Engeram takes off with the group, trying his best to take point. He moves with quickness and determination, not just out of concern for the child, but out of malice for the kind of people that he imagines are attacking him.

Knowing that the young man's life is probably at stake makes every step more urgent, every moment longer. Thankfully the land slopes down gently towards the pond, making running the distance that much easier.

The pond is surrounded by copses of small evergreen trees that thrive in the acidic, clay-rich soil. Dewin's keen-eyes watch overhead as the boy ducks through one after another. His pursuers circle round and lose time, but their axes and swords make quick work of the smaller trees when he tries to hide amongst them, and he's forced to keep moving.

Finally, they flush him far enough south that he breaks across the open ground in your direction, panting and groaning and his face flushed all red, and his head turned back watching them. They lope behind him, and only start to bear off when they see you. They slow down and unlimber weapons, and start to trot up, almost casually.

The boy, not even noticing you until the last moment, rears up when he's less than 25 metres away, and slips in the mud. The piglet goes flopping in the mud, but sticks close to him as he rises to his feet.

"Please sirs, save me!" He calls out to you.

As Norel trots up he yells to the boy, "get behind us lad.  Hurry!"

He unslings his shield as he continues trotting up to close the distance, and he yells to the men, "the hunt is over fools, turn back and live yet another day.  Press forward and I'll open you heads and stomp your brains into the mud!"

Engeram runs up between the boy and the attackers, presenting his shield to show that he is willing to give peace a chance. As his companion finishes giving his offer, he repeats it with a touch of urgency.

"I suggest you flee. Today isn't your day."

1d100=86

Influence score = 40%

One of the men looks frightened, but he steels himself as the rest of his comrades laugh contemptuously. The biggest one, carrying a broad-headed spear in both hands, steps forward boldly. He speaks with the accent of a Geornling, eastern barbarians from across the mountains.

"I am Borvr of the Gunnarven, Moraglings. Stumvr Dark-Eye and Gelf the Quick and Gunnar Red-Arm stand ready behind me."

Gelf, the one who looked nervous, braces himself when his name is called. He has white-knuckled grips on two throwing-axes. The other two have shields and swords, and they stand flanking Borvr with their shields pushed out.

"With what right do you stop me from doing my lord's justice?"

Crane> http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2694057/

All but one make their Persistence checks to avoid being intimidated. Gelf, the guy with the axes, is the one who failed. He's not breaking yet though.

Breathing a little heavily after the dash, Jhan stops a little behind the dwarf and the others in front. It had been a while since he had had to run like that, and then it was away from danger, not towards it. The inactivity of the winter months were beginning to tell.

Hands full of daggers he listens unhappily at the posturing, but when the boy joins their little company Jhan gives him a quick smile.
"Nice piglet, got a weapon?"

Amra moves off to the right of the group keeping his bow ready at 3/4 draw (he will full draw at the slightest provocation) and line of sight clear of  his companions,not uttering a word, eyes locked on the Geornlings.

Sighard straps his kite shield to his arm and draws his longsword as he steps forward.

"I've tracked my share of bounties in my time, and I've learned one thing. Sometimes it is better to just abandon it." Sighard calls out to the Geornlings "Do as my friend says and flee".

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2694197/Influence roll to back up Enegram, skill = 37%.

Bryce stands a couple of meters behind the rest of the party, his light crossbow ready to fire (although he has not aimed it yet).  He eyes the Geornings carefully, trying to learn more about them through careful observation.  The sorcerer is content to allow the others do the talking for now.

If combat breaks out Bryce will try to cast 'Multimissile' first and then fire his crossbow.  If the Geornings get close, he will cast 'Protection' and try to maintain at least 15 meters between himself and any enemies (he's no warrior!).

Norel nods approvingly at Borvr's calmness and says, "I am Norel Glorarr from Sassenland.  What business does your lord have with a boy and a piglet so far from his lands?  The boy and piglet are now under our protection, and now you must deal with us one way or another.  I prefer words over blood.  How about you, Borvr?"

Engeram relaxes a bit, keeping eye contact with the one that seems shaken. He nods to Norel as he speaks and lets the weight of their numbers sink in with the barbarians.

In the moment between Norel's words and their answer, Engeram stretches his arms back, looking up with a yawn, and momentarily glows with a pale white light. He returns his shield back to its position facing the barbarians, though his gaze and focus is on the scared one.

I cast Strength on myself and use it to impress the frightened one in particular, letting him know with my gaze that when combat breaks out, I will be looking to single him out. 1d100=66 Influence = 40%

Engeram is in an almost panicked state of mind. All of his anger over the destruction of the monastery is welling up and being focused on them, though his good nature lets him hold it back.

"A man does not shy away from bloodshed," Borvr calls out to Norrel.

"If you are so peaceful, tell your friends to put away their weapons and stop casting evil spells."

Gelf looks terrified at Engeram's display, but Stumvr and Gunnar are clearly too close for him to break. He says something urgent in Georn to the other three, and Borvr nods at whatever it was without breaking eye contact with Norrel.

"The boy is a thief and a runaway. We are sent to bring him home by his lord."

The boy, for his part, is behind Jhan, as far away from the Georns as he can get. He continues to clutch the pig and the cudgel, which you can see, Jhan, is a weighted walking stick. He pipes up:

"I didn't steal the pig! It's my own pig! You devils!" Distance turned into bravery here.

Gelf clearly doesn't want a fight, but it's doubtful he's going to run without there being open hostilities.

The Georns are forming a diamond now, with Borvr in front holding his spear and talking, Stumvr and Gunnar flanking him with their shields up defensively, and Gelf in back. Stumvr and Gunnar are chanting or muttering in low voices. It might be spells, or some ritual act to psyche themselves up before any trouble.

Norel smiles wide and says casually as he lets his spiked ball fall loose and ready for combat, "true words spoken like a man, Brovr.  However, it is foolish of you to assume that I am peaceful.  If you want blood spilled over a piglet, then so be it.  Step forward and I will bleed you dry.  However, before blood flows this day, I will ask you this: What is the boys weregild?"

Engeram falls in closely to Norel and keeps his shield tight, ready for anything.