Mirella gets a wickedly sharp Lycene stiletto dagger from a steel-and-silver chain belt with a small black velvet-bound book suspended from it.

After the initial contact at the Traders Tavern, our intrepid group is sent on a journey towards Caith. They cross the border just after nightfall, where a 'Kinsbane's Wrath' Inn has been raised. Inside, a number of merchants, musician hopefuls and would-be mercenaries gather inside, plying their trade or inbetween trips to and from places like Ashford Keep, Setarco and even Caith itself.

A number of them look ragged and disheveled, down on their luck, for some reason.

Ras has been on foot for the journey, boots and leggings colored by the dust of the road. He stays relatively close to Sydney during the travel, and once they enter the inn, he mutters to her that he's going to ask around about the missing fabrics shipment and shifts away to move through the other patrons.

You know who doesn't look ragged and/or disheveled? Teagan Blackram. Sure she's got the dust of the road on her, but she's also wearing rubicund armor and carrying a diamondplate bow. It's not OMGMONEY but it's MONEY. Probably wildly out of place in the inn and once in the door... she stops, takes everything in. There's finally a nod to herself before she strikes for the bar to get the barman's attention and make her queries. And in the midst of asking? She offers to buy a round for everyone in the place. Never hurts to endear people to you.

Ras checked charm + streetwise at difficulty 30, rolling 9 higher.

Teagan drops coins worth 50.0 silver.

Sydney has proven a gregarious and often overly wine-sodden travel companion, but there's very little doubt about why she's come the nearer they get to the their destination. There's a fierce energy about the Lowers Pugilist, one that was plain enough when she was jesting and making light, but one that becomes even clearer when she dons her armor, and that vicious-looking foreign weapon. She walks in casual-like to the Tavern, hands tucked in her pantaloon pockets, an easygoing smile on her features, nudging with an elbow. It doesn't hurt through the rubicund. "Oi, oi. That include one for me?" A flash of her teeth.

Jules looks spotless, really he does. He's somehow managed to stay looking as pristine as when he left, somehow! Inside the inn he begins to make his way towards the bar without directly heading to anyone particular but at the bar he smiles at whoever here he may be sitting next to and says, "A good day to you!"

Teagan checked charm + etiquette at difficulty 25, rolling 13 higher.

Iliana gives some of the others a bit of a head start going into the inn; thereby possibly breaking up some of the idea that they're here as one suspiciously large group. She doesn't look particularly ragged or disheveled either, but under her own fine layer of dust there is steel, such that might be recognized by travelers from the Crownlands, or might not. She gives the place a slow look around and then promptly finds a seat, leaving others to circulate and ask their questions - and buy the beer - while she observes, taking in the mood of the room and watching for trouble.

Jules checked charm + haggling at difficulty 25, rolling 17 higher.

"Of course it does," Teagan tells Sydney. "A round for everyone is a round for everyone." Including herself, apparently. She is most definitely -not- one of those Oathlanders that doesn't drink. The woman engages with the bartender for a moment after laying down the silver for the round of drinks. She kicks out a boot, leaning against the bar. "Mind pointing me towards this road?" To Sydney, as an aside, she explains sotto-voice: "He says there's been assaults on caravans on a road they're taking to avoid tolls. Seems the Knights of Solace charge for protection out here." It gives the pugilist a chance to 'spread the word' as it were while Teagan keeps playing the role of buying drinks for all.

Ras finds a place near a Northman. "Hey, Einnar," he says to the fellow, lifting an upnod and hunching forward on both elbows. "A gang of dwarves, huh? Down here or up north?" He attempts to pull a smile, but it doesn't touch his eyes.

Merchant tavern? This is Mirella's province. She is, after all, a merchant -- or at least she dabbles in such matters, hence the Traders Tavern in Arx being a usual haunt. Therefore her entrance into the tavern is an unobtrusive one, drawing no excess attention to her arrival as she makes her way over to the bar. Dressed in sueded dark leathers over a cowled silk tunic, she doesn't stand out much, with only the belts on her waist (one looped with pouches, the other with a velvet-bound book) being notable to additions to what would otherwise be subtly refined attire. She find somewhere out-of-the-way to stand after collecting a glass of wine from the bar. Watching, waiting, keeping herself to herself for now, she's just another figure in the background.

Jules seems to chit-chat with one of the fellows, at the bar and seems to drop a little money in his palm. He seems ever cheerful and not even the slightest bothered to offer it over. He goes back and forth for several moments talking about anything and everything. After a few moments he claps the man on the shoulder before he makes his way away from him and over towards Teagan with a slight bounce to his step. He discretely whispers something to her and glances around as though he's attempting to determine who he might want to speak to next...

Sydney looks ruefully towards Teagan. "Ah, but I shouldn't. I've had so very much on the road, already. Your offer is, of course, most generous an' appreciated, though." She drifts from person to person of their merry band, making energetic small talk, and occasionally slipping in the words Teagan bade her relay to the rest of the party so as not to be super obvious about it.

Mirella checked perception + investigation at difficulty 40, rolling 25 higher.

"South-southeast," Einnar states bitterly to Ras, and holds out his mug. He wants a refill for his troubles. "Fucking hell, should've hired that guy's company."

Letting Sydney do her thing, Teagan shrugs and leaves an ale out for the woman -anyway-. Someone else can always pick it up. She has her own now! And as Jules speaks to her, she tilts her head to listen. There's a furrow of her brows. "All right," she tells him. "Let's see what the others find out and reconvene outside shortly. Sounds like we have a couple options." She does try to give a brief smile to the man, but it's overtaken by that inclination towards thoughtful RBF.

Ras shifts a little backwards, elbows drawing off the table as he gives Einnar's mug a blank look. "What guy's company?" he asks, and just then Sydney's relaying Teagan's message. "Uh, Solace? Or somebody else chargin protection?" His eyes narrow slightly. He probably has experience about what it means to charge protection.

"If you're not paying me for a drink, fuck off," Einnar states, brushing Ras's question off of him like water off a raincoat.

The bartender, helpfully, and glad for the business, brings out a map of the region for Teagan, dusty and probably outdated. "Another hundred silver and it's yours."

Sydney can only offer a little shrug of her shoulders to Ras's line of questioning, but the lack of a smile on her face seems to hint that her mind is working in much the same way. Commoners with a dim view of 'protection' rackets? Who ever could have imagined? She slings an arm companionably around Ras's shoulder, "Ras, are you botherin' people again? Sorry, I keep tryin' to tell him he's got a punchable face, but he just don't listen."

Jules walks over to the bartender with a smile and says, "Dear me, is that Volkov Vodka back there?!" He squints his eyes as he speaks with enthusiasm and then looks up to the man, "Map? My dear sir, you should be trying to get that stuff out if it is." He gives a soft laugh, "Perhaps there's a better chance we might be able to find a better deal than that my good sir!" He looks into his backpack and flips through where a few bottles can be heard clinking and he pulls out a jar rather than alcohol as may be expected, "Laurent Honey." He lifts his eye brows and puts it back in with a shake of his head and says, "No, while it's fine for whiskey I don't know that it's quite what you're looking for." There's a thought in his eyes, "What is it that the good sir really needs is..." He looks at the man appraisingly, "An opportunity." He nods his head firmly as he considers.

"Shit, northmen," grumbles Ras, hunching under Sydney's arm. "I've got the prettiest face in Arx." Untrue, especially considering the much prettier (if fiercer) face hovering nearby. He continues vaguely grumbling in this vein while shelling out a handful of grubby silver and dumping it into Einnar's mug. "Tell me bout the protection company guy."

Ras drops coins worth 7.0 silver.

"I'll buy that honey. Five silver the jar," the bartender tells Jules, eyeing them. "You can get the map if you have four more of those, plus twenty silver." He's already reaching for the jars to sniff them -- Laurent honey just has that indescribably good smell.

There's a glance towards Ras and Sydney and Teagan purses her lips, but she looks back to the bartender as he barters with Jules. She leans on her forearms a bit. The math gets a headbobble. It's at least cheaper than it was, if still a bit rich (in her mind) for an old map. But they could use it. "I've got the silver," she tells Jules.

Mirella's just keeping watch, sipping on her wine as she leans against a wall with what might be mistaken for a casual air by all but the most observant of people-watchers. Her spine is immaculately straight, however, and her dark gaze is razor keen within a countenance that's an equal match for Teagan's RBF. She's doing some stellar eavedropping over the inn's patrons and the party she accompanied hre.

Jules gives a serious laugh at the offer and shakes his head, "Dear me no, my lady should be quite offended but" He is already tucking that honey back into his bag and glances back in the bag he has and shifts it about a bit more to pull out a bottle of mead and he looks at it, "Fireberry infused mead .... 1009." He looks at the man with a squint and says, "Mead man? Heavens if I couldn't get near enough five thousand from a particular lord." He shakes his head and says, "Heavens not for a map we don't even know if it has any real use to it." He scrunches his face up and tucks the bottle back in his bag as he considers the man, "Have you anything you could throw in with the map? Anything of particular value we might be able to ... use beyond just locating something? I'm certain a bartender has all sorts of information."

Sydney offers Ras a little grin and places an exaggerated and teasing smooch on his brow before mussing his hair and leaning off of him. She meanders her way up towards the bar again, scooping up the spare drink that Teagan ordered for her, and just holds on to it. It looks at home in her easy grip, as does most alcohol. She meanders over to Mirella and leans easily on the wall near to her, flashing a grin down to the shorter woman. "Ain't no one ever accused you of bein' the chattiest in the whole damn world?" She offers the drink as a show of good faith.

"I know where a few lost wagons are. I can mark on the map for you. Always take in survivors." The bartender states, in a hushed tone. "Fair warning, though, you're not the first to come here asking after things. Not for the past month, but still."

Sydney clicks her tongue as she seems to belatedly notice Mirella's already got wine, and she instead takes a swig of the drink, herself, shutting her mouth to listen in while swigging. The levity in her actions doesn't quite match the way she's carrying herself.

Ras gives a glower at the recalcitrant Einnar, even though it's probably his own fault for not being charming enough. He clears his throat and disentangles himself swiftly from the seating, whacking Einnar's shoulder and saying, "Have fun gettin shitfaced instead of gettin back." Pocketing both hands then, he heads across in the direction of Sydney and Mirella.

Against what might be all expectations, Mirella turns a sideways glance at Sydney, quirking the lightest of smiles at the brawler's words. Just the barest curl at the edge of her mouth, but undoubtedly it's a smile, and it's edged with something close to amusement before it flits away. Taking another sip of wine, red liquid glittering within the glass, the dark-haired Lycene leans over and quietly murmurs something to her new drinking buddy. Her voice is so light that only the other woman will be able to hear her, unless one has the ears of a bat. "Apparently this has been happening for a month now. Ambushes, lost cargo. I heard something about a 'deal of a lifetime'. Diamondplate. Recurring problem, so I gather, but nobody can work out the origin of it all." When Ras approaches, she crooks a finger at him to draw closer so that she can repeat what she just said to him, just as quietly and subtly. All pleasant airy chitchat, as far as anyone might see.

Jules nods his head as he pulls out the bottle of fireberry mead and says, "I suppose I might be inclined to share a few drinks for someone willing to share a bit of information." He gives a laugh and scratches at his chin, "Assuming you have a taste for mead ... or rum." He glances in his bag, "Or a touch of the honey in a bit of whiskey. - Assuming you have a taste. All come from very special people as gifts. I'd be willing to share with a friend and I'm always excited to meet new friends and offer good opportunities. Taking an opportunity is always better than shooting for the immediate pleasure. Certainly a glass from some of these is worth more than that 100 silver but now... now we're talking potential!" Excitement in his voice as he leans in, ready to uncork the bottle.

"Give me a couple bottles and a jar of honey," the bartender asks, "for the markers. You should probably go soon."

As the bartender 'sweetens the pot,' so to speak, Teagan leans in a bit with an arch of brow. "Mind telling me who else has come and asked? Did you... get any names, see any insignia?" She asks this while letting Jules make up his mind about the deal.

"Einnar over there thinks it's a gang of dearves, south-southeast," Rad replies solemnly to Mirella, glancing at Sydney. "Wanna tell your silk friend at the bar?" He glances down at something he draws from one pocket that Einnar seems to have given him as he departed the northman's side. It looks like a holy symbol of Gild.

Jules considers for a moment and he says, "Well, you offered five silver for the honey and three of them. That's 15 silver." Yes, that's not exactly what he said, "Plus twenty silver." He scrunches his face, "Find, I'll give you the thirty silver and two more if you give us any other information you could mark on the map but say now or I'll take back my offer in half."

Rolling out the map, the bartender makes several notations, before returning it to its new owners.

Sydney returns the smile to Mirella amicably when it appears, and sways a little as she drinks and listens, bobbing her head. Ras gets an affronted look from Sydney, and she splays her her fingers against her collarbone. "My silk friend? Why, Ras, they're /our/ silk friend!" She cheerily meanders over to the bar and inserts herself between Teagan and Jules. "Gentleman, are we-- oh, it looks like negotiations have concluded. Wonderful. Come, come."

Jules counts out the thirty pieces of silver and pulls out not two but THREE MORE! He glances to the bartender and says, "Anything else you might be willing to offer? He reaches in for yet another piece of silver. That's a total of four more Mr. Bartender, "Anything at all?"

Mirella nods to Ras in acknowledgement, then peers down at the holy symbol. There's a definite hint of disapproval as the Mirrormask sniffs in a breath, releasing it gently afterwards. "Interesting line of work for the Solace, that. I wonder what the Faith would make of it."

"You fucking tricked me. Get outta here!" The bartender screams at Jules, pointing a finger accusingly.

Thankfully, Teagan has already grabbed the map by the time the bartender works things out. "I fear we've overstayed our welcome," she tells Jules and Sydney before exiting, stage door.

Jules blinks at the man and shakes his head as he reaches in to take out a few more pieces and adds, "Dear me my dear man" And places the few extra coins plus a few extra for the bartender, "I meant no offense but only wished to make sure we weren't being taken as well." He bows and makes his way out, "Truly sorry for the offense I caused." He then makes his way out with an apologetic smile.

Sydney fishes into her coinpurse and slaps ten silver on the bartop, undermining some of Jules's victory. "Hope that tilts the scales for ya a touch, friend. We'll be goin', either way." A charming, easygoing smile, and she meander exitward.

Sydney drops coins worth 10.0 silver.

Jules drops coins worth 45.0 silver.

"Einnar said it was for protection and good luck," Ras tells Mirella, and glances toward the bar. Both eyebrows raise and then he puts the symbol back in his pocket. He heads outside too, after Sydney.

After their untimely expulsion from the bar, the intrepid adventurers find themselves in a fork of the road. The right and center are paved, while the left is a detour of dirt and potholes, the soil here soft rather than porous, thus, prone to becoming mud in the rain.

Jules glances at the map and then says, "What do you think these other marks are? People that have tried to claim the wagon? The bandits? Treasure? Something else?" His brow furrowed as he looks, "I'd guess best to approach those areas with a good deal of caution."

Here I go again on my own... except Teagan isn't alone. She's part of a fairly mixed group. The woman consults the map and welcomes others to double-check her. "The left fork seems to be where we need to go," she says, ready to go thataway unless someone disagrees. "He said he was going to mark lost wagons for us," she says to Jules. "So we may be looking for a while until we find ours."

Ras chews the inside of his lower lip, tilting his head back to survey the sky for some reason. Then he appraises the left fork. Maybe he's wondering if it lines up with being south-southeast, but he doesn't comment.

Sydney rubs the back of her neck. "Ah, mud. Familiar, familiar mud." She seems more than happy to follow along rather than provide her own commentary.

Having lingered just a littttle longer before downing her wine and making a quiet exit from the inn, Mirella will hopefully be free from a less than fortunate connection to Jules and the others. She might want to do business with the people in that place one day, after all, and reputation is everything -- even the kind of reputation that comes through association with other people. Whatever the case, she doesn't dawdle, and it doesn't take her long to catch up with the rest of the group. She stops at the fork in the road and folds her arms, quiet and subtle. An avian tilt of her head sees her gliding a curious appraisal over the map when she's invited to inspect it, and then she lifts her chin to focus on the divergence of paths. "Any footsteps in that mud? Have wagons passed by?"

Jules nods to Teagan and says, "Of course my lady, I hope that you're right. Definitely better to find all those wagons with goods than a mess of bandits." He laughs but it's the laugh of a man that seems to have an edge of fear, "So ... do we just follow this little path then?"

Mirella checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 13 lower.

Sydney checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

Ras checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 4 higher.

Jules checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 17 lower.

Teagan checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 4 lower.

Sydney checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 15 lower.

"What's the matter, Jules?" taunts Ras, somewhat rudely. "Scared you'll get mud on your clothes?" He nods towards the road ahead with a possibly feogned confidence, and unpockets a hand to point out tracks. "Recent." He starts off down the road, making a face at Jules.

"Look, 'less we distrust the man /before/ you pissed in his ale to save half a a handful worth-a silver, kinda looks like it's the only real option." The pugilist offers, to Jules, looking half-amused. Swaying back and forth as though she's nary a care in the world as they meander down the muddied path, she's rather less focused on the path before them and more on casually peering around. Drinking in the scenery intently, especially when Ras alerts them to the footsteps.

"We follow the path," Teagan says with a hint of amusement in her voice. She heads onward as well, trusting that Ras has spotted something viable. She has no reason not to! And it is down the appropriate road. As they head that way, however, she does pull out her bow and test the draw. Ready. Just in case.

The tracks lead straight down the road, before said road curves outward into a more forested area. The vegetation here is subtropical rather than the lush temperate forests of Ashford Keep, which means that the shade the trees provide is no cover for the sunlight but rather simply makes the entire affair damper, a slog to get through. The tracks veer off, right here, leading straight into the woods.

Jules checked perception + survival at difficulty 40, rolling 3 lower.

Teagan checked perception + survival at difficulty 40, rolling 4 higher.

Jules just chuckles at Ras, not bothered in the least by the taunts and seems to rather find the words humorous. He turns to look to Sydney with a shrug, "The idea was not to give him less but get more." He gives a shrug and says, "The money was less valuable than the information but" he pauses with a laugh and waves off the thought. He turns and nods to Teagan and follows along the path, happy go lucky as he goes.

Sydney checked perception + survival at difficulty 40, rolling 26 lower.

Mirella? She follows along too, eying up the scenery much as Sydney does. And what's that? A dagger is at her hip now, exposed as she pulls up the hem of her silk tunic just a touch so as to tuck it into her trousers. It's a thin dagger -- a stiletto, the metal uncertain, seeing as it's in a leather sheath. Her steps are light on the path, her boots somehow skimming shy of any mud or detritus on the road. Murmuring quietly, she wonders aloud to any might listen: "Do you really think it's the Solace involved in this? I wouldn't put it past charlatans to assume such a disguise." She trails off as the group nears trees. "Oh. Lovely. Wet and mouldering."

Ras checked perception + survival at difficulty 40, rolling 8 higher.

Mirella checked perception + survival at difficulty 40, rolling 14 lower.

Ras wanders along the path, pausing at the point where the tracks divert into the woods. He glances around and fidgets with a feather in his hair, other hand remaining pocketed. His chin jerks to point out the trail to the others, but from the look on his face, he's not convinced it's relevant.

Sydney stops when Ras does. Apparently she has enough of a rapport with the man to trust his motions. She meanders over to regard the direction he's looking. For the life of her, she never would have noticed it had he not pointed it out. "...Hmn. As far as Solace? I shardin' well doubt it."

"I don't think Solace is behind it," Teagan says as they proceed. "I think what Solace is doing might be termed 'aggressive fundraising.' Whoever makes donations gets priority for protection. Which means anyone who doesn't or can't afford to becomes a prime target for bandits. I think Solace just saw opportunity. Or cowardice." She points out, as they get further along the road, bits of wagon. Here, there. "Keep an eye out," she warns, drawing an arrow already just in case. And then- she points towards a clearing. "There's something there. Something partly buried."

Jules glances around, his usually cheerful disposition seems to sober up at the information being relayed and at this seems to hold back a bit more and becomes just a hint more attentive as he looks around, most especially at the wagon and the arrow. At the mention of something being buried his expression now grows curiously interested.

Ras's apathetic attitude erodes as they continue along the trail. He crouches to examine something that looks like a broken wagon wheel, dislodging it from the porous ground with both hands and casting a significant look towards Sydney. And then he mutters a quiet 'whoa' aloud at the sight of a dead horse, and when Teagan remarks on the thing sticking out of its impromptu burial, he frowns woth vague apprehension.

Mirella's steps are careful, oh so careful, so as to prevent a nasty skid into the woodland floor. She's paying so much attention to this that she barely even sees the dead horse until the group are standing in front of the thing. When they're all assembled before the departed creature, she wrinkles her nose in disgust and pulls her velvety black cowl up around her mouth. She's not sniffing the air that surrounds the corpse. No way. So gross. Her free hand skims across the grip of her dagger.

Sydney eases her hands into her pockets, gripping the ends of those leather straps. Coiling them about her diamond-plated gauntlets, she ends up with a hell of an intimidating look of spiked knuckles. Her easygoing and good-natured attitude evaporates. She may not be able to see all the telltale signs that those around her are, but she knows how to read a room well enough. If weapons are coming out, she's not getting caught flat-footed, either. She's not afraid to get her hands dirty, at least. Or at least, to make a go of it. Partially buried, partially... schmuried? She tries to prise it out of the muck.

Sydney checked strength + athletics at difficulty 40, rolling 4 higher.

Nocking arrow to bow and drawing it partway, Teagan watches Sydney as she heads for the partially buried object. She doesn't lift her bow just yet, but with the partial draw she can react quick if need be.

Jules continues to stand around, he's looking at this place and that but he's bouncing on his heels. Periodically he looks down to Sydney as she begins to get into whatever it is that is buried. He's got his hands in his pocket and seems to have forgotten a bit of the danger that's ever present.

Ras studies Sydney, then shoots a wary glance at the surroundings, then returns to watching the unearthing attempt. He brushes mud from the broken wheel casually off on his pants.

Sydney grimaces, but doesn't reel backward, exactly. "...Well. I think we found one of the merchants. Punched full of little holes, so... maybe... ex-merchant." Her shoulders sag and she reaches down to gingerly remove the merchant's necklace. A stygian affair, decorated with gold. She keeps it held gently over her wrist rather than pocketing it. She's sure as hell not the /only/ one who found it, after all. She looks more depressed than anything. "...That's... a lot of stab wounds. Punctures. Something. Someone more eloquent come take a look."

Sydney has unearthed a corpse, it would seem.

"Lovely," Teagan says flatly in answer to Sydney's discovery. She strikes off the path slowly to make her way over. "Not sure I can make any sense of it, but does that-" she nods towards the necklace Sydney has found, "have any identifiable markings on it?"

Mirella may or may not have seen a few dead bodies in her time. Her gaze lacks anything in the way of shock, but mild disgust? Yep, that glitters over the impromptu mask she's made of her cowl. Turning her attention away from the corpses, she looks towards Sydney instead and speaks muffled words from beneath her sueded mask. "Mind if I take a look at that?"

Jules happens to glance down as Sydney locates the corpse and almost looks as though he might be sick. Still, he keeps it together and before long is back on his composure. Still, he does not have his usual cheerful exuberance and it seems typical that he's losing some of that cheerfulness the longer this is taking apparently.

Ras scowls at the corpse Sydney pulled out, but looks towards Mirella thoughtfully. Rather than approaching the makeshift grave, he takes a suspicious stroll around the periphery, looking for anything else that might explain what happened in the clearing.

Mirella checked perception + investigation at difficulty 45, rolling 25 higher.

Sydney tosses the necklace over to Mirella in order for her to have a look. For her part, she rises slowly and gazes into the surroundings while the necklace is examined. "Stay sharp, Ras. Need that eagle eye of yours. This don't feel right."

Ras checked perception + investigation at difficulty 45, rolling 25 higher.

Teagan checked perception + investigation at difficulty 45, rolling 5 lower.

Ras scuffs at a footprint. It looks normal-sized. "Don't reckon these were dwarves," he calls over to Sydney. "More'n one of em that did this."

Mirella catches the necklace in one gloved hand, a quick whip of her arm plucking the thing up for a closer inspection. She turns so that Teagan can take a look too, or anyone else who might take a gander. "Stygian," comes her quiet voice through the suede of her cowl. "Gold decoration. Might be genuine, not sure." She holds it up, turning it in any rays of light that might filter through the trees. Her voice is thoughtful, as is the narrowing of her eyes. "I've become so used to seeing everyday items in an odd light. Now I'm wondering if it could be a key of some sort." She turns a glance around to anyone who might be listening, arching an eyebrow. Then she nods to Ras before tilting her head towards the corpses. "Small weapons, though? There's not much splatter."

Jules checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 6 lower.

Sydney checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 9 lower.

Mirella checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 22 higher. Mirella rolled a critical!

Ras checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 15 higher.

Ras looks back at Mirella and nods with a pensive frown. He surveys the surroundings again, and squints at some foliage, biting his lip briefly.

Jules just remains glancing around, trying not to be aware of the corpse here or the general direction of the focus that comes from having a corpse there. Still, he does allow his eyes to scan about, more to avoid the unpleasantnesses of it than looking for something.

Teagan checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 14 lower.

Mirella frowns as she eyes the slaughter with quiet curiosity (from a distance!). Moments later, however, she turns a quick suspicious glance to the bushes. Her voice is low but urgent as she cautions, "People watching us. Waiting for us. Ambush." she stuffs the necklace into her belt-pouch, then wraps her hand around the grip of her dagger.

Seeming to have already been on edge a little, Ras shifts immediately at Mirella's warning - his right forearm twitches downward and there's a barely-perceptible sound of a latch clicking inside his sleeve. A knife falls hilt-first into his waiting hand. It's not a very dramatic and obvious motion, but he tenses properly nonetheless. No doubt is directed towards the quiet dark-haired black-clad woman.

Ras wields a concealable double edged knife with leather cord handle.

Mirella wields a wickedly sharp Lycene stiletto dagger.

Teagan checked intellect + war at difficulty 35, rolling 6 higher.

Sydney wields Rubicund Cestus.

Sydney eases into a slightly wider stance, surveying the ground beneath her and edging to where it's least sloped. If she has to take sudden movements, she doesn't want to fall flat on her face under shifting mud. "Anyone feeling diplomatic?" She mutters.

Jules continues his somewhat limited perspective on the matter but tenses upon hearing Mirella's words. He tries to remain discrete as he does his little scan that has shifted from being unfocused to more searching. He scrunches his face at Sydney's words and says, "I suppose I could make an effort if no one else feels more skilled in the matter and feels like ... me taking the chance." He gives an awkward laugh.

Neither necklace nor body provide any answers for Teagan. She can't make heads or tails of the puncture marks nor is she any sort of creator or merchant that she can make out what's on the necklace. However, when it comes up that there's people waiting in the bushes her jaw tightens. "We can go around," she says lowly to Sydney, who seems to be the best 'fighter' of the group. At least by appearances. "Or we can charge in and try to gain the element of surprise. Your call."

"Sure," says Ras over to Jules from the side of his mouth. "Then we'll get kicked out of this stupid hole in the woods, too." Not very kind. For some reason, though, he edges a step closer to the poor fellow, as if to subconsciously signal that maybe he thinks talking is a good idea too. Almost grudgingly, he adds, "Ask em about the fabric shipment."

Mirella quietly adds, "I heard something about diamondplate back at the inn. Deal of a lifetime." Then she shuts her mouth and goes back to scanning the surrounding foliage. Her brow furrows. Spooky times.

Sydney clicks her tongue at Teagan looking to her, of all people, to make the call. Put out, perhaps, but not incapable of making the decision. "...They already murdered these guys. And between us, I'd say we're better dressed." Her jaw sets. "...They're waitin' to do the same to us. No. This feels all wrong." She signals to Ras, and motions to Iliana, then gestures to Teagan. "...Shoot the bush, and let's charge these murdering shits."

Sydney checked dexterity at difficulty 5, rolling 21 higher.

Ras checked dexterity at difficulty 5, rolling 24 higher.

Jules checked dexterity at difficulty 5, rolling 18 higher.

Mirella checked dexterity at difficulty 5, rolling 16 higher.

Amund GM Roll checked dexterity(4) at difficulty 5, rolling 13 higher.

Amund GM Roll checked dexterity(5) at difficulty 5, rolling 19 higher.

Amund GM Roll checked dexterity(4) at difficulty 5, rolling 7 higher.

Amund GM Roll checked dexterity(5) at difficulty 5, rolling 39 higher.

Jules gives another weak laugh to Ras and says, "Dear me but that might be a better option than the alternative." He clears his throat, "Certainly I'll be no use in a fight." He's not wearing armor and has no visible weapon, including his fists. He glances around as he waits to see if conversation or combat is the option but it appears combat.

Teagan checked dexterity at difficulty 5, rolling 8 higher.

Teagan checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 35, rolling 14 lower.

Amund GM Roll checked dexterity(4) + small wpn(3) at difficulty 15, rolling 25 higher.

Amund GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + small wpn(4) at difficulty 15, rolling 36 higher.

Amund GM Roll checked dexterity(4) + small wpn(2) at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

Amund GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + small wpn(1) at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

There's really nothing properly visible. Not yet at least. Not to Teagan! But the woman shoots into the foliage nonetheless. All that can be heard is the clatter of the arrow through some branches. Welp! She tried. "Get ready," the woman mutters.

Ras knits his brow towards Sydney, then glances aside at Jules very briefly before watching Teagan's arrow arc into the bush. Then he charges without further ado, leaping into the shadowy underbrush and slashing with his knife at the first shape he sees.

Ras checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 51, rolling 9 higher.

Mirella checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 28, rolling 16 higher.

Sydney checked dexterity + brawl at difficulty 40, rolling 4 higher.

Mirella gets a Lycene stiletto dagger of high quality steel from a steel-and-silver chain belt with a small black velvet-bound book suspended from it.

The 'people' hiding behind the bushes look misshapen versions of humanity; slightly shorter than average, they wear tattled leather armor, with sharpened rubicund daggers. They wear a sneer on their faces, their eye teeth elongated beyond what's considered possible for a human. Whatever happened to them, whatever infected them, likely belongs to the local fauna.

Jules checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 6 higher. Jules rolled a critical!

Offering a fierce shake of her head to Teagan, Sydney snaps, "That /is/ the ready. Don't stop shooting!" Ras gets the idea, clearly, and Sydney's right behind him, wielding those rubicund spiked knuckles as she wades into the brush and introduced them to the very first thing she sees. Preferably in the face.

Teagan checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 24, rolling 15 higher.

Jules takes his jar of Laurent honey as a tear starts to trickle down his face, "Lady Mabelle, ... forgive me." He kisses the jar briefly before he now hurls the jar with the full force he can muster into the bushes because maybe bees will swarm, even though bees do not exist here. Jules does not know this information.

Or at least, that's Mirella's intention. The blade pierces just above a lung. Yowch.

It's just like the pits back in the lowers. Only this time, she's got diamondplate-backing, wrapped in that vicious cestus. The effects are altogether more ferocious as a result - a face full of brawler knuckles hurts. But not quite as much as a face full of rubicund spikes. The resulting sound is... well. Wet.

Ras checked perception + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 14 higher.

While attention is focused elsewhere, Mirella reaches into one of her belts and flips a dagger into her hand in one quick motion. With a snap of her arm, the small Lycene launches it through the air towards the foliage. Bits of leaf are scored and sheared by the whistling edge blade as it darts to its target and embeds itself with a meaty thunk just above a lung. Ahem. That's how it went.

Able to see her prey now, Teagan can make a better shot. Her chosen target is the one hit! Good news for everyone, to be honest. The man -- if one can call him that -- gets an arrow through the shoulder... and into the tree he's standing behind. She opts not to move in closer. Nope. Range is good.

"Stop," says Ras to the opponent he just stabbed in the side. His bloodied knife comes up in a guard. "I don't wanna kill you. What happened to make you so - ugh?" Unfortunately it's a kind of rude and disgusted question, despite the genuine concern in his eyes.

Amund GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + small wpn(1) at difficulty 15, rolling 18 higher.

Mirella checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 33, rolling 18 higher.

Sydney checked dexterity + brawl at difficulty 15, rolling 45 higher.

Amund GM Roll checked dexterity(4) + small wpn(3) at difficulty 60, rolling 19 lower.

If that first fist sounds excruciatingly wet, Sydney's second attack sounds like someone's just snapped a few dozen stalks of celery while crushing a melon. The brawler's fist caves in the humanoid's face entirely, She doesn't have time to pale - she instead whips her head about to seek out who's next, yanking her fist free.

Mirella half smiles beneath her cowl as her steel stiletto flys home true. However, the thing about throwing daggers is this: when you're in range to fling one to meat-skewering success, that means someone can fling one back and possibly hit you too. And hey, guess what? That's what happens here. Well, nearly. From the foliage comes a rustle, and then a blade comes whizzing back out as a pointed (ohoho) reply to Mirella's earlier stabmissile. It doesn't hit her, though, because she twists her body with the grace of a dancer, or an eel, or some kind of dancing eel. Whatever. The weapon goes flying past her small frame, skittering into the humid woodland behind her back.

Ras checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 24 higher.

Amund GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + small wpn(4) at difficulty 39, rolling 13 higher.

Amund GM Roll checked dex(5) + small wpn(4) at difficulty 15, rolling 26 higher.

Ras checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 41, rolling 1 higher.

When it doesn't look as if the enemy intends to make conversation, Ras sets his jaw and darts in at an angle to slash widely at his opponent's leg. He seems potentially half-hearted about it, but doesn't try to talk again. After all, conversation is not really his strength. The strike from his knife clangs against that rubicund dagger, but at least he manages to dodge the counter. Barely. His opponent gets an annoyed glower.

Jules checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 10, rolling 6 higher.

Ras checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 31 higher.

Sydney checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 27 higher.

Laurent honey, a little known flammable weapon - an incendiary device soon to be known well over as Jules heaves his torch with a swirling motion that lands just so to light them wretched creatures. Jules watches as they light up and even though they are most horrid to see he does start to have tears roll down his cheeks and he begins to lightly cry.

Said wretched creatures scream loudly as their bodies are engulfed by the fire, running back towards destinations unknown. One of them doesn't make it past the third tree as it gets stuck in a branch, that is also set on fire, along with the grass around it. The fire burns fast, but it also burns brief, and soon enough there's a set of charred bodies and one charred tree in front of the adventurers - along with some minor burned down shrubberies, branches, leaves and the like.

Only one thing is left: to find the wagon.

Eyes snapping to the sudden explosion of light and flames that burst out all but directly in her face, Sydney throws herself back in a feat of dexterity, eyes wide. No. Nope. She's had /quite/ enough of being on fire. She skitters out of range before the fire spreads to where she was just standing. "A LITTLE FUCKING WARNING!?" She snaps towards Jules. The smell of the humanoids burning gets a flare of her nostrils, and she grits her teeth for a moment, then forces it into a savagely satisfied expression. A breath, and she rises, her hands dripping with gory mess. "...Now that that's out of the way... we've a wagon to find."

Ras scrambles aside as the flames leap into bright orange being. He directs a wide-eyed look towards where he'd last seen Sydney, while circling quickly back to the clearing. "Syd!" he yells, through the smoke and noise of screaming misshapen ambushers. Thankfully, there she is - screaming profanities, totally okay. The relief is palpable on his features, but once the fire's burnt out, he glares towards the tearful Jules. "What the shit, man?!" No gratitude for having destroyed the entire enemy, with honey, of all things.

Apparently Mirella doesn't care for the aroma of honey-glazed charred longpig, if the displeased furrow of her brow is anything to go by. Mind, the fact that she's also down one steel dagger might have something to do with her annoyance -- no getting that back now, unless she wants to wade into smoking corpse. Which she doesn't. Instead she turns to lift a brow as she looks over for any signs of damahe, and when she's satisfied that they're not barbecue, she turns on her heel and soft tromps out of the way to get some respite from the smoky stink on the breeze. She doesn't take one look at Jules as she passes by, but she lightly pat-pats his upper arm in a casually reassuring fashion.

Far enough away to not worry about the flames, Teagan just keeps her bow aimed at them. Just in case any run -towards- the party. When they ultimately run (and die) in the opposite direction, she lowers her bow. There is a grimace for the sight, but she takes it well enough in stride. It's unpleasant, but it's war. Well. Sort of. She takes a deep breath... then regrets it, coughing. "Let's find that wagon."

Ras checked perception + survival at difficulty 35, rolling 6 higher.

Teagan checked perception + survival at difficulty 35, rolling 22 lower.

Jules checked perception + survival at difficulty 35, rolling 4 lower.

Mirella checked perception + survival at difficulty 35, rolling 3 lower.

Sydney checked perception + survival at difficulty 35, rolling 13 lower.

Jules nods to Sydney and Ras, "No, you're right. I'm sorry, I just ... they were going to kill everyone and I thought about Baby Weegs and" He trails off to wipe the tears from his eyes, "It was wrong of me." He clears his throat, his eyes looking just the slightest bit red and he glances around as he begins to move away, casting a last look at the burned remains of those things.

Sydney snaps, rather more forcefully, "...I don't know what a Weegs is, but let's get this done before we find out there are more of those things. C'mon. Just, y'know. Say /duck/ or something, first."

Moving on from berating Jules after that post-weeping apology, Ras grumbles sullenly to himself and wanders off to look around the clearing again. He pauses at some drag marks in the grass. "Here," he mutters, then calls more loudly to the others. "Here! Somethin big, pulled off that way." He points west-northwest. There's a lot of broken foliage on the trail.

"You did fine," Teagan tells Jules. "It was a good idea, just poor execution." She's not at all bothered by the method that took out all their attackers. "Not a single one of us is hurt. I call that a success." The woman does still keep an arrow nocked to her bow: just in case. When Ras speaks up, she moves ahead to join him. "Could be our wagon. Hopefully they didn't leave anyone to guard it."

They near the wagon, following the direction that Ras led them to. Next to the wagon itself is a cluster of trees, some of them old, one of them seemingly in its last years. The wagon, save for the spokes being broken in the front left wheel, and the axis being a little off-center, can still be serviceable. And if that's not necessary, there are plenty of chests inside it that could be retrieved.

Mirella checked perception + investigation at difficulty 35, rolling 17 higher.

Teagan checked perception + investigation at difficulty 35, rolling 48 higher. Teagan rolled a critical!

Jules checked perception + investigation at difficulty 35, rolling 23 lower.

Ras checked perception + investigation at difficulty 35, rolling 15 higher.

Sydney checked perception + investigation at difficulty 35, rolling 6 lower.

Jules is too emotionally unstable at the moment to be of much use to perceive the world around him beyond his little group of friends. He gives a weak nod of his head to Teagan but does not even respond at present, a little too distracted to do much more than briefly look at the wagon.

Following behind Ras and Teagan, Mirella eyes up the scene of the crime. One hand is held up, pushing her cowl across her mouth and nose (because wow, that stink). The other hand curls around the grip of another drawn dagger -- this one diamondplate, glittering beneath any glimmers of light that peek through the woodland canopy.

When Teagan comes up next to him, Ras gives her a faintly wary look and eventually just makes a sound of vague affirmation. He sets forward to investigate the path, and the wagon at the end. About to jump up into the back to check the contents of the chests, he pauses and frowns towards the dying tree trunk.

"Let's check and see if this is our target or not." Could be a different wagon. They've seen plenty of signs. Teagan is casting an eye over the clearing, but stops to look at the oldest of the trees. "Huh," she says thoughtfully as she strikes over and reaches into the trunk. She comes back with a leather-bound tome which she promptly opens to look over.

Sydney is surging with adrenaline, and can't seem to keep her focus. It doesn't /entirely/ help that she's still flicking bits of gore and skin from those spikes. Ugh, so gross.

Jules glances to Teagan as she looks at the tomb and asks, "What's the book?" His head cocked and his curiosity seeming to make him even forget about the fact he's sad. He's something else entirely now, interested! His eyes focused on Teagan.

Ras studies Teagan for a moment, seems to think she's got something as simple as reading a book in hand, and returns to his task of establishing that this is indeed the lost fabric shipment. After seeing seasilk in one chest, he goes around the front of the wagon to check on the horses, but not before casting a curious look towards those focused on the old leather tome that was found in the dying tree trunk nearby.

As the others check the wagon and ready it for travel, Teagan flips through some pages on the tattered book. She looks up, squints briefly, then back down. Her features go from curious to... unsettled. There's a twitch of her mouth into not quite a frown. "A year and a half ago," she says finally, "some people pursued a coin. An artifact." She holds the journal so that Jules can see. "They found it." Which doesn't sound like a positive thing by her tone of voice.

After it's been decided to make the trek back, the group of enterprising adventurers return to Arx with a wagon in tow. One that's seen better days, but one with an intact cargo. That's what matters, in the end, right?