"Well, judging by the smoke, I'd say we've found who we're looking for....that or we're in some trouble." Arc doesn't really panic, instead just focusing on his notes and working out another draft for the railtrack design.

Njalgas looks back into the cart: "What should we do then? Carry on on our road and let them come to us, or head for the smoke and take the initiative? I doubt they haven't seen us, and if Durnn was correct, there might have been plenty of other scouts we missed already. We aren't in any condition to outrun a set of riders in this cart...

Arc ponders for a moment, then adds, "Best option would be to seek them out first. We're here on business, and we'll inquire as to whether they are here for a reason that would potentially interfere with it." He speaks in a tone that infers a second meaning, and gives a look towards his companions regarding their mission.

“Well, ‘on business’ we may be, but if it is Arceneaux beyond that ridge we need to be careful about how much of our business we let her or her scouts in on. She doesn’t seem the kind that would take well to the idea of Sparks’s project. She seems the type that’d want full control of it in her region—which I doubt Sparks would allow—or she would want the project terminated altogether, because if her region won’t have it, she wouldn’t abide others benefiting from the commerce and leaving her behind.”

Tarian thumbed at the Corphyrean Rail Company logo on the side of the wagon. “We look official enough,” Tarian paused and dug a finger into a poorly mended stitch in her gambeson, then looked at the rest of the group. “Or some of us do, at least. Hopefully the full details of Sparks’s project hasn’t reached Arceneaux yet, or that logo will look an awful lot like a target to her. And I doubt she’d lose a wink of sleep after watching our heads roll if our goals don’t align, from all I’ve heard of her.”

Tarian shifted a bit in her seat. “But even so, seeking them out first might be best. I’m with Arc on that.” She looked to the rest of the group. “If there are any objections or better suggestions, now would be the time.”

Thia was happy being the messenger on this one because she didn't have anything to suggest. They were better at navigating social interactions than she was so Arc and Tarian had her vote. She'll plop herself back down in the cart.

Corti nods, agreeing with Arc and Tarian's plan. 

Brandt agrees with the plan.

With your plan of action agreed upon, Njalgas carries on along the road, approaching the hills. Thia in the back is preparing the land surveying equipment, while Arc is still taking notes and making sketches. It only takes fifteen minutes or so, until Njalgas is stopped by a sentry in the road, clad almost entirely in dark leathers apart from a heavy shield, and a helmet with a steel or silver face mask, completely obscuring the wearer. Over their armour, the sentry wears a block felt coat, much like you saw Durnn wear, only that this one still bears rank insignia and a unit patch.

In heavily accented High Corphyrian, the sentry say: "Halt! What's your business here, Brelanders? This is the terrirtory of Marshal Arceneaux"

"Geographical survey team, contracted out of Duskrock," Tarian called back. "We’re just assessing a potential trade route. Is there a problem here, soldier, or can we move on? We’ve already recorded what’s that way," Tarian thumbed behind the cart, "but the terrain makes it hard to see too far beyond you. And this," Tarian gestured to the empty areas around the trail, "doesn’t look like a good place to end a trade route. Unless you plan on staying right here and have some awfully deep pockets, we’re going to need to get to the next city. Mind letting us through?"

"I'll have to insist you talk to the Marshal then, no going through here without her say-so." With a hand signal, you see five soldiers rise from the surrounding area, hidden behind rock outcroppings. They approach the cart, and you're being slowly guided along the road onwards to the military camp. The guard asks: "How many of you are there?", as he approaches the gates of a large camp surrounded by a wooden palisade, located in what appears to be a clearcut of a forest.



As you approach the camp, you can make out five guards on top of the gate house. Each of the watchtowers bears another three guards.

As you enter the camp, you quickly see that things are not well... to the left, you see three meager and sickly goats in a pen, and you can hear the moaning of the sick and wounded from the gatehouse. The soldiers however don't let you while here too long, and as soon as you stop the cart to the left of the gate, they ask you to step out of the cart.

Thia would bite her lip to keep her mouth shut to allow Tarian, Arc, maybe even Brandt? to speak up for them. Either way she figured it was best if she didn't chime in. She was guilty of being too distracted taking in their surroundings. It couldn't be helped. It didn't take a medic to tell things were not well in the camp. She could see the sickly goats and hear the sound of the sick and wounded. The sound tore at her eardrums. Her eyes would glance to Corti. Figuring she'd be the slowest, Thia will listen to the soldier first grunting herself out of the cart. She'd look to Tarian, figuring she'd know whether to leverage the groups 'hidden' skills or to keep that to themselves. Depending on how they wanted to play the situation, she was considering playing up her injury to find a way inside the tent to help the sick. 

"It’s just the six of us here, not counting the horses." Tarian’s attention was split between Thia getting down from the cart, looking around the encampment, and their guide.

Thia’s glance to Tarian seemed to mean something, and combined with the grunt as she got out, Tarian figured Thia may still have some lingering injuries from Brelak’s crew the other day. Tarian frowned.

Well, I’d rather not separate if we don’t have to, but I don’t think they’ll accept all of us having an unsupervised discussion with Othmar Leech or Gyselle. One of us perhaps, or maybe two. Thia can be seen by a medical professional other than herself and have an excuse to talk to him.

"A group this small and we’ve already had trouble on the road." Tarian gestured toward Thia. "Our cartographer was injured the other day when we had a run-in with some bandits. You wouldn’t happen to have a medic about, would you? We’ve patched her up a bit, but it’s a long road and we can’t afford gangrene."

"First, you'll speak to the Marshal, she will decide whether you get treated by our Leech." With that, the guard is about to usher you along, when he takes a couple of shocked steps back, hand going for his hilt: "What isthat?! Why do you have a 'forged with you?! And why is it wearing clothes?"

At the mention of the presence of a warforged in the camp, several of the nearby guards are grabbing the hilts of their weapons as well. Before you get to say anything though, the flaps of the large command tent in front of you open, and a small lithe woman with jet-black shoulderlength hair in a tight braid on both sides steps out of the tent: "Sergeant, don't embarass yourself. Not every 'forged is used as a weapon of war." Then, with a steely look in her deep brown eyes, she ushers you all into the tent, before sitting down in a large chair. You're all left standing. With a nod she orders the guard outside to close the tent and search your cart in the meantime.

"What can I do for you? And what are you willing to do in return?"

Thia will step protectively in front of Corti when the guards would react. “She’s my assistant.” She’ll assert just before the Captain arrives to chastise her men. The artificer would stand quietly and respectfully with the team as they address the Captain. She’d wait for Tarian to continue the conversation, though she was ready to offer to care for the sickly in return for their passage. And depending on the state of the medic tent, Thia had some thoughts for Arc to assist as well, should it be needed.

Initially getting out of the cart to follow behind everyone else, Arc narrowed his eyes at the pure, ignorant fear of these men towards Corti. Seeing them back off at the woman's command, he relaxes and follows the group into the tent. While standing, he sizes the woman up while waiting for Tarian to take the lead, but when the time comes for introductions, he politely bows, clearly stating, "Thank you for helping our companion earlier, I am Arcius Soranik Raddeus Cannith the second. Well met milady." The group could tell from his tone, that Arc was using the tone he had first used with them back in the city, and was reigning in his looser tone.

A tall and lithe figure of a pale man with balck hair and a pointed beard turns to the Marshal and whispers something into her ears.

"Ah, in these times of mechanised warfare, I suppose your name is close to royalty... Well, my men have certainly been on the other end of plenty of your inventions, hence also their fear of your "assisstant". I do have to wonder though, what does a merchant of death do in times such as these? And what would be your interest in joining a geographical survey mission? With an armed guard and a 'forged no less?"

Arc offers a polite smile and spreads both his arms, palms facing up, to his side, showing his hands are free, "In times as turbulent and chaotic as they are, with bandits, beasts and roaming deserter bands, it would be fool hardy to travel unarmed....a fact I'm sure you have a full understanding off, seeing as how you travel with your men." His eyes make an obvious look to the pale man and the surrounding tent. Before a response can be given however, he quickly adds, "To answer your question however, I'm not the one this expedition is for, I'm a consultant as it stands. Me and my family....my father specifically, are at a parallels, and I obtained the benefit of meeting a Mr. Sparks. We're working for him at the moment, surveying the lands for his project....I take it you've heard of his plans for this new rail line?" 

As he speaks, his mind briefly turns to all the other names he's heard thrown at his family....sure enough, with war and success, there was hatred and detraction...not that it was unearned however.

Corti stiffens at the mens' shouts of anger, staying behind Thia gratefully, but straightening her back and looking the guard who initially pointed her out in the eyes. At the new woman's admonishment, Corti turns her gaze to her and nods her thanks. Interesting. It's not many soldiers who choose to see past what happened in the war. I'm glad she stopped all that though, I don't what to know what could have happened otherwise. She squeezes Thia's shoulder gently before moving. As Corti walks into the tent with the group she meets the eyes of as many of the men as possible, relaxing just a little when they are all out of sight. She listens to Arc introduce himself, trying to stay casual at the first real test of their story.

"A new … railway… line?" Arcineaux's brow seems to shoot up almost of its own accord. The Marshal looks curious, and you can tell that she is unaware of not only the project, but likely the very technology behind it. The name Sparks seemed to have been receive with a glint of recognition in the Marshal's eyes. Again, the tall figure bends towards her ear and whispers something.

Thia's eyes would simply follow the tall figure that keeps whispering in the Marshal's ear. Something' about that guy... She'd remain quiet, spending most of her time listening and observing. Unless directly spoken too, she will refrain from speaking out of place.