[Child of the 7th Age]

Eruantalon's post

Kirima and Rudgar made their way quietly out of camp until they came to the spot where the bandits waited, being careful to slip in undetected. Rudgar pulled his friends aside and then spoke to the men who had come out to greet them. “Listen, since most of you know me and want to help, we will need more recruits. There are not enough to get this job done as is. I know the lot of you can spread the word and get people here soon. We are in great haste to gather people together. Get every person that can or will help. We will meet here tomorrow at noon. I hope you will all help us.”

With that he looked at Kirima and told her they should start getting back to camp. They moved through the thicket past the guard and made their way back to camp. He hoped that there would be some talent by tomorrow gathered at the meeting place. Then he stopped to speak with his fellow bandit, sharing something with her that had been heavy on his heart.

“Kirima thank you for coming along. I think we will need at least one more companion tomorrow. I think Soren wouldn’t mind helping? I will need more people to explain, and guide the company back tomorrow and three will do I think.”

“Kirima, I think I doubted just how grave your people’s pain is on the Weather Top. It must be hard to know that your family is suffering. My own father and mother suffered much before the fires took there lives. I know what it's like to worry about some one you care about. I enjoy being a thief you know. It’s full of adventure and mischief.

Being a soldier is not any interest of mine. I can thump a man quicker than a blink with this dull sword. Some times we need to change. Maybe I should think about sharpening it for the battle. My father used this sword in battle before a long time ago.”

“I’ve made up my mind Kirima I am helping the people at the Weather Top by stealing food for them. If I have any say, they will survive. You must have been very desperate to steal that smoked chicken from me. I was mad at you. Now I understand you didn’t steal it to eat. You sent it to the people who were so hungry. I keep thinking about the children there. I know what it's like to be small, hungry and cold.”

“Taking Bree won’t be easy but at least they will have a home right? I mean this is only the beginning of a lot of things to come. I am not heartless you know. I have been through what you’re going through before. We just weren’t lucky enough to be in such good order as you all. You seem to have people that guide and put things together. We didn’t have that when we where just farmers. Now I steal from them to feed dying people on Weather Top.”

“If things go as I plan I will be raiding farmers, while the company starts building itself from word of mouth. Then your people will have food and a company of bandits. In do time all will be right again. Just be sure to be leary of some people now and again.”

Kirima nodded her head in acknowledgement and the two sealed their pact of friendship to try and help the peoples of the Weather Hills.

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Arestevana's post

The second day dawned bright and clear. This time Rudgar took a different route. Kirima followed Rudgar quietly, making little noise as they wound their way among the trees. He said he knew quite a few bandits in the area, and had hopes that they could round up a good-sized group of recruits. Not bandits, she corrected him, grinning– soldiers. Rudgar began talking, telling her about a small cove where bandits stayed at times. He seemed distracted, and grew silent as they walked, seeming deep in thought.

“Rudgar!” Kirima hissed. They had reached a place where the land began to slope downward, and she had caught a glimpse of movement ahead. They seemed to be nearing the place Rudgar had led them to yesterday, and a sentry had seen them. Rudgar glanced back at her and grinned. “I see him. And he knows who I am, if he hasn’t forgotten.” He began to increase his pace, and jumped lightly down the slope.

Kirima followed Rudgar into the cove. There were a goodly number of men lying about, or leaning against trees. A camp fire burned steadily nearby, and a small iron kettle hung over it, steaming. A man approached them. He had long, slightly ragged hair and worn clothes. Kirima recognized him as the sentry she had seen earlier. Rudgar greeted the man cheerfully and they talked for a few minutes. Kirima assumed they knew each other well. She scanned the other faces that she could see. None of them looked particularly friendly.

Beside her Rudgar and the other drew close in their conversation. Rudgar turned to Kirima. “My friend Gareth here says he’ll help us along with the other men.” He said. “Go talk to some of the others. Tell them what we want and what they’ll get out of it—the spoil of Bree. Don’t worry, they’ll be ready enough to help. They’re good folk, leastways better than some, and most of ‘em know me.”

Kirima nodded nervously and turned to the nearest stranger. “Er, hello, sir,” she began, knowing she sounded foolish. The man smirked, watching her silently. She shook her head and tried again. “I am a member of a scouting party from the refugees at Weather Top. We are set to capture the town of Bree.” Here the man raised his eyebrows skeptically, but he was paying closer attention now. Kirima continued. “We wish to recruit whoever we can. Whoever helps will be welcome to share in the spoils, for the refugees want only homes and food to survive the winter.” She stopped, realizing how long she had spoken, and feeling doubly foolish.

The man laughed. “Sure, I’ll help you and your little scouting party miss. Besides, I owe Rudgar.” He turned, still laughing, to a pair of bandits standing near by. “Hey you two, Rudgar’s got himself a few friends—seems they’re going to take Bree-town. What do you say we give our pal a hand?” The others laughed and agreed as well, before returning to their talk.

Kirma walked over to Rudgar, who had just finished talking to another bandit. “All I’ve talked to agreed to help. How goes it with you?” Kirima smiled wryly. “I’ve managed to make an idiot of myself, but those three say they’ll help.” She gestured at the three bandits. Rudgar said, “I’ll have someone stay here to tell anyone else who comes by in the next while, and we’ll take the others to see Lotar, or Guthwine, about plans.” He called to the bandits they had recruited, more than twenty altogether, and started back toward their camp.

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Beren87's post

He had walked nearly half a league already, into the wood surrounding Bree, and yet Minastan was no better off for it, as there was still not yet a hint of bandits. Yet there was no thought of turning back weighing on his mind, Minastan knew that he had to succeed.

Suddenly the sound of voices carried themselves from the South, only twenty paces off from where Minastan stood listening. A delicate crack echoed through the trees, followed by a sharp curse. "If they're trying to keep quiet, they're doing a poor job of it," he thought to himself. With the grace of a woodsman he stood silently, near invisible among the foliage of the wood. Whispering speech was soon evident as they moved steadily closer.

Finally they broke through a dense patch and into his field of vision. They were moving slowly, looking around them for any hint of movement. With a quick sprint, Minastan was in front of them, a metallic unsheathing ringing throughout the quiet of the forest.

"More Bree-folk!" Minastan barked as he swung his blade at the man, with no intention of hitting. "Bloody, stuck-up, mob!"

"Fool! We're no people of Bree!" shouted the woman as she jumped back. Exactly the answer he was looking for.

"Then what are you? Supporters from some far-city, I suppose, or mercenaries sent to find me! That uppity mayor still thinks he can be rid of Minastan! He'll get what's coming to him, they all will." His eyes shined with mock-fury as he put forth the charade.

"We're not!" she repeated, "We've the same intentions you do!"

"Kirima!" The man barked, "Don't be shouting off to some highwayman; he could be a spy for all we know." His eyes flashed toward Minastan, doubt playing across his face.

"A spy! For what? What've them imbeciles in the town got to spy on, 'sides me?" Minastan spat the words as he said them. "I was run out of that town months ago."

"Run out? For what?" the woman, Kirima, asked him.

"Thievin', one of them no-good rangers caught me at it. But they won't keep me out, that's for sure." He sheated his sword in mock-regret, playing the words as much as he could. "So then, if you're no folk of Bree, what are you out here in the forest for, there's bandits about."

The man sheathed his sword as Minastan did, and then held out his hand to shake. "We're a scouting party, looking for recruits. The refugees at Weathertop need food, and a home, we've been looking to recruit ruffians to help us with that. You may be able to help us."

"Help ya? Hum..I suppose a gang has a better chance than just me, all told." He grasped the other man's hand in his, a smile playing across his lips. "We may be able to help each other out, here. You're grouped up near Bree, then?"

Kirima smiled at him, "Yep, you can follow us on up there." She pointed her hand in the direction as she spoke, then nodded towards the man, "This is Rudgar, we two were sent out to meet a group of bandits."

Minastan nodded to them both, then pulled his cloak around him. They were soon creeping through the forest, the three of them watching around for movement.

[ November 12, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]