RP Session 4: "A Halfday's Ride"

The Wastrel's stables were bustling. Many merchants whose goods were bound for the City of Endier and who didn't care for Halfday's gate tax were making their way in to the establishment, while others ended their day's travel just short of the city's caravan curfew. Corson was shouldered more than once as the expansive coach house became cramped and chaotic.

No one arrested the weary warrior's attention as malicious, but with so many coming their departure would be worryingly obvious. Any casual, seemingly innocent enquiry of where the party of bloodied warriors who arrived an hour or so ago had gone would almost certainly be answered with 'they rode out just before dark' and might even include 'bound west I think.' Not to mention the ostler would need to clear passage for their animals.

"In the warm of the spring
Did the Milk Maiden sing
That she dreamed of the day
She would wed."

"But until that day,
She would wile away
Taking any she could
To her bed."

"And the cows of the field
Would most solemnly yield
To speak ne'er a word
Of her trysts."

"With a welcoming wink
And her mouth soft and pink
She would spare any
Fine fellow's wrists."

And so it did go in the sun or the snow, the maid's welcome would always be warm.
Till into the town with a shadow-ed frown came the awnsheigh that could choose his form."

"HUH!"

Voices boomed with bawdy glee across the tradehouse yard as the third round of the song began. The poor minstrel had rolled her eyes at Lan with the same scorn he might expect if he'd invited her back to his chambers. If ever a mere look said 'you filthy pervert' it was this one, but coin was coin and it seemed she was honest enough to play until her breath gave out.

In truth the lyrics were rather more... graphic than Lan recalled.

They met Rhoderick in the stables where he'd persuaded the young informant to retire. The suggestion to 'take a nap' when there was coin to be made through the busiest part of the night likely would not have found traction, but the lad was so addled by the priest's power that he'd convinced himself there might be another coin in it for him.

Having taking the lay of the place, Corson saddled the horses without bothering any of the ostlers who were in high spirits at the music in the hall and all looked set, but they found their exit barred by a large team of fractious oxen who hadn't been properly dealt to before the knight's diversion began.

Moving swiftly to clear the animals from their path, Corson and Lan dismounted and found bags of oats to coax the things with, but in their haste the foul tempered animals sensed something was amiss and put up a terrible din. By the time they cleared a path out of the stables and once more made for the gates the singing had reduced in enthusiasm and the full team of the Wastrel's stable staff as well as a few road-worn men, their cheeks rosey with merriment, who were presumibly the animal's owners were all staring daggers at the party.

A plump merchant pushed out past the ox-handlers as Tovrunn spoke. He had rings on his fingers and a velvet hat perched atop a wild mass of thick hair, though his beard was neatly combed and waxed. "Now listen here-" he began with the flawed refinement of new money "-these oxen are to be stabled by the hostlers." He emphasised the 'h' sharply. "And they're to unstable your mounts too. You barge in here and think you can disrupt everyone else's business just because-" he looked the party up and down "-look to have robbed some petty nobles? This is Endier. Open your purse or wait your turn."

The merchant took Rhoderick's measure and seemed impressed enough with what he saw. "Ah, religious types. I know the sort. My own mother's feverishly devout. Nothing bars her venerations to Haelyn morn and eve. Why, were The Gorgon himself at the gates of the Free City no doubt she's bustle him aside before gloaming."

"Still-" the man added "-there's little enough space in those stables as 'tis, and those beasts are foul tempered in their sleep." He waved a glittering hand at the small group of ostlers. "Let these folk tend their own business in future."

"Amongst the quiet herd
Without even a word
Came the monster
With lust in its eye."

"But he failed to see across the green valley, where the old bull had noticed him pass.
Heed should he have paid but he fixed on the maid, and the bull came and mounted his arse!"

"HUH!"

Mounting up to the sound of still-fractious oxen and enthusiastic song, the Roesonian contingent made their way out of the tradehouse's gate and into the early evening. Hoping that this at last would be the final leg of their journey.

Riding south as they might to turn to the east and circling around the walled compound out of sight, they paused until the oxen calmed and then, assured that the people inside were now distracted, broke west at a gallop. None of their horses were pleased to be saddled or pushed to such speed, but these were more than mere farm nags to obey was bred in them for generations. Lan suspected however that Ogre would claim his revenge when it came time to once more unfasten tack and harness. He had no doubt that the big mean animal was even now planning just how hard to bite him, and the knight wasn't sure he begrudged his mount a little ill-tempered violence.

Endier was an uncomfortably flat realm, and the ability to see for the leagues and leagues across the fields and pastures that flanked the road to Rivervale made them feel exposed, like the eyes of the whole domain were on them. It also promised a view of any pursuer, but the night was young enough that the roads were still busy and any of the caravans about might be foemen in disguise. The hirelings of the Prince of Rabbits had proven adept at blending with common folk in the past after all. Worse still, where the wilderness was Tovrunn's ally, these settled lands cared little for hampering her should they stray off the road.

Once the Lorn Wastrel and Halfday were outside of casual view the riders slowed - haste only made them conspicuous. Bringing up the rear, Corson siezed on the moment to scan the road for pursuit, and behind them there were indeed riders behind them moving at a brisk pace but he couldn't tell whether they were pursuers or merely travellers hurrying to outpace the night. The absence of cart or caravan amongst them was at least a cause for concern though.

As they continued the sun merged with the horizon, spreading out into a scarlet blanket across the horizon ahead. The sailor in Rhoderick knew that this was a portent of fair weather from the Mother of Storms - a blessing in the form of a blood-red reminder of the sacrifice of the Maesetians - but fleeing unknown pursuers, exhausted, with nothing but hope that some ally waited beneath that gory sky. the red and deepening night felt more like an omen.

Slowly the Wastrel shrunk at their backs until eventually it vanished behind a field of barley. By the time they passed their third party of travellers going to opposite way - a party of farmers and their sheep heading to new pastures, headless of the sleepless and openly paranoid looks the Roesonians gave them - the weight of the hours and miles and tension of the past few days was becoming crushing. An impossible burden that would bury each and every one of them: Tovrunn, Lancaelad, Rhoderick and Corson in a grave of mental and physical exhaustion.

They scarcely heard the whistles of the shepherds at the rear of the flock. Scarcely noticed the shaggy heartlands sheepdogs as they circled the sides of the road, barking. Scarcely noticed that a wall of bodies a dozen deep had formed around them until Ogre drew up, throwing his massive head left and right as he searched for a way past.

But there was no way.

From the side of the road well beyond the prison of sheep, a figure leading a panting horse emerged from the shadow of a stock shed and approached hastily.

[ +- ] Vital Info

character	HP	HD	inspiration	notes
Corson	24/31	2	[✓][x][x]
Lancaelad	28/28	1	[x][x][x]	DECIDER
Rhoderick	19/19	2	[✓][x][x]
Tovrunn	19/22	3	[x][x][x]

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Available NPCs: Adalric
Total XP: 1,800/2,700

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Deliver Adalric Safely to the Contact at Halfday: +900xp milestone
Brave the Spiderfell and Live: +350xp milestone
Learn How to Escape Shivhi: +350xp milestone

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Current Initiative Order: Out of Initiative

"Greetings Ser Knight and fellow travelers! I have ridden hard to catch you!"
The stranger holds up his empty right hand in greeting. He is of average height and build dressed in mud splattered traveling clothes. Three things make him stand out; his bright red hair, a ring on the third finger of his right hand and a scar running continuously from his hairline and down his left cheek to his jaw sparing his eye.
"Let us separate you from the flock then have a brief rest by yonder shed."

So far, the stranger has not used anyone's name but his demeanor is non-threatening. There is a sense of urgency in his speech and manner and he glances down the road from where the travelers have come several times while he converses. His eyes flick between the shepherds in a meaningful way.