Subject The others head in

Harp, Kal, Ragnar and Surin wait around for the hour to pass, trying to decide what type of cover story to use. Ragnar suggests that they pose as merchants who are searching for someone who owes them money. Harp gives a hearty laugh when he hears this. "Brother Ragnar, do any of us look like any merchant you have ever seen? However, your idea is not with out merit, lets just work on some of the details. Instead of merchants, how about an adventuring group who had a party member make off with the loot of some forgotten dungeon we found? That would explain our weapons and armor."

Kal nods. "I like this idea. It will also go a long ways to explaining why we are asking questions while in town. We are there to find someone." Surin also nods his approval "I think it has potential. Let's not get to specific as to who or what we are looking for. I expect this place will not ask a whole lot of questions." With their cover story decided on the four start out for the gate they are supposed to enter.

The march is uneventful. Ragnar feels the pull of memory. The years he spent as a slave with his mother come back to him as he sees the peasants laboring in the fields. The overseers whips crack as the sun fades and Ragnar is 13 again. It takes all of his control not to summon down the cleansing power of the battle lord. He knows that killing these few, small men will not change the lives of the downtrodden in the area. Only a change in how the whole area is run will do that. So he grits his teeth and continues walking.

The populace that the party passes does not seem all that much different then other places they have seen, but they do seem a bit more subdued. There is no singing in the fields and there are more overseers. Kal finally notices that there seem to be a larger percentage of children and women working the fields and in the logging camps. The overseers also seem to faster with the whip. Several times the party sees a peasant beaten to unconsciousness or maybe even to death.

An hour before dark the four reach the north gate. The town is much larger than they had expected and there is a platoon of at least 20 guards manning the gate.

OODM: Any specific instructions from Kevin, Josh, Jason or Ashley on how they want to handle entry?

Subject The others head in

Kal shows deference to Harp as best he can to the guards. Looks better if the half orc is ordering the elf around.