The Two Barons (RP)

"I have no idea what they are talking about." Theo answer Albert quietly out of the corner of his mouth while trying to maintain a comradely smile with the farmers who are all shaking him by the hand. "I don't know these people ... except as names on a page."

His desperation to not let them hear this suggests he is being truthful to you, at least you can't see any real way he could continue to bluff you that is he is not involved nor why he would feel the need to after the reception he just got. It does not look like you will have an easy time getting a private conversation with him, though his 'bodyguards' appear well acquainted with most of the farmers here, and are happily greeting people by name and have definitely let their guard down.

What do you do?

"Ah, yes. The mercenaries your father hired." Olaf says to Theo as he greets the newcomers. "I didn't expect to see them here with us, but I suppose it makes sense under the circumstances."

Theo nods, doing his best to pretend he knows what is going on, mainly just agreeing with everything everyone says.

"We have been watching ever since the news came, and no one has left the 'castle'." Olaf states. "We were just about to go in and get her." He informs Theo. "And we are real glad to have professional fighters to show us how it is done." There might be the slightest hint of scorn in that last part, by reputation Olaf feels he always knows better than most how to do anything.

You can see several farmers are carrying jars of oil along with their torches and pitchforks. They look about ready to move out and enact their plan.

What do you do?

"Kidnapping is dirty business." One of the older farmers says to Theo with a sad shake of his head. "But they are 'nobles', so what can you do?"

"We are hoping so." Olaf replies to Roald's suggestion that the heroes may come in handy.

"No time to go through it again." He exclaims. "The river-side force are launching their attack." You can hear sounds of a banging from the other side of the compound. "EVERYBODY MOVE!" He shouts to the farmers around you as he rushes off to lead the charge.

As the mass surges towards the gate Christian tries to answer the other questions, motioning with his hands to illustrate: "There is the main manor house on this side. We will be coming in from its back-side, but need to pass the scullery and servants quarters before we get there. We think most of the guards live on the other side, and hopefully Brendan's attack keeps their focus there. We should outnumber the guards by at least three-to-one, but they have proper weapons, so we will need your help." He is talking mainly to Roald and Daryl with their swords and armour.

"We don't know where she is, but we will keep going till we find her." This last bit seems to be addressed to Theo for some reason.

By this time the farmers have pulled the gate off its hinges --enough to get through-- but one of them is on the ground, groaning with a crossbow bolt sticking from his leg. You can faintly hear a guard above the gate shouting for help, but these shouts continue, suggesting they have not been heard yet over the commotion on the other side.

What do you do?

- Norbert -

"That sounds like the sort of thing he would say." The injured farmer smiles and pats your hand after you have pulled the shaft from his leg. He looks slightly surprised to see you here as he did not think you were with the resistance, but also does not count you as one of the 'heroes' everyone is talking about --the burden of being around people who probably knew you when you were a kid.

"Yes. I can manage." He says limping away, his hoe under one arm as a crutch and his other hand clutching his pants to stop them from falling all the way down. He looks more relieved to be getting out of the fight than upset about the bloody leg, these farmers are tough people, but few have seen real violence.

You can hear the guard above preparing another shot.

What do you do?

The courtyard is filled with scared looking workers --men, women, and children-- all going about their daily routine before being invaded. There appears to be no opposition between you and the manor house, the back door stands open, held that way by a butter churn.

The farmer looks confused as he answers Albert. "Is this a test?" He asks. "You are leading this... sir?"

Something prickles the backs of the adventurers minds. Something here is not what it seems.

What do you do?

"You planned all this?" Daryl says, sounding impressed since you only get here yesterday.

"Yes sir!" The farmers say to Albert, snapping off what they think is a salute and falling in behind Roald and Norbert as though waiting for one of you to lead the way (you are reminded that Olaf said they 'don't know where she is', and indeed, you can hear Olaf in the background, shouting at a poor, confused- and apologetic looking man up to his elbows in soapy water).

Daryl is literally vibrating with excitement at the promise of Raynor... anything, and looking around for a sign or miracle. One of Theo's guards had wandered off with his friends, and looks annoyed and resentful when he is called back and reminded of his duties, but Theo is happy to stick with Albert and keen to figure out what is happening and why the resistance seem to have accepted him as one of them.

What do you do?