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[evilcherry]

Given our map budget (of nothing) and the technology of the time, I like to imagine your map is 50% better then what Rory actually has.

Most maps were drawn by the learned men, and they would be more or less like a Roman Itinerary which shows landmarks, travel distances, name of towns, and some descriptions, but the directions are probably inexact.

Most maps in the setting will be like these.

We have a weapon and armor we are comfortable with right?

Also provisions for the road, a month or three.

Otherwise looks good to go.

Usually governors will not mess themselves with the tools of a mere warrior, but... invoking GM power...
Lets say 8.8 gold for a shirt of mails, a well-made short spear (you are a spearmen after all), and 3 months of supplies for 50 men. Is it Done deal?

God I hate being illiterate. Nicely done, though.
As to the ten men, evilcherry seems to have specifically worried us. I'm not sure what to take from that but I can't help feeling that as long as we stick to the road and don't trust any "shortcuts" they tell us about, we're at any rate safer knowing where they are than having them follow us. Definitely keep an eye on them though...

If you can crack my code, tell me how its done.

The men are perhaps too willing to move along some route which is not often traveled, and you do suspect something fishy.

[StrawBarrel]

Lets say 8.8 gold for a shirt of mails, a well-made short spear (you are a spearmen after all), and 3 months of supplies for 50 men. Is it Done deal?

Sounds good to me.

The men are perhaps too willing to move along some route which is not often traveled, and you do suspect something fishy.

Travel with them until they want to take an alternative route, then of course continue on our separate ways.

[evilcherry]

What a hiatus... at least this is back.

It turned out that the 3 months of supplies you get are 50 sacks of rice, packed neatly on 5 carts, and covered with some cloth. Rice certainly gets quite expensive here.

Noting that they are too well prepared and armed to pose as normal travellers to a place that far out, you refused the help from those men. But they insisted on following you, and there is basically one route to there without an unwieldy detour. You have no choice but to allow them to follow you, stalk you, or whatever.

In hindsight, getting 30 armed guards is a very nice idea...
(TBC)

[evilcherry]

And now for the next part!

The journey to Black woods took 20 days, much longer than expected. Some delay is to be attributed to general difficulty in moving carts on poorly maintained roads, but most of the delay was due to the 10 uninvited guests.

Everytime when there is excessive rustle, or the sound of a branch breaking beneth one's feet, everyone will draw their weapons. Sometimes the 10 armed men will converge on you first; sometimes your 30 armed guards will form their protective circle before the other 10 men can act. No blood was drawn for the first 19 days, as both sides probably realizes that there is little to gain from actually attacking first.

Then on the last day, as Black woods is only less than a away, one of the 10 armed men actually grew impatient, and launched an attack against you. This degenerated into a skirmish, before the armed men realized that they have no chance of winning against 30. They escaped towards the direction of black woods, but not before wounding 3 men seriously, and 4 men lightly.

You spend the rest of the day rearranging goods: some of the rice has to be hauled on backs, as the carts are needed for the seriously wounded - they are not looking good from the loss of blood. A collective effort stopped the worst of the bleedings, but from their pale faces, you now actually fear that you have your first casualties if they don't have medical help soon.

So what will you do from here, governor?

[StrawBarrel]

Too bad we messed up on the 10 armed men deal, but at least no one died yet.

Give a rousing speech to our men. Praise the men for their composure and skill while routing those ten vile thugs. Tell them we have seen a many men survive hardship and battle and that this is no different. Say to the men that we will continue forward step by step as brother and brother.
After the speech, look at our map to see if there is a village or some place nearby that could possibly possess a healer. Consider how possible such a detour would be. If there aren't any, continue on to the Black woods.

[VoidSlayer]

Go to the larger village we have on the map, they would more likely have someone who might be able to proved meicine, and if not more likely to have spare beds we can let the wounded rest in.

We are less then a day away from blackwoods, might as well rest there.

[evilcherry]

"...We will continue, Step by Step, as Brother and Brother!"
"..."
You certainly wanted to cheer them up. However, There is also so much that a mortal can bear. Wounds, pain, lack of medicine, and the monotonous diet of rice every day saps one's strength. They must be already trying their best to keep up, you thought. You aren't a poet nor an orator; perhaps its wiser to keep your head down, rather than trying bombastic but ultimately empty speeches.

Within a few hours, approximately two hours before sunset [1], you have reached some mountainside, with the road leading down to a river crossing. The map promises of a town just on the other side of the river, but that's nowhere to be seen. What you see is just a series of shacks and tents, all looking hurriedly or carelessly propped up, among the ruins of building that suggests of better times.

To add more to the injury, a mass of people has gathered on the other side of the river. Its hard to tell at this range, but it looks like there are around 50 men over there. You believe that a few pitchforks or poles is among them. What will you do?

[1]You don't have way to measure time accurately, but you can deduce it from the height of the sun.

[evilcherry]

As we speak, the mob is still waiting on the other side of the river.

[StrawBarrel]

Advance towards the mob and hail them.

[hops]

Advance towards the mob and hail them.

+1

Tell your men to be ready for trouble.

[evilcherry]

Advance towards the mob and hail them.

+1

Tell your men to be ready for trouble.

You decided that you should have safety in numbers, and lead your men down the valley, at around 30 steps behind the actual riverfront. You put everyone still fit for a fight into three ranks, just like every infantryman will be told to do, to protect the injured and infirm behind. You then ride your horse (not without difficulty), lead your men in front at some distance, and yelled out to the mob across the river.

"Hail Citizen! This is the governor of Black Woods speaking."

From the mob, someone stepped forward. He looks like to be in his mid 40s, but as he's rearing literally rags he looks a bit older than he should. He has a lean physique, and his air is not combed nor trimmed, contrary to what courtesy demands.

"Governor? We don't have a governor! The last governor left three years ago. Who are you, Imposter?"

"I told you! I am the Governor of Black Woods."

"But we don't have a governor!" The mob jeered. "Just yesterday, we got ravaged by bandits, and now they are bringing an army here!"

What will you do from here?

[hops]

Explain to them that we had been appointed as governor. Make mentions that we awee a commoner, just like them. Ask them who their leader is.

[Beneviento]

Explain to them that we had been appointed as governor. Make mentions that we awee a commoner, just like them. Ask them who their leader is.

If I've learned anything from Sharpe, it's that officers are not supposed to have risen from the ranks, so I don't think we should open with saying we're a commoner. We should for sure find their leader. Maybe "You've led these people in the past few years? I have thirty armed men at my back, and you have fifty unarmed but brave men with you. Let us together crush these bandits, and then we can talk about who is Governor. If I am, my job is to protect you, and by God I shall."

[StrawBarrel]

I approve of saying everything above. As for the commoner thing, I frankly don't think it matters too much whether we announce social class or not. It might even be evident that we're not an aristocrat as I imagine we speak in a colloquial way. We just have to make sure they understand that we are not a bandit, runaway governor, or all around badman.

[evilcherry]

"Citizen. What is your name?" You yelled at the leader of the group.

"I was once called 'The Master of the west Mansion', because I have been residing there for a few years, writing books commissioned by the minister of waterways, before I got into this kind of ordeal and exiled[see spoiler] here. Now it doesn't really matter, but you can call me Manjiro of the Pinestore clan. Can you write your name?"

You are stunned. You couldn't really read your name, but rather recognize it from text. Writing it is beyond your capabilities.

"Well, that's not the point, I suppose. My name is Rory Down. If you want the bandits killed, we can perhaps join forces and hunt them down."

"That's shows you still have a lot to learn if you are to succeed!" Yelled Manjiro Pinestore, in a dismissive tone. "Do you know where they are? Do you know how many of them are there? Do you have any kind of idea on how we managed to hold on for so long? Your impetuousness is really clear."

You were once again stunned. He is right: you are suggesting him to catch the shadow. 80 men is really just a pile of loose stones in such wilderness.

"Do you still have anything to ask us for?" continued Manjiro Pinestore. "If there is no more business I guess you better leave us to live in peace."

Spoiler: Exile (click to show/hide)

Many people were subjected to internal or exile for many reasons. The stories talked about a loyal officer exiled for acting rudely, or criticized his superiors too much. In reality, while these stories do happen, most officers were exiled due to poor performance, bribery, or failing to bribe. Commoners are also exiled for petty crimes that do not warrant execution, but harmful enough so he must be removed from the society to prevent him from being a criminal again.