The entire rest of the ride Mark badgers Raxus about his dogs, his background and generally just chats with the group. Once they arrive at Oleg's and hears about the collection, he cocks his head to the side.
"I am sorry miss...Sletvana. But we are sent with a charter to map the area...who or what is coming tomorrow to collect what?" Realizing his just asked the same thing Bridgette did, Mark blushes slightly and sheepishly half grins.
The others having voiced the question, Bydar merely raises a curious brow.
"Very kind of you, miss." Bydar says, finding a place to put his horse before following her request.
Not really knowing what else to do, Mark stables his horse as well and follows the group, keeping an eye out around himself as if to keep tabs on whats around him.
"Greetings I am Petriak Krupt," Petriak introduces himself to both of their new traveling companions with a friendly smile and a distracted nod. Though Petriak does take a moment longer to smile brightly at Bridgette.
"Greetings Goodwife Svetlana." Petriak takes the woman's hand and places a courtly kiss on the back of it before returning it to her. "Please if something is troubling you we would greatly like to know about it. Our group might not be guardsmen but we are sent here to be peace keepers and of course anyone who would worry a Lady sorely needs to be taken to task."
Petriak follows along with the others and makes sure to stable his donkey before heading back out into the courtyard of the trade post to meet Oleg.
At the words "come inside" Raxus stiffened. He detected his dogs to the front of the stables and gave them a command in a rough tongue, and then waited near the door, a look of plain apprehension on his face.
as she comes inside she bangs her head on the top of the door frame
"Why do I keep forgetting to duck lower, each time"
"Bydar of Shelyn," He says as he comes in, realizing he didn't give his name to the good woman. When Bridgette bumps her head with a complaint, he looks both sympathetic, and just a little amused.
"You alright Bridgette?" Mark asks. "I am Mark by the way Miss Svetlana"
"I'm fine, I take this as one of the disadvantages of my height."
Behind her, Raxus bends nearly double and has to twist his shoulders to make it through the doorframe. Straightening inside he can't stand up straight. He sighs, nodding to Bridgette, then catching her eye for a moment his expression goes from sympathetic and understanding to frozen panic. With nowhere to go, he simply looks around to see his surroundings.
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You look around the small outpost and see Oleg, the owner of the outpost. He has a quick conversation with Sletvana, and walks over to the group.
Well hello there travelers. The names Oleg, I own this small post here. The "problem" my wife was referring to is a group of bandits. Led by this strange woman, they started coming about two months ago, demanding all of my products in exchange for our lives. They came the next month too, this time a smaller group, only led by a very cocky man. I think that they should be due for another visit tommorow morning. Know I realize this is alot to ask of, well, strangers, but could you maybe help us with our bandit problem? Its not much, but I will allow you lodging here tonight if you decide to help us out
At the mention of bandits Mark's expression goes hard. "Bandits...are a huge problem. I for one will help you. My pa and ma had to fight em off several times with the rest of our village."
Bydar feels a flash of anger at the thought this couple, their lives and loves, have been endangered by bandits. A frown crosses his face, "We've been chartered not just to explore, but to stamp out unrepentant banditry. I speak only for myself, but I will do my best to help you."
Raxus simply nods.
"I would not mind giving you a hand on this,
as last time you did save some honey marinated boar meat for me in a trade."
"Bandits," Petriak says the word as though it leaves an unpleasant taste on his tongue. "I agree with my companions we are more than happy to help you with your bandit problem. If we are going to be administering and mapping the region a bandit presence would just serve as a constant irritation."
"In the time they have come to your establishment have they ever shown any magical talent or purely martial?" Petriak asks with interest as he brushes off the road dust from their travel.
she goes over the the guest house (Q18->S24 on map),
"This is the guest house."
she looks at Raxus
"Though I don't think you'll fit in any of the beds."
Raxus nods, obviously expecting such things and simply opens the front door and slowly wedges himself back out again without a word.
Upon leaving the bar area Mark immediately starts examining the area. He goes looking around to see how the walls are, possible hiding places, and relative distances between each location. After he spends a while doing this he will head back to the guest house.
Bydar watches Raxus leave, and looks a bit concerned, "Our new ally seems shy. I hope he's not going to sleep out doors when he doesn't have to."
Bydar decides to follow the big man.
Raxus doesn't notice Bydar as he finds a good sized tree near by and settles in against it, pulling up his hood and gathering his heavy coat around him. His dogs curl up against his legs. The big man idly scratches their ears, quietly beginning to let his mind wander.
Bydar clears his throat, "Pardon me if I'm disturbing you, Raxus." He apologizes, "But if you feel simply because the beds are short that you MUST sleep outside, I believe you are mistaken."
she walks up to Raxus
"If you want. I could ask Oleg if he would be alright, with you sleeping in the stable. at least then you'll have shelter, and something softer to sleep on.
And I don't think I got your name when I introduced myself."
Raxus looks up, a little surprised to see people. He seems very unsure of what to say and seems to be torn between staring at Bridgette and looking anywhere but at her. The behavior is akin to a painfully shy child and seems completely out of place coming from such an imposing man.
"I... um... Raxus." he says quietly.
"I.. don't like being inside. Everything is small. Fragile."
He seems to realize that he is acting wrongly and grits his teeth, annoyed with himself. A moment later he shakes his head.
"Don't like sleeping either."
"Well, it's your choice, of course," Bydar says, "But you are going to be risking your life by our sides, so I wanted you to realize that made you a peer. I'll leave you be now, if you like."
"I will be fine. Raxus says a little gruffly, then a moment later says "Thank you" in a softer tone.
Bydar nods, "You are welcome. Sleep well." and he leaves the seemingly shy giant to survey the layout of the area much like Mark already has done.
After a time of doing so, he'll head to the guest house to the bed he's been offered to rest
Once back in the guesthouse, Mark sits in an available chair and addresses the group. "Where is Raxus? He should be here so we can discuss our plans for tomorrow."
"Thank you Oleg, we are happy to help." Petriak smiles at the trading post owner while the others head off to the guest house."
"Could I get a mug of ale? All that travel has been thirsty work." Petriak handed Oleg a silver piece and once he got his drink followed the others out to the guesthouse to settle in. "Talking about our plan for tomorrow would be a good idea. Though with our talent for magic it would seem we should be at an advantage against the bandits. Chances are they have never seen more than a hedge witch out here in the wilds. If you can keep them grouped I have a few surprises that will keep them busy."
"Well," Bydar says, who was about to go to bed, "I think Raxus is sleeping outside, or perhaps in the barn. He seemed to prefer it that way." He looks a bit embarrassed at something, "I myself thought we'd sort out plans in the morning, but not being a tactician I suppose that may be a bit sloppy of me." Considering Krupt's words, he adds, "Just make sure you don't get any of us in whatever you're doing, please. I have the feeling I'll be finding cover and firing a crossbow until someone is in need of healing."
Raxus looks up, a little surprised to see people. He seems very unsure of what to say and seems to be torn between staring at Bridgette and looking anywhere but at her. The behavior is akin to a painfully shy child and seems completely out of place coming from such an imposing man.
"I... um... Raxus." he says quietly.
"I.. don't like being inside. Everything is small. Fragile."
He seems to realize that he is acting wrongly and grits his teeth, annoyed with himself. A moment later he shakes his head.
"Don't like sleeping either."
"Well Raxus,
I'm sure the stable is not fragile and small.though the doorway is a little under 7 feet, the inside is at least 8 and a bit feet high.
I think most of us want to plan for the bandits tomorrow,
and I'll see what I can do as well as the others to complete the task.
And I think it would be wise to see what everyone is going to do."
with that she walks to where everyone else is,
"If the bandits are coming in the morning it would be wise to prepare tonight."
Not sure what to say, Raxus just shrugs and looks over to the barn.
Maybe she's right
"Well," Mark says, "maybe we should take the time to show each other what we are capable of? Then we can figure out a plan that takes advantage of our skills?"
"Instead of showing what we can do,
why not just say what you can do."
she pauses a moment and puts her right index finger next to her chin
"It would be nice to know the bandit's habits,
Oleg what do the bandits do each time they are here?"
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Hearing his name called, Oleg walks over to the adventurers, eager to help in any way possible. All they do is tie down the horses they ride, an pound at the door, demanding they let them in. The leader walks in last, behind his group of bandits. They demand i bring all of my furs and meats, gold and anything else of value, load it up in a cart, and head south to what I assume is the bandit camp.
"So they are all inside the outpost when they load up?
I think we'll have the doors open this time as they know that you can't refuse to open the doors and it'll make it seem as if they are in control."
"Perhaps it would be better to have the fight OUT doors of their living area? Property damage is something we want to avoid and besides, we could further endanger Oleg and his wife." Bydar looks concerned.
"I was thinking more along the lines of using the outpost as a cage, to trap the bandits.
Because if one escapes it would be more trouble later for Oleg.
When the bandits are in the outpost we close the large double doors trapping them in, while Oleg and Svetlana hold up in their home.
We can hide Raxus behind the open western double door (U-17)[/b] and behind the Guest house."[/b]
she pauses a moment, to think
"When we spring the trap the doors need to be shut.
The only question is where do we place everyone else?"
Mark nods. "I like the idea of trapping them and attacking from surprise."
"If you can keep them tightly packed together I have a few tricks up my sleeve that will make their day go very badly." Petriak gives a dark smile as he holds up one hand and the palm bursts into a flicker of flame, his hand's shadow lengthening into a talon before he dissipates the spell with a wave. "I also have a spell that can put a small group of them to sleep and one that can enchant a person to consider me his friend. If we can keep one of the bandits alive we can interrogate him without most likely having to resort to . . . less civilized tactics."
"If I remain behind the cart I'll be able to hit a group of them with my spell and hopefully sew chaos in their ranks quickly. Though I certainly hope someone wearing a bit more armor doesn't mind keeping them off of me once they realize where the fire is coming from." Petriak admits pointing over to the cart up against the wall of one of the buildings.
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If we intend to hide the big man near the gate, i have some rope to attach to it so he can simply pull it shut. And Petriak, consider taking the leader of the group, the man with the bow, with your spell. I would like to have a few "words" with him
Hmm, this could actually go very well for me. I might even be able to get some of my stuff back....
Bydar listens, and nods, "I'm no warrior, but I do have armor. I'll be by Petriak if he'll have me."
"Shouldn't we include Raxus in this discussion? Where is he?"
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Everyone heads to sleep for then night, and wakes up in time to prepare for the bandits. It's roughly 8 AM when you hear the sound of horses off in the distance. Everyone gets into position as the bandits start to approach. Raxus stands at his spot with rope in hand to pull the currently opened gate shut, Petriak and Bydar near the cart, Bridgette and Mark off to the side at around T-9.
The four bandits walk through the gates, and stand at about S-16. The head bandit yells out Oleg! I'm here to collect yout "Taxes"!