Homoventures Chapter 4, Part 2
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Summary
The train to Nys is ambushed by bandits who had set up an obstacle on the track. Justen and Xan managed to capture three and run off the rest with the help of the railway workers. The question one, a Psyran named Mert who tells them a little about the Bandit King. The boys arrive in the capital and get settled at the inn where Xan finds a letter from Sleyght with instructions to speak to one of the professors at the University of Nys, Abelet Sotiris.
Session
- Session date: June 10, 2014
- Diablotin date: Spring 2275
Journey
Session Start: Tue Jun 10 19:05:47 2014
Session Ident: #gnomeland
<Xandhil> (logging is one :)
<DiablotinNarrator> Your journey by train to Psyra is mostly quite pleasant so far. As you travel, the scenery outside your windows gradually changes as you head east and south, from farms and forests to more grasslands and low hills. The weather is also becoming quite a bit warmer.
<Xandhil> ugh :/
* Xandhil 's fine hair gets plastered everywhere
* Justen is fine with the heat, not surprisingly
<DiablotinNarrator> The train stops at many small towns along the way, and people and cargo get on and off
<DiablotinNarrator> You have the chance in some places to disembark for an hour or two and see the sights, such as they might be
<DiablotinNarrator> or at least to have a meal in a local inn and get some fresh air :)
<Xandhil> that will be nice
<Xandhil> I mean the dinig cart food is good but really
<Xandhil> and I want to walk around on solid ground for a bit
<Xandhil> is there anything to see here?
* Justen has a knack for finding things to do even in tiny isolated towns :)
<Xandhil> 9true, but they aren't always things Xan wants to do ^-^)
<Justen> (true ;)
<Justen> (ooh bare-knuckle boxing match!)
<Justen> (what do you mean you don't want to see the duchy's biggest pig?)
<Xandhil> (hee)
<Justen> (there's a knot in this tree that's shaped like the emperor!)
* Justen is fairly easily amused ;)
* Xandhil sighs
<Xandhil> now you're just having me on
<Xandhil> (also rainbow pattern = best raver spell ever ;p)
<DiablotinNarrator> (heh)
<DiablotinNarrator> You're by now less than a day from Nys - you're supposed to arrive there tomorrow morning, and it's currently early evening. You've had dinner at some little local inn, and have re-embarked on the train to continue your journey.
<Xandhil> are you excited?
<Xandhil> I'm excited :D
<Justen> I'm looking forward to it :)
<Justen> How long do you figure we'll stay in the city before we head out to this place?
<Xandhil> it depoends
<Xandhil> if Sleyght is already gone, we;ll go join him right away, probably
<Xandhil> otherwise we're waiting on him
* Justen nods
<Justen> I guess we'll need to get supplies and stuff at least
<Xandhil> unless he left instruction otherwise
<Xandhil> yeah
<Xandhil> I do want to swee some of Nys
<Xandhil> so we don't have to rush off right away...
<Justen> hopefully we can at least stay long enough to have a bath. I heard that they have really nice baths.
<Xandhil> but I really want to see the site
<Xandhil> hah
<Xandhil> i bet you did
<Xandhil> I heard you talking to that merchant :p
<Justen> whole buildings just for baths ^-^
* Justen says enticingly
<Xandhil> public baths :p
<Justen> well.. yeah.
<Justen> I'm sure people are friendly.
<Xandhil> gross shared water...
* Justen chuckles
<Xandhil> and people :p
<Xandhil> ugh
<Justen> maybe if we go first thing in the morning we'll get it while it's fresh ;)
<Xandhil> I don't want to bathe with other people -_-
<Justen> oh, all right
<Justen> private baths it is then ^-^
<Xandhil> fiiiine ;p
<Xandhil> you definitely do need a bath
* Justen chuckles
<Justen> yeah, the washcloth and basin thing isn't really cutting it anymore
<DiablotinNarrator> You've been back on the rails for about an hour at this point, and the sun is getting low in the sky, when you can feel the train slowing down suddenly, the wheels screeching as it comes to a halt.
<DiablotinNarrator> There's no village or town nearby that you can see, just the hills and valleys.
* Justen glances out the window, puzzled.
<Xandhil> maybe there's soemthing on the tracks?
<Justen> maybe...
* Xandhil looks at you since you're already looking out
<Xandhil> we could go out and look if you take us
<DiablotinNarrator> There's a knock at your door - you can in fact hear the porter going along the car, knocking at each door.
* NPC1 is now known as Porter
<Porter> Please stay in your cabins, there's nothing to be concerned about, only a minor delay
* Porter is saying through the doors
* Xandhil makes a face
* Xandhil makes a more hopeful face at Justen though
<Justen> do you want to check it out?
<Xandhil> yes!
<Xandhil> :D
<Justen> okay - up top?
<Xandhil> yes
Bandit Attack
* Xandhil will pop up on top of the car with justen
* Justen takes you there in a flash
<Xandhil> (hah I weas thinking Xan only had one a day, but that's San - Xan has three, they're just self-only)
* BalthNote (~balthcat@142.167.190.197) has joined #gnomeland
<DiablotinNarrator> From up here, you can see a bit more of what's going on
<DiablotinNarrator> (right)
* BalthPhone (~balthcat@142.177.130.67) has joined #gnomeland
<DiablotinNarrator> There is definitely some sort of obstruction on the tracks - like rocks and branches and so on, although you can't really tell from this vantage point if it's a natural occurrence like a rockslide, or something man-made
<Xandhil> bleh :p
<Xandhil> I wonder if they can clear it fast
<DiablotinNarrator> Some of the train workers are getting off and starting to try and clear it away, but it could take a while.
<Xandhil> or if 'minor delay' was either overly optimistic or meant to keep us under control
<Xandhil> I'm guesing the latter
<Justen> Probably depends on if they have magic or not...
<Xandhil> looks like no?
<Justen> I could help move stuff
* Justen suggests
<Xandhil> well it would be good practice for when we get to the site ;p
<Justen> heh
<Xandhil> I can supervise?
<Justen> also good practice
<Xandhil> I dn't have any really useful spells for this sort of thing
<Xandhil> ^-^
* Justen smiles
<Justen> it's okay.
<Justen> we could go back inside and then walk up to them the normal way, or we could just teleport to them.
<Xandhil> enh
<Xandhil> we can just walk along the top of the cars and then climb down closer
<Justen> Okay, sounds good
* Justen starts walking towards the front of the train, then
* Xandhil follows along with
<Xandhil> man
<Xandhil> I should have borrowed father's ring
<Justen> which one?
* BalthNote (~balthcat@142.167.190.197) Quit (Ping timeout: 380 seconds�)
<Xandhil> the telekinesis one
<Xandhil> I mean
<Xandhil> it wouldn't help here
<Xandhil> but it would have been great at the site
<Justen> oh, yeah
<Xandhil> I was just tryng to think what i coudl do
<Xandhil> but uh - none of my spells wold be useful
<Xandhil> unless we think all the workers need a nap and a headache ;p
<Justen> I mean, maybe afterwards...
<Xandhil> heh
<DiablotinNarrator> As you're approaching the front of the train, one of the workers who is just getting out of the train shouts 'Bandits!' as he falls to the ground.
<Xandhil> shit
<Xandhil> bandits can probably do with a headache and a nap
<DiablotinNarrator> The other workers all look around, expecting them to descend from the hills, but you can see pretty well and there's no one around out here other than the people milling around the obstruction on the path.
<Xandhil> ...
<Xandhil> (are we in a valley or anything?)
<DiablotinNarrator> Yeah, it's hilly around here - you're going between some low hills, basically.
* Justen tries to peer over the edge to see the the fallen guard
* Xandhil is looking around the hills in case they have guns or archers or something
<Justen> Xan.. he's hit in the back. They're already on the train @_@
<Xandhil> oh
* Justen grabs your hand
<Justen> gonna take us inside
* Xandhil readies for a fight
* Xandhil nods
* Justen does so
* A Fight Ensues inside the railway car
<Xandhil> there - a nap and a headache.
<Xandhil> I got three of them anyway
<DiablotinNarrator> The train's guards/workers can help tie those guys up and stash them away for when you get to a place with law enforcement
* Justen can help clear the debris from the tracks, which seems pretty definitely like it was put there to stop the train
Questiong a captive bandit
<Justen> Were they going for something specific, or just whatever was in the safe?
<Xandhil> I didn't look around too much
<Xandhil> but I could :V
<Justen> I dunno.
* Justen is still admiring his new swords ;)
<Xandhil> I mean
<Xandhil> I coudl ask
<Xandhil> oh pfft, they're still not as nice as my sword ^-^
<Justen> I think I'll just sell these. they're nice and all, but not really my style.
<Xandhil> yeah
<Xandhil> not as nice as your flail either
<Justen> good quality for bandits, though.
<Xandhil> hmm
<Xandhil> we could question them?
<Xandhil> they might hve been hired and outfitted to go after something specific
<Xandhil> or hey
<Justen> would they let us?
<Xandhil> maybe banditing is just a better paying job in Psyra
<Justen> possible...
<Xandhil> who could say no to my pretty blue eyes ^-^
<Justen> heh
<Xandhil> anyway
<Xandhil> we totally caught them
<Justen> we did!
<Xandhil> we shoudl be allowed to question them!
<Justen> if you think we should, I'm okay with that.
<DiablotinNarrator> You can ask to interrogate the prisoners and with a bit of persuasion, you can get access to one.
<DiablotinNarrator> (because I don't feel like playing all 3 ;)
* Porter is now known as Bandit
* Xandhil will cast charm :V
<Xandhil> (dc 18)
<Bandit> !roll 1d20+1
* BalthCat rolls for Bandit: [ 1d20+1 ] getting [ 8 ] which, after the modifier [ 1 ] totals [ 9 ].
<Bandit> (hahah.)
<Xandhil> hey there, what's your name?
* Bandit is a young man with a scraggly mustache
<Bandit> Mert.
* Bandit is now known as Mert
<Xandhil> what were hyou and your pals after here, Mert?
<Mert> Well, whatever we could get, mostly, but there was supposed to be some good stuff in the safe.
<Xandhil> supposed to be according to who?
<Mert> Serkan said there would be.
<Xandhil> oh?
<Xandhil> Who'se serkan?
<Mert> He's the bandit king, but he says that's a stupid name and not to call him that.
<Mert> but everyone does anyway.
<Mert> just not to his face.
<Xandhil> heh
<Xandhil> fair
<Xandhil> did he send you out here?
<Xandhil> I mean
<Xandhil> you guys had some pretty sweet swords
<Mert> Yeah, those were from another shipment - bunch of weapons, everyone got new swords.
<Mert> I think they were supposed to be for the guards in Nys or something.
<Xandhil> ahh
<Xandhil> whoops :V
<Xandhil> where does serkan hang out?
<Mert> Oh... he moves around, so he doesn't get caught. Here and there.
<Xandhil> or I mean
<Xandhil> where do you get ahold of him?
<Xandhil> obviously you don't get ot be a bandit 'king' by staying in one place
<Mert> yeah
<Mert> well, we were supposed to be going back to Semcetin, and we would have met up with some other folks there, and then gone from there to meet him.
<Xandhil> ahh well :/
<Xandhil> what sort of good stuff was supposed to be here/
<Mert> jewelry, some of it maybe magic stuff.
<Xandhil> nice!
* Xandhil looks at Justen
<Xandhil> we should become bandits. I can use more magic jewelery ;)
<Justen> Sounds like a good plan if this trip doesn't pan out.
<Xandhil> nevermind that Mercy would kill us :V
<Justen> we'd bring her nice jewelry though.
<Xandhil> oh true
<Xandhil> she might forgive us for that
* Mert looks sort of confused
<Xandhil> hey - do you guys have the Hush out here?
<Mert> what's that?
<Xandhil> huh
<Xandhil> They keep the bandits inline back home
<Xandhil> sorta
<Mert> I don't know. if they're here, I haven't seen them. are they like guards?
<Xandhil> not really, no
<Xandhil> if you haven't heard of them, I wouldn't worry about it
<Mert> Okay.
<Xandhil> so how did you get into the banditing life?
<Mert> well, it's pretty dull being a shepherd or working in a vinyard or an olive farm, and that's about all there is to do around here.
<Xandhil> :/
<Mert> I thought maybe I could go to Nys if I made some money, enough to have a place to stay and stuff while I looked for work.
<Xandhil> couldn't have made any watching sheep for a bit?
<Mert> it would've taken ages though.
<Mert> this was supposed to be fast...
<Xandhil> what'll they do to you now?
<Mert> plus, besides, people look up to bandits.
* Xandhil asks, genuinely cuious
<Mert> now? I guess I'll get a trial in the city.
<Mert> since we didn't manage to take anything, maybe just a few months in jail? I don't really know.
* Xandhil nods
<Xandhil> people look up to bandits out here though?
<Mert> sure. I mean, it's like... taking from the Empire, right?
<Mert> And nobody likes the Empire.
<Mert> I mean, you seem different. Nothing personal.
<Xandhil> fair
<Xandhil> I am pretty different
<Xandhil> but mostly the 'empire' is just people trying to get by, same as out here
<Mert> If you wanted to help me get out of here, I wouldn't mind.
<Xandhil> stealing their shit is hardly heroic
<Xandhil> heh
<Xandhil> sorry friend
<Xandhil> I've got too much to do in Nys
<Mert> oh
<Mert> okay, I guess
<Xandhil> good luck with your trial though
<Mert> thanks...
* Mert seems kind of disheartened and depressed about it all now
* Xandhil looks at Justen to see if he has anything to ad
* Justen shakes his head
* Xandhil waves then
<Mert> bye
* Mert goes back to nursing his residual headache ;p
<Xandhil> Bye Mert
* Xandhil shrugs at Justen as wel leave
<Xandhil> do you think they really don't have the Hush or they just don't know about the Hush?
<Justen> I think that guy's just clueless.
<Xandhil> yeah, fair
<Justen> I'm sure they have it out here - actually I know they do. maybe not infiltrating the bandit gangs very much, though?
* Xandhil nds
<Xandhil> they probably have bigger fish to fry
<Justen> it's probably harder to get into them since they move around and are mostly locals
<Justen> that too
<Xandhil> I'd find it hard to believe they have
*no
* local operators
<Justen> yeah
<Xandhil> they're probably just more useful elsewhere
* Justen nods
<Justen> (did you have further you wanted to talk about with J?)
<Xandhil> (not really)
Arriving in Nys!
<DiablotinNarrator> Your train, although delayed by several hours, arrives in Nys the next evening.
<DiablotinNarrator> The city is smaller than Diablotin, but still quite large. It has a very different atmosphere, though.
* Xandhil will allow homself to gawk a little bit
<DiablotinNarrator> People here tend to wear loose robes and gowns, presumably to help with the heat, although there are some who wear more Aveyronnais-type fashions (and look a bit uncomfortable for it...)
<Xandhil> ooh
* Xandhil likes :3
<Justen> It's kind of like your dad's elf clothes, only not as silky and fancy ;)
<Xandhil> Everything looks nice, and
*comfortable
*
* Justen nods
* Xandhil kind of hates modern fashion
<Justen> Maybe we should get some local clothes so we can blend in better.
<Xandhil> and so some of us can avoid heatstroke ;p
<Justen> that too
<Xandhil> youb know, those of us who aren't partly made of fire ;p
* Justen just smirks
<Justen> you like it hot ^-^
<Xandhil> I like
*some
* things hot
<Xandhil> man I'm not going to be ale to have my hair down at all here
<DiablotinNarrator> As you leave the train station, there are still plenty of street vendors out at this hour, selling fruits and cooked meat, as well as souvenir-type things.
<Justen> we could go by a market, get some food and maybe some clothes, and then find this inn?
* Justen suggests
<Xandhil> sounds good :)
* Xandhil takes some time to people watch along the way and, if I think from other examples that no one is like to liok askance, will take Justen
<Xandhil> (err)
* Xandhil will take Justen's
*hand
*
<DiablotinNarrator> People might give a glance, but no one says anything rude or anything like that.
<DiablotinNarrator> I mean... Aveyronnais guys come here for a reason, right? >.>
* Xandhil is a little nervous anyway
<Xandhil> -_-
<DiablotinNarrator> The food is pretty good, for market food - sliced meat and flatbread, with olives and cooling yogurt
* Xandhil just wants to wander around with his boyfriend and not get the stinkeye from strangers :(
<DiablotinNarrator> Most people seem indifferent to your hand-holding (at least to your face).
<Xandhil> (I'll take it!)
<Xandhil> (But I don't think he'd initiate it unless he saw other poeple doing it is what I meant by people watching)
<DiablotinNarrator> (ah, I see. there may be a few other examples, yes :)
<Xandhil> (okay :)
* Justen gets caught up in this whole 'haggling' thing ^-^
<DiablotinNarrator> You can wind up with a couple of reasonable outfits - Justen is going for basically very loose trousers, knowing that you'll be riding to the site.
<DiablotinNarrator> (maybe some stylish things like these: 
)
* Xandhil lets him take care of the haggling and just picks out nice comfy things
* Xandhil can get a turban to put his hair all up in maybe :V
* Xandhil probably would look even more small and elfin that way
<DiablotinNarrator> hee :3
<Xandhil> (show off his slighly pointy ears and such)
* Xandhil tries to find something he could let his wings out in if necessary and has no luck :p
<Justen> we can cut holes if you want...
<Xandhil> I guess :/
<Justen> or hey, get a tailor to do it. we don't have to explain why.
<Xandhil> true
<Xandhil> just the shirts anyway
* Justen nods
<Xandhil> I probably won't need them
* Xandhil admits reluctantly
<Justen> well, just in case
* Xandhil has plenty of aveyrone clothes he can't fly in
<Xandhil> but on the way out to the site it would be nice
* Justen nods
<Xandhil> we can worry about that tomorrow I guess
<DiablotinNarrator> You can also manage to get directions to the Sabbas Inn, which was where Sleyght said he would be staying.
<Xandhil> on to the inn?
<Justen> sure - it's been a long trip, it'll be nice to rest in a bed that doesn't move
<Xandhil> yeah
<Xandhil> ask if Sleyght is still here?
* Xandhil pokes him
<DiablotinNarrator> You make your way to the inn, which is built in a square around a central courtyard, which lets the air circulate well so that it's actually not too hot inside.
<DiablotinNarrator> It's late evening at this point, so the place is busy - there is music, and some dancers are performing
* Justen can manage to flag down the innkeeper though
* Mert is now known as Innkeeper
<Justen> Can we get a room for the night?
<Innkeeper> Certainly, yes, we can provide that!
<Innkeeper> You want dinner too? drinks?
* Justen glances to you
<Xandhil> No thanks, not right now
<Justen> A friend of ours was staying here - is M. Sleyght still here?
* Xandhil is still full from the market and a little overwhelmed with all the new
<Innkeeper> Ah, the scholar?
<Justen> That's him.
* Xandhil nods
<Innkeeper> He left four, five days past. But are you M. Orecalo?
* Justen gestures to you.
<Xandhil> I am, yes
<Innkeeper> He left a letter for you if you should arrive.
* Innkeeper goes to fetch it from behind the bar.
* Innkeeper hands it over to you, sealed.
<Innkeeper> So, you want a room - two beds?
<Justen> One bed is fine, as long as it's big enough for two.
* Justen says casually
<Innkeeper> Of course, very good, sirs.
* Innkeeper gives you the key and gets one of the maids to show you to the room, then.
* Xandhil takes the envelope and opens it, looking casual >.>
<DiablotinNarrator> The letter is lengthy, and might take a bit to read.
<DiablotinNarrator> Sleyght is basically recounting what he did during his time here, who he talked to, etc.
<DiablotinNarrator> he mentions two colleagues at the university here, Abelet Sotiris and Evfimia Gyrus.
* Xandhil glances through briefly then to see if anything of not stands out
* Xandhil tries to figure out how to pronouce those names @_@
<DiablotinNarrator> Evfimia he seems to have been able to persuade to come with him, but Abelet was in ill health and was not able to accompany the expedition.
<DiablotinNarrator> He also recounts his visit to the Duchess's court, which he seems to have found quite tedious and unecessary, although it did eventually result in her permission to excavate the site, provided that she would be informed of all findings there.
<DiablotinNarrator> He then details purchasing mules and food and other supplies, which is probably fairly dull except insofar as it lets you know what should be available at the site.
<DiablotinNarrator> And it appears that he did indeed depart, with mules and supplies and Evfimia and a few local workers in tow.
<DiablotinNarrator> er, did depart 5 days ago, I mean.
* Xandhil will read for details later
<Xandhil> do you want to go downstairs?
* Xandhil asks Justen?
<DiablotinNarrator> He concludes by hoping that you'll be able to join him, and suggesting that if you have the chance, you pay a visit to Professor Sotiris and see if you can get anything else out of him ;)
<Xandhil> I think I needs some quiet time
<Justen> well, it sounded fun :) but if you're feeling worn out, you don't have to.
* Justen nods
<Justen> just for an hour, maybe.
* Xandhil smiles
<Xandhil> go have fun
* Xandhil will give him a kiss
* Justen kisses back and will depart for the drinking and dancing part of the inn
<Justen> (good stopping place? or did you have anything further?)
<Xandhil> (No that's probably a good sgtopping point :)
