As you're lashing your horses to the hitching fence, Olbrent bounds up the porch toward the door "Etson has the key... I will speak with him right now."
He returns a minute later with the key, and holds the door open for you and the two bandits. "He's fine with tonight. Still need to hash out the situation after that."
The steps leading to the mezzanine are on the immediate right as you enter. Brother Aster is dining alone on the other side of the tavern - near the fireplace. Olbrent points toward the doors along the upper level "...second door", and nods to you before returning to speak with Etson - who is intently watching your entrance.
Taking the key, Vladimir nods toward Olbrent in thanks. He then leads the two former bandits to the room. "Jence, Mulgin mind your manners while you are here. We shall speak with the elders of this village and with a priest you have assaulted in particular to see if they will allow you to stay. If not, there is still another option."
Locking the two away, Vladimir heads back downstairs to rejoin his companions in speaking with Brother Aster.
Brother Aster stands when he sees you, and scoots a pair of townies from an adjacent table to another so he can push two together.
"I hadn't expected to see your return come so soon. Please... sit." His eyes scan the group - likely hoping to see his bow on someone's back.
"Ah... there it is. No small comfort to have it back."
"Glad we could get it back to you, Brother Aster." Vladimir says with a smile.
"There is another matter we would like to discuss with you..." Vladimir begins. "Two of the bandits responsible for assaulting you have surrendered to us, with hopes of making amends for their past transgressions. They are to serve an indentured servitude for one year, hopefully in which time they will learn to become productive members of the community. Any further transgressions by the two shall be met swiftly with the blade or rope."
Pausing a moment for Aster to think on the subject, Vladimir asks, "What do you say, Aster? Are you willing to allow these two this last chance to change their ways?"
"To add to what Vlad said, we want to help the community, and that means we don't want to just drop them off and then go off to the hinterlands and never be seen again. We would make sure to follow unfolding events and help however we can in making these men an asset to the village instead of a problem."
Brother Aster sighs, and rubs his head as Vladimir asks him what he has to say. He then points to Marisol during her continuation of the proposal.
"These people have suffered from bandits, as you know. And... If it takes two men to watch them, they would be as much bother as potential asset. Your plan to stay involved does sway me from an outright no. Bah... I don't want to tell you no. If Etson agrees to it, I will not argue against."
Wyelna comes for your order "Heyo.. Hog and hare tonight. However you like. Potatoes, marinated carrots, and bacon-fried chard."
Near the kitchen, you hear Etson raise his voice "I agreeed.. to one.. night!" speaking with Olbrent Dover. He bangs the back door open and the two step out. You hear squawking and quacks - wings flapping against cages.
Wyelna tips her head toward the back door. "Duck's on the menu tomorrow."
"Thank you, Wyelna, it all sounds wonderful so I will leave it to your discretion."
Hearing the commotion near the kitchen, Vladimir mutters to himself, "That sounds less than promising..."
"I do seem to recall you mentioning a wand as a reward..." Balter remarks with a faint smirk when Aster's bow is returned to him. Being paid for services rendered certainly seemed to interest him more than ascertaining the fates of their prisoners. Though in truth, recovering the bow had not been any trouble at all; if it had just been a matter of routing the bandits, he would have done it for free.
It is the prospect of a hot meal that really grabs Balter's attention. Hunting for food was nice, but he had no objections to living on the lap of luxury. Well, as luxurious as Chafwinth was, anyway.
"Bacon-fried sounds great, thanks," he says to Wyelna, before catching onto the conversation between Etson and Olbrent. Smart man, he thinks, though at this point, dragging the (ex-)bandits to Oleg's did not exactly sound very appealing.
Hrafen perks up at the mention of duck.
"I believe that I have a small stash of mead in storage that work wonderfully as a glaze for duck..."
His voice trails off as he listens to the argument outside, a frown crossing his features.
I hope we don't cause these poor folk any more trouble by virtue of our 'mercy'...
He gives you a pained look upon hearing Etson's remark. "Perhaps I should be more trusting in your judgement. You know the situation as well as I, and have spent more time with the pair." He nods a few times to himself... "I'll lend my support in convincing Etson."
He looks to Balter, and smirks slightly "But first... the wand. I'll fetch it right now."
"I'm going to see what I can do to help," says Marisol. As Brother Aster stands, she does so as well, and heads to the kitchen. "Anything I can do here?" she says as she enters. "I know a little bit about cooking, m'self."
Durielle does her best to outline her thinking and reasons to the town leader Olbrent and the cleric Brother Aster.
Sadly, it would seem her arguments do not sound as convincing as they did in the field impassioned after witnessing Topper Red's death.
Marisol steps back out of the kitchen sheepishly, unbuckles her baldric and puts her cutlass and armor on a chair near the group. "Old habits," she says before she heads back to the kitchen.
"Oh... that's fine...." Wyelna glances to the door Etson had just exited "Well... I suppose we could put you to use." She smiles sincerely amused when Marisol returns "I didn't know if I needed to tell you the potatoes are unarmed."
Wyelna chats a bit in between the talk needed for coordination in the kitchen.... nostly about her customers... some things about the times "before Natty Tulnov", and some things "since Ser Ducheski and Master Vormenghast saved the settlement"... nothing about their time suffering under the bandits.
Brother Aster soon returns, and delivers the wand. "Here you are. I hope you don't find yourselves needing too much use of it out there. So, when do you expect to resume your explorations?"
Vladimir nods in thanks as Aster hands over the wand.
"I would assume as soon as Jence and Mulgin are where ever their destination maybe, be it here or back at Oleg's." the swordsman says in response to Brother Aster's question. "Although we may have to look into another group of bandits not far from here before we get back to the expedition. The bandits are led by a man called Dovan. Mean anything to you?"
"Rings a bell...One of the Stag Lord's men, no? Seems I remember the name from some account of the bandits visiting Quillor Farms." He nods vetting the memory in his own mind. "Yes... was months ago, but Dovan was a name among the Stag Lord's men.. led the group I believe. A swordsman... longhaired, conceited, dark-humored... fancy dress and gear. I was not present myself, but he'd made an impression on Enzi Quillor."
With a few exceptions, that very well could describe me... Vladimir thinks to himself.
"How far from here is Quillor Farms? What sort of impression did Dovan leave on Enzi? He did not join him perchance, did he?"
"Oh no no no... He forced Enzi to duel with him. He gave Enzi a sword, and then beat him like a fool with an empty scabbard and an arm behind his back. He then deferred his prize to another thug who slobbered over Enzi's wife until they'd had their fun for the night."
"The farms are far from here. I rarely get out that way more than a few times a year, and the trip seems to get longer each time... maybe twenty-five miles southwest. I'm sorry I'm not good with maps or I'd show you... I rely on landmarks and faith."
"That should be all we need to find our way," Balter says, nodding self-assuredly, "Sounds like this Enzi should have quite the chip on his shoulder. With any luck, he will be all too happy to point us in the right direction."
Marisol's upper lip curves slightly with distaste and she says, "Sounds like this Dovan fellow needs a bit of a lesson himself."
"I believe you are right, Marisol." Vladimir says with a nod.
"Based on the information that have already gathered, Dovon's outpost lies within an area that we have yet to fully explore. Sounds like an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone."
Hrafen nods.
"Agreed. We should do something about this thug, and sooner rather than later..."
Night comes and passes without incident.
The next morning, Etson waves you to his table - taking a break after finishing his prep work.
"I've spoken with Doc... and I had a word with the new tenants. Doc said you all are planning on goin after another group of bandits." He nods for a bit "But you can't head out until the two are settled in."
"Doc said... and I agree, it'd be a shame to force you folk to wait on our word... when there're more important matters on your list, eh? We'll put these two to work. But no more. Things may change some time, but for now... wouldn't take many ex-bandits before they'd outnumber the rest of us. Just make sure to check in every so often, eh?"
"Good luck out there... happy hunting."
"Thank you, Etson, for taking the two in you have. I understand, no more ex-bandits for now. Any other penitent types we come up with will have to go to Oleg's if anywhere. The small garrison from Restov at his place is better suited to handling more, should it be needed."
Turning back toward Etson as he heads out to prepare Shadow for the journey ahead he says, "Have no worries, Etson. We will be back soon to check-in on what I hope will be Jence and Mulgin's progress."
Having done his best to ease Etson's concerns, Vladimir continues on his way to prepare his mount for the party's latest journey.
"Everyone ready to go?"
That morning, Balter spends an hour quietly meditating, once again preparing his single spell for the day. Perhaps he would actually need it this time. He keeps his mouth shut when Etson speaks to him, trusting in the party's judgment for the time being. They had proven themselves more than competent, after all.
"Of course," he replies to Vladimir, as he prepares his own horse for the ride ahead. He pauses for a moment, realizing that he still hadn't named the beast of burden.
Hrafen nods.
"As ready as I am ever going to be, I believe."
"Let's put paid to this rogue," says Marisol with a nod.
Deciding against anything meaningful, Balter instead thinks to their most recent kill. A creature he could actually respect. "'Owlbear' it is, then," he says to the horse with a smirk, patting its side.
By the time you are ready to head out, the two have already been put to work.. Mulgin at the blacksmith, and Jence at Etson's tavern. You see Mulgin working the bellows as you pass.. and overhear Blacksmith McMiggen speaking to him "Alright... ease up. Hot enough. That's good... Grab me those longer tongs..."
You pass the namesake of Balter's horse down the southwestern bend of Middleridge. Animals have been at the owlbear's remains. Some wild grey-brown canine is feeding on a bony hunk of meat fifteen feet further off trail. It is half-concealed by the tall grasses, on its belly - using its forepaws to hold the bone as it tears the meat free.
A slight grin comes to the swordsman's face, seeing what he hopes is the beginning of a new life for the two former bandits.
His grin turns to a frown, seeing the wild, dog-like creature feasting on the carcass. "Seems our handy work has drawn some attention. Should we deal with it or let him be...one scavenger shouldn't be much of a worry."
Durielle performs some of her divinatory work before they ride out of town.
The oracle smiles to see the two men working as she rides Whisper past them. She tries to catch their eye and gives them an encouraging wave and nod of her head if they notice her.
Later on, Durielle looks satisfied as the animals feast. "Nature has its way. Life comes, and life goes. We go on. Leave them to the feast we made them."
"But I do sense more than one of this canine lurks in the grass. Perhaps be on your guard everyone. It is unclear why it is not sharing in the meal with its fellow. " She cranes her neck to get a better look at it if possible. "Or perhaps it has its own prize hidden in the grass."
She gets a firmer grip on Whisper's reins in one hand. With the other she draws her dueling sword and lays the blade horizontally across the pommel gripping the hilt tightly.
As Whisper seems a bit more skittish about the dogs or wolves, Durielle sighs. "I wish Whisper was as well trained as your own mount, Sir Vladimir."
The animal growls as you slow to look over the area.
Hrafen shurgs.
"Its a natural beast, defending its meal. I say we continue on, and leave it in peace; something has to clean-up the owlbear, after all..."
Balter grunts, nodding at Hrafen's assessment of the situation. "It is why we left it there in the first place. No need to leave more carcasses to draw in even more wild beasts."
You continue, pass the area where Mulgin had mentioned Dovan's patrols, and about a couple hours before noon come to the more verdant hills - the border of today's planned expedition.
By early evening you finish exploring the northern two-thirds. Most of the terrain is similar to what you'd first seen... lush green hills, some lightly wooded areas. Further west, the soil gets rockier. The area furthest west is even more so.. maybe not even arable - as appears the visible terrain west of this hex.
You approach the liftbridge known as Nettle's Crossing. The bridge is up. A sprocketed wheel is visible on the other side - which likely lifts and lowers it. There is a half-charred, half ivy-covered watch house on the far side as well.
The current is strong... it would be a difficult swim across. There are 6"x6" posts in the water - spaced about four feet from each other - which serve as supports when the bridge is lowered.
"Hmph. Looks like only one of us needs to get to the other side," Balter observes, regarding the sprocketed wheel. With a sigh he dismounts Owlbear and takes a step toward the water. "Well, no need for us all to get wet. If there are no objections...?"
"No objections at all, Balter." Vladimir says, gesturing in an "after you" type manner.
Hrafen nods, obviously relieved that he can stay dry.
"By all means, go ahead!"
Durielle reins Whisper in and looks at the structure and bridge. It was so amazing that the "wilderness" still had so many remnants of people who had come before.
"Hopefully, there is no danger across the river, Master Farshadow. Be careful, please."
As Balter steps into the water, the river bubbles near him... a humanoid form rises quickly. A man made of swirling water stands on the surface as if it were solid land.
He holds one hand out - palm facing Balter. The other hand faces downward... a polearm shoots up from the water into his hand.
A soulless and slow voice emanates from the being "Bloooood.. of my tormenterrrr?"
Hrafen looks at the spirit nervously.
"Oh? Who is your tormentor?"