she cuts off abruptly, sitting still and quiet for a moment, before suddenly rolling off the stool and under the wooden table, lying on the floor there, covering her head with her hands.
It takes just a second for everyone else to feel the cause of the Commandant's behaviour. First faintly, but rapidly growing stronger, the floor beneath them starts to stir and shake violently, quaking, as it did when they were in Tus. Except, unlike in Tus, the quakes are a little weaker and, more importantly, the floor doesn't cave in. In fact, thanks to the lack of loose objects in the room, the only things that are affected are the Commandant's quills, papers and inkwell, which roll to the floor, scattering around. The inkwell, fortunately, doesn't shatter upon impact, and since it was closed, the ink doesn't spill.
But after a few moments, the quakes weaken and eventually die down. A few more moments later, the Commandant rises, swearing irritably in Meyen, and starts collecting her scattered papers. "Whatever Aleshi fed to Gaitha got her stomach rumbling again," she says once she finally manages to collect everything and sits against the table again.
'Tace' doesn't respond to the rebuke from the Sergeant, but says no more to the prisoner so it is obvious he got the message. And back to having that stick up his backside. So I have to watch my tone with him and everyone else as well now.
Now he has two reasons to sit at the back of the carriage with the Lieutenant.
Together, Arren and Bryn lead the prisoner and tie him to one of the nearby trees, despite his struggles and the ceaseless stream of insults. But once they're done and the carriage starts moving again, it doesn't take long before the prisoner is out of sight, and not long after, his shouts stop. Either his comrades came to rescue him, or he just gave up once the subject of his anger disappeared.
Bryn:
If nothing else, the prisoner is at least impressive in his ability to
roll well on performance checksact well. When Arren approaches, he starts struggling a little harder, so Arren feels his help is needed.Through his insults, the prisoner manages to pass on one last message before the crew leaves: "If possible." As far as Bryn can tell, he seems truthful in this response, but there's no question that, if deemed impossible, he wouldn't care much if they're not taken alive either.
The soft rain continues periodically. Occasionally raining for a few minutes and occasionally stopping. Since the sky isn't completely covered by the clouds, the sun shines through occasionally, and despite the clouds and the rain, the weather is just slightly warm for this season and at this altitude. Occasionally, someone might even spot a rainbow. If it is the Lieutenant who spotted it first, he'll call it out every time.
But aside from the occasional rainbow, the spirits aren't too high in the carriage. Maybe it's because of the raid, maybe it's the short interrogation that followed, or maybe it's the figures in the mountains. They still attempt to hide, but after spotting several of them along the way, or perhaps the same one moving around to keep an eye on the carriage, there's no doubt they're out there. Both Arren and Bryn spot these figures. Perhaps they don't both spot each of them, but each spots a few. The Lieutenant seems also aware of this. However, each time you spot such a figure, they soon step out of sight, and apart from watching the carriage, they don't seem to do anything, yet.
"I don't know. I've never passed through here." The Lieutenant answers Bryn's question, perhaps after spotting one of these figures. "We could check the map, I suppose, but I imagine we're going to pass through whatever is ahead, even if it doesn't look right." He speaks loud enough, perhaps on purpose, that both Arren and surely the Commandant can hear. Maybe the hidden figures, too. "Aside from turning around, I don't think there are many other options."
In truth, that's not entirely true. The carriage passed through an intersection not too long after leaving the tarn, and the Commandant says you can expect to see more soon. After all, the mountain path isn't one straight line connecting Ersta and Pyorre, but a network of roads through the mountains that connect all of Katto. Nonetheless, climbing down one of these paths to the shoreline remains undesirable to the Commandant.
"But, you shouldn't worry too much," Lieutenant Tireur continues, now without raising his voice too much. "The bandits we fought off yesternight were about as dangerous as any other we've fought before your arrival, and we're still alive after several years on the job, eh? Besides, you're not so bad either. I had expected the fighting skills of someone who only had to keep the order in a prison to have dulled, but yours are good. I'm glad to know I leave the Commandant in capable hands."
Varielky
'Tace' is unaccustomed to being in the mountains, and he is quite moved by the vistas around them as they travel. If there wasn't an impending ambush it would be quite a pleasant journey, even despite the rain. At least he feels a little better prepared since they left the tarn, with the crossbow he now keeps close. Is that for the protection or because the prisoner told me to wield it so I will be recognised?
He sits in silence next to the Lieutenant for a few long minutes, before replying to his superior. Is he confident or merely hopeful that it is over?
"The Ledge Lodge has never been abandoned before, Sir. Something is different. Something is brewing", he says as he surveils their surroundings, before briefly looking at the back of the Sergeant ahead of him on the carriage.
He pauses as he thinks things through. Can I really let them move headlong into a trap without saying something? These are not the Meyens that invaded. These are soldiers, but that doesn't define them. Not all of them. The Sergeant is proof of that, with his kindness and empathy underneath the rigid training. But how to explain what I know without tipping my hand. And would it matter? They are unlikely to surrender. Only an order from the Commandant herself could make them do that.
And then he remembers something. The prisoner knew they were heading to Pyorre. Perhaps if they deviated from that path and took one of the paths that led to the coast, they would be able to avoid the ambush. The Commandant seemed careless mentioning our destination, but perhaps she was just canny. Laying false breadcrumbs. But perhaps not.
"Sometimes in Tus, you could just sense something was brewing. I just get that feeling, and no matter how much of what that elf said was bluster, he believed in his cause. And there are other folk out there who are likely as fanatical as him", he finally says, his voice barely loud enough to carry to the Sergeant. "They expect us to be heading to Pyorre, but what if we don't?", he suggests tentatively.
Insight: 1+5=6 (on the Lieutenant to see if he is concerned or not. Or if he knows something he hasn't shared yet. Not that it matters with that roll haha)
(OOC: He is careful when bringing up Tus.I don't think he is deceiving anyone, even as a prisoner you would need to be able to read the place to survive. He also isn't telling the full truth of what he knows though)
Arren doesn't speak for most of the journey. From time to time he raises his eyes from the road to watch their surroundings, or when Walnut calls out after spotting something. Each time, Arren expects bandits—yet more than once it turns out to be another rainbow. By the third time he makes the same mistake, he lets out a quiet snort and allows himself a faint smile.
It doesn't last, though. Soon after, when the figures in the mountains begin to appear, his mood darkens again. Or is it only one figure, moving with them? He can't be sure. What strikes him most is how easily they're being seen now. Perhaps it's just that the raid has made them more aware. But part of him wonders if it's deliberate. A tactic meant to keep them on edge?
Arren listens as Tace speaks with Walnuts, but doesn't respond right away. After a pause, he asks, "Do you mean taking a longer route. Through the shoreline?" He suspects the Commandant will reject the idea. And truth be told, he isn't entirely certain it's wise to alter their plan. Raids like the last one had become familiar, almost routine, and it seemed strange to alter their course when they've never needed to do that before. The shoreline may bring its own dangers, as well.
Finally, he says, "It might not be a bad idea. It would take us longer to reach the capital," he admits, stating the obvious on purpose, as it might make the Commandant weight the suggestion more seriously, knowing how she hates it when they have to stay in Pyorre. "But ... a change might be good. Things have been too strange since we took the mountain route. The inn. The absence of other travellers on the road. The figures watching." He leaves out the bandit raid. That, sadly, is all too ordinary for them.
He leaves it there, certain the Commandant will soon give her view.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
"Hmm, maybe you're right. That lodge was strange, alright," Lieutenant Tireur answers thoughtfully. "I did wonder, what if they just left? I mean, what if they decided to leave, abandon the lodge? I can't figure out why they'd do that - well, other than the bandits we've run into - but that could explain why everything was gone. Just... taken away, you know? With the people to whom it belonged. Well, whatever the case, I agree we shouldn't be carefree here. Especially given our distant admirers." He gestures in the general direction of the mountains above, where the figures were spotted.
Bryn can't read the Lieutenant much. The Drow is focused on the journey most of the time - on the watch for either potential threats or rainbows - and all on board the carriage know they can't speak too often and too much without disturbing the Commandant's work, so they don't talk a lot while riding, which often seems to work in Bryn's favour. At least, while keeping his false identity is the objective.
After hearing Bryn's suggestion and Arren's response, the Lieutenant gives the matter some thought, perhaps waiting with you for the Commandant's response, but as that doesn't come, he finally gives his own opinion. "No, I don't think so. Those bandits last night were... well, they were normal, in terms of combat prowess. We've been encountering robbers like these along our path for years now, and, well, we're still alive, aren't we? I'm not saying we should fall into a feeling of complacency, but they're also not a threat worth altering our course for. I mean, we're also likely to encounter such threats on the shore, so it's not like a detour will guarantee safety. Besides, if our admirers want to meet us, I imagine they'll see us changing route and just... follow? We might avoid an ambush at one point, but wouldn't we just fall into another at some other point? We don't even know the terrain well enough to know if one route is strategically safer than the other."
The Commandant keeps quiet for now, but when you reach the next crossroad, she'll direct Arren to the shortest route towards Pyorre, without adding any further comments.
By mid-late afternoon, the crew reaches a small hut. Above the front door facing the road, in the Common Humans' Tongue is written: "Lory's Hostlery". While there are still a few hours of light left today, Commandant Nattensbarn decides to stop here for the night. "After last night, it would be best if we slept in a place that's easier to protect," she justifies, though the thought probably passed through everyone's mind even before she voiced it.
Lory's Hostlery is a small wooden building with a single floor and just three rooms. The room to which the front door opens is the largest of the three, though far from large by most standards. It is empty, save for a bell fixed above the front door, which probably used to ring when the door was opened. The bell seems to have been smashed, however, and the squashed metal no longer touches the door as it opens, and doesn't seem capable of producing any bell-like sound. Aside from that bell, the place looks mostly well-maintained; however, one of the windows is broken, and rainwater has pooled inside underneath.
The second and third rooms, only one of which is directly connected to the first, make up a small house where, from the looks of it, a single person lived. They are both very small, and while furniture remains, there is nobody there, as well as no food, no water and nothing else that isn't too heavy to carry. From the looks of it, the small counter that must have been used for making food wasn't used to prepare food for many people. Perhaps food wasn't served here, or maybe the owner just never prepared for more than a handful of guests.
There is a hitching post outside, and a trough full of rainwater, but nothing to shelter the horses and the carriage from the weather.
Varielky
"You know best, sir", 'Tace' replies to the Lieutenant, and not wanting to be seem to be insubordinate, drops the subject. At least the Sergeant had seen merit in the idea, which meant he didn't sound completely crazy. Maybe the lieutenant is right, and that prisoner was exaggerating or outright bluffing. Either way, without revealing what I know there is nothing more to say.
He will spend the remainder of the days travel trying to pick out distinct bandits so he can get some kind of count of them. It is hard from this distance, but he looks for anything that might differentiate one from another. But it is at least a distraction from the feeling of guilt at having killed the man outside "Ledge Lodge". He keeps an eye out for any markings along the path written in Thieves' Cant.
He also switches places to sit by the Sergeant at the front the next time they stop. "Thanks for taking me seriously about changing routes, sir. I had to say my piece, even though the Lieutenant didn't agree", he says whilst gazing up at the mountains, bandit spotting.
He relaxes a little when they come upon "Lory's Hostlery" without incident, or any sign of this rock that the prisoner mentioned, and they get the order to stop for the night. Finding it abandoned just like "Ledge Lodge" adds to the mystery. We have still not come across any other traveller's as well.
He helps sort the horses out before taking a better look around, especially at the bell and broken window to see what might have caused it. Was the window broken from the inside or outside?
Assuming they sit and eat together, he will bring up his reservation once again, "You mentioned an ambush point before, sir. I suppose if there is one ahead, that might be why we have not seen any traveller's. Of course, that would mean the bandits are not just robbing traveller's and sending them on their way. Perhaps they are sending them back, or....". He tries not to sound afraid, just curious, but leaves the thought unfinished.
Investigation (looking around "Lory's Hostlery" at the window etc): 3+5=8
(OOC: What is the weather like at the moment? Are they drenched? Is keeping watch from outside going to be uncomfortable?)
Walnut's dismissal and the Commandant's choice of route settle the matter for good. Arren can't say he hadn't expected it, but he still thinks the Corporal's suggestion had merit.
"I admit I wasn't sure about the idea myself," he says when the Corporal addresses him. "Part of me wants to think as the Lieutenant does—that this isn't any different from the journeys we've made so far. But at the same time…" He pauses, eyes sweeping the surrounding mountains. "...I don't know. Something isn't right, and I don't mean the bandits. I don't think I'll be entirely at ease until we reach Pyorre—or until we figure out what's going on."
He falls silent for a moment, then adds, "Either way, from my experience, suggestions are always welcome in this company. They might be turned down, but I've never felt like we couldn't speak our minds. It was a good call to bring it up."
When they reach Lory's Hostlery and find it is abandoned as well, Arren shares a look with the others. "Another deserted place? Too much of a coincidence," he says, though he agrees with the Commandant's reasoning: they'll be better off defending solid walls than open ground.
Same as in previous nights, he begins spreading the bedrolls in the largest room. "I'll sleep here, by the front door," he offers, then turns to the Commandant. "Ma'am, would you prefer one of the smaller rooms? Anyone trying to enter would have to pass by this room first."
Like the Corporal, he inspects the building, searching for anything they might have missed in their first quick assesment. Beyond the bell and the broken window, he looks for other signs of disturbance. He half-expects traces of a fight—like those at the Ledge Lodge—though it's possible none occurred here, since the building seems to have never hosted more than a handful of customers at once. (Investigation: 19+1 = 20)
He also takes a stroll around the outside of the hut. To anyone watching—for example, their admirers, as Walnut has begun calling them—he appears to be simply inspecting the building or keeping a casual watch while the others set up inside. What he will do, from time to time, is drop a few of his caltrops at specific points outside: near every window, and a few more before the main entrance (though not directly in front, so they won't give away their position themselves when entering or switching watches).
Once he returns inside, Arren announces where the caltrops have been set, so no one steps on them. (ooc: I'm hoping he will be able to retrieve them the next morning, knowing exactly where he left them.)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
It's been raining periodically all day, but the rain is soft when it rains. The raincoats do an acceptable job of protecting from this soft rain, so they'll be dry where the coats protect them, and wet in areas that aren't protected by the coat (face, shins, hands...). But even there, they're not really drenched. Just... wet.
The caltrops can be spread over 5 square feet. Maybe 10 if Bryn also has a bag of them and decides to follow Arren's example. You can't cover all windows and doors without spreading the caltrops thin, making them less effective. Let's say, for each portion (5 square feet) of caltrops, you can divide the amount into as many places as you want (let's say, N spots), but lower the DC of the save for each (let's say, a DC of 16-N, so one spot is the normal 15, two spots are 14 each, three are 13 each and so on).
There are a total of two external doors and four windows in the entire hostlery, or one external door, one internal door and two windows if you only account for those that lead in\out of the main hall. Only one of those windows is broken.
Given this layout, tell me how Arren spreads the caltrops. Also, since Arren's suggestion that the Commandant sleeps in one of the other rooms doesn't make much sense (to me), I'll assume he didn't suggest it. If he still does, let me know.
The bell looks like it was smashed by a blunt object, with enough force to squash the metal. Could be a rock, a club, even a durable mug, maybe. The window, meanwhile, was broken from the inside, as evident by the shards of glass that still line the mud under the window outside. Upon a closer inspection, Arren notices traces of blood on the broken glass that's still attached to the wooden frame. Most likely, someone either broke the glass and then went through or broke the glass while going through, and got cut in the process. Or maybe someone got cut by it without going through, it's hard to tell.
As Arren looks for signs of a fight, he notices that what he originally thought was a nail in the wall that might have held a poster or a painting is actually a crossbow bolt stuck deep in one of the wooden walls.
Commandant Nattensbarn, after briefly inspecting the hostlery, walks over to the carriage to take out her small wooden table and a stool to sit on. But before she resumes her work, she comments on "Tace's" reservations. "Indeed. I wouldn't be surprised if they just killed all who passed through their turf, given the lack of other travellers and the vacancy found both here and in the previous lodge, after seeing that prisoner this morning. But, in that case, what did the-" she cuts off abruptly, sitting still and quiet for a moment, before suddenly rolling off the stool and under the wooden table, lying on the floor there, covering her head with her hands.
It takes just a second for everyone else to feel the cause of the Commandant's behaviour. First faintly, but rapidly growing stronger, the floor beneath them starts to stir and shake violently, quaking, as it did when they were in Tus. Except, unlike in Tus, the quakes are a little weaker and, more importantly, the floor doesn't cave in. In fact, thanks to the lack of loose objects in the room, the only things that are affected are the Commandant's quills, papers and inkwell, which roll to the floor, scattering around. The inkwell, fortunately, doesn't shatter upon impact, and since it was closed, the ink doesn't spill.
But after a few moments, the quakes weaken and eventually die down. A few more moments later, the Commandant rises, swearing irritably in Meyen, and starts collecting her scattered papers. "Whatever Aleshi fed to Gaitha got her stomach rumbling again," she says once she finally manages to collect everything and sits against the table again.
Varielky