MTG Salvation

**Just south of the Great Road, along one of the smaller pathways, a smallish caravan had made camp for the night. It was the sort of sight many weary, lonesome travelers dream of: a cheery fire, a large pot of stew bubbling cozily, and a good handful of serious looking, well-armed guards.

All in all, it seemed like a perfectly normal caravan made camp for the night. But when watchers turn to wolves, nothing is as it seems, is it?**

"I deduce that the camp is that way" said Dirk, pointing at the Camp.

"How would you like to approach this situation?" CT asks before they get within hearing distance

"Well, aren't we weary travelers looking to stay the night?

... No, really. Aren't we?"

CT smiles and starts in "Yes we are, I could actually use some of that stew" He said and waved to the nearest person within the camp in a peaceful non threatening way

**As they neared, one guard nudged another and both put hands to the hilts of their swords. But they didn't move forward and a voice called out from the fire.**

Voice - "What ho, more travelers? I say, you must join us; you really must join us!"

**The voice belonged to a short, round man in fine merchant's clothes with a truly prodigious mustache who happily waved the two to come to the fire with his spoon. Beside him sat a young, pretty girl with short reddish hair, presumably his daughter, who spared the travelers a few glances as she rather noisily slurped from her bowl.**

CT smiled at the guards and walked over. "Why thank you! How generous of you! May i?" He said gesturing to the stew. He planned on eating a good amout of stew before the show down.

Man - "Oh, certainly!"

**The guards pursed their lips, but didn't say anything. The man, meanwhile, moved to draw CT a bowl.**

Man - "I am Trader Montague Veadon. But you may of course call me Monty, I say you must call me Monty! And this young woman is my daughter Mira."

**The girl glanced up from her bowl, looking a bit surprised to have been mentioned.**

Mira - "Oh! Um...hi?"

CT nodded to Mira. He is sure she is pretty for her own race but CT's type is a little more... Crocky... He then took the bowl and enjoyed every bite, letting his partner continue the conversation.

Dirk was far too busy slurping at tasty stew. But soon, he had finished a little bit and spoke up.

"I am Trader James Parcheesi, But please call me James. I managed to sell my whole caravan at The Kinf of Adventure, horses and wagon and all! Don't look now, but my pockets are so fat, even my Stash can't carry it all!"

Chuckling, he almost went back to his soup, but that differently.

"Oh, and this is my long time bodyguard and friend and associate .... B ... S."

**Monty chuckled richly.**

Monty - "Sold your own kit out from under you, you say? You must be one firecracker of a trader, I say you MUST be one great trader."

"Well, when you spot a need, you can make a profit, am I right?"

Monty - "I say that is the wisest thing I have heard in years! Perhaps you'd like to marry my daughter?"

**Mira scowled and mimed dumping her stew on Monty's head, causing the trader to chuckle even further.**

CT laughs and finishes his stew, then he looks around to see how many guards there are and where. "You seem to have quite the protection accompanying you! Are these roads dangerous?" He asked making up something to talk about

**He could count four, and they stood somewhat idly around the small camp.

Monty nodded sagely.**

Monty - "Welll...it isn't so much that they are dangerous as they could be dangerous. A stitch in time saves nine, I do say that it saves nine."

CT looked at Detective to see if he was ready to say the code phrase. Things may get out of hand fast.

Dirk gave no sign of whether he intended to say the code phrase soon. Rather, he continued to ramble about random things.

"Thank you for your generous offer but your daughter is much too young for me. Gods, after this excellent stew I think I'll be so tired, I'll set up my tent."

**The girl mumbled something into her bowl, though whatever it was was lost into a mouthful of stew.**

Monty - "Oh, of course; feel free to stay the night with us by all means. May as well get the full wages' worth from these guards eh?"

"Thank you again Monty!" CT said and walked along with his comrade.

"You now, my Father always hated these darn windy nights..."

**At that, one of the guards looked over, a slight look of anticipation crossing his face. Monty, for his part, merely nodded in agreement. Perhaps his mouth tensed a little, but if the man truly took anything from the investigator's words he masked it masterfully. The girl, however, was not quite so disciplined.

Mira sputtered into her soup, nearly dropping the bowl as she croaked at the guests through a poorly-swallowed mouthful**

Mira - "Whazzat?!"

Dirk, looking astonished, fumbled his mouth for a moment and looked at CT - I mean, BS.

"Uhh, don't, uhh, don't you agree? Do your family members have any opinions ............ about nocturnal weather?"

**The guards went about their routes, but they seemed to be fanning out more now. Monty sat serenely, while Mira finally coughed herself out and began prodding the older merchant.**

Mira - "D'you hear that? He's talking about...um...the weather. And about....you know.."

**Monty's eye twitched almost imperceptibly as he glared at the girl.**

Monty - "Yes. I heard."

CT sat back down casually "Are you alright? You sound distressed." He said while carving Is everything ready? in the dirt between them casually

**A brief moment of shock crossed Monty's eyes as he saw that, the merchant quickly rising to his feet.**

Monty - "Whoops, better stir this stew!"

**He shuffled over to the pot, making a point of undoing the message with his feet. CT may have noticed the man giving him a quick warning look.**