"Trochelle, find Marque and that fellow Bearpaw, and meet me here - in kit - in five minutes."
"Yes, Sergeant Talac'na!" and she trotted off to find the other two.
Exactly five minutes later the three of them arrived back to the Sergeants tent. "Now that the camp is pitched we need to make ourselves known to the Count. Mount up."
Talac'na looked around, spotted his other second at the next campfire and says across to him, "Visniq! Get a watch posted, two men in each post as you see fit and keep the camp. We will be back before dark."
He then mounted and together they rode towards the center of Braintree. Entering the broad main street, with it's Church to one side, the local shops on the other and the local public house further down on the Church Side, they pulled up next to the noticeboard and checked it for information. Talac'na then hailed a local and asked for the whereabouts of Pagent Merryfellow's manor.
The lad stammered, trying to speak, and when unsuccessful then pointed further up the road and off to one side where a large, many windowed and columned building stood.
Talac'na nodded curtly and flipped the lad a copper.
Without a word said he headed off to the building, the others following.
At the entrance to the manor the gatekeeper requested to know who they were, and once satisfied called a stable lad over to look after the mounts.
"Your lad is not needed good Sir. My men here will look after the mounts while Lieutenant Trochelle and myself speak to the Count."
"Very well then. As you see fit." He then showed them to the front door, knocked and waited for the maid to answer.
"Two guests to see the Count. Sergeant Talac'na and Lieutenant Trochelle." And with that said he turned and headed back to his post.
The maid looked at Sergeant Talac'na and Lieutenant Trochelle . " please follow me" . she took them into a large room . It was empty except a desk and several chairs . On each of the walls was carved a large magical symbol , matched by one on the floor and ceiling . "please take a seat" said the maid " while i let the count know you are here ". With that she departed . The Fireplace roared into life as she left , warming the prevousely cold room . A short while later , Count Merryfellow walked into the room . " Good day" he said sitting at his seat behind the desk " Now how can i be of service ?"
Talac'na and Trochelle walked to the table, but stayed standing. As a mercenary years of service told them not to sit unless first bidden to do so. Some people in power took a very dim view of folk who took their ease or another's hospitality too lightly.
"Thank you for seeing us Count Merryfellow." Talac'na said as he proffered his hand for the shaking. "I am Sergeant Talac'na and this is my Lieutenant, Trochelle. We came to town to introduce ourselves and to say we have set up camp in the field we understand is known hereabouts as Poledance Field. We were also told to seek you out as there was a small matter of an area you wish us not to tread upon and we would need to know its location."
" please take a seat . can i offer you some refreshment and food . its not often i have guests and ive yet to eat" ?
"Thank you for the offer, but we would prefer to take up as little of your time as possible Count."
Pagent smiled and produced a map. " this is the area off limits. Your men are welcome everywhere else ."
The two mercenaries looked at the map and nodded. They asked the Count if it would be okay to make a rough copy of the map for reference, and when he nodded yes they withdrew an old and many-times used stretch of hide.
It was wearing thin in places, where it had been drawn on then smoothed over again when battle-lines changed, but for the most part it was usable. Taking out a lump of charcoal, wrapped in cloth and with the end sharpened to a point they started to draw, make notes and placed symbols that their band would recognise but others would not.
It did not take long and when they were done they rolled the hide up carefully and placed it inside its tube.
Sergeant Talac'na Bid Count Merryfellow thank you, and goodbye and said that he would be sure to pass on all information they gained.
With that the two mercenaries left and rejoined their colleagues by the front gate. Bidding the gate-keeper good health the group rode back to their camp, which they now knew lay just over the river Pods Brook near to Doppit Bridge.
"Right lads, use your wits and come look at this map in groups."
A small group at a time, the mercenaries made their way over to where the Sergeant stood over a tree stump with the rolled out hide on. He patiently pointed out to each group where they were, where the town was, other landmarks and the restricted zone. In their own way each member of that party memorised the area.
Once they were all done he called the circle of watcher closer, so they were within easy talking distance but could still look outwards. "So our position here is initially one of information gathering. We are to get used to the lay on the land, let the people in town and the farms know us and know we are no danger unless They are a danger. Should anything happen try to report in before you do anything. If that is not possible then keep yourself safe, deal with whatever the problem is where possible or get the hell out of there if it is too risky!"
"Lieutenant Visniq, were the men split into groups while I was gone?"
"Yes, Sir! Four groups, each with the required skill groups" came the reply.
"Wonderful. Well, get ready all of you. We will start the routine in half an hour or so."
Talac'na then rolled up the map and ducked into his tent.
Three groups had assembled by the time Talac'na emerged a short while later.
The remainder looked bored and resigned to camp duty. Some were cleaning mail and weapons, others patrolling.
Talac'na smiled at these men, and made it obvious he planned to stay with them while the others went and did their part of the work. This seemed to relax most of them.
The three groups departed. One towards town, one Eastwards and the other West bound.
As Trochelle rode into town with her troop she noticed a group of children off to one side, by the fountain. They were watching the mercenaries and chatting excitedly. One of the children's faces she recognized as the child from earlier.
Trochelle dismounted, threw the reins to Madon and strode towards the group.
Towering over the children, she suddenly dropped to one knee and spoke. "Who here wants to be a fighter when they are older?" Practically every hand shot into the air. "Wonderfull! Well I'm afraid I can do nothing to help you with that as I am just a mercenary, however I will give you this advice - We are a Band of Brothers. We look out for each other at all times. Loyalty amongst mercenaries is stronger than any of military force. Look after each other, if one of your town is in danger, or are a danger to others then you all are in danger!" She let her words settle in for a minute before continuing.
"Tell me, is there any such danger in or near town? Has anything weird or funny been happening of late? If you can tell me I promise we are here to help." Lieutenant Trochelle waited to see if there would be any reply.
Hmm where had these men come from. What are where they doing here in Braintree. Time to find out.
"Don't be shy Children. We are here to help if there are any problems. Tell us if there is anything unusual or worrying happening."
Lieutenant Trochelle waited patiently as was her way.
"Tell me, is there any such danger in or near town? Has anything weird or funny been happening of late? If you can tell me I promise we are here to help." said the warrior women.
Thaal looked at the warrior "Things have been strange in Braintree ever since we lost the Braintree, first and for a long time no evil could approach our lands and so it became a place of learning. The Library, the Monastry and Scriptorium are still hear as are many of the scholars and scribes who came to live hear and be inspired by the Braintree. Then it went missing and we where cursed for some time until the Kingdom brought us the seed of the braintree and the land healed and people became inspired once more.
More recently though four groups of strangers have arrived in town. First came the Kainite Monks seven in number seeking to meditate at the seven stones in the Greywood. They have kept largely to themselves and practice unarmed combat, staff rituals and learn from the stones of who knows what.
Next came the two men in dark cloaks they hired the old widow Nannaghans place on the out skirts of town. They have hired a local man named Gnasher Jones to be their errand boy. He has taken up with the scribe Kurt Scrivener.
Then the Hussites came to town and took rooms at the inn. One is a Scholar Knight of the Order of the Silberfuchs. He brought with him a Scholar Adventurer and two Knights of the Streitkolben. These have been spending much time going between theLlibrary, the Abbey and the Church. The two knights are scary as a Hellion but the other two are friendly enough and pay good for information and local knowledge.
The last group arrived but three weeks ago. They are all Elves, sea elves they claim. Their leader goes by the name of Gyldneye Sorttræ and he is a elven duelist. Funny thing is he does not seem to be a warrior. He has entertained us with his knowledge of illusions, he does a very good human knight vs the dragon.
Is that worth a copper!
Trochelle offered up a silent prayer once more to her mother who had, on her death-bed, given her a precious amber stone and told her that when she held it...just so...whatever was spoken next would be held in perfect recall until such time as the stone was then held...just so. It had proved invaluable in the years to follow, and no more so than now as this child, Thaal, reeled off a list of names and doings of recent times.
Sitting back on her haunches she appraised the child and saw before her a shrewd but wise lad, with potential aplenty. Out of them all he seemed the least wary and afraid, but she also suspected that he had already sized her and her group up and worked out who they were. She also guessed that at least some of the other groups may soon know that there was a new band of warriors in town.
To Thaal she said, "By all means that deserves a copper. And for some more information you can make it two. Tell me, does the Count, Pageant Merryfellow, know of these groups and has he seen or spoken to them that you know of?" As she said this Trochelle slid two coppers from her belt pouch and let the boy see them.
The lad shook his head and replied "I do not know Miss. But you could ask him!" and with that he held out his hand for the coppers.
Trochelle passed them to him and then noticed a movement in the near distance.
Standing up, she noticed the gates to the Count's residence opening up and a group of hardy looking men leaving on horseback. In the front she could see Count Pageant Merryfellow. They were heading their way, which presumably meant for the South running road.
Lieutenant Trochelle went back to her men, commanded them to fall in and then made her horse take a few steps forward to intercept the Count, without actually blocking his way should he be unable to spare her a few minutes.
As he drew near she said, loud enough for him to hear, "Hai, Count Merryfellow. I see you are determined to get somewhere fast, but if I might have but two minutes of your time on an important matter?"
Count Merryfellow stopped his unit, then came forward to meet her. Trochelle bowed her head slightly in deference then said, "I have spoken to some of the locals and they inform me you have recently had an influx of 'guests' to the area. Kainite Monks at the seven stones, two men in dark coats at Nannaghans house who have recruited two locals to aid them. Hussites at your inn with scholars and knights, and sea Elves with a illusionist fighter commander. Know you about these groups? Would you tell me what you know of them please??"
" my dear Trochelle , i am afraid that divided as i am between my duties to two counties , to the guild and to the king, it would seem i have let myself become detached from what is happening on my own doorstep. I know nothing of these groups . Please Find out what you can and keep me informed "
Lieutenant Trochelle nodded, then turned her horse and returned to her men where she told them they'd be heading back to camp to report to Sergeant Talac'na.
While they were talking she had noticed the child, Thaal, talk to one of the other children. Thaal then slipped away from the group and headed towards the inn, while the other child - a scrawny, spotty adolescent boy, headed in the opposite direction.
Trochelle addressed four of her men, "you two follow the child Thaal to, I suspect, the local inn. See who he speaks to and if possible what is said but stay unnoticed. And you two, follow the other child. Keep your distance unless you think you need to know more. I want no risks taken! No heroics! This is purely information gathering at the moment. Understand?"
When they showed that they did the rest of the group formed up and rode out, heading back to camp.
The Lieutenant's group arrived back at camp. She told them to grab something to eat but be ready to ride back out if need be. With that she went off to Talac'na's tent to make her report.
Meanwhile.......
Lieutenant Visniq and his men headed West and North roughly following the river known as Pods Brook. He had two sets of outriders to either flank, but within sight should they need to hail their boss.
At several points they came across dense woodland, but these patches were all less than a mile wide and petered back into loose woodland quite soon. They watched out for trails, tracks, anything unusual and any steadings.
The area was strangely devoid of dwellings. Not even a woodsman's house or a deer-hunter. This area was replete with deer, a good source of tender young meat, and yet it was not tended by man.
After a good time of riding thus, and after they had been heading more North than West for a while, away from the river, Visniq started to notice a change in the woods. The sparse areas were finally getting smaller and the woods becoming denser for longer. When they reached the summit of a small hill he called a stop and recalled the outriders.
Consulting the roughly copied map, and noting their position in relation to the river and the far distant smoke of fires from the town of Braintree he knew where they were and what lay ahead. Scanning ahead of them he nodded in satisfaction. It was plain from the mass of dark trees, different from all the others around in their height, colour and the look of the canopy, that this was the place.
"Men! Listen up. See you the change in the forest ahead? Darker, higher, denser." He looked around, to see nods and smiles from all, then continued, "We have been asked not to venture into that part of the forest for reasons I know not. However I also know that the area therein is the reason this place is in disquiet. Or part of the reason at least. Therefore we are separating further.
Initially we are in two groups. Marque, you will take half West and I will take half East. Keep your eyes open inwards and outwards. Note anything suspicious. If you come across any paths leading into the forest station two men to watch it at a safe distance and in cover. The same for anything unusual. You and I, and any remaining men will meet back up on the opposite side from here to discuss our options.
I ensured we had a good number of men knowledgeable in woodland ways in our group, so use them wisely."
Visniq then proceeded to split the group using his intimate knowledge of his men to do so. The two groups then headed down the hill together and then split apart at the forests edge. To the Gods it would have looked like a flow of meltwater running down a channel then, coming upon a giant boulder, splitting into two and flowing to either side.
As each group rounded the forest area, which in a lot of places was still within woodland, but in an area that very obviously wasn't dense forest men were deposited to guard routes in and out of the deep forest.
Some of these were little more than deer trails, others much more obvious for what they were.
As Marque's group reached due West they saw evidence that the path they had just reached was sometimes used. Footprints lay in the dried mud and told of passage a few days past. He posted two sets of guards here, one pair he ordered to stay near the entrance to the Forest while the other pair were told to follow the path out a while and see to where it leads or if there is nothing within easy distance return and stand watch with the other two.
Marque and his remaining men rode on. Soon they could see a trail of smoke rising into the air. Softly calling a halt, they dismounted and Marque and five others moved ahead on foot, towards the smoke.
Ahead lay a hut, typical in build and size of a woodsman's cabin. For a door it had a hanging rug and the one window was currently shuttered. They waited and watched from the shadows, and some time later a man, middle-aged in years and wearing suede and leathers, supporting himself on a finely crafted staff hobbled out of the door. He made his way to a wood pile, carefully layed the staff down and proceeded to try to pick up a log. It became clear to the men watching that this gentle man had recently suffered an injury. His right hand was bandaged and caused him some amount of pain while lifting the log.
None of the mercenaries moved to help. They didn't so much as twitch. They watched as he struggled to get the log onto a tree stump, lift a woodsman's axe and swing to hit the wood, splitting it asunder. For someone so injured he managed this remarkably well, and it told of his dedication to being a woodsman.
Once the man had returned inside, Marque withdrew slightly, then told four of his men to take up position around the clearing. Watch without as well as within he reminded them.
Returning to the others, they moved on and a short while later, having posted several more pairs of men, he re-joined with Visniq on the further side of the wood. Visniq's group was similarly depleted telling of a similar story to his own.