Barstoi, northeastern most province of Ustalav, was too often the archetypical Ustalav known to outsiders. Poor soil, covered with mists and bogs, troubled by raiders from north and east, and filled with the haunted ruins of ancient days, it was a forbidding place.
It was even worse terrain to travel though as Alexis and Viola had discovered. For a solid month now, they had shepherd the group of pilgrims to the Chapel of Guilt, the traditional and brutal religious heart of Barstoi, where Pharasma monks were trained in the arts of salt mining and witch-hunting.
It wasn't the pilgrims, numbering two dozen themselves who made it difficult. They were decent enough folks, a bit hard and unyielding, but those who went to the Chapel of Guilt had to be. That monastery fortress was not known to be kind. And the pilgrim's leader, a Partuk Gouhor was a capable if overzealous man.
No, it was the landscape. Damp deary mornings, frequent rainstorms. Clouds that block the stars and moon, cursed woods and brooding castles made the journey tedious and dangerous. And now the latest problem, tolls. They needed to cross a small, but deep stream, flowing between muddy, logged banks.
The bridge, a stout one made of stone, was blocked by scared looking villagers who insisted on a toll despite this being illegal. Gouhor had taken poorly to this and had refused to pay. As a last ditch he has asked Viola or Alexis to 'deal' with them.
So there they stood, on a stone bridge, slippery from recent rain, arguing with mud smeared peasants. Their leader, an old man missing most of his teeth refused to budge saying, in his thick accent, ”You must pay or you can't go across.”
Alexis made sure to stay at the front of the group to ensure any traps that lay in their path would be spotted by or sprung by her first and any would be attackers saw the heavily armored paladin before the pilgrims.
At the bridge Alexis looked over the group of peasants examining things like their gear, psychical wellness, and numbers to see if the posed any real threat.
After which she would make an attempt to reach out to the leader in hopes of passing by with as little trouble as possible. "These people are of Pharasma's Clergy. They've all overcome their own obstacles and have many more to come still, please do not be another burden for them."
The first two things that Viola did when she was sent to 'deal with' the peasants was roll her eyes, though her rose-tinted goggles covered the childish action, the light huff that accompanied it wasn't quite so well-covered.
As they made their way there, she took the time to think back to what she knew about the immediate area; while geography wasn't her forte, people most assuredly were. The reasoning for setting up a toll here likely had something to do with the situations within the area... desperation was far more likely than simple depredation. Especially with someone as formidable looking as Alexis. Regardless, she left a small amount of space between herself and them, while occasionally glancing back to the people that they were escorting to ensure nothing was inherently wrong back with the pilgrimage. Still, she watched the folks in front of them, fully expecting nervousness from the lot.
The villagers number over sixty or so, but about a dozen fit ones stand on the bridge. There is a noticeable lack of young men of military age and several young, but strong looking women, bar the way. The filthy farmers are armed with short wooden spears, pitchforks and a few wood axes.
They look malnourished, desperate and hungry although with the usual run of illnesses, But nothing unusual.
"These are desperate times for all." The old man says, 'I'm sorry but we need the gold." He looks at the rather well-appointed pilgrims and doubly so at the fully armored paladin.
"10 gold coins per person."
The people on the bridge waver and obviously don't look forward to fighting a fully armed paladin. But they seem convinced that they have to.
Viola recalls, from tavern talk a few days ago, that there is a local war going on here. Two nobles fighting it out with conscripted peasants and hired mercenaries over some scrap of land.
Viola nods slowly, "It's not their fault, really." she says, chewing on her lip as she watches the apparent leader. "Ruling caste has conscripted them to war... so they're running a bit low on man-power, probably over something really petty. Probably taking crops to fuel their war, too. 'splains the lack of young men and the hunger. Can't really do much for helping with the big picture, can we?"
"They need the money but if they try this later, on someone who can't or won't pay then they might be putting themselves in even more danger and anything we give them now will likely be claimed by the lords grudge match. Should we try to offer aid when we return in exchange for passage?"
"You are considering paying them?" Partuk, the head pilgrim, explodes. His rough face, half covered by gray stubble, is red. 'They dare to hinder the Church, ask her for tolls, and you entertain them?!"
He takes a deep breath, trying to control himself, "It is an act against man and God. It is illegal int he eyes of the laws of Ustalav, and more importantly, int he eyes of the Gray Lady. We are not to be hindered, spiritually or temporally!"
"Partuk please stay with the others, we will handle this there is no need to cause any unnecessary bloodshed. They will be dealt with as they are judged not by our hand for now it's best with take the path of least resistance."
Partuk grumbles but takes his place with the other pilgrims. you do see him murmuring something to a few of them.
The peasants guarding the bridge shift nervously. 'What is it going to be, strangers?" the leader says.
"You'd think the Lady of Graves' followers would be a little more... patient." Viola mumbles to herself, before looking to the toothless man.
"You know who these people are, right? Where they're going? Does it really seem like a good idea to extort them?" she asks, frowning. "How far are we from the Chapel of Guilt anyway?
The old man shrugs, 'Times are hard all over. Pilgrims and thieves alike must endure them. Are you going to pay or are you going to fight?"
Patruk grumbles from his place farther back.
The water flows by, thick and dark. It comes out of the Furrows and looks quite unpleasant and hiding great secrets.
Alexis would hand over the coins from her own funds so the others wouldn't have to complain about the extortion. "Beware doing this trick on those less merciful, hard times for all means people besides you are desperate as well." She would motion the others to move along but make sure she had her weapons ready as they passed in case they got any greedy.
"You sure? I could probably lead us past... ish. Well... not exactly. Everything's pretty ick here. Probably best to stay out of the muck."
The peasants take the money saying, "It'll be put to good use. Thank you." Then, after a pause, "Be careful, the war is heating up along the road. You'll be a target, a group this large."
The pilgrims move along the bridge and Partuk turns to Alexis. "The Chapel will hear a full report of your actions, dhampir. This was an illegal and immoral action."
Turning he spits at the feet of the peasants adding, "And I will remember this village."
The rest of the day's travel is in silence as Partuk grumbles with the other pilgrims. Just as they are setting up camp in the growing twilight, four horseman come along the road.
They are muddy but well-armed, wrapped in heavy cloaks of a dark purple-ish color. They reign up at the edge of the camp.
"Are these the pilgrims headed for the Chapel of Guilt?" The leader says, a young man with pale skin and brown, disheveled hair.
"I'm just going to consider it a merciful donation, personally, as opposed to a toll. Makes it a bit easier to swallow." Viola offers, shrugging.
"Yup." Viola offers, using a rag to quickly polish her runed gauntlet. "Why do you ask?"
The man dismounts and draws his sword. "You are an under arrest for aiding and abetting a peasant uprising. Please, throw your weapons down and come quietly." The other men draw their weapons, two shorts and a rusty axe.
"Peasant Uprising..?" Viola asks, looking to Alexis. "Do you think he means the half-starved sickly folks on the bridge we gave money to for what I presume is food and medicine?" She asks, turning back to the rider. "Those peasants? Only uprising I think they'll be doing is out of bed. Assuming they have beds."
She looks to Alexis once more, "Do your poor sleep in beds or on straw or what?
"Then its good you are going to the chapel to learn about The Grey Ladies true teachings, We are not to judge she knows their fate and will deal with them when the time comes it is not your place to intervene." She scolds the man.
"Being extorted isn't a crime, what authority do you act on that deems it so?"
"By the authority of Lord Seiben, master of these lands and Protector of Peace and Order. The land is swept with war, from within and without. Your money, illegally given, will help fund the rabble and keep them fighting against the wills of the Gods and of man. Now, surrender your weapons!" The last sentence is a command, barked out.
"Our money was illegally taken not given, we have a job to do now please stand aside."
"Am I to believe that a rabble of peasants robbed you? A fully armed company of pilgrims?" One of the men on the horses laugh. 'Really, what do you take me for?"
Then he looks at the pilgrims. 'You can go, our Lord has nothing but respect for the servants of the Gray lady and considers the Chapel a valuable ally in this conflict. Go with our blessing but hire better guards next time."
He turns back to Alexis and Viola, 'But you have to come with us." Stepping forward he puts out a hand to grab the paladin's shoulder.
"First, I am not throwing my father's crossbow on the ground. It will stay on my back. Second, you really can't have it both ways. They can't be a threat to your lord as an uprising and simultaneously no threat to a pilgrimage and its guards. Which is it? Are they dangerous, and thus could have extorted us, or are they not dangerous, and thus we were giving money to the sick and hungry?" Viola says, continuing to polish her gauntlet.
"You are to believe that truth that we paid to avoid bloodshed and if you knew of the crime why didn't you act to stop it when we were being threatened? If they leave now they'll be without guards we have a job to do, please do not force our hands." She swats the mans hand aside.
'We are not here to debate logic or laws. You are under arrest it is for our Lord to decide your guilt and punishment."
Alexis does not detect evil on the man, but he is intent and serious about his work. Whens he knocks his hand aside, all the men draw weapons. 'Surrender. Now."
"I will not ignore my duty to the grey lady for fools." Alex says as she draws her weapons.
Viola's lips tug into a thin line as things swiftly decline into violence.
The pilgrims dart for cover as things escalate to violence. The three men on horseback react in surprise at resistance, weapons up. The dismounted man raises his sword into guard position.
Alexis puts herself infront to ensure she's the nearest target then prepares to dodge any incoming attacks as she wouldn't strike first here.
Viola was even less interested in starting the fight than Alexis. She just didn't want them to take her stuff... or worse, throw it on the ground.
The soldier closest to Alexis frowns at her sword and attempts to sing his own weapon to disarm her.
The blow is clumsy and he fails, cursing. As he straightens, next time it looks like he is going for blood. The other men dismount, weapons held out, looking to surround the pair.
After his failed attempt to take her weapon Alexis finally strikes back at full force.
"We don't have to fight this, stand down are we can both do our jobs like civilized people."
Viola sighs and shakes her head, spreading the fingers on her gauntleted hand. Several runes begin to glow as she reaches for Alexis's weapon and crosses the intervening space. As soon as a finger lands on it, a wispy silver light arcs across it, blanketing it in pale copies of the glowing glyphs.
'This is my job." The man grunts and takes a swing at Alexis, although with the flat of his blade.
His attempt to avoid shedding blood make his miss, and as he grips his sword he says, 'Surrender, or I won't pull the next one."
The others move in close to Viola and Alexis, providing backup.
"Your job is to attack victims while the criminals continue to extort travelers?" Alexis mocked as she swung again with Viola's enchantment.
Viola's gauntlet glows once more, this time with blood red runes. "You draw blood, I draw blood." She warns as she finally pulls he crossbow off her back, the runes immediately skittering across the surface.
Alexis's blow hits the man hard and his eyes cross at the pain, for a moment. Then he straightens, anger burning.
"Our job is to keep the peace. By attacking us.." In the middle of his talk he lashes out, with the blade this time.
It misses again, and the paladin can hear the man curse himself.
Behind him, one of the men lunges toward Viola with a heavy sap.
It misses, and the other man pulls out a bag and tosses it at her feet. It hits and explodes in a network of sticky, writhing tentacles. A tanglefoot bag!
The inquisitor doesn't avoid the gooey bag and she is entangled, stuck tot he spot as the men with clubs surround her.
"By defending ourselves we prevent injustice, and from the looks of it you wouldn't have lasted if any serious threats showed up anyway." She says as she takes a defensive step away from the man, ignoring him to focus on those closing in on Viola.
Caught completely by surprise by the tanglefoot bag, she doesn't have time to respond before she's stuck firmly to the ground. She struggles against it - her only real option - but doesn't manage to free herself.
"Oh, come on... you could have fed two small villages for the price of that thing. When you get swallowed up by some gargoyle or something it's gonna be on you that you wasted that. Remember that. This guy wasted an expensive tool on someone who was cooperating!"
Alexis moves wfitly and hits the guard by Viola. She leaves a nasty red mark, but doesn't do too much damage. The guard looks shocked though. Apparently they are more used to harassing peasants then taking on real warriors.
The man behind Alexis bellows and tries to attack again.
As he fails, the other men start to run away. They sprint for the horses, shouting that Alexis and Viola were going to kill them all. The leader roars in frustration but follows them, swearing revenge and return.
If the men wish to flee Alexis has no reason to stop them, she had no intention of killing them and leaving them knocked out would just be a hassle so them fleeing was likely the best option.
Once they were out of range Alexis turned her attention to the goo on Viola's feet.
Viola tilts her head as she continues to struggle. As they start to mount up, she pauses. "I... what the hell. Is this for real?" she asks looking to the pilgrims. "They throw a vial of stuff that is prohibitively expensive to make, and then freak out cause someone smacks them with a sword?"
The men take off running, with a few shaken fists thrown in their direction. Alexis frees Viola from the sticky goo with much pulling, cutting and tearing.
The pilgrims crowd around and the leader is not pleased. 'Trouble will come from this. Striking a lord's man in anger...."
Then he shurgs, "It is not for me. Shall we hurry on?"
Once Viola was free Alexis would check her for injuries before returning her attention to the pilgrims. "Trouble will come from power unchecked, if they return they will be dealt with again but for now we have more important matters." Alexis stores her weapons as she leads the trip once again.