(029) Return to Ket

[waysoftheearth]

rleduc wrote:
Guntrum is eager to make himself useful. At last.

[waysoftheearth]

tonneau wrote:
"But look!" says Gustave defensively, holding up the sack to display two ragged, too-far-apart holes, "...eye-holes". He is somewhat mystified at this undeserved aggression.

[waysoftheearth]

rleduc wrote:
"Someone's been nipping at the cooking sherry," Guntrum thinks to himself.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
For a small mercy, the potato sack is unusually large; big enough to conceal an entire Hobbit boy. Desmond/Mondes is, however, a burly full grown Halfling, and the sack is too narrow for his well muscled shoulders.

But with a dagger, the side seams of the sack are split, and the itchy burlap pulled down over the dual noggins of Desmond/Mondes. The so called "eye holes" are indeed misplaced, such that either Desmond or Mondes can see out one hole at a time, but not both at one time.

Mondes complains so bitterly that Gustave begins to wonder whether his efforts are duly appreciated.

Meanwhile Victor can scarcely control a rare laugh; a sound like a dog choking on a bone. "He looks like a sack with legs!" guffaws the gnarled fighting-Man, slapping his thigh.

In truth, it is a crude disguise.

[waysoftheearth]

ehiker133 wrote:
"Oi," Desmond asks, trying to peek through an eye hole, "Was it really too much to ask for you to get a bloody cloak?"

"Sod this..." he tears the burlap sack off.

"Mondes, you good with going into town like this, then?"

[waysoftheearth]

tonneau wrote:
"Firstly", says Gustave, becoming somewhat piqued at this lack of appreciation for his artwork, "it may be news to you, but cloaks are rarely issued with a two-headed option. And secondly", he adds, counting off on his elegant fingers, "if you want things done in a rush, don't expect perfection."

He gives the hobbit what might be a steely-eyed glare, but given the disheveled state of the issuer looks more comical than threatening.

"Now", he continues, "if you are quite done...rooms and sandwiches await", he finishes, picking up one of the sacks.

"...and so does my pint" he adds under his breath as he strides off back to the gate.

[waysoftheearth]

rleduc wrote:
"Maybe if we keep Desmond and Mondes towards the middle of the group and pay the toll at the gate by the head, the guards won't notice. It is getting dark, and the watch should change when the gates close; the guards will be looking for the end of their shift and dinner. If anything, we may have a harder time with the treasure than with our erstwhile halflings."

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:
"Good idea!" Olaf says with a nod, "Let's give as little notice to the guards as we can as we go through the gates, and go directly to the inn where the others await us."

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Very good.

Every member of the company is employed to shoulder a fat, heavy sack full to bursting with either copper or silver coins. It is an impressive train, to be sure, and a small fortune in transit. And so does the final march into Ket commence...

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Ket's Gate

Soon enough the company reach the town gate. Dusk looms due and the group of four grubby militia Men present are beginning to free the wide open gates from their chain bonds so that they might, shortly, be closed for the evening.

The approaching company of burdened, mixed soldiery gives the militia Men pause, and raises their interest...

Gustave is leading the way (keen to return to his pint), and the Man he spoke to not an hour ago recognises him.

"You agin, is it?" says the guard, with a wrinked nose, "Wat's all this 'ere then?"

"Aye, an' wot's in all these sacks 'ere?" says his sour looking companion, and spits a gob of the beef jerky he is chewing.

The two other Men look on. There are no other folk passing through the gates. Fortunately, Desmond/Mondes has not attracted their notice yet...