Present:
- MARMALADE Abellinut "Able" Ugwistan, 31, Moor Arian Fighter from Septum - Jeff
- Aulius "Owl" Lucius Decanter, 25, Polytheistic Fighter from Gades - Jamie
- Elia Ildaria, 24, Basque Pagan Barbarian from Gasteiz - Richard
- Luigi Abundus Bertolini, 23, Roman Nicene Priest from Ravenna - Chris
- Merkel, 24, Vandal Arian Temple-fighter from Gades - Kevin
- Vanker Polyester, 22, Vandal Pagan Rogue from Gades - Shane
- Velito Rosso, 24, Roman Nicene Barbarian from Venice - Darryl
- MARMALADE: Victor Koshenko, 24, Alan Arian Thief from Gades - Ian
Just as we'd calculated, about midday after leaving Nabrissa on the road to Orippo we came upon Lady Florinda's caravan, which had stopped for lunch.
The caravan was quite sizeable. "I'm sure we will be a welcome addition", Elia thought as we approached.
Four horsemen rode toward us and one called us to stop and introduced himself as Lieutenant Rodrigo de Avila. "what is your business?" Rodrigo demanded.
Our self-appointed leader, Owl, stepped forward and introduced himself and told Rodrigo that we had employed to help guard the wagon and handed over the sealed envelope of instruction.
"Excellent… these roads are dangerous – you lot will help" – "now introductions please"
We went around the group introducing ourselves. He seemed most interested in our fighting prowess. Things had gone fairly well until we got to Merkel. " I'm a fighterrrr", he exclaimed "and I will proveeee it" - "I will fight Vanker"
Vanker shuffled uncomfortably but things got ahead of him and the Lieutenant seemed rather pleased with this turn of events. Wooden swords were quickly handed out with the other caravan guards and indeed ladies in waiting gathering around. Side bets were made (led by Velito) and the fight began ………. and finished rather quickly.
Vanker made a mighty swing but with Merkel's dodge, hit the ground breaking his sword. Merkel didn't bother to respond. Another sword was thrown to Vanker who immediately charged, tripped, broke the second sword and was rendered unconscious by Merkel with a powerful blow to the back of his head.
[ Shane – Vanker – threw two fumbles and Merkel – Kevin a critical ] – the fight was over.
"See… I can fight!" exclaimed Merkel.
"And clearly Vanker can't" said the Lieutenant.
We brought Vanker around.
"Did I win?" questioned Vanker.
"Nope" we all exclaimed.
Lieutenant Rodrigo then went about assigning us jobs and wagons. The details were :
VANGUARD (mounted)
Guard Isidro Ramirez
Guard Pedro Flores
Guard Alonso Gomez
Guard Catalius Ortega
ROAMERS (mounted)
Lieutenant Rodrigo de Avila
Sergeant Carlos Rodriguez
Corporal Ines de Leon
Guard Javier Torres
AULIUS (OWL)
================================
1 WAGON - Supplies
Wagoner Antonio
Guard Marta Valenzuela
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2 WAGON - Supplies
Wagoner Carlos
Guard ABLE
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3 COACH - Servants
Coachman Manuel
Guard VICTOR
Attendant Luisa
Servant Juanita
Attendant Esmeralda
Maid Beatriz
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4 COACH - Ladies-in-waiting
Driver VANKER
Guard ELIA
Camila Isadora
Esmeralda Aldara
Lady Isidora Beltrana
Valentina Leonor
================================
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| Lady Florinda |
Coachman Diego
Guard MERKEL
Guard Sofisto Herrera
Guard Juan Carlos Vasquez
Lady Florinda La Cava
Lady Isabella de Arvandus
Lady Elvira Juliana
Lady Isidora Felicia
================================
6 COACH - Ladies-in-waiting
Coachman Alejandro
Guard VELITO
Lady Beatrice Octavia
Adela Ysabel
Amalia Seraphina
Maid Constanza
================================
7 COACH - Slave girls
Driver LUIGI
NPC Justina
Guard Marius Reyes
Servant Isabella
Slave Maricela
Maid Catalina
Slave Zaida
================================
8 COACH - Slave girls
Coachman Luis
Guard Mateo Cortez
Slave Tetona
Slave Puta
Slave Cono
Slave Perra
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9 WAGON - Supplies
Driver Pedro
Guard Gabriel Peralta
================================
10 WAGON - Supplies
Driver Francisco
Guard Diego Mendoza
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11 WAGON - Supplies
Wagoner Juan
Guard Alan Silva
REAR-GUARD (mounted)
Guard Alejandro Soto
Guard Terence Gallego
Guard Arturo Miranda
Guard Claudius Fernandez
How Owl got a horse is anyone's guess but we got on our way toward Orippo.
Orippo was 1.5 days away and that time passed relatively uneventfully, except for the normal group antics.
Firstly, what was that 10' wrapped item that Owl has on his horse? He was very secretive about it which of course only brought attention to it. Sister Justina seemed particularly fascinated and was hanging around Owl – "oh well – something to investigate in due course".
[ Of course, this was the "Holy Spear of God" – which Owl had told Father Luigi he had destroyed but Elia doesn’t know about that. ]
Secondly and more perversely, a number of men seemed attracted to Merkel – raised voices could be head from his wagon. "Don’t – I like girls" – "stoooop touching me". In fact, on the second day there seemed to be an altercation from Merkel's wagon and the driver Diego fell from the wagon and was rendered unconscious breaking his jaw. The horses bolted and the wagon was careering toward a ditch when the ever-present (and somewhat annoyingly smug) Owl rode in and gathered the reins – just in time. "It was underrr control!" shouted Merkel.
As it turned out Diego had come onto Merkel and this time Merkel had landed a punch, and in rolling a critical, he ensured Diego flew from the wagon. The incident was covered up by pouring whisky on the unconscious Diego and labelling him a drunk. Despite that, a far larger and more menacing driver was teamed up with Merkel this time.
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| Elia dressed up |
Lady Florinda and her entourage took over the entire inn and we managed to secure a room. A banquet was set for that night and the Lady Florinda (who is indeed beautiful of looks and spirit) provided me a dress and allowed her maids in waiting to bathe me and dress me.
I was quite pleased with the outcome even if I do say so myself. So was Velito – that wee Italian man has an insatiable appetite and he's taken quite an interest in the servant girl Isabella from Coach 7….. and me.
We set guards and Merkel again found himself in trouble with guards coming onto him. A nasty rumour was going about that he liked it rough and that his protestations about liking girls was a farce. Eventually Lieutenant Rodrigo had to step in as things were getting out of hand. "shave that moustache off" he told Merkel – "it's like a magnet to the men".
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| Merkel |
As we near lunchtime Rodrigo advises us that the ladies wish to bathe at nearby sacred springs. "Of course Lieutenant" pouts Owl as his rides to tell us.
"Dis is stupid – eh" says Velito – "is it your idea Merkel?"
"wah" Merkel responds.
A small side track approaches and Rodrigo beckons us to go that way. "It will only be a mile or two" he says. Down the narrow track we pass two groups of men – one of 6 and one of 12. The first group had one man with rather good-looking leather armour – but generally both groups were ragtag and unarmed.
Our hackles were raised though and we became extra vigilant.
We arrive at the spring where Rodrigo orders all men to form a guard while the women bathe. Elia offers to stand guard at the spring. The wagons were stopped and horses tethered some 400m from the spring and the guards (including us) formed a formation encircling the lake but (as Velito pointed out more than once) "it had more holes than a hooker" or however the saying goes.
" Dis is not good" Velito once again murmured. "Dis is not a good position is we is attacked".
"Shut up" stormed Owl who was tiring of Velito's voice.
As if on cue, moments later four men were spotted slowly approaching the horses with knives in hand. A volley of arrows and a javelin or two killed three and saw one scamper off. "See see" persisted Velito " dis ees not good"
Meanwhile the women were bathing, blissfully unaware of he events unfolding.
Eventually, a guard called out to Elia from some distance "there is trouble – get the women dressed!"
Arriving back at the wagons Elia asked "what is happening?"
"we were attacked " said Velito – "our defenses were terrible"
"Shut up Velito" demanded Owl "no one was hurt"
"see see but how we get out of here now – there only one way – back the way we came"
This was true – the only way back was the way we came, and if this was an ambush then there would be at least 15 men, assuming the ones we passed were the likely candidates. Of course there could be more.
"Two of my men are dead" Rodrigo interrupted as he stomped toward us.
"see see the defenses were very poor" Velito volunteered for the 10th time and drawing angry looks not just from Owl but also Rodrigo.
"I think we should scout out toward the main road" volunteered Vanker. "I will go with you Vanker" said Elia, and in the blink of an eye both disappeared [both made very good Sneak rolls].
The track was about a mile to the main road. 500 metres along the track and just off it to the left were six bowmen. They were well hidden with views of the track. Another 200 metres toward the main road and to the right was a further force of 12 men including the bastard with the nice leather.
Vankar and Elia return to camp some 60 minutes later and update everyone.
- We head to the main road with the wagons and everyone on board
- We fortify the wagons the best we can on their left to protect against arrows
- 7 people including Elia and Vanker and 5 guards will go inland to the left of the track and come onto the bowmen from behind.
- The guards are:
- Sofisto Herrera
- Juan Carlos Vasquez
- Diego Mendoza
- Marius Reyes
- Mateo Cortez
- They will attack when they hear the wagons approaching (and maybe when the bowmen get off their first volley of arrows thinks Elia)
- They will make a loud sound with a whistle as they attack the bowmen (to alert the wagons)
- The wagons will speed up slightly.
- The wagons are ready for an attack on he right and have put the guards with missile weapons at he ready near the front but hidden from obvious view.
- Everyone is ready for the attack
- If it all goes horribly wrong the ladies' wagons (which are near the front) will speed up and rapidly make for the main road while everyone else bravely sacrifices their lives.
"This will go like clockwork" thinks Owl – "what could go wrong?"
"The seven lead by Vanker and Elia will take out the bowmen and we will surprise the other 12 or so with our missile weapons and our readiness to engage"
"We have 7 vs 6 bowmen and 17 (excluding drivers) vs 12 ambushers" (overall there are 24 remaining guards including us and excluding the two dead guards)
"What could go wrong?" Owl thought with Velito's voice ringing in his ears "see see…."
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