So witnessed on this 24th day of Calistril, under watchful eye of the Lordship of Restov and authority granted by Lord Noleski Surtova, current Regent of the Dragonscale Throne.
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10th Kuthona 4707
On a day blasted by high winds and threatened by rain a group of four, somewhat bedraggled women, and one moose(!) make their way down the Restov Road and catch their first glimpse of Oleg's trading post.
Surrounded by a ten foot high palisade looks exactly like what it was - a military fort - which has been roughly converted into a trade-post, not exactly a bastion of high civilisation but it is a. the onyl place named in the group's new charter and b. the only place that offers food and shelter within thirty miles!
Arriving at the fortress the coven finds a small market going on, with various hardy looking men and women bartering quietly over furs, ironmongery and the other essentials of frontier life. Presiding over the market is a stocky man with a thick mustache, he sees you enter but declines to greet you. Instead a motherly looking woman with fair hair and a lined face hurries over. "Oh my poor dears, you must be starving - such terrible weather. You'll be wanting beds of course? We charge 5 silver for the bed, that includes dinner and breakfast. I've got some good venison making a lovely stew - just the thing to fill you up."
During this whirlwind of talk the woman introduces herself as Svetlana while serving up bowls of hot stew, "My husband Oleg and I run the trade post. We don't often get visitors though - what brings four young ladies down this far?"
Serena is used to being cold, wet, dirty and tired. So much so that when she pulled them on before she left, her pants were already stained and worn. Her boots, while hardy, are caked with mud. Her layers of clothing keep her insulated from the wind, and her hat and collar serve double duty concealing her face and keeping it warm. She stays near the back of the group, always on the lookout for highwaymen, wild animals, inclement weather or other such unsavory sights.
Throughout most of the walk from Restov to here, Serena has remained silent, striding stoically with her hands in her jacket pockets. She still wasn't certain this was the right choice, but she had to follow her sisters. She trusted in their judgment - mostly - and knew that where they went, her best chances for a happy life went also.
Arriving at Oleg's Trading Post, she tenses up. Being around so many unknown strangers makes Serena uncomfortable, although the wilderness setting and the distance from the law does not. When Svetlana brings up the price of a bed, Serena shakes her head. Fingering her coin pouch inside her pocket, she counts coins by hand. Not enough to be worth it. She looks around for a stable or other unused building. She quietly clears her throat and points to the likeliest-looking spot with a bit of shelter. "How much for a spot on the ground?" she asks, her voice soft but insistent.
Evelynda surveys the fort with a careful eye. As a home base for their expedition, it seems to her as if it will be defensible, though so much more rustic and simple than her castle back home. "This will do for now," she murmurs, partly to herself and partly to the others. She helps the rest of the party get settled and comfortable while she takes in her surroundings. She does not remove her head scarf, however.
Politely, she extends her hand to Svetlana. "I am Evelynda Surtova," she says with only a slight emphasis on her family name, "and these ladies are my dearest friends and companions-- like sisters we are-- Eliza, Olyenna, and Serena. The four of us have been granted the authority," she says as she removes the charter from her satchel to show to Svetlana, "to explore the region and deal with any bandits we may encounter." She smiles broadly, a bit unsettlingly. "You wouldn't by chance be able to point us at any such outlaws, my good hostess?"
Taking in the motherly looking woman who approaches them, Circle Warden can’t help but grin as Evelynda and Serena almost simultaneously accept and reject the offer of lodging. Serena was all too used to having nothing, and jealously guarded what little she had, used to years of scrambling to get by in any way possible, something that hopefully she’d become more at ease with realizing she now had people she could depend on who would make sure she had enough. And Evelynda, despite being older than Olyenna herself, she couldn’t help thing of her as their “Little Queen”, her naturally imperious nature somehow making her acceptance seem gracious, despite the fact that they were definitely not in any position to turn down warm beds.
Glancing back at Eliza, walking alongside Jarrah, she could feel the more nature inclined of the four of them grow slightly uneasy at the fortress and bustling activity of the place. Given what was put forth in the charter, she reckoned they’d be back out in the wilderness soon enough.
”We have enough for bedth.” she says quietly, resting he hand on Serena’s shoulder.
Serena turns to impassively regard Olyenna. Her smooth facial expression and upturned collar help to disguise her sincere concern. "Are you sure?" she asks after a moment. "We still need to buy trail rations, an area map, camping supplies, and who knows how long we'll be out here..."
"Yeth I'm sure. I have about thixty gold on me tho we'll be fine. We could all use the retht." the taller warrior woman says with a comforting smile.
Serena sighs deeply. At home it was different. It cost nothing extra to have an extra person sleep there. Serena was deeply uncomfortable with relying on the generosity of another, and it was only because of her certainty in Olyenna's lack of ulterior motives that she accepts. She nods slowly. "Okay." she says, quietly. She turns back to Svetlana, timidly accepting a bowl of venison stew. "Where can I find a merchant who will sell us two tents, a map of the nearby area and some dried food for the road?"
Svetlana fusses around and insists "No-one has to sleep on the floor here my dear! Besides, your friend seems to have the money - we're just here to make a living, not cheat anyone."
Evelynda's introdcution takes Svetlana by surprise, she looks at the outstretched hand, half curtseys and takes Evelynda's hand to shake - seemingly not sure how to respond. "Oh, that's wonderful. We didn't expect such a prompt response to our request for help! Err..." The kindly woman is clearly thoroughly taken aback by the whole situation. "You should ask my husband about the bandits - he can explain the situation better than I can."
She bustles about for a minute or two, setting plates and generally making a fuss over the coven - a pleasant change from how they are often treated! Serana's next question seems to put her more at ease. "If you head outside quickly dear, you might find a couple of the traders still here, but we can sell you all those things at a reasonable price!" She smiles cheerfully, obviously happy to be back on a topic she's comfortable with. "Oleg can show you our stock when he comes in."
Almost as she speaks, the door opens and the short man you all saw earlier stomps in. He looks up at Eliza as he sits to take off his boots. "I've stabled your animal and given him feed and a brush down - fine creature you've got. Some sort of elk? Don't see many like that out here any more." He grunts as his clearly wet boots come off. "So, did I hear someone asking about a tent?"
Evelynda approaches Oleg as he sits, showing him the charter. "How do you do sir. The four of us have been granted the authority to explore the region and deal with bandits. We're here to help you! Your wife said you would explain the situation?" She smiles her slightly unsettling smile. "We can worry about tents and survival gear once we've resolved your problem."
Serena just looks away from Svetlana when she begins to speak. 'We're not here to cheat anyone'. People always said that when they were trying to sell you something. She turns on her heel and quickly walks to the outside of the Trading Fort, looking for a man selling survival gear.
Olyenna sighs to herself as Serena immediately heads outside, flashing Svetlana an apologetic grin and a slight shrug. It was likely she didn't trust the woman's friendliness, not that she could blame her really.
Evelynda approaches Oleg as he sits, showing him the charter. "How do you do sir. The four of us have been granted the authority to explore the region and deal with bandits. We're here to help you! Your wife said you would explain the situation?" She smiles her slightly unsettling smile. "We can worry about tents and survival gear once we've resolved your problem."
"There's a group of bandits." Oleg spits on the floor in disgust. "Say they work for someone called 'The Stag Lord'. They first came a few months back, eight of them. Nasty looking woman in charge. They took all of our money, as much of the trade goods as they could carry and Svetlana's wedding ring! Bastards!" In the background Svetlana's face crumples. "There were too many of them to fight, else I'd have given them a damn hiding! They've been back every month since, first time they bought eight again, then six, and the last time it was four of them. They think they've got us cowed - damn them! But now you're here... now we can fight them! This prospect makes him look happier. "They'll be here tomorrow, its nearly been a month and they're damn regular when it comes to stealing from us!"
Svetlana speaks from behind the coven, her voice sad. "We wrote to the Swordlords months ago, just after the first time this happened. I just don't want my husband to get hurt."
Evelynda continues to smile grimly. "You don't have to worry, ma'am, nor you, sir. Dealing with bandits is directly within our purview, not to mention being one of our special talents." She gives Olyenna a long look that says Do you think Serena is all right? I'll try to find out what I can from our hosts. "Sounds like we got here just in time," she continues. "Tell us everything about them. When they arrive, how do they arrange themselves? Their leader, does she come in the fort or does she remain outside? Do they have horses or other animals?" With a relaxed, competent manner, she questions the two of them until she has a good idea of what they will face the next day.
Serena looks for a merchant.
Reading Evelynda's look and seeing her having the discussion with the outpost owners well in hand, Olyenna steps outside, striding up to Serena as she looks for a merchant.
" 'Rena, are you okay?" she asks gently.
"Hm?" says Serena, raising her eyebrows and flicking the edge of her hood back a bit. "I'm fine," she says. "We just have a lot of work to do."
Plus, Serena didn't really like salespeople. But that wasn't something that was helpful to say. "Did I overhear something about bandits coming here tomorrow?" A small pause, and then: "We going to fight them?"
Responding after a pause of her own, with a hint of a smile, Olyenna nods. "Probably. Evelynda theemth pretty determined to put the whole 'authorized to exthecute bandith' part into play." the statuesque warrior replies.
"Bethidethe, it lookth like they're at least dethent people, and if they can't protect themthelve, well we're here now."
Serena crosses her arms, her hands freed by the wooden bowl of venison stew by the speed at which she scarfed it down once away from Svetlana. "Hm." is all she says to Olyenna. Was it their responsibility to protect people just because they couldn't protect themselves? It seemed that there were lots of other reasons that they had to defeat the bandits. Did it still matter that they wanted to do good, if they had to?
"Well," she says, simply. "If we are going to fight, then I can fight." Four bandits were going to be no trouble for her and her sisters.
Eliza gradually shakes off her stupor - she's been walking quietly for most of the day and even Jarrah has been unable to get a reaction from her until now. Her eyes follow Olyenna after Serana before turning back to Svetlana.
"My sister is right. We'll be able to help you with your bandit problem. Where do they come from? When do they arrive? Does it look like they've had a hard ride or do they seem well rested?" Unlike Evelynda's logistical questioning Eliza is far more concerned with the positioning of the bandits - almost as though she's already anticipating a chase against them.
Once all the questions are answered she walks outside and pets Jarrah when she finds him in a stall, munching on a tray of straw. "You're not put off your food are you boy?" She asks, rhetorically while casting an eye around for her other sisters, surveying the trade post defenses as she does so. Sorry. She mouths towards Serana and Olyenna before making a beckoning gesture.
Smiling as she notices Eliza finally escaping her thoughts, Olyenna leads Serena over to the stalls where she tends to Jarrah. "What do you think?", she asks, her gaze taking in the outpost in general.
"This place is quiet and out of the way. If we can defend them from these bandits then we'll have a safe place to stay; hopefully not like Restov," Eliza replies.
"This could be good for us, and Jarrah seems to like it here." The way she says this makes it sound as though Jarrah's opinion settles the matter.
Serena nods. She agrees, but at the same time, she wishes that the coven were the only people here. It might suit them later on to find their own home base. The kind of place where they, and only they, would be in charge.
Like a home.
"Yes, it is good that it has walls." she says. "It is a little far from everything, though. Inconvenient to return to."
"The leader came the first couple of times but not recently." Oleg admits. "She thinks we've given up... They always come about an hour after sunrise. They come from the south on horses and just ride in like they own the place!"
"They don't look very tired." Svetlana offers, "They get here early but I don't think they ride all night to do it..."
The compound seems reasonably sturdy - the walls are high and well maintained, although the catapults in the corner towers are hopelessly decayed. The gates could definitely be closed if need be but Oleg warns against it. "They've always ridden in before." He points out. "If the gates were shut they might be suspicious.
Oleg shows you where everything is and offers whatever help you need prior to the bandits arriving.
At leatht it would be jutht ath convenient for anyone trying to attack or raid." Olyenna replies.
"Better we let them into a trap than warn them off." she says as the bandit's habits are laid out.
They had the makings of a decent little community here, and she would fight tooth and nail to protect it if needed.
Serena thinks for a moment. "How about Eliza hides in one of those ballista platforms, Evelynda and I stand up against either wall and Olyenna pretends to be the one bodyguard that the Levetons hired?" she proposes, pointing here and there for where people should go. "The bandits will probably laugh and then try to kill Olyenna, and that's when we close in behind them."
She shrugs. "It's just bandits."
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"That workth, exthept Evelynda should be in out of the thun." Olyenna replies, considering the plan that would benefit everyone the best. "When the fighting thtartth we can converge on them."
Plans made, the coven settles in for the night in beds which Svetlana insists on providing without charge given the services you are offering them in return. Up well before the dawn the next morning the witches have plenty of time to set up their ambush before Eliza spots four riders approaching the fort. They have a couple of extra horses and are clearly anticipating good spoils.
Tethering their horses to rings outside the gate the bandits enter the small fort. Upon seeing Olyenna the bandit leader makes a crude thrusting gesture. "So the shopkeeper thought sending you out here would make things easier for him eh? Well the lads appreciate it, don't you boys! Now turn around, put your hands on the wall and we'll see what we get!"
Evelynda, Bandit Leader, Eliza, Olyenna, Bandits, Serana.
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When Eliza gives the warning, Evelynda reads her scroll of mage armor. Then, when she hears them enter the fort, she drinks her potion of enlarge person and "draws" her bladed scarf, removing it from her head. She throws open the door to the storeroom and moves to a space ten feet away from the bandit leader.
Stretched and bent over like a ravenous monster, her eyes are wide and menacing, and her hair rises up from her head in a tangled mass that reaches all directions. "You will rue this day, cad, for your comeuppance is at hand," she intones, before she chants an arcane phrase and gestures with her free hand.
Edit to update.
Olyenna meets the lurid gazes of the bandits with a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. In single fluid movement she draws a shortsword, the rasp of metal echoing through the courtyard.
Serena focuses, her gaze lingering on the weapons which the bandits carried. With their leader dead, they were just as likely to flee as anything else, but... Serena couldn't take it if they hurt her sisters. She clenches her fists like vices and prepares to snatch their weapons from their hands.
After suddenly throwing open the storeroom door and threatening the leader from her position just inside the darkened building, Evelynda walks forward jerkily, an enormous creepy scarecrow with a wild head of hair that makes her appear even larger. She casts her spell, and one of her long tresses swings in an arc, slamming into the bandit leader and knocking him to the ground, wrapping around his leg and dragging his body behind her. She glares at the other bandits with big black eyes as if to say "Who's next?"
Before the shocked bandits can even react to their leader's brutal death, Olyenna is in action racing toward the centermost bandit to strike with her blade, a blue glow spreading down the weapon's length.
Eliza lets out a shrill whistle as the coven reveal themselves and Jarrah comes charging out of the stable just at Evelynda lashes out with her hair and slams the bandit leader into the ground. Olyenna runs forward, taking advantage of the bandit's distraction to close and strike at the foremost remaining man. He recoils and her blow goes wide.
Eliza claps her hands together sharply and plants rise from the ground, entangling the bandits and Olyenna in long grass and hindering their movements.
The two bandits on either side of Olyenna are caught in the grass but the one in front of her is saved when her sword trims the plants in front of him and lets him wriggle free.
The only free bandit flees, dropping his bow and fleeing out of the compound. He leaps on a horse, which is just about able to pull itself free of the entangling plants and flee. The other two bandits pull short swords and attempt to look menacing.
Evelynda moves forward to the edge of the entangling weeds, still hunched over in her monstrous enlarged form. "Perhaps we will let you live if you surrender," she growls.
When met with defiance, she casts another spell and stretches out a long tendril to deal with the bandit furthest from Serena.
Her wild white-blonde hair connects with the bandit, and a cold shiver runs through his body as her spell affects him. Her hair wraps around his arm and pulls, jerking him towards her. She smiles unnervingly.
Serena does nothing, pacing back and forth in front of the writhing bunch of weeds. She has no wish to be wrapped up in magical weeds and has nothing else she can do.
As the entangles bandits try to look menacing, Olyenna gives them a look of amusement. What neither of them understood was that this was far from the first time she'd found herself here, in fact this was a pretty common tactic for the sisters. She would get in the midst of the enemy and then, they were trapped in here with her.
Adjusting for the grasses and weeds wrapping around her, Olyenna limits her movements, changing from a wide slash to a simple, measured thrust aimed between the bandit's ribs as he stares horrified at Evelynda's battle form.
Seeing that her spell has failed in its first objective Eliza waves a hand and the plants drop away as quickly as they had come - opening the way for the sisters. Olyenna and Evelynda between them drop one bandit with a barrage of blade and hair, the other bandit drops his sword and the final bandit outside spurs away from the fort.
Jarrah pushes past the enlarged form of Evelynda and pauses at the gates, striking one large foot on the ground, his intelligent eyes fixed on Serana. Eliza yells to her sister from the battlements. "Go! Jannah will take you!"
At the word, Serena dashes forward, leaping up onto Jarrah and spurring the mount forward. If they could catch up with the bandit... she could prevent him from escaping.
The moment Serena's weight lands on his back Jannah takes off, his large legs eating up the ground quickly. Unfortunately the bandit has too much of a lead, and his is the lighter animal. It doesn't take long before the pursuit becomes hopeless and Jannah seems to realise it, pulling up and snorting, a very dissatisfied sound.
As Serena and Jarrah return to Oleg's they are able to corral the remaining horses, who have saddlebags but little else - the bandits obviously intended to fill up here and return to their camp with the spoils.
In the meantime Oleg comes out from the house to survey the battlefield. "Well done. Svetlana and I owe you for this." He says gruffly, giving the body of the bandit leader a kick in the ribs. "What are you going to do with this one? I'll happily take any of their gear you don't want off your hands."
When they return, Evelynda has tied up the bandit that surrendered, and her potion has worn off so she is back to normal size. She has cast guidance and is working on their captive. "You had best give us some information we can use to find and defeat the others, or you will regret it," she says menacingly.
Serena comes back from the chase, face impassive as ever. She was highly disappointed in herself for not being able to catch the bandit, but... there was other work to do. She lets the others address the remaining captive bandit themselves. Meanwhile, she goes through the items that they gain from the bandits.
She sets aside the packets of dried trail rations, the alchemists' fires, and makes sure to tie up the horses. She takes the bags of gold as well, and the silver amulet. She pockets the amulet, thinking that it might be useful later on. She sets aside the leader's bow as well - she doesn't know how to use a longbow, but the item was valuable enough to keep. She was sure Olyenna could make the draw on it, for instance.