Empire - Scene 40: Recovering Stamatis, Unfortunately

Ada

(Ada) The Red Waste is not hospitable. Right now, it is also unpleasantly hot, and the air is still, without as much as a breeze. This stretch of badlands is close enough to Wayguard that it sees substantial traffic, at least by the Waste's standards, as nomads converge on the market there. By the standards of the rest of the empire, though, this place is desolate and empty. The group searching for the merchant's son has come up towards a likely campsite, judging by the signs of cookfires just past a nearby ridge, at a known campground around a stream.

Umberto

(Umberto) Umberto groans, "Who created this cursed land? No land should be this hot and red and awful." The old mercenary grumbles, continuing the age old tradition of soldiers complaining. "Why would anyone trade here. Why would anyone live here. Penelope. Answer these questions for me." The man demands in his typical Thesian accent, before he mounts atop a rock and surveys the campsite and nearby landscape.

Umberto

Umberto rolls: 5(Mind: d8), 4(Perception: d8), 7(Distinction: d8) Total: 12 (vs 7) - Success | Effect Die: d8

Penelope

(Penelope) Penelope has her shawl draped over her head, shading her eyes from the worst of the sun. The red sands are still reflected from below, but Umberto's complaining does well to distract her from the worst of the wastelands. Also, she is from this area. "No one. Supply and demand. Little elsewhere to go." Rapid-fire answers that will bounce off the soldier like hail on a tin roof. Can't say she didn't try. She spies the trail of smoke from cookfires only after it is pointed out to her. To see it ahead of time would require her to have her head up to the light. She's a ginger, damnit. The sun will fry her in no time. "What do you make of it?"

Umberto

(Umberto) "Big camp. Count enough tents and shelters to cover at least a hundred, maybe hundred and fifty? Some people on watch." He drops to a knee, running a hand over the rock to get a feel for the terrain, as if he could learn the battlefield from just a touch. He then shrouds his eyes and peers further. "Theres some kind of cave with a barrier and guards in front of it. He grunts, "Otherwise... just another camp in this accursed land."

Manfred

(Manfred) "At least it's unseasonably cold and exposed at night." Manfred observes, a wry shrug-off of the implicit desolation and strife inherent to the sarcasm-sodden baritone notes. "Geography was never my strong suit but-- it's a safe bet the mining and agriculture looks different beyond and through this place... not to mention art or culture." Even if some only care because ~that~ makes /coin/. The Custodian fans out along the opposite angle Umberto takes, though only enough to facilitate the loud-whisper as needed. "More than one fire; a larger party." Big enough to be a sizable late caravan-- big enough to supply brigands that could take them. Perhaps it's trolls and tasty dwarfses, out of myth.

Penelope

(Penelope) "One-fifty? That's pretty huge. Is there a water source nearby? Do the tents look like they've been there for a while, or the sort of thing that can tear down in an hour and take off?" Is it a market or is it a travelling caravan? Penelope squints at the horizon, trying to make out any kind of discernable landmarks or tell-tale patterns to any of the canvases being used. "If they have people on watch, it's possible they've already spotted us, right? We don't even know why the son didn't return from his trek. Maybe he met someone?" Unlikely, yes, but always a possibility when it comes to young men. "How do you two want to go about this? Seems like if try to sneak, we make ourselves all the more suspicious. Might be better to walk up there like we have business. Because we do. All we want is to find the lad. His mom has been good to the family in the past." And lucrative to keep allies while helping one of Wayguard, see?

Umberto

(Umberto) "Barrier by the cave looks... rushed. I get the sense this is not a permanent encampment. They won't be here long. I suspect they can pack up in a few hours and be off on the first sign of trouble." His eyes focus on the watch, the man crouching further down on the rock to get lower to the terrain. "I do not think they have seen us. I get the sense they are looking more for natural dangers." His gaze turns back to Penelope. "Well I can't kill a hundred people. If we are going to sneak in we should go at night. But maybe we play the part of traders to get a lay of the camp and decide our next move?" He proposes as his eyes turn to Manfrad. "We need him to not look and act like... a Custodian."

Manfred

(Manfred) "Could be a livestock pen, could be captives." Manfred observes of Umberto's observations, keeping a keen eye out around their -own- surroundings in hopefully unfounded paranoia that such a congregation may employ some best practices where their perimeter security is concerned. "Hard to say if they've scouting parties in that number." But the Knight keeps his head down either way. "It's march up to test their disposition, or wait for nightfall for a closer look, to my mind." Barring a warm welcome, under the harsh sun with everyone awake make it ~a bit difficult~ to deal with their mission without the attention of thirty or fifty times the present headcount.

Manfred

(Manfred) "If we're going to test their hospitality, it should be one of us on a horse. Best chance to escape, best chance to still stage a rescue if it's needed." The Custodian adds, perhaps more pragmatic than anticipated.

Penelope

(Penelope) "There is no reason to hide who Manfred is. They're more likely to be skittish with you, Umberto. But if they spook at the sight of a Custodian, then they have the worst game faces for a bunch of scum, right? Either way, we get intel. Besides, if they recognize a Custodian, they'll recognize that there are people who know we're out here with him. His disappearance would merit a lot of unwanted attention, don't you think?" Penelope makes an executive decision, flicking the reins and a pinch of her heels to get the horse moving again. "We don't need to play any part. I -am- a trader. We'll go in as that. I'm not freezing another night outside when we could be warm by a potentially friendly fire. We ask about the kid, maybe buy a fine rug for our troubles, then get the hell out in the morning. I brought a trade offer of my own in case it comes to it. Also? You don't want me trying to sneak into anything. Not if you want to actually succeed."

Umberto

(Umberto) "How many people do you think are willing to trudge out here from civilization to look for this kid? If they think people know, they up and move. After they are done caving our heads in with clubs or whatever barbarian weaponry they have. We shouldn't make it obvious we are looking for him unless we know it won't be our last question." Of course Umberto mistrusts them, he mistrusts everyone, because he suspects everyone is a bastard like him. "But its your show."

Ada

(Ada) The approach to the camp, once one rounds the ridge, is guarded by a few nomads. Those who know the Waste tribes would know that most have at least some ability to fight, even if it's not their primary purpose. The guard who steps forward towards the approaching riders is garbed much like a soldier though, with a coat of mail, and a sword slung at her side. "What business, travellers?" she calls (using Wendish, the imperial lingua franca). She says something to another of the nomads present, who walks off into the camp.

Penelope

(Penelope) "Why not? He's just a kid, not a prince." The horses trot along while Penelope ponders the way in which to go about this. Subterfuge would be wise, sure. It could also blow up in their face if they trot in with lies on the tongue. It's not an easy call for her to make, and knowing that the nomads of the Wastes are naturally untrustworthy of outsiders makes it worse. But, she figures, she does at least have -some- experience in dealing with them. Not as much as she used to given she lives in Sanctuary now, but it could- Whoop. A gentle tug and her horse stops, snorting in equine annoyance and maybe contemplating bucking her off. Or not. "Hark. We come from Wayguard of the Empire seeking both trade and information." Lead with trade. Always lead with trade. "Have we come across a caravan of some sort?"

Penelope

Penelope rolls: 8(Social: d8), 2(Influence: d6), 1(Distinction: d8) Total: 10 (vs 7) - Success | Effect Die: d4 (defaulted to d4) Hitches: 1 (rolled 1 on: d8)

Manfred

(Manfred) To call back a moment, it's hard to make Manfred -not- look like a Custodian, in this context. There's a repository of personal arms on his own horse, and the sigil of the Order is borne on the kite shield among that kit. There's also a certain bearing to warriors that can tell another practiced veteran plenty. None of that seems to precisely /bother/ the Knight as he paces Penelope's horse off one flank and trailing only a short breadth behind. He's stoic and attentive in return, studying their surrounds-- and potential hosts-- with less outright -sus- than Umberto, perhaps. It's a matter-of-fact and careful consideration.

Ada

(Ada) "You have come across our tribe," answers the guard, after a moment's wary regard of Penelope. "You can call it a caravan, but it is all of us, our home, on the move." She raises her gaze towards Manfred. "A Knight Custodian. I presume the information sought is about the hobgoblin gathering?" The question is asked so blithely that she must just assume this is the purpose here. No further information is volunteered though.

Umberto

(Umberto) Umberto eyes the nomad as they speak a language he doesn't know. Of course that should not be strange, because they are not in familiar lands. But Umberto plays the part of the distrusting guard, and as Penelope is playing the part of the merchant - or well, keeping to her part of being a merchant - he figures distrusting guards are the way to go. If he was a merchant thats the kind of guards he would want! Ones with all eyes open and waiting for the word from their employer. And then the nomads spot Manfred out for exactly what he is. He chews on his cheek a bit to keep quiet. It doesn't seem to be going too terrible.

Manfred

(Manfred) "I am /absolutely/ interested in the hobgoblin gathering." It's not -eager-, per se. There's no break in the Knight's even, calm tone-- but there's scarcely a beat of hesitation in acknowledging the opportune guess quite sincerely. "Particularly if -they've- come across a caravan from Wayguard..." The ominous amendment is as much for Penelope's benefit as anyone-- it at least doesn't immediately /look/ like this group is brigands towing a loot train and assortment of slaves. Then again, there is that cave...

Penelope

(Penelope) "Forgive our trespass," Penelope is quick to say though speaks it in a slow, considerate tone. She looks over to Umberto and Manfred, realizing that they have found a hive instead of a group. Here is a cluster of cluster of families who will defend everything and everyone within their clan: something Penelope can certainly understand given her Dyrian heritage. "We don't mean to bring or cause trouble." A hobgoblin gathering. That could certainly gain the attention of the present Custodian whom Penelope looks to again. Are they going to be making a detour? "That may very well be of his interest, my friend, but it is not what brought us all the way out here." Sorry, Umberto. They're not going to get anywhere by being close-lipped. "A young man, Stamatis, did some trade work for one of the nomad tribes, but he has failed to return. His mother is worried sick." And driving everyone in Wayguard mad. "We're trying to find him and bring him home. That is all." They're not the Imperial guard. Even if Manfred looks like he might be.

Ada

(Ada) The guard seems wholly unsurprised at Manfred's reply, at least. Custodian patrols are not unknown in the Waste. She raises a hand aloft, a sweeping gesture towards the badlands to the east. "Continue three days that way, knight. Several tribes have converged and where they have converged, they dig." Her expression sours. "They took a few of our people, early this year. We took three of theirs when they came here to forage, two days hence." She turns her attention to Umberto, assessing for a second, then on to Penelope. Her sour expression hardly clears at the mention of Stamatis. "Why would a person wish Stamatis? I asked this of my kinswoman, Chara, but /she/ decided to let him father a child. Now he is here. He is a terrible worker, but we are short-handed." That rather leaves a few blanks.

Umberto

(Umberto) Slowly Umberto puts a hand to his face and says something in Thesian that amounts to 'The Boy Has Gone Native'. He peers at Penelope too, because she predicted it. "You know you could pay us to deal with troublesome Stamatis." He offers. Hey why not make a chance to make some more money. Double pay day!

Manfred

(Manfred) "If you could mark this place on my maps, I will most certainly see what the Custodians can do about your troubles." Manfred's not in a position to promise much with regard to /several tribes/ of hobgoblins by his lonesome-- he's definitely not carrying enough coin to get even Umberto's cooperation... but there are patrols, and chapter houses that would be MOST interested in the intelligence. Some might call it an opportunity. Pay them to deal with Stamatis? "Oh /that/ should be even more harmonious than asking a woman what she even sees in her new love." The roll of his eyes is pronounced, dramatized, and entirely amused under the obvious sarcasm.

Ada

(Ada) As the conversation continues, an older woman emerges from among the tents, accompanied by the nomad who had first gone back in from the sentries at the front. The guard scoffs at Umberto. "He is troublesome enough, but he must take responsibility for the child. He does not need to be 'dealt with'." She is far better disposed towards the matter of map-marking at least, though what she actually provides to Manfred is a description of a series of routes which the nomads are given to using. It would get someone there eventually, though, with a bit of nous for navigation.

Ada

(Ada) Meanwhile, the older woman simply stands back to observe, for now.

Penelope

Penelope rolls: 2(Social: d8), 3(Perception: d6), 3(Distinction: d8) Total: 6 (vs 9) - Failure | Effect Die: d8

Penelope

(Penelope) Penelope cannot help but look in the direction gestured towards. Three days thatta way, huh? No way in the nine hells Manfred is going to let that dog lay, but he'll need more than a merchant and a merc to get the job done. Maps are marked and they return to the matter at hand. "Lad works quickly, then. But I get it. Stuck his stick then thought he could bail?" She glares at Umberto and Manfred because, not their fault, but they're men. All men are being scorned at this present moment. Need less to say, she gets it. Truly. "I see the conundrum. He ought to support the life he's created, but is ill-equipped to do so. Would it help, then, if someone else took this burden from your hands? I can propose a trade: an item of value enough to see the child never for wanting until they are old enough to earn their own. In return, we take the useless lump back home to his mommy and I make his life hell until he pays what he owes -me- for the trouble."

Ada

(Ada) The older woman who had been watching steps forward at this point, to skeptically eye up Penelope. "Of such value that it accounts for years of being raised?" Unspoken is the fact that not many carry such goods. Penelope does, but it's not as if the nomads habitually purchase high-end dwarf-made products. She says something in their own language to a pair of the nomads standing watch, who head back into the camp.

Umberto

(Umberto) "What if its he that wants to stay and not being held here to pay for his troubles?" Umberto proposes with a raised eyebrow to Penelope. That does happen! Men do fall in love. As absurd as that notion is, as far as a bastard like Umberto is concerned. "I am just saying we can tie him up and drag him off." But then the older woman confirms it is the child and its raising that is important. For once he goes quiet and lets the merchants talk it out.

Penelope

(Penelope) "Depends on who you find to buy it. I deal in only the finest and most rare of commodities. Who's to say your tribe wouldn't just keep it for yourself? A tool of Dwarven make is said to last generations. I can say they, in fact, do." What kind of tool? What item? She doesn't say. One doesn't show their hand so quickly... especially when there might be arrows trained on them from who knows where. "I want to be clear that I don't -want- to do this. If it were up to me, he could rot here for his transgression. But it's for the life of the child I am most concerned." And, again, his mother will not let up. She has to hear about it all the way in Sanctuary in letters from her parents. "If I didn't think I'd get my investment back, I'd just turn around and go back to Wayguard to let his mother know people can start calling her granny."% Umberto does make a good point, however. An auburn brow raises. "-Does- he want to remain here?"

Manfred

(Manfred) "Probably worth talking to the fellow." Manfred's suggestion in the negotiation is simple, at an adjunct angle as he carefully rolls and binds the collection of cartography with a few of his own shorthand sketched in to annotate the descriptions offered; it's almost like he's done this before. The tracking monsters on esoteric or eccentric intelligence part, less the bartering for a wayward nobleman's future part. Otherwise? More detailed notes are scrawled into a journal, bound in strapped leather and easily accessed from its own little pouch in his saddlebags. Priorities.

Ada

(Ada) The noisy shouting from within the camp might answer a few questions. It's a man, speaking Dyrian-accented Wendish. "Unhand me! My mother will hear of this! You have no right!" The older woman out front shrugs at the three imperials. "No," she says. What else is she /going/ to say, considering her people are currently dragging Stamatis into view. He looks like he's been tethered, what with the rope marks, but not otherwise mistreated. "He does not. Yet a debt is owed."

Penelope

(Penelope) Penelope's resolve to see this through to amicable resolution starts to dissolve the second she hears a man invoking the wrath of his mother. Shoulders sag, eyes roll, and Penny contemplates turning around to leave him to dig himself out of the debt with his bare hands. "I see. Okay, look. This is unpleasant for all of us, but I can at least remove this burden from you." Said loud enough for -- and directly at --Stamatis to hear. "I can offer a trade item now for the... ugh...pleasure of dragging him away. And if that is not enough, I invite your tribe to send word to a contact of mine in Wayguard. We could broker a better trade deal for your tribe, I am sure of it." Brown eyes -glare- at Stamatis from atop a lofty horse. "You are /not/ worth all this trouble, kid. But you're going to pay for your actions. I will see to it personally. You will /owe/ me big time. So, either you adjust to your new, nomadic lifestyle and fatherhood, or you tuck that useless tail between your legs so we can drag you back. /If/ the tribe agrees first, that is. Their fate is in their hands."

Umberto

(Umberto) "I can still tie him up and we can drag him back to Wayguard." Umberto offers, evenly. His eyes are on the nomad woman, hoping he can get a little extra coin out of this to make the kid's life a hell for all the trouble he caused. Always angling for a bit more coin the Thesian man is.

Ada

(Ada) "They /abducted/ me," complains Stamatis, quite regardless of Penelope's words to him, and to this, the older nomad shrugs. Then Stamatis points at Umberto, since Manfred doesn't really look the mercenary sort, with all the Custodian livery. "You there! Insteading of tying me up, deal with the louts and my mother will pay you handsomely!" A few more nomads have emerged from the camp to observe. The older woman, apparently their leader, takes her sweet time considering Penelope's offer. "Very well. I shall send representation."

Manfred

(Manfred) Glancing up from his diligent note-taking, Manfred takes in Stamatis in that moment; condition, and attitude. "Or not." The Custodian admits, not in the least ashamed of being promptly proven wrong! Once again, the Knight stands-- or sits astride a war-trained mount, if we're being technical-- as a mostly-passive, if interested observer to the negotiation. The Custodian does quietly tap a finger on the scales on Penelope's side of the discussion however, simply by inquiring: "How many of your tribe did you say the hobgoblins recently captured?" Spoiler: Manfred knows this answer. They're useful people, one presumes.

Ada

(Ada) "Four," the older woman says to Manfred. "They take them. Four from us, more from others. They dig and dig, where the ground already collapsed inwards." She's not referring to the sinkhole that opened half a day out of Wayguard, at least -- that's north of here, not east -- but something as yet unknown to anyone in the empire.

Umberto

(Umberto) Umberto likes coin, he likes waging violence to acquire coin, but he is not a fool. He gives Stamatis an eye and just shakes his head. His arms cross and he ignores the boy completely as his gaze turns towards the nomad and the mention of hobgoblins and their plans. "Digging? Only time I have seen Hobgoblins dig is to dig trenches for war." Then again, the man is not exactly educated on hobgoblin history or culture.

Penelope

(Penelope) "Chara.... what the hell?" Penelope has not met this young woman, but already shares the sentiment of her tribespeople. -This- guy? Really? This is no longer a rescue: it is charity. For the nomads. With a deal brokered, Penelope hands her reins over for Manfred to hold while she calmly dismounts. "Then it is a deal, and I am a woman of my word. Because without the credibility of our word, what worth do any of us have, mm?" Ever the businesswoman, Penelope keeps her hands as visible as she can when reaching under her shawl to produce... a spying glass? A treasured piece, to be sure, though not her most valuable. It is, instead, something she thought the nomads would find more value in than nice vases or tapestries. "Dwarven-make. Sharp focus. Your watchmen could benefit from this, I wager. It is by chance that I bring this not knowing the situation, really. Because /this/ can help better protect your tribe. I would hope." Damn, she liked this telescope, having thought about keeping it for herself. Instead, she hands it over to the elder woman, keeping her distance respectable enough without having to stretch out her arm in a comical way. "I apologize on this lout's behalf for the trouble he has caused. Know he will live to regret it."

Manfred

(Manfred) "They're digging out around a natural cavern?" Curious. Manfred could only begin to guess at -why-, but as Umberto notes from a different angle... it does seem unusual. "And recruiting more labor to do so?" The creatures do trend towards /agendas/, it's what makes them so much more dangerous than goblins. Aside from sheer average stature, at least; but cutting meat is cutting meat, and the Custodians have to deal with... larger, sometimes. "We will do everything we can to return those we can; and get to the bottom of this." Was that a hole pun? It's a -very- intensely delivered one.

Ada

(Ada) The nomad elder nods, agreeing with Umberto. "They make war or make the ways to make war. Even if they trade, it is eventually for war. If they dig, it must be for war." Stamatis continues to noisily complain as the conversation is ongoing, but most around are simply ignoring him. The elder steps forward. She makes a thorough inspection of the telescope before even responding, and tests it by checking out a distant view. She's obviously dwelling on it for some time. Then, evidently deciding to release Stamatis into the custody of the others, she says to Penelope, "It will be enough that he lives out of earshot of the Clan of the Unseen Lion." She gestures to her camp at that, indicating that that is, in fact, her clan. She speaks to other nomads in their own language, and they bodily shove Stamatis towards the imperials. Then the elder turns to Manfred. She seems to take the Custodian at face value. "Thank you."

Penelope

(Penelope) "I am Penelope of Wayguard. Should you come across trouble regarding our deal, you can send word to Wonders of Worldspine in Sanctuary. I will heed the call." Trusting, of course, that this tribe limits their contact with outsiders unless absolutely necessary. "Well met, Leader of the Unseen Lion. We will take our leave with what daylight we have left." No warm, cozy fire for her tonight. Alas. Yet another thing she will blame on Stamatis. Mounting her mare once more, Penelope settles on the saddle to regard her two companions. "I guess we're camping out again. Thankfully, we'll be dropping him off at Wayguard." She, too, is ignoring the petulant man now, steering her horse around and aiming to make her casual retreat. Slowly. Just in case the others still have business. Stamatis can walk.

Manfred

(Manfred) "Sir Manfred Lindner." The Custodian offers mostly because Penelope reminds him he ought to. Face value is likely the proper read on the situation, the Knight's hewn features knit with some noteworthy measure of consideration and consternation. A polite nod precedes his own turn to ride alongside the others back out of the camp, that same pensive intensity writ as if in stone. "Wayguard, or a patrol discovered on our way there, will have to be my priority." It has an air of apology, but little actual regret; it is what it is. "As Umberto says..." the mercenary is addressed as requested, for Manfred's part. "... Whatever they're digging, it is likely for war."

Ada

(Ada) "Tasia," the elder introduces herself. She purses her lips, skeptical, at the idea of sending someone all the way to Sanctuary. "Safe travels, Penelope of Wayguard, and Sir Manfred Lindner, and their company." That last one is directed at Umberto. The nomads don't seem disposed to keep Stamatis around any longer than they really must though, and make no effort to prolong the conversation.