Town Centre

Ram Jam returns with some new men just in time to hear about recent events. The newcomers are introduced to the settlers and they offer to help out.

"Tribal peoples? Where did you see them?" Ram Jam gets information from the 2 patrolling soldiers who encountered them, where they were last seen. "I'm going to set out to locate them.

"John, John, Rob, John, the man goes Violet, and buys two." followed by a mad giggle would come from this elderly man. His walk would be a combination of an injured limp, the knuckling of a gorilla, the hopping of a kangaroo, and cautious movement of an elderly person. He would be smoking something with a greenish flame, and then sit down and squat outside the perimeter of the place, eating sunflower seeds.

Wolfgang von Straut, better known by his contemporaries as 'the Mace', approached the fledgling settlement of tents mounted on a great black horse. This was a curious sight, as he was once counted as a Knight of the Brothers of the Sword, who were known for riding white steeds - not black ones. He had a thick black traveling cloak hung over his person, with a sort of black chain hanging loosely around his neck.

During the Eastern Crusades, Wolfgang was an infamous Knight-Brother, who earned the nickname 'the Mace' by savagely executing his prisoners of war with his signature mace. He had bashed many heads in with the blunt tool, and it now hang from his saddle: a reminder of his past. But alas, he was gravely wounded in his leg and force to serve his Brothers as a priest rather than a Knight. But his actions were not very priestly, as a cripple can yet ride a horse and he still cracked the skulls of pagans in the campaign.

After the secularization of the order, Wolfgang spent his years as an executioner and priest in the Duchy of Audria, but he recently received a raven from his former comrade: Brother Volquin, asking him to establish a presence in Aozora, a 'new' kingdom.

Six former Knight-Brothers followed Wolfgang mounted on white horses, leading a convoy of artisans, their families, and mercenaries. The Knights had retained the heavy mail and plate armor from their years in the Brotherhood, and was armed with swords, heater shields, and crossbows; they could be an intimidating sight. The mercenaries were armed with almond-shape shields, spears, swords, and padded armor; a few carried crossbows instead of spears and shields.

The artisans brought along supplies for tents, and the tools of their trade: hammers, saws, nails, ploughs, and much more. This was all loaded into wagon carts being pulled by oxen: which would serve the Aozoran farmers well.

Wolfgang stopped his convoy by raising his left hand and pulling the reins of his horse back.  "Find a suitable location in the Aozoran interior," he commanded, "The Knights and myself will stay in the largest tent, while the artisans will set up around us and live their own tents on one side.  The mercenaries will set up their long tents on the other side."  He lowered his hand and everyone got to work setting up the tents, while some of the Knights focused entirely on getting a hitching post up for their horses.

"Now," Wolfgang said to himself, "I ever do wonder who I should speak to."  He would tour the assembly of tents and attempt to track down an Aozoran leader, or someone who was calling the shots.

Wolfgang finally settles his sights on Ram Jam , who is surrounded by soldiers, and guides his black horse over to him. His black mace hangs out in the open for all to see. When approaches Ram Jam he waits for a quiet moment to speak up. "You expecting trouble, child?" the priest asks him, resting on his black warhorse. His eyes glare at Ram Jam with an unnerving focus. The old man is stern, cold, and there is a hate hidden in his eyes.

Helping keep the locals safe was an excellent way of improving the relationship between the natives and the Brotherhood, and so it was imperative that Wolfgang pursue this opportunity.  Besides, his Knights were restless.

Father Wolfgang nodded as he listened to Ram Jam. Tribals... Wolfgang had had enough of tribal-folk during his crusading years in Eastwick, against the Wickans. "I am Brother Wolfgang von Straut," he began, I was a Knight-Brother under Hochmeister Konrad IV and served him in the lands of Eastwick. The Brothers of the Sword has since been disbanded, but an old contact, Brother Volquin, had asked me to assist you. He's planning something, Volquin is, and so I must do my part and keep true to the oath I swore long ago."

Indeed, Brother Volquin was busy slaying undead in the Solisian frontier, but it seemed he was recontacting his old Brothers in an attempt to reorganize the crusading order into a new guild. The previous members of the order were more than happy to rejoin the Brotherhood.

"I'd help you myself, if I could." Wolfgang reached over and patted his left leg. "But the pagans in the north maimed my leg and I am afraid I cannot assist you in times of combat. However," Wolfgang grinned, "I know someone who can help. He will be here shortly. Good day to you, Lieutenant Ram Jam." The Priest grinned as he closed his eyes and calmly bowed his head. He turned his horse around and led it back towards the Brotherhood's encampment.

Wolfgang arrived back at their camp and approached Hansel von Dietzhoff.  He never got off of his horse and asked, "Brother Hans, would you like to assist me? Lieutenant Ram Jam will be heading into the woods soon, looking for tribals.  It'd be great if you could come with us."

"I do not think Ram Jam wants to fight them," he started to reply, "but I want you to come along because they are tribals. I would not be surprised if we are ambushed." Wolfgang started to lead Hansel von Dietzhoff back over to Ram Jam. "I do not have any further information on them, Brother, but perhaps Ram Jam can tell us more."

"Ah, I believe I may have heard of you in my travels, I definitely know your order of knights. Well met Mister Straut." Ram Jam listens as the priest explains his reason for being here, "Well, that sounds just perfect. I'll meet you later then at the edge of the settlement."

***
-Later-
Ram Jam meets with Wolfgang and Hans as they had agreed, the Solarian man salutes the two. "Good evening, I assume this is the man you spoke of? Ram Jam, thanks for coming."

He waited briefly to allow Hans to introduce himself, then continue. "If you're ready to go, let's walk and talk."

While walking down the forest road, Ram Jam would explain what happened. "Two of my men were patrolling this road, near the border, and they were suddenly met with a large group of about a dozen people equipped with spears and slings. They didn't get to see them long before they became stupified by poisoned darts, but they say that these people had ears and tails like that of cats. While they were unaware of everything in their trance state, the tribals had stolen everything of value off them: Armor, weapons, shiny trinkets.

"Since they stole from them without actually doing harm, I believe they mean no harm and are just nomads, they need to be made aware of our territorial boundaries. I didn't want to come out here with full squadron of soldiers, that would send the wrong message. My homeland had a lot of trouble with rampaging Orc tribes, I hope I can prevent my new home from having a similar problem."

"Yeah, sounds good, Hansel. I don't expect we'll have to much trouble, and if we do you look like a strong fighter, we could fight our way out if it comes to it." Ram Jam lead the way to the border to begin the investigation.

<exit to Contested Northern Border>

Father Wolfgang would see his comrade off before leading his horse and Hans's mount back to the camp where he would manage the remaining members of his convoy.