Game thread - It begins...

"Quiet Swaneke," Rose says with the practiced tone of an older sister used to looking after many troublesome little brothers. She clear her throat and gathers her courage before speaking up in a louder voice so the group that captured Swaneke can easily hear her. "Our purpose is not to secure these lands for Emil. We are only here to safeguard the road for merchants traveling to sell their wares. It does not sound like our goals are mutually exclusive. Your war may be just and we will not stop you from carrying it out. Again, that is not our purpose. Come parlay with us and we will deliver your declaration to Emil so that your war can be waged in a manner that is just and legal."

Rose believes fully in the words she speaks, even if they were paraphrased from a novel of political intrigue she purchased from a travelling merchant a few months before being recruited.

Aaaxi had been hiding all this time almost out of earshot and decided to wait and see how the "discussion" turned out, axe at the ready in case he needed to act quickly.

Arden looks down at Swaneke, and then at Rose Tamblyn as she calls out into the darkness. He can't help but raise an eyebrow, but he does not disagree with the girl's words.

"Aye," he says when he's done, his voice raised as well. "A parley. A confabulation. What say you?"

Phineas hung his mace on a frog attached to his belt and reached to his collar. He lifted a leather cord that was tied around his neck from beneath his chain shirt and let it fall back down on his chest. As he lowered his hands to straighten his tabard, the holy symbol of Justitia, a small charm carved from wood resembling a set of scales could be seen hanging from the cord. It was a crude representation, but unmistakable, and Phineas seemed to stand a little taller with the symbol of his faith displayed. He remained silent for the time being, though. Notwithstanding the fact that Arden and company didn't believe that he was a priest, he thought it would be better if the two groups chose to parley without his intervention.

"I say come forward, man, into the light like a civilized sort. We've been pressed into Emil's service, each of us, and are trying to sort just what it is that's going on out here. It seems there are a few versions of the truth being told." A few beats, then Arden continues, "And we can no more get Emil a message than you can."

Aaxi decides to quietly circle around behind the unfriendly voices. He really doesn't like the idea of attacking those that are unsympathetic to Emil as he is no fan either. He hopes for a peaceful resolution.

With only the axe, Aaxi couldn't really do much but listen and help with some sort of surprise should they need him. If they were taken prisoner, he would know where and attempt to release them....or not.

He had thought he heard some rustling in the distance earlier but it could just as easily have been animals and he couldn't see. As it happens, it was more men with no loyalty to Emil.

"Swaneke is an idiot. Don't lump us in with him," Rose says with much annoyance. Any bit of tact is gone from her voice. She is too tired to continue dealing with this. "None of us want to be here. I've already lost two brothers to the hostilities that plague us as of late and I am only here because I volunteered in order to spare my younger brothers from being marched to an early grave. Our goal is to establish some sense of normalcy by helping safeguard farmers as they transport their goods. We have no reason to harm you and you have no reason to harm us." She takes a look back at the newcomers who have surrounded them. "So there is no reason for us to disarm. We have confirmed that you are no threat to farmers. We can return to our camp and we'll set out in the morning. Fair?"

Arden turns and looks over his shoulder at the militiamen behind them as they make their presence known, and as Tamblyn says her piece. The girl is strong-willed, but perhaps a bit too quick with her tongue and free with her truths.

"She has it," he adds simply, his torch held aloft and his sword gripped tight. "We've no warrant for you or interest in your affairs if you're not harassing the local farmfolk."

To Swaneke, he adds, "Quiet man, let us sort this."

Phineas listened to the exchange between the conscripts and the militia. It didn't take long to confirm that he had made the correct decision. These weren't soldiers, and they had no particular propensity for violence. They were just decent men and women whose lives had been disrupted by Emil's rebellion. Men and women who, given the opportunity, would rather talk things out than fight it out. He was forced to wonder whether Emil would do the same. He couldn't, in good conscience, judge a man that he had never met, but judging by the reactions of those who had met him, Phineas doubted it.

Rose bites her lip. She feels like each time she opens her mouth it is a mistake and yet it is hard to not immediately decline the offer. It is a scenario which would only lead to trouble for everyone involved. Swaneke is dangerous and dumb. She'd hat to see what he is capable of when backed into a corner.

She looks to Arden and subtly shakes her head to show that she is not on board. She would prefer time to discuss this in depth with her companions, but doubts that the leader of the other group will allow it.

Phineas sighed softly to himself. He had seen similar exchanges time and time again. Just as two parties were beginning to see the common ground beneath their feet, prejudice, forcefully, asserted itself clearly marking a sharp divide between 'us' and 'them'. It was perhaps the greatest enemy of the Holy Court.

The young priest stepped forward until he was between, but off to the side of the two groups. He lowered his head as a gesture of respect with his arms open at his sides to acknowledge both parties. "Please, friends," he began, "the hour is late. May I suggest that we all make camp together tonight? In the morning, rested minds can come together to discuss how best to move forward?"

Arden sees Rose's look, but before he can offer a solution to the mire fate has put beneath their feet, the priest sinks them deeper into it. Phineas might truthfully be a Justicar, but if he is he's not one used to dealing with armed and willing warriors. It's bad enough to be outnumbered and outflanked, but as they approach the camp the former royalist shakes his head slightly when he sees even more militia members milling about. With these numbers, they will indeed be at their mercy.

When they are shown to their place, Arden evaluates the camp and the fighters. Are these hard men and women who will not easily give up the fight, or are these farmers and trappers and craftsmen themselves nervous and uncertain of their course.

He takes Phineas aside briefly. "Strike no more bargains without conferring with the rest of us, priest. You might have faith in your goddess to guide you right, but I lack that faith. These are lawless and troubled times, man. We need to be smarter than this. Now make sure no one drags the girl into their tent -- war makes men brutes, makes them forget their civility. Keep you eyer out. We will post watch tonight, they just won't know we're watching."

Having said that, Arden walks after the leader of the loyalist group. Militia members move to bar his path, and he opens his empty hands to them. "I only wish to talk with your captain. Please, fetch him back so that we may speak."

Aaxi thinks hard about what to do. He doesn't feel strong loyalty to any side and there is no love lost between him and Swaneke. He's of a mind to forget about him. His original plan to create a diversion was shot when even more rebels showed up and now they were in camp with more rebels still, if that's what one would call them.

As antsy as he was, it still made no sense for him to make himself known because what would he accomplish? He was far more valuable observing and taking an opportunity if one presented itself. If his group was in danger, he would create a diversion, otherwise he would wait. He was hungry though which might necessitate a stealthy foraging trip into camp, but he was good at sneaking around so that would be easy and perhaps he could let the rest of his party know he was there watching and waiting.

Phineas tensed, visibly, at Arden's admonition and his voice held a slight edge when he replied. "Of course we will post a watch. You would do well, though, to remember that these are your countrymen."