The trip out is easy enough at first.  The draft horses pulling the wagon means you make good time and the clearly established road makes for easy going.  Days of good weather and luck allow you to move a bit faster than you might otherwise and by the time you settle in for your sixth night, the boredom of the trip might be settling in.  Major roads are normally protected but with so little traffic going either way, you'd think anyone who would prey on travelers would have picked on your by now.  Even at night, when travelers might gather near each other for protection, you find that those who do come by your fires seem to be evaluating you rather than trying to split food or drink.  They never stay for long but there's something off about the whole trip.  Its too quiet.<br/><br/><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/a/a0/NLDoranderHorsemen.png)</div>That night, however, as your setting up camp for the night, you see three riders approach, heavily armored and well-equipped: spears, swords, crossbows and a shield.  At first they stay at a distance, watching and talking among themselves, but finally the approach, weapons stowed but a wary eye shared among them.  "You're traveling a bit light to be merchants and you've the look of people who can take care of themselves," the one you assume is the leader, given he has a helmet while the others don't, "Are you the recruits that Tarsic sent for?"  It dawns on you, Kai first but the glances you share pass the information silently; you could probably get into Tarsic's camp by playing along, although the risk of detection would be there.  But if you wanted to get an idea of what is going on, this might be the best way to get to the heart of the matter.  Getting out, though, could be some difficulty.<br/><br/>"Are we that hard up that we're taking in goblins?" another mentions, his eyes on Gaz, "Although that one," he adds, pointing to Alleria, "Tarsic is gonna be happen one of his kin is arriving.  Not too many better looking either.  Always wondered how much was scale and how much was soft flesh..." the man adds rather rudely, but perhaps not so much for a soldier.  His leader laughs at the crude joke, eyeing you all again before he turns the horse to the side as it stamps at the ground.<br/><br/>"I'm going to laugh when that goblin makes you her bitch.  It'll be glorious I bet," he quips back, the other guard and he getting a laugh at their expense.  But the joking falls away as they wait your response.  They don't seem to be in a hurry to go anywhere, especially when there's likely no other groups around, nor any near as fair.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Summary: At 2017-05-15 08:41:12, NightLux (uid: 57719) rolls: 1d20k1a3 Result: 19 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=103179)<br/><br/>Full Result: NightLux rolled: 1d20, keeping 1 dice, adding 3 to the total<br/>Comment: <del>Sora Persuasion</del> Kai Insight Roll<br/>Result: 16, <br/>Total: 19<br/><br/>If Kai didn't make the roll the rest of you would then have rolled.  Instead I'm going to let it dawn on all.[/summary]</div></div>