The conqueror

[nanachan]

They made their way out of the castle easily, exiting through the back gate which led to a forest path. "Thank you for rescuing me Han.." Marie said, following him happily. "But where will we go now? Do we escape this country and live in a faraway peaceful place? "

 

[XavierZeherisHarper]

Aedan was not sure where she got that idea. "We're going to find your friends. I didn't sneak into the castle, gather information, and break a prisoner out of jail to live in peace. I hope to take down Emperor Wodan, and needed all the information I could get." Aedan replied. "The more personal, the better. I have my issues with him, and by pretending loyalty, was able to learn about my enemy." As they continue heading for Drakewoods, Aedan shifted his hat. Using it's magic, he altered his hair from the brown he usually kept it to a deep red, and his eyes from brown to green. He also shifted his features slightly, to look like a mix of North and South. Aedan rarely let people see his true form nowadays, preferring to keep people guessing.

"I may have done things I'm not proud of," <More I don't care.> He thought to himself, "But it has allowed me to get vital intelligence. With what I know, I hope to take him down within a year." A generous estimate, but could be pulled off with luck. He was likely looking at two. But if things worked in his favor, he wouldn't complain. "So Marie, any towns on the way there? We'll likely need at least a horse..." Slight distaste entered his tone when he said horse. Aedan did not get along with them, and he usually stayed on only because of his agility.

Bluff 25, Disguise 34 (take 10, Hat of Disguise)

 

[nanachan]

Marie was quick to agree. She guided him to a forest path in a secluded region. Aedan would know that this region is patroled quite often, which makes it odd that the rebels would have a secret base here. Everything was answered however, when Marie made a loud whistle, mimicking a certain bird's call. "It's our signal" she explained with a smile to her 'savior'

A moment passed and a woman emerged from the greenery, seemingly blending with the forest. "Marie..you are alive" she said calmly. The woman was older than the blonde soldier, bustier, calmer, more mature in every way. She also had a figure made for sex and was dressed rather scantily. A druid, most likely. "Why did you bring a stranger here? We have made it clear that we do not bring anyone back to our base" the druid said, pointing her staff at Aedan.

 

[XavierZeherisHarper]

Druids. That made it easier to understand how the rebellion got around, even in the midst of patrolled regions. If it wasn't for the eminent threat of magic directed at him, Aedan might have wondered about why druids were helping now, when they didn't care too much about civilization, and the interactions between countries, unless it affected nature.

Weary of being torn about by plants, he slowly raised his hands to show that they were empty. "Take it easy. I'm not an enemy. I broke out of jail, and managed to bring her along. I've got a personal problem with the Emperor, and Marie said that I could find help getting rid of him." All true, just misleading. The only real white lie was breaking out of jail, since it wasn't _this_ jail he broke out of. It had been an different, Ralaster prison he'd broken into and out of.

Aedan kept an eye out for an animal of some kind, along with his ears trained for something. Surprises were not pleasant on the battlefield, he knew from both sides. And druids were almost always surprising. He'd met very few, and they had all been loners preferring nature to everything else. All he knew for sure was they used nature as their weapon, and viciously defended it.

Sense Motive 18, Spot 10, Listen 16, Diplomacy 28, Bluff 29 (30 and 31 if Sex Appeal applies).

 

[nanachan]

"He rescued me from prison!" Marie protested. "Please Morvana, trust me. He is on our side!". The busty druid did not seem to lower her guard one bit, but she made no move to attack. "You trust far too easily Marie" she said, circling around. Right now, Aedan do not see or hear any signs of an animal nearby. He does sense that this woman is a wise and cunning one, she won't be so easy to manipulate.

"I will let the captain decide whether we'll trust him or not" the woman called Morvana said with an air of finality. "Come, follow me closely, lest you become lost in this forest" she commanded, motioning for them to follow.

"See Master? I'm useful am i not?" Marie whispered when they were farther from Morvana

 

[XavierZeherisHarper]

"You are useful." Aedan replied in the same low whisper. It was good to have an in with the group, but it wouldn't be easy. This 'Morvana' was going to be a lot tougher to break, plus he'd likely have to seduce her. He was unsure whether Marie would be a detriment to that or not. Morvana did listen to her, but seemed to think that she trusted too easily. Probably truthful, but it would mean that as long as her loyalty was to him above all others, it shouldn't cause _too_ much trouble...

Following Morvana wasn't too much trouble, between the view of her backside, and the thoughts of how to seduce her. Whether he would need to seduce, or have the opportunity, was something in the air. Endangering his personal mission was a no, but his libido would prefer to claim as many women as possible. In the end, he'd have to go with the flow and see what happened. After answering Marie, he sped up, to keep Morvana in view. Getting lost would not be conducive to either.

 

[nanachan]

(i forgot to mention that Morvana actually rolled a 20 on sense motive, which is why she doesn't trust Aedan, but since there is no proof, she can't be sure)

Some of the trees seem to make way for the group, shifting aside, making paths where there were none. In the end of the path is an opening by a hidden lake. Here, there are many tents and many men and women who are clearly former Ralaster soldiers. They number just above 50. "I see new faces" Marie said, loud enough for Morvana to hear. The druidess looked over her shoulder and nodded. "Some are volunteers, some are remnants of the army that has just resurfaced. There are many small groups scattered about, but our main force is with the queen".

An elf approached from the camp and Marie knelt before her. "Captain Deleena, i am here with a man that saved my life" she said proudly. "I don't think we should trust him so easily Deleena" Morvana added. "He might be a spy, we shouldn't take him with us to our next destination." The elf eyed Aedan curiously, up and down. "Hmm..perhaps a test, what say you?" she asked

 

[XavierZeherisHarper]

"I'm willing to take any test you would give." 'Han' replied. Honestly as well. Proving his credentials would make things easier, and he had no personal issues with doing anything it took to complete his goals. "What did you have in mind?" Aedan asked. It would be helpful to know what he was supposed to do, after all. He looked the Captain before him with a discerning eye, trying to judge her abilities... and how he might get her into a bed.

(Sense Motive 29)

 

[nanachan]

The captain seems to be a woman of great swordsmanship and martial pride. She didn't even seem to be physically attracted to Han like most woman would be. Perhaps this is because she is a pureblooded elf, one who has most likely lived for hundreds of years. Motioning for him to follow, she took him to a tent with a map of the area. "This outpost here by the river, one of our scouting party is kept there. There are five guards, all armed, do you think you can do it?"

 

[XavierZeherisHarper]

"Sure. Do you want corpses or not?" 'Han' asked. It would be easier to kill the guards one by one, and then escort the prisoner out, than to try sneaking both the prisoner and himself out. But the test requirements were in the captain's hands, so it was best to be clear.

Aedan was confident in his ability to handle any number of men in a single conflict, so long as he could judge them before hand. He was also fairly sure that the guards would not be as skilled as he was. Unless any of them were from the Imperial Battalion, he doubted that they would be too much of a problem.

"Also, will it be a solo mission, or will someone be tagging along?" He'd prefer a solo mission, where it was judged on results. But the captain might want someone to verify his actions. And it would probably be the druid, if there was a tag along. It would possibly reveal a trick or two of his, but it would have to be weathered. There were several tricks up his sleeves, and he shouldn't need to use them all.

 

[nanachan]

"I will bear witness" Morvana said stepping up. "Also, you will need my guidance to pass through these woods"

Marie wanted to step up as well but Deleena stopped her. "No Marie, you are to stay here. I have many questions for you". The soldier seemed heartbroken, jealous even, she wanted to Join 'Han' so badly, but eventually she obeyed her captain. "Come then" The busty druid motioned for the man to follow her. "Show me if you truly are a predator."

As they passed through the woods, the forest itself seem to make way for both of them, until they can see the outpost in the distance. "I will be watching from here" The druid said, leaning against a tree.