You start to peek, but see that both bandits visible to you are looking directly toward you. They are creeping up ready to draw steel.
Glenrenil realizes that they are aware of the trap says "I think they know were here."
Coramus calls out from the structure. "We have bows trained on you, and a wizard ready to unleash his mighty magics. Lay down your arms and submit, and we shall be merciful. Resist, and there shall be no mercy."
"Gah! Its a trap... Go go!" - clearly startled.
The second voice then... louder.. "Ambush!"
So much for drawing them in. the swordsman thinks to himself, directing Shadow toward one of the interlopers.
Pulling up next to one of the men trying to sneak in, sword drawn, Vladimir says "You'd do best to surrender now."
(higher ground)
(higher ground)
Hrafen pops-up, and prepares to rain force bolts down on one of the men, if they try to run away...
With the trap sprung, Vorik kicks his mount forward, following Vlad. He swings in to split the two bandits and attempts to bring his hammer down hard on enemy nearest the tower.
The attack comes swiftly as the pair try to retreat. One falls - maybe still living, the other seriously injured...
Now out of hiding, you see a third bandit at the edge of the firelight. He finishes loading a heavy crossbow, and fires as his ally drops at Vladimir's side.
The bandit struck by Vorik steps away from the mounted paladin with his sword drawn and held defensively. He yells... a couple gold teeth glisten - the only surface not covered in filth or stubble. "You who we are?! Bad move! move!"
Coramus's blood starts to race as the battle begins in earnest. He has never actually been in a real fight before, so he is amazed at how quickly events start unfolding.
He would prefer to focus fire on the already wounded bandit, as he has learned to do, but the horsemen are providing too much cover. Instead, he swivels to the side and fires at the crossbowman.
He frowns, reloading his crossbow.
Vladimir winces as the crossbow bolt pierces his flesh. Undeterred, the swordsman wills Shadow toward his assailant, slashing at the crossbowman.
(higher ground)
The crossbowman shrieks as he is caught between wolf and mounted warrior wearing a wound from his bolt.
He drops his empty crossbow and throws up his hands. "Give give... sorry..."
The grubby bandit still holding his sword growls... "Bah... "
He glances at his only viable avenue of escape and sees it not very viable.
He tongues a tooth and cocks his head repeatedly while eying Vorik - either a nervous tic or some kind of "So whatcha got" body language...
"Time to talk terms of surrender I s'pose..."
Coramus snorts as he reloads his crossbow, hearing the bandits surrender. He goes to check on the fallen bandit, checking for signs of life. If the bandit lives but is bleeding out, he will attempt to bandage his wounds.
The grubby bandit drives his sword into the ground. He looks down his nose at Coramus as he passes - still exploring his teeth with his tongue... then spits whatever came loose as he watches Coramus bandage the fallen bandit.
"No worries... He's been worse off."
He then resumes his unaffected smug look toward Vorik.
As he bandages the downed man, he responds savagely to the mouthy bandit. "Shut your mouth and speak when asked a question, dog! This is no parley between two equals."
Herding the former crossbowman over to his gold-toothed companion at sword-point, the swordsman asks, "You are right about one thing, we do not know who you are. I believe it would be in your best interests to enlighten us on that subject...and while you are at it, tell us about this Bulman you spoke of."
With the bandits quick surrender, Vorik checks his next swing and instead growls at the man. "I've a good notion who you are. More followers of this so called Bandit Lord we've heard about." He turns and spits on the ground near the man's feet. "We've already sent a fair number of your fellows to the pits of the Abyss. Now you've a choice as to whether you'll join them or not."
He glares at the man, anger filling his eyes. "You'll answer our questions or hang for the murderers and bandits you clearly are."
The bandit's head lowers a bit with the reprimands, and being slapped in the face with reality.
He nods.
He then glances up at Vladimir... "Bulmy was one of us... he fell in a landslide. Figured he was dead... Guess I should still be guessin he is."
Coramus nods in approval at Vorik's words and tone. "Tell us of this Bandit Lord." Coramus retrieves the weaponry of the fallen man, setting it inside the structure before quickly returning.
Coramus hears Glenrenil's concern over the bolt and rushes over, holding his hand up. "Hold, my lady. Save your item for dire straits. I can call upon my deity for healing."
If he is able to deter her, Coramus will burn Shield of Faith for a Cure Light.
If she continues anyway, he scowls but says nothing, turning back to the prisoners' questioning.
"Thank you both." Vladimir says with an appreciative nod toward each of the parties newest members before returning his attention to the captured bandits.
"You still have not told us who you are. Does the name Topper Red mean anything to you?"
The crossbowman snaps a glance at the grubby bandit.
The grubby bandit narrows his eyes, then realization dawns on him.
"Ahh ... Topper's poem. Yeah, he came out with us. Right crazy one, he is. This was to be an out-post... heh... Dovan always liked playing soldier."
He looks over to Coramus, and a sidelong peek toward Vorik.
"Stag Lords the boss. Half demon... half mountain. Heck all ya could bury your blades into him and just make'em mad. Heh."
Coramus looks thoughtful, pondering the bandit's words. "Tell it true, now. How many men does the Stag Lord keep around him?"
"Whole mess more than you've got here... I'll tell you that." He looks over to the crossbowman, and locks eyes with him.
Vladimir simply stares coldly at the bandits, awaiting more useful information before adding, "My companions have asked you questions and have told you the price for any lack of cooperation. Again, I would suggest it would be in your best interests to cooperate."
Coramus frowns at the bandits, glaring at them as Vladimir presses for more information.
"Few more than a dozen still at the fort... Used to be more when Dovan was Stag Lord's second. Akiros "Lady-Locks" has taken over... cut back. That's when we pulled men from here - and we'd just taken it from that old prune."
"Topper calls himself the Stag Lord's entertainment director and poet lorit or somethin. He makes sure the Stag Lord always has plenty to drink and playthings plucked from the fields and wagon trails... only way to keep the big guy entertained short of one of us meetin a messy death."
Vladimir continues his icy stare down of the prisoners. "You heard the lady."
"Sure... yeah.. the fort on Tuskwater Lake. North side... between the rivers Skunk and Shrike. We're prob'ly near twenty miles from it way out here."
"We don't usually wander this much north of Middleridge Trail any more... "
"Dovan told us those're the people likely to come after us. Don't know how much it matter'd who it was, but like I said... he was fixed on playin soldier at war. Guess livin in an old fort does that some people."
"What other information do you have of use?" Vladimir asks, softening his tone ever so slightly.
"Otherwise, you will have a choice to make. One that has been given to every bandit we have dealt with, repent and make a mends for your past transgressions or be paid the wages for your past deeds. Honestly, your choice matters little to me, but is still one you must make."
The promises of this band of thieves mean nothing to Coramus. He would just as soon string them up than allow them to run loose in what will soon be civilized country. The choice has been offered, though, and Coramus respects promises enough to leave the choice to the bandits, even though he doubts their sincerity.
He goes forward to gather the weapons of the other two, not trusting them in the least.
"I know a lotta things, young man... but I expect by the way you're talking, you'd find little use for what's in my crock. Lookin for an angle on how to take down the Stag Lord? All I can say is you better hope your gods are sweet on ya. If that's about it... I choose the wages - which I expect you mean to take rather than give."
"So, which you wanna take? Fingers from my kill hand? or from the other that did nothin to stop it?" He grins. "Cuttin was kinda my bag, so I'm itchin to see how you folks go about it."
"Does the Stag Lord keep a watch? A lookout of any kind?"
Coramus frowns. Cuttin was his bag? Well, the wages Coramus would take would be head from neck, but he remains silent, measuring his companions' reaction.
"Yeah he keeps a watch... at least one at the gate... usually a couple. Just watchin for deliveries... never any trouble. Don't think anyone's ever come up on us... yer sure to catch em off guard come prancing up to the gate." He snickers in silent jerks, then smacks a bug crawling from his hairline.
Hrafen wrinkles his nose.
...and here we have the measure of the caliber of bandit keeping this region in thrall. How charming...
Still, he refrain from voicing his opinions, content to let the larger members of the party finish conducting the interrogation.
Vorik scowls as he listens to the bandit. For some reason this one seemed different from the others that had renounced their ways back at Oleg's. Keeping silent he focuses his energy to see if there is anything worth saving in this case. Although, the more the man talks, Vorik's scowl deepens and his inclination toward mercy grows less and less.
This is more than a tough guy act. You see nothing which suggests that anything could be done to change this bandit's anti-social tendencies.
All three are evil.
Vorik dismounts and steps behind the bandit and binds his hands. As he does so he turns to the others, "This man has already given his soul over to evil. Even under the threat of death he speaks lies and boasts of his evil deeds. I'd not trust his oath even if it was freely given."
His voice is stern, angry, and touched with a bit of pity and sadness as he continues, this time speaking to the bandit. "You are charged with acts of murder and banditry. For these crimes you are subject to the punishment of either maiming, banishment, or death depending on what my peers determine as a just punishment. For my vote, I would see you hang and to the Abyss with your foul soul."
He turns to the rest of the group, "What say you?"
"I thought we were quite clear on the price for not repenting." Vladimir says rather matter-of-factly.
Turning his attention to the gold-toothed bandit, "You have chosen the wages of your crimes. On your knees. I promise you a swift death, which is great deal better than I am sure you deserve." he says, readying his blade to take the man's head.
Coramus adds his voice to make it three. "Aye, for the good of this land you must die." He stands to the side, keeping his eyes on the bandit and Vlad. If one was ready to pronounce judgment, one must see it through to the end.
You end the bandits late in the night, and welcome the new day when the sun rises.
You now have a good idea now where the Stag Lord's fort is, and the bandit's claim on the number residing there.
You did not detect any hints of lying or other deception in his tactical information.
After finishing breakfast, Coramus addresses the group. "So, perhaps fifteen to twenty men at the Stag Lord's fort, if the bandit is to be believed. I wonder if that number is reduced by three, now? What say you all? Do we wipe this scourge from these lands, or bide our time?"