She would describe the man to the Princess to see if she could aid her in figuring out his standing. Making sure to note about the Mantle with the yellow flags.
"I might have an alternate way to deal with him."
Frowns at the Princess's use of Magical Man, and prays to all the gods excepting none that it didn't become his new nickname... and, if so, he had a few choice ones for the lot of them.
"Alternate idea?" Piroska tilted her head in curiosity.
"Don't worry, I won't call you that Eric. It is her way of staying impersonal. You start calling people by names and not descriptors, you start to become more friendly. We could just call you M & M." Winks at him and the princess.
"Ah yes the plan. Well it goes like this..."
The Crown-Princess nodded. "He sounds like he was formerly some kind of court magician. Despite the term referring to them, many are trained in blades as well, and focus on more stealthy elements. Many are even spies for governments."
You feel that you can potentially reason with him if you can get him into a talk (whether out of battle or during battle). His overall appearance suggests he was not originally a part of the group, and may also be willing to join you if sufficiently convinced. Word this as Shadow sees fit.
So far, the camp remains unaware your group is lurking near.
"Well, the plan involves talking mostly. I feel like I could potentially reason with him. If I can get him to talk. I may even convince him to join us. He doesn't seem like he really belongs with the thugs and such. If I approach we may start a fight just because they are nervous. But I am sure we can try to recruit him if convinced. Korvek this may involve you splitting some skulls among other things."
Shadow said this simply and with a grin.
... I'm not sure I like the idea of recruiting him on a permanent basis. He's working with slavers apparently willingly, after all, and I don't want someone like that near me while I sleep. I would prefer to either finish him here or drag him back to Arenstone for trial... though I suppose some form of amnesty could be negotiated for information on the criminal ring. You can't just nab travelers off the road within a one or two days walk of a city like Arenstone and expect nobody too question it without people in your proverbial pocket.
His eyes would dart at the ridge as he spoke, hunkering down further to try and ensure the bandits didn't see them, or at least him.
I would imagine that someone who is in a position to buy slaves... assuming it isn't another nation... would be quite wealthy in their own right, mayhaps worth the trouble of bringing too justice.
Eric was, obviously, thinking that maybe someone buying slaves wouldn't be too dearly missed if they went and raided the man's home.
"So Mr. Black and White, you know everything about that man just because he works with them. He obviously is a bad person just because he works with slavers. Hell, if you thought that why the hell am I here." She flashed him a toothy smile showing her longer than average canines. He could tell her tone was still light. "And is he doing anything illegal. For all you know they could be legitimate traders. Fat chance but still possible." She shifted. "We will never get any recruits if you don't give anyone a chance to redeem themselves." Frowns and looks down at the group.
"The right motivation can help anyone to change their ways."
Looking down. "Let's see if he separates himself from the others and I can talk to him. Or do you plan on going down there and challenging all nine of the others?"
Grins at Shadow.
Don't be ridiculous Greyshade, of course I'm going to give him a chance. I'm going to give him a chance to come clean about everything that's going on here. If he does so, then I'll listen to him. But if I were too apply my own morals to his situation, I cannot conceive of a situation where I would willingly grab passerby's off the road and force them into a life of hard labor and worse. I cannot, and will not, exonerate a man of a crime as terrible as slavery simply because of extenuating circumstances.
Piroska watched as the two argued, her gaze whipping back and forth between the pair. Her brow was furrowed in a perplexed mixture of concentration and confusion. What the what now? She was a little lost on the nuances of the pair and their arguments. They wanted to talk to the leader of these thugs? He was also a slaver? Or just the group was a bunch of slavers? Piroska didn't see much of a difference between association and active practice.
"Why don't we just smash the rest?" She inquired with a shrug. "Doesn't matter if he gets slapped around a bit too. I can patch them up..." It seemed to be the simplest solution in her mind.
The Crown-Princess merely waited for the group to finish their deliberations.
"I feel where Magical Man is coming from. I've yet to have to decide someone's fate in a criminal case, but I'd really rather not. Taking away freedoms in a free state is quite a big deal."
Regardless of what the group did, short of breaking the law, she'd likely support it.
Shadow looked at everyone. "I am talking about evening the odds and we don't know the reason's why. Either way, do we approach and attack or in general let someone be "accosted" And have the rest of the group attack from surprise. Or systematically take them out or ignore? Just a heads up, since we are looking for a missing person he may be in there."