12:00pm, 1st of Pharast, Edge of the Stolen Lands:
It’s the first true day of spring in the Stolen lands, the sun is high in a cloudless sky and a warm breeze from the south heralds the death of winter. Riding hard for two day’s along the South Rostland Road has brought your small unit to within sight of its destination. Spread out to the southeast the Kameland plains are a sea of waving grass still brown from the now retreating winter, broken only by sparse stands of trees. Far to the southeast the green line of the Narlmarches forest looms forbiddingly. Ahead of you a weathered border fort sits atop a small hill about a half mile away.
The fort is surrounded by a 10 foot high wooden palisade. At each corner of the palisade is a 20 foot square tower with a ruined catapult atop, left over from the forts original use. It would look abandoned if not for a trail of smoke rising from a single chimney. A gravel path leads to the only entrance through the palisade on the south face. Two large gates, both thirty feet tall and fifteen feet wide stand open. The path leading into the fort is blocked by a tarp covered wagon and a large crate on either side.
As the unit comes within thirty feet of the gate a voice shouts out from the palisade.
Trapper A: YOU ALL BEST BE STOPIN RIGHT WHERE YOU AT, IF'N YOU KNOW WHATS GOOD FOR YOU'S. WHAT BISNESS YOU GOT HERE?
Donovan pulls back the hood of his traveling cloak, revealing the gruff man beneath. In a raspy voice he calls in reply "Hail stranger, we be travelers who seek a hearth to warm our hands and food to fill our bellies, happen you to have such things here?"
Pulling Kronos up next to Donovan, Origen Raises his hand in a friendly gesture
Our man here is correct, we are traveling through these parts, looking for a warm place to bed for the night. We are not looking for trouble, good man, but if it finds us, that would be a Mistake.
upon finishing his greeting, Origen pats the Ornate Swordhilt Sticking out from his cloak
Rhual smiles.
"We mean you no harm. As my companion said we only wish for a warm place to sleep. "
Diplomacy:
Up on the palisade two shabby men dressed in patchwork clothes covered by leather jerkins stand up from their positions on either side of the gate. Both men slowly lower the longbow's they hold so that the arrows are no longer pointed in your direction, they don't however release their pull.
Trapper A: Hail and well met travelers. If'en you just wait there we'l get Oelg ta come greet you proper.
Trapper B: Dont be wanderin round out there to much got some bear traps set.
They take several minuets to climb down from the palisade and clear the wagon, then come and lead you into the fort. Waiting inside is Oleg, a middle aged man with a no nonsense attitude.
Oleg: You the men Restov sent to help guard us from those vermin that been threatening me and my wife? You shure been tackin your sweet ol time getin here. Thought me and the boys where goin it alone.
"Who or what exactly has been threatening you and your wife? I have not been told of this, but I will be more than happy to do something about it."
diplomacy:
Oleg:Well About three months ago these bandits came through, they give me a bit of a beatin and said if i didnt pay them a tax they would take my wife Svetlana. Since then they been back twice, fewer each time. we sent word to Restov after the first attack, got a message that they where sendin help. You aint the help? Oleg gets more and more worked up as he relates the story to you, by the time he's finished his face is red and he is visibly trembling with rage.
Speaking up with an assumed air of authority, Origen nods to Oleg
"Aye, I believe we can deal with these Briggands, that should not be too great a Challenge. First, let us get settled in, then we can decide our course of action in Detail."
Oleg: taking a few breaths to calm himself, Oleg shakes his head in agreement.Ya all right let me show you to where you can stow your gear and rest up a bit.
Oleg shows you to the bunk house and directs the trappers to stable your mounts.
Oleg: Ya should find a bowl of water and some rags ta wash up with in there. Ill go get us some grub and drink, then we can disscuse how we can exterminate these vermin.
After the gear is put away and you rest up from your long ride you exit the bunk house to find Oleg and the two trappers sitting at the tables with some bread and cheese along with several cups and a large bottle of beer. Oleg describes the attacks to you, the first time the bandits numbed around eight most being nondescript thugs. Two however seem to have been leaders, a large vicious woman with two hand ax's, and a hooded man with a fine long bow. the second time only the hooded man returned with four men and the last time he had three men. Each time they would take whatever stock Oleg had along with any coin they could find.
Oleg: me and the boys here waves his hand to indicate the two trappers, both look over at him at the mention planed on jumpin them this time. We where going to rain some arrows down on the scum and cause them to run into the bear traps we got hidden along side the path, but we'd be glad to hear what you gentlemen might suggest.
"If you plan on ambushing them then I can assume you know when they will be coming. How much time do we have to prepare?"
Rhual pauses for a moment
"I would suggest keeping at least one alive if possible to find out where the others are, and how many they have in their group."
"Do you know if they're do back here anytime soon?"
Oleg: They come along about the 1st day of each mouth. if they dont come soon they will likely come tomorrow.
Donovan pulls out one of the seats and makes to fixing himself a plate of cheese and bread, in between bites and sips of beer he says "Ambush them when they come up? we have the walls to defend from if you'd like to go that route."
"I say we go for the ambush. Some of you sneaky types can hide, and I will greet them outside with someone else with pretending I want to try to talk them down. Once I draw them in far enough so that the escape path is cut off those you are hiding can attack. I just realized we are missing a man or two."
"Oleg do you think your boys would mind helping us out?"
Ptolemny enters the inn while still tying up his trousers. His longsword banged against the frame of the doorway as he sees everyone sitting down with Oleg.
His face still showed his distaste for the uncleanliness of the inn, but he was slowly overcoming it.
"Sorry everyone, had to use the outhouse... emergency."
Ptolemny pulls up a stool and sits down,"Dont worry about starting over for my sake, please continue."
Surprised to see Ptolemby walk through the door Rhual goes to greet him.
"Ah, so there you are. We might have to deal with some bandits within the next 24 hours, that is if you don't mind participating. They have been harassing my good man Oleg here."
Rhual fills him in on the prior conversation.
Ptolemny nods in understanding. "I will aid you in what ever way I can. Bandits only have their own interests at heart... usually."
Oleg: Me and the boys will help any way we can, you just tell us where you want us when the time comes. turning his atention twords the pair of trapers You two get back to wachin for those scum to come callin. As fore me, I got plenty that needs to be done around here and i best get to it. oleg stands up and starts heading two the storage pen If you need anything else Just let me know.
Ptol watches Oleg head out, then waits for the trappers to go on watch. When no one is around to listen, He looks seriously at the others, "I dont know about you guys, but do we make our own decisions here, or are we Olegs' to be commanded about? Confusion has been my main companion these last few days and I am still trying to wrap my head around the wierd circumstances of our... liberation. Is it just me, or does anyone else feel the same? Please tell me I am not alone in this..."
Is it just me, or does anyone else feel the same? Please tell me I am not alone in this..."[/b]
Donovan rips his small chunk of bread in half, dipping it into the beer he takes a bite of both the bread and cheese, swallowing before turning to Ptolemny and answering. "Honestly, I try not to ask questions, do what they tell you and keep your head down. That's an easy way to stay alive." Returning to his meal he sets to finishing the simple fare.
After Oleg leaves Rhual says, " This man is being harassed by bandits. These same bandits will give us trouble most likely when we try to get things done here. By helping him we gain an ally and a supporter. We will have to deal with the bandits anyway if they think they control the area so we can either let them know who is really in charge here or we can try to make a deal with them diplomatically. They threatened to break Oleg's leg and take his wife so I don't see that as being a reasonable course of action. According to Oleg he was promised help. I am assuming that since he is the only outpost that the government assumes this place has some tactical value, but since they did not really give us any information that is just a guess."
"Then it seems we have a mission to defend this outpost. I need a new asset in the field, and Oleg would do nicely."
"Then it seems we have a mission to defend this outpost. I need a new asset in the field, and Oleg would do nicely."
Donovan shrugs as he pops the last bit of cheese into his mouth and finishes off his cup "As you say". Donovan stands up and wreaths himself in his cloak, "I'll get the general lay of the land, bring you back what I find."
Looking at Donovan:
"Are you going to go out there alone? Why not just ask Oleg are his boys what is in the immediate area?"
Looking at Donovan:
"Are you going to go out there alone? Why not just ask Oleg are his boys what is in the immediate area?"
Donovan shrugs, "Not that I don't trust Oleg and his Boys but....well....I don't trust Oleg and his boys. I'd rather get a feel for the land myself, it's still light out. I doubt there'll be much trouble."
"Fair enough. I guess you will be alright out there. We will discuss a plan to handle the bandits when you get back."
Being under the Command of a trader was not part of our task, But i do believe helping him is not only the right thing to do, but could lead us to more of these bandits. The man did say that they are comming fewer, and fewer, thinking him cowed. They must have a camp or hide-out some where close. Don't be gone too long Donovan, we're not sure when they will be back, and how many there will be.
I like the Idea of cutting the bandits retreat off, Perhaps 2 of us can hide behind the cart, and push it infront of gate, once they are inside the fort?
"I don't look at it as being under his command. We just have to protect him. Beyond that he can't really tell us what to do."
Myself Donovan,and two of Oleg's buddies can probably block their escape if you need someone to hide."
"So lets see if we can Lure them into the fort, Ambush them, then lets close the gap, and hammer them down to one man. Before the Fighting starts, I'll be around the Corner of the Barricks , I'll take a Shot at one, then charge in."
what will everyone else be doing?
Returning to the small fortress Donovan handwaves his way past the trappers before making his way to the room where his company is staying. The door opens and Donovan walks through, his boots covered with a fresh coat of mud, small twigs and leaves fall from his coat as he takes it off and shakes the foliage loose. Settling onto one of the seats he says "There's a good number of them out there, at least seven by my reckoning. I don't know if they were the ones Oleg was talking about but unless there's another group of people planning aggression against this place I'm pretty sure they're a safe bet."
"I wasn't able to get close enough to see their situation with my own eyes but I was able to catch a bit of them talking." Indicating the front he says "From what I understand they plan to have a small force, four men or so, at the front gate to divert our attention from the real attack." Sweeping his hand around to the north wall Donovan continues "Here, they plan to come over the wall with a handful of men and catch us unawares."
Ptolemny nods as he listens to everyone. Already having come to the conclusion that his life as a socialite and future noble was over, Ptolemny sighs audibly and points at the map and the north wall, "I will stop them from coming over the wall. Its the least I can do."
"Hmm, so they are planning on actually attacking the fort then? well, that might Change everything. I wonder what set them off? Do they know we are here? Thoughts?"
"Maybe putting Oleg's men in a high position to serve as snipers while the rest of us hide, and then take them in melee is a good idea. If we can surprise them we can even the odds. If they do know we are here it kind of ruins the surprise element, but I do think it is worth a try."
6:00pm, 1st of Pharast, Olegs Trading Post:
Soon after the return of Donovan, your discussion is interrupted by a knock at the door and a gruff voice saying “Dinner”. You emerge from the bunk house to find Twilight's gloom, setteled over the fort. The sky is dark and cloudy,the wind is blustery with a cold bite to it. A cooking fire burns in the pit between the wooden tables, where the lovey Svetlana tends a pot of delightful smelling stew with two roasting game birds.
The Trapper Who knocked on the door and called the Unit to dinner, goes and sits at one of the tables. Oleg comes up and properly introduces his wife before asking all of you to join him at the table to await dinner.
"Boys we can finish this at the table. We do need to decide on how we will set up. I have presented my plan."
Rhual then takes up a somewhat faster pace hoping to get a better choice of meat.
Ptolemny follows Rhual, not saying a word.
Donovan leans back in his chair tilting on it's back legs playing with one of his knives, looking back to look at the trapper he rights his chair, sheaths his knife and follows the crowd to the dinner table.
Ptolemny nods as he listens to everyone. Already having come to the conclusion that his life as a socialite and future noble was over, Ptolemny sighs audibly and points at the map and the north wall, "I will stop them from coming over the wall. Its the least I can do."
Suddenly Rhual shift his attention to Ptolemny, after he gets his food that is.
"How do you plan to do stop them from coming over the wall"?
Oleg sits Silently trying to relax a bit after a long day. Dinner is soon ready, Svetlana serves everyone ample portions of stew and roasted fowl. Several bottles of surprisingly good wine are opened and passed around the table as well. Oleg finally speaks when the meal is over: Well gentalmen have you decided on how we should deal with these bandits?
Ptolemny smiles and bows toward Rhual, "I will persuade them to take their violence elsewhere. I seem to have the ability to "chat" my way out of anything. Of course, knowing who the bandits leader name is could help greatly, but it is not abosolutly nessasary. Succeeding would make the frontal attack a joke. But there is risk, as there is with any plan that goes awry."
"Talking someone into being an upstanding citizen within a few minutes when they seem to enjoy not being a good citizen is far from likely. Were we not outnumbered I would probably support the idea. Well I guess I can give you 1 or 2 attempts. I get to play bad cop, and if they don't exit the area quickly they get to start bleeding before their buddies come over the back wall. Of course I would need the rest of the group to be at the gate also before I even consider the plan."
With that said, he finally takes his eyes off of the stew and looks at the others waiting for a response.
As Donovan takes a bit of the roast foul onto his fork, he dips it into the stew and soaks it a bit before happily popping it into his mouth. He goes on about his meal answering any questions anyone has about the details of his recent trip into the woods but otherwise keeps to himself.
Ptolemny nods toward Rhual and states with deadpan frankness, "You have never seen me in action, my dear Rhual. Jumping to conclusions before seeing what can be done is bad judgement for any soldier. Did you really think I would risk my life, alone, against three bandits if I didnt think I could do what I state?"
Ptolemny shakes his head in resignation. It seems he is always doubted...
"I will do whatever the group needs me to do" And with that, he stays quiet.
I like the Idea of Closing the gate, keeping them out. Sadly, I'm better with a Sword than a Bow. Lets let them think we are un aware of the Sneak attack from the back side, then ambush them when they think victory is theirs"
Rhual thinks to himself "My arrogance has gotten me again. I better try to make this up."
Feeling the need to build group camaraderie he speaks again with hopefully a better choice of words.
"So we have an idea to keep the front gate closed, a plan to talk them into leaving for good, and a plan to ambush them. I say talking is better than killing so we let Ptolemny go first. If that fails we kill them, taking one prisoner. Having some of us hide to cut off an escape route, which is what I think Origen is suggesting might work. How does that sound?"
With Dinner over, the Trapper returns to his watch and Oleg retires to his house with his Wife. The Unit is left to watch the fire burn down before heading to the bunkhouse for a restless nights sleep.
5:45am, 2nd of Pharast, Olegs Trading Post:
Two quick knocks at the door awaken you. Oleg opens the door and walks in. Gentalmen its nearly sunup, the bandits will likely be here soon. We’ll hold them as long as we can at the Gate, while you take care of the other group on the north wall. You’ll find porage and bread with honeyed butter on the table. With a curt nod Oleg says [b]Thank you All, Good luck before he turns and leaves the bunkhouse.