"So Exploring the area as we go to the camp?"
"Yes. We might as well kill two birds with one stone," Bydar suggests
"But we may not have the time for that?"
"We should at least try I think. Otherwise we'll just keep going nowhere while trying to figure out what to do next."
Flit strides back over to the group " I may be the new to this whole out in the middle of the bloody forest thing, but my vote is for By-der or however his name is said." Flit tips his head to Bridgette. " It may take more time miss, but if we find anyt'ing useful it could make dealings with future bandits easier. And we might as well get done what we can while we're out there."
"If we take too much time, we may end up dealing with the eight remaining bandits, instead of four, and odds are they'll have hunkered down for an attack."
"Then let's have a vote. Flit and I are for exploring as we go in hopes of gaining a better lay of the land and perhaps finding yet more that might help us. You are for going immediately there to take advantage of speed." He looks to Raxus and Krupt, "Your votes?"
"What's a vote?"
"What's a vote?"
Bydar isn't sure how to explain it, "We each declare what course of action we'd like to follow... preferably out of the two already mentioned since otherwise we'll end up delayed even more, and see which course of action has the most supporters. The choice with the most folks behind it would be the choice we all take."
"Majority rule. Strength from numbers. I understand."
Raxus nods, and waits for the others to make their choices.
Bydar sees the hut, and raises a brow, "I suppose we should make note of this in our records, and maybe talk to whoever the resident is. Shall we?" He dismounts and finds a safe place to hitch his horse before approaching the hut.
"Happs are you sure this is the right way as it seems off course,
You came from the south and you went east?"
Raxus stood a ways back with his dogs as Bydar approached the hut. He knew how people tended to respond when they saw him for the first time, especially when he was close.
Bydar looks to Happs, "Do you know who lives here then?"
"I'd say some poor chap who doesn't get that many visitors" Flit says glancing around at the wilderness surrounding the lonely hut.
When he finds out Happs never checked it out, Bydar nods, "Well then, I'll try to be polite about it." He knocks on the door of the hut.
A glance to Happs at the 'deal' talk, but he finally speaks up, "I'm not a bandit. If I were, I doubt I'd be knocking."
"My name is Bydar, I'm a priest of Shelyn, and currently I, and most of my allies, are tasked with exploration and...ironically enough, suppressing banditry. We've already quelled a few. You said you have a bargain with them? Care to elaborate?"
"Yes. We're trying to bring some order and safety for the law abiding people of this land. It's part of our charter and charge. Those that repent are given a chance to better themselves, those that don't...well, that is unfortunate for them," A pause, "You are an alchemist? What sort of potions do the bandits receive from you? It might be good to know if we face the unrepentant ones in battle"
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"It's mostly basic healing potions, nothing major. You plan on driving out the bandits? I believe I can help you with that." He closes the door, and the clinking of bottles can be heard from inside the house. The door opens a little wider this time. "Would it be too much to ask the lot of you a favor? I need some Fangberries, use em' in my potions. If you could bring me some, I will make you some potions for dirt cheap."
Flit pokes his head around Bydar, " An' any idea where we could find the berries?"
"We just came from Oleg's, so we have an idea of where you're referring to."
"We're familiar with Oleg's, Bydar smiles, "Your offer sounds generous. What was your name again? I feel foolish calling you 'you'. Perhaps later you could also tell us about the other surrounding areas you may know better than us."
Bydar looks amused as the door is shut before him, "No one can say I'm not a man of the people." He looks to the others, "Berry picking leads to healing potions? That might be useful after facing bandits."
"We can look for them on the way back from the camp." Raxus rumbled. "Let's keep going."
Wonder what a potion is. Something made from berries? Like a poultice? Bydar heals with magic. Why would he care about berry juice poultices?
"I agree, the berries are a secondary objective at this point."
"Well, fair enough... we go on," Bydar makes a note of where the man said the berries were, but continues on following Happs directions.
"Then let's get going."
Bydar nods and they start to head that way
Bydar glances at the bones, "That's not very reassuring."
He mutters to the others, "There appears to be a spider, and it is huge, to our left."
"They can get big around here, as their is more than enough to eat."
"Giant spiders make for good eating." Raxus says, snapping his fingers and gesturing behind him to get his dogs clear. They weren't smart enough to understand how spiderwebs worked.
Squaring his shoulders and leveling his heavy hooked spear, he stepped out in front of the group and waited.
"Come at me you nit-witted ninny-hammer!" Flit shouts his challenge to the spider and goes to draw his rapier.
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"It cannot understand you, Mr. Flit. It's a spider."
"My blade will make it understand just fine!' Flit shouts.
Bydar loads his crossbow and fires as soon as he can.