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Leaving the Barrens of Iuz [18 May 1211]

Filed under Tar's Company Storyline » 11 Taking the Amulet Trail by Steve | | Bottom

As the 16th of May comes to a close, Shasivin comes up to Yalinari:

Yalinari, Meluvia tells me that we have ‘bout three t’ four days o’ food lef’. I checked it, twice now an’ she’s roight. We kin stop at a town and loo’ for some or star’ scavengin’.

Yalinari thanks him and calls over Parnalam to ask Parnalam about Greenreach. He wants to know if it is likely to be death to any human who walks into it, or is it reasonable to assume we’ll be able to buy food there. Parnalam answers that he doesn’t now much about it other than to say that it is on the border between Iuz and the Wolf Nomands (who aren’t real interested in it). It’s been solidly under Iuz’ control as long as he can remember. He looks at the two men and tells them that he will have to talk to Tar about it.

Meanwhile, Dreune has found Morven and Nyra and congratulates both of them. They made him look great, and he doesn’t make that easy. He also tells them that he is going to talk to Drathon about some standard operating procedures that they can use so that they are all aware of what each will do before the actual event. Morven accepts Dreune’s praise and reflects back that his leadership has been excellent and she is sure that the new procedures will help. Nyra, on the other hand, isn’t as impressed. She simply responds curtly:

I do not what I do to make you look better. I do it because to needs to be done.

Dreune:

I disagree with you Morven but thank you for the praise, nonetheless. There was a lot of confusion for what to do. An SOP will correct that. Nyra, I understand why she did what she did. That’s why it makes me look so good. Thank you both again for there great efforts. I will not stop telling the captian how proud he should be of you two.

He then leaves to find Tar, only to find him in conversation with Firena and Yalinari. Non-plussed about the company he is in, he joins the small circle of people. It seems that they are discussing entering the town of Greenreach.

Yalinari has just finished telling Tar that they need to stop in Greenreach to get food. On one hand, they need the food. OTOH, it’s not friendly territory. OTOH, they don’t have any up to date information about what goes on there. OTOH, it’s been solidly under Iuz’s control for a long time. OTOH, without the food, they won’t make it to Traft without hunting. OTOH, the citizens could be hostile to all humans. OTOH, they haven’t been in a town for a long time. The Company might need a break.

Tar:

I’ dinkin’ dat we shoul’ e’er da dow’. Da las’ dime yoo an’ Faniv didn’ do so wew. Bar’ala’ ‘ay ‘e a’le do hel’, bud I fin’ dat eiver efe’yone goes in witvoud recon, or a fourv mem’er be a’ed as wew.

Firena: Twenty-five of us riding into town might appear to be little more than an invasion. A happy medium might be a good idea. A smaller group, but more than four. Six-eight should do it.

Tar: OK, so I’ dinkin’ dat we shoul’ awso be sendin’ Drafon an’ led him pick da others.

Firena: That sounds like a plan. I will go talk to him.

As Firena leaves, Dreune enters the conversation. By the time Dreune is done Firena is back from talking to Drathon. They have decided on the following group:

• Yalinari—Recon and Leader of the expedition
• Vanith—Recon
• Parnalam—May know the language and knows the mindset best
• Dreune—Some magic should be along and neither Nyra nor Morven are well suited.
• Drathon—To keep Yalinari in line
• Ladbrooke—Good to get a new guy in and his size will help deter
• Cust—His bulk and experience as a bodyguard my be needed
• Shasivin—Quartermaster, merchant, and Yalinari’s bodyguard

Tar looks over the list and responds by mentioning that there is no one to drive the cart. Sure, Parnalam can drive it, but Tar doubts that he can drive it into town without attracting attention. Firena agrees. Either Plynsen or Hanar can drive it? Tar shakes his head. Plynsen can’t drive the cart either. He’s focused on other areas. That leaves Hanar. Firena nods and leaves to tell Drathon of the change.

17 May 1211

The day is uneventful, but in the morning command staff meeting, the group discusses the upcoming trip into Greenreach and the need for a cover story.

Yalinari:

An itinerant rrrreligious ssssect? Nnno, nnnot in Iuz.

Dreune:

I got nothing. Infiltrating an enemy town is not my thing. Not if you want those walls down, I got ya covered

Yalinari:

Ttttraveling entertainers. Even orcs hhhhave tttto llllove entertainers!

Tar:

‘ow aboud a simble one. “We’ a cafan in nee’ off foo’?

Firena:

If they inspect the wagons, they’ll see we have no goods.

Tar:

‘cou nod. The wagohs aw emdy now. Der der for th’ foo’.

Tar:

Th’ res’ aw stayin’ oud ov tow’.

Yalinari:

Ttttraveling entertainers are always wwwwelcomed wwwwith open arms.

Yalinari:

Wwwwell, almost always.

Firena:

I like the caravan idea. Empty wagons should raise no suspicions.

Dreune:

How are we going to entertain orcs if we can’t even speak orc? What if we are asked for a demonstration?

Yalinari:

Wwwwe ccccan bbbbe shshshshipping llllumber ffffrom ththththe BBBBandit KKKKingdoms tttto KKKet.

Tar:

‘iles does.

Firena: Substitute Miles in for Cust?

Tar: Goo’.

Yalinari:

Bbbbbesides, entertainment ttttranscends llllanguage.

Tar:

OK, we aw agree’ den.

Dreune:

Agreed—about what again.

18 May 1211

It is late morning when the Company approaches the gates of Greenreach. From this distance, the town walls seem to be about twenty to thirty feet high The large gate has only one door opened and is flanked by two large square towers. Two archers can clearly be seen in the towers. Though it’s not possible to tell whether they are human, they’re short stature would indicate they are of orcan lineage. On the ground is another contingent of four orcs. These four are footmen that are stopping and talking to all those who wish to enter the town. A backlog of about 8 people waits in line and most of them have carts of food. Two of them however, appear to be on soldiers waiting to enter the town. Tar calls for the Company to stop and prepare lunch. He then sends mentally to Firena to prepare the recon team.

It is about fifteen minutes later that one of the wagons has been emptied of barrels and crates. Hanar climbs into the driver’s seat and Parnalam climbs in next to her. Yalinari and Miles lead the caravan and Vanith, Shasivn, Dreune, and Drathon follow the cart. The head out and get in line at the gates. When it is their turn, the gate guard tells them to stop (by holding up his hand) and then tries to talk to them in Ranapo. Though, no one speaks the language it is close enough to Bakluni that Yalinari understand the query. He responds: “Looking for food.” and then tells the group that he was asked what their business in Greenreach was. The orc looks confused however and the Company shifts in their saddles. Soon, the orc asks the same thing again. Before Yalinari can answer in Baklunish again, Miles speaks up in orcish.

The orc smiles and then asks another question, this time in orcish. Miles translates to Yalinari:

Are you selling anything within the walls of the town?

Yalinari shakes his head vigorously and tries a simple, “No.”

Guard:

How long do you intend to stay in Greenreach?

Yalinari:

Very short time.

Guard:

How short?

Yalinari:

An hour?

Miles raises an eyebrow.

Guard:

An hour and no more?

Yalinari:

Maybe two.

The guard shrugs and then replies:

What is you’re final destination?

Yalinari smiles:

Heaven.

Miles simply looks at Yalinari and doesn’t repeat it.

Yalinari:

Fine. Ket, actually.

The guard doesn’t look happy when Ket is mentioned (from Yalinari):

Do you have letters of commissioning for exiting the Empire?

Yalinari shrugs:

Sorry. Didn’t understand that.

Guard:

You wait over there. (He points to the side of the road)

Yalinari (after the orc leaves): KKKKet a bbbbad chchchchoice?

Parnalam:

Well, they’re not exactly fighting Iuz, but they’re not friendly either.

Yalinari:

Okay, sssso wwwwe ddddon’t hhhhave lllletters. Exactly hhhhow bbbbad is ththththat?

Miles:

I don’t really know. In the Society, we don’t have letters to leave—only to enter. I’ve never been to these, or our borders, so I’m not certain the protocol.

Yalinari:

If wwwwe’re about tttto gggget arrested, it’s pppprobably bbbbest if wwwwe lllleave nnnnow, bbbbefore ththththey ccccome bbbback. Whwhwhwhat are ththththe odds ththththey are jjjjust bbbbringing us a ffform tttto ffffilll out?

Miles:

To the best of our knowledge, we haven’t committed an offense—yet. Only that we were thinking about doing so.

Parnalam:

I doubt they have a form, per se, but we may have to go talk to someone and pay for some letters.

Yalinari:

Llllet’s hhhhope ththththey ssssee it ththththat wwwway. .... I hhhhope yyyyou’re rrrright. .... In ththththe mmmmeantime, llllook cccconfident everyone. Llllooking llllike yyyyou’re exactly whwhwhwhere yyyyou wwwwant tttto bbbbe is often ththththe bbbbest idea.

The group watches about 4 more groups go into the town, before a human in an officer’s uniform appraches the group. With him is a shorter Arabic looking man. The officer tells the other man to find out what languages they speak. If not, Ranapo, then maybe the speak Bakluni. Yalinari bows low and introduces himself as Thurmin.

Parnalam:

We speak Bakluni, better than we understand Ranapo.

The officer then tells the other man something and the man interprets into Bakluni: We would like to know you’re business in Grenreach.

Yalinari:

We seek to purchase food. Nothing more.

The man nods:

I understand that you wish to leave the empire?

Yalinari:

Nothing personal, of course, but our business does demand it.

Officer:

And where have you come from?

Yalinari:

Originally, or lately? If you mean the latter, the Bandit Kingdoms.

Officer (raising an eyebrow):

Bandit Kingdoms? And how, did you enter the Kingdom with no papers to allow this?

Yalinari:

Cross country. There was no one at the border asking for papers. I wasn’t aware we needed any.

Officer:

I can understand that in the East, but how did you cross the Opicm without them? I have to warn you, we do not treat black marketeers kindly in Greenreach!

Yalinari:

The Opicum? We rode across a bridge. It was unmanned. I thought that odd, but there you go. But we are not black marketeers. You can inspect our wagons for yourself. They are empty. We have nothing to sell on the black market, and any food we purchase, we will purchase only through a reputable vendor, if you would be good enough to supply us with a name. I have never visited your town before.
The officer calls back to the orcs and tells them to send a squad to search the wagon. A squad dutifiully comes marching out toward the wagon. Yalinari smiles makes no move as if he understood the man, but looks at Hanar and winks. As he does this, Miles leans in toward Yalinari:

Perhaps a small token of our gratitude in letting us in without papers is in order?

Yalinari:

Oh definitely, but in due time.

Parnalam is leaning over to Hanar as well. She makes a slight shake of her head and Drathon relaxes—as do the others.

Yalinari:

On the other hand … Excuse, me … Captain, is it?

Miles:

It may short-circuit some questioning.

He then backs off as the officer is turning around and as the officer is paying attention. The officer looks at him and responds:

Yes?

Yalinari takes a step or two toward the officer, then stops. If there is a fee for acquiring the correct paperwork, well, I want to be legal and am prepared to pay the fee. I’m not a rich man, but do have some extra for paying legal fees. The man looks at him and responds:

The fees are pretty steep, but I’m glad that you are willing to pay for the fees. We will need to talk about this in my office however.

Yalinari:

Of course. Safer. I understand.

The squad searches the wagon and tells him that it’s empty. He smiles and tells Yalinari to follow him.

Yalinari:

Parnalam? If you please. [To the others:] We’ll be right back. Red tape you know.

Parnalam climbs down from the wagon and Yalinari and Parnalam follow the officer. The officer glances and frowns, but says nothing. The officer, translator in tow, heads through the gate and into a barracks house. He makes two turns and then enters a large office. Yalinari is surprised at how spacious it is given the position of the town. The man leans back behind a fine looking desk with several stacks of papers on it. Yalinari asks Parnalam to wait outside and close the door. When he turns around the officer is seated and toying with a crystal letter opener. Yalinari tells him that he’s unsure of what the costs of the paperwork would be, but a dubloon should cover it.The officer shakes his head.

That will cover the entry fees, but the legal fees are double that.

Yalinari:

Of course we’ll need the exit paperwork. Perhaps 3 dubloons for his trouble?

Officer:

Yes, that would cover all the legal costs, but you don’t speak Ranapo. That will be a problem. My translater will gladly help you. Since he is on duty now, he will have to pay expenses to the city for his time. All of this will come to another dubloon.

Yalinari:

I understand. I still needs to buy lunch and may have other ad hoc expenses. Besides, I don’t expect to be here a whole day. I’d gladly pay the man 1/2 that and save a few pennies to buy a bowl of soup.

Officer [looking a the translator]: He will gladly work for that. I’m glad that we have an understanding. Yalinari smiles his broadest smile, thanks the officer and offers his hand.

Officer: Since you are visitor’s to my fair town (he reaches into his desk drawer), you have to abide by the town laws. As you may understand, we are on a hostile border and not all visitor’s are as freidnly or as accomodating as you are. Therefore, they have enacted some laws. Everyone needs to wear a visitor badges in town. They are not allowed to remove them. Since some of your men have weapons, you will need to wear the armed visitor’s badge. The badge must remain in plain sight at all times.

Yalinari:

I have no problem with that. The Captain can rest assured that we will offer no trouble. We will conduct our business and be gone as soon as possible.

The Captain smiles and stands up from his chair.

bq: Have a good day gentlemen. (He hands the translator most of the money that Yalinari gave him). Please give the Magistrate Roun my best wishes.

Yalinari:

May the gods always bless your path.

Upon leaving the officer’s quarters, Yalinari realizes that he has a problem. There was no way to stop it, though. He now has an interpreter with him that can act as a spy. “Oh well, “ he thinks, “Buy the food and leave.” The translator leads the men to another building. As he enters, he tells them that this is the local magistrate’s office. They should remain quiet and let him do the talking. Yalinari thanks him and they enter the building. Upon entering, Yalinari starts to fidget and play with his talisman. The place looks like many a judges chambers he has been in and things never go well for Bakluni’s in them. Fortunately, things do go smooth. The translator hands the judge a packet of documents that jingles slightly. The judge smiles and reads the documents. He then rummages in his desk, finds a piece of paper and places a seal on it. Rolled up, he hands it to the translator, who hands it to Yalinari in turn. The document is simple and bears two glyphs that Yalinari doesn’t recognize. The seal, however, is odd. Though the substance seems to be normal wax, it seems to glow in the dark. Yalinari lifts his finger and spits to the side to lessen the effects of the magic on his finger. From the magistrate its a short walk to the rest of the trading party and, in short order, they’re riding in the gates of Greenreach.

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