40 Winter 514 Clyde's work as a member of the Stryfe often varied. Sometimes he was sent to respond to citizens complaints. Sometimes there was a disturbance, or some other issue that required a member of the Stryfe. In this instance however his duties took him outside of Ravok, to deal with a problem that one did not often expect would fall under the purview of a member of the Stryfe. Bandits. Normally Ravok did not care about bandits, as they could not really make it across the lake to cause trouble, and so were not the concern of the Stryfe. However trade was still important, and goods needed to be able to get to and from the city. Particularly goods that where under the protection of the Stryfe, carried by merchants that were citizens of Ravok, and who had paid the appropriate people to ensure their protection. If said protected goods were intercepted or bothered, it reflected poorly on those who had been paid to ensure they did arrive, often someone or other within the Stryfe, often high up within when dealing with larger merchants. Clearly these bandits had not gotten the message, and had attacked the wrong people too many times. And so it was Clyde's job to make sure they did get the message, and understood not to attack those they shouldn't be. Non-citizens were fair game, but citizens... Less so. Apparently, from what Clyde had been told, the half brother of a member of one of the Ravokian families who had paid the appropriate people had been killed in a recent raid on a caravan. Clyde was in charge of a expedition to find the bandits, and show them the error of their ways. They knew they general area of where the bandits were, or at least where they had raided several caravans recently, and that seemed a easy enough place to start looking. It was a few bells walk away from the shore of Ravok, which meant they'd likely be staying the night outside, or at least on this side of the shores of the lake. Since he had been offered the chance to select several lower ranking Stryfe to assist him, Clyde chose Irriari, a zith he had sparred with recently that season. She was to be under his command and leadership, and he waited for her near the shore of lake Ravok. Assuming she arrived soon, and it only took two bells or so to reach the spot, they'd likely arrive about sundown, or shortly thereafter. However in case they did stay out for the night, Clyde had brought along his camping gear, tent, and bedroll along with his pack. Foremost though he wore his Ebonstryfe armor, a suit of brigandine armor emblazoned with the mark of the Stryfe, which had small metal plates throughout it offering protection. These however were concealed within the material of the suit, and so it was hard to tell unless one actually struck it that they were there inside, though the metal rivets that held them in place did show through the leather, hinting perhaps at what was inside the layers. As always Clyde had Cha in hand, ready for whatever came their way. He also had a hammer, or a sledge as it was sometimes called, tucked into his belt, along with a second one in his pack. |