Visitor

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Continued from The Lodge

About 3 p.m. on the 6th of August, Sven is keeping watch from the roof when he calls out, "VISITOR COMING!" He relays that a lone man on a donkey has approached to some 600 yards and has stopped. While Sven watched, the stranger lifted his arm and made a slow waving gesture. He hasn't attempted to move any closer.

Lexent: I look at Sven and Pandred, "Do you think we should go out and see what he has to say?"

Sven: "We hold someone back here to protect Hamish. He's far from recovery. I suggest a parley, to find out what he wants. If he intends to threaten us, he must have an army waiting somewhere beyond our sight."

Lexent: "I'll go. Pandred, Be ready for trouble." I head outside.

Pandred: "Always am." I'll make sure to don my armor, etc. Arduin will assist if need be.

The DM: how close do you wish to get? Comfortable speaking distance is six combat hexes.

Lexent: I move up half the distance between us, so 300 yards and wave back.

Stranger: “Identify yourself!”

Lexent: "I am Lexent. Who are you? And what business brings you here?"

Stranger: “You may call me Tacitus.”

The DM: It’s plain that the stranger is Norwegian, and that the name is likely an alias.

Lexent: "And your business here?"

Tacitus: “You have removed Hamish Ross from Bergen, have you not? That is what brings me here.”

Lexent: "I have removed no one from anywhere. If you'd like though, you are welcome to come up and talk."

Tacitus: “Not until I know who you are and your motives.”

The DM: He grins.
Tacitus: “You could be a collection of true villains, couldn’t you?”

Lexent: "I'm no more of a collection than you are, and as for villainy I assure you I only seek to assist those around me. I see, however, that we are both wary of one another's motives, so how shall we solve this impasse?"

Lexent: Does he carry any visible weaponry?

The DM: No. He’s not very tall, either; perhaps 5 ft. 3 for a human. And rather unpossessing sitting on his donkey.

The DM: Okay, I'm pretty sure at this point that people are waiting to see what happens with Vafrandir. I did intend to run both pages at the same time, but I'm kind of glad I don't have to.

Lexent: I was waiting to see Tacitus' response to my question.

The DM: Somehow, I utterly missed your first line; I tagged onto your question about visible weaponry and failed to see that you had spoken. I was waiting for you to answer Tacitus' question. Ah, well. Apologies. I'll return your question: are you wearing any visible weaponry?

Lexent: I am not.

Intermission

The DM: We'll pick this up tomorrow, then.

The DM: Sorry all. I've got a contract job today. I won't be in. Problems of the real world.

Lexent: Bummer. Heads up, I'm not sure what my availability for Friday will be. I'm travelling to a family reunion at some point, but I'm not sure when I'll be in the car and whether or not I'll be able to play from my cell phone.

The DM: Okay, well let us know when you know, and we'll be fine. I have to take these contracts when they arise; steady work only occurs when they occur.

Lexent: In. I should be good for an hour at the very least, we'll see what happens after that.

The DM: In. Yay, I have time.

Continuing On

Tacitus: "Perhaps I should trust you then. Lead on to your domicile."

Lexent: I head back up.

The DM: heading back at the lodge, Tacitus will inquire whether or not he can see Hamish Ross in the flesh.

Lexent: As we reach the door I respond, "Yes, assuming he is willing to see you."

The DM: Entering, Lexent, you see Sven and Pandred, but no sign of Hamish.

Lexent: "Sven, Pandred, this is Tacitus. He is enquiring after the welfare of Hamish Ross."

Tacitus: "If I might ensure his well-being ..."

Sven: "How do you know that he's here?"

The DM: Tacitus merely shrugs.

Lexent: "The last I saw him he was alive and well enough, all things considered."

Pandred: "Who's this? What's he want?" Unlike Lexent, I am definitely armed.

Tacitus: (spreading his arms and showing empty hands) "I am Tacitus. And I am concerned about Hamish Ross's welfare."

Pandred: "The fuck you are. Who sent you?"

Tacitus: "Good. Let us speak frankly. Hamish Ross is the deserved reciever of a large fortune and title, that he never received from the King of Denmark. His sudden disappearance from Bergen suggests he has received this fortune. In which case, his life is in danger. You are strangers. Sven here, who doesn't know me, is a guard in Bergen, so he may be honest; he may not be."

Sven: "I am honest!"

Tacitus: "Understood. Then, the questions remain: is Hamish Ross well and do you have the fortune intact?"

Pandred: "You haven't answered my question." I will draw the smaller axe. "Nothing you have said isn't obvious. Either prove your intentions or I will prove mine."

Tacitus: “I was led to believe that I had come here under a flag of truce. I have made no ill motions, I’ve offered no threats. Why do you speak this way?”

Pandred: "I don't know who you are. I don't know who sent you or why you're here. This is the last time I'm going to ask. Speak plainly or speak with God."

Tacitus: “Is God here? If he is, I’d very much like the latter choice.”

Lexent: "You also have not stated that your interest is in keeping Hamish Ross alive. The name Tacitus, is that Latin?"

Lexent: "Peace a moment, Pandred. He does not seem so great a threat that we cannot listen to his full and honest explanation with grace and dignity."

Tacitus: (to Lexent) “It is not Genoan, if that’s your concern.” (to Pandred) “That is your concern, is it not?”

Vafrandir: In.

Pandred: (OOC) I want you to know I fully typed out the sentence where this guy is defenestrated.

The DM: You’d have to win initiative first.

Pandred: I say nothing.

Lexent: I look back at Tacitus. "Well?"

Tacitus: “Friend, you expect me to be forthcoming, but you have told me nothing. I know Ross is here. His welfare is my concern. Is he safe? It is the question of a concerned citizen of Bergen, for a would-be Baron of the Realm. Do you resist a simple answer to a simple question because the man is dead?”

Lexent: "True enough. You say you are not with the Genoans, neither are we. We also seek to help Baron Ross establish his rightful claim. As I said earlier, to the best of my knowledge, he is alive."

Tacitus: “Then I will say to you, I am the leader of the free people of Bergen.”

Sven: “Hah!” (grumbling) “He’s part of the thieves’ guild.”

Lexent: "Then what is your particular interest in the Baron's welfare?"

Lexent: (To Sven) "Does that mean you trust him less?...or more?"

Continued from Vafrandir’s Journey

The DM: At this point, Vafrandir walks through the door, followed by Denar, Caleb, Alan and Bergthora. Pandred immediately recognizes this last; it is the same Bergthora he last saw about three months ago.

Lexent: I position myself about 20 feet away from the newcomers if possible.

Pandred: "What now?" I'll look at the wounded here with momentary concern before returning my attention to Tacitus.

Tacitus: (looks Vafrandir and Arvid over, somewhat surprised) “Hm.”

Bergthora: “Pandred? What are you doing here?”

Pandred: My eyes do not leave Tacitus. " Oh, the usual. Cracking heads. You?"

Tacitus: (looks to Bergthora) “You know her?”

Bergthora: “Yeah. She’s straight up. We don’t have to worry about her.”

Tacitus: “She seems a trifle stiff.”

Bergthora: “That’s just her way.”

P: OOC (So if the alphabetical naming convention keeps up, there's at least sixteen thieves hiding in the bushes outside before we get to Tacitus)

The DM: OOC: overthinking this much?

The DM: Vafrandir can attest that these are the only ones, and he was pretty much able to handle all four himself.

Alan: “Sorry, boss. We tried to get the manacles on him.”

Tacitus: “Don’t concern yourself.” (to the party) “Shall we put our cards on the table? I’ll go first.”