Used to taking his meals in private, Zander does his best to stealthily wrap his food in his napkin to eat later when he can lift his mask in peace.
As Svetlana tells her tale, Zander's heart goes out to the woman. These are clearly good people and no one deserves to be treated that way. Any shyness forgotten by the Levetons' plight, Zander speaks up, "We will take care of these bandits." Looking around to his fellows, he suggests, "Perhaps we should prepare an ambush?"
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Verik swallows a mouthful of elk and says, "Of course we will help, what can you tell us about these bandits Svetlana? Anything might be helpful, the types of weapons they favor, what their leader looks like, that sort of thing. Very considerate of them to come to us, my blisters have blisters so its nice to know we won't have to go traipsing around after the blighters."
Having said his piece he takes up his wine glass and peers at Svetlana inquiringly over the rim as he drinks.
Tandlara makes point of not even looking in Zander's direction when he lifts his mask fractionally to eat. His secrets are his. Humans always open up sooner or later. I'm not the one in a hurry!
Her eyebrows raise at the mention of the bandits villainy and she can be seen to mutter 'terrible, terrible' under her breath as Svetlana tells her story.
'Maybe we should see what our various talents in the field of bandit extirpation are. I'm not much of a fighter, but I have a few tricks. I can call mist, which should help ambush attempts, I can also strike men with fear, to weaken them or have them run away, even lose the strength from their muscles. I happily offer any two of those options, as that is my limit I'm afraid in this diminished state.'
Taisper listens very intensely as Svetlana tells her story, looking from her to Oleg. When she finishes, his eyes are misted up. He speaks very quietly, but with passionate sincerity. "It's not just a ring. It's important. But so are your lives and your bond of family. You're both very brave. ... These bandits will die."
Taisper turns to Verik and says softly; "Thank you for healing him, cousin, that was Good work. The Keeper will mark your deed." He smiles warmly, then turns to Jemini. "Verik's my cousin, Captain, on my father's side. 'S why we're built pretty differently. Verik's had a pretty different upbringing from me, too, which I think is part of why he needs a little more time to get comfortable around people sometimes, maybe. But he's got a good soul, and is about the most talented cleric I've met. I'm real proud to call him family." Taisper smiles at Jemini. "How about you? Any family? I mean, if I can ask. Don't mean to pry."
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Verik waves his fork vaguely, "Taisper it is a ring, you mean its not just a ring. And as for being the most talented cleric you've ever met, well, we both know that that is rank exaggeration; I've seen the Abbott bring that huge statue of Abadar in the courtyard to life and have it walk to the stone mason's - when that Winslow boy chipped it." He shakes his head in awe at the memory.
"I on the other hand can - if I am lucky - scare a single person, undo the damage done by a sharp metal stick, or make someone sit down for a few seconds." He looks down at his plate a mutters something largely inaudible which contains the words, "proud" and "family".
Taking to his meal enthusiasticly Berrin eats so quickly he seems to be breathing in the foor, not eating it. As Svetlanas story unravels he slows down his eating, stoping compleatly with the somber tale he turns deathly quiet.
"I say we let them in. Lock the gate behind them. And have a nice, looong chat with the fellows." he says after a moments quiet, his face dark.
"I'm best with a bow, but can use my blade if quarters get close. I suggest I should take a position on the wall," replies Zander whilst looking about the table, sizing up his companions.
'The woman and the big fellow look like they'd make a good front line with the cousins backing them up. The elf woman doesn't seem the sort to enter a melee...
"We could take positions around the gate and strike them when they make their entrance," clearing his throat and looking about nervously he continues, "Tandlara, perhaps umm... perhaps you should join me on the wall. It will be safer there."
"I say we let them in. Lock the gate behind them. And have a nice, looong chat with the fellows." he says after a moments quiet, his face dark.
"I agree, Berrin, well mostly. Lock the gate once they are in ensures that they will have a hard time escaping. I do prefer the chat with them to be very short and abrupt."
Jemini faces Svetlana, "You are assured of our aid. But we need no reward in return - you have suffered enough at the hands of these villains. It is enough if we may use Oleg's Trading Post as a base of operations, and maybe strike the occasional favorable deal. We will probably need some odd item from Restov - and would have to rely on you to acquire it for us. That will be enough."
He smiles warmly, then turns to Jemini. "Verik's my cousin, Captain, on my father's side. 'S why we're built pretty differently. Verik's had a pretty different upbringing from me, too, which I think is part of why he needs a little more time to get comfortable around people sometimes, maybe. But he's got a good soul, and is about the most talented cleric I've met. I'm real proud to call him family." Taisper smiles at Jemini. "How about you? Any family? I mean, if I can ask. Don't mean to pry."
Jemini laughs a little at Taisper's cautious query, "Don't fear, I take little offense. I'm Lady Jemini of House Lebeda; my father governs the lands surrounding Lake Reykal. Although our bloodline draws from the noble houses, we're primarily merchants rather than rulers these days - my father always emphasizes that the best way to ensure peace and prosperity, is to promote the trade within and outside of society."
Svetlana tries to describe the bandits rather unsuccessfully. "Oh, their leader was a woman, though not a lady. She had short, dark hair and a scar on her face. She only came the first time. The other leader was a man with brown hair and cruel eyes. I don't really know their weapons. Some had bows and some had swords. A few of them had leather suits on."
Oleg pipes in, "Armor, leather armor. We can close the gate pretty quickly with the pulleys. No more than 10 seconds."
"That would be ideal. Is there a convenient way to reach the roof and quickly and safely get down again? I want to give them one chance to surrender - if they will not comply, they will become acutely aware of our blades and arrows." She turns to Oleg specifically, "I can imagine that you will want to seek revenge against these agitators. Please let me compel you to stay your anger. I want you to stay in a safe room with your wife, she should not be alone at that time."
"Do you know how many we can expect? And how they generally handle their arrival?"
"I do prefer the chat with them to be very short and abrupt."
"Quick and dirty it is then. I'd like a chance to chat with the basterd who broke Oleg's arm though." Berrin replies with a nod to Jemini, still deathly serious. "I realy don't like little boys who like to throw their weight around."
Turning to Oleg he proceeds with a calm not seen in him untill now, the buisness of killing was serious and Berrin didn't like it over much. "10 seconds? That means we will have to get them well into the courtyard. I could sit out by the benches, counting coin, that should get their attention."
Oleg gruffly rebuts her. "Unless you know how to use the finicky pulley system, I'll be out there when they arrive. No buts. This is my home, and I am no coward. There were 6 of them last time, coming at dawn and riding into the post on horseback. I can set up a ladder if you need to get on the roofs."
Used to taking his meals in private, Zander does his best to stealthily wrap his food in his napkin to eat later when he can lift his mask in peace.
1d20 + 3
As Svetlana tells her tale, Zander's heart goes out to the woman. These are clearly good people and no one deserves to be treated that way. Any shyness forgotten by the Levetons' plight, Zander speaks up, "We will take care of these bandits." Looking around to his fellows, he suggests, "Perhaps we should prepare an ambush?"
Seeing the masked fellow, Zander, trying to hide his food, or...stow it, or something, Taisper stretches his arms out on the table and begins toying with a copper piece, attempting to distract people further from Zander while simultaneously shielding him view a little bit, in order to help him. Though really he doesn't think anyone else noticed, anyway, he would help the guy if he could.
The sound of the coin twirling draws Berrins attention, frowning at the coin he looks up to Taisper, wondering what he's doing. Catching a slight gesture he looks to Zander, stares a bit as he slips a bit of food away, shrugs and turns back to Oleg. "It's your home. Of course you'll defend it. Just don't do anything stupid like getting killed. You may be big, but I'm guessing your no warrior. The terms offered by Jemini are nothing if not fair."
Taisper continues to listen quietly as the strategists discuss things. He knows his purpose will be revealed in time, and he also knows he can assist wherever needed. He has already targeted these bandits in his mind's eye as heretics and philistines, with no respect for the elegant machinery of civilization. They would be destroyed.
Noting with pride how well Verik's suggestions were taken by the Captain and the big warrior, Taisper quietly says a prayer. He understands the most efficacious prayers are said aloud, but while he is proud of his faith, he respects others' right not to have to share it with him, so he keeps it under his breath, audible only if someone makes a concerted effort to listen.
I am your servant, your hands, your eyes
Strengthen the bonds of camaraderie and kinship
here forming
Break any ties of jealousy and spite
here lingering
That your work be done
That the gears turn and the lock close
And the vault remain inviolate"
The sound of the coin twirling draws Berrins attention, 1d20-1
'Perhaps the plan so far is this: We stay mostly out of sight, let the bandits enter. When they are entirely within the courtyard, and hopefully dismounted if they come on horses, Jemini will step forth and offer to let them surrender. The boys will be neary ready to jump into action adn me and Zander can be lying flat on the palisades with a good view of the yard. If they refuse I'll turn the region around the gates foggy and Oleg will get them closed. While the rest of you start beating them up in prompt fashion. Is that right?' Tandlara asks. Her rat is now asleep in her lap and she idly strokes it while she speaks, looking around at each of the gathered heroes and their hosts in turn.
"Very well," Jemini sighs inwardly everybody wants to be a hero; but I cannot begrudge this man his valor, "then promise me you won't get yourself killed - you have a wife that loves you very much and needs you as much as you need her. And a ladder will do nicely, thank you."
She nods at Berrin. "Very well, you can have him - his kind deserves what they get - but in return, and this goes for everybody, I would like to offer them their chance at salvation before they meet the justice ends of our weapons. Even if they do not surrender, their resolve will waver in the light of our force."
"Does anybody wish to add anything? Zander? I think you may have more experience with such thugs as the rest of us. And Tandlara? I suspect you've already developed a likely scenario of how the encounter will commence, please enlighten us if you can help."
The sound of the coin twirling draws Berrins attention, 1d20-1
"Your suggestion is sound, Tandlara; we shall follow that route and let'm have it if they fail to see the error of their ways."
"Agreed. I'm no good at hiding so I'll stay outside with Jemini." Berrin nods in agreement with Tandlara. "Besides, we don't want the beuty marred." he adds with a big grin, taking a bite of meat he chuckles softly finding some of his levety again.
Not quite sure whether to take Jemini's words as a slight on his character, Zander replies, "I have encountered bandits like these in my travels. Most are desperate men driven to crime by the poor hand they were dealt in life. Not everyone is fortunate enough to grow up in lakeside estates I'm afraid. It's unlikely that they will listen to reason without a show of force, but if things turn against them they may try to escape. Blocking off their exit is a sound plan."
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"Ah now mercy is all well and good, but the charter - which we have all accepted - clearly stipulates the punishments for these bandits. They are to be put to death by the sword or the rope. Now while we might give thought to exceptional circumstances they hardly sound likely here. And I must warn you I won't countenance torture..." Verik says in a measured, but firm tone.
"Otherwise it sounds like a good plan to me. Now if you care to wait for me to act, I will try to invoke Abadar's blessings and command one of them to lie down. It may not be the most honorable approach, but it is a lot easier to hit a man on the floor, and he still has to get up... I should be able to take care of most injuries as they occur, so long as you are close enough to me - thirty feet or so."
Verik pauses for a moment, and appears to begin raising his hand before catching himself, "I wonder, could we all simply hide behind the open gates? And charge into action as soon as Oleg closes them?"
The sound of the coin twirling draws Berrins attention, 1d20-1
"They'd get suspicious if noone was visible I reckon. You and Taisper can stay with Oleg by the gate, but the plan is to fog that area to pin them in after Jemini lures them deeper into the post.." Berrin replies to Verik.
Oleg and Svetlana continue to serve the group as they work out a plan. Svetlana is rather uncharacteristically unenthusiastic about the potential for killing. "Whatever you all think is best. We're not soldiers like you are. I just want to be safe."
Verik pauses for a moment, and appears to begin raising his hand before catching himself, "I wonder, could we all simply hide behind the open gates? And charge into action as soon as Oleg closes them?"
'Not if we want to capture them my boy, without a fight. As unlikely as it is, I beleive Jemini feels rather strongly about giving them the chance. As long as most of us are hidden that won't cost us much advantage either. Wouldn't you say?' Tandlara smiles at him.
'As for the charters stipulations, I'm sure that we have discretion in how best to act. There will be irredeemable men among them, and certainly among their leaders. But like Zander says, live isn't easy on the frontier. We can easily detain prisoners in horse irons in the stables. For a short while anyway. If our hosts are not too put out! I'm sure Restov or even honorable Lady Lebeda will pay them comiseration."
She beams around at everyone, stopping longer on the suprisingly bloodthirsty Svetlana than anyone else. Before stretching her arms and yawning but saying no more for the time being, she reverts into bemused silence and tucks her now sleepign familiar into his pouch on her belt.
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"I see no reason to risk our own lives - and likely those of Svetlana and Oleg - to give bandits, who have already robbed this establishment a chance. They have already committed their crimes, their guilt has already been established, and we have already agreed to their fate by accepting the charter." Verik replies, frowning.
"If they surrender, or if they are knocked out then perhaps we can afford to show some leniency if they are willing to talk, but otherwise surely our hands are tied."
Taisper nods slowly as he listens to his cousin. "Verik's right. These people have foregone any chance at mercy. I won't parlay. I will wait until they are within our ambush, and then I will begin killing them." Taisper smiles and shrugs in a "heywatchagonnado, amiright?" kind of way. "Seeking surrender will be a waste of time. I can see it."
Zander gives a nod of agreement, "If these are the same men that have threatened Oleg and Svetlana I agree that they deserve what is coming to them. If the Lady Lebeda would like to attempt a parlay, it may serve as a sufficient distraction, but I'm afraid no amount of friendly words will turn these men's lives around."
Jemini looks sternly at Verik and Taisper, "May I remind you that the charter stipulates that 'the punishment for unrepentant banditry remains, as always, execution by sword or rope'? I do not suggest to parley with these miscreants. A simple show of force and opportunity to lay down their weapons will take no longer than the proverbial 6 seconds. It will be enough for you to delay your actions until I have had my chance to speak."
Jemini turns to Zander, looking curiously shocked. "I know fate has been kind to me; but fate's gifts come with the duty to match and we can count ourselves fortunate if we are able to meet it when it makes its demands." She changes pace, "In Lebeda - and in many areas of the River Kingdoms - the Law of Mundraub prevails; it stipulates that you cannot punish a man or woman for stealing food to prevent starvation. Desperation? This is not a society that can condone the actions of 'desperate' men who pillage and rape where others toil. We know well the difference between desperate men, and those who make a sport of it."
Taisper looks visibly pained at Jemini's rebuke, then sits back in his chair. He looks at the coin in his hand and furrows his brow, thinking.
With a cold look at Jemini, Zander shoots back, "I said nothing of condoning these men's actions. They have crossed a line and deserve their fate, but perhaps there would be less desperate men in these realms if the aristocracy gave them a chance to rise above their birth and make something of their lives rather than be given the choice of working themselves to death for coppers a day or turning to banditry. Perhaps if the ruling nobility had attended to their duty a little more keenly these men we're to deal with tomorrow could have been steered down a different path."
'No need to battle it out young ones. I like the Lady's plan. If only so they are distraced from Oleg.' Tandlara adds, watching the back and forth with a sad expression.
'Perhaps we should put it to a vote? Fair and square? Though I urge you all to consider giving them a chance to prove their unrepentantness. Which as Jemini points out is a part of the charter! A less voilent approach. I don't expect it to work, but don't we owe it to ourselves to be better than the men we hunt? To at lest try to spare lives?'
Zander's gaze softens as he looks to Tandlara, "I accept the plan to give the men a chance to repent, but I tell you now nothing will come of it. I do believe however that it will provide sufficient distraction for us to close the gate and proceed with our little ambush. It is possible that the men may lay down their arms when beset from all sides, but I fear that this will come to a bloody end no matter what."
Jemini seems slightly mollified that the plan is coming together. She concedes that "I can understand that to the casual eye the life of an aristocrat is like a dream come true. And I know more than one noble that has nothing better to do than laze fatly or chase skirts all day. But surely you must give nobility the same discerning grace that you give these bandits? Surely you must admit that some nobility rise above petty subsistence and truly deserve the moniker 'noble'?" She sighs, commenting mostly to herself, "Am I not, in a way, proof of that?"
Oleg, griff as always, puts his laconic two cents in. "They threatened my wife. Kill them all for all I care."
Svetlana gasps, putting her hand on Oleg's. "Oleg! Maybe they're not all bad, just forced to do these things to keep the Drag Lord happy. I don't know about not giving them a chance to turn back. It's what Erastil would want."
Studying the woman's face, Zander pauses for a moment and considers her words before replying, "Perhaps you speak the truth, but as these men of Abadar might say, the jury is still out on that verdict."
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Verik produces his charter and swiftly scans it, "Ah, you are quite right Jemini, consider my objection withdrawn. It should still be possible for us to take positions behind the gate though, correct? That way if the negotiations fail we can attempt to take them by surprise."
Turning to Svetlana with a brow quirked, "Stag lord?"
"Yes, let actions be the evidence by which we are judged."
Jemini gets up; "if there's nothing more - I shall retire for now. The battle with these bandits won't be easy. I wish to pray, and rest well before the morning.
Berrin quiets down as the discussion turns to crime and punishment, his face turning into a stoic mask.
The talk of punishment for crimes done seems to make Berrin twitchy.
"Well, umm.. They can't all be be bad right? Some of them must have gotten a bad turn somwhere, yes? Don't they deserva at least a chance at redemption?"
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"No, no they don't. They have to pay for their crimes one way or another. Now if they repent of course the penalty can be far less severe, but we cannot let them off wholly no matter what. Think of all the people their actions have hurt, Oleg and Svetlana cannot have been the only ones. And not only the physical harm, and theft, the fact that people must live in fear of these leeches." Verik replies to Berrin, raising his chin unconsciously.
"It seems clear that my duty requires me to see this "Stag Lord" to the gibbet, if he is the leader of these reprobates."
'Well at least we've agreed on one thing!' Tandlara claps her hands together. 'We had best go to bed early aswell tonight. So that we are ready for our big debut tomorrow. What time do the bandits usually come?']
She smiles and yawns delicately. Stretching out her slender limbs.
Svetlana smiles and answers. "I'll get your beds set up. They've been coming right at dawn. They usually make a lot of noise, so there will be a lot of warning." She sets off to prepare the guest room.
Tandlara sprawls haphazardly across her bed, the grace and calm of the day replaced odd angled limbs and mussed hair. She snores queitly her mought wide open, the only clothes she removes are the bone fetishes and her boots.
After everyone leaves, Taisper gets up. He has not had one drop of ale, instead drinking only water with dinner. "Thanks so much for the hospitality, Svetlana and Oleg, I really appreciate it." He says as he steps out the door. Tandlara was right, of course, the most important thing was they found consensus in their group, but Taisper was still troubled by the idea of having to reconcile the current local authority (Jemini) with the greater authority of Abadar in his heart in order to avoid discord.
Taisper was not as beholden to Law as his cousin, though he respected it and understood well its importance. He also understood his place and special dispensation from the church to carry out the will of The Keeper as was communicated to him via divine channels, even if those commands ran counter to the law.
For now he would acquiesce. These were all such interesting and powerful people, and would make such great friends if given a chance. It certainly wasn't worth the trouble to hassle over a small point of order.
But Taisper would watch this unfold, and he would keep his heart open to the Keeper, as always, and he would see how things developed. He hoped for the best.
Arriving at the guest house, Taisper shucked off his armor and an outer layer of clothes. Growing up dirt poor in Alkenstar, he was used to sharing much tinier rooms with at least as many people, so this was practically luxury. After a brief prayer, he went to sleep, his weapons in arms' reach under the bed.