SDMB RPG: The Rule of Three - Game Thread

The Game Room
201

Agreed. If I thought we had more time, I’d suggest we try to cover our tracks, but I think speed is more important right now.

So do I…So do I. But the only people who ever get ahead in life are those that take risks. Fortune favors the bold…or something like that.

Fast forward

Who is the prisoner? I assume he’s being executed by Shedlund forces and the mob’s not too happy, right?

I think we help the men…because it may further our aims in multiple ways. Mildred, we will need your help in this. Right now our major assets in this plan of mine are the body of Howard and the disguised Mildred. What if we convince the peasants that Shedlund forces have murdered the lady of Ironhall. We have proof in the case of Howard who admitted as such–after all, some of the peasants may have heard of the guy even if he is only a minor noble. We release the prisoner, and take the Shedlund forces into our custody to face the appropriate punishment for regicide. The mob likes us, the Shedlund soldiers escape with their lives, and the seed of MIldred’s death is planted.

Of course, the downside is that Ironhall will no doubt go to war against Shedlund over this, since we’re officially tying Shedlund to Mildred’s death. But that was likely to happen anyway since Ironhall thinks Lady Shedlund betrayed him anyway. I was originally going to try to play it as Howard acting alone, but that was a bit of a longshot, and saving these men may be better in the long run anyway.

So what do all of you think? I’m particularly interested in your opinion, Mildred. These are your people. And they need to recognize you for who you really are, while the peasants do not recognize you. I’m guessing the peasants probably will be easily fooled, but you’re the key to this working. Your men will have to put up a believable fight against us, and we’ll have to make it look like we’re actively trying to capture them. But eventually, they’ll have to surrender. We tie them up and take them into custody.

But you’re the key to this working, Mildred. You have to let your soldiers know the plan without the peasants finding out. And you have to do it overtly. I can distract the peasants with a speech of my own as you address the soldiers to surrender if it will help. Just don’t fuck up, or we’re all in a world of shit.

202

“I think it’s no surprise your house is in tatters. Each plan you come up with is more ridiculous than the last.”

203

Fine. If that’s your feelings, there’s nothing we can do here.

Let’s move on. These men have brought their own fate upon them through their own decisions.

The blood of your Sister’s men will be on you, Mildred, through your refusal to aid us. The mob may just be peasants, but I’m not a mass murderer, and neither are the rest of my family. Additionally, you know nothing about battle. I’ll freely admit I don’t know much about it either. But I do know I travel with veterans of many, and the fact that they’re still alive means they know how to survive them. If one of them says we can’t win this fight, I believe him. Let it be known I will inform your sister of what has transpired here. Maybe she’ll be more reasonable than you. If not, well maybe I’ll just have to turn you over to Ironhall after all. I hear he’s at least a man of good character.

With that said, Henry pulls the reins of his horse away from the town and starts bee-lining around it toward Shedlund.

204

To Henry: “I think you are forgetting that it’s not Shedlund we’re trying to trick about Mildred’s death, but Ironhall. Continuing that farce here serves no point.”

To the group: “I will not allow a peasant mob to run amok. I have lived my whole life enforcing order. Cutter, Hrothgar, Lady Mildred-” Cyrus is unable to hold back a sneer mentioning her name “-come with me. Choke, stay here with the horses, but I’ll be bringing Brute with me. Anyone else? We must act fast.”

Cyrus dismounts and draws his sword. He holds Brute’s leash tightly in the other hand while he waits a moment to see who will come with him.

205

Mildred looks relieved. “Thank the ancestors one of you Faramonds still has his sanity.”

Cutter looks between Henry and Cyrus before dismounting with a sigh. He weighs both his sword and the Nutcracker in his hands for a moment, deciding on the sword and leaving the morning star behind.

“Red-beard, you got any experience with crowd control?”

206

I concur with this knowledge. Likewise, Ironhall is a distant relative of my father and I have met him; he is a noted stickler for law and honor. He will not allow the death of his wife to go unavenged, and if we are ever tied to this, he will not look kindly on House Faramond for the rest of his life. If the lady Mildred can assure us of some benefit for House Faramond from Shedlund, returning her to Shedlund, either overtly or covertly, would be my preference.

As to the peasant mob, I believe we should learn the intentions of the mob and decide who to support once we know the facts. Supporting Shedlund soldiers and returning the Lady Mildred would surely gain us favor at her court.

207

To Cutter: “A crowd like this, everyone’s keen to yell, no-one wants to be the first one killed, and some tough guys in mail with proper weapons can look really not worth crossing. Stick close together, shoulder to shoulder, so we can’t get mobbed easily. Half a dozen fighting men can rout a hundred peasants once the bodies start falling.”

208

Baldur says aloud “Oh Henry, your elaborate stories are once again so entertaining! But now is not the time. It’s not proper to have a crowd of rabble rising up, no matter where the duchy.” He turns vaguely in Cyrus’s direction. “But, let’s not be too hasty.”

Having said that, Baldur checks his pocket to verify Týr is still asleep. Once satisifed he says, ‘Henry and I will go with you, won’t you young-brother? Oh it’s just like the old times when all three of us used to train together. Of course, you didn’t show up very often, but needless to say you seem to have picked up swordsmanship from somewhere! Must run in the family.’
Whatever happened to the wounded guy we interrogated in the forest? I checked back but it seems that he hasn’t been mentioned since we departed…

209

Well, food was running low…

Nah, he’s still with the party, riding along on horseback. He isn’t going to be able to help much; his wound, though patched up, is quite serious and he’ll be out of commission until he’s recovered.

210

“Brute has a way of getting a peasant’s attention,” Cyrus says with a cruel smile. “We might not even have to kill too many of them.”

211

To Cyrus:

“I’m with you. I’m pretty good with a bow and I think you’ll find I can be very persuasive; besides, you may need some patching up when this is over. Let me know how I can serve you best in this endeavor, my Lord. I am at your service.”

:Sohan rides with Cyrus and prepares mentally for battle:

Uh, if any knives were found on any bodies we searched through, Sohan will take a knife, despite lacking skill with it. Better than nothing if things go badly.

212

I’m aware that we don’t need to trick Shedlund, but I was under the impression that we weren’t yet in Shedlund’s lands. If she owns this town, then you are most correct.

Well, that, and you’d be surprised what one can learn from a bunch of sailors. Anyway, you have my sword, Cyrus.

Henry dismounts and stands at his cousin’s side.

Though, before we just go in their swinging, we should try to find out what exactly is happening if at all possible.

213

“We’ll walk together and stand with the guards, weapons drawn, as a show of strength. If it comes to violence, only shoot the ones actively attacking us. Until then, leave the talking to me, and Brute.” Cyrus chuckles. “We have a knack for getting through to disobedient peasants. If things go badly, flee with the lady Mildred, and deliver her to her sister in Shedlund.”

Cyrus will wait until the party agrees to move, and walk confidently to the guards. He will hold his shield in one hand, and the leash in the other. Cyrus will attempt to intimidate the peasant mob with a show of force and Brute’s barking.

If a peasant attempts to harm a guard, or a member of the party, Cyrus will issue a single warning, before ordering Brute to attack the peasant, and drawing his sword. If no other peasants attack, Cyrus will attempt to prevent Brute from killing the peasant, by first calling, then pulling him off. If more than one peasant attacks in melee, Cyrus will not show restraint, and attempt to kill any peasant that comes near the guards, specifically targeting anyone with a weapon first.

214

"What are the non-participants of our party doing? If I flee with Mildred, I’d like to be able to team back up with them, anyway.

Oh, and perhaps I should head out and position myself in a visible, but distant enough point. You can point to me and indicate that my bow is drawn, which it will be. Just a thought, My Lord."

215

“I agree. We will attempt to avoid violence if possible.”

216

“Yes, stay within arrow range. I’ll instruct Mildred to flee if we are overwhelmed.”

217

“OK. I’ll position myself whenever we are ready to approach. If you wish for me to fire a warning arrow, wave to me, My Lord. If you wish for me to shoot someone as a warning, make a circle with your finger(in the air). If battle begins, I’ll know what to do.”

218

Choke will stay with the animals and gear, and the wounded soldier. I assume Lady Mildred will come with us, although she is welcome to stay with Choke if she likes.

219

The party marches closer to the scene through what seems like ankle-deep mud. The crowd’s shouting remains unintelligible but the man atop the stage can be heard, his voice strained and panicked.

“Without us you’d have no land upon which to toil! No protection from brigands!”

“It ain’t brigands we need protectin’ from!”* Comes a reply from within the crowd and with that the peasants roar and surge forward, barely rebuffed by the guards.

Mildred, still mounted on her horse, rides along the outskirts of the mob, keeping the party between them and her at all times. She cups a hand around her mouth and shouts to the nobleman on the stage.* “Good sir!”

Peering off into the rain for the source of the voice, the man finally identifies her and replies, “M’lady Primrose? Sir Wilfred Delacroix, at your service!”

“We’re here to support you!”

When a member of the party asks what’s going on: “This man,” *gesturing to the prisoner at his side with his longsword, *“attacked a nobleman, Sir Fredrick Davies!” His shouting is barely audible over the rain. “We were sent to see justice done but this mob isn’t having it!”

Shouts from the mob, “She’s eleven!” “She’s only a little girl!”

“Quiet, all of you! Back to your homes NOW! If you go quietly now you may escape retribution for this!” The crowd isn’t satisfied with that at all and it makes another push forward, a few guards nearly slipping to the ground in the mud.

“Shit, if some noble’s been piddlin’ their kids I don’t know if they’re gonna be intimidated so easily.” Offers Cutter to the others in the party. “A man’s kids’ll make him stupid.”

220

To our party: “These peasants may have a legitimate complaint. However, it is not their place to exact justice against nobles. I will not allow this mob to interfere with a criminal’s sentence.”

To Mildred: “This crowd may respond to your authority here. I know peasant discipline, and all they want is to know their lords are protecting them. Perhaps postponing this peasant’s sentence until we can speak to sir Frederick Davies would be prudent. If he has indeed harmed a child, he will be nothing but trouble for you.”