Jacyn, Happs had claimed there were a dozen bandits at the camp, along with Kressle. Two were in the watch platforms, four rushed you with melee weapons, and five hung back with bows. You remember Havrin shooting at someone before Kressle and the other four closed with the party, but from where you were you couldn't see who he was shooting at.
"I think they were right about one missing! Should we go after him?" Jacyn calls out, still unable to locate the final man.
Round 1:
Initiative order:
Jacyn
Bea
Adam
Havrin
Simn
Retsiji
Branko and Ivan
"Branko, Ivan. We've orders to kill bandits. Turn back now and your lives might be spared."
Although said in a serious tone, its obvious Adam isn't as deadly serious as he could be.
Acting more on instinct than by thought, Beatrix grabs her bow and lets fly an arrow at one of the fleeing bandits. Unfortunately she's more than a little distracted and her shot goes wide.
"Hold up a minute, people," Simn said loudly, "Adam said if they didn't want to join, they were free to leave. Well, I don't think they want to join. You two want to go? Go. But you do not want me to catch you up to no good again."
There was a good chance they'd go running to their boss, but Adam had offered a deal and if it wasn't honoured, they could hardly expect enduring loyalty from those who chose to stay. Oh, sure, the deal had been 'I'll let you go, but my friends will shoot you down like dogs', but Simn wasn't cooperating there.
Adam smiled, though it was odd since the situation didn't really call for a smile. "Loyalty is rewarded. Betrayal, swiftly punished. Do you think we should go after them, or let them go? How likely are they to be a thorn in our side if we let them go."
Adam asks the newly appointed deputy tax collectors.
"Although I did speak relatively plainly when I said that no one was caught in the act of banditry, didn't I?"
Adam smiled, though it was odd since the situation didn't really call for a smile. "Loyalty is rewarded. Betrayal, swiftly punished. Do you think we should go after them, or let them go? How likely are they to be a thorn in our side if we let them go."
Jacyn interupts before anyone even gets a chance to reply, "Deciding not to join our cause is one thing, but if they feel the need to run from us, clearly they will be a thorn in our side."
Jacyn draws his sword as he moves to intercept the fleeing bandits, whistling for Smoke to come to him as he runs.
Willem (who, like the others who are staying, has been keeping very still) replies, "Well, they're headin' north, an' whenever Kressle wasn't around they wouldn't shut up about how la-de-da wonderful Port Ice was, an' how sorry they were they ever left...I don't think they're going ta warn th' Stag Lord. An' all they've got is knives, anyway."
Round One:
Seeing the two bandits attempting to flee, Havrin silently nocks an arrow to his bow and lets fly at Ivan. Before even seeing whether his arrow struck true, the stoic bandit is off chasing after the bandits.
Round One:
Seeing the two bandits attempting to flee, Havrin silently nocks an arrow to his bow and lets fly at Ivan. Before even seeing whether his arrow struck true, the stoic bandit is off chasing after the bandits.
Nodding at Willem. "Alright, I'll advise my companions to let them go, then. Port Ice has its own legal defenders."
Adam turns towards the rest of his companions and raises an empirical eyebrow in an attempt to stop the shooting. Ahem.
Havrin, you barely miss him.
Bea nods, watching the bandits getting chased off. "I think they got the message. Doubt we'll be seeing them around these parts again."
Round One:
Seeing the two bandits attempting to flee, Havrin silently nocks an arrow to his bow and lets fly at Ivan. Before even seeing whether his arrow struck true, the stoic bandit is off chasing after the bandits.
Adam was definitely not impressing Simn with his diplomatic skills. He'd be frankly amazed if the remaining bandits weren't seriously contemplating legging it the moment their collective backs were turned.
"Adam," he said sternly, "I'd like to remind you that Kressle tried to inspire loyalty through fear. I'd think very carefully about how that worked out for her before you start down that road."
"Fear? I'm just reminding them that villainous behavior may be met with resistance. That's all." Adam shrugs.
Seeing that no one else continues to give chase to the runners, Jacyn stops and puts away his sword. While he moves back to join the rest of the party, his face very clearly says Aw, shucks!, despite him not speaking the words.
Ivan and Branko are quickly out of sight on the game trail you followed to get here. Retsiji comments, "Say, weren't our horses back there?"
Incidentally, the crates contain furs and hides; each crate is worth 50 gp. The small chest contains a wooden music box worth somewhere in the vicinity of 100 gp, a pair of silver-and-amber earrings probably worth more than that, 321 sp, and 90 gp. The carved wooden box gurgles a bit when picked up; it contains sealed eight pint bottles of a rather virulently green liquid, carefully packed so the bottles won't break. Each bottle bears a label in archaic Hallit script announcing it to be the product of Karipova's, a well-known New Stetven vintner and distiller. Adam, if this is what it says it is in Port Ice a pint would go for around 20 gp. Seeing that you're looking at the bottles, Jal says, "Ah, yes. Those were a special request for the Stag Lord. Very fine, indeed." Willem snorts, muttering to himself "...drunken sot...wasted on the likes o' him...."
Adam nods. "We'll have to see that he gets them then, with a very special delivery force."
Adam turns to Willem. "When everyone is ready, we should make discussion regarding this Stag Lord, and what should be done with him."
"I hope you gents know that if you are true to your oath, you have nothing to fear from us. And if at any time, you want out of being a tax collector, you can leave. Just remember your oath is permanent."
Bea nods, watching the bandits getting chased off. "I think they got the message. Doubt we'll be seeing them around these parts again."
Round Two:
"At least one of them is a torturer and rapist! Havrin shouts. "What to you think will happen if they flee towards Oleg's?"With those words, Havrin continues chasing after Ivan and Branko.
Jacyn follows Havrin, though he stops to get back in Smoke's saddle. "When these two have been dealt with, we should go after the already missing one. Gellus, I think they called him." he calls out to the ranger.
"Which way to the Stag Lord will Gellus likely take?"
"When these two have been dealt with, we should go after the already missing one. Gellus, I think they called him." he calls out to the ranger.
"Agreed!" Havrin calls back to Jacyn.
"Best way, Master Adam, y'follow the Thorn south, cross at the old bridge (s'about twelve miles from here), then due south from the bridge. 's also a ford another ten-twelve miles on from th' bridge. That's all open country."
Round 2 and recap:
Havrin, you hit him but he doesn't go down. On Round 1, the two did a double move, while Havrin moved and shot and Jacyn did a double move; end of the round, they're 30' ahead of Havrin and 20' ahead of Jacyn. On Round 2, they ran (4x move, no DEX bonus to AC), while Havrin moved and shot and Jacyn moved and mounted; end of the round, they're 120' ahead of both Havrin and Jacyn.
Simn simply kept his gaze on Adam for several long seconds. At this point, there wasn't going to be any saving the runners. And perhaps he shouldn't have tried. These were not nice men after all, and he owed them nothing. Nevertheless, To spare one group of surrendered prisoners while cutting down another pair offended his sense of justice.
"We can set out the precise terms of your service later," he said to the four at last, "Rest assured they will be fair." Adam's 'serve me as tax collectors or die' bargain certainly wasn't going to stand as the contract. Hopefully, these four would find some measure of redemption, and he intended to guide them in that direction as best he could.
"Since he's on foot, we ought to be able to catch Gellus," he went on to the others, "Always assuming he's running to the Stag Lord. I think accounting for him has to be our first priority. Surprise has served us well so far, and I'd hate to lose that advantage."
Round Three:
Havrin continues to chase after the fleeing bandits. Pausing for a moment, the stoic ranger nocks another arrow to his bow and fires at Ivan.
Round 3:
Ivan goes down in an untidy heap. Branko continues to run, heading into the forest instead of following the trail. Since it's Difficult terrain; he is only able to move 60', but now he has cover against Havrin. He'll end the round 150' in front of Havrin.
Jacyn spurs (not really) Smoke into a run, moving quickly in pursuit. He closes to where Branko ran into the forest and continues to pursue. He ends the round 50' behind Branko.
Round Four:
Havrin runs after Branko and Jacyn.
Round 4:
Branko continues to run, maintaining the spacing between him and Havrin but losing 10' to Jacyn.
Rather than play out round-by-round, I'll give Branko a small chance of finding terrain that Jacyn and Smoke can't pass easily (or otherwise changing the nature of the pursuit); otherwise, Jacyn and Smoke will catch him in five rounds.
Round 9:
Jacyn, you'll reach him this round. What do you want to do?
As Jacyn nears the fleeing man, he calls out, "Stop running now, or we shall drop you where you stand!"
Branko stops, panting for breath. "Little men say we can leave, so we leave. We are sick of forest banditry, sick of Kressle, sick to death of madman Stag Lord! Want to return to Port Ice and family as fast as we can. Why your friend shoot at us?" He gestures angrily. "My cousin dying back there! Is not right! If you say, 'Stay or die!' we stay, of course. That is not what you said!"
"There is a difference between leaving because you are do not wish to join us and running for your life, as if you are running to get more men. Why dont you come back to the camp. We will get your cousin patched up, and if my friends believe you really arent running to this 'Stag Lord' and have given up crime, then we will allow you to walk away."
He sounds pretty convincing, Jacyn.
Since Havrin's just over a round behind, he'll show up in time to clearly hear the tail end of what Jacyn just said. DC 15 Perception check for Havrin to understand Branko's diatribe.
Havrin approaches warily with bow drawn and arrow aimed at Branko's chest.
"I know what Adam said, but he by no means speaks for all of us. We have been chartered by the Swordlords of Restov and by extension the Regent of Brevoy to strive against banditry here in the Greenbelt. If you truly repent of your ways then you will be taken to Restov to face justice for your crimes. If not, then you will face punishment here," Havrin says dispassionately. "From what Willem and Jameth said your cousin repeatedly tortured and raped prisoners your group has captured. For those crimes he must be put to death. Anyone else who committed such atrocities will face the same punishment."
Havrin, he's obviously furious, he seems to be telling the truth (at least, the vehemence of his dislike of forest living, Kressle, and the Stag Lord is genuine), and he's not going to attack you or Jacyn. He glares venomously at the two of you, hands clenching and unclenching, before he answers. "FINE! My (insert long string of Hallit invective here) cousin was fool, he die for it. I will face your Restov 'justice' alone." He stalks back toward the bandit camp.
Adam nods towards the open space where the men fleed and were pursued.
"That, is a regrettable turn of events. I want to allow any and every man to pursue his own freedoms, but not at the expense of any other man or woman's. Immoral behaviors, against the property and lives of others, are unlikely to be tolerated. I say "unlikely" because there are sometimes mitigating circumstances. Power does not necessarily exist for power's sake, but I like to think that freedom exists for freedom's sake. And in that same bent, that individuals have the right to pursue whatever actions or inactions they desire. Sometimes, its necessary to abuse the system of laws and regulations to do so, but it is a fine line to walk on, and I urge only the most intelligent and resourceful to try it."
Bea's bow hangs quivering at her side, betraying the trembling in her hands. She stares dumbly at Adam, slightly open-mouthed, too emotional to comprehend anything he just said.
As the pair re-enter the campsite with prisoner in tow, Jacyn calls out to the rest of his companions, "I believe we need to go after Gellus. Havrin..." Jacyn looks towards the ranger with a questioning glance to make sure the man doesnt mind Jacyn speaking for him, "...and I are going to try to track him down before he reaches this 'Stag Lord'. Anyone else with us?"
Adam looks at Willem. "Do you think you all can take care of the camp when we're gone? You can probably move it closer to the road if you wish, now that you have given up banditry."
Branko makes no further attempt to escape, and says nothing else as you walk back to the trail. When you come upon Ivan's body, though, Branko runs over and kneels down next to Ivan (who is still breathing, albeit shallowly). He mutters a few words in Hallit, kisses Ivan's forehead, then takes Ivan's dagger and cuts his throat. Standing up, Branko says, "You do not get satisfaction of killing him."
Adam, Willem responds, "Oh, we can take care o' the place, we can. But iffin' it's all the same t'you, we'll not stay here much longer. Th' woods are dangerous with so few of us, an' but two of us whole. Over the last halfyear I've seen fully a dozen deaths among the band, from the creatures of the land and bad luck in banditry. No shortage o' fools like me, though. So many new faces, he's had t' give us passwords so we know each other."
"Ah, I hadn't thought of that for some reason. Wilderness living is not exactly my lifestyle." He looks over at Bea and Simn.
"Do you think we might be able to send them to the Trading Post. They could set up camp there with little problem, particularly if we send them with a letter of protection."
Bea ponders for a moment, trying her best to regain her composure, then looks at the men. "Have you any coin? A letter from us will go part way, but you'll need to prove that you're honest men by trading fairly with Oleg. You give him business, and I doubt he'll turn you away." She nods to the pile of goods nearby, "Any of this belong to him? It'd do well to restore any ill-gotten wares too."
"Do you think we might be able to send them to the Trading Post. They could set up camp there with little problem, particularly if we send them with a letter of protection."
"NO!!" Havrin shouts in righteous indignation. "We will do no such thing! These men have been robbing the Levetons on a monthly basis! Now you want to send five criminals to a practically defenseless Oleg and Svetlana with a note saying, 'Oh, these fine gentlemen have promised to give up their thieving ways, will you please give them a nice meal and a place to sleep?' Deadeye's Bow! They've admitted that one of their number tortures and rapes people!" Havrin exclaims, pointing at the bandit named Terrill. "Bea, you've pledged your service to Erastil, the god of families and communities. Will you allow the Levetons to be left alone and defenseless with the likes of these men?" Havrin asks the young paladin incredulously.
"We've been chartered by the Swordlords of Restov and by extension the Regent of Brevoy, Lord Noleski Surtova," Havrin emphasizes the name with a pointed look at Adam, "to strive against banditry here in the Greenbelt. If these men turly repent of their ways then they will be taken to Restov to face justice for their crimes. If not, out charter is clear - the punishment for unrepentant banditry is execution by sword or rope."
"Furthermore, we are not the lords of these lands, and I for one certainly will not be party to allowing these men to continue their banditry by dubbing them 'tax-collectors' and sending them out to extort money from the hard-working men and women trying to eke out an existence in this region. If we allow that to happen, then we are no better than this Stag Lord of theirs."
"I believe we need to go after Gellus. Havrin..." Jacyn looks towards the ranger with a questioning glance to make sure the man doesnt mind Jacyn speaking for him, "...and I are going to try to track him down before he reaches this 'Stag Lord'. Anyone else with us?"
Havrin turns to Jacyn. "I'm sorry, but we may have to let this Gellus fellow flee back to his Stag Lord. I believe our primary duty is to see to the safety of Oleg and Svetlana, and I don't think we can do that by letting these men go free - regardless of whatever assurances they make as to repenting their ways."
Adam frowns.
"The warrant does not give us the right to bring previous bandits to justice, only current ones. It is a death warrant, not an arrest warrant. These men have given up banditry, and I hold their word as their honor."
He turns to Havrin.
"You would strip men of the honor they would seek by giving up illegal gains to pursue legal ones? It is a sad day for justice anywhere when you can so freehandedly obliterate the freedoms that men hold. Since they have given up banditry, the warrant no longer applies to them."
Adam prevents any weapons being taken from the free citizens.
"They are not prisoners, they are our allies. At least the four who have sworn to uphold our legitimacy. Sworn in, and fully documented as our representatives. Even witnessed by faithful members."
Adam holds the documents forward that he and Simn had just completed.
Adam realizes belatedly that Havrin could have been referring to the one unrepentant bandit they still held, but wonders why he used the plural form of prisoner if that is what he had meant.
"As for Branko, I gave him the opportunity to put aside his illegitimate ways, and he refused, and thus remains unrepentant. To be put to the sword or the rope, at your whim. I do not particularly care what you do with unrepentant bandits, but the repentant ones are not in our jurisdiction."
In the hurry to protect the free men from having their means of self defense taken from them, Adam had failed to recognize Havrin's argument against taxcollection.
"Without legitimate taxes, how do you recommend that we maintain a base of operations so that we may continue exploring and removing illegal threats against the productive peoples of these lands? As I mentioned before, the Powers that Be were so eager to give us the warrant of exploration and bandit disposal that they forgot to give us the financial means to perform our duties. Frankly, I find your comparison of taxes to banditry offensive in the extreme to both the governing power of those that granted us the warrant, and to the necessary survival of governing and law-enforcement organizations."
Bea freezes, her face turned white. I didn't think I told anyone about that night at the chapel...
"How did you..."she begins to speak but her murmurs are quickly drowned out by Adam's rebuttal.
After he finishes, she speaks up again, "Perhaps we should accompany these men back to Oleg's, and see how things play out for a few days? It's true, these men have done things in the past, but we must believe that they may change - or how can we ever expect forgiveness ourselves for misdeeds we've done?"
Bea looks visibly upset at these last words, and is trying to control her whole body from quivering.
I noticed on your character sheet you've got Havrin listed as Neutral Good. The kind of language he's been using lately strikes me as being more towards Lawful Neutral - law for law's sake. Not trying to criticize, just my observation, and I could be wrong. Anyways, I'm all for upholding the law, and as my character's technically a Paladin I need to as much as possible, but all it actually says in the charter is that unrepentant banditry is to be punished by death. There's no clause for repentant banditry, so much at this point is up to personal interpretation.
Bea's particular experiences skew her more towards the belief of converting bad men into good - possibly to a fault. And if Havrin's own experience is what's driving him like this, that's fine - I just wanted to be clear.