The NPCs are securing the tradegoods and animals.
The trip to the armory takes you up a gravel road, past a five foot stone inner wall and along the barracks, which are of bamboo style. The armory itself is a stone and bamboo building surrounded by a low wooden post-and-rail fence. The yard behind the armory has combat practice equipment. You are escorted by a pair of soldiers. The large one is silent and broody, sporting a thick walrus-style mustache. The short one is as skinny as a pole and decidedly the more talkative.
"This way, people and beasts. My name's Able. I can't believe you all made it here alive! We sent out a couple of runners to ask for reinforcements, but I doubt we'll hear from them again. You didn't see anybody, did you?"
When you answer in the negative, he continues, "I thought as much. There's a whole band of the twisted folk out there, and more than half of them were... were me own comrades."
He pauses a moment.
"Any of you ever see a reaver?"

[EDITED on Sat March 1, 2003 @8:58 AM (PST)]

The voice is the quietest that any of you have ever likely heard Cas speak. The voice is stoic, "I have."

Celeste, having stayed behind to speak with the commander, enters the armory and catches the end of the conversation..."ever seen a reaver?" "I have." Celeste looks to see who has spoken so very quietly and is surprised to see it is Cas.

After a moment, Celeste speaks, " I have, at least I think it was a reaver. It was a long time ago. It came up out of the water, dark and light at the same time, and when people started running, it followed, screaming. I couldn't see what happened then. After that, a lot of people were missing. I thought the 'monster' had eaten them." Celeste pauses before going on. "It wasn't until I was older that I found out what happened to the adults...and now I realize what happened to the children as well." Her look is dark, and her hands are clenched into fists. Celeste continues speaking, almost as if to herself.. "They were children, they were scared, and my father had them......executed."

Looking to the armsmen, she says, "It has been a while since I last held a bow, is there an area for practice?" Celeste glances around the armory and spotting the archery equipment walks over and selects a bow of good size, a quiver and a variety of arrows. She strings the bow and checks the draw. The arrows she will examine and check for straightness, discarding any that appear damaged or too warped to fly true. She looks at one that is badly stained with a brown substance. Celeste looks to the skinny armsman, "You retrieve the arrows during daylight?"

"What are we up against exactly?"

"Our doom," the large guard takes this opportunity to speak in a voice like lead weights falling down a deep well. "It would be best you ready your spirit for Cosmos, and hope that death is the end of it all."
There is a brief and uncomfortable silence which is broken by the smaller guard. "Ah... well, it ain't so bad as all that. We just had a turn a bad fortune. Wrong place at the wrong time kind of thing, ya know?
"The fort has been under attack by reavers. At least three of them, maybe more. They attack together and only at night. Three nights ago, they got a wild deezel, turned it into something huge and armored. It broke right through the wall and trampled two of me mates. Smashed 'em inta mud and blood."
...
"Anyway, once the wall dropped, a reaver got in. The Master was all over the place trying to turn it away, but it got at least a dozen people and some of the animals before he turned it out. The people, uh, they ain't human no more. Next attack, they was in on it. Whole bunch of riven, all kill-crazy, all wearin' our colors."
The big guard opens the door to the armory. "The next attack," he rumbles, "will be the last."

"Sir, I would like to know exactly what the plan is for taking care of them. I will see that any who fight with me fight by the plan as long as I know what it is."

.oO( No sense in more fallen comrades. )

Both soldiers look at Cas. The skinny one speaks.
"I ain't no 'sir'. I'm a just a general infantryman. The Commander's the one with the plan. We'll take you to him once you got what you need.
"By the way, I'm not sure what we have in the way of armor that'll fit you beast-folk. Shado had a tough enough time findin' stuff, but we'll see what we can do.
"What are ye lackin'?"

Cas steps back a moment, "My apologies, I didn't mean any disrespect with the 'sir' title. Well Mr. Soldier Person, I need a bow and some arrows and some kind of thing for my back to hold them in. Don't worry about the armor Mr. Soldier Person, I have something of my own. It isn't much but it does a nice touch. Oh, and I'm quite good with a short bladed swords. I lost mine when we fought some giant trees most likely made by those same Reavers you mentioned earlier. One of the trees swallowed it good and I could retrieve it."

.oO( There's no way I'm helping these guys protect their fort and not get something out of it. Let's see how much does a sword go for these days? )

...hefts a leathery paw. "Riccoco be needin' either his old jerkin fixed or a new one. The Hungry Tree did a number on me last one." It's obvious the raccoon Beast speaks truth as he's attemptied to wear the remnants of the last one and more hide is showing than leather through the many holes.

Stepping over near Faliol, Riccoco strips off the tatters. "Any way one of you hoomans has the know how to make this work? Either way, I'll be needing a stout bow and a full quiver. Any twisted come in Ol' Riccocos sight will be havin' wood for dinner."

Speaking quietly to Faliol, Riccoco whispers, "Why would the Twisted be tryin' ta get into the Lizard? That must be the thing!"

Able looks at Riccoco and rubs his chin. "Well, we ain't got any Raccoon fashions, but there's always a few otters at the fort. This box here might have something that can fit you." He takes a key and opens a trunk. Inside is a variety of armor odds and ends.
"As I thought, most otters don't go in for armor, since it doesn't wear well in water, but there's occasions when they need to man the walls. Here, this might be a little tight across the shoulders, but it should serve."
He hands you a jerkin that will do the job. It's actually better made than what you were wearing, being obviously combat armor while yours served as clothing in additon to protection. It has tooling on it that indicates it is military armor of the City of Tallon. It will replace your old armor at a similar level of protection.

Stepping momentarily away from Faliol, Ricco takes the jerkin and slips into it, uncharecteristically silent.

.oO(I be wonderin' iffin' I might be able to use this once we be gettin' ourselves back to Tallon...?)

Turning towards Able, Ricco offers his widest grin, "This 'coon be offerin' mighty thanks, Able! Ol' Riccoco will put this to better use than any ol' lazy otter would. Not that Riccoco don't be havin' any otter friends, mind you. He jest be knowin' that the lot of 'em be a lazy bunch if things don't be needin' doin'!"

.oO(The day Cas has a use for teamwork is the day Reavers will learn to knit...)

I shake my head and walk over to the arrow section of the armory. My bad mood deepens...

As Faliol approaches the archery supplies, Celeste, having observed the exchange, will bend down to speak to him. "She is young, Faliol, and has not yet learned to temper her tongue. If we survive this, she will learn. Experience has its way of teaching those who listen to life's lessons."

"Just so you know, we foxes are not all like her. She seems to remember events rather creatively." Noticing the look on Celeste's face, "Yes, you are correct. My species is somewhat known for being rather liberal with both the truth and the law, but Cas sets a new level even among vulpines..."

.oO(Jareek is no paragon of virture either, but at least he has a few redeeming qualities!)

Celeste smiles at Faliol, "I know you are not like that. And all barbarians are not blood-thirsty savages....oh, wait, no, we are all blood-thirsty savages. (Stomping her foot for emphasis) I keep forgetting that....."
OOC: It is as plain as the nose on her face, that Celeste is attempting to make a joke

[EDITED on Tue December 10, 2002 @1:57 AM (PST)]

Exchanging looks with his campanions Riccoco nods knowingly, "That be our trailmaker then, Faliol. Ol' Riccoco could not have expected worse. Doom be the right of it says this 'coon. Riccoco can't help but wonder why there be three Reavers travellin' as one. And now Riven attackin', too? There has to be a reasonin' to it. Maybe, Master Nuyok will be findin' the root of it, eh?"

.oO(There be a scheme here somewhere. This 'coon seen a lot of schemes and sees one when he ... sees it.)

"I suspect you are correct, Ricco. We need to get you some armor. I need lots and lots of arrows. I actually prefer using the bow over the sword. My tail gets less matted when I shoot something full of arrows..."

Looking around, I ask "We need a bottle of fine oil, a whetstone, and a few rags. While we wait on the reavers, we can mend our armor and oil our swords. A little bit of pitch and a torch for some flame arrows will do nicely. We haven't eaten since midday. A few trail rations to eat on the wall would be appreciated."

.oO(Celeste, that bottle of oil I owe you is soon to be delivered...)

These are cheap items, easily provided. The oil is unsuitable for lamp oil, though. The flask you are given is metal and stamped as the rest of the equipment. (There is nothing to prevent you from pouring it into another container).The whetstone you are told to keep.

"These riven were your friends,I will try for the best shot, for mercy's sake. "

All reasonable requests for bows, swords and such are granted, unless your character already bears similar equipment. All equipment is stamped or engraved with military markings indicating that it belongs to the armory of Tallon.
Those of you who make a trading roll know that it is illegal to buy or sell such arms privately.
Each of you is armed with a sword up to broadsword size, and a bow matching your stature along with a quiver of two dozen arrows.

As for the rquest for "flame arrows", Able grins. "Flame arrows? Nah, that's what ya want when your firin' in to a fort. Flaming arrows don't do much more damage when they hit you, especially when its raining. It's more than likely going to ruin your aim. They're dandy when you're firing a cloud of 'em into dry buildings, though. General Trask taught that to Tallon twenty years ago.
"And don't let Commander Mako catch none of you asking for poison arrows, either. The Tallonite army went through the whole Karkul war without either side using poison and we ain't about to start now." He looks about in a semi-conspiratorial manner, "Besides, there's no knowing how poison will affect the riven. Somtimes it just makes them madder."

Cas is going to carefully keep a close eye on Faliol and learn what she can from the way he holds it. When he gets a chance to talk to him away from earshot of the soldiers, "It has simply been years since I used a bow. Any advice for use in combat?"

Perception 13-
3d6: 14 Mon December 9, 2002 @12:10 AM (EST)

Seduction 11- (On Faliol)
3d6: 11 Mon December 9, 2002 @12:10 AM (EST)

OOC: OCV 1 with Bow. I hope I'm shooting at big targets. Well, not really.

Fast Draw, Bow 12-
3d6: 12 Mon December 9, 2002 @9:54 AM (CST)

Notching an arrow, I turn to Cas.

"Make sure your wrist that holds the bow is bent at a slight angle or you will thump your forearm quite hard while shooting. Choose a bow that is not so hard to pull that you end up shaking while aiming. Be careful with your claws, they may damage the bowstring. Use either two or three fingers placed like so (arrow nock between fore and middle finger), draw in one smooth pull and hold your hand with the nocked arrow on the side of your face. Sight along the arrow at a spot about a foot above your targets head for a mid range shot. The further out your target is, the higher up you aim. Don't shoot into a general melee. You won't believe how bad you will feel when you plug a buddy by mistake."

"I think that covers it."

[EDITED on Mon December 9, 2002 @10:06 AM (CST)]

Cas needs an idea as to how to handle the bow as to not break the bow string with her claws.

Intelligence 13-
3d6: 5 Mon December 9, 2002 @12:22 PM (EST)

"Thank you Faliol. It has been a while but it is starting to come back to me now."

From the website on Limited Manipulation: "Implements which require a great deal of coordination (bows, slings), are right out."
You figure an ingenious way of holding the bow without breaking the string, possibly by holding it between your finger/toes. There is no strength or control in this grip and the bow is wobbly and shakey. Because of your INT roll, I will allow you to use the bow at all, but the penalty will be -4 ocv (due to lack of control) and 1/2 dcv (due to concentration). Probably not worth the effort.

Able watches your attempts with a look of dismay and grim humor. Unless you resist, he will gently remove the bow from your hands and say, "Maybe you better throw rocks or tip oil on wall scalers. By the looks of that fancy dagger handle (Your custom stilleto), I don't think we have anything that'll work much better, but you're welcome to a sword."

"I know it wasn't this difficult the last time I used a bow. Must be the way this one was built. I recall having a nice piece of leather that I could grip and pluck. Ah... well I suppose you are right... Give me a sword and between that, my stilleto and my claws I should be alright."

Cas looks at Riccoco and Faliol, "I'd rather be keeping an eye on my kin here but I suppose getting my feet in the mud is my fate. Oh, I could protect Nuyok if he is going to be on the front line I suppose. Where is he off to anyway?"

With bow, quiver, and new flahsy short sword in hand, Riccoco departs with his fellows. Pausing, the 'coon watches as Faliol offers Cas some quick lessons in archery. "Faliol be tellin' the right of it. Though, this 'coon jest be pointin' an' lettin' fly. One a' the best of me bray, was Riccoco." Ricco's eyes become hooded, a look many of you have taken as a scowl, "'Cept for that Hardee a' course. He was the best shot of all Raccoon Lake. A natural, they be sayin'."

Lost in his own past, Ricco quiets and glowers at everything around him, "Friggin' caravan to Adala... Trapped in the Fort a' Lizard by Riven an' Reavers! Of all the ..." The 'coon's muttering become an imperceptible string of rude interjections.

.oO(like the inn...)

I can't use a bow. I don't know what good I'll be but I'd like to talk to the commander about his plan to see if I'll fit in anywhere. I don't need any weapons or armor, what I have will serve.

OOC: we are SOOOO dead. Nice game, now what?

[EDITED on Mon December 9, 2002 @4:41 PM (PST)]

OOC: Oh give Cas a chance. She thinks of you all as kin and will do whatever is in her power to save you guys. You don't really need to worry unless Reavers can turn forts into giant stone mouths.

.oO( What I want to know is why those Reavers are attack the fort. There must be something worth a whole lot to them here. I wonder what is worth so much here? )

[EDITED on Mon December 9, 2002 @11:41 PM (EST)]

Are you mixing up the terms? The former are balls of energy, the latter are monster men.

I thought I had mixed them up but after rereading your post I can now say I didn't. Cas doesn't really understand Reavers all that much and thinks that they must be intelligent and perhaps consciously after something.