Game thread - It begins...

The man who'd been speaking returns and says, "I'm not a captain. You could speak to anyone here. What is that you wanted to say?" We don't have much to offer in the way of hospitality. We've left our homes and livelihood behind.

The man makes a quizzical face and says, "I think you need sleep. Perhaps you've been on the road too long. If I were going to mount an offensive against Emil or were of a force that was planning such a thing, why would I tell you?" He looks you up and down, making it a point to note your attire before continuing, "I don't know you, but you are clearly in the service of Emil. We've heard stories about the forced conscription, and your allegiance to him may have been coerced, but there's no way for me, or anyone else here to be certain. I'm glad you have a read on your comrades, but even still I couldn't reasonably trust you at this point. There's clearly division in your ranks about what the colours you're wearing mean. Confer all you like with your fellows. No one will intervene. You're under supervision, but you'll be left alone. If you have any further questions, you can ask anyone here."

That definitely works. Go ahead and put up a post of what Aaxi is doing for that roll and I'll make use of the failed stealth check.

As the halfling makes their way over to their discovery, a few members of the militia spot the little rogue, and close ranks about him.

"Well, what do we have here?" asks a woman carrying a spear. "Seems like someone dropped lost something in our campsite. Perhaps he needs some help?"

The others all laugh loudly, which alerts others to the scene, and before long Aaxi is marched over to join the rest of the "prisoners".

"You'll be safer here, friend, says the woman. "We'll deal with you in the morning."

Aaxi now sees that Swaneke, while no longer bound has some telltale burns on his wrists, and the rest of the group is organized in a cluster amidst the rest of the militia.

"You're awfully chatty over there," Swaneke hisses. Arnd lifts his head to look up at the exchange, but doesn't say anything. "We can't let these traitors get away with this. The old rulers were a plague, and we can't put them in charge of things. Emil's reign is the way forward, and the only way. "