Jun 15, 2025 12:22 pm
Corson looked up and out at the shrill call. "Braddon's berry! We cannot catch a break!"
RP Session 2: "To the Mattresses"
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Jun 15, 2025 12:23 pm
Successfully crossing the river, Tovrunn looked up at the sound of the sharp whistles on the hill. "That sounds like a signal..." she said, glancing rightward as response calls originate from beyond her sight. For the first time since they had slipped their opponent in Bardenhold, a twinge of paranoia wormed it's way into her brain. It was not lost on her that they were downhill from the stranger, with their backs to the river. And though unlikely, the possibility of an encounter with their enemies on the road like this was not beyond imagining.
"What should we do, Lancaelad?" She asked, looking to her husband-to-be. "Rhoderick and Erron are unknown to the Rabbits Hounds. Do we let them approach alone to assess the situation? Or do we join them and risk losing our deception?"
"What should we do, Lancaelad?" She asked, looking to her husband-to-be. "Rhoderick and Erron are unknown to the Rabbits Hounds. Do we let them approach alone to assess the situation? Or do we join them and risk losing our deception?"
Jun 15, 2025 12:24 pm
"Bird-whistles and flashing lanterns..." Lan muttered to himself. These Rabbit-men had no end of cunning methods of subtle communication. As he watched the wagon briefly become a boat and surge across the river he prepared to wheel Ogre about and spur him into a gallop towards the figure on the ridge... but Tovrunn's words reminded him of their plan.
"You speak wisdom, my lady," he said with a sigh, his grip on the haft of the lance tucked into his saddlebags loosening reluctantly. "We should not reveal our stratagem too hastily." He rose his voice to address the others in the wagon. "This way," he gestured to the gentler slopes of the hill to the south, below the ridgeline, indicating a route that was both easier and hundreds and hundreds of feet from the watcher. "Let us take the low road."
He chafed at his own restraint and squinted into the bright noonday winter sun as the two riders moved towards the third, hoping the priest and the courtier were up to the challenge, but fell into formation with the wagon.
"You speak wisdom, my lady," he said with a sigh, his grip on the haft of the lance tucked into his saddlebags loosening reluctantly. "We should not reveal our stratagem too hastily." He rose his voice to address the others in the wagon. "This way," he gestured to the gentler slopes of the hill to the south, below the ridgeline, indicating a route that was both easier and hundreds and hundreds of feet from the watcher. "Let us take the low road."
He chafed at his own restraint and squinted into the bright noonday winter sun as the two riders moved towards the third, hoping the priest and the courtier were up to the challenge, but fell into formation with the wagon.
Jun 15, 2025 12:25 pm
Making their way along the southern bank and towards the steep rise of the hillside the bulk of the Roesonians tried to keep a low profile. A few small copses of trees offered some cover, but a brisk pace seemed more prudent than any attempt at stealth. Distance alone would give them an advantage if they needed to run - especially given the answering shrill had come from the north.
Rhoderick meanwhile heard cantering hooves coming up behind him, and turning in the saddle saw Erron join. Slowing to allow his companion the time to catch up (and continue the pretence of nonchalance) the pair closed the distance to the figure on the hill together.
Reaching the grassy ridge line the militant Nesirite glanced down to his left and saw that the line of steep hills commanded an impressive view of the familiar Blackriver highroad, surrounded by flocks of sheep grazing on the western hillside. Was the figure watching the road then? Or the river?
Closing the distance the pair could make out more of the stranger. The woman looked to be in her middle years and was indeed dressed in the rugged common garb of local peasants, but over her roughspun tunic she wore a sleeveless leather brigantine, her bundle was a brace of pelts and a short bow and quiver hung from her saddle's horn.
Rhoderick meanwhile heard cantering hooves coming up behind him, and turning in the saddle saw Erron join. Slowing to allow his companion the time to catch up (and continue the pretence of nonchalance) the pair closed the distance to the figure on the hill together.
Reaching the grassy ridge line the militant Nesirite glanced down to his left and saw that the line of steep hills commanded an impressive view of the familiar Blackriver highroad, surrounded by flocks of sheep grazing on the western hillside. Was the figure watching the road then? Or the river?
Closing the distance the pair could make out more of the stranger. The woman looked to be in her middle years and was indeed dressed in the rugged common garb of local peasants, but over her roughspun tunic she wore a sleeveless leather brigantine, her bundle was a brace of pelts and a short bow and quiver hung from her saddle's horn.
Jun 15, 2025 12:26 pm
Slowing his mount to a walk as they approached Rhoderick grinned at the rider then glanced at Erron and ran one hand through his mop of hair. "Well met friend, you have chosen a spot with a fantastic view!" He gestured at the pelts and the bow. "Has the hunting been kind to you?"
Jun 15, 2025 12:27 pm
Wiping the river mud from his face with his sleeve - which resulted in an equal exchange, since both were as wet and filthy as the other - Lancaelad drew up alongside the wagon. "Paidrig," he addressed his squire in a low voice, casting a glance up at the two riders approaching the third on the hill. "Should battle be joined, drive the wagon with all haste towards Castle Blacktower. If I do not meet you there, seek the lord castellaen and inform him what has befallen us." Unexpectedly, he reached out and gave the gawky youth a squeeze on the shoulder before resuming his outriding.
Jun 15, 2025 12:27 pm
A quick nod, jaw tight with determination, told Ser Lancaelad that his squire would do his best. Of course the boy had never been all that impressive. Would his best be enough? Lan supposed there was little better option regardless.
Jun 15, 2025 12:28 pm
The rider shook the brace of pelts at Rhoderick's entreaty. "Kind enough" she replied "that the farmers'll be buying the drinks tonight. You lot come out the east - ye've not been about in the swamp have ye? There's deads walking about in there an'all."
Jun 15, 2025 12:28 pm
Erron poked out his tongue in thought and rode close to Rhoderick. "That accent: I'd wager my whole purse its Eastern Marches somewhere. That's a long way to come to skin hare."
Jun 15, 2025 12:29 pm
Rhoderick smiled broadly. "As you may have noted I am a man of Nesirie and as such have nothing to fear of those who lie in the Mistresses embrace. This good merchant hired me to take him and his wares through the swamps to steal a march on his competition."
"We heard your signal and wondered what it meant? There is only us and a couple of Guards we brought to help with the wagon and as such we have to be vigilant."
"We heard your signal and wondered what it meant? There is only us and a couple of Guards we brought to help with the wagon and as such we have to be vigilant."
Jun 15, 2025 12:30 pm
"A merchant through the Elvenmere? Well now ain't I heard it all" the woman replied with a laugh. "This? This's my little birdsong. See, the rabbits they dig burrers in the hillside and the sheep, they catch a hoof in the burrows 'an break a leg. So the farmer, he pays a price for every pelt. I sit up here where the view's good, and when one one pops ups its fuzzy little head I play a call like this-" she raised a hand to her mouth, palm flat toward her chin, and another different tune rang out "-an' tell my friend down in the valley where I see it."
Another call in reply came, and for a moment Rhoderick thought it closer though he couldn't see this friend anywhere just yet. It was true that had he just heard the whistle on the wind he'd've thought it nothing more than a bird.
"But tell me merchant's guard, if you feared you might be waylaid why come all the way up here to see me aye? Don't so cordial a visit just slow your man up?"
Another call in reply came, and for a moment Rhoderick thought it closer though he couldn't see this friend anywhere just yet. It was true that had he just heard the whistle on the wind he'd've thought it nothing more than a bird.
"But tell me merchant's guard, if you feared you might be waylaid why come all the way up here to see me aye? Don't so cordial a visit just slow your man up?"
Jun 15, 2025 12:32 pm
Rhoderick grinned at the hunter. "We can only go as fast as the wagon so not much of a delay when we can catch it at a quick gallop. We’d waste more time not checking things and as mentioned we have some other guards with the wares."
"Thank you for your warnings of the burrow holes, wouldn’t do to catch a horses leg in one. Can you share the travel conditions on this side of the river? Seen any thing out of the ordinary we should watch out for?"
"Thank you for your warnings of the burrow holes, wouldn’t do to catch a horses leg in one. Can you share the travel conditions on this side of the river? Seen any thing out of the ordinary we should watch out for?"
Jun 15, 2025 12:33 pm
"That'd all depend which way yer bound" the woman replied casually, looking out across the valley as she toyed with the handle of a skinning knife at her belt. "Coming out of the marsh you must be bound west, and with a merchant in tow I'd wager Proudglaive, right?"
Jun 15, 2025 12:35 pm
With an open smile Rhoderick nodded. "When we meet the road it will be a clear journey to Proudglaive and we’ll be first there, the goods will fetch a pretty penny. The chapel to the Storm Mother needs repairs so this should clear that."
He shook himself. "Anyway we should get back. I hope the hunting is good. All rabbits should have their necks stretched I feel." The Preacher took one last searching look at the hunter to see if he could glean that he’d been believed and then he turns the horse and started back to the wagon.
"Do you think she believed us?" he muttered to Erron as they rode.
He shook himself. "Anyway we should get back. I hope the hunting is good. All rabbits should have their necks stretched I feel." The Preacher took one last searching look at the hunter to see if he could glean that he’d been believed and then he turns the horse and started back to the wagon.
"Do you think she believed us?" he muttered to Erron as they rode.
Jun 15, 2025 12:39 pm
Erron considered the question with a surreptitious glance over his shoulder. "If I were a betting man, though you know that I am not, I would wager not. Those two signals she gave likely put whoever awaits in those northern hills on alert. But even if she doesn't believe your story, that doesn't mean she believes we are the party for which they are searching. Were you she would you give up your position without being certain? Confront nine riders alone? Or would a hunted man ride up on his hunters to chat?" The quiet Medoerean savoured the question as if sampling a dubious wine. "I think you have confused matters enough that abandoning the watch would be foolish for her, but if by chance a larger group is near at hand I would not be surprised to be questioned again."
As if in reply to Erron's musing another shrill cry, this time just a single note, rang out from the hillside behind them and was copied a few moments later from the north - this time it definitely sounded farther.
"It would seem we have been fortunate" Erron concluded, urging his horse forward as they began to descend the western slope down towards the highroad below to intersect with the rest of their party. "But I am certain that they will not simply forget us. Let us not test our luck."
End of Session 2
As if in reply to Erron's musing another shrill cry, this time just a single note, rang out from the hillside behind them and was copied a few moments later from the north - this time it definitely sounded farther.
"It would seem we have been fortunate" Erron concluded, urging his horse forward as they began to descend the western slope down towards the highroad below to intersect with the rest of their party. "But I am certain that they will not simply forget us. Let us not test our luck."
End of Session 2