Red Sand Raiders - Part 1 - RPLOG
Participants
Date
25/10/477
Log
The merchant's missive from the Freesword's Guild implored the erstwhile escorts to be at the base of Firebough Mountain, today, at... roughly this time, and sure enough, there are three laden wagons, with draft-lizards and drivers, waiting for reinforcements. One wolf who carries himself with a regal bearing seems to be in charge, pacing circles around the small convoy and glancing out across the starlit sands, then up the mountain, then back out across the flats as he waits.
Dressed as fancifully as ever, though in a regal dress instead of her suit, this time, Cassidy slips onto the scene, hands folded behind her back. "Hello, hello! I heard you needed some help?" She asks, bringing a hand around to adjust her top hat. "Well! I am here to do that!"
Thelergramor is, surprisingly, maskless and wearing a red shirt today! Which is strange, not just because he's wearing a shirt. But because it's usually a bit hot here... Along wiht his striking change of apparel, is a red noble looking cloak. Really classy and expensive looking. The wolf makes his way towards the wagons, lugging along his cannon, flamberge and life drinker. A smile grows on his face when he sees Cassidy is here. Immediately heads over to her, as she addresses one of the merchants. "I'm here to help. So, bandit problems? Should be easy enough." Steps up next to Cassidy. "Hey, Cass. Beautiful as ever." Glances back over his shoulder, assuming there will be more freeswords coming.
A few moments after a slight plume of sand forms in the desert, Selena makes her way up to the group and dusts herself off slightly. "Cassidy, Thelergramor." She greets the pair, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Aren't you both a bit overdressed for an escort job?"
Surely enough, she's in the same clothes she almost always seems to be in - blouse and trousers. "Nevertheless, you mentioned some bandits were getting more active in the area. I was wondering if we should know anything about your cargo that might help us get a better idea of why they're after it. Usually bandits don't really ambush people in the desert to my recollection, more often around the swamps or pass - they're generally safer."
Fenris is already waiting by the wagons. Not that anyone would recognize him. He is wearing a new outfit and a new face. Today he is a grizzled looking lynx with a thick handlebar mustache. He wears an open leather vest and a necklace made of animal teeth that camoflage a plain soul pendant. The rangy feline has his wide-brimmed hat tipped back as he tosses a boomerang end over end. "Let's get this party started," he says with an unusual accent, "Ash Dustcloak don't have all day!"
In the middle of yawning, and rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Sara leaves the Freeswords inn and makes her way to the guild for the daily look over the job boards located there. After dragging a clawed finger across the wooden structure, and a few 'No's' that only seem to drone on in a dull fashion, Sara plucks a request from the board and mumbles aloud, "Drytongue.. bandits.. need of guards.. hm. Sure." After finishing, Sara's crimson gaze falls upon the requested time and gulps, knowing full well she'd have to hurry if she wanted to meet the deadline.
Upon leaving the guild Sara hastilly unbuckles the cloak covering her form, stuffs it into the satchel at her side, and takes to the skies in a frantic dash for her destination. While the flight itself is short; the winged lizard catching powerful currents that lead her over the landscape, it does leave her winded as she just barely lands with a skidding halt near one of the wagons. "Phew.. S-Sara.. Sara Longtail.. reporting.." she pants before bending over, and placing one hand on her knee, and using the other to offer a brief wave to her employer. "Did.. did I make it in time?"
Jera breaks his landing with a tumble, having flown the distance, and picks himself up with a soft yawn. His normal bow replaced by a long staff that he is using as a crutch, even though both his legs are working fine. "Just bandits. Let's finish up quick and go back home. Shouldn't take too long."
The wolf cries out cheerfully as the Freesword's arrive. "Our salvation!" He quickly shakes the hand of anyone who will let him as he introduces himself. "Yes, yes. I am Thakar Glimmertooth, and I have been -plauged- these past four nights, I tell you! Plauged!" He gestures back at his wagons. "I run a trade route along the edge of the flat, north towards the Green Valley, bringing tools and equipment and the luxuries of the big city to mountain prospectors, relic hunters, and those idio- erm, poor sods trying to claw out a bit of farmland from the grasp of the Green Menace." He pauses as a few of the Freeswords call for the show to go on, and he grins. "Yes! Well. I trade good equipment - which every bandit seems to be in short supply of - for food, precious metals, and the like... which also seem to be high attractive to those nefarious fiends! And normally my special route is safe enough, but every night... EVERY NIGHT for the past four nights, my outriders have reported sightings of the Red Sand Raiders, and I haven't felt safe enough to embark on the second half of my journey. But, if you are all ready, we can head out." Thakar climbs up onto the lead wagon, sitting next to the driver. "It is a cold night tonight on the flats, but who knows, the Raiders may get your blood fired up."
Cassidy giggles softly and adjusts the large grimoire cradled in her arms. "Might be, Selena. But you know me. Always overdressed. And you're -especially- overdressed for you, Thel." She bows her head towards Sara and smiles behind her mask. "Nice to see you, too. And cold tonight, huh?" She closes her eyes for a moment, a few flaming embers kicking up to hover near her. Warmth! "Well. I am ready for it! And if they make a move, we will be ready."
Thelergramor smiles at the simplicity of the job. "Great. Butchering bandits. Like I said, easy." Turns back, nods to Selena. "When am I ever dressed appropriately for anything?" A chuckle as he nods to the rest. And back at Cassidy. "Never know when I might need to impress a classy lady." Winks, and chuckles. Looks over the wagons; trying to picture how he'd go about hitting them... Sniffs and looks back at the group.
Selena nods back to the merchant, letting out a quiet sigh. "Well, that would make enough sense. The Red Fever is still fairly recent on the mind, and even if the desert isn't that close to any of our borders I suppose it makes sense that trade might've slowed." She replies, raising an eyebrow slightly.
"The desert's always cold during the night, though hopefully it won't be particularly bad. I could just conjure my elemental if we're not worried about visibility, but I'm not sure it'd be well-advised unless it's being used as a decoy."
The wolfess moves over to the wagons, shrugging slightly. "I wouldn't know, Thelergramor. I've only met you a few times. Ash, Sara, Jera. It's good to see you all made it.
Ash spits into the dust and swings up onto the side of a wagon. He adjusts the musket on his back and tucks his boomerang into his belt. "Me an' Sheila're ready for anythin' this dustbowl can dish out," he drawls, using his free hand to brush along his mustache. He gives a brusque nod to his erstwhile fellows, steel blue eyes appraising each of them. All business, this one.
After a brief moment of panting, Sara rises back to a standing position and takes a glance about the general area, looking over the other freeswords. Of whom, she immediately she recognizes Cassidy, and Thelergramor who get a friendly wave, a warm, "Good to see you too, Cassidy, Thelergramor." and a low nod. As Jera lands close by the lizards eyes go wide for a brief second and back as her lips curl into a smile. "And it is good to see you too, Jera." With a final wave to those she had missed, Sara fishes the cloak from her satchel, slings it about herself, and makes her way to one of the wagons which she quickly hops up into. "So, Mister.. Thakar is it? How many bandits usually attack you?"
Jera smiles and gives Sara a big hug, patting her back and smiling to himself. He nods and hands the merchant his staff. "Newest design. Self defense stick. Hold it any way you want...but as long as you are holding it it will sense snemies and fire blasts of air magic to keep you safe." And then he draws out his dagger, returning the greeting to Selena with a small salute.
"None!" Thakar replies to Sara, wriggling his eyebrows at her. "Because I'm careful and I would rather go around problems than through them. These fellas are pernicious, though, so it seems I have to part with some of my lucre to hire you all. Now, if you'll all get situated, we'll be on our way - I've got many miles to cover tonight, ladies and gentlemen." The wolf waits for the Freeswords to pick which wagon they are riding with, then gives a sharp whistle and the group sets off, rolling across the flats under the stars and the shattered remains of the moon. Thakar himself keeps glancing up at the sky, slightly adjusting his course here and there, and a few times a rider approaches from over the sands, confers with the wolf, then takes off again.
When it turns out that they'll be riding instead of walking, Cass waves a hand to dismiss the floating embers and instead moves to settle into the back wagon, pulling her knees up and propping her book up to begin looking over the pages while they ride along. She hums a quiet, gentle tune all the while, waiting for something to happen. Or to not happen, as would be preferable.
Thelergramor rubs his muzzle, badass expensive cloak billowing about him. Produces a flower and offers it to Sara with only a nod. Then, regardless of if she accepts it, moves on and mounts up in the front wagon. Usually his first choice as target, back during his bandit days. "Hm. Uncovered. Watch for arrows or crossbow bolts. Or musket rounds. And magic..." Sets his cannon next to him, smirking.
Selena nods back to Thelergramor. "When and if we're ambushed, I'll take some measures to hinder the bandits from targetting things. Until then, though, i'd rather not risk making us more obvious to the bandits. A localized sandstorm is fairly easy to tell apart from a true, environemental sandstorm. fog banks in a desert are too obviously unnatural. So until they're here, we can either put some of the tarps to use or prepare ourselves in some other way." She replies, setting herself down on the middle wagon - clearly not too fussed about her position in the great scheme of things. "If they do come, it'll probably be best to try and generate a localized sandstorm anyway - there's plenty of sand here, but not much water."
Ash hangs lightly from the side of a wagon part way down the line, steely eyes watching the horizon. The cool night air does not seem to bother him much. He keeps his musket ready on its sling. He could have Shiela at his shoulder in a heartbeat should he need his weapon. He tucks his hat down among the crates, letting his tfted ears stand tall.
Sara's tail begins to sway as Jera wraps her in a hug and leaves her nuzzling Jera in thanks. After parting from the fox she notices Thel's offering and with a warm smile, and a nod Sara takes it from the wolf and says, "Thank you very much." before climbing aboard the lead wagon. Once there Sara responds to Thakar's anwer with, "Got it.. lets hope our luck continues then." but still pulls her musket into her arms and waits.
"So many people on watch!" Jera giggles, deciding to kick back and wiggle his toes a little, taking up quite a bit of space in the wagon to sprawl out and relax. Keeping a small air magic spell on hold but otherwise...not seeming so interested in the job just yet. He does mumble softly though, calling out an advanced equation to call out what seems like a little ball of rock and mud.
Thakar laughs, a short bark of amusement. "Oh, believe me, I've heard of a few of you Freeswords by reputation! And I expect I'll get the contract's worth from you before the night is done; a bit of overwhelming force to teach the currs not to cause a commotion about my comodities." Pleased with himself for that one, Thakar grins. The night wears on as the journey continues, and it seems Thakar's route has taken him closer to the edge of the flats - the dark shadows of the surrounding mountains loom ever closer, until a sharp turn points the convoy towards what looks like a canyon. "Yon canyon over there skirts a plateau, and will get me to my destination in... about four more hours. But my scout," he pauses, and nods towards the outrider the group of wagons is approaching, "says there's likely an ambush." The wagons roll to a stop, and Thakar and his scout converse for a moment before he stands up and claps his hands. "It's like this every night, they know they can't catch me out in the open, but somehow they've gotten ahead of me to find a good place to jump me, should I keep going. Soooo..." he drawls it out. "Go up there and kick their faces in for me, yea?"
Cassidy clears her throat and slips out of the back wagon, wandering up towards the front to speak to Thakar without having to raise her voice. "We could go ahead and deal with it, yes... And risk leaving you unprotected here. Is that what you wish? Perhaps some of us should remain back here, just in case? As much as I'd hate to miss out on the action... It'd be remiss of us to -all- go and leave our flank open."
Thelergramor cracks his knuckles, picking up his cannon and dropping out of the wagon. "Alright, let's get on with it then." He smiles as he looks over the group, knowing no mere bandit <himself included> could stand against these people. He mutters to himself: "Oh, these bandits are screwed..." Nodding at Cassidy's wisdom, he adds. "I could stay behind, if needed." Smiles over at Sara, approving that she accepted the flower. Glances over the plain, likely not seeing anything important.
