Zornhau Forums

After shaking hands with the man, Izajasz turns to the boat, stepping aboard and retrieving a full length gambeson and a padded coif. He rummages around and picks up a pair of cestus, looking them over for damage before putting them on and testing his fingers' mobility. "That's better." He steps carefully out of the boat and walks over to the unconscious men. "What should we do with them? I'm not entirely against tossing them in the river and letting God decide their fate."

"Whatever you want." Aleksy says. "My name is Aleksy. I am a soldier in the king's army. My comrades wait on the far side of the river for me to return with a boat to carry our equipment across safely. I was going to approach those men and ask to borrow their boat, even offer to pay what meager coin I had on me, but when I overheard them speak, I knew they were scum and that I would have to take a different approach."

"And you're gonna pay for that... Oh Jesus fucking Christ, my leg!"
The rest of his speech consisted mostly of some German words and mumble beyond comprehension, but Aleksy and Izajasz were pretty sure the man was not appreciating a beautiful day and nature around him, far from that. As it turned out, the bloody mess where his knee once was proved to be a to much distraction to contemplate the God's Work. Maybe if he followed His commandments, he wouldn't end up this way... Or maybe not?

Izajasz sighs as the wounded man speaks up. "A soldier in the King's army? Sounds like you're in good company." He says to Aleksy, donning his gambeson (just in case) while looking across the river. "Have room in your army for one more? If you want to prepare the boat, I'll help our friends here get their feet wet." Izajasz approaches the crippled headhunter and kneels near him. "Just float on your back, pray to God, and hope you can swim with one leg." He drags the man to the edge of the pier by his wounded leg, before kicking him into the river. He does the same to the other wounded man, but leaves the old man alone.

"No, please, don't do this, pleeease!"
He's not doing very well. At first he instinctively tries to paddle with his legs, but a new wave of pain opens his mouth for another groan, just in time to swallow a significant amount of river water. Enriched by this experience, he just desperately fights to keep his face above the water, while the current is slowly taking him south... That's actually where they wanted to go, isn't it?
The second man just floats on the surface, oblivious to what's happening.

"Well, I guess that's taken care of", Aleksy says, mater-of-factly. "We should make our crossing and meet up with my comrades."

The two men board the boat, and after a short trip, arrive on the other side of the river without incident. Izajasz follows Aleksy's guidance as they travel back to where his comrades should be camped out. They soon arrive at where the others had rested, and Izajasz surveys the two other men. Upon noticing the man in the ornate plate harness, he instinctively bows slightly, assuming that he is nobility of some sort.

Adrian squints at the small group, aptly noting that there are two people coming back instead of the expected one. He gives Aleksy's a look. "A volunteer? How did you manage to find that out here of all places?", he turns towards Izajasz. "No matter, anyone willing to kill Teutons is a friend of mine. You got a name, friend?"

'Three horses... some army. They clearly weren't expecting someone else to join them.' He thinks to himself. His vision is drawn to another man, (perhaps the nobleman's retainer?) who speaks to him. "Izajasz," He extends his hand, "and you are..?"

"Adrian", he says plainly, shaking the mans hand and immediatly adjusting his own grip in a perhaps futile attempt to match the not quite crushing grip of Izajasz.

"Pleasure to meet you." He releases the handshake and pauses, trying to remember a name. "Your friend there, Aleksy, mentioned that you are serving as a part of the King's army?" Izajasz then gestures to Benedyct. "I assume that he is the commander of this retinue? He seems very, well, noble." He says, noting the lack of communication. 'Perhaps he is busy thinking about their next course of action.' He thinks.

Aleksy reclaims his beloved crossbow from Adrian. "Thank you for keeping it safe while I was away", he says.

"I encountered some German slavers on the far side of the river. They have been dealt with." Aleksy glances at Izajasz with this comment. "This man was their captive."

"As soon as his lordship is done composing himself for the day, we should see about ferrying our equipment across the river."

Benedykt eyes the stranger for a while.

"Well met Izajasz. I am Lord Tarnowski, commanding officer of this scouting party. You are free to join our regiment if you wish to. We are to get across and meet with the main army. I think you can make yourself useful if you hate those Teutons as much as we do. Besides, its a war, and one must pick a side. Doing otherwise might be dangerous."

Benedykt motions to Adrian to help him with his gear. When they are close he whispers to his squire.
"I don't trust anyone at this point my friend, as the region is crawling with Teuton spies and sympathizers. I want you to keep an eye out on this stranger. Our lives might depend on it."

Then to the group.
"Ready your gear and mounts men. It's time to cross that river."

Adrian gives a slight nod, finishes helping Benedykt and starts akwardly mounting his horse.

Izajasz bows his head in respect to the nobleman. "I am in your service then, Lord Tarnowski."