"I'd say no longer then a week, and when they first came there were 13 of them, so I'd say it might not be too much of a stretch to say they bring the whole group
"well, we can't fight 13,can we? Or are you hiding some serious equipment that you haven't told us about yet?" Shontar recognized that they have only been here for about 3 minutes. "maybe we can sit down inside?"
"Thirteen! Well, we've got five, and..." Floria trails off as Shontar speaks up. Sheathing her sword, she kicks at a rock nearby, sending it out of the gate. "Yes, let's go inside. Hopefully they won't come back immediately."
"13? That's all? Hrm... manageable. It would also send a strong message to the other bandits of the region to mind our warpath." Folding his arms, he looked up at the ballista on the buildings. The irony of his prior statement to not expect a siege was not lost on him...
"Table would be welcome. At the very least, we can set up a layout of the outpost and plan our counter-measures."
Tilladee looks gleeful at the idea of that many bandits. "A glorious battle then, it'll go something like this. I'll slice that one, then this one, and then maybe even that one." he said swinging the axe about haphazardly.
He turned about and looked at the others and noticed some worry. "Don't yah worry none, I'll save a few bandits for you!" he said looks perhaps a bit gleeful and maniacial.
Oleg says "maybe we could try to fix a ballista? And aren't gnomes generally more cheerful?
"In that case, I believe Master Shontar would be the one to speak to about fixing it. I studied swordplay, not siege weapons...." Adrac replied, before stepping back as Tiladee swung his blade, before turning back to Oleg with a faint smile on his face. "...Indeed they are. When we meet one, I shall confirm that assumption for you."
"Just what I was thinking, Oleg. And thank you for the confidence Adrac. However, while I do remember quite a bit about those machines,..." "...I'm by far no handyman. It does take dwarfen-like craftsmanship to repair them. If only one was present" He looks at almost everybody, intentially skipping Tilladee. "I would certainly be able and willing to assist."
"Oleg, this is a trading post. What do you actually trade with? In particular, do you have crossbows in stock? Normal-sized or halfling-sized, I don't mind."
"Well, as long as they fight and not run again at first indication of danger."
Tilladee swung his axe head to bear on Shontar "I be a Weaponsmith not some bloody engineer." he said grumpily before turning towards Oleg "Aye, Gnomes are often too cheery for their own good." he said completely feigning ignorance.
Oleg looks confused, but shrugs and says "We have armor, a shield, some weapons, and some potions"
Shrugging Freya has a look at the items.
Pointing to the potions."Those items are quite usefull, but I can cast those myself. Maybe one of the others should buy them, if they have the coin!"
"All I need is my blade. As for the ballista..." Adrac said, folding his arms and looking up at the contraption. "...I will need some help. But I may be able to get it working again. A giant crossbow in essence, yes? Not horribly complicated."
"That is not quite correct, Mr Rhaddyn. These machines here are actually of the catapult type. They work quite differentely than a ballista or crossbow. Catapults are stone-throwing siege engines powered by winched arms that run through torsion skeins, and hold their payload in a cup that swings up and over the weapon when released. Instead of targeting a specific person or object the ammunition is lobbed at a target area." Shontar supports his explanation with some gestures. He doesn't come across as showy, but talks like a wise teacher.
"Anyway, I will be happy to work with you on this. Maybe we manage to fix even two of them. This leaves open the question of ammunition. Anyone seen any stones weighing approximately 50 pounds? Should be round, too."
"Round and 50 pounds? Perhaps a gnome would work, if we had one around", Floria wisecracks. "Anyways, I guess I could keep a look out for those." Turning to Oleg, she asks: "How are you doing on supplies? If there's anything you need, I could go out and see if I could forage something."
Adrac folded his arms, before looking up at the catapult and listening as Shontar explained the mechanics. "Hm... even less complicated than I thought. Translates quite well into arcane physics..." Holding out his palm, a series of lights fluttered to life and began to simulate the catapults mechanics, perhaps only to his own understanding. Adrac watched them recreate the lobbing of one of the little orbs of light, before closing his hand up and making them vanish
"Master Shontar. Master Tabernacky. If you would accompany up top to help put this thing in action, I'd be most grateful. Miss Bjorn, Miss Lebeda, have a look through the the stock. See if there is anything we might could use for ammunition... anything caustic would be preferable. Burning ammunition may be ill-advised, given our... locale..." Adrac said, before looking for a ladder to lead up to the closest engine.
Adrac and Shontar spend the rest of the day and the next morning repairing one catapult with Oleg's tools. His roof had to wait. "Excellent work!"
When Floria checks out the items he says "You can pay me back later, use them to protect us"
Oleg walks out mouth agape "How did you do that so fast? That was insane
If I'd rolled 100 something insane would have happened
Adrac put the finishing touches on his repairs of the catapult, before nodding back to Shontar. "Naturally. I would expect no less of myself." Standing up and approaching the walls edge, he looked down at Oleg's reaction, fighting to restrain the smirk on his face. "Underlying principles. Arcane studies have more real world applications the most would realize. A test fire would be prudent... but I expect it will function suitably. It'd be more of the purposes of determining its trajectory."
Freya looks around trying to find those requested stones.
Searching hours you are able to find suitably sized stones
And roll a perception check
Tilladee walks along with the cleric. It'd be wrong to send anyone alone with the potential for the bandits to be back at any moment.
Floria as you are at the camp, you happen to look and see 4 humanoids approaching non-threateningly, though you can't make out any more details from here other then they appear to have weapons sheathed
When Floria sees the newcomers approaching, she calls out to Oleg. "Hey, do you usually get so many visitors? There are four more people coming, looks like they're armed but not hostile. Were you expecting them?"
He shouts back 'Generally i only get 1 people occasionally, 4 people? That's unheard of.'
Shontar is suspicious and goes to have a closer look at the newcomers.
But he got distracted...
In his free time, Shontar picked up the javelins and trained himself. He assumed, some ranged support could be useful if the fort was attacked again.
"Well, I guess we should go greet them and see why they're here. Maybe they'll be able to help with the bandits." Floria stands near the gate, waiting for everyone else to gather as the figures approach.
Tilladee makes his way to the gate but stands behind it with axe semi at the ready in case there was need to spring forth and attack.
"maybe THIS is the reinforcement you were talking about?"
Freya looks over, checking for heraldry or if the newcomers are more clean cut like mercenerys.
You hear a voice with a Brevoy accent yell "Mr. Oleg we're here to help with the bandit problem, If you'd be so kind not to open fire on us as we approach we'd greatly appreciate it. I'm sir Kesten Garess, and these are my companions Domitian, Charito, and Iacobus."
better not trust anyone too quickly. do they speak the truth?
"Oleg, my gut tells me they're legit." with an asking gaze he walks toward the gate, ready to open it.
Freya looks closer and nods.
"Well someone to guard the fort would be highly appreciated!"
Oleg yells back "Permission granted, you may certainly approach sir."
He then shouts back to you "Open the gates"
We open the gates, our weapons still ready.
The man approaches and holds out his hand "My name is Sir Kesten Garess, and I have sworn many oaths to defend this fort with my life. You have my honor, my word, and my blade."
If you are trained then you can roll a knowledge local check
this guy does look familiar.
Dollars a raises a brow " Many oaths? I'd have thunk it only took one oath to be held an to yer words. Maybe being twice as tall means for more oaths to do yer work. " he said moving from out if the shadow of the gate door with axe still at the ready.
"Alright then, you lot look like you know yer soldiering business, I got rocks to find." he said before heading back off to make sure the catapult was well prepared.
"Many oaths to many lords sir gnome"
"from what I recall, you are neither a 'Sir', nor a man of honor, MISTER Garess."