Boss_Dude

The Pen and the Sword -- Modern NRP (High Casual, Low Advanced)

I'll play the U.S. What should I play it as, an extremely liberal president that's moving things onto the socialism bus, or play as a 'murican, and get the constitution practically worshipped?

Also, can I say that late 2014-2015 there's been a move to become more self-dependent? So we are going for more oil, rare earth metals, stuff like that, on our own soil.

The Bandit King

This is a lot of fun!

WHAT'S YOUR NAME GUYVOLK TELL ME.

The Bandit King

Ah, the man himself, Tarvos thought, looking Kurokuma up and down. Deep voice, trying to scare him, or at the least intimidate him. He was most definitely succeeding. Doesn't help that any one of them could easily kill me. He felt like he was back before his father, who questioned him mercilessly about exactly who had torn up the carpet. At least, before he learnt to lie.

Tarvos began, "Well, Kurokuma, your ideas are most definitely worth following, I'll give you that. Now, I've heard the ideas before. Small rebellions, crushed quickly. But you...you are different. Not only do you have an impressive amount of men following you, these men do seem to believe in you. At least, I've heard stories."

Staring at Kurokuma, Tarvos felt a small bit of sweat trickle down the back of his neck. Kurokuma was staring rather intensely at him. Well, I chose to spice up my life again, here's the entrance fee...

"Anyway, I would like to offer you some advice. It's your choice, of course, whether you'd like to follow it or not, but I feel that it may be wise. Those same stories I was talking about sometimes display you as ruthless, and the people you choose to raid only add to that image."

Tarvos took off his rucksack and pulled out a map, with some notes quickly scribbled on it. "This map shows the route of a small prisoner caravan. The nobles sure love showing off what 'criminals' they catch. These same criminals were some richer fellows I used to know, owned a small bit of land. The higher-ups didn't like the fact that the commoners liked, nay, adored these fellows, so they were sentenced to death for their treason."

Tarvos handed the map over. "Now, these fellows would appreciate their release. They'd thank you, and probably help you with whatever you wish, assuming their land hasn't been razed yet."

Tarvos looked at the group of men in front of him, Kurokuma, the familiar knight, the brutish looking man. "Er, if you wish, I can stay here. So you know I'm not tricking you. I just want to help."

Tarvos moved to the side, sitting down to relax, pulling out the canteen. He was going to be waiting for a while.

The Bandit King

He distrusts me, Tarvos thought, and refers to me as 'one such as you'. What to do...

Dropping the false posture, Tarvos kept the extremely genuine smile on his face, as he answered. "I wish to talk to Kurokuma. I've heard quite a lot of him in the past few days, and he seems to be more than some common bandit. No, he's definitely more than that."

This fellow, he has a string. I can pull it, I just need that name...

"You're interesting as well. A rebel, according to the kingdom. But nowadays that means anyone with a spine. I left of my own will, you were forced out. What do you see in this man that you are willing to follow? Oh, he has ideas, for sure. Some good ones, too. But we've had people like that before, and they decorated the spikes outside the castles for a few days."

I need to get that name.

"What's your story, then? Since we're both waiting here. Might as well use the time before we go in. You could introduce me."

The Bandit King

Walking further, occasionally taking a sip from his canteen, he reached a cliff wall, running straight up. Can't go over it, can't go under it, so we must go... Tarvos idly thought, looking around, until he spotted a gap, ...through it.

Stepping inside the entrance of the gap, Tarvos didn't hear much apart from some drips of water running down the walls, along with the scuffs as his boots hit the floor, occasionally sending a rock loose. Don't try to sneak in, that'll make you look a lot more suspicious, he thought, walk in like you own the place, and they might just believe it .

Reaching a bend in the path, Tarvos started to hear more noises. Putting on his best stride, he walked on through, the walls moving away from him, revealing a ravine of sorts, where another opening revealed itself. Beyond, he noticed what seemed to be a clearing of sorts. Advancing on over, Tarvos moved through, revealing the full camp set up in the area. Bustling with activity, the people that made up Kurokuma's group milled about, doing their assigned tasks.

A few glances were thrown his way, some definitely more pointed than others, but Tarvos ignored them, moving forward purposely, to where he guess Kurokuma was. They should just think he has business, and his clothes weren't too noticeably good, unless someone had an eye for quality here.

Walking towards the back of the cavern, Tarvos noticed another man waiting at what seemed to be another tunnel, albeit this one looked like people had at least dusted the stone in front of it. The man himself was wearing what seemed to be military armor, though Tarvos noticed the marks, blatant and almost badges themselves, where emblems and seals had been removed. This man was considered a rebel. Now looking at the face, Tarvos felt a flick of recognition, from another time, but he ignored it. If the memory came to surface, it would do so in it's own time.

"So, this would be where Kurokuma is?" Tarvos asked, smiling easily at the man, adopting the posture of those who lived outside the empire, instead of those of the noble class. This man could only hold hate for them, if he wore those plain marks with something like pride. Let's hope I'm right.

The Bandit King

Stopping halfway, Tarvos hailed down what he recognized as the mail carriage, trotting back to the capital. Leaning in, he fished out an envelope and a silver coin, the usual payment for delivery within the kingdom. As long as you looked rich, of course. Otherwise it was a few gold.

"The recipient is marked there. Just add it to the noble delivery schedule," Tarvos added, before he headed off again.

The mailman checked the envelope, marked Tonia de Vale. Seeing nothing wrong with it, the mailman put it in the bag and continued.

Tarvos kept going. Kurokuma was his goal today. Find the man, and then strike a deal. A deal that may or may not change the kingdom for the better or worst. At the very least, it would be a bit harder for the folks up at the capital to lay back in their seats in luxury while the people lived in squalor.

After a few more hours walk, he finally reached the end of the path, and the entrance into the forest. Checking for the most used path, Tarvos walked along it, holding his map in hand, checking any other paths that criss-crossed the main one. After reaching a blackberry bush, Tarvos grabbed a few, and pushed on through it, walking along for a few metres before another path resumed, this one new.

Tarvos was close.

Exodus | Hard Sci-Fi NRP | High Casual - Advanced

Of course! Just waiting to get things started!

The Bandit King

So that was my intro, gonna meet up with Kuro soon enough (when I wake up tomorrow) see you then!

The Bandit King

South of the forest, sitting on the edge of the river was a small cottage, not particularly special in any way. On the contrary, it was far from the highest quality craftsmanship, but was completely serviceable. Simple stone brick and mortar made up the walls, with a peaked slate roof that lead up to a chimney, happily pumping away fumes into the air. Within, in the fireplace that the chimney led was a metal grille, on which sat a few rather healthy-looking fish, de-boned and almost ready to be eaten.

The cottage was only one room, so the heat radiated easily from its source, warming everything nicely. A simple bed sat at the opposite end, though the mattress and blankets themselves seemed to be of the highest quality. As did the chest sitting at the foot of the bed, along with the contents, with shirts and trousers that had thread counts beyond counting.

Closer to the centre of the room was a table. This, while also not the best craftsmanship, was highly polished and looked very serviceable for whatever purpose, which was currently papers and notes and a large map of the land. Over all this, a tall man hovered, eyes darting.

Sure, he considered himself out of the game. Had been for years, now. But when rumors started to spread, and when he found that there was a seed of truth to all of them, he descended upon the story-tellers like a wolf on a flock of sheep, all waiting unsuspectingly for the predator to strike.

And the predator worked hard, indeed. The seeds of truth slowly coalesced into a believable pile of evidence, interviews with witnesses and victims. And in the centre of it all was the name Kurokuma. A strange name, to Tarvos at least. He was raised a noble, and kept away from most things different. Thankfully it hadn't been permanent, and he continued to learn more every day. But this was still an unknown name to him. Not one on the bounty list, last he checked. Mind, he hadn't seen the official bounty list for years, and for all he knew there was a new set of men on it.

But Kurokuma...that was a name. And a name was all Tarvos needed to track him down. Turning towards the fire, he grabbed the fish off and ate them quickly, impatient to begin his adventure. He filled up a rucksack with some salted meat he had on hand, along with some breads, and a canteen of water. Lastly, his trusty axe, that had helped him fell many trees to provide the good, but maybe not the best, wood plank floors.

And Tarvos was off, the cottage retreating behind him.

Exodus | Hard Sci-Fi NRP | High Casual - Advanced

FortunesFaded said
I may be interested, if this is still going on.

Just people joining right now. Hop on, as far as I'm concerned.