[RP] Averancia: Hero's Call

Aundovald keeps pace with the carriage, monitoring the road and countryside as best as he can.

The Beastlord had been working hard on a bark slat, painting it red and writing upon it with black oil paint. Paints he had mixed using oil he had taken from the banquet table. The result was a fragrant message he had doubtless put considerable thought in.

Good and Moral Averancians:
I call you good and moral in declaration of filial love and harmony. Calling all Good and Moral Averancians to call upon the Church to fulfill its promise. Long have they grown fat upon the toil of your brow. For while they provide the loaves, they have enslaved you for it. I charge you to recall the name of the Prophet, let Isas' ministry compell you. Call your church to count, make them pay their sacred charge.

No one is freed by the Institution that feeds them!

Silver never left his Master's side. His muzzle was bloody. Eyes sharp, gloating over his breakfast of alley cat. Ever lusting to gorge himself the wolf saw a chicken uproad, dark machinations of the bloody minded wolf made him confident nothing would notice if he snapped it up in a single bite. Silver kept following the cart until opportunity presented itself. His mane and hackles already raised in his lupine anticipation, barely able to contain itself

Rafn stands up on the bench and attempts to mount the carriage. He offers a low whistle, more a rasp of the lip than a proper whistle. Silver immediately fell behind the carriage. The youth used the frame of the wagon to assist his ascent, exploiting its flexibility to propel his step up to the top.

Aundovald notices the large wolf tense to attention and sniff the air. The animal's instinct had detected something.

Aundovald pulls Sigaric slowly to a halt and then turns the horse in a 360 degree step, scanning the area in all directions. No need to be paranoid perhaps, but the road to Market Town was not as safe as in days passed.

"Driver, be alert," Aundovald warns. "Check the route ahead. Call out if you see anything."

Aelwynd rests in the carriage, head already dipping as he fights a losing battle against sleep. His intention was to followup on some errands he had completed late the previous night, and he needed his writing implements so he brought his entire pack inside with him instead of stowing it in the boot. Instead of working, he hugs his backpack, an uncomfortable makeshift pillow.

Aundovald pulls up to the side of the carriage, nodding to the driver briefly and then studying the rise above. Yes, it could be a dangerous terrain feature.

They would have to find out.

Aundovald looks up to the wilderness boy and his wolf. Now these two could certainly sniff out a trap if there was one. Perhaps it is time to assess the capabilities of the group.

"What do you say, friend?" Aundovald asks. "If I ride forward to draw attention, could you and your wolf flank that hill undetected to interrupt any would be bushwackers? We can decide to engage or retreat based on your signal."

After hearing any response, Aundovald calls in, calm but decisive, to his companions inside the carriage. "Master Aelwynd. Aengus. Take attention. We will test our route ahead - a potential threat."

"We can try it. I reckon on my belly it'll take atleast 5 minutes to get to the hill, and another minute to close to range. I had planned on lying in ambush up here. There can be no mistake, I smell fresh blood, oiled leather, and cold steel. Thieves and murderers lie in wait. I say let the rivers run red."

Soundtrack

The wolfboy sounds sure of his senses, and Aundovald is inclined to trust him.

So if there are indeed road bandits ahead, either atop or around both of those peaks, they had to be cleared out.

Riding through the low choke point on the road would be inviting an attack from above. Any villains attacking from the high ground likely had spears, javelins, or bows - taking advantage of the terrain to injure and kill at range while remaining safe from counterattack. The only option to counter such would be a deliberate flank maneuver, rising to the upper shelf, and confronting the ambushers at their own high level. Stealth would be difficult against a watchful enemy at that favorable vantage point, so speed and aggression would have to suffice.

All the same, there might be ambushers along the road as well, staged to intercept victims or block passage through.

Reconnaissance might provide better knowledge of enemy positioning. Without it, several potential threats would have to be addressed at once in a rush.

But Aundovald does not wish to lose the momentum with excessive reflection on potentials. It was time to act. Let strength and speed and violence of action determine the victors.

"Alright then," Aundovald says to the wild youth, accepting his judgment. "You seek a quick and savage attack. Let us turn the tables and give it to them, wherever they are - high or low."

Aundovald nods at the sloping ground between the trees to the right and continues, "I could loop up that rise with speed to assault any bushwhackers on the higher ground, at least on one side. Meanwhile you could spring your own attack against any who are lurking around the bend along the low ground of the road. When a skirmish erupts, we each would react to join the fight wherever the enemies are discovered. What do you think of this plan?"

Aundovald removes his riding gloves and tucks them securely in his belt as he speaks. In a fluid movement of the thumb, he unlatches the stabilizer strap from the neck of his morning star, readying the heavy weapon for a quick draw once he dismounts.

The clash was coming. Soon.

Ængus turns to Lord Amberstead. I cannot help the others sitting in the carriage, I must leave. Turning to Brutus, he says Brutus, my boy, you are not a war hound. This is not for you. stay and defend. Father Elion wills, I will be back soon.

Ængus jumps out of the carriage and makes a decision. The young lord on the horse will have the advantage over anyone on foot, so his efforts would be better placed helping the savage Rafn. He quickly closes in on Rafn and asks What is your plan, wolvenfriend?

"Ah well I plan on sneaking up on the smelliest one of them and running my spear through his back. What are you plannin?"

Rafn was cutting gass and brush and stuffing them into his furs. He cleverly wove them together. Silver crept from Rafn's heel to the left side of the road.

I am nowhere near as stealthy as you are, Friend of Wolves. Both by size and by nature. Should you wish to take the stealthy route, I can wait here until you call, or shadow you from any distance you deem safe for your stealth.

Rafn started to cackle. "You are the Pullo to my Vorenus." The youth referenced a classic from a civilization long since buried under Averancian cobblestone roads. He decided to take the consideration as inspiration and tried his best to play Lucius Vorenus.

"Why don't you go ahead at a slow pace. I will strike the first blow. Give me 90 heartbeats then advance full speed. Silver will howl after he kills in case you get lost."

Rafn wondered if Ængus knew he was being used as a distraction. But decided not to undermine his own judgement. Ængus had afterall sought his guidance. He considered Ængus. They were not so different in age or temperament.

Then in a moment of childlike earnesty Rafn recalled something he had been meaning to ask Ængus. "What gives these "Lords" such influence over you? Why does that sick man hold such a respected role in this congress of primates?"

Sounds reasonable said Ængus, the classical references meaning absolutely nothing to him. As for why we respect that man, it is for a number of reasons. First, as Father Elion teaches, there is Unity in the Light. There is a hierarchy from which the teachings flow. In the mundane world there is a similar hierarchy. Some people are placed by Father Elion in positions of authority, and until they clearly abuse such a privilege—and fall afoul of Father Elion's teachings—we must respect Father Elion's decision. Secondly, a person can gain respect through their actions. From the little I know, Lord Amberstead has shepherded the duchy in the absence of the Duke. Leading, guiding, and inspiring people is much harder than doing so to sheep and cattle, and I for one respect that duty.

With that, Ængus grips his staff more tightly, and a very faint glow can be seen where his hands rest on the polished wood. Father Elion's blessings on you, Rafn. Ængus turns and advances in the direction suggested by Rafn, moving slowly and steadily, counting heartbeats.