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[Lillipad]

"It's your call, bard. Should we borrow a room, or keep going?"

[Weirdsound]

Donitz pulls out a handful of coin. "Lets see if I can buy us a lantern or something."

[Skyrunner]

Zario rolled backwards to avoid the golem's crushing blow and started preparing a firebolt or two. He knew he should have looked back. At least the merchants were gone.

Zario cast a couple of fire bolts. A small glob of fire burning without fuel appeared. He flung the bolts at the golem. With a metallic ting sound, they scattered off the golem's surface. It seemed to have natural resistance against magic. Obvious in hindsight, Zario supposed. He slowly backed away. The golem did not make any effort to move or attack. A voice came from behind Zario.

"Flanked, criminal."

Zario dared to peer back: a woman about the age of 25 was behind him. Her hair was deep blue, bordering on black, and her likewise colored eyes were glaring at him. She was wearing a cloak, and held a sword, with some kind of alchemist's tool strapped to her shield-arm.

"Come silently, or be crushed."

She seemed to be a paladin: judging by the silverish sheen of her cloak that indicated it was made of water-mist silk, which is usually reserved for rich adventurers, paladins, or nobles.

It was strange, not even hearing her approach, her weapon draw, the swish her cloak would make, and not even seeing her.

What to do?

"It's your call, bard. Should we borrow a room, or keep going?"

Donitz pulls out a handful of coin. "Lets see if I can buy us a lantern or something."

Donitz crossed the distance to the camp and approached the headsman.

"Sir, could we get a lantern of sorts? We are-"
Before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a nasty sneer:
"Wha'd'you want?"
The man was about 30, had longish brown hair, and looked like he had found just the right opportunity to vent his daylong stress.

"Just a lanter-"
"Go away! Do I look like a merchant to you? Shoo!"

He raised his axe threateningly and waved away.

[Weirdsound]

Donitz sighs. "Guess I can't always get my way. Lets travel for another 30 minutes or so to get away from these assholes and set up camp."

[Lillipad]

"Hang on."
>Calmly "convince" the man to either sell a lantern, or rent a room.

[Skyrunner]

Griph laid a hand on his sword.

"Mister, it will be very within your interests to sell us a lantern. We'll pay up to thrice the gold."

The man looked more affected by the offer of gold than the implied threat.

"Three times? Erm... "

He cracked his neck a couple of times, and thought about what 800 gold would do for him.

"Fine, 1200 gold it is."

He handed a lantern from behind him to Griph. Griph identified it as a long-lasting heatless lantern, that uses a very small amount of oil to stay lit. He handed over 1200 gold. The now pleased man pocketed 800 and put 400 gold into the coffer.

[Lillipad]

"I care very little about money, so don't worry about paying back such a trifling amount. Though I'd rather not stay here anymore with such... 'wonderful' individuals as him."

[The Fool]

Zario knew he wasn't getting out of this one easily. He sheathed his swords and raised his hands with a smug grin. "I don't suppose you know where the Maize monster village is? The last people tried picking a fight with me for even asking for directions. If you don't believe me my horse has an arrow in it's backside." He turned his head to catch a glimpse at her knowing full well that there was a blade fixed on him. Zario dropped the smile. "I suppose you're going to kill me too then? I just want to get back to the Maize Plains without any more conflict. Is that too much to ask for?"

[Weirdsound]

"So do we move through the night, or set up camp a ways down the road? I could go either way."

[Lillipad]

"We'll camp down the road. We shouldn't try going forever on long trips like this."

[Weirdsound]

"Works for me."

[Skyrunner]

Griph and Donitz set up camp for the night and go to sleep . . .

At 7 o'clock, Dontiz rises and shakes awake Griph. They both have a quick breakfast and head on their way. After many hours, they encounter a group of dejected-looking people. They seem to be merchants without their merchandise.

"I suppose you're going to kill me too then? I just want to get back to the Maize Plains without any more conflict. Is that too much to ask for?"

"Kill you? Why, by Morrigan, would I kill you?"
"Then ..."
"Of course, you must be taken to the authorities in the nearest city. Therefore, we head to Dunbarten."
"Do they kill people for killing people?"
"Criminal, I am hoping very much for that- and rest assured, the usual verdict is an eye for an eye."

Zario was relieved of his weapons and got tied up by the paladin. He was placed on the golem's head and informed that if he fell off and cracked his head on the way there, he would be considered innocent and clear of all charges. The paladin herself rode on a horse she had hidden behind a hill. When Zario asked her to take care of his yet unnamed horse, she left for a moment to track it down. She was wiping her sword down on her return.

----
Dunbarten
----

Zario was facing a man that was wearing a set of white armor that just screamed 'paladin'. He was introducing his palm to his face. With a deep sigh, he started:

So... you were on a mission. You saw this boy - he gestured in the direction of Zario -and spontaneously decided to take him into custody, DESPITE the fact that perhaps the merchants attacked him first - I mean, you don't even know if they really are merchants -
But...he killed people! He slaughtered them like a farmer slaughters his cow -
Did you finish the mission that I sent you on?
No, but-
Do you remember one of the most important rules of a paladin?
Yes b-
Then you know that you are in the wrong. Know that even the word of a paladin does not suffice for evidence in a trial... especially when the crime in question was committed in a non-settled area. Still, a crime is a crime, and killing is not acceptable without definite reason. He addressed the next words to Zario.
I will give you the benefit of the doubt. One of the weaker punishments. You shall be deported to a place of your choosing for three months. Should you come back into Dunbarten again before three months have elapsed, you will be punished under the laws governing 'escape from prison'. Unless you want to confess...?
Zario shook his head no.
It is decided then. Where will you be exiled to?

Zario said...

[The Fool]

What an opportunity, free passage, and freedom. Zario weakly smiled, trying to hide his delight. "The Maize Plains. You can inform the villages of the Plains that they aren't to accept me if you wish. I did kill those merchants, even if it was in self-defense." He stood up, and asked the judge, "I assume that I'll get my family's swords back on arrival if I'm to wander the Plains?"

[Lillipad]

"Let's hurry on, then."

[Weirdsound]

Donitz looks over the merchants and offers a sympathetic sigh. "Bandits? or worse?"