Nikoleta decides to let Drektan do the talking, since he seems to be doing a better job of relaying the idea to the bandits, simply standing back and watching the bandits to see how they respond.
Date: Pharast 1, AR 4710
Time: Dawn
Location: Oleg's Trading Post
Weather: Temp (Low 40s) / Overcast / No wind
The other men all begin jabbering at once, obviously terrified at the idea of hanging. Sentiments of remorse, apologies, requests for forgiveness all come tumbling out of the gravely wounded men who are now facing a very real demise.
Oleg spits again, grabbing at the nearest one with Wyatt. "This one looks ready," he says with a dour look. Tears well in the man's eyes as he cries out. "You want to do other than hang it?" he offers to Drektan before nodding to Wyatt. "This one wants to hang him. What would you do instead? Would you send it back to Restov?"
Sighing, Drektan acknowledges Oleg's point. "These have been making their way as thieves and bullies. The point being that they have been trying to make their way, to live theirs lives as best they can. I do not know what circumstances had them join the brigands, but I know an old man and old woman who need the help of strong, younger backs."
He waves a furry hand over the heads of the pleading brigands. "The stories hold that some of these men will do all they can to go back to doing what they know. Those men are the danger. The stories also hold that some of these men will do what they can to earn their way. Those men are the reward." He turns and looks directly at Oleg. "I believe that you want this reward more than you want their blood. The problem, then, is finding some way to identify which of these men will work to become good citizens and which will work to lie and survive until they can turn on whoever is at hand, again."
Drektan turns his gaze to his feet. "I am afraid that I do not have some marvelous, secret way of answering that question. I can only offer the hope that some of these men are simply doing what they can, not what they wish. The opportunity to do something else should give them as much hope and support as their efforts could give you. Perhaps there is a way of mitigating the danger? Chain them and work them as prisoners. Watch them and learn who each of them are. After a while, you should either begin to trust some of them, or know that you can trust none of them."
With that piece said the cat shrugs, looking at the pleading captives, wondering which honestly want more, and which just want another chance.
Mikam, unable to watch the proceedings, retreats to the other side of the bunkhouse, out of sight.
Nikoleta watches bandits beg for their lives and Oleg threatens to end their lives while Drektan tries to protect them, not really knowing what is best for either party. She sighs after a moment and adds "If these men are to hang, I would prefer that they get a second chance before they hang. Let them have their second chance now, and tell us where the remainder of the bandits are hiding."
Oleg grunts. "I need not their labor here." He looks over at Jean-Luc, who appears to also have no interest in watching what is going on. "Fine. Next trader who comes through for Restov will take them with this one," he gestures at Jean-Luc, who nods, "and take them to the Swordlords for justice. There are no slaves in the River Kingdoms. Da?"
Nikoleta shifts her attention to the bandits now. "Congratulations, you have won your lives, at least for now, but if you want a good word put in to the swordlords when you are sent along their way, perhaps you lot might tell us where the rest of the bandits are?"
Nods with these words, his hands working a loose hangmans knot with the rope he has