Dec 7, 2021 6:14 am
"Oh? And what have you discovered, pray tell?" Alycine comments, accepting the map in the meantime.
On the Road
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Dec 7, 2021 7:04 am
Rook thought back for a moment to Calum's odd actions during the trip, his midnight wanderings, the strange number of thugs he had recruited as guards. There'd been the odd comments when the bandits had confronted them, and then there was the two thugs that had chased him, but shown no interest in coin; seemed somewhat outraged by the idea, in fact. Strange indeed...
"Well, to address your comment from earlier, friend Meht; you mentioned how odd it was that bandits would have a map leading to the ambush site. I agree with you; surely bandits would have scouted the area if they intended to lurk here."
"That is why I believe that the ambush was not a destination, but rather a starting point, and the map is to guide from there to an unknown third location, marked by this cross. My guess is that the attack was meant to be cover for the abduction of a specific something - or someone - which was then to be delivered to that site."
He hesitated a bit on the second part; he'd only noticed it a moment ago, and it could potentially involve the captain... but if there was treachery here, it would be better to face it with Meht close at hand.
"The other thing I noticed is that this parchment is a bit thin. It seems to be another document originally, washed and scraped clean to reuse; someone needed paper for this map, I guess. The traces of the old writing are faint and hard to read, but I can recognize my own name there, and there. I believe this is the recruitment and next of kin roster we signed when we were hired... which means that whoever drew this map is one who has access to the secure papers."
"Well, to address your comment from earlier, friend Meht; you mentioned how odd it was that bandits would have a map leading to the ambush site. I agree with you; surely bandits would have scouted the area if they intended to lurk here."
"That is why I believe that the ambush was not a destination, but rather a starting point, and the map is to guide from there to an unknown third location, marked by this cross. My guess is that the attack was meant to be cover for the abduction of a specific something - or someone - which was then to be delivered to that site."
He hesitated a bit on the second part; he'd only noticed it a moment ago, and it could potentially involve the captain... but if there was treachery here, it would be better to face it with Meht close at hand.
"The other thing I noticed is that this parchment is a bit thin. It seems to be another document originally, washed and scraped clean to reuse; someone needed paper for this map, I guess. The traces of the old writing are faint and hard to read, but I can recognize my own name there, and there. I believe this is the recruitment and next of kin roster we signed when we were hired... which means that whoever drew this map is one who has access to the secure papers."
Dec 7, 2021 7:15 am
"Now, hang on just a minute!" The merchant splutters at Rook's last point --up until then he had been impatiently tapping his foot in the doorway of his wagon, and not interested in all this except to want to get moving.
"Those papers are stored, safely, back in town. There is no logical reason to bring them out here! Really man!" He shakes his head, obviously reconsidering how much bonus he gave Rook if he can't even see that.
He, however, has not looked at the paper. Anyone doing so will be inclined to think it is true, despite the logical inconsistency.
"Those papers are stored, safely, back in town. There is no logical reason to bring them out here! Really man!" He shakes his head, obviously reconsidering how much bonus he gave Rook if he can't even see that.
He, however, has not looked at the paper. Anyone doing so will be inclined to think it is true, despite the logical inconsistency.
Dec 8, 2021 10:07 am
"It sounds like the caravan may still be in danger, then," says Meht. He's never been great at working out people and their intrigues, but this much seems likely.
"So perhaps someone could tell us all what the writing on the map says," he continues, then points at the bandit queen's tattooed back. "And has anyone seen the like of the mark on this woman before?"
"So perhaps someone could tell us all what the writing on the map says," he continues, then points at the bandit queen's tattooed back. "And has anyone seen the like of the mark on this woman before?"
Dec 8, 2021 10:39 am
Having asked his questions, Meht watches the others to see how they react to the map and the mark.
Probably time I started trying to learn to read people, he thinks. His time in the forest taught him how to read a landscape, and the animal marks on it: surely he can make use of those skills to start understanding people better? Wouldn't hurt to learn to read writing, either.
Probably time I started trying to learn to read people, he thinks. His time in the forest taught him how to read a landscape, and the animal marks on it: surely he can make use of those skills to start understanding people better? Wouldn't hurt to learn to read writing, either.
Dec 8, 2021 11:10 am
Hearing Rook's theory, Alycine immediately unfurls the map, racking her mind in an attempt to see if Rook's hunch had any kernels of truth in them, despite the logical inaccuracies. Having the Bandit's tattoo pointed out to her as well, Alycine moves over and multi-tasks her examination of them both - perhaps they are two pieces of the same puzzle? She turns several concepts that could be applicable to the tattoo over and over in her mind - Artistic symbolism? Hidden occultist codes? a stylized landmark? What could the tattoo mean? She ponders...
Rolls
Decipher skill in order to figure out the tattoo's meaning and its relation to the map - (2d6)
(51) = 6
Dec 8, 2021 11:58 am
Alycine recognizes the tattoo as a brand of an ancient foul sorcerer, though their name remains lost to time. She hopes that this is simply a case of an unrelated party simply attempting to use said symbolism as means of deceptive intimidation rather than a direct affiliation, as magic users are not to be trifled with.
Once the recognition was made, Alycine deduced that the position on the map was one of the last known locations of the "Chalice", a famed religious artifact whose guardian temple has long been abandoned. It was rumored that this Chalice could empower magic rituals, and if someone nefarious were to nab it, it would not bode well for anyone. Perhaps they had hoped to search the area and retrieve the Chalice for themselves. Alycine relays this information to the Captain.
Once the recognition was made, Alycine deduced that the position on the map was one of the last known locations of the "Chalice", a famed religious artifact whose guardian temple has long been abandoned. It was rumored that this Chalice could empower magic rituals, and if someone nefarious were to nab it, it would not bode well for anyone. Perhaps they had hoped to search the area and retrieve the Chalice for themselves. Alycine relays this information to the Captain.
Dec 8, 2021 12:19 pm
"There was no magic here." The captains declares, looking out over the mess left by the battle. "But we should probably deal with this..." She turns the map over and over, looking for this 'temple' and grunts in acknowledgement when she finds it.
"What?! We can't be rabbiting off and hunting 'bandits'!" The merchant declares. "We have goods to deliver!"
"Look at this, Nofsus." The captain says, striding up to him and trying to keep her voice calm. "This is your paperwork." She pushes the map into hands, directing his eyes to the recognisable marks when held to the sun.
"And they had set up this ambush, here, on this road. The road we took specifically because it was not the expected and advertised one!" She almost shouts. "How did they know? You tell me that! Think about whether you want these guys behind us as we venture where we are going." She says, more quietly.
Then she turns back to Alycine. "What's a 'chalice'?" She asks, though she may be trying to change the subject.
"What?! We can't be rabbiting off and hunting 'bandits'!" The merchant declares. "We have goods to deliver!"
"Look at this, Nofsus." The captain says, striding up to him and trying to keep her voice calm. "This is your paperwork." She pushes the map into hands, directing his eyes to the recognisable marks when held to the sun.
"And they had set up this ambush, here, on this road. The road we took specifically because it was not the expected and advertised one!" She almost shouts. "How did they know? You tell me that! Think about whether you want these guys behind us as we venture where we are going." She says, more quietly.
Then she turns back to Alycine. "What's a 'chalice'?" She asks, though she may be trying to change the subject.
Dec 8, 2021 1:35 pm
"It's like a cup" Alycine replies matter of factly, before realizing the Captain might be expecting something more insightful. "Legends say that this 'Chalice' was a significant religious artifact, often used in rites and ceremonies. Thus, some say that the Chalice has Wonderous powers itself, though separating the rumours from reality might be difficult."
Dec 8, 2021 1:39 pm
- Alycine -
"Pff." The captain says dismissively. "Anyway, you say this 'temple' is 'abandoned'? So, if they set up there, it was probably because it was convenient, not for this 'magic cup'."
"Pff." The captain says dismissively. "Anyway, you say this 'temple' is 'abandoned'? So, if they set up there, it was probably because it was convenient, not for this 'magic cup'."
Dec 8, 2021 2:08 pm
"I pray this is the case." Alycine mutters.
OOC:
Well I think that's about all I got at this point, feel free for the rest to chime in.Dec 9, 2021 7:13 am
Rook glances over at Alycine with interest. She knew her stuff, whatever else was going on with her. "Yeah, so... this magic cup of yours... Does it look anything like that cup?" he asked. He used the toe of his boot to point towards the tattoo on the bandit's back, specifically the portion showing the cup in a clawed talon. He looked back at the Captain. "Cause it seems like an awful big, what d'ya call 'em... coincidence, ya know?"
Dec 9, 2021 7:26 am
"Sometimes a cup is just a cup, and a ... a chain is just a chain." The captains replies, motioning one of the other items with her own boot. "But crazy people believe all sorts of thing."
She pauses for a moment, gathering her resolve.
"I am going to check this out." She declares over the merchant's muttered protests. "Who's with me?"
It seems unusual for her to be soliciting volunteers, normally she just tells people what to do.
She pauses for a moment, gathering her resolve.
"I am going to check this out." She declares over the merchant's muttered protests. "Who's with me?"
It seems unusual for her to be soliciting volunteers, normally she just tells people what to do.
Dec 9, 2021 8:52 am
Meht, watching the captain's face, sees on it the wary look foxes get when they suspect one of his traps. So Meht infers she is worried, cautious. However, she could be worried about what's out there, or worried about getting caught out by the merchant. But if it were the latter, surely she'd leave camp alone or with a trusted ally? Asking for volunteers, among guards she hardly knows, suggests she's genuine.
"I'll come," he says.
"I'll come," he says.
Dec 9, 2021 8:59 am
- Meht -
The captain nod her thanks in your direction. "I appreciate that." She says, sounding relieved. "The map is rough, and drawn from the opposite side, so we will need all your skills finding its source."
Asha speaks up as soon as you volunteers. "Me too." She says, but her offer does not garner more than a passing glance from the captain.
The captain nod her thanks in your direction. "I appreciate that." She says, sounding relieved. "The map is rough, and drawn from the opposite side, so we will need all your skills finding its source."
Asha speaks up as soon as you volunteers. "Me too." She says, but her offer does not garner more than a passing glance from the captain.
Dec 9, 2021 10:27 am
"I could be of use as well..." Rook offers. "...though it sounds like there maybe going on at that spot than we know. Sorcerous marks and magic cups and all that. Surely that justifies some hazard pay for us guards?" he adds, pointing at himself and Meht. He wasn't sure if the Captain would go along with the idea, but she certainly seemed to be more on edge than she was letting on. If she really was worried about something, that was worth leveraging for some extra coin.
Rolls
Danger Pay? - (2d6+0)
(61) = 7
Dec 9, 2021 10:41 am
"Whether or not the cup exist, it does sound like a good idea to ensure the bandits do not have a position to harry us from. I, too, will come, and I hope you do not begrudge me bringing along a faithful friend."
Alycine claps her hands. "Come, Maha"
Soon, a Falcon arrives, perching itself on her shoulder. She strokes the bird on its head, then turns to Meht.
"I believe you are also trained in a form of animal handling... while our choice of companions differ, to say the least, perhaps we shall find mutual ground."
Alycine claps her hands. "Come, Maha"
Soon, a Falcon arrives, perching itself on her shoulder. She strokes the bird on its head, then turns to Meht.
"I believe you are also trained in a form of animal handling... while our choice of companions differ, to say the least, perhaps we shall find mutual ground."
Dec 9, 2021 10:03 pm
Meht's eyes widen when he sees Maha. From Alycine's voice and how she carries herself he'd assumed she was one of those fine people with no love for the wild, and who don't like blood on their floors. But a falcon! He quickly revises his estimation, though he's unsure exactly what to replace it with.
"I.. ah yes," he says, at a bit of a loss for words until Oli, catching scent of a falcon, goes very still and then pokes a cautious eye out of Meht's coat to see what is going on.
"This is Oli," Meht continues, "I think he's a bit worried your fine bird will want to eat him, though."
"I.. ah yes," he says, at a bit of a loss for words until Oli, catching scent of a falcon, goes very still and then pokes a cautious eye out of Meht's coat to see what is going on.
"This is Oli," Meht continues, "I think he's a bit worried your fine bird will want to eat him, though."
Last edited December 10, 2021 12:38 am
Dec 10, 2021 6:55 am
- Rook -
"Nice try, good sir." The merchant says amiably enough --he is still impressed with your work during the fight, and understands your motivation to eke every penny from a situation. "But I am already not happy about you all swanning off on some cockamamie quest, there is no way I am paying you for it!"
He looks around at the group of volunteers and sighs. "OK. You can take this lot. But no more!" He says grudgingly to the captain. "I am just glad you had a small audience for your call to arms." He mutters to himself as he walks away shaking his head. "Else the caravan would have been left without any protection."
"Nice try, good sir." The merchant says amiably enough --he is still impressed with your work during the fight, and understands your motivation to eke every penny from a situation. "But I am already not happy about you all swanning off on some cockamamie quest, there is no way I am paying you for it!"
He looks around at the group of volunteers and sighs. "OK. You can take this lot. But no more!" He says grudgingly to the captain. "I am just glad you had a small audience for your call to arms." He mutters to himself as he walks away shaking his head. "Else the caravan would have been left without any protection."