The gnomes raise a brow to Penny, the camera pans over to the belching hippo, and back to them. “Yup, a real catch...” They raise their menus and block view from both of you.

Quote from jr_el_leon >>

Quote from Aveiro_ >>

He opens an eye and glances back at Roland. "Quiet?" He says, the grin never fading as he returns his attention to the man across from him. "Quiet is nice. Trains are nice, as well. Are you traveling far, my friend?"

 

Ormond replies, "I travel as far as I need to..."

He then leans over across the aisle and, while trying to get eyes on what the tortle is reading whispers, "... but sometimes that leads me to places that I shouldn't be."

Ormond gives them gives them an awkward smile. 

 
"Very mysterious, very mysterious..." says Deshi, entirely earnestly. "I suppose Deshthi is traveling only as far as needed, as well." Deshi notices Ormond's spying and turns the manuscript around so the human can get a better look. "Are you interested in accounts of folkstories and outer wasteland mythology, friend? It's fascinating, though I must admit, somewhat bloodier than that to which Deshthi is accustomed."

As Deshi and Ormond are talking, one of the Militiamen stands from his seat and begins walking toward where Roland is. As he walks by, you catch a much better look of his attire. As is common in the militia, the uniform is a light blue coat-shirt, white pants, and black boots. Militiamen, the lowest rung of the hierarchy, wear a matching blue cap. The man also has a sabre to his side.

As he reaches Roland, he puts his hand on his shoulder, “Excuse me, sir. What did you say your name was?”

Penny has counted the militiamen in the car. Also in the adjoining cars on both sides. How many in each?

By her count, about four. Two in this one, two in the car in front.

Roland notices the militia closing in and a large bead of sweat start forming at the upper corner of his forehead. When the man asks about his name the Thunder Hippos eyes start darting about the room. From the guard, to the girl who just left, back to the guard, now the tortle, back to the guard again, to the bar. THE BAR. There was a sign above the bar, his salvation. "My name.. is No'shurht No'zervicz." He smiles confidently. THE CLEVEREST RUSE!

Deception!: 2

The man looks to the sign, then back to Roland, “Sir, you just made that name up. Is your name not ‘Roland “Thunder Hippo” Wolfscribe,’ wanted on several counts of assault against both civilians and official personnel of the United Militia?”

Rolands confidence is obvously diminishing by the minute. "No no, I am No Shirt No.. whatever I told you at first there. I don't know this Thunder Hippo guy, but he sounds awesome." 

He turns toward the other man at the end of the car, waves him over, and turns back to Roland, “Sir, we’re going to need you to come with us.” He unsheathes a bit of his sabre as his compatriot walks down the aisle to meet you both. As he does, the man glances over to the turtle and Ormond chatting, but continues walking. However, after a moment, he stops and turns a bit back toward the two of them, clearly confused.

The man next to Roland gives a bit sterner, “Come on, move,” to the other militiaman. However, the militiaman continues to look at Ormond and Deshi, thinking.

"Nope. Not going." Roland takes someone elses drink from the nearest table and takes a big swig before putting it back with a just awful wink as a thank you to the owner.

Penny is fascinated. What has she run across with this crew? She watches carefully, while keeping her senses keen. (Passive Perception 16)

Also, she whispers a little prayer, which she will re-do every minute until she decides not to.

Seeing trouble brewing, Deshi's eyes widen in excitement. "Oh, astonishing," he whispers loudly as he extends his neck toward his neighbor. "Are they going to engage in violence, do you think?"

Quote from Kweinir >>

"Nope. Not going." Roland takes someone elses drink from the nearest table and takes a big swig before putting it back with a just awful wink as a thank you to the owner.

 The bartender, wide eyed, just quickly shakes his head from side to side. He does not want any part in this.

The guard, meanwhile, is not nearly as patient. He fully unsheathes his sabre, “I wasn’t asking. With a bounty like yours, you’d have to be a fool to think you’re walking out of this train car in anything but a pair of gold-studded cuffs.”

Roland flexes. "OH?!?!?!? SO YOU CHALLENGE ME? THUNDER HIPPO!" He changes his pose. "You were right, it was me all along! Good for you. Now put the razor back in your pocket, because A STORM IS BREWING." POWER POSE! Roland pushes his chest outward and raises both arms up in a Y shape looking slightly above the militiaman. POOF. All of a sudden his head is that of a hippo and his legs and arms expand and grow thick, his armor expanding with him. The most perceptive in the car might even make out the shape of an amazingly awesome short tail under the cape in the back. 

“Whoa,” says Penny.

Quote from Aveiro_ >>

 
"Very mysterious, very mysterious..." says Deshi, entirely earnestly. "I suppose Deshthi is traveling only as far as needed, as well." Deshi notices Ormond's spying and turns the manuscript around so the human can get a better look. "Are you interested in accounts of folkstories and outer wasteland mythology, friend? It's fascinating, though I must admit, somewhat bloodier than that to which Deshthi is accustomed."

"I am interested, in fact," Ormond replies. He leans in further and whispers to the Tortle, "I've been to the places you've read about... and... deeper... still. Violence is still a matter of daily life there. If someone doesn't try to harm you... the environment around you will do the deed itself."

"I think we have much to talk about... Deshthi, is it? I go by Ormond."

Quote from JcAndD >>

... the man glances over to the turtle and Ormond chatting, but continues walking. However, after a moment, he stops and turns a bit back toward the two of them, clearly confused.

The man next to Roland gives a bit sterner, “Come on, move,” to the other militiaman. However, the militiaman continues to look at Ormond and Deshi, thinking.

Ormond looks at the commotion, trying to not look directly at the militiamen. He sighs. 

Quote from Aveiro_ >>

Seeing trouble brewing, Deshi's eyes widen in excitement. "Oh, astonishing," he whispers loudly as he extends his neck toward his neighbor. "Are they going to engage in violence, do you think?"

"Yes," begins Ormond, "they will most certainly engage in violence." He then loosens a couple of items from his gear, before shouldering the rest of his pack, a shield and hammer lay by his side.

"Deshthi, fair warning, I'm pretty sure that THAT violence is going to spill over here. One of those militiamen were eyeing the both of us... and I suspect I know why," Ormond says seriously. 

Ormond slides his shield and hammer onto his lap.

He then says, with eyes forward to the unfolding situation, "Deshthi, I'll be honest - you're carrying something I need to find out about and I have been to the places I suspect you need to go - I propose a partnership. Mull it over, but for now, prepare to defend yourself."

The second militia, with a gaze of realization, stumbles back from Ormond and Deshi. He quickly draws a sabre of his own, “I know you! You’re the deserter, Deputy Officer Ormond Sacker! Don’t move and step away from the civilian!” He shakily levels his sabre toward Ormond. That will be his turn.

The other militiaman turns slightly, “What!? Sacker’s here as well!?”

Penny raises an eyebrow. What the?

Deshi eyes Ormond with barely contained glee. He opens his mouth and shuts it repeatedly, unsure of what he would say - what he COULD say - in response.

He's interrupted by the ruckus, however. A flash of irritation crosses his sanguine expression and he touches a claw to his twisted staff. He speaks a word (or at least his mouth moves), but the sound of it is either too high or too deep to be heard.

Deshi reaches out to attempt to quiet a fragment of the Hippo's and the militia’s True Names (starting with the hippo, then 2, then 1). (Idiot edit:) The corners of the names escape him, however, and to his horror he feels its effects seep throughout the car. 

 Sleep: 28