(http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6530/storypost.jpg)<br/><br/><strong>OOC:</strong>Marie d'Astineau will be joining us shortly as a new player, so this is her welcoming post. It might take some manipulation of time to get things to flow together smoothly, but we'll handle that when she gets closer to everyone else. The soldiers are approximately 300 feet southeast of Lady Marie and d'Angelo, breaking from the woods. Only three of them are on horses, and it is likely that the pair can outrun all but those three soldiers. When you get all of your stats finished up, go ahead and roll for initiative, and we'll start you out with a bit of action!<br/><br/><strong>Backstory:</strong>The noblewoman and her servant had been riding for days now. Marie had received news that her father had taken ill again, and she was headed to her family's oldest estate, in northern Dementlieu. It was here that her sick father resided. Shunning the luxury and image of a gilded carriage, Marie had instead chosen to ride north on horses, taking only her trusted servant d'Angelo for protection. They are currently on the common road, thirteen miles south of Avonleigh.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><strong>Thirteen Miles South of Avonleigh</strong>, [Marie d'Astineau & d'Angelo (a male servant)]<br/><br/>d'Angelo looked to his mistress with concern. Though he was of low birth, she had treated him well...much better than he probably deserved. Tucking the spyglass back into a case on his belt, he spoke. "They've seen us, Lady Marie. At least a half dozen men. They look to be soldiers, crossed over from Falkovnia. We can try to outrun them," he informed her, stroking the neck of his black gelding, "...but now that we've been spotted, I doubt that they'll let us carry our news away safely." He bowed his head, always loyal, as  he asked, "What shall we do, Lady Marie?"<br/><br/>(http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6530/storypost.jpg)