File: Perion Political Map, wit(...).jpg (4.58 MB, 3508x2552)

4.58 MB JPG

>>4671772

>[Surly] You’ve barely started to turn around the Shattered Inlet of the Calling Sea. They might have some interest in the goings-on of the Fields of Fum, but there hasn’t been much happening so far. You may as well wait until you reach the city of Iskander before writing home.

>[Gregarious] Write in depth about everything that has happened so far on your journey. You know that Mother and Father worry, and it should help keep them content before they send a House rider to catch up with you to make sure that you haven’t drowned in your own blood.

>[Pragmatic] Send just the highlights of your journey so far, with House Cant for the pertinent details. They should probably know about the incident with Garland, before they find out from a courier with loose lips.

>[Write-in?]

I've attached a map outlining the current route of the Caravan, with some idea of the current political landscape so far.

[2/3]

[2/3]

File: Dice Comparision graphic.png (40 KB, 1264x605)

40 KB PNG

>>4671774

>what the flying fuck is this horse-shit that mocks the existence of mankind?

This is a quest about mercantile endeavours, trying to gain enough Value and Profit to prove that you are a viable candidate to join a Grand Company. Your House isn’t exactly prosperous or powerful, so you’ll have to bring a substantial Profit home from the lands of Jironth to secure it. You’ve been doing alright so far, but you’ve only travelled roughly 1/8th of the way there, let alone on the way back. The heartlands of Loria are fairly safe from the bandit menace expected in the Harade Plains or the foothils of Kalim, but broken wheels or thrown shoes plague any endeavour that is as large as yours. Showing up without enough Profit is almost worse than death. At least if you died like your cousin Kaspar, the Gray Stonyfields would be required to treat you with dignity, instead of shunning you as another Green Stonyfield that over-extended their grasp.

>what do we roll for anything? looks complicated.

Anytime a roll is called for, it will be a Best of Two 1d100s, with degrees of successes. You currently hold one re-roll to be used at your discretion, and one charge of FATE to avert a Crit-Fail result, or change an opponent’s Crit-Success to a regular Failure. Re-rolls replenish slowly, roughly over the course of a week or when you arrive in a new town. FATE can be restored, but it will take a significant amount of effort to do so, like preventing a catastrophe or stopping a war from breaking out through diplomatic endeavours.

>how we doing so far?

You’re currently at 1,212.025 Perceived Value (1506.025 after factoring in your hidden Grey Market Goods). Still a ways from your goal of 1,825.25, but you still have a fair ways to go yet, with markets that’ll appreciate your Goods to come yet.

>is there any pastebins to explain shit?

Here they be.
https://pastebin.com/pb8GTem0 Inventory, Stipends, and in-depth Goods and Value of the Caravan.
https://pastebin.com/6kC5LrwZ Mechanics of how Value is determined from your Inventory.
https://pastebin.com/uJ1WpYNQ Mechanics of how Re-rolls and Fate are used in the Quest.
https://pastebin.com/DSJCJFwK In-depth description of how the degrees of success work out, with examples and shit.

>why you so late starting? thought it was supposed to be at 01:30 UCT.

Been drinking for the last 10 hrs, and no sign of stopping anytime soon tonight. Don’t tell me how to live my life, I ain’t gonna listen.

[3/3]

>>4671776
Cheers and fuck anyone who tells you to stop. What you drinking?

>>4671774
>[Surly] You’ve barely started to turn around the Shattered Inlet of the Calling Sea. They might have some interest in the goings-on of the Fields of Fum, but there hasn’t been much happening so far. You may as well wait until you reach the city of Iskander before writing home.
Also, what are we wearing?

>>4671915
>fuck it, no news is good news, right?

Called. Will be taking a few minutes to freshen up and get some grub before I start typing the update. Waking up with a keyboard impression on your cheek and the sun burning it's way through your eyelids tends to do that.

As for what you're wearing, Tristan's wearing his riding clothes (Woolen tunic, wide-brimmed straw hat, hobnailed boots, and flaxen breeches), both because they're more comfortable to walk or ride in, and you aren't trying to impress anyone on the road. Don't want all that road dust getting all over your best hat after all. Scrubbing Nathaniel's the one doing it, of course it out might thin out the felt, and you'd practically die showing up to an event with a shabby hat!

Beer, rye, the occasional shooter, and some Tom Collins to help avoid a hangover. Worked like a charm.

File: They say it's mighter tha(...).jpg (109 KB, 626x417)

109 KB JPG

>[Surly] action taken.

You hesitate for a moment, but decide against sending a letter home just quite yet. You’re still in the rolling wheatfields of Loria, and the information you’ve gained so far in Angelsfield isn’t exactly thrilling news. Mother and Father will worry a little, but no sense in sending a letter home with most of the paper being taking up with gripes and drawings. Nadine’s children would love to see it, but you can already picture Mother’s frown at the wasted space. Better to wait until Iskander. They’ll be more curious about the border situation and the fashions there anyways. You stopper the ink bottle, and begin the process of moving things down to the wagons.

As you heave your luggage up to Johnny’s out-stretched arms, you hear the shuffle of feet behind you. Looking over your shoulder, you see Sooty ambling over. His mobile forge has been packed away since last night, but he’s still an early riser at heart. “Morning messir Stonyfield, came by with your share of the takings from the stop here.” You watch as he begins counting out some billon coins slowly from his purse. He’s a pretty deft hand at the hammer and tongs, but he could stand to be better when it comes to letters and numbers.

>Received 3 Personal Wealth for 3 days of stopping! The forge used 2 days of coal, and 1 Value of iron over your trip. Current Values are 10 days of Coal, 30 Value in Iron, and 22.3 in Personal Wealth. Net Profit of 2 Value!

As he ties his purse-strings again while you transfer it over to your own, Sooty sneezes into his arm. “Egh, sorry Tristan. Pollen’s getting to me.”

“It’s fine Miguel, at least you didn’t sneeze in my face. Turned a decent profit here, eh?” Still wiping his nose with a handkercheif, he just nods along.

“Yeah, spent a lot of time shoeing oxen and horses. The ploughing was pretty rough this year, hope the nails hold on them. Hell, given the way that meathead townie drove them on, I’m surprised they still have hooves left to work with. Did the best I could, but...” he trails off, ending with a shrug.

“Well, that’s about the best they can ask for, really. Seeya around Sooty.” You wave as he walks the lines, checking with the drovers and carters to make sure no last-minute repairs needed to be done before leaving the town.

It’s another forty or so minutes before all the mules and oxen are in their traces, and you take point at the head of the procession. “Orry and Char, Come on!” You tap the goad stick on Orion’s haunch, and with a creaking rumble, you’re back on the road again. Gustav and his wife Carolyn come out to wave you all good-bye, one of their brood staring at the scene of wagons trundling on the Gem Road.

[1/2]

File: Gustav Jacobson, Propriet(...).jpg (250 KB, 929x1300)

250 KB JPG

>>4672185

Who do you spend most of your free time with on this leg of the journey? It’s around 6 days before you expect to see the stone walls of Red Earth rising from the stalks of spelt wheat and rye.

>[Surly] You’ve decided to visit some people, but for the most part, you keep yourself to yourself. You’ve always preferred the peace of hearing wheels on the highway and the low calls of the oxen to pointless and aimless chatter. Pick two specific people from the Roster to interact with.

>[Gregarious] The road always lifts your spirits. Lifts them high enough that you generally lose most of your reluctance to just talk. Besides, pretty much everyone here is in your employ, so you don’t have to worry about offense causing another ‘incident’. Talk to pretty much everybody, but not much of consequence.

>[Pragmatic] The sun is bright, the weather is good, and the reek of cowshit is always behind you rather than all around the blasted place. Most of your free time between relieving Johnny and teaching Nathaniel how to do the trade is gathered around the cookfires. Everyone kind of keeps to their own, but nobody’s going to tell you that you can’t show up. Pick one Group from the Roster to interact with.

>[Write-in?]

Roster of Personnel

Heads of the Caravan

>Tristan Stonyfield, Head Caravaneer.
>Hildr ‘Snorri’ Gunnarsdotter, Personal Retainer, handles majority of security.
>Miguel ‘Sooty’ de Soto, Dwarven trained Blacksmith, handles repairs for vehicles.
>Tomas ‘Staff-of-Many-Colours’ Wells, Hired Diviner and Chemist, handles weird shit, medications, and divinations.
>Victor Sparrow, Leader of the Soaring Sparrows Troupe, and notable playwright.

House Guards

>Marcel
>Marcus
>Jeremy
>Gregory
>Hector
>Jared
>‘Black’ John
>Lionel
>Peter
>Carl
>Ryan
>Bryan
>Neil
>Thomas
>Randall
>Vincent

Carters and Drovers

>Johnny, your personal drover
>Nathaniel, youngster learning under Johnny
>‘Red’ John
>Terrance
>Manuel
>Otto
>Wesley
>Eric
>Robert
>David
>Samuel
>Isaac
>Calvin

Entertainers

>Calvin the Colossus, Strongman
>Noah, the Man of Iron, Sword-swallower
>Madame Erica, Knife-thrower
>Monsigneour Eric, Juggler
>Adam, Dancer
>Miriam, Dancer
>Orville, Professional Clown and animal handler

[2/2]

>>4672188
>[Pragmatic] The sun is bright, the weather is good, and the reek of cowshit is always behind you rather than all around the blasted place. Most of your free time between relieving Johnny and teaching Nathaniel how to do the trade is gathered around the cookfires. Everyone kind of keeps to their own, but nobody’s going to tell you that you can’t show up. Pick one Group from the Roster to interact with.
House guards. Should probably build a rapport with the people there to save our skin.
Welcome back OP.

>>4672188
>>[Pragmatic] The sun is bright, the weather is good, and the reek of cowshit is always behind you rather than all around the blasted place. Most of your free time between relieving Johnny and teaching Nathaniel how to do the trade is gathered around the cookfires. Everyone kind of keeps to their own, but nobody’s going to tell you that you can’t show up. Pick one Group from the Roster to interact with.

Hey, welcome back! I'll go with House Guards too.

>>4672191
>>4672271

>chat up the boys, have a time.

Called and writing.

File: 'Black' John, fancies him(...).jpg (47 KB, 600x900)

47 KB JPG

>[Pragmatic] action taken. Group chosen is House Guards.

There’s a fair amount of time for losing yourself on the road. Bright sunny days, and it seems like Nathaniel is learning how to use the goad well with Johnny’s firm hand. “Look alive lad, oxen are smarter than you’d think. If you’ve only ever dealt with beef or dairy cattle, you’d think they would have just a couple of brain cells huddlin’ together for warmth in those big heads of theirs. You’d be bloody wrong o’ course, and risk getting hurt real bad. Oxen are always watching you, and damn near smarter than most dogs, almost as bright as a mule. It only takes them learning to be defiant once, and you may as well have thrown out a year’s worth of training trying to teach them otherwise.” You catch Johnny’s eye as he sees you starting to put on your brigandine and sallet. “Going to take a shift with the guards messir?”

“Yes, may as well get to know the men who have our safety in their hands better.” You glance over to Nathaniel and flash a lopsided grin. “Besides, it’s good to stretch your legs out. Not like the teams are moving at a break-neck pace after all.” Checking over your pistol to ensure that it’s loaded, you hop down from the running boards and make your way over to where the guards are walking or riding alongside the caravan. Looks like Randall on the rouncey. Buck teeth, kind of horsey face.

The guard stiffens a little at your approach, his hand gripping the spear a little tighter. “Problems up ahead messir?” You just shake your head a little by way of response.

“No Randall, just thought I’d walk alongside you fine fellows. Johnny’s got the reins in hand right now, and I could use the exercise.” He smiles at that, relief flooding through him as he relaxes his grip. Must still be a bit on edge. Should eat with them for the next few days so that they don’t get nervous every time I walk the lines.

The days are hot and filled with blackflies, little clouds of them trying to worm their way under the brim of your helmet. The armour is a bit stifling, but if you’re going to be with them, it’s better to do so as a compatriot rather than a busybody. Easier to establish a rapport when you’re just as miserable as they are. The nights are broken up with the easy company of the guards, laughing at ribald jokes and enjoying the ration of beer after a long day’s work.

“...and she says to the doc, ‘Check the other passage, my husband has been known to use it on occasion!’” Black John finishes with a falsetto tone, rejoicing in the hoots and belly laughs of his friends. You raise the waterskin at that, taking a drink of sweet water as Neil spits a wad of chewing tabac into the grass.

[1/2]

File: Outriders, crucial in kee(...).jpg (113 KB, 1000x1283)

113 KB JPG

>>4672384

“Bleeding hell John, you’d better be careful saying that one around Snorri. She might get a bit snippy about it and give you an extra duty at the rearguard.”

“Who do you think taught him that one Neil? It’s one of her favourites.” you chime in, Black John nodding in agreement.

“Yeah, she told me it while we were playing dice that second night in Angelsfield. You shoulda seen the way that old bugger’s eyes popped at it, looked at her like she had a dick growing out of her forehead. Damn near choked on my beer when she used the hand gestures too.” You remember that, Stu’s face looked like he bit into a roast beef sandwich that was almost more horseradish than bread. Her usual soprano vanished into a credible imitation of a dim milkmaid, and you barely enough noticed her accent. It was jarring to say the least.

Lionel is heading back from where the rounceys were left to pasture, washing his hands in a small basin of warm water at the edge of the fire. Taking a serving of the vegetable stew from Carl, The only one out of the lot who knows how to cook worth a damn. he sits down on a pile of firewood before turning towards you. “Thanks a lot for watching with us messir, reminds me of when I was out and about with your brother Jer. He always stood watch with us, instead of keeping to himself like Isaac did.” You answer back with a hand-waggling gesture.

“Jer’s a good enough man, so long as you keep him away from the dice. Isaac is how he is, but he was probably just concerned with how the travels went.” Lionel blows on his stew before spooning it up.

“So, you planning on doing any of the riding then sir?”

>[Surly] “I mean, it’s got to be better than looking at a cows arse all day, yeah?” It’s been a while since you’ve been in the saddle, but being one of the first to know of anything coming up is a perk. Gain the [Competent Horseman] trait.

>[Gregarious] “No, walking on two feet is plenty fine for me. Don’t want you all to look bad after all.” You’ve never been fond of horses. Big bundles of nerves always looking to bolt, you were better at fighting on foot. Gain the [Competent Soldier] trait.

>[Pragmatic] “I mean, rounceys are a bit too bouncy for my liking. Hard to make a shot from anything other than a palfrey” You kept your own at the tiltyard, grappling mats or dueling circles, but you were always at your best with a pistol or crossbow. Gain the [Competent Marksman] trait.

>[Write-in?]

[2/2]

>>4672387
>[Gregarious] “No, walking on two feet is plenty fine for me. Don’t want you all to look bad after all.” You’ve never been fond of horses. Big bundles of nerves always looking to bolt, you were better at fighting on foot. Gain the [Competent Soldier] trait.

Not to be rude to them or anything, but I feel like general soldiering will have a wider range of utility in the long run.

>>4672427

So, in case it changes anyones ideas of what to pick, these traits determine which aspects of your martial training at Liberte Gymnasium you were best at. Horseman is used for fighting on horseback, and maintaining control in things like pursuits and charges. Soldier is used in fighting in groups on foot, with polearms, spears, shields, etc. Marksmen is fighting at range with pistols, matchlock muskets, and crossbows. Tristan is at least Amateur in all three fields, avoiding penalties to most basic actions. Competent adds a small bonus, and gives you a bit more options in your quiver, so to speak.

You're currently Skilled in [Duelist], which is used in single combat, either with blade or bullet. There's a difference in the skills used fighting mano e mano, versus the ones needed to hold together a pike block and firing line or getting stuck in a melee with a mass of other fighters as an example.

>>4672387
>[Surly] “I mean, it’s got to be better than looking at a cows arse all day, yeah?” It’s been a while since you’ve been in the saddle, but being one of the first to know of anything coming up is a perk. Gain the [Competent Horseman] trait.
Horses :)

File: H o r s e.gif (1.54 MB, 498x279)

1.54 MB GIF

>>4672427

>two-foot express, baby, nothing like it.

>>4672502

>horse horse horse

It's a tie right now, so leaving it open for another 15-20 minutes before I'll run a tie-break.

>>4672387
>>[Surly] “I mean, it’s got to be better than looking at a cows arse all day, yeah?” It’s been a while since you’ve been in the saddle, but being one of the first to know of anything coming up is a perk. Gain the [Competent Horseman] trait.

>>4672427

>[Gregarious]

>>4672502
>>4672562

>[Surly]

Sounds like Tristan is used to getting four-legged animals to listen to him. Called and writing.

>>4672567

>dropped my trip

Now it's officially a thread.

File: The pony that started the(...).jpg (154 KB, 1200x720)

154 KB JPG

>[Surly] action taken. Tristan has the [Competent Horseman] trait, adding a +3 to any rolls for maintaining control of his horse. In addition, other than on results equal to or worse than a TERRIBLE FAILURE/DEVASTATING STRIKE (+41-+60 from TV), you ignore all composure checks to keep your mount under control.

“I mean, it’s got to be better than looking at a cow’s arse all day, yeah?” The men break out in a gale of laughter, washing over you while the talk turns to more boasting about the women they’ve laid with in the towns along the way. You sit there in relative silence, watching the fire crackle as the memories ebb and flow with the conversation.

Your older sister Jessica never did like the fact that the animals always preferred you over her. Whether it was the turnspit dogs sidling up and begging you for a treat when you crept down to the kitcheons, or the mules whickering and nuzzling you in the stables when Isaac would show you how to drive a team. “Ignore them when they try to mock you for knowing how to run a team Tris. If you can train or drive an ox, teaching a horse how to do what you want is a breeze in comparison.” Jess would get frustrated, confusing the animals with inconsistent signals, while you even managed to get one of the young calves trained to sidestep without the use of a goad. Her final straw was when her favourite horse, a pony named Lily, left her side after yet another futile attempt to teach Lily how to count and trotted up to you in search of a pear.

“It’s not enough you show off with your blooming calf there Tris, you have to try and steal my horse too!” You stuck your tongue out at her, pulling down one eyelid at the same time.

“Nyeh, you couldn’t teach a horse how to eat clover even if it hadn’t eaten for three days.” Puffing out your chest, you followed it up with, “Why, I even got Gary there to count before you did.”

“You’re a damned liar Tris, nobody can teach a cow how to count. They aren’t anywhere near smart enough to hold that training longer than a day.”

You showed it off, and as Gary stamped down his hooves correctly with each count you asked, her face got redder and redder. As you stopped and moved in for a kiss, his long tongue licking the side of your hair, Jess burst like a dam. “You, you, insufferable little devil! I’m never going to talk to you ever again! Ever!” She ran off crying, as you just laughed. It was nearly three weeks before she stopped ignoring you, and you were about to apologize to her when you were sent to the gymnasium for your tutelage. You involuntarily wince at that, there wasn’t much in the way of friendly ponies or calves there. The first time the courser nipped you when you went to pet him on the muzzle was a shock to someone who grew up around animals with even tempers.

[1/2]

File: Not as majestic as a dest(...).jpg (127 KB, 518x484)

127 KB JPG

>>4672773

You’re riding on one of the rounceys, Buttercup, I remember from when Vincent brought her to Sooty for a new shoe. ranging up and down the line. It’s a refreshing change to back in the saddle, rather than using the goadstick or reins on the draft animals. You let her nibble on a burdock bush in the ditch, your eyes looking in the fields. You give a mock salute to Snorri sitting side-saddle on her mule when she passes, and she rewards you with a rude gesture in turn. Laughing, you just let her plod onwards as Buttercup turns back towards the road. It’s been far too long since you were just riding. No concerns about the all-important Ledger, or people asking you questions about everything under the sun niggling away at your final nerve. Just yourself, your horse, and the path being taken.

You’re in the middle of watching Tomas pull on Colin’s reins, the stubborn donkey refusing to move away from a patch of sweet clover he found when you hear fast hoofbeats on the road. You look back, in time to see a rider in Gray Stonyfield livery coming by. You wave in greeting, but he ignores you on his path. He keeps riding heavy as you direct Buttercup back near the head of the caravan with a tap of the spurs. Probably didn’t recognize me in my armour. One of the forward out-riders Jared, definitely Jared. is pulling back towards the column.

“Ho messir, did you see that guy earlier? Riding hell for leather, he was.”

“Yes, one of the Trunk’s men. Looks like he’s on his way to Iskander. Didn’t even acknowledge me as he passed.”

Jared cocks his head at that, a puzzled expression on his face. “Must be important then. Otherwise, he’d probably catch a couple flogs for ignoring you.” You shrug as he pulls alongside you. “Road’s clear up ahead, coming up on a bridge soon. Saw a couple blokes standing around it, but they weren’t dressed like workers.”

>[Surly] “How far up the road is it?” Ride ahead with Jared, to investigate these mystery men. If they’re looking for trouble, you’d rather deal with it now instead of trying to stop all the animals at once.

>[Gregarious] “We’ll grab a few others, and deal with them.” Pull all of your outriders and Snorri, and ride up to the bridge. It’ll leave the caravan with no means to quickly send a message to you other than Tomas on Colin, but you’ll want extra sword arms if it’s a fight.

>[Pragmatic] “They’re probably just tollmen. If they aren’t, all of us should be enough to scare off any brigands.” Let the caravan reach the bridge when you go to take action. Having fourteen armed people, as well as any of the more violent minded carters or entertainers will help intimidate any rough sorts to find easier prey.

>[Write-in?]

[2/2]

>>4672776

Forgot to mention that this will be the last post for the day. Got a nasty surprise from work earlier, and going to need extra time to deal with some stuff. Next session will kick off on March 3rd, at 01:30 UCT. May as well let the people in other timezones get a chance to weigh in on this, they might have differing takes on what to do about this.

>>4672776
>>[Pragmatic] “They’re probably just tollmen. If they aren’t, all of us should be enough to scare off any brigands.” Let the caravan reach the bridge when you go to take action. Having fourteen armed people, as well as any of the more violent minded carters or entertainers will help intimidate any rough sorts to find easier prey.

>>4672776
>[Gregarious] “We’ll grab a few others, and deal with them.” Pull all of your outriders and Snorri, and ride up to the bridge. It’ll leave the caravan with no means to quickly send a message to you other than Tomas on Colin, but you’ll want extra sword arms if it’s a fight.

>>4672776
>>[Pragmatic] “They’re probably just tollmen. If they aren’t, all of us should be enough to scare off any brigands.” Let the caravan reach the bridge when you go to take action. Having fourteen armed people, as well as any of the more violent minded carters or entertainers will help intimidate any rough sorts to find easier prey.

>>4672776
>[Surly] “How far up the road is it?” Ride ahead with Jared, to investigate these mystery men. If they’re looking for trouble, you’d rather deal with it now instead of trying to stop all the animals at once.

If the men rigged the bridge, it would be a disaster for the caravan. Better to check it out ourselves first.

>>4673482
changing to this, good reasoning

Rolled 4 (1d5)

>>4672838

>gather ya boys (and Snorri), and roll out.

>>4672845

>we'll get to it when we get to it.

>>4673482
>>4673864

>ride up on them now, something ain't right.


Sorry for the delay, today was a complete gong-show from when I woke up to around 3 minutes ago. Called and writing.

Just need to quickly check something right now. It's just ~QM things~.

>>4678337
:worry:

File: The seven winds shake the hay.gif (559 KB, 610x250)

559 KB GIF

>[Surly] action taken.

As you hear Jared mention that the men he saw up head weren’t workers, something tingled in your palms. That’s not right, you’d know if it was a toll worker. If they were common people, you’d know right away. You begin to walk Buttercup further up the line, you turn in your saddle towards Jared.

“You said there was only a couple? That’s... odd. What were they wearing? And how far up the road is it?” Jared’s brow furrows at that, and he brings his hand up to his mouth in a thoughtful gesture. You cast your eyes up the line, seeing Snorri on her mule around 30 feet ahead, getting ready to take point back from Jared when he returned.

“Err... well messir, I counted one bloke wearing a gambeson with a spear, and another in a tunic and braies with him. Thought it was a bit queer, reason why I came back for you. Didn’t get much of a look, figured you’d want to know.” The tingle travels from your palms right up to your spine, alarm bells ringing in your head. That’s not right. Not enough to be engineers, not wearing the right mix for soldiers. Spurring Buttercup forward, Jared finally starts to clue in too. “It’s around fifteen minutes trot up the road. Here, should we get the other riders messir?”

Shaking your head as Snorri turns towards you at the sound of approaching hoofbeats, you answer back, “No. It’ll take a while to gather everyone, and it’ll leave just Tomas back here to ride to us if something fishy happens back here. Snorri, a moment.” She clicks towards Seafoam and the mule steers itself towards you.

“Oi Tris, is something going on?”

“Something’s strange up ahead. I’m taking Jared and checking it out. Stay back here with the other two riders, should only be around twenty-odd minutes all around if things are fine.” Snorri’s frown deepens at that.

“Like hell you are Tris, I’ll ride up with him, you stay back here. I ain’t letting ya wind up like Kas.” You shake your head hard at that.

“No Snorri, I’m damn well going. If it’s benign, I’ll be dealing with it regardless. Plus, Seafoam isn’t as fast as the rounceys, he won’t keep up at a canter. If it’s a big problem, we’ll break off and ride hard back here. If they chase us, I’d rather fight them eighteen to whatever, instead of two. Plus, no one here is good enough to mount a defense if it’s a trap.” Snorri’s face twists in distaste, her desire to protect you writ plain on her face.

“Look, I ain’t going to bring you back home a corpse. At least take the others Tris.” Finally, you snap back at her.

“Godsdamn it Snorri, if something happens, and the caravan gets hit, you’ll need to send a pair of runners up to get us. We just don’t have enough people, damn the Trunk’s hide. I’ll take the blasted chance, and bounce back as soon as we know what’s up. That’s it, my call.” She just rubs her face before waving you ahead.

[1/2]

File: It's not a big bridge, bu(...).jpg (32 KB, 350x260)

32 KB JPG

>>4678432

“Go then, before I change my mind. If I find you bleeding out, you’ll wish you were stone dead by the time I get to you.”

You spur Buttercup into a canter, and Jared follows suit. He tries to ask questions, but you ignore him, potential scenarios running through your head. None of them are good. Deeners don’t use gambeson for their troopers, it’s maille with breastplate, like us. It’s too far from the border too. If they had patrols this far past Iskander, we’d have heard about it from people coming back this way.

A few minutes of bone-jarring cantor towards a gentle bend around a hill, you hear the sound of metal on metal ahead. Shit. You spur her into a full gallop, Jared shouting behind you as you crest the bend.

The first thing you see is the outrider from before swinging a sword at three other men in motley gear. He’s keeping some distance, but the horse is tired and the House man is trying to use the longer reach of his sabre to keep them just out of reach. There’s one dressed in a gambeson laying on the ground, with a spear nearby. You just catch a glimpse of a blonde-haired man running down towards the river before you make up your mind.

>[Surly] “Help the rider!” You don’t trust that blondie. Ride on him, before he does something, whatever he’s doing. Jared can help the other House Guard when he catches up.”

>[Gregarious] “We Shall Endure!” Sounding the battlecry, you level the spear and charge into the melee to help the outrider. Jared will hear it behind you, and it’ll let the rider know that you’re on his side.

>[Pragmatic] It’ll be difficult to draw a bead on him, but you do have a shot on the lone man. Slow down a bit to steady the aim, and take it. Even if it misses, it should persuade him to not stop running while you and Jared help out.

>[Write-in?]

You’re currently armed with one loaded wheel-lock pistol, a short spear borrowed from the rider who’s position you took for today, your rapier, and a main gauche, with a spare eating knife in your boot. Currently, you’re wearing maille with a brigandine and sallet for armour. Jared’s armed with a spear, and a sabre for his sidearm, with the maille, breastplate and helm of your guards. From what you can tell, the rider’s stuck in with his sabre, and the three men accosted him have one axe and two short swords between them.

[2/2]

>>4678434
>[Surly] “Help the rider!” You don’t trust that blondie. Ride on him, before he does something, whatever he’s doing. Jared can help the other House Guard when he catches up.”

>>4678432

>'Plus, no one here is good enough to mount a defense if it's a trap other than me or you.'

Realized I accidentally lopped off a few crucial words that ended up making the sentence wonky. Sorry about that.

>>4678434

>[Pragmatic] It’ll be difficult to draw a bead on him, but you do have a shot on the lone man. Slow down a bit to steady the aim, and take it. Even if it misses, it should persuade him to not stop running while you and Jared help out.

I say we go for it. Our outrider is clearly in trouble, so we do need to be around to help him. Hopefully this shot will intimidate the runner and stop him from doing anything shady

>>4678434
>>[Surly] “Help the rider!” You don’t trust that blondie. Ride on him, before he does something, whatever he’s doing. Jared can help the other House Guard when he catches up.”

>>4678534
And if we shoot an innocent guy...?

>>4678441
>>4678526
If our outrider or Jared dies in a 2 on 1 fight, I will blame you both. If the caravan gets ambushed and can't send us a message because we're chasing after the blondie, I will blame you both :(
>>4678537
If you think he's innocent, let's do a warning shot. Miss on purpose. We don't have to shoot to kill, and a warning shot would let us move to help the outrider faster

>>4678540

Technically, the outrider isn't yours, per se. You have a total of 4 outriders (Jared, Randall, Lionel, and Marcel, who you're replacing for today.) plus Snorri, who's a bit slower, and in a pinch, Tomas on Colin. The rider who's currently trying to not get mobbed is the Gray Stonyfield rider who passed you by earlier in the day. It's why the horse is pretty much exhausted, rather than him wheeling around to avoid getting pinned down.

>>4678554

Forgot to add, that's why the option to ride in to the rider's aid involves sending up the Stonyfield battlecry. Otherwise, he might think you're their reinforcements, rather than his. Even someone going into the black can take heart from a friendly's shout.

>>4678557
He'll recognize our face if he even bothers to look back and notice us waving a gun around. I assume we're pretty well-known within our House.

I'll leave it open for another 10 minutes, and then call the vote. Need to get some laundry out of the dryer, and set the next load up.

>>4678560

The Stonyfield has the two branches (Gray and Green), and a LOT of descendants. As a f'rinstance, Tristan is part of the Branch Family as a Green Stonyfield, and is considered lower on the totem pole than the Grays, who are the Trunk Family. In addition, Tristan is around 16th in line to inherit as a Green, and around 68th to inherit overall, with more coming every year from the sprawling family tree on the main trunk. There's a reason you went on a caravan to try and secure a position with a Grand Company, it's not exactly great prospects for a future as is right now. Hell, you're younger than some of your second cousins on the main branch.

Okay, I'll switch to the
>[Pragmatic] It’ll be difficult to draw a bead on him, but you do have a shot on the lone man. Slow down a bit to steady the aim, and take it. Even if it misses, it should persuade him to not stop running while you and Jared help out.
with the caveat that we miss on purpose.

>>4678576
That's fine. I support.

>>4678493
>>4678575

>fire a warning shot, into his head

>>4678526

>get those fuckers, I'll get the running man!

Roll required! Target Value is 41 (40 base, +3 for Competent Horseman, +2 for using loud ranged weaponry, +4 for Aiming to Miss, +2 for distance to Miss, +2 for ???, +0 for Amateur Marksman, -4 for Bouncey Rouncey, -4 for Cantor gait, -2 for distance overall, -2 for ???)

As it stands, you currently have 1 re-roll in stock, and 1 charge of FATE.

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>4678591

>>4678594

Give it another 3ish minutes, then feel free to roll again.

Rolled 48 (1d100)

>>4678591

>>4678607
Do we wanna reroll? That's a Narrow Failure.

>>4678594
>>4678607

>Best roll is a 48! +7 from TV! NARROW FAILURE!

As you were aiming to miss, and they don't seem to have a means of ranged retaliation, this means you successfully missed, hitting the bridge nearby in a spray of stone splinters. Writing for it, unless of course either of you want to re-roll to make it closer or the like.

>>4678609
I vote for reroll, yeah. This seems important

>>4678612
Well, if we successfully missed, idk? If we hit the guy or our outrider or someone I'd say reroll for sure.

>>4678614
The runner will question our competence and keep running anyways. Either we get closer to miss closer to our target and risk a melee attack, or reroll

Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>4678616
Alright, worth a shot. 41% odds. 1% of critfail

Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>4678611

>>4678614

He's far enough from the others that you'd only hit them on a BAD FAILURE or worse. NARROW FAILURE results in a shot that doesn't come close enough to reliably suppress or intimadate people. It's the difference between the boom of a black-powder gun going off, or one that leads to a THOCK a few feet from you. Big difference in scaryness.

>>4678619
:(

>>4678620
I mean, I guess as long as our outrider doesn't get shanked, it's alright.

>>4678621
You got a 72 dude. We won

>>4678622
It's roll under... why did you think we used a reroll?

>>4678623
Right. So then we should have a narrow success here? My bad for being dumb

>>4678624
Narrow failure. Best roll was a 48, DC was 41. See here: >>4678611

>>4678626
With the reroll, best roll is a 20. Narrow success?

>>4678627
I rolled first. We only get one reroll.

>>4678628
You should get the full 2d100, no? That's how a full re-roll would work. But maybe not. Not sure how this quest works.

Rolled 55 (1d100)

Alright, looks like the re-roll got used, changing the roll here >>4678594 from a 58 to here >>4678617
for a 72.

>>4678617
>>4678607

>Best result is a 48! NARROW FAILURE! The shot is a bit too wide, failing to suppress the foe!

Current stock of re-rolls is 0, and you have 1 charge of FATE. Your re-roll is still available to be burnt for good if required, but I've got a feeling people won't want to do that until they have to.

Checking some composure before I start writing.

>>4678633
Well, I guess we just suck it up and take it then. Hope the bridge doesn't go down...

>>4678629
In my experience, re-rolls are one roll. (See Forgotten's quests.) And it looks like that's the case here, too.

I'm glad I rerolled, at least, so it was the worse roll gone anyhow.

>>4678633
Out of curiosity, can we buy a new re-roll charm later if we burn the one we currently possess?

>>4678635
At my table you basically nullify the first roll entirely and do it over again, as though you were rolling for the very first time. I guess /qst/ has a bit of a different culture. Thanks for letting me know!

>>4678639
Sure thing. Welcome to /qst/ if you're new here. read muh quest :^))

>>4678638

Yes, once you get to a more prominent town than Angelsfield. Iskander is currently on your route, and is approximately 2 weeks, plus or minus a day or so away by cart. There's another stop after Red Earth, but Churchhill isn't exactly a bustling burgh.

File: Plain but serviceable, it(...).jpg (27 KB, 1000x667)

27 KB JPG

>[Pragmatic] option chosen, with write-in to miss on purpose.

>Roll Required! Target Value is 41 (40 base, +3 for Competent Horseman, +2 for using loud ranged weaponry, +4 for Aiming to Miss, +2 for distance to Miss, +2 for Untrained Rabble, +0 for Amateur Marksman, -4 for Bouncey Rouncey, -4 for Cantor gait, -2 for distance overall, -2 for Revolutionary Fervour )

>>4678594 that is re-rolled to >>4678617
>>4678607

>Best roll is a 48! +7 from TV! NARROW FAILURE! The shot goes too wide, and fails to suppress the foe!

>Composure roll required for enemy troopers!

>>4678633

>Roll is 55. Final result after modifiers is 45! (+3 for Untrained Rabble, -5 for failed suppression attempt, -2 for Outnumbering the enemy, -6 for Revolutionary Fervour They are slightly shaken, but still have the heart to fight!

Thinking fast, you fixate on the running man. Better give him a bit more pep in his step Letting the reins fall, you draw your pistol into your left hand while you shift the spear into a couched grip in your right. The juddering bounce from the rouncey’s gait is making it difficult to line up a shot that won’t land in the melee closer to the bridge. You managed to line up one in-between the highs and lows, but barely manage to take your finger off the trigger as her landing on her left side kicks it over to the right where Jared is riding into the melee. Shit, that was too close for comfort

You take a deep breath and focus again, as the man is nearing the decline to the river. Now or never. You squeeze the trigger, feeling the mechanisms inside activate. The inner pyrites scrape, igniting the powder within the flash with a very faint hiss that is immediately followed with the low BOOM! There’s a loud THOK as the bullet punches through a small bit of turf before burying itself into the bridge. Buttercup tenses underneath you as you grip her tight, tucking the pistol into your belt before groping for the reins. The man doesn’t even glance back or drop, just flinching slightly as he keeps running.

“We Shall Endure!” arises from the melee, with a raucous response of “Nae kings! Nae lairds!”

Jared is riding hard to the melee, his spear leveled in a charge, your family name leaving his lips in a roar.

[1/2]

File: Combat Dice ranges.png (27 KB, 1264x386)

27 KB PNG

>>4678669

>Current Status:

Tristan is at 8.5/6 HV (+1 from Mounted, and +1.5 from Armour). You’re fit, and ready for a fight!
Jared is at 8.5/6 HV (+1 from Mounted, and +1.5 from Armour) He’s fit, and ready for a fight!

Gray Stonyfield Rider is at 4.5/6 HV (+1 from Mounted, and +2 from Armour) He’s starting to flag, and his mount is having difficulties.

Axeman is at 3/6 HV. He’s taken a few hits, but nothing of substance yet.
Mailled Swordsman is at 5/6 HV. He’s a bit bruised, but still has fight in him!
Swordsman with Shield is at 5.5/6 HV. His shield is a bit hacked up, but he’s doing alright.
Blondie is at 6/6 HV. He’s hauling ass, but you aren’t sure to where.

>What Do?

>[Surly] Jared charging in will help break apart the melee, and get the Rider a chance to catch his breath. You want to make sure Blondie is actually running off. Slow down the pace to the river edge and dismount so you don’t break Buttercup’s legs if you need to pursue him.

>[Gregarious] Hopefully he takes the hint. Wheel back to the melee, two charging horsemen will scatter them since the spearman’s down.
>[Pragmatic] Ride near the edge, but don’t dismount, if he’s gone, you can still charge in on the next pass that way. Take the time to scope out the situation.

>[Write-in?]

>Tactical Situation.

You are still armed with a spear right now, with your rapier as a sidearm and your main gauche. Your pistol has been fired, and will take around 3 rounds to reload it (Two to load, one to prime). You still have enough shot and powder on you to re-load it 10 more times. (20 bullets, 10 uses of powder in your horn.)

[2/2]

>>4678670
>[Pragmatic] Ride near the edge, but don’t dismount, if he’s gone, you can still charge in on the next pass that way. Take the time to scope out the situation.
Damn commies.

>>4678670
>[Pragmatic] Ride near the edge, but don’t dismount, if he’s gone, you can still charge in on the next pass that way. Take the time to scope out the situation.

>>4678670
>>[Pragmatic] Ride near the edge, but don’t dismount, if he’s gone, you can still charge in on the next pass that way. Take the time to scope out the situation.

Rolled 32, 68, 2, 84 = 186 (4d100)

>>4678671
>>4678676
>>4678681

>sidle on up alongside the decline with your horse.

Pretty clear majority.

>No roll required for tactical awareness, as you aren't currently locked in combat.

Just gonna toss a quick 4d100 to see how the melee's going. Give me 2 out there to see just how much of an impact Jared's charge makes on them, lower the better.

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>4678683
>2
Oof. I hope that's ours.

>>4678683

32 gets the Rider a good Telling Blow on Axefucker and wounds Shieldbitch, but Mailled-coward gets another solid hit on him.

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>4678683

>>4678685
>>4678687

Jared is a bit reserved from trying not to crash into the rider given the press, but managed to not get badly hurt himself. Writing.

File: The running man, he pract(...).jpg (29 KB, 850x850)

29 KB JPG

>[Pragmatic] action taken! You are still mounted, and take the time to see what’s going on.

>>4678683 In order of Rider, Axeman, Mailled Swordsman, and Shielded Swordsman

>>4678685
>>4678687 for Jared’s Charge, with the best result a 65! His Charge is a bit reserved, but he doesn’t strike the Rider.

Total damage dealt this round is -1HV to Rider, -1 HV to Axeman, No change to Mailled Swordsman, and -1.5 HV to Shielded Swordsman, who received the [SPLINTERS IN FACE] WOUND (-10 to Marksman checks, -5 to Soldier, Horseman and Duelist checks)

Rebels. You remember that chant of “Nae kings! Nae Lairds! We willnae be fooled again!” during the previous war with Haradeen that ended three years ago. It was a border skirmish to the north, where the fecking Deeners launched warships into Monstrous Bay from Port Pizaro. Sailing straight towards the Isle of Storms, they landed and spread their sedition with them as they landed. It was a quick war, ending when the fall storms that gave that island its name shattered the enemies supply lines, but the damage was already done. Levies brought back their idea of a republic with them, spreading discontent through the smallfolk, and small rebellions plagued the countryside ever since. Whenever some guard deserts his post, or a farmer turns his sickle against his betters, those same words are whispered in empty barns. Nae kings, nae lairds.

As you continue to pursue Blondie you get within ten yards of him when he steps into a gopher hole and rolls down the decline. You pull back on the reins hard and spur your mount to the right, slowing down to a trot and then a walk as you try to steer Buttercup away from the edge before she goes over. Taking a look towards the melee, you just catch seeing the shield from one of the swordsmen explode into splinters when Jared’s spear-catches it where it was already hacked through from earlier slashes. The man howls in pain, and the Gray Stonyfield takes advantage of the distract to level a cut at the axeman, opening a gash along his bicep. The swordsman in the maille however managed to take advantage of Jared’s widened charge to bring his blade on the flank of the Rider’s horse, bringing a loud animalistic scream across the field.

All of these happens in the matter of moments, and you whip your head back down to the ravine. Blondie is running underneath the bridge, swearing loudly the whole time. “Fuck, shit, damn, piss, bleeding hellfire, ass...”

[1/2]

File: Spears, the King of the B(...).png (294 KB, 360x480)

294 KB PNG

>>4678699

>Current Status

Tristan is at 8.5/6 HV (+1 from Mounted, and +1.5 from Armour). You’re fit, and ready for a fight!
Jared is at 8.5/6 HV (+1 from Mounted, and +1.5 from Armour) He’s fit, and locked in a melee!

Gray Stonyfield Rider is at 3.5/6 HV (+1 from Mounted, and +2 from Armour) The strikes are starting to get to him, and he’s starting to lose control of his mount.

Axeman is at 2/6 HV. He’s still up, but he’s starting to panic a little at the appearance of another foe.
Mailled Swordsman is at 5/6 HV. He’s a bit bruised, but still has fight in him!
Swordsman with Shield is at 4/6 HV. His shield is barely there from the strike he received! Has the [SPLINTERS IN FACE] WOUND! (-10 to Marksman checks, -5 to Soldier, Horseman and Duelist checks).
Blondie is at 6/6 HV. He’s still healthy, and ran underneath the bridge swearing.

>What Do?

>[Surly]That’s a weird way to run. What’s going on here? Drop your spear and dismount, drawing your rapier and pursue Blondie under the Bridge.

>[Gregarious] No time to worry about that stinking coward. Your kinsman is in danger, even if he’s a Gray Stonyfield. Wheel towards the melee and charge into the thick of it.

>[Pragmatic] You need two hands to re-load your pistol. Plus, if you need to charge in, your rapier has enough length to give a deadly thrust or an acceptable cut as you close. Drop the spear, and focus on reloading your pistol right now. Choose either Mounted or Dismounted.

>[Write-in?]

>Tactical Situation:

You currently have a spear in your right hand, and the reins in your left. Your pistol needs re-loading (0/3 actions) before it can be fired. You still have a rapier and your main gauche as sidearms. Blondie ran under the bridge swearing up a storm, and Jared charged into the melee to back up the Rider.

[2/2]

>>4678700
>[Gregarious] No time to worry about that stinking coward. Your kinsman is in danger, even if he’s a Gray Stonyfield. Wheel towards the melee and charge into the thick of it.
If we're lucky, we can end this early enough to catch up with Blondie afterwards. Let's not have our guy murdered in the meantime.

>>4678700
>>[Gregarious] No time to worry about that stinking coward. Your kinsman is in danger, even if he’s a Gray Stonyfield. Wheel towards the melee and charge into the thick of it.

>>4678705

>wheel around and penetrate their exposed flanks.

>Roll required for impact of the charge! Target Value is 67! (40 Base, +3 for Competent Horseman, +5 for Momentum, +4 for Spear Impact, +4 for Distracted Foe, +3 for Fresh Warhorse, +2 for Low Enemy Morale,+3 for Superior Equipment, +5 for Opponent's WOUNDS, +2 for Untrained Rabble,+2 for Unfair Fight (Your Favour) -4 for 2X trying not to strike Friendlies caught in the melee, -2 for Revolutionary Fervour)

Send up those rolls. If this seems high, you're doing an mounted charge into a small group of dudes with a weapon that is very well suited to that action, and against people who are out of position and poorly equipped to deal with it.

>Rolling 5d100 for the Melee. Order is Jared, Rider, Axeman, Mailled Swordsman, and "Shielded" Swordsman.

Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>4678731
Sexy, sexy DC. Here goes.

Rolled 23, 91, 88, 52, 74 = 328 (5d100)

>>4678728

Whoops, missed this vote, but it is also a [Gregarious] vote, so it didn't produce a tie, so it's still alright.

>forgot the dice too.

>>4678735

I mean, if you had a Destrier, heavy armour, and a lance, it would be improved to a 78. Receiving a charge like that is a nasty hit for the opponent, and reason #1 why you form up pike blocks and shoot knights with matchlocks on the battlefield.

>>4678736

Jared gets a good round against the swordsmen, and your Kinsman is in a rough place. Axe-bitch is still clinging in for now, at least until you show up, and "Shield" guy is taking another WOUND. Mailled man is starting to look pretty lonely right now.

File: understand everything now.png (242 KB, 510x346)

242 KB PNG

>>4678737
I'll take your word for it!

>>4678738
>your Kinsman is in a rough place
Man, good thing we chose to come in. I hope the other roll is better.

>>4678735

If another roll doesn't show up in 3 minutes, take another.

>>4678740

That, and considering most Knightly opponents are at least Skilled Horseman, adding on a minimum of +3, more for other potential benefits like magical equipment or the like, that's a base TV of 81 before factoring in Flairs lowering it back down. Barring a Crit-fail in that scenario, even if both rolls are a 99 and a 98, you'd only recieve a GLANCING STRIKE, with the chance for re-rolling as well. Heavy Cavalry charges when they hit the right targets, hit HARD.

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>4678731

>>4678735
>>4678747

>Best roll is a 51! -16 from TV! GLANCING STRIKE!

Called and writing. Pick one between Axe-bitch or Mailled Coward for your strike as I type it up.

Rolled 34 (1d100)

Noticed that I forgot to make a Composure Check for them in the last bit of posting while I typed. They're sitting at a +20 modifier currently. (+5 Outmatched, +2 "Even" Fight, +5 for Low Morale, +6 for X2 Receiving WOUNDS, +4 for Receiving Mounted Charge [GLANCING STRIKE], +4 for 2x Critical Condition, -6 for 3x Revolutionary Fervour)

Time to see if this rabble decides to cut their losses.

>>4678761

>54.

They're still around, but not by much. One more bad round and that's it for them.

File: Old-fashioned, you can ba(...).jpg (124 KB, 1000x1500)

124 KB JPG

>[Gregarious] Action taken! Aiming at Axeman.

>Roll required for impact of the charge! Target Value is 67! (40 Base, +3 for Competent Horseman, +5 for Momentum, +4 for Spear Impact, +4 for Distracted Foe, +3 for Fresh Warhorse, +2 for Low Enemy Morale,+3 for Superior Equipment, +5 for Opponent's WOUNDS, +2 for Untrained Rabble,+2 for Unfair Fight (Your Favour) -4 for 2X trying not to strike Friendlies caught in the melee, -2 for Revolutionary Fervour)

>>4678735
>>4678747

>Best roll is a 51! -16 from TV. GLANCING STRIKE GIVEN! -1 HV to , due to Mounted Charge benefit.

>Melee rolls occur! Jared and the Swordsmen are attacking each other. Rider and Axeman are attacking each other. Order of rolls are Jared, Rider, Axeman, Mailled Swordsman, and Shielded Swordsman.

>>4678736
>Jared rolls 23, Rider rolls 91, Axeman rolls 88, Mailled Swordsman rolls 52, and Shielded Swordsman rolls 74.
>Results of the Melee!

>-.5HV to Rider, -1 HV to Mailled Swordsman,-2 HV to Shielded Swordsman. Shielded Swordsman recieves WOUND [SEVERED EAR] (Receives a -20 malus to hearing checks, -5 to all fighting checks as it’s distracting as hell.)

>Composure Check for opponents.

>>4678761

>Composure roll is 54 after modifiers. Strained and breaking, they are almost ready to throw down arms.

Hearing the muttered curse below, you turn your attention back to the melee. Even if Blondie gets away from the fight, you can’t just let the others get cut down by some poxy rebels. He’ll wait for now, there’s work to do. Lowering the visor on your sallet, you spur Buttercup hard as you couch the spear. If only I had a lance instead.

The sound of incoming hoofbeats causes the axeman to turn slightly away from the rider. The clumsy swing crashes down on the maille chausses and rolls aside as you’d expect from a mis-aligned blow. Smarts like hell, but at least it might not have broken through You catch the wide eyes below the axeman’s nasal helm just in time for your spear to catch him in the spangenhelm. Damn just a hair too high. The tip skitters upwards along the dome, catching the reinforcing bands at the top, practically snapping his head backwards. He crumples, whether from force or a broken neck, you can’t tell. The spear clatters to the ground out of your grasp as you reach for your rapier.

You can see Jared hack away, a feverish expression on his face from what you can see below his sallet. The one swordsman clinging to his wreck of a shield grips the side of his face, screaming loudly. The last man standing between looks shaken, throwing up sloppy guards as best as he can to try and stave off the inevitable.

[1/2]

File: It's a good day to be the(...).jpg (166 KB, 1200x1200)

166 KB JPG

>>4678829

>Current Status:

Tristan is at 8.5/6 HV (+1 from Mounted, and +1.5 from Armour). You’re fit, and ready for a fight!
Jared is at 8.5/6 HV (+1 from Mounted, and +1.5 from Armour) He’s fit, and locked in a melee!

Gray Stonyfield Rider is at 3/6 HV (+1 from Mounted, and +2 from Armour) The fatigue is starting to set in, and he’s starting to get sluggish.

Axeman is at 1/6 HV. He’s laying on the ground, stunned as hell and trying to not get trampled. He’s pretty much just praying for this to end.
Mailled Swordsman is at 4/6 HV. He’s sore and beaten, and trying to disengage!
Swordsman with Shield is at 2/6 HV. His shield is barely there from the strike he received! Has the [SPLINTERS IN FACE] WOUND! (-10 to Marksman checks, -5 to Soldier, Horseman and Duelist checks) Has the [SEVERED EAR] WOUND! (Receives a -20 malus to hearing checks, -5 to all fighting checks as it’s distracting as hell.)
Blondie is at 6/6 HV. He’s still healthy, and running under the bridge the last you saw of him.

>What Do?

>Take up an Aggressive Stance to finish them now. All GLANCING STRIKE results, Given or Received, deal 1 HV. Increased chance of WOUNDS on TELLING STRIKES or better.

>Take up a Defensive Stance to try and guard the Rider from an errant strike. Can only cause or receive GLANCING STRIKES. Will draw attacks away from the Rider.

>Take up a Neutral Stance, to try and avoid leaving yourself unnecessarily exposed. The cornered rat fights the hardest. No change to Strike results.

>[Write-in? You cannot choose Flairs, as you are not Skilled or higher at Horseman.]

>Tactical Situation:

You have your rapier in your right hand, and the reins in your left. Two of the enemy are on the ground, but you can’t tell if their crawling away or trying to maneuver to cut up the belly of the horses. You still have an unloaded pistol on you (0/3 actions to reload), and your main gauche as a back-up weapon. Jared is hacking away with his sabre at the last man standing, and the Rider is still swinging, even if it’s starting to get sloppy and slow.

[2/2]

Really tired right now, but will try and bust out at least one more update before I turn it in for the night. Hopefully it'll be enough to resolve the melee anyways.

>>4678857

>just realized I've been updating for the last 9 hrs.

Fuck it, gonna have to sleep eventually. Votes will be open until 01:30 UCT tomorrow. Nothing has been planned for me, yet so I can probably at least run it until the fighting's done.

>>4678831
>Take up a Defensive Stance to try and guard the Rider from an errant strike. Can only cause or receive GLANCING STRIKES. Will draw attacks away from the Rider.
We can let Jared finish them off. Thanks for running OP!

>>4678831
>>Take up a Defensive Stance to try and guard the Rider from an errant strike. Can only cause or receive GLANCING STRIKES. Will draw attacks away from the Rider.

Thanks for running, anon--take care of yourself and get some rest!

Rolled 90, 34, 52, 35, 55 = 266 (5d100)

>>4679074
>>4679076

>give this broseph a bit of breathing room.

>Roll Required! Target Value is 53 (40 Base, +3 for Competent Horseman, +3 for Superior Equipment, +4 for Extremely Low Enemy Morale, +3 for Unfair Fight (Your Favour), +3 for Mounted, +2 for Untrained Rabble, -2 for Revolutionary Fervour, -3 for Rat in a Corner)

Rolling 5d100 for the melee, order of rolls are Jared, Rider, Axeman, Mailled Swordsman, and Shielded Swordsman.

Current situation is you drawing the attacks of Axeman and Mailled Swordsman. Rider and Jared are focusing on the other man still standing. Shielded Swordsman is trying to lash out at Jared.

>>4679635

Jared takes a TELLING STRIKE, but the Rider managed to at least injure the Mailled Coward some on your behalf with a very close GLANCING STRIKE. Waiting out for the rolls before rolling Composure.

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>4679635

>>4679641

Give it another 5 minutes or so, then feel free to give it another roll.

Rolled 42 (1d100)

>>4679664

>>4679641
>>4679668
Very decent, considering that we can only give GLANCING STRIKES anyhow.

>>4679641
>>4679668

>Best roll is a 41! -12 from TV. GLANCING STRIKE GIVEN!

Rolling for Composure before writing the update.

>Composure roll required! Modifiers are +28 (+5 for Outmatched!, +3 for 'Even' Fight, +10 for Nearly Broken Morale, +6 for receiving X2 WOUNDS, +4 for receiving Strikes, +3 for Cornered Like a Rat, +3 for Opponents are Mounted, -6 from 3x Revolutionary Fervour)

Time to see if they stay, rout, or surrender.

Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>4679688

Aaand, there's the missing roll here.

File: Cousin Robert, foolhardy,(...).jpg (39 KB, 512x512)

39 KB JPG

>[Defensive] Stance taken! All strikes given and received are reduced to GLANCING STRIKE. You draw two opponent’s attacks.

>Roll Required! Target Value is 53 (40 Base, +3 for Competent Horseman, +3 for Superior Equipment, +4 for Extremely Low Enemy Morale, +3 for Unfair Fight (Your Favour), +3 for Mounted, +2 for Untrained Rabble, -2 for Revolutionary Fervour, -3 for Rat in a Corner)

>>4679641
>>4679668

>Best roll is a 41! -12 from TV. GLANCING STRIKE GIVEN! Axeman loses .5 HV.

Melee resolves! Order of rolls is Jared, Rider, Axeman, Mailled Swordsman, and Shielded Swordsman. Jared and Rider are attacking MS, Axeman and MS are attacking Tristan, and SS is attacking Jared.

>>4679635

>Jared loses 1 HV, Mailled Swordsman loses .5 HV.

>Composure roll required! Modifiers are +28 (+5 for Outmatched!, +3 for 'Even' Fight, +10 for Nearly Broken Morale, +6 for receiving X2 WOUNDS, +4 for receiving Strikes, +3 for Cornered Like a Rat, +3 for Opponents are Mounted, -6 from 3x Revolutionary Fervour)

>>4679695

>Composure roll is 80 after modifiers! They surrender, knowing that they have no hope of outrunning three men on horseback.

A melee is always tumultuous, even if it’s only a handful of men involved. As you maneuver to in-between your kinsman and the man trying to hack at his horse’s foreleg, you barely even register the pained cry from below you. Buttercup must have trod on that fool with the axe, as you swipe your rapier to foul the incoming strike. The rider is well armoured against the slashes, but if his horse goes down, you won’t be able to break his fall. You hear Jared shout, probably cut a lucky slash from the men below him. The man in the maille hauberk catches a pommel strike to the jaw from the rider and almost bowls over. You just hear the sound of his sword hitting the ground before a gurgling “Y-yield. I yield. P-please.”

You pull away from the group as the rider has his sabre levelled at the kneeling swordsman. The axeman isn’t moving at all, clutching his right hand. Almost certainly broken, that was a fair amount of horse stepping on it. The one with the missing ear is curled in a ball, trying to avoid the kicking hooves from Jared’s horse. Jared is still furious, bringing his own sabre at the kneeling man. “Yield my arse! Gonna gut ya like a bleeding sardine, you spineless-“

“Enough. Either of you have rope?” the rider looks towards you finally as he lifts his visor. There’s an expression of visible relief on his face. Cousin Robert, from one of the holdings closer to the Shattered Inlet. One of the few cousins your age from the Trunk that you’re on mutually good terms with. Hot-headed, but earnest in his beliefs. “Cos, you have no idea how happy I am to see you. Where’d that blonde bastard go?”

[1/2]

File: Rapier and dagger, never (...).jpg (38 KB, 400x299)

38 KB JPG

>>4679768

“He went downriver, under the bridge. What in the blazes are you doing riding here yourself? Where’s your men?” Robert’s eyes widen and his nostrils flare, and he looks past you at the bridge, ignoring your questions.

“The bridge? Shit! You, watch this pig! Gut him if he runs!” Jared moves towards the kneeling man as Robert spurs his exhausted horse back towards the defile. You move Buttercup in front of him cutting him off.

“You’re speaking nonsense man, and you’re in no state to fight right now. What’s. Happening?”

He’s gulping air as he tries to push past you. “The bridge Tris! They’re trying to blow up the bridge!” Oh. Fuck.

>What do?

>Current Status:

Tristan is at 8.5/6 HV (+1 from Mounted, and +1.5 from Armour). You’re fit, and ready for a fight!
Jared is at 7.5/6 HV (+1 from Mounted, and +1.5 from Armour) He’s fit, and watching over the surrendered foes.

Gray Stonyfield Rider is at 3/6 HV (+1 from Mounted, and +2 from Armour) He’s showing signs of exhaustion, and his horse is barely holding it together.

Axeman is at 0.5/6 HV. He’s laying on the ground, not moving and barely clinging to life. Not a threat.
Mailled Swordsman is at 3.5/6 HV. He’s sore and beaten, kneeling on the ground in submission
Swordsman with Shield is at 2/6 HV. He’s rolling on the ground, too in pain to be able to put up any credible resistance. Has the [SPLINTERS IN FACE] WOUND! (-10 to Marksman checks, -5 to Soldier, Horseman and Duelist checks) Has the [SEVERED EAR] WOUND! (Receives a -20 malus to hearing checks, -5 to all fighting checks as it’s distracting as hell.)
Blondie is at 6/6 HV. He’s still healthy, and running under the bridge the last you saw of him.

>Tactical situation:

You’re pretty close to the bridge, close enough that sprinting down there is an option if you dismount. You currently are armed with a rapier in your right hand, with your main gauche as a back-up. Your pistol is currently unloaded (0/3 Actions), and you have enough shot and powder on you to reload it 10 more times.

[2/2]

>>4679774
Robert can stay with Jared, let's go chase down Blondie.

>>4679774
>What do?
Dismount and chase him down. Maybe come up with a specific yell we can use to rope Jared in if we're in trouble, otherwise he can make sure Robert doesn't get ganked.

>>4679781
>>4679783

>you stay, I go.

Called, and writing for dismounting to chase down that blonde bugger.

File: Oh. Shit..jpg (71 KB, 1280x720)

71 KB JPG

>Dismount and pursue him, while Robert stays back with Jared. He can’t get away!

You manage to compose yourself a little before swinging down from your horse. It’s a close enough sprint, I should be able to get him. “Robert, stay back with Jared!”

“Blow that Tris! We’ve got to stop him!”

“I’ll stop him! You’re already barely up, stay with Jared to keep an eye on the other bastards! If you hear screaming, run!” You start sprinting down the lip of the ridge, ignoring Robert’s protests behind you. You pull your main gauche from it’s sheathe as you rush down the decline. The small hole and stone dust from the pistol shot that felt so long ago already. You stamp down the memory as you round the corner, hearing a muffled, “C’mon, c’mon...”

Time seems to slow down. Blondie is looking away from you, around eight feet ahead. He’s got something in his hands, and you smell the acrid reek of powder here. There’s a couple of barrels next to him, twists of what looks like matchcord coming out the tops. You hear a fizzle as he looks up defiantly at you, a lit match fuze just starting to catch in his hands.

>[Surly] Charge in. Even if he touches it to the matchcord, you’ll have a bit of time before it blows.

> [Gregarious] Attempt to talk him down. He’ll surely die as well if he blows up the bridge. He’s rebel scum, and due to dance the hempen jig regardless of if he surrenders or not. He knows it, and you know it.

>[Pragmatic] He’s just outside of your reach. Throw your dagger, at the least he’ll have to flinch or dodge, so it’ll buy enough time to close.

>[Write-in?]

Tristan is at 7.5/6 HV (+1.5 from armour). You’re a little out of breath from the melee and sprinting, but good enough to fight this worm.

Blondie is at 6/6 HV. He’s fit, and ready for a fit. He doesn’t seem to have any large weaponry on him, but almost certainly has a dagger or knife.

>>4679865
>[Pragmatic] He’s just outside of your reach. Throw your dagger, at the least he’ll have to flinch or dodge, so it’ll buy enough time to close.

>>4679865
>>[Pragmatic] He’s just outside of your reach. Throw your dagger, at the least he’ll have to flinch or dodge, so it’ll buy enough time to close.
Least risk of blowing it up, I think.

>>4679873
>>4679915

>catch, muddafuka

>Roll required! Target Value is 51. (40 Base, +2 for Close Range, +3 for unarmoured opponent, +3 for Skilled Duelist, +2 for Surprise, +3 for Nowhere to Dodge to, +0 for Dagger's balance, +0 for Adequate Marksman, -2 for Revolutionary Fervour)

Send up some of those rolls.

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>4679942
>Nat 100
>Dagger hits a barrel
>It explodes
>Everyone dies

>>4679943
That'll work too!!

>>4679943

>Nat 100.
>You hit him in the hand! yay!
>The match hits the cord! BOO!

Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>4679942

>>4679951
yikes, just going to say you all almost jinxed it

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>4679943
>>4679951

>Best roll is a 23! -28 from TV. TELLING STRIKE GIVEN! Blondie loses 1 HV as you close.

Called, and writing. Rolling for Composure right now for his initial state.

>>4679952

I mean, if it rolls, it rolls. You do still have one charge of FATE available to you to burn to try and avert something like that, but not wasting it here is probably a bit of a godsend.

>>4679958

He's got heart enough for a fight, but his match fuze falls from his hand, going into the river. Now just to make him humble.

>>4679951
Jesus christ. Careful.

File: His last hope for a boom,(...).gif (5.92 MB, 480x480)

5.92 MB GIF

>[Pragmatic] action taken! You are now only armed with a rapier, with an eating knife in your boot sheath and an unloaded pistol in your belt.

>Roll required! Target Value is 51. (40 Base, +2 for Close Range, +3 for unarmoured opponent, +3 for Skilled Duelist, +2 for Surprise, +3 for Nowhere to Dodge to, +0 for Dagger's balance, +0 for Adequate Marksman, -2 for Revolutionary Fervour)

>>4679943
>>4679951

>Best roll is a 23! -28 from TV. TELLING STRIKE GIVEN! Blondie loses 1 HV as you close.

>Composure roll required! Modifiers are -3.(+2 for uneven fight, +2 Strange opponent,-3 for Revolutionary Fervour, -4 for unsure how the fighting has gone.)

>>4679958

>Initial Composure is 77 after modifiers. He drops the match, but is still in the mood for a fight!

Barely even thinking, you let the dagger fly from your left hand. It’s close enough that you put just the slightest amount of spin to it so that it doesn’t wobble. The whirling blade catches him in the back of the left hand, grazing him as it skitters off the wall and hits the ground. Huh, that could have been worse. At least it didn’t go into the river.

The pain of it must have surprised him as the match falls from slack fingers. He curses under his breath while his right hand drops to hip for a knife. He just barely clears leather as you get within lunging range, and you check yourself from committing to the lunge. No need to risk getting stabbed in the afterblow. I’ve got armour and reach, he’ll have to close hard if he wants to do anything other than collect more holes. Sneering, you spit at him to try and rouse his gorge. “I’d call you vermin, but that’s a disservice to rats.” Given the reddening from his face, he took the bait.

“Bloody rich bastards, hoarding it all for yerselves. I’d rather be vermin than pond scum like you.” He’s getting ready to leap in, but your long point is currently holding him at distance.

[1/2]

File: Bollock knives, popular b(...).jpg (61 KB, 1332x924)

61 KB JPG

>>4680008

>Current Status:

Tristan is at 7.5/6 HV (+1.5 from armour). You’re standing out of his reach, and caught your breath back right now.

Blondie is at 5/6 HV. He’s got a cut on his left hand, a bollock knife in his other in an icepick grip, and a head filled with indignation. His situation is dire, more dire than he’d expect.

>What do?

>[Aggressive Stance.] Cut him down, it’s not worth your time. Time spent here is time not spent letting the others know what happened. Glancing Strike results do 1 HV in damage, and increased chance of causing WOUNDS on Telling Strike results or higher.

>[Defensive Stance] Keep him at a distance, until you get an opening to strike. All results besides crits are reduced to Glancing Strikes. Will force composure rolls on the enemy as they get frustrated.

>[Neutral Stance] The ball and advantage are in your court. No need to get hasty, it’ll leave an opening for him to exploit. No change to Strike results.

>[Write-in?] You can choose to do a Flair for -10 TV to attempt disarms, feints, called strikes, etc.

>Tactical Situation:

The burning match is now a non-issue, and you’ve got a bit of room to maneuver down here. The barrels are behind Blondie, with the bridge arch to your right and above you, and the stream to your left. You have around 2 feet of dry ground to walk on before you start getting into slippery ground. You are currently armed with a rapier, and have an unloaded pistol and an eating knife as back-ups. You currently have your left hand free, either to grapple with him, or to draw the pistol to use it as a parrying device.

[2/2]

>>4680012
>[Aggressive Stance.] Cut him down, it’s not worth your time. Time spent here is time not spent letting the others know what happened. Glancing Strike results do 1 HV in damage, and increased chance of causing WOUNDS on Telling Strike results or higher.
We've got bonus HV, I think we can afford to go aggressive at first.

>>4680012
>>[Neutral Stance] The ball and advantage are in your court. No need to get hasty, it’ll leave an opening for him to exploit. No change to Strike results.

We can't afford to reroll for composure here, what if he calms down enough to finish his job and blow up the bridge? Best to keep him angry and occupied, like he is now.

>>4680016
True, but I think it's best to start slow and go aggressive once we have him down low enough to finish him off of the aggressive bonus.

>>4680012
>[Aggressive Stance.] Cut him down, it’s not worth your time. Time spent here is time not spent letting the others know what happened. Glancing Strike results do 1 HV in damage, and increased chance of causing WOUNDS on Telling Strike results or higher.

>>4680022
>>4680016

>go aggro, nothing ever beats aggro.

>>4680018

>take him down piecemeal.

>Roll required! Target Value is 56. (40 Base, +6 for Skilled Duelist, +5 for Reach advantage, +3 for Untrained Rabble, +3 for Opponent losing Composure, +2 for Limited Avenue of Attack, +2 for Armour limiting Opponent's options, -2 for Revolutionary Fervour, -3 for Cornered Like a Rat.)

Roll em.

Rolled 6 (1d100)

>>4680046

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>4680046

Rolled 59, 93 = 152 (2d100)

>>4680047
>>4680052

>Best roll is a 6! -50 from TV. DEVASTATING STRIKE GIVEN! Blondie loses 2 HV, and gains the WOUND [Stabbed Shoulder, Right] (-10 to all actions that involve the use the right shoulder. Risk of permanent injury if not surgically repaired in a few days.)

Rolling two dice. First is if you cause an additional wound from Aggressive Stance (<25 on the roll), and the second is his composure check to not immediately try to run after that injury.

>>4680064

Well, given that it'll be above 100 after the modifiers, Blondie's almost certainly going to try and leg it. Writing.

File: A telling strike, earned (...).jpg (32 KB, 1600x268)

32 KB JPG

>[Aggressive] stance taken! All GLANCING STRIKES cause 1 HV in damage, and increased chance of WOUNDs on TELLING STRIKES or better.

>Roll required! Target Value is 56. (40 Base, +6 for Skilled Duelist, +5 for Reach advantage, +3 for Untrained Rabble, +3 for Opponent losing Composure, +2 for Limited Avenue of Attack, +2 for Armour limiting Opponent's options, -2 for Revolutionary Fervour, -3 for Cornered Like a Rat.)

>>4680047
>>4680052

>Best roll is a 6! -50 from TV. DEVASTATING STRIKE GIVEN! Blondie loses 2 HV, and gains the WOUND [Stabbed Shoulder, Right] (-10 to all actions that involve the use the right shoulder. Risk of permanent injury if not surgically repaired in a few days.)

>Composure roll required! Modifiers are +14. (+5 for Outmatched!, +2 for Uneven Fight (Your Favour) +3 for Receiving WOUNDs, +4 for Everything’s Going to Shit, +3 for Cornered Like a Rat, -3 for Revolutionary Fervour)

>>4680064

>Composure roll is 93! Adjusted value is 107. His nerve shatters like a broken twig, and he tries to make a run for it!

It’s not often you are facing opponents on this uneven of a playing field. Adopting a fencer’s stance with your left hand drawn back feels a little awkward in armour, but the circling point maneuvers threateningly at the unarmoured man before you. He’ll have to grapple in order to get any use of of that knife, and you have no intention of giving him any chance to keep his footing to lunge in. He’s laying the bollock knife nearly flat against his arm in order to give it enough rigidity to divert your thrusts. Sloppy, he’s paying too much attention to the blade and not how I’m moving.

He attempts to thrust out with the point, and you quickly riposte with a satisfying thrust to his shoulder joint. You can feel the blade scrape over his bone as you nearly punch right through. You pull it back with a drawing slice as he screams in pain and the knife drops from fingers that have lost all strength. He tries to back away feverishly, getting around four feet back as you approach. He runs into a bit of difficulty as he trips over your fallen dagger, and hits the ground hard on his ass. Your expression gets dispassionate as you look down at this weakling, and he almost seems to be more terrified from that detached look than if you were frothing at the mouth.

[1/2]

>>4680119

>Current Status:

Tristan is at 7.5/6 HV (+1.5 from armour). You’re standing out of his reach, and caught your breath back right now.

Blondie is at 3/6 HV. He’s got a cut on his left hand, and severe thrust wound to his right shoulder. His situation is dire, and getting worse by the second. He’s frantically trying to get away from you right now, and is currently unarmed.

>What do?

>[Surly] Offer clemency. Even if you don’t mean it later, you and your cousin have questions, and he’ll have answers. Will require a roll to intimidate him into compliance.

>[Gregarious] “Go home and be a family man, vermin.” Let the man run for it. Given his injuries, even if he lives, he’ll be no threat in the future as a cripple. Make sure the powder isn’t going to send you to see Kalimdor in person first.

>[Pragmatic] You and Robert have enough people to interrogate and hang as it is. Put him out of your misery, and ensure he will never cause problems again. Choose a Stance (Aggressive, Defensive, or Neutral)

>[Write-in?]

>Tactical Situation:

He’s barely a threat, on his ass and unarmed. You’re still equipped with a rapier in your right hand, and your armour is doing fine. He’s still within range of a thrust with a lunge, but he might be able to pick up your dagger and give it back to you, point first. You have an eating knife and an unloaded pistol for back-up weaponry.

[2/2]

>>4680122

>[Surly] Offer clemency. Even if you don’t mean it later, you and your cousin have questions, and he’ll have answers. Will require a roll to intimidate him into compliance.

We'll need more information on these guys. I expect we'll see more of them later as we get closer to Iskandar. For that reason, I want him alive.

>>4680122
>[Surly] Offer clemency. Even if you don’t mean it later, you and your cousin have questions, and he’ll have answers. Will require a roll to intimidate him into compliance.
Worst case he runs and we get [Gregarious] anyhow. Best case we get intel.

>>4680122
>>[Surly] Offer clemency. Even if you don’t mean it later, you and your cousin have questions, and he’ll have answers. Will require a roll to intimidate him into compliance.

>>4680127
>>4680128
>>4680130

>boy, if you run, you're just gonna die tired

>Roll required! Target Value is 59. (40 Base, +4 for Duelist Scars, +3 for WOUNDS, +4 for Everything's Gone to Shit, +6 for Broken Nerves, +3 for Cornered Rat, +2 for Visibly Armed with a Pistol (Unsure if loaded or not), -3 for Revolutionary Fervour)

Give those dice a tumble. Depending on the result, this might be the last update for the night.

Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>4680158

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>4680158

>>4680161
>>4680163

>Best roll is a 20! -39 from TV. GOOD SUCCESS!

Called and writing. He ain't going nowhere.

File: House Guard, dressed to i(...).jpg (239 KB, 807x779)

239 KB JPG

>[Surly] action taken.

>Roll required! Target Value is 59. (40 Base, +4 for Duelist Scars, +3 for WOUNDS, +4 for Everything's Gone to Shit, +6 for Broken Nerves, +3 for Cornered Rat, +2 for Visibly Armed with a Pistol (Unsure if loaded or not), -3 for Revolutionary Fervour)

>>4680161
>>4680163

>Best roll is a 20! -39 from TV. GOOD SUCCESS! Combat is ended!

As you look down at this snivelling coward, a sneer finds a home on your lips. “You can either surrender, or die tired,” your left hand resting on your pistol as punctuation. He doesn’t need to know that it’s been fired already, his running to light the barrels earlier made it so that he couldn’t see if there was anyone else armed with them. His Adam’s apple jumps up and down and his eyes dart as your blade tilts lower towards him. He focuses on your steady point for a solid five seconds before raising his hands where you can see them. “Good. Get up.”

As he shakily gets to his feet, you crouch down to grab your dagger and hop back up. He looks like was ready to run at that, but he’s still in reach of you just stabbing him in the chest if he so much as twitches threateningly. “Hands on your hand, turn around and march out. We’re climbing back up, and having a chat.” He just nods, choosing to try and avoid speaking rather than get cut for his insolence. He slips a little on the grassy bank, but a prick in the ass cheek with your point makes him move a little faster.

As you both crest the ridge, you see the rest of the other men are getting roped together by Robert with Jared standing guard with his recovered spear. As you call out to them, you hear the sound of fast hoofbeats approaching from the way you came. Glancing over, you see around ten men on horseback in heavy armour coming around the bend. You are about to shout when you notice that they’re in Stonyfield livery, and you can see a familiar dappled mule in the throng. “If Tristan’s dead Jared, you better be dead too you lousy sack of bird vomit!” A breath that you weren’t even aware you were holding leaves in a sigh, and Blondie practically sags in defeat.

>End of Session for tonight!

Next session will kick off on the 7th at 01:30 UCT. It’ll probably be you talking with your cousin to find out just what the hell was going on here before you and Jared showed up to help.

>Feedback and thoughts? I’ll be around to answer any questions you may have for a few hours before I have to crash out for tonight.

>>4680205
Mind explaining more about the different Stonyfield branches?

>>4680218
I'd like to hear more about this as well. If the Greys are higher up the totem pole, it's interesting how much respect they're giving such a low-ranking member of the branch family

>>4680218

Sure! Simply put, there's the two main branches, the Grays and the Greens. The family itself is relatively prominent in the southern part of Loria, with most of their holdings running along the east coast from Port Josiah up towards the Shattered Inlet of the Calling sea. The Green branch diverted from the Gray branch around 4 generations back, when a particularly brave man-at-arms was allowed to be married in when he saved Sir Geralt Stonyfield in the final gasps of the Meridorite Empire during the War of Peonies. That war lead to Fransica splitting off from the rest of what is still considered Meridor to this day.

The Gray Branch has that old money and prestige associated with an older family. The Greens are considered subservient to them for the most part, since even though they share blood, the Greens also have commoner blood mixed into it. It's not as bad as it used to be when the split happened, but it still causes the odd bit of resentment. The Stonyfield family, of both branches, is known to be a particularly big noble family. The running joke among the Lorian gentry is that they keep trying to acquire more land and holdings so that they can fill them up with children.

As for where Tristan sits on the totem pole, he's considered useful as a bargaining chip, but not much else to a lot of the more cynical types. The type of son you'd marry off to settle House conflicts, or would be sent to a convent to get out of your hair. It's frustrating, since you can't expect a lot of support from the House as, say, your cousin Robert, but you have a lot more freedom to do what you want. You have two older brothers that have around 4 kids each, plus your uncle and his children. Tristan kind of just got forgotten about for a lot of his youth, until Jer and Jess pissed Mother off with their boorish behaviour, and she sent you off to Liberte to try and avoid that happening again. Needless to say, Tristan has a few resentments about stuff like that, that'll probably come up eventually.

>>4680243
Tell us more about how joining a Grand Company may affect our status within the Stonyfield family. I want to understand Tristan's motives a little better

>>4680269

So, a Grand Company is similar to a weird hybrid of a Noble House and a Guild. They generally only take in people of Tristan's social class or higher, but they do make exceptions for particularly adept common people. Unlike a lot of the Houses though, they have the backing of the Royal Family when it comes to certain critical industries and trades. Examples of this are the massive cannon foundries and shipyards of Merone that provide the backbone of the Lorian Navy. It's too critical to the defense of the nation to be entrusted to a House that might have it's eyes on political power. Other key trades like that is armourers, gunpowder mills, the spice trade to the continent of Geroni, to name a few. Big perks that are typically associated with being a part of a Grand Company is ready access to a lot of controlled and tariffed goods, trade contacts up and down the continent with similar groups in other nations, generally never having to pay tolls on pain of pain, and the substantial resources available to the people who make all the currency, cannons, gunpowder, warships, armour, etc.

It's difficult to get accepted into a Grand Company, mainly because once you have an in, you have the foot in the door to try and exert pressure on securing a lot of extremely valuable trade. It's a lot easier to persuade them to give you a friendlier rate if your nephew is one of them after all. As such, to get in to the handful of openings they have, you need to prove yourself via bringing back substantial profits or performing great feats. Competition is fierce, especially as powerful families like the Berucci or Tyrons try to stifle any up-and-coming threats to their dominance.

If Tristan does manage to get enlisted in, even though he's rather low on the prominence scale right now, he'll suddenly become a lot more valuable to the House. Mainly because he'll be the only Stonyfield of his generation who managed to get in. All those bastards who look down on him with their nose touching the rafters will have to swallow all those nasty word they said over the years about his family and branch if they want Tristan to co-operate and help them out. It'd almost be worth it for that alone, nevermind all the other benefits.

>>4680296
I see, so even though Tristian is technically little more than a valuable pawn, he's still the only Stonyfield daring to work to get into a Grand Company at all, and for that reason, he is considered very valuable at the moment, and the family likely considers his safety something of a priority, so long as he continues to show success in his adventures. Thanks for the lore! Really interesting stuff

>>4680897

No worries, you have it pretty much right on the head. A lot of the other young Stonyfield men of Tristan's generation who could be considered to have enough potential to get into a Grand Company are either standing to inherit something of consequence, so aren't willing to put up the risk, or are busy with keeping the House interests afloat. They might have pressured your eldest brother Isaac into trying for it, but he's the firstborn, so that's out the window. Jer's a bit of a wastrel and gambler, so they know he'll have a hard time getting in too. Tristan is sharp enough to get in, and far enough from any chance of inheriting anything of much consequence to have a reason to give it his all on the attempt, rather than half-assing it like your cousin Andrew would have. Fucking cousin Drew has got an orchard and vineyard to fall back on if it doesn't go through, the bastard.

A journey like this has a lot of risk in it, and a few of the other candidates from the available Stonyfields got cold feet when Kaspar died in his attempt three years ago. Still, the benefits outweigh the costs, and come what may, Tristan's determined to see it through.

Typing up the update right now, just sending out a quick heads-up that the session's still on since the last update didn't end on a choice.

File: Your brigandine, in House(...).jpg (245 KB, 1280x907)

245 KB JPG

Taking the moment or two of time to wipe your blades off before sheathing then, you roll your shoulder with a faint rattle of maille. Flipping up your visor in case a few of the men are antsy, you see the men in heavy plate on coursers fan out among the area. It looks like there is another nine men that were supposed to be accompanying Robert here that he had left behind him. They’re considerably better armed than him or your troopers, something that rankles a little. Good enough to break out a squad of the heavy plate and coursers to run down some rabble, but not for guarding a significant investment. Glad to see the Trunk’s priorities are still in order. One of the men with a salt-and-pepper beard is talking animatedly with Robert as Snorri swings off her mule and stomps over to Jared. You can practically hear the harangue from here.

“So, you just let him wander off? Where in the fucking blazes did he go then, Jared? Huh? Answer me jubelåsna! ” Haven’t heard that one for a while. Jared is trying to answer her back, but a vile torrent of swearing rolls over him, her steel sabre in a low guard along with her painted buckler.

“Look Snorri, he’s just over there! Like I said, Robert mentioned a runner, and he just sprinted after the guy. I did what Tristan told me too, and helped the other messir out.” He’s slowly bringing Buttercup over while Snorri’s gaze follows his outstretched pointer finger to you. Her kettle helm does nothing to hide her distaste and anger writ large in capital letters. She follows along as one of the heavy troopers swings by to collect Blondie from you.

“G’arternoon messir. Just taking this bugger o’er with the others, so we can rope ‘em and bring ‘em back to Brinsmere.” He throws up a somewhat sloppy salute as he levels a horseman’s axe at the quivering rebel. “Iffen ya run, I’ll be sure to hit ya in the spine first, so ya still feels it when Jim takes the irons to you later.” Blondie just nods mutely as he gets led over to the other cluster to be roped together. You start walking over there as Snorri moves to block your path.

“Fucking hell Tris! I leave you alone for a handful of blasted minutes, and what damn well happens? A whole fucking squad of the Guard come riding up dressed for bear not even four minutes after you leave with Jared on a scouting trip! What by the rotted dicks of the drowned is going on?”

[1/2]

File: Hildr 'Snorri' Gunnarsdottor.jpg (48 KB, 512x512)

48 KB JPG

>>4684536

>[Surly] “I’m going over to Rob to find out right now.” Play your cards close to the chest right now, Snorri’s indignation is grating on your already-shredded nerves now that the adrenaline’s coming down. Bring her along without filling her in beyond just the barebones.

>[Gregarious] “Look, I’ve got no idea what state Jared or the horses are in. He seemed fine earlier, but he was in the thick of it longer than I was. Check up on them while I talk with Cos.” Send her to look over Jared’s condition while you talk with Robert. If it’s holdouts from the Grouser uprising, the less wide spread the news is, the better.

>[Pragmatic] “I’ve got no bloody clue beyond a couple of guesses. What was the state of the caravan when you left?” Bury her concerns by getting an idea of what the situation is back at the wagons. If she just left by herself, it should be alright, but you want to be completely certain.

>[Write-in?]

[2/2]

>>4684541
>[Gregarious] “Look, I’ve got no idea what state Jared or the horses are in. He seemed fine earlier, but he was in the thick of it longer than I was. Check up on them while I talk with Cos.” Send her to look over Jared’s condition while you talk with Robert. If it’s holdouts from the Grouser uprising, the less wide spread the news is, the better.

>>4684562

>check on my ride, I'll tell you later.

Called and writing.

File: Mounted House Guard, full(...).jpg (1.41 MB, 1896x2544)

1.41 MB JPG

>[Gregarious] action taken!

You sigh before answering somewhat testily, “Look, you know about as much as I do. They were plotting something nasty, and we stopped them. I’ve got no clue what state Jared or the horses are in, because as soon as the fighting up here stopped, Robert was about to go charging down there after the blonder bastard. He was punch-drunk, so I ran after him. Check on the others, while I find out what it is.” Normally, you’d be concerned about a shouting match or impromptu fight given Snorri’s reddening face, but you’re still fired up enough to not care. “Don’t make me order you to.”

She spits on the ground as she answers. “Fine Tris, I’ll go look over your fucking horses like my name was Johnny. We’re going to have a lovely, friendly chat later, and it better be a fucking good one. “

“Great, glad to hear it. Looking forward to it.” You brush past her as Jared suddenly becomes the target of her ire. Looking at the group, you see two of the troopers roll the spearman over and press the butt of the spear into his eye for a reaction. When there’s no twitch, they nod sagely and kick the corpse back over into the dirt. You catch Robert’s eye with a wave, and he breaks out into a genuine smile as you approach.

“Here’s the man of the hour Colin. Rode right on up like a children’s story, firing his pistol like a madman. Cos, you just saved the engineers months of work rebuilding it. I’ll be sure to mention it when I’m talking to them later on.” There’s a bruise already starting to form on his jaw, probably from catching a backswing or the shieldbrim before you arrived.

“Think nothing of it Rob, it’s a kinsman’s duty. Besides, they put the powder a bit too close to the water, it’s probably been damp by the time we arrived. What in the blazes was happening here?” Robert looks to the grizzled trooper first, motioning his head to the others.

“Colin, we’ll need some privacy. Make sure the others weren’t messing up the knotwork, eh?” Colin looks between you and him before nodding. “Aye messir, don’t want them working their way loose when they’re sitting on the back of the horses.” Robert waits until the other man has left before pulling the two of you aside.

[1/2]

File: How your Guards are dress(...).jpg (78 KB, 500x545)

78 KB JPG

>[Surly] Take a passive stance in the talks, and make a show of reloading your pistol and checking over your gear. If anyone starts getting nosy, you’ll look for the world like you’re just preparing and making sure he’s fine while the conversation’s going on.

>[Gregarious] “I heard the fucking Grouser cries there Rob. Are you hunting them down?” You heard that the rebellion leaders were rounded up and hung, but evidently there’s some left. Enough to get their hands on a few barrels of powder despite being otherwise ill-equipped.

>[Pragmatic] “Why in the blazes were you alone? If myself and Jared didn’t arrive, it’d not just be the one rebel on the ground dead right now.” Start chastising your cousin about his damn fool attempt. You know they’d try and swing it as your fault if he was dead, even if you didn’t know what was up.

>[Write-in?]

[2/2]

>>4684719
>[Surly] Take a passive stance in the talks, and make a show of reloading your pistol and checking over your gear. If anyone starts getting nosy, you’ll look for the world like you’re just preparing and making sure he’s fine while the conversation’s going on.

>>4684719
>[Surly] Take a passive stance in the talks, and make a show of reloading your pistol and checking over your gear. If anyone starts getting nosy, you’ll look for the world like you’re just preparing and making sure he’s fine while the conversation’s going on.

>>4684720
>>4684746

>just cleaning guns and swords, nbd

Called and writing.

File: Nasty, even after the fir(...).jpg (439 KB, 1544x1028)

439 KB JPG

>[Surly] action taken.

As the two of you mover closer to the bushes by the ditch, you fish out the cleaning kit you have in your bullet pouch. Taking the time to fix a swab, you begin to work it into the bore of the pistol. Rob clears his throat, and you glance up. There’s a confused look on his face, and you give him a blank on in return, cocking an eyebrow just a bit. The confused look stays for a second or two before the gears catch and you see the dawning recognition in his face. Seven winds, I forgot how bad his poker face was. It’s practically worse than Sooty’s.

“So, you’re probably wondering why they were here then, eh Cos?” The first pass turned the swab practically black with carbon. You just shrug one shoulder insouciantly, as if he asked you the weather.

“I could hazard a guess. Found the barrels under the bridge. Three might have done the job, they probably sure have used four to be sure. Especially given that it’s a bridge, damp is a big concern. They aren’t entirely familiar with powder usage, given that he was struggling to light the fusee.” You know that you’re the one more intimate with the knowledge of powder weaponry out of the two of you. The Gray’s cared little for the dirty black powder, preferring to have the Green’s do the dangerous bit of handling powder while they reaped the benefits.

“Er, right. Is damp that much of a problem? I know that it’s a hassle running matchlocks in the rain, even worse than crossbows getting their strings slack if they haven’t been waxed lately. I always thought it was because of the match going out.”

“That’s a concern, but if its damp, powder loses a lot of it’s force. It’s why wheellocks are preferred even though they’re a bloody nuisance to maintain. Once they’re loaded, it’s practically sealed from the damp if you did it right.” The swab is finally coming out clean in a pass. Taking out a small pick, you begin to chip away at the smaller amount of carbon build-up at the mechanism.

[1/2]

File: Your horn and starter, a (...).jpg (129 KB, 1013x689)

129 KB JPG

>>4684846

“Good to know, I suppose. So, we got a tip-off from a miller a few weeks ago that there were some remnants left from the uprising. They all pulled stakes from the border, and moved this way to avoid the hunters. We were tracking them down since, and found out about this plot earlier today while we were making breakfast. Well, my gear takes next to no time to prepare, and I was planning on riding Killian here regardless. So, while the others were strapping on their plate, I decided, ‘Screw it, I can’t let them get away with it in our own lands, on the Gem Road no less.’ Mounted up and took off, even though everyone was yelling the whole time. Saw your caravan and debated on asking for help, but we were told there was only supposed to be two of them rigging it. Didn’t expect there to be more, to be honest.” He at least has the decency to look ashamed at that, while you carefully measure out the corned powder from your horn, and pour it down the barrel.

That tracks with what you know about Robert’s nature. Having rebels skulking around would gall him, and if he knew where they were, he’d waste no time to ride out and cut them down. Still, he’s lucky you arrived when you did. Otherwise, there’d be another funeral boat being prepared, and you almost certainly would have been recalled back for fear of losing both Rob and your own venture. “So, why were they even here?”

Robert looks pensive for a moment, and then answers back, “Well, pretty sure they caught wind of a caravan coming this way in the next few days. I mean, you aren’t exactly hard to miss. Probably figured if they blew up the bridge, they could set up an ambush while you tried to ford the stream or something. Granted, they would have had difficulty with the numbers you’ve got, but they almost certainly didn’t know that.”

So, a target of opportunity. That’s possible, but you know Grousers tended not to do banditry, more using smuggling for their means. Unless these were a splinter in their schisms of course.

>[Surly] “If they’re Grousers, that doesn’t make sense. They generally avoid striking big targets like that, it brings a lot of repercussions on them and the countryside.” It doesn’t seem to be adding up. Too far away from the border, and wrong targets for them.

>[Gregarious] “I suppose that’s an option. If they were kicked out from their little circle for being too hungry for valuables, they’d be desperate.” Try to put the bandits out of your mind, and ask Robert about how his hunt has been going. If there’s other cells, you’ll want to know.

>[Pragmatic] “You’ve got a lot of men for hunting down rebels Cos. Were you coming back from the border when you started this?” Try to get off the topic of these wastes of space, and try to pry some information about the border situation with Haradeen. All the news you’ve got is relatively old or hearsay, you’d want confirmation from him.

>[Write-in?]

[2/2]

>>4684847
>[Pragmatic] “You’ve got a lot of men for hunting down rebels Cos. Were you coming back from the border when you started this?” Try to get off the topic of these wastes of space, and try to pry some information about the border situation with Haradeen. All the news you’ve got is relatively old or hearsay, you’d want confirmation from him.

>>4684847
>[Surly] “If they’re Grousers, that doesn’t make sense. They generally avoid striking big targets like that, it brings a lot of repercussions on them and the countryside.” It doesn’t seem to be adding up. Too far away from the border, and wrong targets for them.

>>4684847
>[Surly] “If they’re Grousers, that doesn’t make sense. They generally avoid striking big targets like that, it brings a lot of repercussions on them and the countryside.” It doesn’t seem to be adding up. Too far away from the border, and wrong targets for them.

>>4684851

>awful lot of dudes for a couple scrubs bro

>>4684862
>>4684949


>commies are usually cowards, not retards, unless these ones are retarded cowards

Called and writing, probably the last update for tonight. Got shit I have to do in the morning, so can't run much longer than that.

File: Powder, the great equalizer.jpg (139 KB, 800x800)

139 KB JPG

>[Surly] action taken.

That comment twigs you wrong as you wrap the ball in wadding and press it into the bore with your starter. “If they’re Grousers, that doesn’t make sense Rob. They generally avoid hitting big targets like us, because it brings down a bunch of repercussions on both them and the rest of the countryside. When the Houses and Companies find out, they’re ripped out, root and branch.” The purges that happened during the last bout of rebellions in your grandfather’s time left a deep impact on the smallfolk. Families sending their competition up the river, entire villages and hamlets turned into ghost towns as the interrogators did their gruesome work. You heard the horror stories of when the Bluefin Company caught wind of the men who hit one of their vessels. The House policy of setting the rebels to swing in gibbets until their dry bones weathered apart was downright merciful by comparison.

Robert’s rubbing his face, trying to gather his thoughts as you ram the ball into your pistol. “I mean, even though we’re still close to the inlet, it’s watched like a hawk right now, what with that Deener centennial going on. Every ship coming into port is being searched top to bottom to make sure nothing strange is going on. I know the Fransicans were putting the screws on the navy, something about how they’re letting through all kinds of stuff. With those crackdowns, they’re probably looking to get some spare funds.”

>Wheel-lock pistol is fully reloaded! You have 9 more charges of powder on you, and 19 more lead balls available.

“Yeah, and risk another Harvin’s Pass incident, if they choose the wrong target. Probably would be better to wait out until the dust settles, and then pick up where they left off. That’s what I’d do in their shoes. Something isn’t adding up, and if you find that error, you’ll find their backers.” You tuck the loaded pistol into your belt, and take a swig of water from your skin. Wiping your mouth, you pass it to Robert, who takes it gratefully.

“Well, I hope we get some answers back from James tonight back in Brinsmere when we arrive with this sorry lot. How’s the journey been?” He’s pretty clearly trying to change the topic, probably getting busy to head off with his captives.

[1/2]

File: Waxed and weathertight, f(...).jpg (305 KB, 1797x1292)

305 KB JPG

>>4685026

“It’s gone well enough. Picked up a fair amount of fresh wool in Angelsfield, should fetch a decent rate in Jironth or Kalim, even if it isn’t dyed. Also found some Capwell sympathizers there too, so watch out for any dealings with them if you’re headed that way.” Robert’s smile twists into a grimace at that. Given his history as one of the martially skilled kinsmen, he had a fairly large role in the last bit of trade warfare that went on with them before.

“Aye, thanks for the warning. Seeing you roll into town must’ve been like kicking a hornet’s nest. Still, we’ll be on good behaviour while we’re there. If this is the last of the lot we were hunting, we’ll probably stop over there on the way back to Port Josiah. If you want to send a letter home with us, I’ll be sure that it gets to your parents.” If you want to do that, it’ll have to be done now, before they finish everything here on their way back the way you came.

>[Surly] ”No need. All my writing supplies are in the wagons, and I don’t want you all to wait on my behalf.” Don’t write a letter home, and let cousin Rob get back to hand dealing with his problems. You’ve got something around here you want to see. (What do you want to do?)

>[Gregarious] “I’ll have to borrow some of yours, mine are all back with the rest of my gear. Unless you want to stop there with me for a drink and a smoke?” Ride back with Robert and his men to have a visit at the caravan while you write a letter home. (What do you include in it?)

>[Pragmatic] “No, I was planning on writing when I got to Iskander. It’s only another two weeks down the road.” Don’t write a letter home, and ask Rob some more questions. You’re pretty curious about what’s been going on in his travels lately. (What do you want to ask your cousin?)

>[Write-in?]

Next session will kick off on the 11th at the usual time of 01:30 UCT. If you have general setting questions that Tristan should know about that you want to have filled in, I’ll be checking in at least once a day until then, so that you’re all a bit better informed about your choices.

[2/2]

>>4685029
>>[Pragmatic] “No, I was planning on writing when I got to Iskander. It’s only another two weeks down the road.” Don’t write a letter home, and ask Rob some more questions. You’re pretty curious about what’s been going on in his travels lately. (What do you want to ask your cousin?)
Ask him about the border situation at Haradeen, and if there's any developments near Iskandar we should be aware of.

>>4685038
+1

>>4685038
+1
Dammit, missed a whole session.

>>4685038
>>4685046
>>4685595

>oi cos, what's up at the border?

Called and writing.

File: A healthy mix of defensiv(...).jpg (156 KB, 1140x1140)

156 KB JPG

>[Pragmatic] action taken, asking about the border and Iskander.

“No, I was planning on writing when we got into Iskander. It’s only two weeks further down the road after all, and they’ll be more interested in what’s happened in the city rather than in any of the towns we’ve passed.” Taking the moment to take off your helm and look it over, you notice a new scratch on the visor. Hmm, not sure when that happened. As good a time as any to teach Nathan about scouring out scratches on plate I suppose.

Robert himself has finished looking over his equipment. There looks to be a bit of blood on his maille, but given where the splash is, it’s unlikely to be his own. When he stands up from the stump he was resting on, there’s a bit of a stagger in his step. Likely feeling the bruises now, now that his blood is coming back down. Tempting as it is to give him a shoulder for support, it wouldn’t do to undermine his men’s confidence in him. You settle for laying a brotherly arm over his shoulders, and slapping him on the back. He just grins by way of response, probably enjoying not having to put up a reserved and aloof front.

“Speaking of Iskander Rob, anything I should be worried about on the road ahead? I got a bit of info along the way and from Jer, but you’d have a better idea of anything there that would be cause for concern.”

“Well, the Deeners are paying more attention on the east because of the Fransicans. Apparently that big centennial they’re holding is going on at Troya, right next to Sol. You can imagine just how much that’s going to get right up the Sickies’ noses. A lot of the usual rabble-rousers are still around, but seem like they’re going to lay low until the big guns and musketeers come back.” Rob starts walking back towards his horse and men while he talks, you placing your helm back on and following along.

“Iskander’s still the way it’s always been. News like this will go around for couple weeks or so, until the next big scandal from some noble or Deener sabre-rattling gets them going again. I know for a fact that if the bridge got taken out, it’d be drawing the engineers back here, and things would be a bit more tense, but we solved that, eh?” He chuckles slightly as one of the troopers leads his horse over, a fresh bandage on Killian’s right haunch. It’s not bleeding through, but he’ll be tetchy for the next few days until the cut heals.

Robert vaults onto his horse, the animal stepping a little nervously as it adjusts for his weight. You take the moment to ask him a parting question. “Robert, if you don’t mind, can you send me some of the information you pull from these pukes? I might be able to help out.” He kind of grimaces at that, the ‘No’ writ plain on his face even before he says it.

>[1/2], fixed some formatting errors.

File: Light enough to be put on(...).png (1.89 MB, 1117x750)

1.89 MB PNG

>>4689823

“I mean, I’d love to Tris, but it’s a bit hush-hush right now. We don’t want any of them catching wise, in case they find out and go deeper underground. If they do, it’s my arse on the line. You understand, right?” You sigh loudly, and then nod in answer. A bit of a long shot, but one worth taking. He takes the news with a bit of visible relief, as the last of the trussed up men are tossed on horseback.

“When this is finished Cos, I’ll pass it on with one of the couriers, swear on my horse. You’ll understand more why then. Which way are you going?”

“We’re going through Iskander, and then going through the Hornsbill Forest to the Gates of Iron once we’re in Haradeen. The courier should be able to find us along the way, it’s not like oxen are known for their speed.” Robert fishes out a piece of paper and charcoal along with his seal.

“Alright, he should be able to catch you up by then. The message will have my seal on it, so you should know it when you see it. Here, I’ll give you a rubbing in case you need it.” It’s a matter of seconds as he gets an impression and hands it to you, before preparing to ride off. “Still, can’t thank you enough Cos. Safe travels.”

>Gained information about the border situation and Iskander! The border itself is a bit more porous than usual, with a lot of the Haradeen presence pulled to the East. Iskander seems to be using the time for a breather. Gained image of Robert Stonyfield’s seal!

“Safe travels Rob, best of luck on your hunt.” He nods before riding off with his troopers, the hoofbeats receding in the distance. There’s still two of them waiting here by the bridge, probably watching over the barrels of powder until they can get someone else with pack horses to help bring it all back as evidence. Snorri seems to have finished checking over Jared and the horses to her satisfaction and shoots you a dirty look.

>[Surly] Motion both of them over silently, and show them the powder under the bridge. Actions speak louder than words, and it’ll lend credence to your words. It’s more witnesses however, and might cause rumours if you aren’t careful.

>[Gregarious] Now that Robert’s gone, you might be able to pry out some information from his two troopers. You’re not exactly a superior, but you do have some clout in the matter. Roll Required.

>[Pragmatic] Start riding back to the Caravan, filling them in along the way. You’re itching to get back, and this neatly kills two birds with one stone.

>[Write-in?]

[2/2]

>>4689824
>[Gregarious] Now that Robert’s gone, you might be able to pry out some information from his two troopers. You’re not exactly a superior, but you do have some clout in the matter. Roll Required

>>4689824
>[Pragmatic] Start riding back to the Caravan, filling them in along the way. You’re itching to get back, and this neatly kills two birds with one stone.
We can find out when Robert sends the info.

>>4689865

>c'mon, talk to me mang, I ain't gonna tell your boss.

>>4689879

>clippety cloppity, back to mah property.

Giving it around 15 minutes for someone to break the tie, and then rolling for it if it's still at an impasse.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>4689883

Rolling for it, with 1 for [Gregarious], and 2 for [Pragmatic].

>>4689865
>>4689903

>[Gregarious]

>>4689879

>[Pragmatic]

>Roll Required! Target Value is 35. (40 base, +3 for higher social standing, +2 for House Representative, +4 for Gregarious, +2 for Helping your Cousin, +1 for Snorri's Reputation, -6 for None of Your Business, -2 for Branch family, -3 for Tight-lipped, -4 for Rob said don't talk about it, -2 for ???)

You currently have no re-rolls available to you (1 on cooldown), and one charge of FATE. Roll em.

Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>4689913

>>4689942

Give it another 4 minutes, then feel free to roll again, so that we can see how it turns out.

Rolled 26 (1d100)

>>4689949

>>4689965
Dammit. Missed it by a minute.

>>4689942
>>4689965

>Best roll is a 26! -9 from TV. NARROW SUCCESS!

Called and writing.

File: You can't see his face, b(...).jpg (128 KB, 681x1024)

128 KB JPG

>[Gregarious] action taken.

>Roll Required! Target Value is 35. (40 base, +3 for higher social standing, +2 for House Representative, +4 for Gregarious, +2 for Helping your Cousin, +1 for Snorri's Reputation, -6 for None of Your Business, -2 for Branch family, -3 for Tight-lipped, -4 for Rob said don't talk about it, -2 for ???)

>>4689942
>>4689965

>Best roll is a 26! -9 from TV. NARROW SUCCESS!

Motioning your head over to the two troopers, you walk over to them. You can practically feel the mounting frustration coming from your retainer, but you’d rather have her worked up when you arrive at the front of the bridge. She’s been working in the family for the better part of forty years, when your own father had just earned his spurs. She made the point of training a lot of your family’s men-at-arms and guards, and it’ll be easier to browbeat them into compliance with her at your side. “Fucking hell Tris, you get your ass back here. Jag ska böja dig över mitt knä, din idiotjävel. Försök att stoppa mig.” Yep, she’s about the right amount of angry now. The two troopers turn their attention towards your group, a disdainful atmosphere slowly turning to confusion with an undercurrent of fear that you can barely pick out.

You give a cursory salute back as they incline their heads, eyes firmly on the angry elf behind you. “Afternoon gents, glad to see you’re so vigilant. Waiting on someone with horses for the surprise down below?” ” Jag hoppas att du tog med dig salva för din röv, Pucko ,du kommer inte åka häst på en vecka när jag är klar.”

“Er, that’s right messir. Good to see you Snorri, are you bodyguarding him for the journey?” the taller of the two men makes the mistake of addressing her in the middle of an Elvish rant. It’s almost certainly about what exactly she’s going to do to you, in graphic detail. She looks upwards at him, teeth bared in a snarl.

“Bodyguard, pah. Hard to be a bodyguard with this hönshjärna running off at the first chance he finds to get his fool brains splattered all over the ground.” I think that one involves chickens. “Bastard told me that he’ll talk about it afterwards, and then acts coyer than my whore of a sister on her wedding night.” The two guards share a look, probably thinking about the difficulties of reigning Robert in from his impulses.

“I just wanted to ask them something first Snorri, before we rode back. Was the powder corned or serpentine?” There’s a long pause as they look towards each other. The reluctance seems to infuriate Snorri even more than anything else.

[1/2]

File: Falling from a horse is b(...).jpg (221 KB, 1200x994)

221 KB JPG

>>4690018


“Benjy, if that’s you under all that plate, tell Tris what by the three fathers is going on. Otherwise, I’ll have you off onto the ground so fast it’ll look like one of Tom’s spells stole your horse. Ye’ve got til I count to three.” There’s another brief pause as she begins to count, squaring up for a jump. ” Ett. Två. Tr-“

‘Benjy’ relents, his hand going up in a warding manner. “It’s corned! Shit Snorri, I don’t want Hannibal to bolt off, it took me five minutes to get him to listen earlier today.”

Corned powder, that’s not good. Deeners tend to use serpentine, nobody with half a brain would sell them anything better. That narrows down the supplier considerably, either to one of your countrymen, Kalim, or Leaguers. Meridorites and Fransicans can make it as well, but they’d sooner saw off their own feet before selling powder to their former vassals. You nod sagely, mounting up on Buttercup. “Many thanks gents, I won’t intrude on your time anymore.”

They sag a bit in relief, as Snorri whirls back on you. “That’s it!? You bloody åsna, I hope you improved from last time!” She leaps onto your horse’s back with a warcry, her broad arms already around your throat. Thankfully the padding is making it hard for her to choke you out, as Buttercup breaks under the strain and starts running off while you drop the reins. You hear other hoofbeats as, presumably, Jared goes to fetch Seafoam. Your visor is already being wrenched open, as she tries to blind you by turning the helm to the side.

>[Surly] Laugh at her, and purposely drop to the ground from the horse’s back to grapple back. Let her get her anger out now, it’ll be easier to impress how dangerous it actually was afterwards. Besides, Jared can catch Buttercup, probably.

>[Gregarious] “Fucking hell woman, it was important! I swear on my own name, it’s relevant!” Attempt to mollify her emotions, you can’t exactly tell her if you’re unconscious on the back of a horse you haven’t ridden much.

>[Pragmatic] Try to fight her off as best as you can in the saddle. It’ll be difficult, but you don’t want to risk losing the horse if you fall off. Besides, given how fast Buttercup’s moving, landing with an angry elf on you can really hurt.

>[Write-in?]

All three options will require a roll. You can attempt to improve the TV by including write-ins as well.

[2/2]

>>4690020
>>[Gregarious] “Fucking hell woman, it was important! I swear on my own name, it’s relevant!” Attempt to mollify her emotions, you can’t exactly tell her if you’re unconscious on the back of a horse you haven’t ridden much.
Be coolllll

>>4690020
>>[Gregarious] “Fucking hell woman, it was important! I swear on my own name, it’s relevant!” Attempt to mollify her emotions, you can’t exactly tell her if you’re unconscious on the back of a horse you haven’t ridden much.

>>4690020
>[Surly] Laugh at her, and purposely drop to the ground from the horse’s back to grapple back. Let her get her anger out now, it’ll be easier to impress how dangerous it actually was afterwards. Besides, Jared can catch Buttercup, probably.

>>4690052
That option isn't cool, though. It just makes you look like a nerd

>>4690052
>>4690078

>talk down the angry elf who's trying to choke you out from behind on the back of a horse.

>>4690097

>take your lumps like a man.

>Roll required! Target Value is 27. (Base 40, +3 from Competent Horseman, +6 for Skilled Duelist, +3 from wearing armour, +4 for Duel of Honour (Victory), +2 for Looking out for Her (Angelsfield), +0 for Gregarious, +0 for Competent Grappler, -2 for No Reins, -4 for Completely Furious, -3 for Competent Duelist (Snorri), -5 for Disadvantageous Position, -3 for Brushing her off X3, -6 for Skilled Grappler (Snorri), -3 for Horse Panicking, -2 for Can't see assailant, -3 for Substantial Age difference.)

You currently have no re-rolls, (1 on cooldown), and one charge of FATE. Best of luck Anons, you're gonna need it.

Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>4690100

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>4690100

>>4690103
>>4690108

>Best roll is a 62! +35 from TV. BAD FAILURE! You get dragged from your horse, and are locked into a bad grappling position with her on your back!

Called and writing.

File: It's not as bad in armour(...).png (385 KB, 600x387)

385 KB PNG

>[Gregarious] action taken.

>Roll required! Target Value is 27. (Base 40, +3 from Competent Horseman, +6 for Skilled Duelist, +3 from wearing armour, +4 for Duel of Honour (Victory), +2 for Looking out for Her (Angelsfield), +0 for Gregarious, +0 for Competent Grappler, -2 for No Reins, -4 for Completely Furious, -3 for Competent Duelist (Snorri), -5 for Disadvantageous Position, -3 for Brushing her off X3, -6 for Skilled Grappler (Snorri), -3 for Horse Panicking, -2 for Can't see assailant, -3 for Substantial Age difference.)

>>4690103
>>4690108

>Best roll is a 62! +35 from TV. BAD FAILURE! You get dragged from your horse, and are locked into a bad grappling position with her on your back!

You try to maintain your grip on Buttercup with your thighs and feet in the stirrups, and use your hands to try and knife in-between her arms. It’s harder to grapple in armour than you’re used to, it was always done either in the buff or in breeches at Liberte. The joints seem to be working against you the whole time, limiting the range of motion and adding inertia to your movements. “Fucking hell woman, it was important! I swear on my own name, it’s relevant!”

You hear a hissed “Not good enough Stanny. Those honeyed words might matter more if you weren’t getting choked out like a bitch having a good time with her lover. Take your lumps like a man.” You can feel her legs wrap around your mid-section as her arms continue to maneuver into a proper choke. You futilely try to drive an elbow back in instinct from what you’ve learned, the rattle and scrape of maille on plate the only response.

You hear the throaty chuckle by your ear, as Snorri begins to rock her weight to the right. You’d normally be able to maintain your seat from a hit from a lance or warhammer, but having at least 180 lbs of fully armoured and angry elf wrenching on your upper body without having reins to pull with proves to be a bigger challenge. The world takes a sickening spin, as you feel your boots leave the stirrups. You came down hard on your right side, the armour dispersing a lot of the force. There’s no sickening CRUNCH of a broken bone, and the grunt from behind makes it seem like Snorri helped break your fall a little. It’s practically pure luck that you didn’t wind up under Buttercup’s hooves as the horse continues madly galloping away.

[1/2]

File: To the turf.png (644 KB, 600x639)

644 KB PNG

>>4690130

She’s still locked into the choke, and her arm is working it’s way under your jaw despite you trying to press the heel of your hand towards her face. You hear a soft, “Yield, one way or the other Stanny. Tap out or pass out, doesn’t confront me. Fight back, and you’ll be fucked sillier than I was when Finne became my man.”

>[Surly] Blow that for a game of soldiers, you could have got hurt badly in that. You might still be able to get out. Keep trying to fight her off. Roll required.

>[Gregarious] “C’mon Snorri, I almost got blown up today. Cut me some slack.” Attempt to reason with her, maybe you can still get through it with some shred of dignity.

>[Pragmatic] She’s locked in a choke, on your back, in full armour. Discretion is the better part of valour. Yield by tapping out before you go completely in the black.

>[Write-in?]

[2/2]

>>4690131

[Gregarious] option is also supposed to be a Roll Required option. Looks like I missed it while typing it up.

>>4690131
>[Pragmatic] She’s locked in a choke, on your back, in full armour. Discretion is the better part of valour. Yield by tapping out before you go completely in the black.

>>4690135

>tap out before you pass out.

Called and writing, probably last one for the night. Got stuff to do and people to call in the morning.

File: Tap out or pass out, bitch.png (824 KB, 1000x600)

824 KB PNG

>[Pragmatic] option taken.

Thoughts racing through your head, you know you’re in a bad state right now. She managed to move her face, and your hands are only finding smooth steel. You can’t strike her in the guts with the armour, and pulling a dagger on your retainer isn’t exactly an option. The edges of your vision are slowly going grey, and it’s getting harder to organize your thoughts. Groping, you slap the ground with hands slowly feeling heavy. “I yield, damn you.”

“Didn’t hear you Stanny, hard to hear clearly in this helmet. Sounds like ‘Fuck you Snorri, choke me harder.’ I’ll oblige ye, no worries.” The vice-like grip tightens with a squeeze, and you can feel the fabric liner rubbing hard on your neck. Everything’s going grey, and the vision is slowly fading away at the edges, darkness seeping in.

You manage to squeak out a barely audible “Y-yield,” your hands slapping lamely on her gauntlets. There’s a long, malicious pause. Your head is swimming, and you start to slacken in general, the fight being wrung from you like water from laundry. A leaf on the tree overhead catches your eye, the gentle moving in the breeze taking all your attention. Oak leaf, sign of strength. Funny that.

You can barely hear muttering from behind you. “Thought so. Don’t you forget it Stanny, or I’ll feed you your own teeth. The family can always get you false ones if need be.” The pressure finally eases, and the first rush of air in your lungs is pure relief. The second is burning agony, and you begin coughing horribly. She lets go of you, letting you roll onto your stomach. You manage to keep down the porridge from this morning, but it’s not for lack of trying. You’re still coughing and dry heaving as you catch a nudge in your ribs from her boot. It doesn’t hurt, but the meaning is pretty clear.

[1/2]

File: Symbol of endurance, symb(...).jpg (29 KB, 800x533)

29 KB JPG

>>4690190

“So, planning on finally letting me know what really happened, Tris? Or do you want me to actually put some effort in it in round two? Normally it’d cost you to get a pretty woman to treat you like that, but I’ll indulge ye, ya feckin degenerate. Don’t you bullshit me now, I’m being generous enough as it is.” Trying to avoid puking on your armour, you manage to get enough blessed air in your lungs for a reply.

>Intial Response:

>[Surly] “Fuck...You...” It’s a stupid answer, and you’re almost certainly going to pay for it. That doesn’t matter now, it’s a matter of pride. She’ll feel bad about it later, maybe.

>[Gregarious] “Powder... Bridge...” Tell her up-front what was the big concern. She might be able to connect the dots given the context, but you aren’t completely sure.

>[Pragmatic] “Saved... Robert...” Try to appeal to her sense of duty and loyalty. She might be mad, but you did what you had to save your cousin from an undignified end.

>[Write-in?]

How much do you tell her when you get your breath back?

>The bare minimum. You saw a rider in Stonyfield livery in trouble, and rode in. The odds were in your favour, and things could have gotten a lot worse if you rode back.

>Enough to satisfy her answers. Tell her about the powder you found, and that they were using Grouser cries. She doesn’t need to know absolutely everything about what you think is going on, but enough to know that it’s not the Caravan’s concern.

>Confide in her about everything. Everything from the fight, to what you talked to Robert about, and why you asked about the powder. She’s one of the few people you can trust with your life, and deserves to know what’s going on.

>[Write-in?]

Next session will kick off on the 13th, at 01:30 UCT. It might be pushed back further onto the weekend, depending on if some stuff shakes out or not. If so, I’ll post here with an updated time for you all. Have a good one, and take care out there!

[2/2]

>>4690191
>[Gregarious] “Powder... Bridge...” Tell her up-front what was the big concern. She might be able to connect the dots given the context, but you aren’t completely sure.
>Enough to satisfy her answers. Tell her about the powder you found, and that they were using Grouser cries. She doesn’t need to know absolutely everything about what you think is going on, but enough to know that it’s not the Caravan’s concern.

>>4690191
[Pragmatic] “Saved... Robert...” Try to appeal to her sense of duty and loyalty. She might be mad, but you did what you had to save your cousin from an undignified end.
>Confide in her about everything. Everything from the fight, to what you talked to Robert about, and why you asked about the powder. She’s one of the few people you can trust with your life, and deserves to know what’s going on.
Cheers OP, sorry I missed the middle of this.

>>4690239

No worries, it's a Wednesday night, leading into Thursday morning. Didn't expect a whole tonne of responses, to be fair.

>Snorri's words earlier, for those who were curious. Google translated, so not exactly perfect grammar or word usage, but that's not much of a change from normal posts.

Jubelåsna: Jubileed donkey. Basically means you've been an idiot for so long, you're celebrating it's anniversary.

Jag ska böja dig över mitt knä, din idiotjävel. Försök att stoppa mig. : I'll bend you over my knee, you stupid devil. Try and stop me. Meaning is pretty self-explanatory.

Jag hoppas att du tog med dig salva för din röv, Pucko ,du kommer inte åka häst på en vecka när jag är klar. : I hope you brought some salve for your ass, dumbass, you aren't going to be able to ride a horse for a week. Again, pretty self-explanatory.

Ett. Två. Tr- : One. Two. Thr- . Simple counting.

åsna : Donkey. Similar connotations as it would be in English.

>>4690191
>[Gregarious] “Powder... Bridge...” Tell her up-front what was the big concern. She might be able to connect the dots given the context, but you aren’t completely sure.
>Confide in her about everything. Everything from the fight, to what you talked to Robert about, and why you asked about the powder. She’s one of the few people you can trust with your life, and deserves to know what’s going on.

>>4690197
>>4690359

>play some Connect 4, fucker

>>4690239

>cousins helping cousins.

>>4690239
>>4690359

>spill your guts to her

>>4690197

>say what happened, not why you think it happened.

Called and writing for [Gregarious] and [Confide in her].

File: It's hard to forget when (...).jpg (283 KB, 1000x711)

283 KB JPG

>[Gregarious] action taken. Decided to tell her everything about the situation.

Taking in deep gulps of air, you manage to eke out a quiet “Powder...Bridge” in-between bouts of heavy coughs. Gods above and below, I always forget how much chokeholds suck... You feel another nudge in your chest, followed by a shifting crunch as Snorri squats down lower. There’s a rustle, as well as a muted clonk as her helmet is set on the road.

“Eh? What was that? Can barely hear you through the coughs Tris. C’mon, I didn’t choke you that bad, did I?” There’s a faint note of concern in her voice, as well as a suspicious undercurrent. If you weren’t feeling so shit right now, you’d be tempted to try and go for her in revenge. As it is, you work your arms under your chest and press yourself off the ground, resting back on your knees. Your head still feels a little woozy as the blood rushes back in, but your pulse is lowering back to normal.

“Powder, under the bridge. That’s what was happening. Gods, Robert’s lucky we arrived when we did.”

“Slow down Tris, you’re babbling. What powder? What the hell does powder got to do with anything? They didn’t have any cannon or grenades from what I’ve seen, let alone pistols, or muskets, or anything.” Right, she’s only ever personally used it in grenades. They explode, but nowhere near as bad as three barrels packed in together in a tight space.

“Three barrels, under the bridge. Strung up with fuze so they’d blow up all at once.” You catch her expression at that, a sudden expression of shock on her face. Right, she’s old enough to remember when the Crow’s Tower exploded thirty years ago at the Golden Spur. As you take your helm off to rub your aching neck, she managed to stifle the shock and place a more neutral face on.

“Three fathers, just like at the Spur. Why the hell would they blow up the bridge? It’s the Gem Road, yeah, but there’s other bridges around. It doesn’t make any damned sense, especially since it was just the five of them.”

“Robert didn’t say. Apparently, they were leftovers from the last uprising, running from the border this way. He found out about the plot this morning, and rode out from Brinsmere the moment he found out. Beyond that, he was being cagey about it. Said he’d tell me all about it when it’s wrapped up.”

Snorri’s rubbing her face in both hands, as you finally feel something closer to normal. You see Jared riding up, Seafoam in tow. “Fucking hell, bet you five silver that it’s Grousers. We managed to send them packing before, but just like ants, you knock off a hill, and they just come pouring out everywhere.” Jared looks at the two of you in the middle of the road for a moment before coughing pointedly.

[1/2]

File: Jared, you're pretty sure.jpg (95 KB, 1024x683)

95 KB JPG

>>4692604

“Er, want me to track down Buttercup messir?” He’s doing his best to appear uninterested, but you can already tell that word of it is going to funnel through the guards to the rest of the caravan.

“Yes, she pitched us off. She probably wouldn’t have run too far; I’d be much obliged to you Jared.” He gives you a firm salute, carefully not looking at Snorri before he rides further down the road. You wait until he’s out of earshot before turning back to Snorri.

“The weird thing is, they used Grouser cries, but the motive seems off. Grousers generally don’t attack the big stuff like that, it brings down trouble on everyone else. Nobody wants another Harvin’s Pass. Plus, they were using corned powder. Most of the Deener’s supply is serpentine, and the Grousers got practically everything from them. It just doesn’t add up.”

There’s a long pause before Snorri looks back at you, a deathly serious look in her eyes. “I’m pretty sure I’ve got an idea, but you wouldn’t like it Tris.”

>[Surly] “I promise to not get mad, if that’s what you want to hear.” Hear her out, she’s been around the block long enough to have more insight into political climate than what you do. Spending forty years up and down the roads and lurking through Port Josiah has to pay off sooner or later.

>[Gregarious] “You suspect other foreigners?” It’s not entirely unheard of for the other major powers to do something underhanded like this. Trying to stifle the re-invigorated Lorians by putting the blame on Haradeen is a possibility. Heaven knows, we’ve done the same to them before.

>[Pragmatic] “The other Houses wouldn’t dare. The Coral Throne wouldn’t stand for it.” King Peter the Hale spent most of the last seven years welding the disparate Houses together to claw back the shoreline along the Monstrous Bay. This would risk shattering that truce into the bitter infighting from your youth.

[Write-in?]

[2/2]