More Family Circle - 3/18
Mar. 23rd, 2006 11:48 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
leticiaThere is only a few minutes wait before the door opens again, and a man enters. This is one of the guards who accompanied your host outside the city, and the one who was arguing with his employer before the merchant approached you. He is a tall man, with a wiry build and a fair scattering of minor scars. His skin is dark, with a faint greenish tint hinting at possible Haltan ancestery, resulting in a rather unusual olive-brown tone. He bows briefly as he enters the room and appraises the Exalts anxiously. "Master Buer has told me that you wish to ask of the barbarians?"
Shai smiles at the man, from her seat near one of the lamps. "Indeed, if you wouldn't mind."
Green Cove settles comfortably in place with one arm flung over Floating Leaf's back, eyes alert and mouth firmly shut. She has more interest in hearing what other people have to say here than making any noise of her own.
Sado Yasutora nods gravely to the guardsman. "Indeed. Before we engage them, I have a number of questions. I would like to know how well armed they are; who their leaders, if any have been identified, are; what their tribal totem is; and what their order of battle is like."
Yoru has taken a seat near Shai and was trying to engage in some idle conversation while waiting for the captain. As the man in question arrives he turns towards the man and nods silently to him.
(Shai was quite open to small talk, for the few minutes they had to talk in.)
Yoru adds his own questions to Sado's. "It would also help to know where they are usually located and if they have any favorite areas to attack or take from."
Allen opens as mouth as if to speak, but nods at Yasutora's questions and settles back, listening for answers before adding further inquiries of his own.
Ardat nods thoughtfully, and takes a moment to organize his thoughts before he speaks. "Understand that we have no organized military; the defensive force of the city is restricted to the private guards hired by the councilmen. The cooperation and large scale organization is...," he hestitates, looking for a politic word, "...inadequate. So tactical information is limited and not well shared." He smiles broadly. "Master Buer is, perhaps, wiser than his fellows, and has paid well to open lines of communication directly to the guards of other members, so I know most of what anyone knows."
"The barbarians have at least three primary camps; we do not know how many are in each camp, as it is unwise for small parties to get too near those camps. The central camp, north of the city, seems to be where their leaders reside. This is where they come from and return to when collecting tribute. They are not organized fighters, using the weight of their numbers as a bludgeon, rather than a blade." His smile twists into a grimace. "Neither, however, are we."
Sado Yasutora nods in response to this, filing it away as he listens patiently.
Yoru nods softly as he listens.
Shai winces at the first part, tapping fingertips absently on the armrest of her chair. She listens attentively, frowning.
Green Cove props her chin on one fist as she listens, her other hand tangling in the tiger's fur.
The guard captain continues, "Their arms are certainly not on the par with any civilized army, but they are quite adequate. No few of them have finer weapons, but by and large they use axes, long knives, and clubs." He pauses and considers. "I am unsure as to their leaders; I am told that the tribute collecting party largely changes, but there are a few constant members. They are likely leaders, but...," he shrugs, "I have not seen them myself."
Sado Yasutora nods again and quietly asks, "And their totems?"
"Do you have a rough estimate of how many barbarians there are total? Failing that - how many come to take the tribute when it is due?" Allen interjects, leaning forward slightly in his chair.
Yoru hrms and asks his question again, clarifying slightly. "What about the people who disappear from the fields. Is there a certain area that is more prone to such takings?"
Shai fiddles with the bow propped against her leg, absently. She asks, "Have you heard descriptions of them, or do you know their names? --forgive us if we're asking too many things at once." She laughs quietly, smiling a bit.
Ardat nods to Yoru. "I believe that they take the wolf as their totem..." He shrugs and addresses Allen. "There are at least a few hundreds between the three camps. There may be more; I estimate based only on the size of the tribute they demand. I do not know how much they supplement the food they take by other means - or, for that matter, if most of it goes to waste and is taken merely as excess. There are usually 20-30 people in the party; if there has been recent conflict between us, more." He glowers, "I do not count people vanishing here, only armed conflicts which might give them reason to think we intend to fight back for a change."
Sado Yasutora nods gravely, and returns to his silence, letting the others take the lead for now
Yoru hrms and nods. So he won't find out from this man.
To Shai, he continues, "I am afraid I do not; one is said to be tall and a remakably pretty man for a barbarian, but no one has bothered to distinguish the rest for me. He shrugs, "Guards are not very much present at these meetings. They prefer we remain unobtrusive and make their displeasure evident."
"As for where people disappear from ...the outskirts of the fields. The orchards. No particular direction seems to be favored, but small groups of them roam the countryside freely; they make small temporary camps all over beyond the fields, so..."
Shai lifts eyebrows when he answers her, but nods, looking wryly sympathetic. "Hardly your fault," she murmurs, listening to the rest.
Yoru nods again and grimaces.
Ardat appears to think of something, and adds, "...When we find bodies afterwards, they tend towards the easternmost camp. However, the vanished individuals may have been working in any direction."
Yoru nods and thanks Ardat for his information. He glances at the rest of his Circle to see if they have other questions.
Green Cove hasn't taken her eyes off Ardat in all this time, chin still resting on one fist. She frowns quietly to herself, and looks for a moment as if she's about to say something, but only shakes her head and stays quiet.
Sado Yasutoraruns the golden fingers of the Shield of the Righteous over the rim of his tower shield. "It would seem that the easternmost camp is the place to start... looking into matters."
Shai winces, nodding. She nods again to Yasutora, and looks abstracted for a moment. "I'm afraid I--ah, right!" She flashes a quick, wry smile at Ardat. "Do you know what language they speak? --Or languages, I suppose. Among themselves, or if they speak to your people at all."
Ardat shrugs. "That may be; their leaders are probably in the central camp, though, and I do not know what tactics your abilties best lend themselves to." Turning again to Shai, he says, "At least some of them speak Rivertongue, as we do. But among themselves, they speak some crude barbarian tongue; I do not know it or what it is.
"However, if the leaders are in the central camp, beginning with the eastern camp would be merely striking at an edge of the problem." Allen leans his elbow on the arm of his chair and drums his fingers on his chin thoughtfully.
Yoru glances at Yasutora and comments, "Not the central camp with the leaders?"
Sado Yasutora shrugs quietly. "My priority would be where people are being hurt-- or disposed of. The leaders can be dealt with as they become a problem."
The captain unrolls a crude map of the region on a low table. "These are the camps we know of," he says, gesturing to the marked regions. The city itself is on the outside of a bend in the river. The central camp is north of the city, and slightly east. There is another camp further north, and a little west, towards the river. The third camp is east, and slightly south of the city.
Shai nods to Ardat, thoughtful. "Good to know, either way. Thank you." She glances around ar the rest of the Circle, considering -- and perks up at the map, leaning forward to examine it closely.
Yoru nods at Sado. "Agreed." There is an unspoken 'but' at the end of that and a glance at Ardat suggests he is the reason Yoru is not elaborating.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "That is, for clarity, the river looks like this here: >"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "The town itself is at the outside of the point."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "...and my ascii art skills are not really adequate to convey this all. :) But yeah, the northern most camp is nearer the river, though not on it, and slightly west of the city. The central camp is basically due north, with a little jog eastward, and the easternmost is... east. And a little south."
<<OOC>> Yoru hehs. Gotcha. "So is the central camp the closest then?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "The central and eastern camps are about equidistant; the northernmost camp is further away."
Shai considers, glancing around the Circle. "Thank you very much for your help, Ardat." She smiles at him. "Shall we let you return to your duties now, while we discuss? Unless you" (aimed at the other Solars) "can think of anything we haven't covered; I'm afraid my specialties tend to lean in other directions."
Green Cove shakes her head absently, not taking her chin from her fist.
Sado Yasutora shakes his head in response to Shai. "I know all that I can learn here," he tells shai, before curling his hand over the shield-rim and beginning to contemplate the problem.
Yoru says "I have nothing else to ask of the good captain."
Allen nods. "I believe my questions have been answered, sir. Ah- save one. When is the next tribute due?"
"In about three weeks," Ardat replies. He gives one last glance around the group, looking for other questions.
Shai makes a mental note, nodding, and returns to examining the map.
Finding no further questions, the man bows towards Shai and then the rest of the company. "I will leave you to your plans then. I hope my answers help you somewhat." He turns towards the door he came in through, and closes it behind him, leaving the five of you and your pets alone to discuss.
"We should go see for ourselves," Green Cove declares, the instant the door's shut. She says this in the tone of someone who's used to being promptly contradicted. "Best in the night when they're not like to see us."
Yoru watches the man leave and then heads towards the door himself, listening at it and then opening it to peek out into the hall.
Sado Yasutora waits until the man leaves. "I belieeve we should act as soon as possible as well, though possibly not -quite- tonight, rest may be beneficial." He turns the Unyielding Bastion's helm over to look at Yoru. "Yoru?" asks the young giant.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "No one appears to be lurking in the dining hall beyond that door. There is another door, through which no one has entered. If Yoru checks it, no one will be lurking there, either."
Shai looks up from the map again, considering. "Might be a good idea, yeah." She taps the map near the northernmost camp. "And if we want to scout in _that_ direction, I can prob'ly get us there faster. ...though barbarians are _not_ my specialty. --I'd rather rest first, m'self. Even if we get up before dawn to go scouting, some sleep's better'n none." She blinks over in the Night's direction, quirking an eyebrow.
Green Cove mutters quietly, "Rest is for after work," barely loudly enough to be heard.
Shai murmurs to Cove, "Rest means you do work better, sometimes."
Green Cove shrugs, and doesn't quite pout. "I'm not tired," she says. "If you want to sleep, Leaf and I can go look and then come back to tell everyone in the morning."
Yoru checks the other door quickly as well, just in case. Satisfied they aren't being listened to he turns back to the others. "Habit," he comments without shame. Walking back towards the group he adds, "Scouting is best done at night, but it can be done in the day." Looking towards the golden giant he adds, "You could make things a bit difficult in that respect. No offense."
"I'm not sure that attacking the eastern camp would be the best of tactics," Allen says, setting his cat down to explore the room. "The guard says that these barbarians have little organization, but I can't help but think that the rest of the group would be easier to deal with if their guiding forces were removed."
"I would still rather inspect the eastern camp first, to make sure there are no unfortunates," Yasutora comments. He gives an unseen smile, his tone lightening. "My apologies, Yoru. I was not made for 'subtle'."
Yoru smiles at Yasutora and winks. "I noticed. As for the eastern camp... I'd worry about the others retaliating against the town if we don't deal with the leaders first."
Sado Yasutora 's even, phlegmatic tone belies his words, "If any are suffering there-- if I see no proof of any mitigating circumstances for what has been done, I fully intend to focus their attention squarely on dealing with the punishment I unleash upon them. They will not have opportunity to retaliate against the town."
Shai coughs at Green Cove. "I'm not sure that'd be the best idea..." She adjusts her sleevecuffs absently, leaning back in her seat. "Mm. Point, Allen. Wonder if it'd be worth _scouting_ east first, though, and then planning how to deal with the rest based on that? I mean, for all we know this might be more easily solved than 'kill 'em all and burn the bodies'. Gotta do _something_; doesn't mean we have t'run in fighting." She slants a golden-eyed glance at Yasutora, and murmurs, "But if word gets from one camp to the rest before we're there to deal with it?"
Yoru glances at Green Cove and smiles charmingly, "I would not be against accompanying you on a scouting mission."
Green Cove nods firmly. "See? It's a good plan. And Floating Leaf is always very quiet. She won't eat anyone while we're scouting."
Yoru adds an agreeing nod to the last of Shai's words.
Shai slants a more dubious glance in Yoru's direction. "Mm. Do we want to split up or no?"
Allen nods. "Scouting would definitely be good before we go in to anything." He hesitates. "If we need to determine the leaders, I... may be of assistance there."
Shai quirks a pale eyebrow, curiously. "How so?"
Sado Yasutora shrugs quiescently, the essence-fins rolling as the pseudomuscles mimic the real beneath. Tiny sparks light off from them, golden twinkles that fade swiftly. He simply says, "Then they will come and face me. Us. And we will see if they can stand against the hammer and the anvil. If we are being put upon by the town, we will know when we are there. It will give them ample opportunity to surrender to justice; we need not enter with arrows flying and blades slicing." When Allen speaks, he turns politely to the Dawn and waits.
Yoru turns his attention to Shai. "If any scouting is to be done, we may have to simply so we don't have a giant golden beacon to tip them off."
Shai shakes her head slightly at Yasutora, but waits for Allen's response. Although she does chuckle quietly at Yoru's comment.
"I could approach them claiming to be an emissary from my mentor, and request to see their leaders," Allen says, shrugging. "There is no guarantee that it would work, but... it would hold a certain amount of believeablility."
Sado Yasutora says "Your mentor, Allen?"
Yoru glances at Allen. "I'm not sure how that would help..." He quiets as Sado asks the same question.
Shai tilts her head, thoughtful. "If it _did_ work... potentially tricky to get out again. Depending on what we wanted to do. And probably on the mentor..."
"The Bull of the North," Allen says. "He is well-known for uniting barbarian tribes, after all, and making overtures to the East wouldn't be unimaginable."
Green Cove sulks quietly by Leaf, fiddling with small items in her pockets. There's a whole night just waiting to be explored, and people are talking about....talking to people.
Shai blinks, eyebrows lifting. "..._in_teresting."
Sado Yasutora 's voice grows impressed. "Indeed," the massive Zenith utters. "His fame has spread far since the destruction of the Tepet legions." He then becomes troubled, the glimmering arms of the Unyielding Bastion folding over each other on the top of his shield. Slowly, he says, "I would... rather not have us approach them under false pretenses, nor besmirch the name of such an honored figure if it is indeed necessary to violate their hospitality and do war upon them."
Yoru ohs softly and regards Allen in a new light.
Green Cove whispers something in Leaf's ear, and then says, aloud, "Why not go looking tonight? Best to know what we're facing."
Shai crosses one leg over the other, consideringly. "We _could_ scout tonight, rest after, decide if we want to take the Sneaky or the Obvious route after that..."
Allen nods to Sado. "I would prefer not to as well - and I doubt that the Bull would prefer that I do - but if it is necessary, it could likely be done, and I thought it best to put the option forward for consideration with any others we come up with. For now, scouting should be our priority." He coughs. "I will admit that I make a poor scout. I may not be so obvious as our good Zenith, but I am not a Night."
Green Cove looks around the room pointedly. "A lot of people for scouting," she says. "Those who want to rest can rest. It shouldn't take long for a quick look."
Sado Yasutora shrugs his hefty shoulders. "Rest or not, I endure; but endure or not, I am not a scout."
Shai nods to Allen's comment, wry. And notes to Cove, "If something goes wrong, though, I'm not sure it'd be good for most of us to be asleep and unarmed and a ways away from the rest." She drums fingertips on her knee, absently. "Although since we _do_ have a Night here..." She flashes a grin at Yoru. "What do you think, for scouting tactics? Your specialty more than ours."
Yoru nods to Allen with a smile and then glances at Green Cove. "I say we three," he includes the cat in that grouping, "should do the scouting. We don't want too many after all."
Green Cove stands up, and nods briskly. "I'll go out with Leaf, then, and that man. Quick as fishes in reeds. We'll be back soon enough, with plenty of time for rest before hitting starts tomorrow."
Green Cove takes a moment to peer at Yoru. "What's your name again?"
Sado Yasutora says "Perhaps Shai, Allen, Allen's cat, and myself should wait at some convenient point nearby?"
Sado Yasutora tilts the Unyielding Bastion forward to look at the map again for any hills or thick wooded areas.
Yoru glances at Green Cove blankly for a second and then smiles. "Yoru."
Green Cove nods, and points to Yoru. "Right. Yoru. You. The sooner we leave, the longer for rest when we return."
Shai chuckles at Green Cove, and nods to her and Yoru. "Sounds good." She glances at Yasutora and nods again. "If we can find someplace that armor of yours won't be seen, assuming you're bringing it along? Cove spotted you from a ways away before; I missed it, but that doesn't necessarily mean _they_ will."
Sado Yasutora nods evenly to Shai.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Time check? When is it ICly?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "It's evening."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Probably around..."
<<OOC>> Storyteller checks last time's log for time. >_>
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "8-9."
Green Cove looks up at the golden armor, and frowns. "Have you ever considered a hat?"
Shai coughs into a hand.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "The entire area is gently hilly; the flatest land is off towards the south, where the water slows to push through the narrow bend (thus 'whitewater bend') and the silt drops out. There are no forests within the immediate area of the city - everything is under cultivation. Beyond that, there are some forested bands."
Sado Yasutora gives Green Cove's suggestion due consideration. "What sort of hat do you think I should use?" he asks politely.
Green Cove hmms. "One that makes you glow less," she says, and ties the loose end of Leaf's leash to the tiger's collar, no longer bothering to make any pretense of holding it.
Yoru nods and glances at the others, "We should be back well before dawn..." As the group turns on Yasutora he adds, "He is great at what he does, that just doesn't happen to be unnoticed. You should've seen him fight." Trying to compliment the big guy after all.
Yoru pauses and adds, "Where will we meet again? That orchard probably isn't the best of places."
Sado Yasutora bows to Yoru. "I believe we can wait for you behind this hill, here," he says, pointing a huge orichalcum-covered finger at one relatively near to barbarians' camp. "We can set up a fireless camp spot and await your return."
Shai suggests, coughing, "Maybe a cloak, with a hood? ...blanket. ...tent. ...something. Ah." She nods to Yoru, with a half-grin and a glance at the Zenith, "I'm not surprised. Mm. --Well, if we're tagging along, easy to meet up there; either way, I think we're coming back here afterward?" She leans forward to peer at the hill, thoughtful. "That...might work, yeah."
Green Cove holds one foot in a hand, and rocks on her other foot, already impatient.
Yoru says "Eventually we'll be coming back here, but I'm not sure they want us to use this as a home."
<<OOC>> Shai says "We got an offer from, er, whatshisname to spend the night here, not just have dinner and talk here, right?"
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Well there is spend the night and then use the place like a base for a week or so."
<<OOC>> Shai says "Yesssssss, but Yoru just asked 'where will we meet again', which doesn't translate as 'where will we have our base if we wind up staying here for more than an evening'?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Well, he's asking a lot of you. :p"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Of course, there's the question of whether you trust him, too."
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Eating pirates is its own reward!"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Does Green Cove eat pirates too?"
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Ah, true."
<<OOC>> Shai had figured that we'd come back here after scouting (barring things like botches and Sudden Attack of Combat Time and etc), then discuss what to do from then. If we stick around for a week-plus, we can talk to whatshisname and each other about housing arrangements; if we plot something that can be done tomorrow gametime, there may not be a need.
<<OOC>> Storyteller pokes the discussion IC.
<<OOC>> Yoru nods. If we're staying here, we'll come back here then.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "You have all been offered the hospitality of the house for at least the night. :p If people have reasons not to wish to accept it, it should be discussed IC."
<<OOC>> Storyteller cracks her ST whip. :p
Shai squints at Yoru. "Doesn't matter yet, though, does it? We come back here after you three scout the place out; we can work out plans from there."
Sado Yasutora shrugs again, sparking slightly less this time as he places the somewhat smaller left hand into the oversized gauntlet of his smashfist and curling them together. "As you wish," he rumbles.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "The plan, as it has been advanced, seems to be for Green Cove, Floating Leaf, and Yoru to scout the ...central? camp, with the other three hanging out behind a hill playing "Not a big glowy beacon, really.""
<<OOC>> Shai says "Yoru, Green Cove, and Floating Leaf are going to scout. Yasutora, Allen, and Shai (and Allen's cat) are going to be lurking near enough for emergencies but far enough that Yasutora isn't a Giant Golden Beacon to the camp. Ideally, we meet up once the scouting's done, head back here, and--yes. [laughs]"
<<OOC>> Storyteller idly wonders how Yasutora would react to the indignity of being covered with a camouflage net.
Shai nods, pushing herself upright. ...then frowns. "Which camp are we looking at first? Central or east looks nearest, so... Central, see if you three can spot the leaders while you're at it?"
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora thinks a big, wrapping cloak would look all swanky.
Green Cove nods to Yoru, and swaps to another foot. "Let's be off."
Yoru nods. "That we shall do." Another nod to Green Cove and he sets off.
Yoru will open the door for Green Cove and her kitty.
Sado Yasutora hefts his tower shield up onto his let forearm, and nods to Shai, Allen, and Allen's cat.
Shai shakes her head, amused, and scoops up the map and her bow as they head out.
<<OOC>> Shai has images of Yasutora as Fezzik in the wheelbarrow. ...kicks her brain _IC_, _really_. Ah. Are we going to gloss transit and camp-setup so Yoru and Cove can do their thing, or...? [laughs]
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Marf. Let me figure out what to gloss and where to cut back in. ^^"
A servant delays you briefly in the entrance hall, offering to show you to the prepared rooms. He is surprised that you intend to go out now, but bows and states that someone will remain here to show you to your rooms when you return.
Shai smiles at the servant, thanks him, and assures him that they should be back shortly, really.
"My apologies for the trouble," Allen adds.
The town is quiet; the majority of the populace are hard working farmers, and their day begins early. There are a few people moving around, who stare obligingly at the passing golden giant, with the added whispers of recognition from the rumors spreading throughout the town, but most people are in their homes. Beyond the walls of the town, orchards stretch out to the north. The road branches, thinning each time another path leads off - it seems most traffic to the town comes by the river, and this is merely field access.
Sado Yasutora walks on, ignoring the stares; he's sort of used to them at this point.
If the streets were quiet, the fields and orchards are almost completely still, the keepers at home; the night is bright and cloudless. It is a significant walk to the edge of the cultivated lands, though the trees you pass through change to less-maintenance heavy crops as you move further away. There is a decided lack of any dwellings outside the walls.
Yoru will pull ahead with Green Cove, putting some distance between them and the rest of the Circle. The quicker they go the quicker they can turn in.
Shai keeps a polite smile on her face while they're still around townspeople, but it quickly fades to a frown as they continue. She adjusts her quiver and bow absently, keeping an eye out along the way.
Allen is likewise used to stares - the Bull winning the prize for being Most Stared At Man In The North for several consecutive years - and walks to the rear, allowing the scouts to go ahead, as scouts are wont to do.
Green Cove pads along briskly beside her tiger, eyes peering out into the night. People really are a bit silly for spending so much time asleep at night, when it's often much more pleasant than the day.
Sado Yasutora considers the night sky silently as he continues to move the Unyielding Bastion's surprisingly graceful bulk onward towards their destination. He waves cheerfully to Yoru and Green Cove when they pull ahead.
The orchards fade to more wild forest eventually; this is not a heavy, tangling wood, but enough to count as cover within it. Here and there broad stretches of meadow open up, but it's not too hard to skirt those in the trees. The hills and trees quickly conceal Green Cove and Yoru from the other's sight - though if the scouts look back, they can still see the moonlight glinting off of Yasutora's golden body.
This is the edge of the area the barbarians are supposed to avoid; leaving the orchards, you have entered their territory.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "So, any special plans for scouting?"
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "...go, look, return?"
<<OOC>> Green Cove is not much for the Plans as such.
Yoru will glance at Green Cove from time to time, and Leaf as well but not as often. He may even offer the girl a wink as they head into the night. Once he breaks the silence to comment, "If something goes wrong, flee. No need to fight the whole tribe. And I can likely get out more easily than you."
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "Hey, it beats Yasutora's "Go, ask loudly if they've been naughty, beat the crap out of them if they have or lie about it," plan."
<<OOC>> Shai snickers.
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora really doesn't have much of a plan. More of a PLN.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Um, plan. Sneak in, sneak out, don't get caught."
<<OOC>> Shai giggles. And brbs.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "So you're planning on heading straight into the camp?"
Green Cove shrugs lightly. "If need be," she says, and returns to silence.
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Well, the outskirts first."
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "See what we can from around the edges, then maybe sneak in if need be."
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Naw, let's just materialize int he middle somehow."
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "Considering Yoru can go completely invisible..."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Give me ...Mmm, per+awa and dex+stealth rolls. Unless Yoru's using "I am invisible man""
<<OOC>> Yoru is going in all natural first. Save the cool stuff for emergencies.
Allen, Yasutora, and Shai reach their rendevous spot without event.
<<DICE>> Green Cove rolls 8 dice: <3 3 5 6 8 8 9 10> for 5 successes.
<<DICE>> Yoru rolls 7 dice: <1 2 5 7 9 10 10> for 6 successes.
<<DICE>> Green Cove rolls 5 dice: <3 5 6 7 9> for 2 successes.
<<DICE>> Yoru rolls 9 dice: <3 4 4 8 8 9 9 10 10> for 8 successes.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "1-Per+Awa, 2-Dex+Stealth"
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "5 on Per/Awa, 2 on Dex/Stealth. (having, um, neglected to get stealth.)"
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Gee, here I thought you'd actually have it since you volunteered!!!"
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "hey, this is Exalted."
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "Enthusiasm can make up for lack of skill. ;)"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "She does have a decent pool still thanks to her high dex."
<<OOC>> Shai mmmm, stunts. And mmmmmmmm, Dex.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Well okay then."
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Yeah, she has Dex 5, which covers a multitude of sins."
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "And survival! Just not...stealth."
<<DICE>> Storyteller rolls 7 dice: <1 3 4 7 8 9 9> for 4 successes.
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "She generally gets by at night by being able to see things well enough to avoid 'em, where other people are fumbling in the dark."
Yoru slips through the night as if part of it; even Green Cove has trouble tracking him. For her part, she is ...not nearly so stealthy, though her natural dexterity helps her keep to the shadows and avoids crackling sticks and leaves. The tiger flicks in and out of the shadows near her mistress.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Both of you can notice sentries."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Yoru, you're not going to have any trouble getting past them."
<<OOC>> Yoru gives one a stealth-wedgie!
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "...But Green Cove, you might notice, is not QUITE so stealthy. Do you want to stop and strategize?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "...IE, get a stunt and a clever Plan? :)"
Yoru holds up a hand to stop Green Cove. He points towards the sentries to mark them out in case she missed them.
Green Cove pauses, and nods silently, perching still on one foot as she considers how best to get around the dangers ahead.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "You should be far enough away when you see them to whisper to each other without being heard."
<<OOC>> Yoru nods. Um, any thoughts GC?
Green Cove murmurs, quietly, "If we remove any, they'll notice eventually. Do we care?"
Green Cove adds, in a practical tone, "I don't know if they're like pirates. Pirates desert all the time. Sentries disappear."
Yoru whispers quietly in return. "It would have to be quiet."
Green Cove grins, white teeth flashing. "Quiet. Quick. Same thing."
Yoru nods.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "How many sentries?"
Yoru whisperasks, "Kill or knock out?"
Green Cove hmms, and looks down to Floating Leaf. "You--Yoru," she says, "if you can keep one quiet, we can take his throat and hands out quick enough. Throw in the hook again and repeat until the basket's full of fish."
Green Cove snorts, if quietly. "I don't like pirates," she says.
<<OOC>> Shai admires and fears Cove.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "From where you are, you can see two."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Or, rather, have seen two; they're moving around a bit, and one's gone Thataway."
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "... You guys are going to start killing them before we know what's going on? >_< Oh dear... I _knew_ we shouldn't have let you walk off alone together. :P"
<<OOC>> Shai snrrrrk.
<<OOC>> Green Cove figures the situation is entirely cut and dried. Besides, if it were wrong, she'd get some Sign telling her so.
Yoru nods and points towards the nearest one then. He puts a finger to his lips for silence before heading out. Silently he slips off his chain and keeps it the same length. Perfect for strangling.
Green Cove takes her ribbon free, and stalks forward silently, trusting Floating Leaf to take care of her own part in this.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "I take it you're going to be expecting Leaf to go for the throat?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Okay... Who has the higher init bonus? Or is one of you going to wait for the other?"
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Leaf for the throat, Cove for the hands, and she expects Yoru to go for the mouth to keep the sentry silent, though I'm not sure this was actually communicated well..."
<<OOC>> Shai says "Dex+Wits+weapon bonus."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Total of 11 for Green Cove. How much init are you taking on the chain again?"
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Er, staff."
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Ribbon."
<<OOC>> Yoru will shoot for 5 or so. Enough to go first.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Okay, so first move, Yoru! What're you going to do?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller is not doing regular init here, because, err, not regular combat yet. :p
<<OOC>> Storyteller also notes that if either of you want to activate scenelong charms, now's the time. :p
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Combat isn't inevitable, but, if you're being cautious."
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Sneak up behind him, whip the chain around his neck, and try to slap a hand over his mouth."
<<OOC>> Green Cove might as well activate her scene-long dodge charm thingy.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Leaf may have to disembowel true, but better leverage."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Hrm. Okay. Are you lethalizing your chain, or leaving it as bashing?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Go ahead and pose, too. Yoru, I mean."
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Just bashing for now."
<<OOC>> Storyteller nods to Green Cove. ^^
Moving with the skill of a Night in his element, Yoru slips up behind the sentry quietly. With a quick flick of his wrist his chain whips out to wrap around the sentry's neck. Yoru's other hand will grasp both ends of the chain as it comes around leaving the other hand free to slap across the person's mouth. He keeps his face impassive as he waits to hear the sickening tear of flesh when Floating Leaf attacks.
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Oo, do I get to pose now?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Start typing, but I gotta make Yoru roll first. :)"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Plus stunt."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "2 die. :)"
<<OOC>> Yoru will save one action for any dodge. -2 for this, and -3 for any dodge.
<<OOC>> Storyteller nods.
<<DICE>> Yoru rolls 9 dice: <2 2 5 5 6 6 6 6 7> for 1 success.
<<OOC>> Yoru blech.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says ">_>"
<<OOC>> Shai o.o
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "...er. Do I go now?"
<<DICE>> Storyteller rolls 4 dice: <2 4 5 9> for 1 success.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Well, at least the dice didn't play favorites."
The chain coils around the sentry's throat, but with little force behind it; the man jerks and starts fighting the hold, uninjured by the blow.
Green Cove pulls whispery memories of water snakes around her as she glides forward, the ribbon in her hands spinning out into long, lazy loops behind the sentry's back. Somewhere unseen, Floating Leaf is approaching, and Green Cove's only part in this type of fishing is to set the hook properly for the snap. It's a simple matter, once one's acquired the proper mindset, to snake that bit of ribbon out around each of the sentry's hands in a light loop that touches nothing and alerts no one... and then to spin back, ribbon snapping tight, to yank hands away from any chance at grabbing for weapons.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Nice. :)"
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Do I roll anything for this? I suppose it's an attack, if not really a properly damaging one; more the first part of a combo for Leaf to follow through on..."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Two die stunt, go ahead and roll a standard attack. I'm going to let the stunt convert to bashing."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Unless you're trying to do lethal."
<<DICE>> Green Cove rolls 12 dice: <1 1 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 8 9 9> for 6 successes.
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Not particularly, no."
<<OOC>> Storyteller notes that by her notes, Cove's base attack roll is 11? We'll go with that roll, because is nice successes, but.
<<OOC>> Green Cove checks. Martial Arts Pool 10... Oh, but the Accuracy +1, right.
The sentry's hands are tangled in the reinforced ribbon. A shout is muffled by Yoru's hand across his mouth.
<<DICE>> Storyteller rolls 10 dice: <2 3 5 6 6 6 6 7 8 10> for 4 successes.
Floating Leaf leaps for the guard, teeth and claws tearing at the unfortunate sentry's throat, above the chain, and stomach. There is the smell of blood and human guts, and a mess on the ground beneath the trees, and a body falling limp against the two Solars holding him helpless.
<<OOC>> Storyteller doesn't feel like making people roll over and over to kill the bastard. :p
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Since his end is more or less assured."
<<OOC>> Yoru phews.
<<OOC>> Shai _giggles_.
<<OOC>> Shai | Elsewhere, Yasutorasneezes sniffles.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "The path is clear; you can get through the rest of the sentries fairly easily."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "...If you plan to pick them all off, I will be a sad ST and cause chaos just to bring everyone else back in. :p"
Yoru whispers. "Dispose of the body, quickly. Don't want it found."
<<OOC>> Shai snrrrrrrk at ST.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "At least it looks like he was killed by wild beasts? :p"
Green Cove helpfully assists Floating Leaf in hauling the body a bit out of the way, winding her ribbon back into its usual compact form as she does so.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "True"
Yoru keeps his chain out and wrapped around his hand to keep it silent. With the body out of the way he nods to Green Cove and heads into camp to scout around.
Green Cove follows along a few paces behind, cautiously.
The camp is not nearly so quiet as the town; several fires burn, surrounded by noise and the smell of roasting food. The camp seems fairly permanent; a few hide dwellings intermingle with earthen huts, built in rings facing the fires. The fires seems to be in a circular pattern themselves, and most the people are around the external ones. The fire in the center faces the one wooden building in the camp.
Yoru will try to get a feel of numbers, placement of sentries, and where the leaders tents are. Or whatever he can before figuring it is time to get out.
Green Cove watches for anything of Interest.
Yoru, once he has a general idea of the layout, decides to head out.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "There are anything from six to ten buildings around each fire except the central one, and depending on how tightly the people here pack, could hold several hundred people. There seem to be no more than twenty people currently around the five campfires ringing the central building and fire."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Head out, like back out to the others?"
<<OOC>> Yoru nods. Unless Green Cove wants to do anything.
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Nah, not unless something really catches her attention."
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Scouting is just getting info after all."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Give me a per+awa roll."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Both of you. :)"
<<DICE>> Yoru rolls 7 dice: <2 2 4 4 5 9 10> for 3 successes.
<<DICE>> Green Cove rolls 10 dice: <1 1 3 4 4 5 6 7 7 9> for 3 successes.
As you leave the camp, Green Cove notices someone else leaving the camp, a good ways ahead of you; they too seem to be trying to be furtive. They slip off into shadows and vanish, however.
<<OOC>> Yoru doesn't notice too? :-(
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "If Green Cove points it out before he gets away. :p She didn't get enough successes to keep track of him either, so. :p"
Green Cove taps Yoru on the shoulder, and indicates the direction where someone vanished.
Yoru glances in the specified direction in time to see 'something' disappearing. He looks questioningly at Green Cove and nods thataway.
Sado Yasutora has partially disconnected.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "You can both give me another per+awa (or survival, if it's higher) to try to figure out where he went when you get where Green Cove saw him."
<<OOC>> Storyteller notes that the awa difficulty is 2 while the survival is 1.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "So."
<<DICE>> Green Cove rolls 8 dice: <2 2 2 6 7 9 9 9> for 4 successes.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Is that survival or per?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Err. Awareness."
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Awareness."
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Though, come to look at it, would be the same number of dice either way."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "And lwoer difficulty on Survival, so go for survival. :p"
<<DICE>> Yoru rolls 7 dice: <1 3 3 6 7 8 10> for 4 successes.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Awareness, I assume?"
<<OOC>> Yoru nods, has lower survival.
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Survival it is!"
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Although only by one. Eh, I'll stick with it I guess."
Yoru notices bits of movement off in that direction, and Green Cove can easily see tracks of very recent passage. The ground is often enough trampled this close to the camp that the tracks will fade into the others quickly enough, but for the moment, the moist leaves upturned by passage are obvious enough.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Are you going to follow?"
Green Cove sets off promptly in that direction, making a quick gesture to the unseen Leaf to keep with her on this.
Yoru glances at Green Cove and raises a questioning eyebrow.
Yoru follows along then.
<<OOC>> Green Cove coughs. The kid's not very much used to working with more partners than her tiger yet, sorry...
As you approach a small clearing in between the trees, you can see a torch's light dancing; a group of men and women in the barbarian garb of the camp residents gather around it; the man you were following enters, and with quite murmuring, they all start off to the south east, further away from the rest of your group.
Each of them has a red band tied around their arm.
<<OOC>> Storyteller notes that Yoru probably can't determine the color of the band, but Cove has night sight.
Green Cove pauses slightly to lean over to Yoru and whisper, "Red bands. Do we know what those mean?"
Yoru shakes his head. "Maybe a different tribe," he whispers.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Instead you can turn absolutely completely invisible when you want. :p"
The barbarians recede into the forest.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Gonna head back to the others?"
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "So, Green Cove can see, and you can be unseen... They're like two halves of a perfect scout!"
<<OOC>> Shai _giggles_!
Yoru whispers to Green Cove. "Back to the others then."
Green Cove frowns to herself, but turns back to return to the others. Plenty of time for figuring things out later.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Cut back to the others?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Yes, cut back to the others."
Shortly, Allen, Shai, and Yasutora can see their Twilight and Night returning through the trees; Green Cove and Yoru, of course, can see the beckoning gleam of Yasutora's armor well before then.
Green Cove says "He ought to get a hat."
Yoru says "Maybe we can interest him in some sort of war paint..."
Shai waves once she catches sight of the other two, flashing a grin. Once they're close enough to speak quietly to rather than shout, she asks, "So how'd it go?"
Sado Yasutora turns towards Green Cove and Yoru and bows. "Welcome back," his deep voice echoes from within the massive armor.
Green Cove hmms, and composes her thoughts. "There was a camp. Also, some people leaving the camp for elsewhere. They wore red bands. Leaf bit someone, but it was on purpose, and no one got eaten."
Yoru smirks at Green Cove's summation of events. "We got into camp with no real difficulties, though they are minus a guard. On the way out we saw a group of barbarians with red bands around their arms. I'm not sure if they were part of those in the big camp." He also gives a run down of the layout of the camp.
<<OOC>> Storyteller notes that the banded-barbarians were heading south east.
<<OOC>> Yoru will stick that in his speech too.
Sado Yasutora inquires, "Were the red-banded barbarians treated any differently by the others?"
Yoru says "They had their own camp outside the big one. I don't think we ever saw them deal with the others."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Not a camp; they were just hanging out in a clearing."
Shai frowns, taking mental notes on the layout. "You didn't see anyone who looked..." She waves a hand, vaguely. "Leader-y? --or particularly pretty?" She glances around. "That was the description we got, right? ... hm. And other than the bands, they looked like the barbarians in the camp?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "They seemed to be waiting for the guy you followed; when he got there, they left."
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Well, not a permanent camp true"
<<OOC>> Yoru says "defers Shai's question to the ST."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Nope. Though make note of the central fire with only wooden building, etc. And no one particularly pretty, with the group that had bands or otherwise."
<<OOC>> Yoru relays all that information as well, since GC isn't the talkative type.
<<OOC>> Green Cove nods.
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "Are you going to relay it IC, or should we assume that it has been relayed? ^^ I know what Yasutora's response is going to be either way. :)"
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Assume it's been relayed."
Sado Yasutora ponders, "I take it you saw no sign of any innocents under threat?" He considers this for a moment. "We are here; they are here. If we confront them now, they will have little time to get organized, and their leadership will almost certainly be in camp. If not, we can rest the night and await the resurgence of our patron."
You paged Allen with 'Not these ones. This is a local phenomenon. :)'.
<<OOC>> Yoru didn't see any innocents did I?
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Nor anyone in particular danger, innocent or not."
Yoru shakes his head. "I didn't see anyone in danger or held captive."
Green Cove shrugs. "If there were any, I didn't see them."
Shai frowns into the middle distance, considering. "I...think I'm still inclined not to confront them right now. Whether that's violently or nonviolently. Rather try to put together a plan first, somehow." She spreads her hands. "But this isn't my specialty and I haven't seen them myself. What do you all think?"
Green Cove meanders about in a spiral that spins down to one point and then out again. "They'll notice someone missing eventually," she says. "Are there tigers in these woods? Maybe they won't notice. I don't know barbarians. Easier if they were more like pirates. Maybe if I put them on a ship I'd understand them better."
Sado Yasutora turns the brilliant visage from Yoru and Green Cove to Shai and Allen. "Despite none being endanger, it is my preference to act immediately," he says, unruffled as ever.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "We're supposed to drive them all off, yes? Or just stop the disappearances and such?"
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "I don't think we were given a clearly defined goal, other than 'stop the suck'."
<<OOC>> Yoru ahs. That must be where my confusion was coming from.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "The guy mostly just said "So, I have a little problem. I don't suppose you'd care to fix it?""
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "He didn't say 'do this'. :p Not to a bunch of Solars. :p And a tiger."
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "So Yasutora, basically, wants us to go in, find out why they're dragging people off, and convince them to stop doing it and to stop extorting from the townsfolk. Possibly by leaving them reliant on the townsfolk for medical care if reason and Eclipse Oath-Sealing don't work. :P"
<<OOC>> Green Cove opines that this is a much trickier proposition when you can't just sink all their ships. Barbarians don't have ships. So far as she knows. Maybe if you cut off all their feet, it would work the same way...
Yoru says "Do we want to storm the place, or meet with the leaders. Maybe they aren't even taking the townsfolk, maybe it is those redarms?"
Shai points at Yoru. "That's why I'm not sure I want to go in right now. Plans are _good things_, whichever route we take."
"I believe we should investigate the other camps further, and those red-banded ones, before we make any overt actions," Allen inserts quietly. "It is possible - probable, even - that there are factions among the barbarians, which if we discover them could be used to our advantage."
Green Cove sits down on the ground, resting her chin on her knees, and draws pictures in the dirt.
Yoru says "The red-banded ones didn't really have a camp. They were just sort of gathering in a clearing, and then they moved on once their scout or emisarry or whatever he was got back."
Sado Yasutora shrugs again. "Possibly. But there seems no way to plan as things are now. We could penetrate each camp and know nothing more than their locations; confront them, and we can force them to deal with us, and use that opportunity to discover more about them. To observe them, as it were, in action, especially before word of our presence gets back to them."
Shai nods to Allen, then frowns and nods to Yasutora. "That's a definite point. It's, ah, not like the townspeople _haven't_ noticed that we're here." She coughs. "And if they're in communications with the town in _any_ way... odds are they'll find out fast. At which point any advantage of surprise we have goes down a lot."
Yoru hrms softly and sits back on his heels to listen for the moment.
Sado Yasutora points out, "Any reaction that they have once they know we are here cannot be trusted. What would you do if you had been abusing others and suddenly five Solars strolled through? Panic may bring them to be honest with us." He considers for a while. "And if it is necessary to violently discourage them, I would rather have them unawares and unprepared; it is much more likely that we can leave them alive, if injured, to surrender."
Allen sighs. "Sado, simply walking in will result in two paths. One, we must fight the entire camp - and until we are certain of the situation, I would prefer to do as little damage as possible -, or two, we would be guests under their hospitality - and if it turned out that we needed to fight them, that would involve the breaking hospitality that you mentioned back at the home of our merchant friend."
Green Cove blinks up at Allen. "What's wrong with fighting the entire camp?" she asks.
Sado Yasutora shakes his head. "We will need to fight the entire camp anyway if they are the scum that the townspeople claim they are. And we need not break hospitality at all. If they are hostile, they will attack us; if we must become hostile, we can leave the borders of the camp having presented our case honestly and giving them an hour or so to begin preparations to withdraw or face our wrath. If we see them making ready to withdraw, then we can leave them be; if they use the opportunity to prepare treachery, it will be no different than if we had let them know ahead of time. There is little that can become worse by hitting the matter directly."
Shai murmurs, wryly, "And this is why I figured we should talk about it first."
Sado Yasutora nods enthusiastically to shai. "And so we are."
Green Cove rubs her nose, and draws pictures of corpses. "Talking wastes time," she says.
Allen glances down to Green Cove, raising his eyebrows. "If the central camp is not responsible for the disappearances of the townsfolk, and there is some route to resolution of the problem of bleeding the town dry besides killing them all, I would prefer that. Not all barbarians are alike."
More normally -- and brightly -- Shai says, "Okay, so! We're stuck between with 'scout around more and risk them finding out we exist or doing something stupid and kneejerky, in the name of coming up with a more reliable plan and making sure we _are_ doing the right thing' or 'walk right in and go with the flow, taking advantage of the element of surprise and possibly of the fact that they're mostly sleeping now, but risk missing something or fighting a whole lot on low preparation'. Yes?"
Sado Yasutora says "I have not suggested attacking them directly or killing them at all."
Green Cove looks up at Allen, and shrugs. "They take what isn't theirs. Pirates. Pirates are to be killed and sometimes eaten, and their ships set on fire. No ships, but that doesn't change things too much."
<<OOC>> Allen says "I love that the Dawn says "Let's try to think our way through this! :D" And the Twilight says "KILL 'EM ALL.""
<<OOC>> Shai _giggles_!
<<OOC>> Green Cove snickers. Yes.
<<OOC>> Storyteller cackles.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "They have their biases."
Allen chuckles quietly. "We may have some problems if I ever take my Circle home to meet my mentor, I see."
Green Cove tilts a hand, thinking. "Maybe the camp isn't responsible. If it isn't, their members are running amok without supervision. Careless neglect and turning a blind eye is near as bad as participating. If you let someone drown, you may as well have pushed them in."
<<OOC>> Allen | Green Cove: ">/ PIRATES." Allen: "...Green Cove, stop kicking my mentor's ankles, please."
<<OOC>> Green Cove snickers. Is now picturing Green Cove gnawing on a certain illustrious NPC's ankles, while said NPC sort of looks down in bemusement.
<<OOC>> Storyteller | Long suffering Bull of the North: Allen, is this YOURS?
<<OOC>> Shai cackles! ... oh god why am I imagining Ikkaku the Bull and Green Cove Yachiru now.
<<OOC>> Green Cove gnargnarPIRATESgnargnargnar. Can't burn non-existant ships, but can try to gnaw ankles off!
<<OOC>> Allen | Allen: "She's a good girl, really. She just has a few complexes."
Sado Yasutora says "I would not say we need to merely rush in. We can plan our approach to them now, and then walk in."
Shai shoots Allen a wryly amused look, and toys absently with her bow. "Mm. If we walk in right now, I'm not sure we _could_ do anything but, well, provoke them. Middle of the night, random invaders with bright shiny gold armor and weapons, you know." She coughs. "Even if the town _is_ misinforming us and they're really decent people, hell, _I'd_ be pissed off or going straight for my bow, y'know? --well, assuming I wasn't Solar, but." She waves a hand. "You know what I mean. Anyway. Now, if we walk in at _dawn_, different vibe and we're still running on them not necessarily knowing what's going on. Plus, that buys us more time to decide if we _want_ to walk right in at dawn. That make sense?"
Sado Yasutora considers the prospects quietly. The Shield of the Righteous comes up to cradle the Unyielding Bastion's chin as he thinks. After a few minutes of silence, he stirs again and says, "I believe that walking in calmly, with perhaps our anima banners held high would leave them scrambling, but not attacking; off balance but not berserk. The wolf totem is rarely a rabid one, though it can become vicious. But to walk in at Dawn might work just as well, and be pleasing to the Unconquered Sun."
Yoru hrms and nods. "I agree, approaching them in the morning would be better received if we are to approach them at all."
Green Cove frowns, but stays quiet. It's to be expected that her perfectly reasonable solutions are rejected by the group. It's the way of the world.
Allen nods agreement. "A nighttime approach is asking for a fight. I am not averse to fighting, but I prefer it not to be unnecessary. Agreed with approach at dawn, if we approach them directly."
Shai looks a bit dubious at the anima banners comment, but nods. "Any group of armed and armored people turning up in the middle of the night comes off as a bad sign, unless they're _your_ people. But a group of people turning up in daylight, when you could theoretically be expected to be awake, and not immediately attacking is less of a bad idea. Or we could decide by dawn that we want to wait awhile and scout longer." She grins, brightly. "So. Do we stick around here to keep talking, or do we head back to talk somewhere more comfortable?"
Green Cove shrugs, and draws little burning ships about the pictures of corpses. "A bed would be welcome."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Otherwise, I shall fast forward obligingly."
Yoru gives Green Cove's drawings a stare before shaking his head. "I may accompany you unseen, if that is not minded."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "I am assuming you all go back to town to take advantage of the soft comfie beds and breakfast easily available?"
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "Kay!"
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Yay breakfast!"
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Sounds good to me. And some wine."
<<OOC>> Shai giggles. And nods to both Yasutora and ST; back to town for Comfort Yay is fine with me, and checking the Plan before we head in is a good thing.
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "OOC or IC for planning?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "I always prefer IC. On the walk back to the camp?"
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "So, say, wake up about an hour before dawn (assuming that Allen sleeps i- I mean, assuming the camp isn't an hour away) and start talking as we walk in?"
The trip back to town is uneventful and quiet; animals stir in the wild woods and sneak into the orchards to steal unripe fruit. The beds waiting for you are soft and warm. The residence is a large house, or a small mansion; with all five of you given your own rooms, both Yasutora and Green Cove appear to have rooms which normally belong to someone else, though the other three have properly stuffy guest rooms. In the morning, false dawn turning the sky to steel, sleepy servants bring you a cold breakfast - except for the bread, which is freshly baked.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "You are all now IC! :p Eating breakfast! Which is primarily cold left overs from dinner except for the fresh baked bread."
Sado Yasutora says his morning devotions a bit early today, including a simple apology for the haste, as well as a request for righteousness, the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood, right from wrong, and if at all possible to not have to particularly kill a lot of people. He lets the false dawn light filter over him, enjoying the silence and the calm, and the potential of a new day under the Sun before it becomes necessary to what must be done.
Yoru has a weak wine with his breakfast and enjoys the food. He waits for the others to break the silence with any planning or arguments.
Shai pays particular attention to the fresh bread; it's not something you get very often when you're usually out at sea. She swallows a bite, then asks, "So, how are we spinning this when we go in? Obviously not 'go straight in and start hitting things', but..."
Green Cove is still sulking, though less so now that she's had a pleasant night's sleep on a bed and been presented with tasty food prepared for her at no cost to her. "Ask what they're doing. Tell them to stop. If need be, start hitting things," she explains, around a mouthful of meat wrapped in bread.
"Our first approach should not be hostile," Allen says around a mouthful of food from his over-loaded plate. "The first thing we should do is meet with their leaders and make direct inquiries about the kidnapped and murdered villagers, and mention the red-banded group."
Shai laughs, reaching out for her own glass. "Well, yes. But how do we want to ask? ...we'd probably have trouble _not_ coming in as Solar emissaries, but other than that." She nods to Allen, consideringly. "I'm not sure a little hostility wouldn't be out of place, given the context, but it can't hurt to start off more, mm, diplomatically." And sips, thoughtful.
Once downstairs with the others, he hungrily wolfs down breakfasts and when the others begin to discuss, softly says, "I believe that open announcements serve us best, with Allen serving as herald and facilitator since they are of his people. Allen, could you not best shape the conversation to find out what we wish to know? Shai and I can serve as reinforcement, there, with Shai taking on the conciliatory tact while I remain more aloof." He looks over at Green Cove and Yoru. "Perhaps we three should work together on the 'aloof' portion of the discussion-- if Yoru wishes to be visible at all, though I would recommend doing so at first, to deal honestly with them."
Green Cove rubs her nose, and swallows a bite of bread. "Can do aloof," she says. "'s easy. Just don't talk. Who wants to talk to people anyway? Mostly leads to trouble."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "You guys need to get a can of paint and paint Yasutora to look like some variety of jade. :p"
Yoru opens his mouth to say something but lets Yasutora get his speech out first. "Whichever the circle thinks is best. It can be quite impressive if a person suddenly appears out of nowhere, but if we want honesty I shall not disappear until necessary."
Yoru then winks at Green Cove. "Aye, some of the best things can be done without talking." Realizing he isn't in a bar trying to pick up someone he clears his throat and goes back to his meal.
Shai looks consideringly down at her glass as Yasutora speaks up. "I...think that might work well, yes." She quirks an eyebrow at the others, particularly Allen. "If you're up for it? ...haven't played 'good magistrate' much, but I think I can manage well enough for this."
Shai chuckles at Yoru, then grows serious again. "Mm. It could be useful to have an ace up our sleeves, in case the worst happens... on the other hand, I think we're all capable of handling ourselves fairly well in a pinch? In which case the honest route seems best." ...she coughs at the last part, but doesn't comment.
Shai smiles at the man, from her seat near one of the lamps. "Indeed, if you wouldn't mind."
Green Cove settles comfortably in place with one arm flung over Floating Leaf's back, eyes alert and mouth firmly shut. She has more interest in hearing what other people have to say here than making any noise of her own.
Sado Yasutora nods gravely to the guardsman. "Indeed. Before we engage them, I have a number of questions. I would like to know how well armed they are; who their leaders, if any have been identified, are; what their tribal totem is; and what their order of battle is like."
Yoru has taken a seat near Shai and was trying to engage in some idle conversation while waiting for the captain. As the man in question arrives he turns towards the man and nods silently to him.
(Shai was quite open to small talk, for the few minutes they had to talk in.)
Yoru adds his own questions to Sado's. "It would also help to know where they are usually located and if they have any favorite areas to attack or take from."
Allen opens as mouth as if to speak, but nods at Yasutora's questions and settles back, listening for answers before adding further inquiries of his own.
Ardat nods thoughtfully, and takes a moment to organize his thoughts before he speaks. "Understand that we have no organized military; the defensive force of the city is restricted to the private guards hired by the councilmen. The cooperation and large scale organization is...," he hestitates, looking for a politic word, "...inadequate. So tactical information is limited and not well shared." He smiles broadly. "Master Buer is, perhaps, wiser than his fellows, and has paid well to open lines of communication directly to the guards of other members, so I know most of what anyone knows."
"The barbarians have at least three primary camps; we do not know how many are in each camp, as it is unwise for small parties to get too near those camps. The central camp, north of the city, seems to be where their leaders reside. This is where they come from and return to when collecting tribute. They are not organized fighters, using the weight of their numbers as a bludgeon, rather than a blade." His smile twists into a grimace. "Neither, however, are we."
Sado Yasutora nods in response to this, filing it away as he listens patiently.
Yoru nods softly as he listens.
Shai winces at the first part, tapping fingertips absently on the armrest of her chair. She listens attentively, frowning.
Green Cove props her chin on one fist as she listens, her other hand tangling in the tiger's fur.
The guard captain continues, "Their arms are certainly not on the par with any civilized army, but they are quite adequate. No few of them have finer weapons, but by and large they use axes, long knives, and clubs." He pauses and considers. "I am unsure as to their leaders; I am told that the tribute collecting party largely changes, but there are a few constant members. They are likely leaders, but...," he shrugs, "I have not seen them myself."
Sado Yasutora nods again and quietly asks, "And their totems?"
"Do you have a rough estimate of how many barbarians there are total? Failing that - how many come to take the tribute when it is due?" Allen interjects, leaning forward slightly in his chair.
Yoru hrms and asks his question again, clarifying slightly. "What about the people who disappear from the fields. Is there a certain area that is more prone to such takings?"
Shai fiddles with the bow propped against her leg, absently. She asks, "Have you heard descriptions of them, or do you know their names? --forgive us if we're asking too many things at once." She laughs quietly, smiling a bit.
Ardat nods to Yoru. "I believe that they take the wolf as their totem..." He shrugs and addresses Allen. "There are at least a few hundreds between the three camps. There may be more; I estimate based only on the size of the tribute they demand. I do not know how much they supplement the food they take by other means - or, for that matter, if most of it goes to waste and is taken merely as excess. There are usually 20-30 people in the party; if there has been recent conflict between us, more." He glowers, "I do not count people vanishing here, only armed conflicts which might give them reason to think we intend to fight back for a change."
Sado Yasutora nods gravely, and returns to his silence, letting the others take the lead for now
Yoru hrms and nods. So he won't find out from this man.
To Shai, he continues, "I am afraid I do not; one is said to be tall and a remakably pretty man for a barbarian, but no one has bothered to distinguish the rest for me. He shrugs, "Guards are not very much present at these meetings. They prefer we remain unobtrusive and make their displeasure evident."
"As for where people disappear from ...the outskirts of the fields. The orchards. No particular direction seems to be favored, but small groups of them roam the countryside freely; they make small temporary camps all over beyond the fields, so..."
Shai lifts eyebrows when he answers her, but nods, looking wryly sympathetic. "Hardly your fault," she murmurs, listening to the rest.
Yoru nods again and grimaces.
Ardat appears to think of something, and adds, "...When we find bodies afterwards, they tend towards the easternmost camp. However, the vanished individuals may have been working in any direction."
Yoru nods and thanks Ardat for his information. He glances at the rest of his Circle to see if they have other questions.
Green Cove hasn't taken her eyes off Ardat in all this time, chin still resting on one fist. She frowns quietly to herself, and looks for a moment as if she's about to say something, but only shakes her head and stays quiet.
Sado Yasutoraruns the golden fingers of the Shield of the Righteous over the rim of his tower shield. "It would seem that the easternmost camp is the place to start... looking into matters."
Shai winces, nodding. She nods again to Yasutora, and looks abstracted for a moment. "I'm afraid I--ah, right!" She flashes a quick, wry smile at Ardat. "Do you know what language they speak? --Or languages, I suppose. Among themselves, or if they speak to your people at all."
Ardat shrugs. "That may be; their leaders are probably in the central camp, though, and I do not know what tactics your abilties best lend themselves to." Turning again to Shai, he says, "At least some of them speak Rivertongue, as we do. But among themselves, they speak some crude barbarian tongue; I do not know it or what it is.
"However, if the leaders are in the central camp, beginning with the eastern camp would be merely striking at an edge of the problem." Allen leans his elbow on the arm of his chair and drums his fingers on his chin thoughtfully.
Yoru glances at Yasutora and comments, "Not the central camp with the leaders?"
Sado Yasutora shrugs quietly. "My priority would be where people are being hurt-- or disposed of. The leaders can be dealt with as they become a problem."
The captain unrolls a crude map of the region on a low table. "These are the camps we know of," he says, gesturing to the marked regions. The city itself is on the outside of a bend in the river. The central camp is north of the city, and slightly east. There is another camp further north, and a little west, towards the river. The third camp is east, and slightly south of the city.
Shai nods to Ardat, thoughtful. "Good to know, either way. Thank you." She glances around ar the rest of the Circle, considering -- and perks up at the map, leaning forward to examine it closely.
Yoru nods at Sado. "Agreed." There is an unspoken 'but' at the end of that and a glance at Ardat suggests he is the reason Yoru is not elaborating.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "That is, for clarity, the river looks like this here: >"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "The town itself is at the outside of the point."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "...and my ascii art skills are not really adequate to convey this all. :) But yeah, the northern most camp is nearer the river, though not on it, and slightly west of the city. The central camp is basically due north, with a little jog eastward, and the easternmost is... east. And a little south."
<<OOC>> Yoru hehs. Gotcha. "So is the central camp the closest then?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "The central and eastern camps are about equidistant; the northernmost camp is further away."
Shai considers, glancing around the Circle. "Thank you very much for your help, Ardat." She smiles at him. "Shall we let you return to your duties now, while we discuss? Unless you" (aimed at the other Solars) "can think of anything we haven't covered; I'm afraid my specialties tend to lean in other directions."
Green Cove shakes her head absently, not taking her chin from her fist.
Sado Yasutora shakes his head in response to Shai. "I know all that I can learn here," he tells shai, before curling his hand over the shield-rim and beginning to contemplate the problem.
Yoru says "I have nothing else to ask of the good captain."
Allen nods. "I believe my questions have been answered, sir. Ah- save one. When is the next tribute due?"
"In about three weeks," Ardat replies. He gives one last glance around the group, looking for other questions.
Shai makes a mental note, nodding, and returns to examining the map.
Finding no further questions, the man bows towards Shai and then the rest of the company. "I will leave you to your plans then. I hope my answers help you somewhat." He turns towards the door he came in through, and closes it behind him, leaving the five of you and your pets alone to discuss.
"We should go see for ourselves," Green Cove declares, the instant the door's shut. She says this in the tone of someone who's used to being promptly contradicted. "Best in the night when they're not like to see us."
Yoru watches the man leave and then heads towards the door himself, listening at it and then opening it to peek out into the hall.
Sado Yasutora waits until the man leaves. "I belieeve we should act as soon as possible as well, though possibly not -quite- tonight, rest may be beneficial." He turns the Unyielding Bastion's helm over to look at Yoru. "Yoru?" asks the young giant.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "No one appears to be lurking in the dining hall beyond that door. There is another door, through which no one has entered. If Yoru checks it, no one will be lurking there, either."
Shai looks up from the map again, considering. "Might be a good idea, yeah." She taps the map near the northernmost camp. "And if we want to scout in _that_ direction, I can prob'ly get us there faster. ...though barbarians are _not_ my specialty. --I'd rather rest first, m'self. Even if we get up before dawn to go scouting, some sleep's better'n none." She blinks over in the Night's direction, quirking an eyebrow.
Green Cove mutters quietly, "Rest is for after work," barely loudly enough to be heard.
Shai murmurs to Cove, "Rest means you do work better, sometimes."
Green Cove shrugs, and doesn't quite pout. "I'm not tired," she says. "If you want to sleep, Leaf and I can go look and then come back to tell everyone in the morning."
Yoru checks the other door quickly as well, just in case. Satisfied they aren't being listened to he turns back to the others. "Habit," he comments without shame. Walking back towards the group he adds, "Scouting is best done at night, but it can be done in the day." Looking towards the golden giant he adds, "You could make things a bit difficult in that respect. No offense."
"I'm not sure that attacking the eastern camp would be the best of tactics," Allen says, setting his cat down to explore the room. "The guard says that these barbarians have little organization, but I can't help but think that the rest of the group would be easier to deal with if their guiding forces were removed."
"I would still rather inspect the eastern camp first, to make sure there are no unfortunates," Yasutora comments. He gives an unseen smile, his tone lightening. "My apologies, Yoru. I was not made for 'subtle'."
Yoru smiles at Yasutora and winks. "I noticed. As for the eastern camp... I'd worry about the others retaliating against the town if we don't deal with the leaders first."
Sado Yasutora 's even, phlegmatic tone belies his words, "If any are suffering there-- if I see no proof of any mitigating circumstances for what has been done, I fully intend to focus their attention squarely on dealing with the punishment I unleash upon them. They will not have opportunity to retaliate against the town."
Shai coughs at Green Cove. "I'm not sure that'd be the best idea..." She adjusts her sleevecuffs absently, leaning back in her seat. "Mm. Point, Allen. Wonder if it'd be worth _scouting_ east first, though, and then planning how to deal with the rest based on that? I mean, for all we know this might be more easily solved than 'kill 'em all and burn the bodies'. Gotta do _something_; doesn't mean we have t'run in fighting." She slants a golden-eyed glance at Yasutora, and murmurs, "But if word gets from one camp to the rest before we're there to deal with it?"
Yoru glances at Green Cove and smiles charmingly, "I would not be against accompanying you on a scouting mission."
Green Cove nods firmly. "See? It's a good plan. And Floating Leaf is always very quiet. She won't eat anyone while we're scouting."
Yoru adds an agreeing nod to the last of Shai's words.
Shai slants a more dubious glance in Yoru's direction. "Mm. Do we want to split up or no?"
Allen nods. "Scouting would definitely be good before we go in to anything." He hesitates. "If we need to determine the leaders, I... may be of assistance there."
Shai quirks a pale eyebrow, curiously. "How so?"
Sado Yasutora shrugs quiescently, the essence-fins rolling as the pseudomuscles mimic the real beneath. Tiny sparks light off from them, golden twinkles that fade swiftly. He simply says, "Then they will come and face me. Us. And we will see if they can stand against the hammer and the anvil. If we are being put upon by the town, we will know when we are there. It will give them ample opportunity to surrender to justice; we need not enter with arrows flying and blades slicing." When Allen speaks, he turns politely to the Dawn and waits.
Yoru turns his attention to Shai. "If any scouting is to be done, we may have to simply so we don't have a giant golden beacon to tip them off."
Shai shakes her head slightly at Yasutora, but waits for Allen's response. Although she does chuckle quietly at Yoru's comment.
"I could approach them claiming to be an emissary from my mentor, and request to see their leaders," Allen says, shrugging. "There is no guarantee that it would work, but... it would hold a certain amount of believeablility."
Sado Yasutora says "Your mentor, Allen?"
Yoru glances at Allen. "I'm not sure how that would help..." He quiets as Sado asks the same question.
Shai tilts her head, thoughtful. "If it _did_ work... potentially tricky to get out again. Depending on what we wanted to do. And probably on the mentor..."
"The Bull of the North," Allen says. "He is well-known for uniting barbarian tribes, after all, and making overtures to the East wouldn't be unimaginable."
Green Cove sulks quietly by Leaf, fiddling with small items in her pockets. There's a whole night just waiting to be explored, and people are talking about....talking to people.
Shai blinks, eyebrows lifting. "..._in_teresting."
Sado Yasutora 's voice grows impressed. "Indeed," the massive Zenith utters. "His fame has spread far since the destruction of the Tepet legions." He then becomes troubled, the glimmering arms of the Unyielding Bastion folding over each other on the top of his shield. Slowly, he says, "I would... rather not have us approach them under false pretenses, nor besmirch the name of such an honored figure if it is indeed necessary to violate their hospitality and do war upon them."
Yoru ohs softly and regards Allen in a new light.
Green Cove whispers something in Leaf's ear, and then says, aloud, "Why not go looking tonight? Best to know what we're facing."
Shai crosses one leg over the other, consideringly. "We _could_ scout tonight, rest after, decide if we want to take the Sneaky or the Obvious route after that..."
Allen nods to Sado. "I would prefer not to as well - and I doubt that the Bull would prefer that I do - but if it is necessary, it could likely be done, and I thought it best to put the option forward for consideration with any others we come up with. For now, scouting should be our priority." He coughs. "I will admit that I make a poor scout. I may not be so obvious as our good Zenith, but I am not a Night."
Green Cove looks around the room pointedly. "A lot of people for scouting," she says. "Those who want to rest can rest. It shouldn't take long for a quick look."
Sado Yasutora shrugs his hefty shoulders. "Rest or not, I endure; but endure or not, I am not a scout."
Shai nods to Allen's comment, wry. And notes to Cove, "If something goes wrong, though, I'm not sure it'd be good for most of us to be asleep and unarmed and a ways away from the rest." She drums fingertips on her knee, absently. "Although since we _do_ have a Night here..." She flashes a grin at Yoru. "What do you think, for scouting tactics? Your specialty more than ours."
Yoru nods to Allen with a smile and then glances at Green Cove. "I say we three," he includes the cat in that grouping, "should do the scouting. We don't want too many after all."
Green Cove stands up, and nods briskly. "I'll go out with Leaf, then, and that man. Quick as fishes in reeds. We'll be back soon enough, with plenty of time for rest before hitting starts tomorrow."
Green Cove takes a moment to peer at Yoru. "What's your name again?"
Sado Yasutora says "Perhaps Shai, Allen, Allen's cat, and myself should wait at some convenient point nearby?"
Sado Yasutora tilts the Unyielding Bastion forward to look at the map again for any hills or thick wooded areas.
Yoru glances at Green Cove blankly for a second and then smiles. "Yoru."
Green Cove nods, and points to Yoru. "Right. Yoru. You. The sooner we leave, the longer for rest when we return."
Shai chuckles at Green Cove, and nods to her and Yoru. "Sounds good." She glances at Yasutora and nods again. "If we can find someplace that armor of yours won't be seen, assuming you're bringing it along? Cove spotted you from a ways away before; I missed it, but that doesn't necessarily mean _they_ will."
Sado Yasutora nods evenly to Shai.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Time check? When is it ICly?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "It's evening."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Probably around..."
<<OOC>> Storyteller checks last time's log for time. >_>
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "8-9."
Green Cove looks up at the golden armor, and frowns. "Have you ever considered a hat?"
Shai coughs into a hand.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "The entire area is gently hilly; the flatest land is off towards the south, where the water slows to push through the narrow bend (thus 'whitewater bend') and the silt drops out. There are no forests within the immediate area of the city - everything is under cultivation. Beyond that, there are some forested bands."
Sado Yasutora gives Green Cove's suggestion due consideration. "What sort of hat do you think I should use?" he asks politely.
Green Cove hmms. "One that makes you glow less," she says, and ties the loose end of Leaf's leash to the tiger's collar, no longer bothering to make any pretense of holding it.
Yoru nods and glances at the others, "We should be back well before dawn..." As the group turns on Yasutora he adds, "He is great at what he does, that just doesn't happen to be unnoticed. You should've seen him fight." Trying to compliment the big guy after all.
Yoru pauses and adds, "Where will we meet again? That orchard probably isn't the best of places."
Sado Yasutora bows to Yoru. "I believe we can wait for you behind this hill, here," he says, pointing a huge orichalcum-covered finger at one relatively near to barbarians' camp. "We can set up a fireless camp spot and await your return."
Shai suggests, coughing, "Maybe a cloak, with a hood? ...blanket. ...tent. ...something. Ah." She nods to Yoru, with a half-grin and a glance at the Zenith, "I'm not surprised. Mm. --Well, if we're tagging along, easy to meet up there; either way, I think we're coming back here afterward?" She leans forward to peer at the hill, thoughtful. "That...might work, yeah."
Green Cove holds one foot in a hand, and rocks on her other foot, already impatient.
Yoru says "Eventually we'll be coming back here, but I'm not sure they want us to use this as a home."
<<OOC>> Shai says "We got an offer from, er, whatshisname to spend the night here, not just have dinner and talk here, right?"
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Well there is spend the night and then use the place like a base for a week or so."
<<OOC>> Shai says "Yesssssss, but Yoru just asked 'where will we meet again', which doesn't translate as 'where will we have our base if we wind up staying here for more than an evening'?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Well, he's asking a lot of you. :p"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Of course, there's the question of whether you trust him, too."
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Eating pirates is its own reward!"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Does Green Cove eat pirates too?"
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Ah, true."
<<OOC>> Shai had figured that we'd come back here after scouting (barring things like botches and Sudden Attack of Combat Time and etc), then discuss what to do from then. If we stick around for a week-plus, we can talk to whatshisname and each other about housing arrangements; if we plot something that can be done tomorrow gametime, there may not be a need.
<<OOC>> Storyteller pokes the discussion IC.
<<OOC>> Yoru nods. If we're staying here, we'll come back here then.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "You have all been offered the hospitality of the house for at least the night. :p If people have reasons not to wish to accept it, it should be discussed IC."
<<OOC>> Storyteller cracks her ST whip. :p
Shai squints at Yoru. "Doesn't matter yet, though, does it? We come back here after you three scout the place out; we can work out plans from there."
Sado Yasutora shrugs again, sparking slightly less this time as he places the somewhat smaller left hand into the oversized gauntlet of his smashfist and curling them together. "As you wish," he rumbles.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "The plan, as it has been advanced, seems to be for Green Cove, Floating Leaf, and Yoru to scout the ...central? camp, with the other three hanging out behind a hill playing "Not a big glowy beacon, really.""
<<OOC>> Shai says "Yoru, Green Cove, and Floating Leaf are going to scout. Yasutora, Allen, and Shai (and Allen's cat) are going to be lurking near enough for emergencies but far enough that Yasutora isn't a Giant Golden Beacon to the camp. Ideally, we meet up once the scouting's done, head back here, and--yes. [laughs]"
<<OOC>> Storyteller idly wonders how Yasutora would react to the indignity of being covered with a camouflage net.
Shai nods, pushing herself upright. ...then frowns. "Which camp are we looking at first? Central or east looks nearest, so... Central, see if you three can spot the leaders while you're at it?"
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora thinks a big, wrapping cloak would look all swanky.
Green Cove nods to Yoru, and swaps to another foot. "Let's be off."
Yoru nods. "That we shall do." Another nod to Green Cove and he sets off.
Yoru will open the door for Green Cove and her kitty.
Sado Yasutora hefts his tower shield up onto his let forearm, and nods to Shai, Allen, and Allen's cat.
Shai shakes her head, amused, and scoops up the map and her bow as they head out.
<<OOC>> Shai has images of Yasutora as Fezzik in the wheelbarrow. ...kicks her brain _IC_, _really_. Ah. Are we going to gloss transit and camp-setup so Yoru and Cove can do their thing, or...? [laughs]
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Marf. Let me figure out what to gloss and where to cut back in. ^^"
A servant delays you briefly in the entrance hall, offering to show you to the prepared rooms. He is surprised that you intend to go out now, but bows and states that someone will remain here to show you to your rooms when you return.
Shai smiles at the servant, thanks him, and assures him that they should be back shortly, really.
"My apologies for the trouble," Allen adds.
The town is quiet; the majority of the populace are hard working farmers, and their day begins early. There are a few people moving around, who stare obligingly at the passing golden giant, with the added whispers of recognition from the rumors spreading throughout the town, but most people are in their homes. Beyond the walls of the town, orchards stretch out to the north. The road branches, thinning each time another path leads off - it seems most traffic to the town comes by the river, and this is merely field access.
Sado Yasutora walks on, ignoring the stares; he's sort of used to them at this point.
If the streets were quiet, the fields and orchards are almost completely still, the keepers at home; the night is bright and cloudless. It is a significant walk to the edge of the cultivated lands, though the trees you pass through change to less-maintenance heavy crops as you move further away. There is a decided lack of any dwellings outside the walls.
Yoru will pull ahead with Green Cove, putting some distance between them and the rest of the Circle. The quicker they go the quicker they can turn in.
Shai keeps a polite smile on her face while they're still around townspeople, but it quickly fades to a frown as they continue. She adjusts her quiver and bow absently, keeping an eye out along the way.
Allen is likewise used to stares - the Bull winning the prize for being Most Stared At Man In The North for several consecutive years - and walks to the rear, allowing the scouts to go ahead, as scouts are wont to do.
Green Cove pads along briskly beside her tiger, eyes peering out into the night. People really are a bit silly for spending so much time asleep at night, when it's often much more pleasant than the day.
Sado Yasutora considers the night sky silently as he continues to move the Unyielding Bastion's surprisingly graceful bulk onward towards their destination. He waves cheerfully to Yoru and Green Cove when they pull ahead.
The orchards fade to more wild forest eventually; this is not a heavy, tangling wood, but enough to count as cover within it. Here and there broad stretches of meadow open up, but it's not too hard to skirt those in the trees. The hills and trees quickly conceal Green Cove and Yoru from the other's sight - though if the scouts look back, they can still see the moonlight glinting off of Yasutora's golden body.
This is the edge of the area the barbarians are supposed to avoid; leaving the orchards, you have entered their territory.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "So, any special plans for scouting?"
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "...go, look, return?"
<<OOC>> Green Cove is not much for the Plans as such.
Yoru will glance at Green Cove from time to time, and Leaf as well but not as often. He may even offer the girl a wink as they head into the night. Once he breaks the silence to comment, "If something goes wrong, flee. No need to fight the whole tribe. And I can likely get out more easily than you."
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "Hey, it beats Yasutora's "Go, ask loudly if they've been naughty, beat the crap out of them if they have or lie about it," plan."
<<OOC>> Shai snickers.
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora really doesn't have much of a plan. More of a PLN.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Um, plan. Sneak in, sneak out, don't get caught."
<<OOC>> Shai giggles. And brbs.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "So you're planning on heading straight into the camp?"
Green Cove shrugs lightly. "If need be," she says, and returns to silence.
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Well, the outskirts first."
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "See what we can from around the edges, then maybe sneak in if need be."
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Naw, let's just materialize int he middle somehow."
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "Considering Yoru can go completely invisible..."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Give me ...Mmm, per+awa and dex+stealth rolls. Unless Yoru's using "I am invisible man""
<<OOC>> Yoru is going in all natural first. Save the cool stuff for emergencies.
Allen, Yasutora, and Shai reach their rendevous spot without event.
<<DICE>> Green Cove rolls 8 dice: <3 3 5 6 8 8 9 10> for 5 successes.
<<DICE>> Yoru rolls 7 dice: <1 2 5 7 9 10 10> for 6 successes.
<<DICE>> Green Cove rolls 5 dice: <3 5 6 7 9> for 2 successes.
<<DICE>> Yoru rolls 9 dice: <3 4 4 8 8 9 9 10 10> for 8 successes.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "1-Per+Awa, 2-Dex+Stealth"
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "5 on Per/Awa, 2 on Dex/Stealth. (having, um, neglected to get stealth.)"
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Gee, here I thought you'd actually have it since you volunteered!!!"
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "hey, this is Exalted."
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "Enthusiasm can make up for lack of skill. ;)"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "She does have a decent pool still thanks to her high dex."
<<OOC>> Shai mmmm, stunts. And mmmmmmmm, Dex.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Well okay then."
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Yeah, she has Dex 5, which covers a multitude of sins."
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "And survival! Just not...stealth."
<<DICE>> Storyteller rolls 7 dice: <1 3 4 7 8 9 9> for 4 successes.
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "She generally gets by at night by being able to see things well enough to avoid 'em, where other people are fumbling in the dark."
Yoru slips through the night as if part of it; even Green Cove has trouble tracking him. For her part, she is ...not nearly so stealthy, though her natural dexterity helps her keep to the shadows and avoids crackling sticks and leaves. The tiger flicks in and out of the shadows near her mistress.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Both of you can notice sentries."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Yoru, you're not going to have any trouble getting past them."
<<OOC>> Yoru gives one a stealth-wedgie!
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "...But Green Cove, you might notice, is not QUITE so stealthy. Do you want to stop and strategize?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "...IE, get a stunt and a clever Plan? :)"
Yoru holds up a hand to stop Green Cove. He points towards the sentries to mark them out in case she missed them.
Green Cove pauses, and nods silently, perching still on one foot as she considers how best to get around the dangers ahead.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "You should be far enough away when you see them to whisper to each other without being heard."
<<OOC>> Yoru nods. Um, any thoughts GC?
Green Cove murmurs, quietly, "If we remove any, they'll notice eventually. Do we care?"
Green Cove adds, in a practical tone, "I don't know if they're like pirates. Pirates desert all the time. Sentries disappear."
Yoru whispers quietly in return. "It would have to be quiet."
Green Cove grins, white teeth flashing. "Quiet. Quick. Same thing."
Yoru nods.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "How many sentries?"
Yoru whisperasks, "Kill or knock out?"
Green Cove hmms, and looks down to Floating Leaf. "You--Yoru," she says, "if you can keep one quiet, we can take his throat and hands out quick enough. Throw in the hook again and repeat until the basket's full of fish."
Green Cove snorts, if quietly. "I don't like pirates," she says.
<<OOC>> Shai admires and fears Cove.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "From where you are, you can see two."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Or, rather, have seen two; they're moving around a bit, and one's gone Thataway."
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "... You guys are going to start killing them before we know what's going on? >_< Oh dear... I _knew_ we shouldn't have let you walk off alone together. :P"
<<OOC>> Shai snrrrrk.
<<OOC>> Green Cove figures the situation is entirely cut and dried. Besides, if it were wrong, she'd get some Sign telling her so.
Yoru nods and points towards the nearest one then. He puts a finger to his lips for silence before heading out. Silently he slips off his chain and keeps it the same length. Perfect for strangling.
Green Cove takes her ribbon free, and stalks forward silently, trusting Floating Leaf to take care of her own part in this.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "I take it you're going to be expecting Leaf to go for the throat?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Okay... Who has the higher init bonus? Or is one of you going to wait for the other?"
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Leaf for the throat, Cove for the hands, and she expects Yoru to go for the mouth to keep the sentry silent, though I'm not sure this was actually communicated well..."
<<OOC>> Shai says "Dex+Wits+weapon bonus."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Total of 11 for Green Cove. How much init are you taking on the chain again?"
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Er, staff."
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Ribbon."
<<OOC>> Yoru will shoot for 5 or so. Enough to go first.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Okay, so first move, Yoru! What're you going to do?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller is not doing regular init here, because, err, not regular combat yet. :p
<<OOC>> Storyteller also notes that if either of you want to activate scenelong charms, now's the time. :p
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Combat isn't inevitable, but, if you're being cautious."
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Sneak up behind him, whip the chain around his neck, and try to slap a hand over his mouth."
<<OOC>> Green Cove might as well activate her scene-long dodge charm thingy.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Leaf may have to disembowel true, but better leverage."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Hrm. Okay. Are you lethalizing your chain, or leaving it as bashing?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Go ahead and pose, too. Yoru, I mean."
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Just bashing for now."
<<OOC>> Storyteller nods to Green Cove. ^^
Moving with the skill of a Night in his element, Yoru slips up behind the sentry quietly. With a quick flick of his wrist his chain whips out to wrap around the sentry's neck. Yoru's other hand will grasp both ends of the chain as it comes around leaving the other hand free to slap across the person's mouth. He keeps his face impassive as he waits to hear the sickening tear of flesh when Floating Leaf attacks.
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Oo, do I get to pose now?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Start typing, but I gotta make Yoru roll first. :)"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Plus stunt."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "2 die. :)"
<<OOC>> Yoru will save one action for any dodge. -2 for this, and -3 for any dodge.
<<OOC>> Storyteller nods.
<<DICE>> Yoru rolls 9 dice: <2 2 5 5 6 6 6 6 7> for 1 success.
<<OOC>> Yoru blech.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says ">_>"
<<OOC>> Shai o.o
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "...er. Do I go now?"
<<DICE>> Storyteller rolls 4 dice: <2 4 5 9> for 1 success.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Well, at least the dice didn't play favorites."
The chain coils around the sentry's throat, but with little force behind it; the man jerks and starts fighting the hold, uninjured by the blow.
Green Cove pulls whispery memories of water snakes around her as she glides forward, the ribbon in her hands spinning out into long, lazy loops behind the sentry's back. Somewhere unseen, Floating Leaf is approaching, and Green Cove's only part in this type of fishing is to set the hook properly for the snap. It's a simple matter, once one's acquired the proper mindset, to snake that bit of ribbon out around each of the sentry's hands in a light loop that touches nothing and alerts no one... and then to spin back, ribbon snapping tight, to yank hands away from any chance at grabbing for weapons.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Nice. :)"
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Do I roll anything for this? I suppose it's an attack, if not really a properly damaging one; more the first part of a combo for Leaf to follow through on..."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Two die stunt, go ahead and roll a standard attack. I'm going to let the stunt convert to bashing."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Unless you're trying to do lethal."
<<DICE>> Green Cove rolls 12 dice: <1 1 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 8 9 9> for 6 successes.
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Not particularly, no."
<<OOC>> Storyteller notes that by her notes, Cove's base attack roll is 11? We'll go with that roll, because is nice successes, but.
<<OOC>> Green Cove checks. Martial Arts Pool 10... Oh, but the Accuracy +1, right.
The sentry's hands are tangled in the reinforced ribbon. A shout is muffled by Yoru's hand across his mouth.
<<DICE>> Storyteller rolls 10 dice: <2 3 5 6 6 6 6 7 8 10> for 4 successes.
Floating Leaf leaps for the guard, teeth and claws tearing at the unfortunate sentry's throat, above the chain, and stomach. There is the smell of blood and human guts, and a mess on the ground beneath the trees, and a body falling limp against the two Solars holding him helpless.
<<OOC>> Storyteller doesn't feel like making people roll over and over to kill the bastard. :p
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Since his end is more or less assured."
<<OOC>> Yoru phews.
<<OOC>> Shai _giggles_.
<<OOC>> Shai | Elsewhere, Yasutora
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "The path is clear; you can get through the rest of the sentries fairly easily."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "...If you plan to pick them all off, I will be a sad ST and cause chaos just to bring everyone else back in. :p"
Yoru whispers. "Dispose of the body, quickly. Don't want it found."
<<OOC>> Shai snrrrrrrk at ST.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "At least it looks like he was killed by wild beasts? :p"
Green Cove helpfully assists Floating Leaf in hauling the body a bit out of the way, winding her ribbon back into its usual compact form as she does so.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "True"
Yoru keeps his chain out and wrapped around his hand to keep it silent. With the body out of the way he nods to Green Cove and heads into camp to scout around.
Green Cove follows along a few paces behind, cautiously.
The camp is not nearly so quiet as the town; several fires burn, surrounded by noise and the smell of roasting food. The camp seems fairly permanent; a few hide dwellings intermingle with earthen huts, built in rings facing the fires. The fires seems to be in a circular pattern themselves, and most the people are around the external ones. The fire in the center faces the one wooden building in the camp.
Yoru will try to get a feel of numbers, placement of sentries, and where the leaders tents are. Or whatever he can before figuring it is time to get out.
Green Cove watches for anything of Interest.
Yoru, once he has a general idea of the layout, decides to head out.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "There are anything from six to ten buildings around each fire except the central one, and depending on how tightly the people here pack, could hold several hundred people. There seem to be no more than twenty people currently around the five campfires ringing the central building and fire."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Head out, like back out to the others?"
<<OOC>> Yoru nods. Unless Green Cove wants to do anything.
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Nah, not unless something really catches her attention."
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Scouting is just getting info after all."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Give me a per+awa roll."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Both of you. :)"
<<DICE>> Yoru rolls 7 dice: <2 2 4 4 5 9 10> for 3 successes.
<<DICE>> Green Cove rolls 10 dice: <1 1 3 4 4 5 6 7 7 9> for 3 successes.
As you leave the camp, Green Cove notices someone else leaving the camp, a good ways ahead of you; they too seem to be trying to be furtive. They slip off into shadows and vanish, however.
<<OOC>> Yoru doesn't notice too? :-(
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "If Green Cove points it out before he gets away. :p She didn't get enough successes to keep track of him either, so. :p"
Green Cove taps Yoru on the shoulder, and indicates the direction where someone vanished.
Yoru glances in the specified direction in time to see 'something' disappearing. He looks questioningly at Green Cove and nods thataway.
Sado Yasutora has partially disconnected.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "You can both give me another per+awa (or survival, if it's higher) to try to figure out where he went when you get where Green Cove saw him."
<<OOC>> Storyteller notes that the awa difficulty is 2 while the survival is 1.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "So."
<<DICE>> Green Cove rolls 8 dice: <2 2 2 6 7 9 9 9> for 4 successes.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Is that survival or per?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Err. Awareness."
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Awareness."
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Though, come to look at it, would be the same number of dice either way."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "And lwoer difficulty on Survival, so go for survival. :p"
<<DICE>> Yoru rolls 7 dice: <1 3 3 6 7 8 10> for 4 successes.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Awareness, I assume?"
<<OOC>> Yoru nods, has lower survival.
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Survival it is!"
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Although only by one. Eh, I'll stick with it I guess."
Yoru notices bits of movement off in that direction, and Green Cove can easily see tracks of very recent passage. The ground is often enough trampled this close to the camp that the tracks will fade into the others quickly enough, but for the moment, the moist leaves upturned by passage are obvious enough.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Are you going to follow?"
Green Cove sets off promptly in that direction, making a quick gesture to the unseen Leaf to keep with her on this.
Yoru glances at Green Cove and raises a questioning eyebrow.
Yoru follows along then.
<<OOC>> Green Cove coughs. The kid's not very much used to working with more partners than her tiger yet, sorry...
As you approach a small clearing in between the trees, you can see a torch's light dancing; a group of men and women in the barbarian garb of the camp residents gather around it; the man you were following enters, and with quite murmuring, they all start off to the south east, further away from the rest of your group.
Each of them has a red band tied around their arm.
<<OOC>> Storyteller notes that Yoru probably can't determine the color of the band, but Cove has night sight.
Green Cove pauses slightly to lean over to Yoru and whisper, "Red bands. Do we know what those mean?"
Yoru shakes his head. "Maybe a different tribe," he whispers.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Instead you can turn absolutely completely invisible when you want. :p"
The barbarians recede into the forest.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Gonna head back to the others?"
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "So, Green Cove can see, and you can be unseen... They're like two halves of a perfect scout!"
<<OOC>> Shai _giggles_!
Yoru whispers to Green Cove. "Back to the others then."
Green Cove frowns to herself, but turns back to return to the others. Plenty of time for figuring things out later.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Cut back to the others?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Yes, cut back to the others."
Shortly, Allen, Shai, and Yasutora can see their Twilight and Night returning through the trees; Green Cove and Yoru, of course, can see the beckoning gleam of Yasutora's armor well before then.
Green Cove says "He ought to get a hat."
Yoru says "Maybe we can interest him in some sort of war paint..."
Shai waves once she catches sight of the other two, flashing a grin. Once they're close enough to speak quietly to rather than shout, she asks, "So how'd it go?"
Sado Yasutora turns towards Green Cove and Yoru and bows. "Welcome back," his deep voice echoes from within the massive armor.
Green Cove hmms, and composes her thoughts. "There was a camp. Also, some people leaving the camp for elsewhere. They wore red bands. Leaf bit someone, but it was on purpose, and no one got eaten."
Yoru smirks at Green Cove's summation of events. "We got into camp with no real difficulties, though they are minus a guard. On the way out we saw a group of barbarians with red bands around their arms. I'm not sure if they were part of those in the big camp." He also gives a run down of the layout of the camp.
<<OOC>> Storyteller notes that the banded-barbarians were heading south east.
<<OOC>> Yoru will stick that in his speech too.
Sado Yasutora inquires, "Were the red-banded barbarians treated any differently by the others?"
Yoru says "They had their own camp outside the big one. I don't think we ever saw them deal with the others."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Not a camp; they were just hanging out in a clearing."
Shai frowns, taking mental notes on the layout. "You didn't see anyone who looked..." She waves a hand, vaguely. "Leader-y? --or particularly pretty?" She glances around. "That was the description we got, right? ... hm. And other than the bands, they looked like the barbarians in the camp?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "They seemed to be waiting for the guy you followed; when he got there, they left."
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Well, not a permanent camp true"
<<OOC>> Yoru says "defers Shai's question to the ST."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Nope. Though make note of the central fire with only wooden building, etc. And no one particularly pretty, with the group that had bands or otherwise."
<<OOC>> Yoru relays all that information as well, since GC isn't the talkative type.
<<OOC>> Green Cove nods.
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "Are you going to relay it IC, or should we assume that it has been relayed? ^^ I know what Yasutora's response is going to be either way. :)"
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Assume it's been relayed."
Sado Yasutora ponders, "I take it you saw no sign of any innocents under threat?" He considers this for a moment. "We are here; they are here. If we confront them now, they will have little time to get organized, and their leadership will almost certainly be in camp. If not, we can rest the night and await the resurgence of our patron."
You paged Allen with 'Not these ones. This is a local phenomenon. :)'.
<<OOC>> Yoru didn't see any innocents did I?
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Nor anyone in particular danger, innocent or not."
Yoru shakes his head. "I didn't see anyone in danger or held captive."
Green Cove shrugs. "If there were any, I didn't see them."
Shai frowns into the middle distance, considering. "I...think I'm still inclined not to confront them right now. Whether that's violently or nonviolently. Rather try to put together a plan first, somehow." She spreads her hands. "But this isn't my specialty and I haven't seen them myself. What do you all think?"
Green Cove meanders about in a spiral that spins down to one point and then out again. "They'll notice someone missing eventually," she says. "Are there tigers in these woods? Maybe they won't notice. I don't know barbarians. Easier if they were more like pirates. Maybe if I put them on a ship I'd understand them better."
Sado Yasutora turns the brilliant visage from Yoru and Green Cove to Shai and Allen. "Despite none being endanger, it is my preference to act immediately," he says, unruffled as ever.
<<OOC>> Yoru says "We're supposed to drive them all off, yes? Or just stop the disappearances and such?"
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "I don't think we were given a clearly defined goal, other than 'stop the suck'."
<<OOC>> Yoru ahs. That must be where my confusion was coming from.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "The guy mostly just said "So, I have a little problem. I don't suppose you'd care to fix it?""
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "He didn't say 'do this'. :p Not to a bunch of Solars. :p And a tiger."
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "So Yasutora, basically, wants us to go in, find out why they're dragging people off, and convince them to stop doing it and to stop extorting from the townsfolk. Possibly by leaving them reliant on the townsfolk for medical care if reason and Eclipse Oath-Sealing don't work. :P"
<<OOC>> Green Cove opines that this is a much trickier proposition when you can't just sink all their ships. Barbarians don't have ships. So far as she knows. Maybe if you cut off all their feet, it would work the same way...
Yoru says "Do we want to storm the place, or meet with the leaders. Maybe they aren't even taking the townsfolk, maybe it is those redarms?"
Shai points at Yoru. "That's why I'm not sure I want to go in right now. Plans are _good things_, whichever route we take."
"I believe we should investigate the other camps further, and those red-banded ones, before we make any overt actions," Allen inserts quietly. "It is possible - probable, even - that there are factions among the barbarians, which if we discover them could be used to our advantage."
Green Cove sits down on the ground, resting her chin on her knees, and draws pictures in the dirt.
Yoru says "The red-banded ones didn't really have a camp. They were just sort of gathering in a clearing, and then they moved on once their scout or emisarry or whatever he was got back."
Sado Yasutora shrugs again. "Possibly. But there seems no way to plan as things are now. We could penetrate each camp and know nothing more than their locations; confront them, and we can force them to deal with us, and use that opportunity to discover more about them. To observe them, as it were, in action, especially before word of our presence gets back to them."
Shai nods to Allen, then frowns and nods to Yasutora. "That's a definite point. It's, ah, not like the townspeople _haven't_ noticed that we're here." She coughs. "And if they're in communications with the town in _any_ way... odds are they'll find out fast. At which point any advantage of surprise we have goes down a lot."
Yoru hrms softly and sits back on his heels to listen for the moment.
Sado Yasutora points out, "Any reaction that they have once they know we are here cannot be trusted. What would you do if you had been abusing others and suddenly five Solars strolled through? Panic may bring them to be honest with us." He considers for a while. "And if it is necessary to violently discourage them, I would rather have them unawares and unprepared; it is much more likely that we can leave them alive, if injured, to surrender."
Allen sighs. "Sado, simply walking in will result in two paths. One, we must fight the entire camp - and until we are certain of the situation, I would prefer to do as little damage as possible -, or two, we would be guests under their hospitality - and if it turned out that we needed to fight them, that would involve the breaking hospitality that you mentioned back at the home of our merchant friend."
Green Cove blinks up at Allen. "What's wrong with fighting the entire camp?" she asks.
Sado Yasutora shakes his head. "We will need to fight the entire camp anyway if they are the scum that the townspeople claim they are. And we need not break hospitality at all. If they are hostile, they will attack us; if we must become hostile, we can leave the borders of the camp having presented our case honestly and giving them an hour or so to begin preparations to withdraw or face our wrath. If we see them making ready to withdraw, then we can leave them be; if they use the opportunity to prepare treachery, it will be no different than if we had let them know ahead of time. There is little that can become worse by hitting the matter directly."
Shai murmurs, wryly, "And this is why I figured we should talk about it first."
Sado Yasutora nods enthusiastically to shai. "And so we are."
Green Cove rubs her nose, and draws pictures of corpses. "Talking wastes time," she says.
Allen glances down to Green Cove, raising his eyebrows. "If the central camp is not responsible for the disappearances of the townsfolk, and there is some route to resolution of the problem of bleeding the town dry besides killing them all, I would prefer that. Not all barbarians are alike."
More normally -- and brightly -- Shai says, "Okay, so! We're stuck between with 'scout around more and risk them finding out we exist or doing something stupid and kneejerky, in the name of coming up with a more reliable plan and making sure we _are_ doing the right thing' or 'walk right in and go with the flow, taking advantage of the element of surprise and possibly of the fact that they're mostly sleeping now, but risk missing something or fighting a whole lot on low preparation'. Yes?"
Sado Yasutora says "I have not suggested attacking them directly or killing them at all."
Green Cove looks up at Allen, and shrugs. "They take what isn't theirs. Pirates. Pirates are to be killed and sometimes eaten, and their ships set on fire. No ships, but that doesn't change things too much."
<<OOC>> Allen says "I love that the Dawn says "Let's try to think our way through this! :D" And the Twilight says "KILL 'EM ALL.""
<<OOC>> Shai _giggles_!
<<OOC>> Green Cove snickers. Yes.
<<OOC>> Storyteller cackles.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "They have their biases."
Allen chuckles quietly. "We may have some problems if I ever take my Circle home to meet my mentor, I see."
Green Cove tilts a hand, thinking. "Maybe the camp isn't responsible. If it isn't, their members are running amok without supervision. Careless neglect and turning a blind eye is near as bad as participating. If you let someone drown, you may as well have pushed them in."
<<OOC>> Allen | Green Cove: ">/ PIRATES." Allen: "...Green Cove, stop kicking my mentor's ankles, please."
<<OOC>> Green Cove snickers. Is now picturing Green Cove gnawing on a certain illustrious NPC's ankles, while said NPC sort of looks down in bemusement.
<<OOC>> Storyteller | Long suffering Bull of the North: Allen, is this YOURS?
<<OOC>> Shai cackles! ... oh god why am I imagining Ikkaku the Bull and Green Cove Yachiru now.
<<OOC>> Green Cove gnargnarPIRATESgnargnargnar. Can't burn non-existant ships, but can try to gnaw ankles off!
<<OOC>> Allen | Allen: "She's a good girl, really. She just has a few complexes."
Sado Yasutora says "I would not say we need to merely rush in. We can plan our approach to them now, and then walk in."
Shai shoots Allen a wryly amused look, and toys absently with her bow. "Mm. If we walk in right now, I'm not sure we _could_ do anything but, well, provoke them. Middle of the night, random invaders with bright shiny gold armor and weapons, you know." She coughs. "Even if the town _is_ misinforming us and they're really decent people, hell, _I'd_ be pissed off or going straight for my bow, y'know? --well, assuming I wasn't Solar, but." She waves a hand. "You know what I mean. Anyway. Now, if we walk in at _dawn_, different vibe and we're still running on them not necessarily knowing what's going on. Plus, that buys us more time to decide if we _want_ to walk right in at dawn. That make sense?"
Sado Yasutora considers the prospects quietly. The Shield of the Righteous comes up to cradle the Unyielding Bastion's chin as he thinks. After a few minutes of silence, he stirs again and says, "I believe that walking in calmly, with perhaps our anima banners held high would leave them scrambling, but not attacking; off balance but not berserk. The wolf totem is rarely a rabid one, though it can become vicious. But to walk in at Dawn might work just as well, and be pleasing to the Unconquered Sun."
Yoru hrms and nods. "I agree, approaching them in the morning would be better received if we are to approach them at all."
Green Cove frowns, but stays quiet. It's to be expected that her perfectly reasonable solutions are rejected by the group. It's the way of the world.
Allen nods agreement. "A nighttime approach is asking for a fight. I am not averse to fighting, but I prefer it not to be unnecessary. Agreed with approach at dawn, if we approach them directly."
Shai looks a bit dubious at the anima banners comment, but nods. "Any group of armed and armored people turning up in the middle of the night comes off as a bad sign, unless they're _your_ people. But a group of people turning up in daylight, when you could theoretically be expected to be awake, and not immediately attacking is less of a bad idea. Or we could decide by dawn that we want to wait awhile and scout longer." She grins, brightly. "So. Do we stick around here to keep talking, or do we head back to talk somewhere more comfortable?"
Green Cove shrugs, and draws little burning ships about the pictures of corpses. "A bed would be welcome."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "Otherwise, I shall fast forward obligingly."
Yoru gives Green Cove's drawings a stare before shaking his head. "I may accompany you unseen, if that is not minded."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "I am assuming you all go back to town to take advantage of the soft comfie beds and breakfast easily available?"
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "Kay!"
<<OOC>> Green Cove says "Yay breakfast!"
<<OOC>> Yoru says "Sounds good to me. And some wine."
<<OOC>> Shai giggles. And nods to both Yasutora and ST; back to town for Comfort Yay is fine with me, and checking the Plan before we head in is a good thing.
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "OOC or IC for planning?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "I always prefer IC. On the walk back to the camp?"
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "So, say, wake up about an hour before dawn (assuming that Allen sleeps i- I mean, assuming the camp isn't an hour away) and start talking as we walk in?"
The trip back to town is uneventful and quiet; animals stir in the wild woods and sneak into the orchards to steal unripe fruit. The beds waiting for you are soft and warm. The residence is a large house, or a small mansion; with all five of you given your own rooms, both Yasutora and Green Cove appear to have rooms which normally belong to someone else, though the other three have properly stuffy guest rooms. In the morning, false dawn turning the sky to steel, sleepy servants bring you a cold breakfast - except for the bread, which is freshly baked.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "You are all now IC! :p Eating breakfast! Which is primarily cold left overs from dinner except for the fresh baked bread."
Sado Yasutora says his morning devotions a bit early today, including a simple apology for the haste, as well as a request for righteousness, the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood, right from wrong, and if at all possible to not have to particularly kill a lot of people. He lets the false dawn light filter over him, enjoying the silence and the calm, and the potential of a new day under the Sun before it becomes necessary to what must be done.
Yoru has a weak wine with his breakfast and enjoys the food. He waits for the others to break the silence with any planning or arguments.
Shai pays particular attention to the fresh bread; it's not something you get very often when you're usually out at sea. She swallows a bite, then asks, "So, how are we spinning this when we go in? Obviously not 'go straight in and start hitting things', but..."
Green Cove is still sulking, though less so now that she's had a pleasant night's sleep on a bed and been presented with tasty food prepared for her at no cost to her. "Ask what they're doing. Tell them to stop. If need be, start hitting things," she explains, around a mouthful of meat wrapped in bread.
"Our first approach should not be hostile," Allen says around a mouthful of food from his over-loaded plate. "The first thing we should do is meet with their leaders and make direct inquiries about the kidnapped and murdered villagers, and mention the red-banded group."
Shai laughs, reaching out for her own glass. "Well, yes. But how do we want to ask? ...we'd probably have trouble _not_ coming in as Solar emissaries, but other than that." She nods to Allen, consideringly. "I'm not sure a little hostility wouldn't be out of place, given the context, but it can't hurt to start off more, mm, diplomatically." And sips, thoughtful.
Once downstairs with the others, he hungrily wolfs down breakfasts and when the others begin to discuss, softly says, "I believe that open announcements serve us best, with Allen serving as herald and facilitator since they are of his people. Allen, could you not best shape the conversation to find out what we wish to know? Shai and I can serve as reinforcement, there, with Shai taking on the conciliatory tact while I remain more aloof." He looks over at Green Cove and Yoru. "Perhaps we three should work together on the 'aloof' portion of the discussion-- if Yoru wishes to be visible at all, though I would recommend doing so at first, to deal honestly with them."
Green Cove rubs her nose, and swallows a bite of bread. "Can do aloof," she says. "'s easy. Just don't talk. Who wants to talk to people anyway? Mostly leads to trouble."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "You guys need to get a can of paint and paint Yasutora to look like some variety of jade. :p"
Yoru opens his mouth to say something but lets Yasutora get his speech out first. "Whichever the circle thinks is best. It can be quite impressive if a person suddenly appears out of nowhere, but if we want honesty I shall not disappear until necessary."
Yoru then winks at Green Cove. "Aye, some of the best things can be done without talking." Realizing he isn't in a bar trying to pick up someone he clears his throat and goes back to his meal.
Shai looks consideringly down at her glass as Yasutora speaks up. "I...think that might work well, yes." She quirks an eyebrow at the others, particularly Allen. "If you're up for it? ...haven't played 'good magistrate' much, but I think I can manage well enough for this."
Shai chuckles at Yoru, then grows serious again. "Mm. It could be useful to have an ace up our sleeves, in case the worst happens... on the other hand, I think we're all capable of handling ourselves fairly well in a pinch? In which case the honest route seems best." ...she coughs at the last part, but doesn't comment.
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Wow, a long log....
Date: 2006-03-23 07:56 pm (UTC)Allen nods. "I was not raised with a barbarian tribe, but I have lived with them for the past several years; I would be willing to take the lead here, though of course, if our Eclipse has opinions to voice, I would only be wise to listen to her." He feeds a scrap to his cat before continuing. "I do not know how well I can play, ah, 'bad magistrate', but it is certainly worth a try."
Sado Yasutora shakes his head at Allen. "I do not think that you -should- play 'bad magistrate'." He gives a wry look and stretches; it's nice to be out of the armor sometimes. "I believe rather that you should take the middle ground, as it were; the one who can speak to them from a position of strength -and- as they would be spoken to; while Shai speaks to them with the words of a bard and councilor, and the rest of us... Speak vigorously from a position of strength or, as you say, Green Cove, look impressive silently."
Shai grins at Allen. "We can talk tactics on the way, maybe? We don't _necessarily_ want you to be the bad one, after all. Just the one who talks their language -- and who's theoretically got _them_" (she nods in the direction of Yasutora, Green Cove, and Yoru) "in check, if we need to wave the stick around more than the carrot." She laughs quietly at Yasutora and nods. "Exactly."
"That I think I can do, then," Allen grins slightly.
Sado Yasutora says "Then, how impressive should we be; ourselves, our Caste-marks ablaze, or anima banners in flare?"
Green Cove leans down to hold a whispered conversation with Floating Leaf, then sits back up. "There will be no hasty eating of anyone," she says.
As breakfast is finished, the servants clear away the empty dishes. The sky outside begins to lighten, heralding the approach of dawn.
Yoru suggests they continue the discussion on the way to camp since it is starting to get closer to dawn.
Shai looks thoughtful. "In the interests of _timing_... I'd suggest come in as ourselves. We're pretty blessed impressive as we are -- especially _you_," she grins at Yasutora, "-- and for dramatic effect, we can flare the marks or banners once we get their attention. ... Probably the marks; the banners aren't so conduicive to _talking_ comfortably, you know? And we _do_ want to talk first, unless we walk right in on something nasty."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says "...And I suspect, before we actually get to the camp again would be a good point to pause."
<<OOC>> Shai nods to ST. Probably, yeah.
<<OOC>> Allen says "And yeah, probably, ST. ^^"
<<OOC>> Shai is okay for another half-hour, but is definitely crashing, and suspects we'd all be better trying social-fu (or combat, or both) after the players are as well-rested as their characters. [laughs]
<<OOC>> Green Cove nods. Probably a good pause point soon.
<<OOC>> Sado Yasutora says "Well, since we're mostly agreed on what to do, why not just pause here, assume we get all gussied up in our gear and out there, and start next time at the camp?"