Name: Todd Longfellow, Race: Human

Height: 5’6”, Weight: 130, Sex: Male

Archetype: Fighter

HP: 18 / 18, Mana: 0 / 0

Stats:

Physical: 4, Moxie: 2, Spiritual: 2, Luck: 2

Agility: 2, Magic: 2, Mental: 2, Energy: 3.

Relevant Skills: Discern Lie, Physical - Awareness

_________________

"We are not splitting the party," Mark said, glancing at Todd, Jax, Reggie, and Charisse.

"It is the only way we need to return stuff to the caravan, and we should make contact with these bandits," Todd said. He glanced to his left, Jax and Reggie were nodding in agreement. "It sucks, but if the bandits are hostile the cart will slow us down, if we ignore them, it could be an ally we could use against…" a pause to think of a nickname, "King Farcock."

"Ha, good one," Charisse said. She held a hand up for a second but quickly lowered it.

"Fine, Me and Charisse goto bandits, Todd, Jax, and Reggie to the caravan," Mark said.

Todd watched Mark nod and slowly rub his chin. Jax was slightly shaking his head.

"I was thinking Charisse, Mark, and Reggie to the caravan, me and Jax to bandits. We are better able to run, and if they do attack us, we have the HP and armor to soak." Todd said. "Plus, the whole paladin thing."

"Charisse is coming with us then," Jax said, giving a stern look toward the rogue.

Mark, Todd, and Reggie stopped and looked at Jax. Charisse shrugged and went back to scraping one of her daggers on a whetstone.

"She makes a good scout," Jax paused for a moment, "and will better ensure we don't get ambushed," Jax said.

Todd noted something odd in Jax's voice. As he opened to say something, Mark spoke first.

"Fine, let me give you my character sheet, Todd give me his, then Todd give all your coins to Jax except a single copper. I'll do the same with Reggie." Mark said as he pulled out his character sheet from his bag.

"Why?" Todd said but pulled out his character sheet anyway.

"A while ago, I was pondering how we could communicate over distances. Since our character sheets don't have a range limit to them, and as we've seen, work even if we die. We can use things like coins, and items in inventory to reflect status or messages." Mark pulled out his coin pouch, removed a single copper, then handed it to Reggie. As Jax took Mark's character sheet, Mark pointed at the sheet. "Watch."

Mark waited for Jax and Todd to look at his sheet, then handed the coin to Reggie after some prompting Mark got Reggie to hand him a couple of coins back.

"That is cool," Todd said.

"So we keep a single coin on us if we get captured or robbed. The coin goes missing. If the other person gives us the coin purse back, it means we are in a safe location for now." Mark pulled out a couple of stones from a pocket and held them at eye level. "I was thinking of making some stones with messages on it, the character sheet identifies when an item is in a container, but that's down the line."

Stolen novel; please report.

"Why didn't you say something?" Todd said. Pondering instant communication for coordinating attacks, opened up a lot of tactical options.

"Because it would encourage us to do the worst thing a group can do," Mark said with a sigh. He slumped as he put the rocks back in a bag.

"I get it, but splitting the…" Todd was interrupted by a hand covering his mouth. Charisse stood next to him, shaking her head.

"Don't even; we don't need to taunt the universe," Charisse said.

Todd nodded his head and uttered a muffled, "ok." As she removed her hand, Todd noted she smelled like pine and a sweet earthy smell.

"What are the cues?" Todd said.

"One silver coin, on Todd or Mark, everything is ok. No coins, then something happened, need help. Money returned, safe, and doing ok for the time being. Each morning reset to the one coin." Mark said. "Also, if you get split up and are running, ditch your single coin and get a fresh one when you reconned with Jax."

"Seems like a lot of trouble for a status indicator," Reggie said. He jingled Mark's coin purse.

"Until I can come up with a message spell or walkie talkies, it is the best we have for the moment." Mark looked around and met everyone's eyes briefly.

Todd nodded his head then looked to the cart. Four ten-foot poles from the trees they'd cut down lay on the ground. The ruined shield still sat nestled against another tree.

"Let's get a travois made for you guys," Todd said.

"We got it; I have an idea of how to get it moving," Mark said.

"Where you find another wheel?" Todd said, glancing around.

"You're looking at it," Mark puffed out his chest. "That's how I roll. Seriously we're going to try and balance everything on one wheel, and I'll hold up the side with the missing wheel. We're only going to take back what was stolen, the weapons and stuff from the bandits, I figured you'll take to them."

Todd nodded and walked over to the pile of scavenged items. Stuffing daggers, swords, and arrows everywhere he could stuff them. Picking up the hoe, he held it as a walking stick.

"Did I ever tell you about the garden I was trying to start in Nebraska when my family went there on vacation?" Mark said. "I bought several tools, but had to leave them there."

Todd groaned and started walking away before Mark could finish his joke. Jax and Charisse join him, each stuffed like a fantasy pinata. Charisse stepped into the lead, following a game trail away from the battle. After several minutes, Todd looked at Jax.

"If I write mute on Mark's sheet, you know if it would stop his bad jokes?" Todd said.

"Might be worth a try," Charisse said from behind a tree. Jax smiled as Todd laughed.

Charisse scouted ahead, popping back into view every half hour, sometimes to try and scare Jax or Todd. When the game trail was too faded, or split, she would be standing there, or leave a message via bent branches or carving in a tree.

Several hours passed before Todd spotted her leaning against a tree. A nervous, gagged young man sitting on the ground next to her. When Jax started running toward the prisoner, Charisse stepped away.

"He surprised me," Charisse held both hands up between her and Jax. "I only hurt his pride."

Todd looked at the young man tied up; he didn't look older than they were. The youth lacked shoes; mud coated his feet. Mentally chewing on Charisse's words, Todd thought it odd someone would surprise Charisse but not be competent enough to escape her.

"Well, not the introduction I was hoping for," Jax said as he touched the young man with an unarmored hand. Jax took off his helmet and untied the man's bindings and gag. "You are safe, and in no danger, please allow me to introduce myself."

"My sword, pa will kill me if I lose it," the young man looked at Jax, then glared at Charisse. "If I'm in no danger, then give me the sword."

A glance from Jax was all it took for Charisse to pull a sword from her backpack. The dull grey metal a stark difference to the shining steel weapons the group carried. Charisse carefully handed the sword, hilt first to the lad. He grabbed it quickly, stood up, and pointed the blade at Jax.

"Now, I'll be leaving, and if you follow me, I'll kill you." The youth said.

"I believe you and your people are who we are looking for," Jax said.

"King's guard is after us!" the young man turned and ran into the forest.

"That went as I expected," Charisse said, she pulled on a rope nearby. A line rose from the bushes around them, going taut, tripping the young man.

Todd ran over to the prone man and stepped on his sword.

"We are not with the king, nor do we wish to kill you or your people," Todd said. Taking his foot off the sword, he stepped back and offered a hand. "Please, a moment of your time."

After a long moment of no response from the lad, Todd knelt to get a better look, occasional trembles of the young man's body, and Todd faintly heard choked sobs.

Jax stepped up and, again with his bare hand, touched the lad.

"My name is Jax; I am a paladin of Sol, the god of light," Jax said.

Todd started feeling a wave of warmth, peace, and calm wash over him. Like the sun was shining down on him after heavy rain. A glance at the lad's face told Todd he wasn't the only one feeling it.

"My friends, Todd and the lady Charisse wish to return some items." Jax continued. "We do not wish any evil or harm to you or others, but in defending ourselves, we killed some people we believe you know. We wish to return their belongings and notify you where the bodies are now resting."

"I'd rather die than reveal…" a choked sob interrupted the young man.

"Fine, we'll find it ourselves, you can come along." Charisse stepped forward and offered a hand to the lad. After he didn't take it either, she started gathering her rope.

"We are not your enemy. Please take my hand and at least let me help you stand." Jax said.

Todd looked away so to save the young man some of his pride when he rose. Scanning the surrounding forest, a small shaft of sunlight caught on a shiny metal point several yards distant. Todd's gaze scanned the trees, a couple more arrows visibly pointing toward them. Acting as if he didn't see, Todd turned toward Charisse.

"I believe we have company," Todd softly said.

Charisse nodded in response and carefully raised her hands to her head while saying, "Jax, we have company."

The young man standing as tall as he could, sniffing back snot, clenched his jaw and pointed his sword at Jax.

Todd raised his hands as well, slowly turning around, meeting the eyes of any bandits he saw out in the woods. He counted five bandits, three women, two men. None of the trees or bushes nearby the hidden people moved. Todd wondered how long they'd been there watching. For the sake of the young man, hopefully not long enough to witness his humiliation.