Chapter 1 - Summer

Elaine strolls towards the tavern with a confidence she doesn't really feel, playing the part of a fierce officer heading out to deal with... Whom, exactly? Traitors? Criminals? Conspirators? It is quite an interesting question, how she and her companions are presented for the common guards, but unfortunately she doesn't have an opportunity to dwell on it. Undoubtedly it won't take them long to figure out the deception - so once she is safely out of the crown's field of vision, her pace speeds up and Elaine runs in the direction where she thinks Sans has been heading.

However, a whistling sound soon attracts her attention and she abruptly skids to a stop, twirling towards the sound and squinting at the tall grass on her left. It takes her a moment to recognize Aloys peeking over the grass, especially at a distance, but thankfully his hair is a pretty good confirmation of his persona and the whistle itself is a familiar trick, enough for a combination of the two to alleviate Elaine's suspicions. She glances over her shoulder to ensure that none of the guards have followed her, and then rushes towards the grass, sighing in relief as she rejoins Aloys and Issac .

Her brows inadvertently rise as she sees Mathias, rather worse for wear, and she gives him a critical once-over before bluntly questioning: "Is he a hostage or an ally?"

"An ally. We have a name for someone to visit, another information broker. It seems that we have been doing our jobs too well." He looks over the grass again, ducking his head down low. "How many of them are on horseback? Is the airship with them?" Aloys whispered, wincing again as the wound in his shoulder ached.

Edge of the Wood | Elaine, Aloys, Issac ~
The summer sun's climbed higher in the sky. The unending chirp of woken cicada in the nearby wood is almost deafening.



A small, farmer's track runs down to the river. A long cart rumbles down said track, a man on a drivers bench, hauling a large load of summer wheat. His heavy vehicle is pulled by a large and rusty gear.

Their lumbering steps pull the wagon onward at a slow steady pace.

The farmer "driving" the wagon whistles to himself, eyes squinted against the sun.








They're headed for the river, and a small foot bridge that'll take them across.

As of yet, there are no signs of mounted guards, though perhaps you all can make out a dust plume hanging over the trees to the south?

---

At the Edge of a Copse of Trees | Sans ~
It's possible Sans would also see the wagon rumbling toward the river. It'd depend on how deep he's gone in to the wood.

But what Sans' become aware of that the others have not, is the sound of a horse whickering--a couple horses to be exact. The sound comes from deeper in the wood.

If he'd look up, he'd see, through the screen of trees, a large, four-wheeled covered wagon (more a traveling home really). It rests beside a small stream that feeds the river, two horses graze nearby in the short, weedy grass.

A young woman sits on a mossy rock near the stream. She appears to be sketching on a large leather bound sheet of paper as she watches butterflies flit about above the gurgling stream.

"There aren't many in the village right now, but a cavalry crown is coming soon. They are planning to cut off the road." While they are talking, Elaine hastily tugs off her golden scarf and tries to mask her allegiance as much as possible. Unfortunately, there is only so much she can do for a disguise without access to any of her tools and costumes... Still, sometimes altering a hairstyle alone can do wonders, and hopefully few people here would recognize her. But the count will, if he's still around scheming - and that would be quite a meeting considering the circumstances.

"We need to get out of the village as soon as possible." She stands up on the tips of her feet, looking out from the grass at the forest nearby, at the tied down airship and the wagon moving by the river. "And we need to get Sans."

Half-jokingly at Elaine, "Well, it's either the airship or we all hide in that haul of summer wheat." nodding at the farmer's cart. "My vote is on the flying beauty."

He takes a moment to look over the airship more thoroughly, trying to discern if his initial thought of it being enemy controlled was correct.

Sans checks for evidence of his pursuers, looking around and behind him. Those so-called royal guards did not hesitate to attack the Gold Coats of the Queen... They are either impostors, or more likely the Baron is right, and traitors are among their ranks.

Hearing no enemies for the moment, he focuses on the carriage, and its apparent owner, the woman.
She does not seem to have heard the commotion. Had she been part of this, she would be acting differently.

Deciding that the woman might be in danger, if the 'guards' are so keen to kill or imprison all witnesses, he steps out of his cover towards her, approaching and trying not to startle her, keeping his hands away from his weapon.
"Milady. Do not be alarmed by my appearance, and let my uniform reassure you on my peaceful intentions," he says, still casting glances in the woods behind him.
"I am a Gold Coat, a Musketeer of Queen Isbel. my companions and I have been attacked by royal guard traitors. They might be soon patrolling these woods to hunt for us, and I think you could be in danger too. I have seen them capture innocents. Perhaps it might be best for you not to be found here. Is that your carriage?"

Aloy's, Elaine & Issac ~
It's clear to all you that the air-skiff is could not possibly affiliated with the villains currently on your tail--in fact, the ship has the style of a merchant craft one would see in the Duchy of Hrid't, and Elaine could confirm there is no way Hrid't merchants would be in league with nobles from the Queen's Duchy. It's likely a trader that sails the eastern hills.

Beside the Stream | Sans ~
Despite the calm warning, she does startle, slightly.

She's turned and stares at you. Her eyes move over you, like she committing you to memory.

A beat and then she answers. "My wagon? Yes it is. Its my home actually--well my home away from home."

She gets off her perch, goes to the wagon and stores her sketch pad.

Looks at Sans again. "You're serious, aren't you? About being hunted?"

She points at the white horse. "Help me hitch the wagon." She moves to grab the brown one. "I'm a tinkerer from the Academy. I'm on my way back north, after some work in the capital. You can ride with me if you wish. I have a false panel in the wagon."

"If we're going for the airship, then how do we approach?" Elaine eyes the transport for a moment, before looking questionably at Aloys and Issac. "We can pretend to be simple travellers, but there is no guarantee that they are going to be taking off soon - we might need to hurry them, and it's suspicious on its own. We can also threaten them, probably, or offer a bribe," she reaches into her coin purse, thoughtfully checking the coins inside. "...If we have money to do it with."

"I'm afraid so, Milady: I am very serious," he replies.
Relieved that the woman is hearing his warning, he starts helping her with the wagon in haste as he considers her proposal.

"I could definitely do with leaving these woods in concealment... You have my thanks. I am known as Sans Visage. And whom should I be grateful to...?"

As an afterthought he adds, "and, Milady... Your wagon's hidden compartment... it wouldn't have the means to peek outside, by any chance? Or else, You would have to be my eyes as I try to reunite with my fellow Gold Cloaks... "

The Tall Grass | Elaine, Issac & Aloys ~

Mathis grunts at Elaine's suggestion--but whether in pain or agreement, it's hard to tell.

"If discretion is to be bought... as I noted back at the tavern I have very few coins in my own purse." he looks at Aloys, recalling the heavy weight of the young Gold Coats bag.

Beside the Forest Stream, Hastily Packing | Sans ~

"Well met Monsieur Visage. I'm Lise Delafose--the only name I'm known by."








She's finished hitching her horse and goes to the rear of the wagon, opening the door to it's interior.



She pulls a lever, you hear gears turn, and a compartment is lowered from the ceiling on chains. The disturbances causes little gear-work butterflies, bees, and dragonflies to take flight and bump about the wagon interior.

"You'll be 'on the top' of the wagon, with a full view out the front. You'll even be able to speak to me, should you need to. Or want to I suppose." She smiles slightly.

She waits for Sans to climb aboard, ready to set out when the musketeer is.

"We do have the driver's patronage still on me. Not sure it'll be enough but it is something." Aloys mutters, keeping his head down to watch out for more guards. "To the airship?"

Sans looks around the wagon in marvel, dodging the Clockwork insects a couple of times.
"Why, this place is incredible, Madame Delafose..." he says as he climbs in the ingenious hidden compartment. "I hope to have time later to ask you about these technical wonders... For now, you have my personal thanks - and those of the Gold Cloaks - for your help."

A smile blossoms on Isaac's face at the thought of finally getting to travel on an airship, despite the dangers ahead. Almost giddily, "The airship sounds like the best plan." He and Isabela had heard and read so many interesting stories of them. His smile falters a bit, "We can bribe and threaten if need be, in that order."

Summer Afternoon, Rumbling Down a Forest Trail | Sans ~
Sitting atop the drives wagon, Lise gently nudges the horses along. The wagon creaks on it's hinges as she drives toward the main road.

She's been chattering the whole time. "...so, if insects, birds and the like can fly of their own power; I figure it's not far off that we should be able to as well with the proper application of gear-work, and not need a tidal engine like say, an airship."



The wagon draws ever nearer the main road.

"I don't mean to down play the situation, but I must say it's rather exciting aiding you in a conspiracy against the crown--being a staunch support of Her Majesty Queen Isbel."

"You must be very brave to put yourself in danger like this. Did you..." she stumbles on her words slightly; motions to her face... "Did you receive your, injuries, in the line of duty?"


Another *bump* as the wagon rolls from the small wood trail on to the main river road.

"Oh, seems there is a bit of traffic," she says as the wagon enters the road not far behind a farmer cart being pulled by a large gearfolk.

You continue rumbling toward a foot bridge and the airship tie-down on the other side of the river.

From his hiding spot Sans tries to keep up with Madame's strangely one-sided conversation. He interjects rarely, for fear of being heard.
"If you say so, Milady... Fascinating subject..."

All the while, his eyes scan the road, the trees, the shadows deeper into the forest, in search of signs of both friends and foes, longing for the former, and worried about the latter.

When the scholar enquires about his disfigurement, he bitterly obliges. He knows people are curious about his looks, but the mention is irksome all the same. "I'm afraid not, Milady... my face injuries are from before I joined the Cloaks... the Musketeers have been... how shall I put it... a redemption, for me... like a second chance."

As they hit the traffic of the main thoroughfare, he spots the airship and asks about it, in a whisper. "Pray tell, Madame Delafose... that airship over there... can you discern its livery? It's not a royal guard vessel, is it?!..."

On the Tinkerer's Wagon | Sans ~

Lise flicks a switch on the side of her headgear, and with a *whir* a monocle moves to cover her eye then extents as a telescope.

"It's a...It's...ah! Yes, I see it now. It's a trading skiff; looks Hrid't. Probably a merchant who makes the plains circuit. Definitely not something to fear, given the current political climate."



Sans, you'd see no signs royal guards round the landing platform. As for your allies....

"Well, let's get going." Aloys says, taking the lead to guide his comrades through the thick grass and foliage to move towards the airship that waits.