The Misadventures of the Missed Adventurers

[Jack Simth]

ooc:[Well, it has been about 24 hours since the Last post; that clears me for making another despite that I was the Last to post, doesn't it? Just in case, I'll keep it short.]

The lookout, panicked at not being able to shout out, tries to run.

With the barrier up, he hits it head first, and falls unconcious.

Unfortunately, the barrier makes a loud ringing noise at this, alerting the people in hiding, who peek out from behind their trees, and see the lookout lying prone on the ground, and the party of adventurers standing nearby. Of course, they make the logical conclusion that they are under attack.

Jack "I knew there was something we were forgetting."

[narf poit chez BOOM]

ooc:[i suggest that as an addition to the world, that the empire be currently at a low point, at only 1/5 of the continent, and that there be little contact between the continents generally, at any time. that would allow for greater diversity. toll collecters? we could be mistaken for the local bandits...]

at that moment, there is a shimmer in the air behind them and a burly-looking soldier, probably a sergeant, appears. there is an amulet on his chest, and a large crossbow in his hands. he shouts "HALT, BANDITS!".

seeing as he is twelve feet away, narp decides to halt and put up his hands. at the same time, he says "we're not bandits."

sergeant "his lordship and his wizard will decide that."

ooc:[so now we have a lordship? and his? wizard?.]

[ June 24, 2003, 02:43: Message edited by: narf poit chez BOOM ]

[Jack Simth]

ooc:[Works. Yes, they would think us bandits, especialy considering that, when it comes down to it, we DID strike first, even though it was a non-fatal strike.]

Jack glances at the crossbow, and looks the burly soldier up and down
Jack "We aren't bandits. Besides, how are you going to enforce your words? With this?"
Jack holds a crossbow bolt in his hand, and the buly soldier glances at his crossbow - no bolt. Jack then tosses the soldier his bolt back. The soldier catches it, and blinks at it a few times while Jack continues.
ooc:[Ain't teleportation fun?]
Jack "Although, I would be interested in conversing with His Lordship and his wizard. That is a very interesting amulet you wear, and I would be interested in talking with its maker."

[narf poit chez BOOM]

ooc:[yes, after the dust and the rain and the way narp looked even before that, i'm imagining we don't look to clean. maybe we should have found a stream.]
most of the solders blanch, but the sergeant only says "if you will come with us, then, sirs? and, if you would, release kendrick?"

after kendrick is released, everybody heads done the road, still going west and the solders somewhat confusedly form an escort, directed by some discrete hand signals by the sergeant which the guests politly ignore.

ooc:[and our status has been upgraded. of course, as an escort, the're closer. so that's it, unless there's something you wanted to add. if so, i'll change it.]

[ June 24, 2003, 05:24: Message edited by: narf poit chez BOOM ]

[Jack Simth]

ooc:[I'm done with my previous post.]
As the party and escort travel down the road, Jack engages the sergant in conversation.

Jack "We are travelers from a far land, and are unfamiliar with this region. If thou would'st be so kind, could'st thou inform us of the full titles for His Lordship and his wizard?"

Sergant "His Lordship's full title is Lord Baron Roger William Peixes IV of Lago. His wizard's title is Master Wizard of Lago."

ooc:[This actually gives us several pieces of information all at once: The level of the Lord we are seeing: Baron (low level for the nobility, but controls land), Lago (the name of the region the Baron controls), and Roger William Peixes IV (the lord's name); Master Wizard is a position, similar to Master at Arms; of Lago specifies that he is working for the Barony of Lago.]

Jack "Only a title for the wizard?"

Sergant "That's right."

Jack "Thank you."

[narf poit chez BOOM]

ooc:[only a title for the wizard? what's that mean? ok, lets see...]

while jack talks to the sergeant, narp, falling into the roll of man-at-arms, falls behind a little and engages the solders in conversation, soon finding out that the crops have been good, taxes have been not to bad, road duty is somewhat dangerous, that there are about fifty armed bandits known to be camping somewhere in the woods and that there very hard to find and if his lordship keeps the troops called up for much longer, the taxes are going to be bad, at which point the segeant calls for 'silence in the ranks'. narp moves up a little and ceases bothering the solder's.

ooc:[i couldn't find a clever way of having him do that in conversation, but assume that it was a short conversation and, unless either of the wizards have been listening, he'll tell them everything he's heard, which won't all be what you will, since you'll be getting the officail story, and narp might find out something else.

[ June 24, 2003, 07:20: Message edited by: narf poit chez BOOM ]

[Jack Simth]

Originally posted by narf poit chez BOOM:
ooc:[only a title for the wizard? what's that mean?]

ooc:[Just that he doesn't give out his name (Like D and Jack), and prefers a title to a letter (D) or a short fake name (Jack); that could mean he is slightly more paranoid than many.]
After an hour's walk, the group reaches the gates of a modest manor, surrounded by a vast expanse of ripening grain. The sergant talks to the gatekeeper for a moment, and the group is let in without further ado. At this point, the escort becomes replaced by a few members of manor's staff, who lead the group to some large double doors. At this point, Jack quietly uses a little illusion to neaten up the party's appearence. At the doors stands a herald, who asks
Herald "How shall I announce you to His Lordship?"

D "I am Wizard D."

Jack "I am Magician Jack."

ooc:[Title for rank in Jack's world in the Mages Guild: Magician (Apprentice), Mage (Journyman), Wizard (Master); they can be used interchangeably, but in court, the more formal Magician/Mage/Wizard is always used; this may or may not apply to the realm we are in now.]

ooc:[On a side note, if the court wizard is familiar with this, he is likely to assume that Jack is D's apprentice, as apprentices don't usually travel far without their masters - that is for Journymen or above.]

ooc:[Narpichez's turn to intruduce himself.]

[ June 24, 2003, 08:05: Message edited by: Jack Simth ]

[narf poit chez BOOM]

ooc:[update. just in case you don't know. as narp is acting the part of the humble bodyguard, he wouldn't get greeted or announced by name, which is what he wants. narp's thinking like a solder and partly like a scholar and so the first thing, it seems to him, is that what he should get is information...which is sometimes better got by being ignored.]

the doors are opened and the three enter the great hall. a herald annouces "a party from a land unkown, consisting of the wizard D with apprentice and bodygaurd, to see Lord Baron Roger William Peixes IV of Lago and his Master Wizard of Lago"

in the hall are four tables, arranged with one at the end on a dais and two lower down stretching along the hall and a rough one, probably for the use of servants, near what are probably the kitchen doors. there are a few men-at-arms at the lower ends of the lower tables, but not of course, at the servants table. behind the table on the dais, which is the finest, is presumably the lord, who is showing a touch of age and has a moustache and a small beard. his is wearing fine, but practical clothing and his gaze shows a sound mind behind it. sitting to one side is the wizard. he wears fine robes with no runes or symbols on them. the wizard leans over and mumers something in the lords ear the leans back.

ooc:[the wizards clothing may or may not be important. i just threw it in there. the wizard just gave him a breifing on our illusion, and other stuff i'm leaving up to you - since he's a master wizard, probably more than that. i'm basing this of off what i know of medieval customs, as a bodygaurd who's not noble - as he's not and as he's been trying to appear - he would be officialy ignored for the most part. it doesn't neccasarily say anything about the lord, just the culture. in addition, if we're invited to sit down, narp will as a bodyguard, have to stand behind the wizard. D will go somewhere on the high table and jack will go on one of the two lower tables. jack probably wouldn't have gotten noticed except as an apprentice, but you've already introduced him. that's what i remember of medieval customs anyway, which i might not all remember right.]

[ June 24, 2003, 08:45: Message edited by: narf poit chez BOOM ]

[Jack Simth]

ooc:[Which would also mean D is going to be doing all the talking to the various personages, Narp can listen in and taste all the food D eats, but is stuck at the Lord's table, forbidden to speak unless specifically addressed; that leaves Jack for quietly talking to the servants - not that any outside speech would be permitted while the Baron is in a public conversation.]

Baron "You may approach."

D walks towards the dias, with Jack and Narp following two steps behind, off to the right and left.

Baron "What brings thee to our domain, Wizard?"

D "We are but humble travelers, who wish to pay our respects to Your Lordship."

Baron "To where dost thou travel, and from whence dost thee come?"

ooc:[Narf - you can have D field this one.]

ooc:[We get to make up our own mideval customs, as they varied from generation to generation and land to land, and even (to some extent) court to court.]

[ June 24, 2003, 09:29: Message edited by: Jack Simth ]

[narf poit chez BOOM]

ooc:[true. looks like jack's going to be fishing for information while narp's feet get flat...something my feet are in danger of.]

D "I am lately come from the city of pitaza and was headed to the north country, for i had heard things of interest, when i was caught up in those most unfortunate disturbances. i was surveying these new changes when i spotted thy magnificent domain."

ooc:[well, i already used one actual food name - a dirivative can't be to bad.]

the lord looks pleased at the flattery - unless you look at his eyes, which, while not unfriendly, show a realization that flatering words do not a freind make.

lordship "since thee hast traveled so far, perhaps thou wilt partake of my hospitality?"

with a gesture, plates are placed for the travelers, one first at the higher tables, one at the lower tables and one offered at Narp's left elbow so as not to impede his sword arm - although nobody would bring up that reason. D sits, jack sits, and narp stands, with his plate, which he puts in his right hand, because in case of trouble it's easier to drop it and go for his sword, behind D, who has been placed opposite his lordship.

after enough time for D to eat some of his food,
lordship "now, we can talk more comfortably. i have a bandit problem and for some reason scrying is not working well. i would be gratefull if you could help."

ooc:[guess Narp will have to get D to dismiss him sometime, or no chatter. the baron may still suspect us, after all, if someone is blocking his wizards scrying, that someone could be Jack or D.]

[ June 24, 2003, 09:45: Message edited by: narf poit chez BOOM ]