Busying himself with medical tasks, Stellan keeps an ear out for the conversations that are going on.
Just remember Grendolynn, didn't chose her parents, you chose your craft"
Stellan says sotto voice"Not really.", sighs and continues on.
"I doubt a fortress would be built easy to fire but, they had fire bombs at the ready, that is worrisome. The problem with the bandit escaping is that, if no one came back, they would not know why, it would take them time and make them uncertain of what to do. That bandit will know our numbers, our distrust, and some of our abilities to tell the others, That's very bad for us, given they'll know these lands better than we. It's all up to them, they may move their camp, ambush us, siege us here, or anything, they have the advantage."
Amooonrann quietly heals Elros and moves on, Stellan lets her be.
Stellan smiles at Triaxus' comments, "And likewise, pleased to make yours. Just wish circumstances were better." Stellan listens to he's summery. "Yeah that's the problem, the fort needs protecting, and is less able to protect us. Not sure how to handle it. Oh and talk away all you like with him, he's not going anywhere for a while with those wounds."
"Excellent, thank you Stellan. And Grendolynn, the road ambush idea actually sounds pretty solid, assuming the bandits counter-attack. Let's try and get a better picture of what we're up against though." After a moment's consideration, he adds, "Roga, feel up to playing a bit of Hellknight to my Eagleknight? Metaphorically, of course, but it could add a solid punch to the proposal I have in mind." His brow furrows. "And where did Caelus get off to? Didn't see him in the fight."
Grendolynn seems to remember something. Her stomach rumbles quite loudly. "caelus hung himself" Grendolynn wanders off in the direction of the main house.
"Then we need to talk more about this later Stellan, I'm tired now and need to rest." Roga sighs. He then addresses everyone: "I think we should head out when we have recovered and face the bandits away from the trading post, so we don't do more damage here."
He answers Triaxus: "I don't know how much I would be able to aid you, in my honest opinion he should be executed and all I can offer is a merciful death. Would that aid you?"
He walks over to Amoonrann and asks: "Would you be able to dress my wounds before I rest?"
Amoonrann cocked her head as Roga asked his question. She looks him over with her keen eyes to get a sense of whether his wounds are within her power to treat.
"I will do for you what I can, if that is your wish. But know this: the witch is the better healer between us; and I can do nothing for you without using the witch's healing kits," Amoonrann responded, having assessed Roga's condition as best as she could. Her praise of Stellan's healing skill was as far as she was willing to go towards convincing Roga to getting over his fundamental resignations about witchcraft. She wasn't going to press the point any further than her admission that witchcraft does, on occasion at least, have its uses.
Unlike the paladin, Amoonrann had no issues with Stellan and his witchcraft. Everything had its place within the greater balance, as far as she was concerned. However, she was not going to try and sway Roga towards accepting the witch's craft. Indeed, their petty squabble about the morality of witchcraft seemed petty, and laughably insignificant to the Druid. But arguing with zealots was simply a waste of time, and energy. And much like within an interrogation, Amoonrann simply didn't have the patience for such a conversation.
"Thank you Amoonrann. I know he is pure of heart, but I still don't like his craft." Roga answers.
"So be it then," Amoonrann said, standing up from her pointless busy work but making sure to take note of the items she'd found on the other bandits. "Speak with Olegg or Svetlana about borrowing a room in the main house that I can use to dress your wounds while I ask Stellan about using his supplies," said the Tiefling as she moved back towards Stellan.
Unsurprisingly, she came to the witch after only a brief moment. "Stellan, a word?" Amoonrann asked, beckoning him to join her outside, hopefully beyond what the bandit could hear.
Stellan is keeping an eye on his patients and especially the prisoner, making sure he doesn't do anything stupid. When Amoonrann asks him to step outside, he nods and leaves Triaxus behind. "Watch them, Triaxus, please." If Triaxus doesn't for any reason, he won't leave until the bandit is bound, so as not to be able to hurt Elros.
Stellan steps outside and goes wherever Amoonrann leads. "Hello, Amoonrann, hope you're feeling better. How can I help?" Stellan is concerned but reserved, not wanting to upset Amoonrann further.
Grendolynn returns from the main house munching on the remains of a biscuit. Surprised to still see everyone milling about, she mutters to herself "Erastil's great oaken shaft, this is like herding lemmings." She approaches Triaxus and says, "Alright Tri, you don't mind if I call you Tri do you? I'll play Hellknight for you. This isn't something I've had experience with, but I think I'm good at looking scary. At least, that's how people act around me." Grabbing him by the arm she will drag him gently into the guest house, and shoo everyone else who might be in there out with a growl and a wave. Once the room is clear, she will remove her hat and shut the door before giving the bandit a vicious kick in the obliques. "Listen up sh*t fer brains. You're probably in a lot of pain right now, and you already know what we're going to do to you. You've got two choices, you talk now and tell us everything about your friends and get a quick and painless decapitation. OR, you can try to act all tough and stay quiet...." She crouches down and gets close enough to his face for him to smell the raw rabbit she ate this morining and see the bits of flesh still caught between her teeth. "Please do, then my friends said I can burn you the rest of the way. As slow as I like." She grins as widely as she can exposing her sharp yellow fangs and licking her lips.
"I am...as well as can be expected," Amoonrann said, luring Stellan a bit further away from the door, "but that is not what I wish to speak with you about." She paused a moment as if trying to figure the best way to phrase her request. Finally, she continues, "Roga was injured in the fight and he has asked that I tend to his wounds. I was hoping to borrow any medical supplies you may have to dress his wounds?"
"Hey, back off a bit there hob, we've got rules about this sort of thing." Triaxus chides Grendolynn, before placing himself slightly between her and the bandit. "Mercs. Brevoy's gotten pretty hot under the collar with your ilk running about. So, before you get to the simpering or ugly defiance starts, lets take a look at what you have on the table, shall we?"
"You've been caught in the act of banditry, and causing a fair amount of property damage in the process. Yes, you were part of that damage, but if you go before any kind of authority of the Throne, I can't imagine you getting much in the way of sympathy. So, you've got us. Which includes the delightful hobgoblin you've just met, the wizard your boss couldn't manage to kill from point blank, and a quite dedicated servant of Ol' Deadeye. He's got quite a strict interpretation of the law when men who've done less than you come about, but thankfully, you've also got me. And I can be more flexible."
"So, let's set the stakes at the ones put forth by my...partner. You tell us where the camp is, and what we can expect there, and I'll talk to the paladin, see if he can ease up a touch. Best bet, you get a day's rations and the right to walk north. Work against us, and well, I heard mutterings about the rope part of the clause. Problem is, none of us have ever hung a guy, and I hear it goes ugly if we do it wrong. I'd rather not see that myself, as I'm a but squeamish, but I guess that's your call now, isn't it?"
Grendolynn will back off and let Triaxus say his piece. However she will stand behind him and continue to stare directly at the bandit while drawing her thumb slowly across her neck and grinning.
Sense Motive Not that Stellan's really trying, but he might pick up on something.
Stellan listens to Amoonrann as she talks, she seems OK for now. He smiles wryly when she talks about Roga's reluctance to have Stellan treat him. "Sure, Amoonrann, you can use my kit, I'll not need it for a while at least." Stellan goes to get the kit, passing by the interrogation. "Pardon me, I need that." Points to his Medkit and retrieves it, bringing it to Amoonrann.
"Here you go, need anything else don't hesitate to ask."Stellan hands over the kit, suddenly he senses there is more about this than Amoonrann let on. Really looking at her with those eerie blue eyes, Stellan says quietly, "I really mean that, Amoonrann, whatever it is, you can tell me... or not if that's what you choose."
The bandit looks completely petrified at Grendolynns insinuations, but relaxes a tiny bit with Triaxus' potentially good deal. He starts to stammer and tears build up in the corners of his eyes. "Please sir, I just joined up with this lot, you have to believe me. Work is scarce, and I'm not good at much... Hunting, smithing, cooking, I can't even seem to get on a horse proper, let alone get out of a burning stables... I have a family to feed back in Restov, two little 'uns.. Marcy and Nadene, oh little angels they are... Just took up banditry to try and put even some stale bread in their precious, little hands. Their mother is sick and barely in any condition to look after them. Oh please let me get back to them, I'll look for some honest work, oh I do swear it. If you want to go after the bandits, head south-west through the forest.. Thorn Ford Camp, that's what you're looking for. Sits near one of the smaller parts of Thorn River, it does. You shouldn't have any trouble finding the place, we brought a lot of horses so just follow their hoof prints... Will you find the mercy to let me go? Oh please!" The would-be bandit begins to cry, falling into a mess on his bed.
Grendolynn steps forward and says, "How many" ending at a near shout and slamming her foot against the floor. Wow, he's crying. I feel kinda bad for scaring him, but this is pretty fun. She appears to be fighting to keep a grin off her face, while at the same time attempting to look terrifying. In the end it just comes off as psychotic.
Triaxus barely holds back a sigh as the bandit begins with the 'wife and kids' fallback, but the location at least seems legit, and the bit about following the horses rings true as well. And to be honest, he wouldn't be the first man driven to crime for the sake of others. He keeps a careful watch on the criminal's eyes and face as Grendolynn stomps forward, then streches an arm back out to reform a barrier behind the two. "Well?"
The man sniffles a bit and his eyes go wide as Grendolynn yells at him. "Last I was there, 'bout a dozen or so of us. Then 5 of us came here... But I heard another group was coming up to the camp to help reinforce it, no idea how many. Could be 2 or 3, or another dozen, I can't say for sure."
"Who is your leader? I mean, who is sending the other group?" Grendolynn is too curious at this point to maintain any attempt at frightening the already miserable man, instead she just beetles her brow and bulges her eyes as wide as she can while she asks him. Figuring staring at him is enough for the moment.
Amoonrann blushed somewhat at Stellan's kindness and the offer of assistance concerning anything, but she quickly regained her composure cursing at herself internally for showing weakness before another. The remark had caught her off guard as the last thing she expected was concern over her well-being. Especially considering the incident earlier this morning where Amoonrann held Caelus hostage over an apparent misunderstanding. In many ways, she would rather be hated for her actions -- indeed, she deserved to be hated for her actions. They were rash, foolish, and the very kind of behaviour she was diametrically opposed to.
"Your concern for me is unnecessary," Amoonrann said, reverting back to her cold, reserved self as she took the kit from Stellan. "If you must meddle in someone's affairs, let it be Roga's. His indignation towards your craft will only make life more difficult for the rest of us," she added as she opened the kit to take stock of the supplies within it.
Once again Amoonrann responds defensively. One day I hope she can learn to trust somebody. "I don't like to meddle at all, just listen and learn, but as you wish. And Roga's bigotry is tiresome but there is little I can do to reassure him."
Stellan goes back to the guest house and, sitting by Elros's side, watches the browbeating of the bandit, seeing that no real harm comes to the kid for now. He doesn't mind Triaxus and Grendolynn scaring the young offender though.
"The leader of Thorn River camp, her names Kressle.. Awful, merciless lady. Hates all humans, not sure why. She carries two axes with her... Calls them "Sunshine" and "Daisy" she does - some cruel joke, to be sure. She loves nothing more than making a man soil himself... The leader of the bandits in the area? Some drunk calls himself the Stag Lord. Never met him or been to his encampment, not sure where it is. That's all I know, oh I do swear it.. Will you let me go with those rations now? I'll head straight back to my sweet little angels in Restov I will, I swear!" The man seems completely sincere, and you get the feeling you won't be able to get much more from him.
"One last question boy. Tell me true now, goblins can smell a lie. Did you ever kill a man?" Grendolynn asks him, a concerned look on her face. If he never actually killed anyone, I guess I'm okay with letting him go. I mean, if I was starving I would totally steal something to eat. That's like...self-defense or something.
"No, no I swear on the life of my ailing wife I've never killed a man! Just stealing from trappers and, well the fort here."
"Alright then, that will do for now." Triaxus says pleasantly, and looks to Stellan. "You mind keeping an eye on him while we update the others?" After the response, Triaxus pauses by the door and says quietly in Draconic,
After Stellan's answer, he steps outside of the guesthouse and with a sigh, leans against the wall, looking very tired. "Well, let's go get a consensus, shall we Grendolynn?"
Sense Motive: Killer or just mislead?
Stellan sizes up the young lad.
Replying to Triaxus:
Grendolynn will follow Triaxus out of the guest house, looking at him strangely when he starts to hiss and rasp at Stellan. I believe the kid, but stealing from trappers...I can remember times Donnovan and I went hungry when brigands robbed our traps. Once they are outside she will respond to Triaxus' question by saying, "Okay. Consensus it is. My vote is we take an eye and send him on his way. I don't think he deserves to die, but everyone should pay for their crimes." She looks around the courtyard, not seeing Amoonrann or Roga present. "Speaking of consensus, where have the others wandered off to anyway?" She asks no one in particular.
At Grendolynn's glance. Triaxus looks a bit sheepish. "Ah, sorry about that. Noticed during the fight that Stellan speaks Draconic, and I needed to ask him something without our houseguest listening in. Figured that was a safe bet." At the topic of punishment, he replies "Never thought I'd wish for one of the Mendevians to be about. A brand might actually be useful in this instance."
Triaxus sighs and sits against the wall. "Never handled so much of the punishment part of this. Always either ended up with dead bandits, running away myself, or taking them in to the local garrison. Fighting a bandit, that I can do, but this 'rope or sword' business admittedly has me a bit squeamish."
"He admitted to robbing trappers. As a trapper myself, I can tell you that I've spent many a night starving because of people like him. I don't enjoy hurting people either, but if no else is willing to do it I would. I've had a hard life. Hard enough to teach me how to switch off my feelings if I need to." She looks down at the ground, kicking around some clods of dirt with her boot. After a couple seconds she looks slowly back up and into Triaxus' eyes, and holds out her hand "Thanks..." she pauses for a moment, "...for treating me like a person. Not many folks do." She waits for him to take her hand, lips pressed earnestly together.
Seeing Triaxus and Grendolynn talking outside the guest house Roga walks over to them, he is clearly marked from the battle with bloodstained cloths from coagulated wounds, a wound on his left hand promising a scare to come. He looks inquisitive at the two and asks: "What did the bandit say during interrogation?"
"Yes, do tell," Amoonrann chimed in with passing interest as she followed Roga over to where the rest of the group had congregated. She was definitely more interested in the healing kit than the prisoner situation.
Time: After her little handshake with Tri, and his reaction.
Seeing Roga and Amoonrann returning, Grendolynn replies, "He said that locally there weren't more than a dozen of them, sounds like the same ones Svetlana told you about. He mentioned a drunk bandit lord goes by the name of Stag Lord who may or may not have been sending them reinforcements. The woman with two axes, Kressle, is the local leader. Their camp is south-west through the forest, at Thorn Ford." she pauses to take a breath. "Oh, and he claims never to have killed anyone, so we're voting on what to do with him. I suggested taking an eye and freeing him. What do you two think?" She asks, holding her hands out and shrugging her shoulders upwards, her face full of uncertainty.
Amoonrann cocked an eyebrow at the last suggestion. "Surely, you jest," she said as she stared at Grendolynn, a painfully unimpressed look on her face.
"Is what he says to be trusted?" Roga asks a bit doubtful. He looks at the two closely and adds: "Did you promise him anything?"
Realising Grendolynn's question Roga suddenly turns quiet, all he utters is a hmm... while his fingers on his right hand is tapping his palm. After a short period he answers: "The way is see it I gave him an option to surrender and he didn't. The penalty for his crime is death. However a case could be made for offering him pardon should he truly repent. This pardon would require some sort of penance.
To Amoonrann she says, "Nope. It'd more than he technically deserves, he knew the law as well as everyone else. Guess we could give him the option of death to be fair." she pauses to grunt, "If you've got a better suggest feel free to pull stick from ass and speak it." Grendolynn says, obviously annoyed at being constantly second guessed by Amoonrann.
At Roga's comments, she nods in agreement, "Aye, like losing an eye. That's not crippling, but it's a damn good reminder that actions have consequences. And, no, we didn't promise him anything."
"My thoughts of penance were that he could help us with finding his camp and help Oleg repair the damage done afterwards. I don't think we should maim him, he should be killed for his actions if the other option isn't chosen."
"Fair enough. This is the first time I've had to deal with something like this. I'm feeling pretty conflicted. I'm not sure that we really need him to find their camp, the trail of so many horses is easily followed. He might end up more of a liability if he tries to escape, and the eyes on him would be one less pair where we need them. Poor bastard's all burnt up, and who knows if he was even telling the truth about his crimes in the first place." She pauses for a long moment and then sighs, "I guess I vote we just kill him." She grimaces at the thought. I suppose this is what I signed up for. Spitting into the dirt she says, "Leaves a sour taste in my mouth, but it is actually our duty according to our charters." Gods forgive me. I've never had to kill a man outside self defense."
Amoonrann simply rolled her eyes at the Hobgoblin's insult before she closed them in thought. She elected not to retort. Partially because she didn't want to interrupt Roga, and partially because the insult was so crass it didn't merit a legitimate retort.
She listened to both sides of the argument. One proposed execution, the other proposed using the man's talents as penance for his crimes. Her concern in the matter wasn't the morality of the thing, nor what the 'law' said her duty was. The question, for Amoonrann, was which option was most in line with the nature.
"We have no right to enslave the man to do our will," Amoonrann said slowly, calmly, with her eyes still closed. "Thus, we have only two options: set him free, or kill him. The former could be the death of us all, the latter ensures our survival. The choice is obvious. She had no remorse over the decision. Death was the natural state of affairs.
This talk of 'penance' -- enslavement to an artificial ideal -- was not.
"Though I must ask, Grendolynn," Amoonrann started, opening her eyes and glaring at the Hobgoblin before her, "why does the thought of killing a man leave such a taste in your mouth when the thought of maiming him and taking his eye as 'penance' doesn't even seem to bother you in the least?" The question was, in part, an attack against Grendolynn. However, there was a genuine curiousity in there as well. Killing was natural -- it occurred in nature. It was necessary for survival.
Torture, however...leaving an animal maimed and suffering and miserable for the rest of its life? There was nothing natural about that.
"Well, most hobgoblins I've seen don't introduce themselves with a handshake after charging in to defend an outpost. Can't honestly say I didn't feel a bit of a knee-jerk reaction, but more time's passed without either of us bleeding than any other goblin I've had the pleasure of meeting. I'd say we're off to a good start." He takes her hand for a firm handshake.
"I offered him a best case and worst case, best being a day's rations and directions north, worst being a hemp rope. No promises either way. As far as his information, I had no reason to think we was lying. Thought the part about the sick wife and kids was laying it on a bit thick, but I'd hate to find out he was honest. Met men who steal for far worst than that."
Triaxus considers Roga's words, and nods. "Should probably include Oleg in this, then. It's a decent idea, but wouldn't blame the man for wanting to put the bandit to rope himself before handing him a hammer. I wouldn't be against him as a guide, but I'm admittedly equally edgy about him doing an about-face should this Kressle put the heat on him. Seemed as scared of her as he was of you, Grendolynn."
Stellan is busy with tending the wounded and he can't hear what's being discussed because then the young bandit would hear it as well.
As you all discuss the fate of the bandits, Oleg emerges from the main building and grabs the 3 corpses that are left in the yard. He walks calmly over to the storage shed to grab 3 lengths of rope, and begins to haul each of them one-by-one to the top of the Fort, where he ties the rope around their neck and then lowers them next to the gate. As he climbs down, he gives the party a grim smile. "I wouldn't object to having more bodies to hang over the walls. But as a husband myself... I'd do anything to take care of Svetlana. Do none of ya really have anybody in your lives you care that much about?" The fact that he said more than a single sentence, or gave a gruff nod, speaks volumes on how Oleg feels about the situation.
Grendolynn replies to Amoonrann's query after a moment of thought. "I guess was just offering what I'd want for myself. Taking a hand, or leg or tongue that's maiming. You can still see with one eye, and I was just searching for a way to not have to kill him. Maybe it's my childhood, punishments a lot worse than eye taking were normal when I was a kid." She shrugs before finishing, "You are all right though, it's a bad idea. I wanna hear Stellan's opinion on this." She nods to Moonie before walking over and peaking her head into the Guesthouse to call Stellen out. Once he's outside she says, "What do you vote? Kill or release?"
Stellan looks up at Grendolynn's appearance. He considers what she says and replies, "Banditry is bad but the charter allows for repentance. Sigh, of those options I'll choose release and bear the risk of error and its consequences." Turning to the young bandit, "Don't make me regret it, boy." Still thinking, Stellan says, "He's out of work and with no skills, perhaps he could be taken on, by us, as a laborer and mucker? Don't need much skill for that. Pay wouldn't be much though." Stellan watches the ex-bandit to see what his reaction is.
Sense Motive:
Amoonrann snorted distastefully at Stellan and then she turned to Roga, "May I borrow your sword so that I might throw myself upon it now? I'd rather do it myself then have my throat slit by bandits in the middle of the night." Her voice was dripping in sarcasm.
With that, she turned to face Stellan. "If the consequences were yours alone to bare, I would invite you to do as you wish," she began. "However, the consequences affect not only you, but me, the others of our group, as well as Olegg and Svetlana. Are you really prepared to wager all of those lives on the word of a bandit?" the Tiefling asked. "Let us kill the man and be done with it. We have too much left to do, and very little time to do it, Amoonrann added finally.
|
Finally awaken, Elros tries to sit up too quickly but the pain on his shoulder is too much to bear, as his hand grabs his shoulder and fall back into sleeping position.
He turn his head to look around and it seems that, the only person in this room is him, and another person, who may or may not be another member of the group. Being polite Elros greeted the man.
"Hi there, the names' El, nice to meet you."
The bandit looks slightly shocked as Elros wakes up near him and introduces himself. "I'm Gordon, nice to.. meet you too. I was really worried, oh I really was, that Happs' arrows would have put you down. Hates elves, he does. Well, did, I suppose. Almost more than Kressle hates her own kind." Gordon looks to be in pretty rough shape too, covered in burns. Elros does not recall any fires..