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Gregor grins in response to Cassandra's compliment. "Indeed. As to the roads being well traveled, it depends. Most of the traffic is along the northern branch of this road. If you travel further to the West, there will be far fewer folks on the road. After about a day's journey, there will be relatively few locals and they mostly use the wilderness trails which are often faster, though not as safe."

Melda smiles, "I'm no lady, Ezmi. You must be from the northeast with your talk of a male dominated society. Here in the heart of the empire, we have had equality for many years. I've been a soldier since my parents died in the great plague 7 years ago. It hasn't been the easiest of lives, but there are compensations." she points proudly to the blue feather emblem on her jacket, which marks her as a sargeant. Addressing Cassandra's earlier concerns, she continues , "while two warriors are likely enough for your protection, it is a foolish girl who doesn't take some aspects of her safety into her own hands. I hope all of you carry some form of defense...just in case. Besides, everyone knows that all the best warriors are women."

Gregor squawks in response to that. "That's utter nonsense Melda! What of the Emperor's sacred guard?"

"What of it? He is well protected by the regular palace guards. His sacred guard is purely for ceremony and I've heard that he picks them for skills other than their bladework." Melda raises an eyebrow suggestively.

"Honestly, Melda, I would be willing to swear that you would believe that even the high cleric of Heironneous was a dirty old man."

Melda snorts derisively, "No, I draw the line there. He would never dare to jeopardize his famed purity."

You get the distinct impression that the two of them are old friends and that this is a very old argument between them.
 
"Perhaps you say you're no lady, but you appear to be enough of one to suit me, Melda, we'll no doubt be camping not far from here, if you get off duty and care to share our company again before we must leave, I'd welcome you. After all, it sounds as though we share a few of the same... Beliefs? And I suppose that Gregor could come along too, if he liked... What do you say, Melda?"
 
"I'd love to join you, but I'm afraid I'll have to stay here in case anything happens during the night. Like as not the innkeeper will come up with some 'urgent' complaint which must be investigated immediately. On the other hand, I'll be leaving to return to the city in a week's time. If you happen to be passing by at that point, I'd travel with you at that point." Melda looks up with an annoyed glance as a rotund fellow in an old white apron comes racing across from the inn.
Gregor sighs, "Here comes the pest. I swear, tis like to summoning a demon by speaking of it.", he mutters under his breath.

The innkeeper is huffing and puffing as he arrives at the guard post. "Sargeant, I must insist on your immediate presence at the inn. A pair of ruffians have come in and I swear that they plan to cause trouble." he whines in an irritating tone.
Melda sighs, "And would these be like the last pair of ruffians, the ones who turned out to be priests of Pelor, returning from a mission of healing."
The innkeeper has the grace to look abashed, barely. "How was I to know that the bloodstains on their cloaks were from visiting the wounded? Besides, these two look like real troublemakers."
"Very well," says Melda, "I suppose I'd best go check it out. It was nice meeting you ladies." she speaks with a faint touch of kind irony and tips her helmet to Ezmi and Cassandra as she follows the fat man towards the inn. "Gregor, help them with whatever they need."
 
L'amruil: When Drec, the bald man asked me whether I needed to stop for anything. I walked past keeping up my pace with the rest of the party. Not sure why Ezmirylda would want to keep away from the guards. I shook my head "I don't need to stop, although I would like to rest for a bit, I'm a little tired" I said shifting my pack and quiver on my back. I was surprised to note how both the women were acting, there was Cassandra flaunting, then the other one hiding. Seemed like a weird couple. I didn't pay much attention to anything else, just listening for the sounds of the world, also trying to figure out what "farms" were. I walked up to the guards, somewhat behind Cassandra, and was about to ask them if we were headed the right way to Adaran. Some large man came bustling up, and complained about some trouble makers. This piqued my interest, I looked to the rest of our group "do you think we could take a look?"
 
Ezmirylda

Having gotten over her momentary leariness of the two guards, Ezmi stood, with a smile at Melda's suggestion to meet in a weeks time as she watched the guardswoman stride away toward the inn. This is where L'amruil suggested that they go look into this 'disturbance' as well. Ezmi turned to the guardsman, Gregor. "You seem to know Melda well, would she be insulted if we went to give her backup, if she needed it?" Ezmi asked, secretly, she wanted to see the woman perform in combat, after all, like its been said before, you never really know a person until you see them in a fight.
 
Drec:

IC: "Sounds to me like, the trouble is with the inn keepers judgment. I suggest we keep walking, we can top to play on the return trip but for now, we only have the words of an old women to tell us how long this trip will take. I suggested we stop here only if we have business here."
 
As soon as their strange, mixed group left the limits of the city, Leanna pulled her dark grey cloak around her slender shoulders. The soft linen fell to her ankles and concealed her curves. She tugged her raven hair back into a long queue and tugged her hood up. Cloaked and hooded, she was almost like a shadow, practically fading into the background.

Of course, this was often what she prefered. She had long ago learned the skill of being... discreet. She travelled with the others silent, neither initiating conversation nor giving any indication that she had any desire for any of the others to begin chatting with her.

She watched silently as the other two women began to chat with the pair of guards at the crossroads. Concealed by her hood, Leanna's lips curved into a small frown. She took the two guards as nothing more than background images, like animate statues. She would not have wasted time or breath pursuing a conversation with them, focusing instead on her own affairs and leaving them to theirs.

Still, she supposed the information the guards gave to the others was not entirely worthless... if somewhat obvious. She certainly intended that they should keep a guard at night, even without being warned. Nor did she intend to place complete faith in whatever guard they set -- she didn't know enough of these 'adventurers' to put her faith in them wantonly.

When the portly innkeep approached and demanded the guard's attentions, annoying servile in his demeanor, Leanna was all for seeing the back of them. She gave a small twitch of her shoulders as the elven cleric suggested running after them.

"Ruffians do not concern me," Leanna interjected, cool as an autumn pond. "The guards seem more then adequate to handle such affairs; and we have further to go before night is upon us."

She hoped the others would see the wisdom of what she was saying. In her mind, the innkeep's request could result in either two things -- An utter waste of time from a man known to raise false alarms, or else a tavern brawl with no possibility of advancement. Neither particularly appealed to her.

Sadly, she suspected her comrades were caught up in their odd flirtation with the pudgy female guard and would chase after her, eager as kittens bounding after a ball of string.
 
Gregor looks over at Drec, although he addresses Ezmi. "Your young friend is correct. Sythe hasn't had a brawl in his inn for over a year and Melda won't need any help. What's more, a new batch of strangers showing up while he's already in a fit might make things worse. Melda with get his feathers smoothed down easily enough. Now, is there anything I can help you with or will you be moving along?" Gregor seems to become somewhat less genial when Melda is away.
 
Ezmirylda

Ezmi sighed softly, and nodded, knowing that they were all right, they really should be moving on, but the curiosity about Melda lingered for a moment. Then something clicked in her mind, Gregor's subtle change of demeanor in the absence of Melda... She turned to eye him, and guage his feelings for Melda, because she had a suspicion that he had feelings for her. (Sense Motive roll = 15)
 
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Leanna shifted her slender shoulders slightly, as the fighter, Drec, spoke almost at the same instant as she did, as if they'd both shared the same thought.

That surprised her. She had initially thought that though the man might be a skilled fighter, he'd not be a useful ally or one likely to have opinions in common with herself. Still, help from an unexpected quarter was never a bad thing and as they both chimed in, the dancing girl seemed to concede the point.

Particularly when the remaining guardsman chimed in in affirmation.

Leanna, who cared not a whit for which guard harboured feelings for whomever else, nodded, indicating that she at least felt that they'd be moving on. Stepping past the guardsman, Leanna moved towards the other side of the crossroads, preparing to resume their journey towards Adaran.
 
Moving along

Ezmi: You have the impression of a long past history between the two. There may or may not have been romance there at some point, but it seems as if Gregor doesn't wish to tarnish Melda's opinion of him with his rudeness.

You travel for another few hours. While you still pass the occasional rider or wagon, they are few and far between. The sun is getting moderately low in the sky as you reach a field of grass, partly fenced in. You hear the gurgling of a stream from not too far away. You can see a farmhouse in the distance and evidently the owner is used to having people passing by, as there is a sign by the road. The sign reads: "Good spot for camp by the stream on far side of field. Don't step on the crops. Stay outside the bull fence." Spot checks please.
 
Ezmirylda

Ezmi hummed a gypsy tune to herself as she strode along with the party, she read the sign and her brow furrowed, it seemed strange to her that someone would leave such an offer out for complete strangers. She had to reread the sign just to be sure. (Thus she rolled a 4 for her spot)
 
Cassandra enjoyed the traveling through farm country. She felt right at home as she though of the common peasants working to keep their farms going. They were the true strength of any community. There were a few farm odors from time and time, and every so often she look at the men to assess their trustworthiness.

Not like those priests... They only take from the poor... Well most of them... Cassandra thought secretly as they continued their journey.

The woman in the dark gray cloak caused an uneasy feeling in her. This woman seemed devoid of male interest and a little bit off to herself.

Hmmm.... That one I better keep an eye on..... Not sure why... She might try to make off with the scroll.... Don't know why .... Just a feeling... Maybe we can chat at the campfire Cassandra thought to herself.

She was pleased that the camping spot seemed so perfect. Almost a little too perfect as if they might be ambushed at such a spot.

"Ezmi... The area seems so nice... But.... I just have a strange feeling" Cassandra shared in private conversation with Ezmi.
 
Ezmirylda

"Yes Cassandra, it did strike me odd that there was such an open invitation to camp at this one particular spot, but I had just figured that I was letting my inherent mistrustfulness get the better of me. You think this all might be some sort of trap or ambush site?"
 
Drec

OOC: Hope its not late. 22 spot :nana:

IC: I traveled quietly along with the others. Other then the last stop, the trip had been uneventfull this far.
 
OOC: Impressive roll!

IC: Drec notices two things: On the other side of the fence, fairly far into the field, there is a sleeping bull. It's dark brown, massive and has two extremely nasty looking horns. Also, he notices a faint path through the grass headed towards the stream and further along that path, an area where the grass seems to have been tramped down by a certain amount.
 
Cassandra moved about the camp trying to get ready for the night. There didn't seem to be any obvious dangers and she was determined to have a drink and a bath from the stream while she still had the chance. She was tired from the day's journey and wanted to relax and unwind.

Sneaking away by herself, Cassandra headed to the stream and walked along the bank for a few minutes trying to find a slightly secluded spot far enough away from their camp so that she might have some privacy. Finding the perfect spot, and feeling safe, she stripped herslef from her clothes and boots, and hung them out on a branch by the bank.

With one bare toe, she stepped into the water and decided it was cool enough to refresh her and clean enough to bath and drink. Taking a half dozen steps further she was waist deep and so she dropped lowered herself into the refreshing water.

This is delightful Cassandra thought as she floated naked in the stream.
 
This time of year, there isn't that much rain, so the stream doesn't seem to get any deeper than Cassandra's waist, the streambed, however extends almost as high as the top of her shoulders; clearly there is a lot more water during the rainy season. Fortunately, the tall grass and reeds offer some privacy in the spot she chose.

The area where the grass has been tramped down is fairly small, though large enough for a few tents and there is a small firepit, ringed with stones. At the edge of the area, there is a slightly rusty tent peg, forgotten by some previous occupant. As the sun drops down, a cool breeze brings relief from the summer heat. You can hear a dog barking in the distance and the bull seems to have woken up and is milling around his pen.
 
Ezmirylda

Ezmi looked around for Drec, as she wanted to keep their muscle close at hand in case this camp site was some sort of set up, and gave a sigh as she noticed him standing by himself, looking about stupidly.

"Drec, what ARE you looking at?" Ezmi asked with mild annoyance. "Oh, I see, a big dumb bull, friend of yours?" She asked sarcastically as she saw the beast he was looking at while it milled about in its pen.
 
Drec

OOC: Can I use the 22 again to spy on Casandra? :cathappy:

IC: "Yeah, we go way back. So I was wondering if mind me setting the two of you up on a date." I smiled at her.
 
Ero-Samurai

OOC: Sorry cats, if you want to spy on Cassandra, you'll have to come up with a new spot check, as well as hide and move silently checks if you want to go unnoticed. Feel free to try though. If things get serious, I'll set up a boink thread for you in the SRP forum.
 
"Oh Drec, I could never come between you and your best friend, after all, you had him first." Ezmi bantered right along with Drec's almost surprising attempt as sarcastic humor. She patted him lightly on the shoulder and nodded toward the little fire pit. "When are you going to start the camp fire, you big burly man, you? Us petite little ladies are going to get cold, and nothings worse than entertaining a group of frigid women..."
 
Drec

OOC: Just a small joke.

IC: "Camp fire or not your still going to be frigid. Besides I can't start the fire until you gather the fire wood."
 
Ezmirylda

Ezmi fell silent at Drec's 'joke' and turned away, stalking off to gather the firewood he would need before the shock and hurt of his comment came to be written on her face. She knew he had ment it in the spirit of the game of sarcasm that they had been playing, but it had caught her off guard, the last thing she had expected was for him to somehow pull one of her rapists taunting terms for her from out of thin air.

She took twenty... Minutes to gather dry wood for the fire and then returned, and placed them in the fire pit for Drec to light, not saying a word as she sat, and waited by the pit.
 
The sunset blazes across the sky, bathing everything in a reddish-orange glow. Ezmi has gathered all the wood she could easily find, which is probably enough to keep quite a small blaze going until morning. Unfortunately, wood is not the easiest fuel to come by on the plains.

OOC: A few RP rewards (Please keep track of your own xp as a backup):

Ezmirylda- 75xp (character developement & high participation)
Drec - 50xp (great participation)
Cassandra - 50xp (posts nicely in character)
Leanna - 50xp (likewise)
L'Amruil - 25xp (low participation but very good IC posts)
 
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