>>4447628
>> The King of Lagosland, who you recently fought. He is known for his wealth and needs troops to fight the Duke of Frem. He might not have forgiven the losses you inflicted on his army last time you met. You would have to cross the battle-scarred land of Frem to meet him.

>>4447628
>The City of Ladis. The powerful city state is always hiring mercenaries and sometimes repays exemplary service with ancient artifacts. They also produce many fine arquebus, cannons, and gunpowder. They follow a strange religion. It lies to the East and getting there would involve a trip near the dark forests of Kalub. The savages there are getting bolder every day.
What mercenary leader in his right mind would work for a hostile employer or inconsistent pay?

>>4447628
>> The City of Ladis. The powerful city state is always hiring mercenaries and sometimes repays exemplary service with ancient artifacts. They also produce many fine arquebus, cannons, and gunpowder. They follow a strange religion. It lies to the East and getting there would involve a trip near the dark forests of Kalub. The savages there are getting bolder every day.

>>4447628
> The King of Lagosland, who you recently fought. He is known for his wealth and needs troops to fight the Duke of Frem. He might not have forgiven the losses you inflicted on his army last time you met. You would have to cross the battle-scarred land of Frem to meet him.

File: Horseman.png (348 KB, 368x472)

348 KB PNG

>>4447635
>>4447640

You decide on a destination. You wash your face and shave before you step out of your tent. Your men greet you heartily. You've seen them through a half dozen battles now and with remarkably few losses. They trust you. You declare your plans to the company.
"We're going East, through Kalub, to Ladis! We'll drink Ladisian ale and get fat and rich!"
Most of the men are happy to hear it, but a few have some misgivings.
"Their gold's just as good as anybody's but their ways are quite strange."
"Aye, I heard that in Ladis the men wear skirts and the women wear trousers."
"Ha! Someone's played a joke on you friend. I'll believe it when I see it."
"Kalub's a bit wild isn't it?"
You assuage the fears of the men and break your fast. Afterwards you order the company to pack up and march East.
You get to Mt. Turhamr, the unofficial border of Frem and Kalub. Its a large foreboding mesa. After that the land becomes hilly and rocky. Few civilized men live in Kalub, scratching out a meager existence from the rocky earth. Most of the inhabitants are the large blue-eyed savages. They are ignorant of plowing and planting and follow their own strange god. You had hoped to pass through without running into them, but it was in vain.
During your second day of marching you are met by a shepherd and his flock. Hes tall and his hands are tattooed with odd symbols. He's accompanied by a boy you assume is his son. They both ride wild looking horses and herd a flock of shaggy sheep. The man is trying to sell you sheep but his understanding of your language is limited. You try to explain that you don't need sheep. He seems angry and begins to herd his flock back toward the hills.
He might be a simple shepherd trying to make a deal but he might raise a larger force of barbarians to attack you. You could stop him now and not take the risk but you would have to take the boy too. Killing people who might just be innocent savages doesn't sit right with you, but you fear the consequences of letting them leave.

>Let them go.

>Force them to accompany you to the edge of Kalub.

>Kill them.

>>4447665
>Kill them.

>>4447665
>Let them go.

>>4447665
>>Kill them.

>>4447665
>>Kill them.

>>4447665
>Let them go.

>>4447665
>Force them to accompany you to the edge of Kalub.

Or

>Kill them
and take the sheep, if they refuse. It's plenty of food after all.

>>4447665
>Let them go.
killing innocents just for hunch is a bit too much.

>>4447665
>Kill them.

Why kill them? One angry shepherd won't bring the wrath of the savages down on us, but killing him will.

>>4447665
>Force them to accompany you to the edge of Kalub.

>>4447686
Nope. But the expected loot can with ease.

File: Barbarian.jpg (651 KB, 1390x2000)

651 KB JPG

>>4447667
>>4447673
>>4447675
>>4447684

You motion for Schultz, your lieutenant, to go near the boy. He gets closer. You walk up to the man and try to negotiate. When he turns and tries to haggle again you swing your zweihander. You've fought armored knights on the battlefield. Compared to that, dehorsing a savage is easy. In a single swipe hes laying on the ground, cut nearly in two. Schultz swings his zweihander at the boy but the boy's horse rears and kicks. Schultz stops mid swing and barely dodges a hoof. The horse takes off before he can swing again. The boy isn't riding the horse so much as clinging to it while it bolts. You lose him in the densely forested hills. You bring the sheep along behind the company and keep marching.
Its midday of the next day and you're almost to the border of Ladis when they catch up to you. A hundred screaming savages ride down out of the hills. They bear axes, spears and primitive bows. They wear all manner of wool and fur garments. Some go shirtless and the runic tattoos that cover their bodies can be seen clearly. Your company forms up and prepares for the charge. A few overzealous barbarians charge into your pikes and are instantly killed. After that the horsemen ride in circles and shoot arrows wildly into your formation. One pikeman is struck and wounded. The barbarians whoop and cheer. They withdraw a short distance away and taunt you.

>Hold fast. It might be a trap.

>Move forward and attack them.

>Fire the arquebus.

>>4447712
>Fire arquebuses
It can scare them away even if we don't have enough firepower.

>>4447712
>Fire the arquebus.
Wow, look at that. Now we have a hundred screaming retards on our asses.

>>4447734
We have 65 armynen. 66 with us. It's not an army.

>>4447712
>Fire the arquebus.

>>4447712
>Fire the arquebus
We need to get out of here as fast as possible, hopefully the retards are content with letting us leave.

File: Strange man.jpg (11 KB, 224x225)

11 KB JPG

>>4447722
>>4447734
>>4447748
>>4448019

At times like this you wish that your arquebus auxiliary was larger. You make note that whenever you get enough money together you should expand the auxiliary. You order the arquebusiers to form up. They fall in just as the horsemen are making another charge. There are 5 sharp retorts and a large puff of smoke. The charge is broken before it even reaches the pikes. The remaining horsemen are riding in disorganized circles, yelling at each other. After the second volley they disperse and ride into the hills. One halts at the top of the hill to look down at you. It is the boy. He stares at your party for a moment, his eyes full of hatred, before he turns and leaves.
As you survey the battlefield you see something unexpected. There is a strange man walking around looting the bodies of the savages but he doesn't look like a warrior of Kalub. His hair and eyes are dark and his short broad body is without tattoos. He isn't from your company and you didn't notice him before the battle.

>Hes just a looter. Leave immediately.

>He is an oddity. Its worth trying to talk to him.

>He is an unusual savage, but a savage nonetheless. Kill him.

>>4448086
>He is an oddity. Its worth trying to talk to him.
If he's hanging around and looting the bodies it stands to reason that he isn't one of them, but is instead of an opposed tribe or even a man of Ladis.

>>4448086
>>He is an oddity. Its worth trying to talk to him.

>>4448086
>He is an unusual savage, but a savage nonetheless. Kill him.

You and Schultz walk up to the man and greet him. Now that you get closer he looks thin, dirty and afraid. He tries to explain why hes here but his grasp of the language is even worse than the shepherd's.
"Not Kalub! Kalub thrall. Moons Kalub thrall. Ran. Loud sound. Dead face gone. Thrall now. Hungry."
After a few minutes you have a theory of what he means by this. The barbarians of Kalub practice chattel slavery and they often raid other tribes for slaves. You can't guess what tribe he's from or how long he's been a slave. Hes under the impression that you're his master now. You can't convince him otherwise. He's hungry.
Chattel slavery is a despicable institution which is prohibited by the Good Book. It is as abhorrent to you as cannibalism or incest. Only barbarians practice it.

>Leave him. You have no need for this strange barbarian.

>Take him with you. Hes far from his home and needs help. It would be wrong to leave him.

>>4448580
>>Take him with you. Hes far from his home and needs help. It would be wrong to leave him.
One more mouth isn't going to ruin us for the trip to Ladis, and we'll be able to drop him off there.

>>4448580
>Take him with you. Hes far from his home and needs help. It would be wrong to leave him.

>>4448580
>Leave him. You have no need for this strange barbarian.

File: City.jpg (438 KB, 1200x862)

438 KB JPG

>>4448965
>>4449037


The barbarian joins your entourage. He gets along well and start learning the Jungeslander language. When you stop marching that evening you make camp on Ladisian soil. Thomas the cook takes one of the company's mules to the nearby village and buys the mid month provisions. You now have 267 crowns and enough provisions for 15 days. The one pikeman who was wounded during the battle will take a few days to heal.
In the morning you approach the city of Ladis. It is a large and wealthy city on a hill. The walls of Ladis are ancient and magnificent. You make camp outside the walls and send a messenger into the city. The messenger comes back with two messages.
The first message is from a wealthy burgher who represents the local gunsmiths guild. He wants to meet and discuss hiring your company to hunt down some criminals. The pay will likely be very good.
The second message is from a local clergyman. The Ladisian religion is strange to you so its hard to tell how high he ranks in the local clergy. He wants to meet and discuss hiring your company to guard him on a journey. The Ladisian church is known to grant ancient artifacts as rewards for exemplary service.
Which one will you meet with today?

>>4449115
>Burger
Our money will cover less than two months for such a small group otherwise.

>>4449115
>Burgher
We need a lot of liquid cash right now.

File: arquebus.jpg (40 KB, 739x473)

40 KB JPG

You agree to meet with the burgher. You bathe, comb your hair, and put a large feather in your hat. You want to make a good first impression. You enter the town with Schultz. You meet the burgher at his home. Its a large two story house with glass windows. A servant shows you into a sitting room. The burgher comes to meet you in a few moments. He is an old man, balding and grey. He wears fine clothes and smiles with confidence.
"Good Afternoon. My name is Bertolt Schoonhoven. I represent the Ladis Gunsmiths' guild. I have a bit of a problem that you may be able to help me with. I hired a quite disreputable band of Gestian mercenaries to guard a shipment of arquebus to the port of Xidos. They absconded with the cargo and fled. They were last seen near Werept, to the northeast. I need those arquebus taken back from the brigands and delivered safely to my associate in Xidos. His name is Hugo Hansmann. You will be payed 300 crowns in advance and a banknote for 250 Ladisian marks upon delivery of the cargo. If you do well, when you come back to Ladis to redeem the banknote I can introduce you to someone very powerful."
A Ladisian mark is worth about 2 crowns. Marks are not as widely circulated as Lagosland crowns, so prices are usually listed in crowns.

>Haggle and try to get more pay.

>Accept the terms.

>Go see other prospective employers before making a decision.

>>4449212
>Go see other prospective employers before making a decision.

>>4449212
>Try to get more information
Is it even theoretically possible for our small gang to get rid of the bandits?

>>4449232

Schoonhoven estimates their strength at around 20 arquebusiers and 10 crossbowmen. You outnumber them 2 to 1 but they have more firepower. Even in the best case scenario you can expect to receive some casualties. Its possible but difficult.

>>4449237
They have arquebuses and they know how to use them. Arquebuses were extremely effective against barbarians and we don't want them to be effective against us.
But we need money. We might consider some discretion or ask the employer to give us some arquebuses as a payment in advance. It will be a good advertisement for him too.

>>4449237
Ever heard of flanking and rushing?

>>4449382
Also arquebuses and crossbows are quite slow. If our troops shield the first fire, we can rush and kill/capture the enemy. They can have several rows to deal with this issue but make their order quite narrow and we can attack from sides.

Do we have any way to scout ahead? We might be able to catch them somewhere unprepared and capture/rout them without a real fight

>>4449212
>Go see other prospective employers before making a decision.

File: Robes.jpg (499 KB, 1505x2560)

499 KB JPG

>>4449226
>>4449801

You inform Schoonhoven that you're going to meet with other prospective employers. You walk uphill toward the address in the clergyman's message. You arrive at a gate flanked by city guards. They ask your business in this district. You show them the message and they let you go through. The district is full of large houses and ancient brick structures. You walk further uphill and arrive at the gate of the building that the whole city is built around. Its an ancient cathedral, built during the golden age. The gate is guarded by men wearing shrouds and tabards and wielding shrouded weapons. These must be the Holy Knights of Ladis. Its rumored that they wield weapons that were created in the golden age. You can't get a good look at the weapons under the shrouds but they hold them like arquebus. They tell you that you already passed the address you're looking for. You turn back and find a large building with the address written on it.
A boy in a white robe meets you at the door and leads you back to a sitting room. A tall man wearing a shroud and green tabard enters the room. An old man wearing an ornate green robe enters after him and greets you. The white robed boy and a short man wearing a shroud also enter the room and stand to the side silently. The short man holds two shrouded weapons. The old man in the robe speaks.
"I am Father Adrian of the Order of Asklepios. I would like to hire you for a journey. I plan to travel Northwest, to Norret. I have heard that the Duke of Norret's son is ill and I would like to offer my services as a healer. Those roads are thick with brigands. Two knights will travel with me as well, but I need more guards to travel those roads. I may also travel to some other places in the northwest. Because my travel plans are not set, I would like to hire you on retainer. I'll pay you 62 marks per month and a fee of 100 marks before we set off. If you do well, I will tell the Grand Physician that you can be trusted. That should guarantee you more employment in Ladis. how does this sound?"
This man doesn't look like any doctor you've seen before. In place of a beaked mask he has only a green cloth covering over his nose and mouth. He doesn't smell strongly of sage, but rather an odd acrid smell that you can't place. The pay isn't as much as the burgher offered but the task seems less risky.

>Haggle

>Accept the terms

>Go back to Schoonhoven.

>>4449879
>>Haggle

>>4449879
>Haggle
Money is the blood of any risky operation and he isn't offering enough. Fame is really a good thing but we need to cover our monthly expenses.

>>4449883
>>4449919

Make a specific demand.

>>4449980
More money

>>4449980
70 marks per month, 120 upfront to cover preparation costs.

>>4449879
>Haggle for more money.
>>4449989
+1

>>4449989

You demand 70 marks per month and 120 up front. The priest seems to consider this for a moment.

"Deal. Acolyte, draw up the contract."

The boy in the white robe produces a quill and a piece of parchment. He skillfully writes out the terms of the contract. You look it over and see that its been written correctly.

>Sign.

>Decline.

>>4449980
Are Write ins allowed?

>>4450012
>Sign

>>4450013
Yeah. I'll accept write-ins for most decisions.

>>4450012
>Sign
"I look forward to working with you."

>>4450012
>Sign
We should get a cannon, it'd be fun.

>>4450014
>>4450053
>>4450073

You sign the deal and receive your up front fee and your first month's pay. When you get back to camp with the gold you find out that Thomas the cook sold the sheep. He got 5 marks for them. In terms of crowns that puts your total at 657 crowns and enough provisions for 14 days. You look into expanding your company and investing in equipment. You currently have 50 regular pikemen with pikes, cuirass, and helmets. They're paid 1 crown a month. You have 10 expert swordsmen with zweihanders, helmets, and cuirass. They're paid 2 crowns a month. You have 5 regular arquebusiers with arquebus, helmets, and cuirass. They're paid 1 crown a month.

Recruits are scarce:
You find 5 Ladisian expert arquebusiers who have their own weapons and armor. They expect 2 crowns a month and 3 crowns up front.
You find 10 Gentian expert crossbowmen. They have their own weapons but no armor. They expect 1 crown a month and 2 crowns up front.
You find 20 Ladisian unskilled recruits. They have no equipment. They expect 1 crown a month. It would take 2 weeks to train them as regular arquebusiers or crossbowmen, 1 month for pikemen or cannoneers.

Equipment is expensive, but quality goods are sold:
Cannon- 10 crowns
Fine Cannon- 15 crowns
Arquebus- 3 crowns
Fine Arquebus- 5 crowns
Crossbow- 2 crowns
Fine Crossbow-3 crowns
Pike- 1 crown
Helmet- 2 crown
Cuirass- 3 crowns

File: xmpgh7k7e0r01.jpg (33 KB, 579x426)

33 KB JPG

>>4450087
>Cannon.
How many lads do we need for a single cannon to be crewed effectively.
Also is there anywhere to buy more provisions.

>>4450087
If were going to hire more mercenary's we should find a higher paying job/one with more opportunity for loot, were spending 112.5 crowns a month and if we buy the raw recruits we'll be spending an extra thirty.

Speaking of which I reckon we should buy the raw recruits and the expert arquebusiers, train the recruits as arquebusiers and have ourselves a pretty nice solution to many of our problems.
It'll cost about 160 to arm the lot with their armour, helmets and wepons, provided we go for cheap arquebus.

>>4450136
It takes 5 regular cannoneers to operate a cannon. Provisions are bought every 15 days because they're perishable. You can buy preserved provisions that last longer but they're bad for morale.

>>4450087
5 cannons
20 Ladisian unskilled recruits
20 Pikes
10 Gentian expert crossbowmen

>>4450087
>5 Ladisian expert arquebusiers
I am wary of buying more than we need and with our current pay.

>>4450277
Change it to
no cannons
20 Ladisian unskilled recruits
20 Pikes
10 Gentian expert crossbowmen

How had it happened that our professional pikemen don't have shields and we can't even buy them?

>>4450523

Pikes and zweihanders require 2 hands to wield effectively. Shields are uncommon because a shield won't stop a ball from an arquebus.

>>4450087
>Fine Cannon- 15 crowns
>You find 20 Ladisian unskilled recruits. They have no equipment. They expect 1 crown a month. It would take 2 weeks to train them as regular arquebusiers or crossbowmen, 1 month for pikemen or cannoneers.
5 cannoneers then.
The rest can be trained in pike and shot (1/3 shot 2/3 pike).

>>4450690
Is there any reason to have just one cannon for a marching escorts? We're not joining army yet.

>>4450690
Not enough dakka.

>>4450718
Fair enough.
Then half and Half pike and shot.

>>4450837
>Change to this
Not as much dakka as i'd like, but we need to come to a consensus to get this moving

Alright, so it seems like a consensus on just hiring the unskilled recruits and training half of them as pikemen and half as arquebusiers.

How much equipment should be bought for each man? Helmets and cuirass greatly improve their chances of survival in battle but they're not necessary. Fine weapons are mostly wasted in the hands of unskilled troops.

>>4451125
Buy normal arquebus for the arquebusers and no cuirass.
Kit the pikemen out with full armour set.

>>4451142
This

>>4451036
Yeah we still need some pikes. We can't go full shot yet. Pike and shot can later become shot and pike, but shot is good for pitched battles and not really for escort duty.

>>4451293
We are a small mercenary band. More dakka is going to equalize us against larger foes.

>>4451142
This is the best choice right now. Cannons will just slow us down

>>4451142
>>4451252

You hire the raw recruits. They seem grateful for the employment. You spend 130 crowns on equipment and the first month's pay. This brings your total to 527 crowns and a monthly maintenance of 137 crowns.

As the new recruits file into the camp and receive their equipment you figure out why they're here. The only reason a man with no combat skills would sign up to be a mercenary is if he can't find any other honest work. Ladis is in the middle of an economic boom. Theres more than enough work for every hand. These men are callous and cynical petty criminals, drunks, and rabblerousers. With a little military discipline they should shape up, but you should expect conflict until they adapt to their new profession. Now you have to make a strategic choice. The arquebusiers will fill out the arquebus auxiliary to 15, a respectable number for a unit of arquebusiers. But the pikemen are another story. You already have a strong fighting line of pikemen with their flanks protected by the expert swordsmen. If you incorporate the new recruits into the existing unit they'll make the unit less effective and less maneuverable due to their inexperience. But if you separate them into a new unit they'll be slower to adapt to the company and they won't have the protection of the swordsmen.

>Separate them. They can act as a reserve while they receive training.

>Incorporate them. They'll learn fast or die.

>>4451383
>Incorporate them. They'll learn fast or die.
Scatter them throughout the line. Make them march.

>>4451461
+1
Segregating them would slow down our goal of making them "fit" into the company faster, besides the recruits alongside the vets means they'll get a good view on how to impale a man from 6 ft away

>>4451293
Although I disagree with your statement about less dakka I understand your reasoning.

>>4451383
Do we know why Ladis is in an economic boom?
Perhaps some rich merchants will need an escort of 95 men to make sure he gets to his destination safely?

File: Book.jpg (89 KB, 550x403)

89 KB JPG

>>4451503
It's not really clear. They've always had the upper hand when it came to trade. Their ale is stronger, their gunpowder is purer and their farms give better yields. Something has changed recently but its hard to tell what. If you had more reputation in Ladis you could probably get lucrative contracts from merchants.


>>4451461
>>4451490

You incorporate the men into the fighting line.
You sit down to eat dinner with your men. The barbarian is helping Thomas cook. The new recruits are getting settled in. Matthias, who was wounded by the barbarians, is up and walking around again.The company is doing well.

When you wake up you expect to rest and have a relaxed Sunday, but the physician and his knights show up at camp. They're ready to travel. However, your company isn't. Several of your men went into town last night to drink and they're likely still lying in a whorehouse sleeping off their hangovers. A small handful of your men actually gather and pray on Sunday.

The knights angrily chatter to the physician for a few minutes and then the old man approaches you. Surprisingly, he doesn't seem angry.

"Don't worry. I understand that we have different customs. We'll set off tomorrow. However, I'd like to get to know you better before I trust you with my life. What do you think, generally, about religion?"

How do you answer the foreign clergyman?

>"The Good Book is the only truth, but I tolerate infidels as long as they pay well."

>"I don't know. I don't really care. I just don't think about it much."

>"I'd prefer not to say."

>>4451559
>>"The Good Book is the only truth, but I tolerate infidels as long as they pay well."

>>4451559
>"I don't know. I don't really care. I just don't think about it much."

The Good Book hardly seems to be a solid guidance for such a hogs of War like we are. And we don't have reasons to flirt with the employer positioning ourselves as some 'mysterious mercenary'.

>>4451559
>>"I don't know. I don't really care. I just don't think about it much."
>"So long as we keep winning, we must be in someones good graces."

>>4451559
>"I don't know. I don't really care. I just don't think about it much."

>>4451559
>I'm not the most religious person out there as you might guess given my profession but I won't break any of the major taboos mentioned in the Good Book, nor will I allow my men to do the same.Minor taboos might be broken in dire situations if we don't see any other option.

>>4451865
+1
We try to be pious, but the harshness of our job forbids us from being it.

>>4451822
+1

>>4451727
>>4451822
>>4451833

"Ah, I see. Perhaps during this journey you might learn more of our way. I will be leaving now. I'll be back tomorrow."

The knights and physician go back into the city. You rest. There are no problems. On Monday morning the company is well rested and ready. Just before you depart you hear a commotion by the cook's tent. You run over and find the barbarian arguing with Thomas the cook. In his anger he's hooting and jabbering. You guess that he's speaking his native language, probably cursing at Thomas. Thomas is trying to tell him to leave. You calm the barbarian and figure out the source of the conflict.

The barbarian doesn't want to leave the company. He understands that he's not a slave, but he keeps talking about some kind of debt. What is owed to whom is beyond his ability to articulate, but he's adamant that he can't leave the company.

>Keep him. Its less trouble than the alternative.

>Give him some coins and leave him.

>Knock him out and leave him.

>>4452370
>Keep him. Its less trouble than the alternative.

>>4452370
>>Knock him out and leave him.

>>4452370
>Keep him. It's less trouble then the alternative.
It's possible he can help us if we ever have to deal with other barbarians, at the very least he speaks their languauge.

>>4452370
>Keep him. Its less trouble than the alternative.

File: lashing.jpg (234 KB, 788x460)

234 KB JPG

>>4452373
>>4452399
>>4452483

You tell the barbarian he can come with you. He seems happy.

The physician, acolyte, and knights meet you and your company starts marching northwest.

You march for one day and reach the border of Ladis and Lagosland. After you make camp Thomas the cook comes to you. He caught one of the new recruits rifling through the provisions and stealing ale. Schultz also saw the recruit with the ale. You have to decide on a punishment. If you let him off lightly and just dock his wages there might be more problems. Lashing is the normal punishment. It will decrease morale. You could tar and feather him and expel him from the company. It would provide a strong example but greatly decrease morale.

>Dock wages.

>Lash.

>Tar and feather

>>4452575
>Lash.
Why yes, I'm AM a radical centrist on the subject of military dicipline

>>4452575
>Lash

>>4452575
>Lash.
Order must be maintained.

>>4452575
>Lash
Make it known that if he's caught looting again, he'll be losing his tongue.

File: veil.png (72 KB, 300x168)

72 KB PNG

>>4452672
>>4452670
>>4452617
>>4452607

You find the recruit, who goes by the time of Antonio. He apologizes insincerely. You order Schultz to restrain him.
The recruit's shirt is stripped and hes tied to a tree. You hand the lash to Schultz and give the command for the company to fall in. The whole company looks on while the lashes are given. You look into their eyes. The new recruits seem shaken or angry but they don't give you any trouble.
Afterward you see the barbarian tending to Antonio's wounds. He looks at you sadly. You're not sure if he understands what happened.
The knights seem to have warmed to you slightly. They come to your fire while you're eating dinner. You introduce yourself. The tall one pulls aside his veil and reveals his face. He's an older man with a prominent scar on his face and you can see that the green veil he wears hangs down from a helmet covered in green cloth. He eats with you while the shorter one holds the weapons.
"I've watched your company for a day now. Most of them are professionals. I appreciate that. I'm always skeptical of infidels but you seem like a good lot. I'm Sir Beneficence, Holy Knight of Ladis. This is my squire, Marco."
The shorter one pulls aside his veil and you see why hes short. He's only a boy. The knight gives him a sharp look and the squire takes his hands from the veil and holds the weapons tightly.
"He's not ordained yet, and sometimes he forgets the rules. We're charged with protecting these holy objects, or else destroying them before they're taken from us. We're likewise charged with protecting the Physician. Those are our priorities. Now that we understand each other, we will return to our tent."
You consider his words as he walks away. Surely a single weapon can't be so important. And did he mean to imply that he would rather the physician die than be captured? You had heard that the clergy of Ladis was secretive but this seems paranoid.
In the morning you travel again. At midday, Matthias falls out and collapses. You stop marching and examine him. The wound on his shoulder that had been healing is now red and inflamed. You've seen this kind of infection many times. Even with a doctor's treatment the chances of survival are very low.
The physician offers to treat him. If he fails the men will likely see it as a refutation of his religion, and maybe even blame him for Matthias' death. Even more worryingly, If he succeeds some of them might see it as a confirmation of his religion and convert.

>Let him treat Matthias.

>Don't let him treat Matthias.

>>4452716
>Let him treat Matthias.
He was with us from the start, spirits forfend he'll be with us at the end.

>>4452716
>>Let him treat Matthias.
>Let him treat Matthias.

>>4452716
>Let him treat Matthias.

File: Carts full of dead to bury.jpg (32 KB, 358x226)

32 KB JPG

>>4452744
>>4452784
>>4452884

You allow the physician to treat Matthias. The treatment takes several days and during that time Matthias stays in the entourage with the physician.
You travel for two days through the forests and hills of eastern Lagosland. You have days still before you'll get to the Duchy of Norret. During this time you manage to figure out something more about the supposed debt of the barbarian. He apparently feels that when you gave him food and guided him to Ladis you saved his life. He feels that he has to repay that debt to you, whether you want him to or not. He also finally tells you his name: Iksamusoum. He offers to travel ahead of the party as a scout. There's no reason not to, so you allow it.
This turns out to be a wise decision. He comes back at noon the next day and warns you about a hazard on the road. He saw a large crowd of sick and starving refugees. They were coughing and probably carry a contagious disease. They were encamped all over the road near a bridge. Going around would mean using another bridge thats miles upstream. It would add a day to your journey.
You could try to just scare them away. But they might be too desperate for that. If you try and fail you would have to cut your way out of the crowd. Its your decision, but some of the people traveling with you will have strong opinions about it.

>Scare them away.

>Go Around.

>Ask a party member what they think.
(Iksamusom)
(Sir Beneficence)
(Father Adrian)
(Schultz)

>>4452945
>>Go Around.

>>4452945
>Ask a party member what they think.
Schultz. It would be wise to consult our officer.

Father Adrian. It's their land and we should try following their ways. Purely for diplomatic reasons.

>>4452950
support

>>4452945
>Scare them away

>>4452950
This

We need more info

>>4452945
>>Scare them away.

>>4452950
>Agreed
Ask BarBar about their numbers, it will give us a better idea about our chances of scaring them

>>4452950
(You're in Lagosland right now, not the territory of Ladis. I'll make a map later today.)

Schultz:
"Well, its your decision and I'll stand by you either way but I'd prefer to stay as far as possible from the poxy bastards. Disease is very dangerous for a company of mercenaries."

Father Adrian:
"This kind of obstacle is why I hired you. We can't afford to lose a day. The Duke's son could be dead by the time we get there. I need you to get us there on time."

Father Adrian will be angry if you go around. Schultz just wants whats best for the Free Pikes of Gourk.

>>4452945
>Scare them away.

>>4453307
Scare them away.

>>4453143

Iksamusoum can't count higher than 5. He's learning but he's only been with you for a few days. He just says "Many many" and gestures expansively with his arms.

>>4453376
Convenient
>Scare them away

>>4452945
>Scare them away.
>Slaugher them all.[\spoiler]

Ask Iksamusom and Sir Beneficence what they think. I'm interested in their thoughts on the matter.

>>4453397
>>4453337
>>4453336

You march up toward the bridge. When the first few beggars see you they approach asking for food. The front ranks yell curses at them and they turn away. But when you get closer you see the whole crowd. There are close to 100 of them. They start to move as a crowd, shoving and rushing toward your company. Your men close ranks and keep them away with the pikes. Your arquebusiers fire a volley over their heads. Some of them turn away but the crowd is so large that momentum carries them forward. The frightened and unwilling unfortunates pushed forward at the front of the crowd get impaled by pikes. The second volley goes right into the crowd. The crowd disperses before a third volley becomes necessary. There are dozens of bodies lying on the ground. you see the telltale marks of consumption. Consumption is a death sentence. Handling the bodies to bury them would be suicide. You leave them and hope that the other refugees will give them a proper burial.
Father Adrian is very grateful for this. Sir Beneficence is mildly displeased about the risk of disease.
You march further and reach a small village. The inhabitants are initially wary but then they see that you're not sick. You rest there for one day and learn which roads to avoid. The villagers tell you that the plague came from the east. The physician is particularly interested in it. He wants to know if any of the refugees came from anywhere as far east as Nuez Kuin. The villagers aren't sure. The ruins of Nuez Kuin have an almost mythical place in the minds of normal folk. Those huge rotting ruins are supposedly full of monsters and golden age artifacts.
Matthias is healed, but he's been changed by his close brush with death. He's a true believer in the powers of the physician, and he's not the only one. A handful of your troops have started gathering around the physician and asking about his religion. The followers of the Good Book in your company are dissatisfied but not outright hostile.

>>4453499

You march for 2 more days and arrive in southeastern Norret. You're still a few days from Castle Norret. You're making camp when Iksamusoum comes to see you.
"Hello, Captain. I don't understand. Helping green man; word very weird. Book. Too many book. Good Book different. At Kalub no book. I don't understand."
It seems that his first brush with organized religion has left the barbarian with more questions than answers. The two competing faiths in the company don't make it any easier. He has one very specific question that he can articulate:

"Golden Age? Gold is money. Age is how old. What does it mean?"

The Good Book tells of the Golden Age. You've heard the Physician talk about it as well. You've seen some very large and old ruins, but no real proof of the wild claims made about the Golden Age.

>"The glorious time of legendary heroes and empires. In this Dark Age we can only grasp at the greatness that once was, and will never be again. Artifacts from that time have magical powers. Let me tell you some stories I've heard. In the Golden Age, men could fly like birds."

>"It's not real. It's a fictional period of time. Such things cannot be. Its just a story for kids."

>"Go ask somebody else."

>>4453501
>"Go bother somebody else."

>>4453501
>"The glorious time of legendary heroes and empires. In this Dark Age we can only grasp at the greatness that once was, and will never be again. Artifacts from that time have magical powers. Let me tell you some stories I've heard. In the Golden Age, men could fly like birds."

Our good friend must know of the golden age.

>>4453505
Support

>>4453513
this

>>4453513
This.

File: map3.png (223 KB, 1200x900)

223 KB PNG

>>4453577
>>4453542
>>4453513

You tell Iksamusoum about the Golden Age. He listens incredulously. After a few minutes he excuses himself and leaves. He seems contemplative.

That night you dream of Gourk. The glistening lake and winding streets fill your dreams. You dream about people you know there. It's been almost a year since you left the Reich. You wonder how much its changed since then.

After a few more days of marching you arrive at Norret. The castle looks deserted. When you get closer you find only a few people in the castle town. They're nervous but once they see that you're healthy they approach.

"The consumption got them. Every last one. The parson, the miller and the-"

The Physician is impatient.
"Yes, but what of the Duke's son?"

"Oh, he's still alive. But not for much longer."

The Physician and knights rush to the castle. After a short time they're granted entrance and you don't see them again until much later.

When you see the Physician again he seems happy.

"What? I take it that your patient is still alive?"

"Ha! It's a simple matter, really. The boy will be healthy again in a few days. After that I may make a trip to Nuez Kuin. What do you think?"

>No. No amount of money is enough to wander into unknown territory with an active outbreak of a deadly disease.

>Risk is normal for a mercenary. But there must be compensation. The pay will have to increase.

>Great! You've always wanted to see the ruins.

>>4454115
>No. No amount of money is enough to wander into unknown territory with an active outbreak of a deadly disease.

>>4454115
>>Risk is normal for a mercenary. But there must be compensation. The pay will have to increase.

>>4454115
>Risk is normal for a mercenary. But there must be compensation. The pay will have to increase.

>>4454115
>Risk is normal for a mercenary. But there must be compensation. The pay will have to increase.
We can deal with fighting, but disease is something beyond our expertise.

>>4454115
>Risk is normal for a mercenary. But there must be compensation. The pay will have to increase.

Money.

>>4454115
>Risk is normal for a mercenary. But there must be compensation. The pay will have to increase.

We need way more money if we going to Wuhan

>>4454860
Make sure that Iksamusoum stays away from any bats.

>>4454115
>Risk is normal for a mercenary. But there must be compensation. The pay will have to increase.

>Great! You've always wanted to see the ruins.

>>4454115
>Risk is normal for a mercenary. But there must be compensation. The pay will have to increase
Wuhan here we go

Maybe now would be a good time to ask the physician why he covers his mouth.

You agree to go to the ruins, but for a higher fee. The Physician considers this for a moment, but before he speaks Sir Beneficence arrives. He seems angry.

"No. we aren't going on a wild goose chase to an ancient ruin. We're going to stay here."

The Physician is aghast.
"You can't tell me what to do! I'm a Physician, third degree! You're just a knight!"

"Firstly, I'm a Holy Knight. Second, I'm willing to take this to the Grand Physician. Did he tell you to go spelunking in distant ruins? Or did he tell you to proselytize to a Duke?"

You're not sure if you're supposed to hear this argument but they ignore that you're here.

The Physician reluctantly accepts the Knight's argument.
"I'll write the Grand Physician, then. Captain Hoffman, will you take my letter back to Ladis? I'll write you a pass into the Library. Its the big building in the center of town. I won't be needing mercenary guards if I stay in the Duke's castle."

This isn't technically what you were hired for, so there's precedent for just quitting now. But you could also accept, or try to renegotiate the contract.

>Break contract

>Haggle

>Accept

>>4456558
>Haggle

>>4456558
>Haggle

>>4456558
Some small contract extention payment. Standard stuff.

>>4456558
>Haggle

>>4456558
>Haggle

>>4456558
>Haggle
Contract extension with a little extra in upfront payment. If we go to Wuhan, we need a treasure chest, plus an artifact. And looting rights if we find anything valuable.

>>4456991

When you suggest that you should have an artifact he suddenly looks pale and wide-eyed. The Knight explodes;

"Do you see what you've done? Now this infidel is trying to get his hands on a holy artifact. Your greed will ruin us."

The Physician tries to defend himself;
"It's fine. It's going to be fine. Captain Hoffman, please just take this payment. Its your month's pay in crowns and a Ladisian banknote for 100 marks. We can discuss payment for going to Nuez Kuin when you get back."

>Accept the payment

>Press the issue of the artifact

>Break your contract

>>4457646
>Accept the payment

>>4457646
>>Accept the payment
Haggle high, get more than they were going to pay. No need to thank me lads.

>>4457646
>Accept the payment

Something is going down in the ruins. Probably need to bring more dakka back

>>4457646
>Accept the payment

>>4458341
>Something is going down in the ruins. Probably need to bring more dakka back

I agree. Assuming the situation in Ladis hasn't changed, can probably buy the rest of the recruits, maybe a specialist or two (another physician when our business with the Father is concluded). Should we also consider some protection from the disease (and if so in what form) or do we just keep our distance from the people and be alright.

We should consider repairing any potential damage in our relationships with the Physician and the Knight. We were trying to haggle, not provoke, and it would not do well to garner animosity with potential employers and powerful people.

>>4457646
>Press the issue of the artifact

>>4457646
We have broken the world by accepting this deal. Shame and damnnation on us all.

I'll post more this weekend. Thanks, everybody, for playing so far. If anyone has feedback I'd be happy to hear it.

>>4462217
The wait is excruciating. ; )

I like the fast, to the point, in the moment style of it. All relevant information is conveyed efficiently, then you let us work it out ourselves. No handholding, straight into the meat and potatoes of things.

You accept the payment and receive the letter later that night. The trip back to Ladis is uneventful. You know the right roads to take to avoid the refugees now. It takes about a week. During the journey you have to buy provisions and pay your men. This brings your total to 733 crowns. You have provisions for 15 days.
When you arrive at the city you go up the hill to the Library. The seal on the letter gets you past the guards. The grounds of the Library are full of Physicians and acolytes. They're very surprised to see you there. You get directions from them and find your way to the Grand Physician. Some Physicians let you into a sitting room.
The oldest man you've ever seen is wheeled into the room. Clever eyes stare out of a web of deep wrinkles. He receives the letter and reads it briefly.

"Our Adrian has always had an unhealthy obsession with ruins. Hmm. I will organize an expedition. He recommends you. Would you like to escort an archaeological expedition? Even into those cursed ruins? If so, why?"

>No.

>Yes. I want the wealth and power that a Golden Age artifact will bring me.

>Yes. I want to uncover the mysteries of the Golden Age.

>Yes. (Write in reason)

>>4466394
>Yes. I want the wealth and power that a Golden Age artifact will bring me

>>4466394
>Yes. I want the wealth and power that a Golden Age artifact will bring me.

>>4466394
>The pay is good, the client isn’t disagreeable, and success will aid to further my reputation and possibly bring more wealth. It’s that simple, really.

>>4466394
>Yes. I want to uncover the mysteries of the Golden Age.

>>4466433
+1. We're mercs.

>>4466394
>Yes. I don't rightly know, exactly. There are many reasons. Wealth, power, reputation... they have their value, but those are not the reason why I risk death. I remember stories from my youth about the Golden Age. I used to pretend to be one of their heroes. I... Sometimes, a venture into the unknown isn't a choice.

>>4466394
>Yes. Money and Reputation is good, ruins also might contain loot which keeps the lads happy.

>>4466394
We have yet again broken the world, lads. We got to find out how to stop doing it mates.

>>4471461
Should I start panicking now?

>>4475469
>>4471461

There's not a real majority answer. I'll keep running this. I'm also working on writing something else kind of similar to this. It wouldn't replace this. What do you guys think about a quest about a priest-bureaucrat in a fantasy world? Advising nobles, performing rituals, counting beans, etc.

>>4475822
Do we get to burn heretics too?

>>4475840
Not likely. It would be more of a mythical fantasy setting where a pantheon of deities give boons or curses. Sectarian conflicts would be rare, because the gods involved could just come down and set everyone straight. You might burn some demon cultists, evil wizards or the undead.

>>4476251
Meh. I want to run an inquisition, not bless stuff.