DM Olondir presents "It's Always Sunny in the Stolen Lands" - Chapter 1

Game Master Olondir

Vishoon, did you want your falchion be masterwork?
"Heer ya go, lad." Das presents you a fine looking falchion. "Yer lucky I had one layin' around that I could touch up. I haven't made a curved blade like that in a while. I'm pretty impressed. I hope it serves you an' the realm safely. Best o' luck be wit ye."

"That should be all of it." Peitros overlooks the last of your supplies being loaded on the cart. It is very early in the day. Before 6am. A gray overcast hovers above you all as you get ready to leave on your expedition. Although very early, a small crowd has gathered to see you off. There is no fanfare in this foggy, damp twilight.

"Make sure you head straight for Oleg's first. It'll be a few days journey. Let us know when you get there."

Ravens looks up as Ser Bregan talks about practicing combat tomorrow.

He can't possibly be talking to me. I'll be helping cleaning up and burying the dead. And then caring for the Ravens.

*New* 3-day Ravens Training/Expedition Montage:

Day 1: Ravens will spend the next day helping bury the dead and cleaning up after the wedding.

Day 2: Ravens will spend the day working with the ravens, sending up the hundreds of follow up messages that would happen after an attack like this with so many dead. He skips out early to scribe some needed scrolls for the journey:

Scroll 1: Entangle, Faerie Fire, Magic Stone

Day 3: Packing! Ravens will organize the birds and his meager possessions and get to know his new horse, Crowsbane. Picking up Squeel and TwoToes, the ravens, Ravens is ready to leave.

Ravens is ready to move.

I would like to prepare two Potions of Cure Light Wounds and one Potion of Enlarge Person, in these three days, if possible. At 25gp per potion, though, I don't know if we have the funds.

Vishoon not in a dancing mood, Vishoon Grudgingly gives in since Areanna is insistent.
Perform dance check 1d20 - 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (13) - 1 + 2 + 2 = 16
Starting slow, the music catches him the right way and getting caught up in the moment he dances like before the slaughter.
I wonder if she really knew me, would she still be dancing with me
Finishing, he smiles at Areanna Thank you for the dance, I should be going now tho, I need to get cleaned up
Looking at his blood drenched clothes and then get up early so I can stop at the blacksmith Das and pick up my new weapon before training with the knight. I hope he has a falchion
He Bows to Areanna, looks to Bergen "I'll see you in the morning"

If Ravens brings it up, he can scribe Scrolls of Cure Light Wounds for 12.5gp I believe, which would be more cost effective than potions while we are lean on cash?

Bregan has 6s to his name.

if everyone would like to scrummage together change for some healing I'd definitely allow it.

I have 7 GP to add to the healing fund.

I have 7 GP to add to the healing fund.

I have 6gp to my name, but was hoping to keep it for supplies that I might need when we reach Oleg's.

But still happy to chip in so we can craft 1 scroll CLW.

Or we could just go and hope for the best.

Well, a little roleplay for the next morning for those who took up on Bregan's invitation.

Bregan stretches on the grassy fields of the tournament grounds, Norocol, his "lucky" horse tied up nearby.

Why did I say nine? I could have used another hour of sleep...

Seeing Vishoon arrive carrying a falchion, he nods approvingly.

Ah, a wicked weapon, but appropriate and very useful for a half-orc.

I'll assume at least one or two others arrive or else face Bregan's wrath.

Bregan looks to the others who step out onto the field and continues to explain his thinking.

"I thought it best we spend an hour before we set out. Get to know each other better. We're like to be jumped by bandits, so knowing that Vishoon here can use that, or Areanna has skill with a bow is important. I was hoping to teach some basic pointers to Ravens or Valeska, if they liked as well."

Let's hope they aren't all dead weight if a fight breaks out.

After finishing his regimen of stretching, he bends down and picks up his shield and unsheathes his sword.

"As many of you saw, I use a shield when I fight. A good shield will save your life, and I see none of you carry one. I suggest when given the choice, you put a shield between you and anyone trying to kill you. And if you don't carry a shield, then you keep my shield in between you and whoever or whatever we end up fighting."

Valeska watched Ser Bregan carefully throughout the opening demonstration. Her eyes were wide, a stoic smile plastered on her face. Tzerny, what in all of Abaddon have you signed me up for?

"Um, Ser Bregan? I can't say that I've been trained in combat before, but I do know how to wield a knife."

She steps forward to present a curved dagger, the metal appearing solid and black. The face of the blade is uneven, as if it had been pounded out while solid, instead of forged, but the cutting edge looks true.

"I've gone fishing with this, before. And Tzerny insists it would serve me better than the daggers available at the blacksmith's."

Tzerny sits on Valeska's shoulder, looking around, but saying nothing.

Bregan steps forward, a look of genuine concern in his face as the woman holds out the knife.

He nods, gravely.

"That blade's good up close, but it would be best if you weren't ever up close to a threat."

His eyes trail off to Areanna.

"It would be best if you had a bow, a crossbow, or a sling even. Do you know how to use any of those?"

Bregan wouldn't know that she's much more valuable hexing until the cows come home. At this point, he thinks of her as healer.

After the dance Areanna nods approvingly. "You shouldn't judge yourself too harshly Vishoon. You are a wonderful dancer, a natural I dare say. You should consider more lessons. At any rate, there is still much work to be done so lets call it a night and we will meet up again tomorrow for Ser Bregan's training session." Areanna sequels with excitment once more. "Oh this is so exciting! My first real assignment by the kingdom. Oh goodness I wont be able to sleep tonight." Areanna runs off to get some sleep.

----

I have 75 gold to spend on poosions

----

At the training grounds, Areanna shows up wearing a brand new, somewhat revealing suit of leather armor. He Masterwork long bow and a full quiver of arrows. She prances up to the field to meet the others.

First she turns to Ser Bregan "Good morning the marvelously handsome and fearless leader Ser Bregan Stone." She says with a bow.

She then turns to Vishoon "Good morning the Wise, Strong, and ever Vigilant, Bounty Hunter, and not the mention my new dear friend, The Great Vishoon." She bows to him also.

She turns over to the others in the area. Waving her hand she shouts "Good morning to you all as well. I hope we will grow to know each other very well on this quest."

She then addresses everyone. "Okay, I brought a Journal for me to document our adventure so that I can right a Song, or maybe a ballad, a play maybe, oh I know, an epic novel. Oh I can hardly wait to get started."

Areanna pulls out her bow. "So Ser Bregan. Where do we begin?"

Areanna listens to Bregans instructions and points out. "If it is okay, I would rather have you carry the shield and I keep you between me and the enemy. Is that okay?"

Holbrecht spends the latter part of the evening organizing and separating the supplies into different containers, and loading the wagon in the most economical way to allow for maximum space remaining within, without damaging the goods themselves. He documents and mainains lists of all the items and their locations.

If you all don't mind I will put the supplies on Holbrecht's sheet.

-----------------------

Next morning he arrives early to find no one there. He waits for some time, tinkering with his crossbow before Ser Bregan arrives. "Ser, technically, morning begins precisely when the sun rises and ends a little after when you now arrive. In the future we should try to establish a more precise method of keeping appointments based on everyone's possibly different understandings of when morning is."

At the training he watches everyone, taking notes and writing as eac of them arrive and speak. He is somewhat confused when he realizes he is expected to join in.

Getting up early, and after Donning his scale mail, Vishoon stops by Das's Shop. "Greetings Das." waving at the man as he enters the shop. {b]'I've come to redeem my voucher, I hope you have a falchion on hand."[/b]

Happy to hear Das has one. He looks it over. "Fine workmanship Das, Very Fine. Thank you for this wonderful weapon."

Taking a few practice swings "I'll put this to good use.
by the way do you by chance know a Tevok Berksley?"

He heads To the practice ground and hopes he's not late

See he's not late "Mornin' Areanna." As he smiles
"Greetings everyone

Listening to Bregan, Vishoon gets bored I need to hit something, and break in this new falchion
Finding a practice dummy, Vishoon breaks out the new falchion, and goes to town on the dummy. Happy with the feel of it, he looks to see what others are doing.He watches Areanna practice her archery for a bit, then watches bregan as he tried to teach the others the value of a shield.

He chops at another dummy for a while. Finishing up, he looks at Areanna grouping of shots. "Impressive. Very Nice"

When Done Practicing, He decides to look for Tevok in case he might still be in town. Vishoon plans to spend the next 2 days Seeing if Tevok is perchance still in town. He will hit as many inns and taverns as possible.
He will use all his daily allotments of vision of madness each day before talking to folks (+1 to skill checks version) So I'll add +1 to my checks. I going to roll 2 checks for each day if that's too many just ignore the extra ones

And at night Vishoon, will go to where ever Areanna is playing, to have drinks and listen to her play.

Gather Info Day 1 Early(Diplomacy)1d20 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 + 1 = 4
Gather Info Day 1 Afternoon(Diplomacy)1d20 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 + 1 = 1

Gather Info Day2 Early(Diplomacy)1d20 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 + 1 = 1
Gather Info Day 2 Afternoon(Diplomacy)1d20 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 + 1 = 3
Of course his evening plans will change if info on Tevok still being in town is found

Ravens drags another body to the open grave, working with the other Aldori staff to bury the dead. He looks longingly at the tournament field where Ser Bregan is teaching the arts of war.

*sigh*

Ravens goes out in search of another body.

When Areanna mentions she brought a journal with, Bregan wonders how many of the group will while away their time writing.

Holbrecht will keep a log of our supplies, Arenna's chronicling our "adventure" and Ravens has bragged often of his ability to scribe.

The knight looks about for Ravens, checks the sky for the time and frowns.

"Looks like it's just the five of us today. I had hoped the boy would come out and we could get a sense of what each of us could do."

Seeing Holbrecht brought along a shortsword and crossbow, he wonders aloud, "how well can you use those?"

And while watching Areanna practice with her longbow, he comments, "just make sure if your shooting something I'm fighting you aim to my left, as I'll typically be doing this.." Bregan lunges right with his bastard sword, whirling a large arc downward towards an imaginary target.

"If you try to lead him to the right, well... you might lose the shield between you and our imaginary enemy here..."

didn't see my gather info numbers til now,as i was posting just as i was going to bed....I suppose I'll find tevok only if someone throws him at my feet and says this is the guy...hehe

That's 75+7+6+0.6=88.6 gp. Regarding potions and scrolls, how about we make three scrolls of CLW, and two potions of Enlarge Person? I could give one potion each to Vishoon and Bregan. Ravens can have the scrolls, and I still have two potions of CLW. That will cost us 50-2.5(Hedge Magician)+37.5=85gp.

Valeska looks at Holbrecht's crossbow.

"I wouldn't need to string that? I've used a sling before, but that looks like it would do a better job in a battle. May I give it a try?"

I forgot to add, I could give 12 gold to the CLW's

Holbrecht looks surprised by the request, so begins explaining "Well, it's a rather simple machine really. It uses a basic winch system... with applied tension... directly inverse to the force ratio of torque applied..." He barely notices as she takes it from him, as he is busy drawing the equations for it into the dirt, "by a factor of three, modified by the angle of incidence at which the trigger mechanism.... followed by the applied weight of a bolt, That's what the ammuntion is called... adjusted for the wind speed and fletching length."

of course you can add them to your sheet. I got all 4 of my wisdom teeth taken out this morning and have been having a rollercoaster time of recovery with pain, sleepiness, nausea, etc. Let me get some more rest and hopefully tonight I will post up a pretty map, your farewell, and the beginning of your short journey to Oleg's. Looking at a computer screen for longer than a few minutes makes me dizzy right now, so I am so thankful for everyone's patience!

So you all pooled money together and made 3 scrolls of CLW and 2 potions of enlarge person?

Vishoon you don't hear much of anything about Tevok, sadly. Pretty awful rolls :/

You all are the first group out this morning. It is a full day's ride to Oleg's from here. Many citizens come out to see you go, but among the cheers is a grave, serious tone. This serious determination for revenge, although not directly spoken is definitely hovering in the eyes of everyone who had to bury a loved one.

The air is a little brisk for summer but your day's travels prove to be a typical warm, nice day as you arrive at Oleg's Trading Post. Oleg's is technically part of Brevoy, but enjoys little of its protection. It is situated at the edge of the border along the little-used South Rostland Road. An abandoned border fort refitted into a trading post, it is set inside a wooden palisade that appears unlikely to be capable of holding back an angry wolverine. It does, however, appear invited and homey, a peal of smoke emerging from a chimney in the main building.

As you all pass below the gate of Oleg's, a woman comes out from behind the palisade to meet you. She rushes to Ser Bregan and hardly waits for you to dismount before grabbing you into a warm hug. "I'm so glad you're here!" The woman is young and pretty, in a rather plain way right at home on the frontier. Her accent is provincial, indicating that she had lived out on the frontier her whole life. "I'm Svetlana Leveton. Welcome, welcome!" She leads them towards the old fort rather enthusiastically. "We've been sending word to Restov every chance we got, but we were beginning to think that they'd never send anyone! Especially after the wedding. I'd have thought everyone would have holed up and forgot about us. Come on in, boys, I'll make you dinner and get you settled."

Oleg is up on a ladder, thatching a roof on one of the buildings. He appears busy, or at least wants to give that impression. He looks somewhat precariously perched on the ladder, as one of his arms is in a sling.

Oleg's

Ravens is making scrolls of Entangle, Faerie Fire, and Magic Stone, so he isn't available to make CLW scrolls.

So instead I'll prepare one potion of CLW and two tarts labeled "Eat Me". That will cost 75-3.75=71.25 gp.

I think Awful is being generous. What price can I sell my old falchion for? I'd liked to donate some for supplies too if you guys have time to create more

if it too late to help with magical supplies...no problem
Vishoon looks around Olegs, and tries to take a count of how many people he sees here.
Ponders No wonder they aren't paying us...what a dump...Hopefully they have some place for us stay
He follows Svetlana to where ever she is leading the party and asks "If I may ask what happened to That man there pointing to man with arm in the sling was he hurt at work, or fighting?

Ravens is glad to be 'here', wherever 'here' might be. At least he's away from the Aldori estate and no longer has to see his beloved, Syra, with another man.

Maybe from here, I'll create a new life for myself. But this place doesn't look like much...does it even have a proper rookery?

Ravens will await to meet Svetlana, trying hard to be social and make a good first impression.

"Nice to meet you, I am Ravens. This is Crowbane, my horse, and that's "Luck", he's a good horse too."

Phew. That wasn't hard at all.

* * *

Ravens will get settled and make sure Squeel and TwoToes are taken care of after Crowbane is properly tended. He is happy to show others how to care for their horses if they need it.

I'm helpful.

When he finishes with that, he will take some time to himself and do a quick walk around Oleg's to get a feel for the land and the animals around the land.

I like land.

As they journey to Oleg's place, Areanna can barely contain her excitement and her boundless enthusiasm is borderline annoying rather than a delightful. The only saving grace would be her voice which she would exercise frequently as she would sing various travelling songs. Kind of like have a CD player in ones car by our standards. At stops she would pull out a harp and practice with it. It was noticeably poorer quality than her singing.
"I'm still new to this kind of music but I love it so much I just need to keep practicing and it will soon sound heavenly." She would often exlain in this manner.

At Oleg's Areanna could not control the smile that lightened her face. Once inside she ran about like a giddy school girl in a candy shop. "Oh my gods this place is a dump! This is incredible I love this!" She notices the man in sling and rushes over to him. "Sir, you seem to be injured. I can assist if you desire. I have some skill in healing spells if you need it. Come down, you'll fall working up there in that condition." She waits for a response.

Shocking, we made it the entire journey unmolested. Maybe the bandits in this area are a myth?

Bregan rubs some of his old wounds.

Or maybe they're just waiting.

"Much obliged, woman" he responds when offered a warm meal.

Now we'll see if she charges us once we're done eating.

"Well, the place appears formidable enough for rooting out bandits.. despite the naturally uneven nature when using palisades... and it appears that the building's third post... from the left... leaning a little.. maybe only five to ten degrees... Ah, yes termites could explain some of the disrepair." He acknowledges

"Some warm food, warm drink, and a warm bed would be most welcome. After we eat.. or during.. I guess either works... we can discuss our planned pattern of searching the expanse that we have been comissioned to explore." His eyes light up with the idea of creating a formula.

"Are you aware that your catapults are in a sad state?" Holbrecht asks, his attention caught by a machine that needs fixing. "I'm sure it wouldn't take much to get them back in decent working order.... such simple machies they are.... but so effective... just one of many marvels whose necessity in war saw them designed... maybe discovered only for the need to kill and destroy." He muses, contemplating the impetus for such an invention.

He then has a revelation, that he decides to share "Wouldn't ballistae be far more suited to the defense of a small outpost at the edge of the wilds? I'm sure the precision, ease of use, and finding appropriate shot from the forest would make them logistically more viable as well."

As an afterthought he mentions, "Uh, Hello, my name is Holbrecht, by the way."

Sorry, but this being the third time I've had a character get to Oleg's, I took the liberty in knowing that the catapults don't work as something Holbrecht would notice.

No worries about taking liberties. I'm posting from my phone so this has to be short... I don't have internet thanks to a hurricane. I honestly don't get how I have 3g right now but I'm going with it. Your old falchion can be sold for 34gp, Vishoon.

The lady welcomes you, Vishoon, although is a little off-put by your presence. She makes no word of it, but you can't help but feel that sense of "your kind doesn't belong here" most citizens of Brevoy have for half-orcs.

"That man is my husband, Oleg. He's the headmaster of this trading depot." She makes no notice of your questions about her husband's injury.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Ravens. And your horses...I adore Crowbane's coat. How pleasant! Luck's name suits him. Call it a gift, but sometimes I can just tell things and that's a suitable name for that horse. ha! They are mighty fine, specimens."

Oleg makes his way down from the roof where he was working and eye's Areanna up. Although middle aged he has a grim, hardworking demeanor. "Thank you, milady, but it ain't nothing you have ta trouble yourself about. Just a minor scrape. You know how things goes. Work has to get done." He finally gets down. "I'd also appreciate it if ye don't call my place a dump. It may not be what you city folks are used to, but I pulled this place up by its bootstraps to get it to where it is now. Come, where are my manners? Lets have a go inside and I'll give you a show of the place."

The lady formally addresses the mathematically minded dwarf. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Holbrecht. Doesn't take a wizard to know you know a thing or two about mechanisms. heh. I know Oleg likes to do things himself but if you wouldn't mind looking at the gate after dinner, we'd very much appreciate it."

While walking inside you hear Olege whisper to himself, " talking about me catapults and suitable defense. best be sure if you're the ones suited for defense of brevoy an' taking on the stag lord..."

Near the stables where you dismounted and had your horses stocked and fed is a room with hammocks and places for supplies. "Here be your quarters, sirs. Drop your stuff off here and I'll show you where the kitchen is." Oleg leads you past a bulletin board with some things posted. One post you saw had big black letters "TUSKGUTTER" but you got sidetracked before you saw the rest of the post.

"My wife an' I... truly appreciate all you're doin' fer our country and for ourselves. These bandits ain't nothing to be messin' with. Here we are! food time."

Whew. not bad, I think, for a post from a phone!

Actually, really good for a phone. Well done. I hope you're surviving the hurricane.

Ravens will introduce himself to Oleg in his most friendly way possible.

"Hi, I'm Ravens." Ravens will hold out his right hand in a fist looking to complete the usual Aldori fist bump of greeting. Ravens smiles.

"Nice place you got here. We'll help you protect it from the bandits. We brought Luck the Hero Horse with us! His hooves smote a paladin dead...just think what he'll do to bandits!"

I bet Oleg feels much more confident with Luck here.

Areanna looks momentarily flustered and confused. "I am terribly sorry noble sir. I truly meant it as a compliment. You see, I have never been to a place like this before. See, I moved out of my mothers shelter almost 20 years ago and until then I have only known the wealthy. Excuse me for my ignorance but if this place isn't a dump, what pay tell would you have me call it?" Areanna seems very sincere in her question.

"It's a home, Areanna. A home. I grew up in one far worse than this."

Valeska and Tzerny look around, fascinated. She places her items into the guest house and joins the rest of the party. Tzerny stays silent, perched on Valeska's shoulder, for now.

"Nice place you got here. We'll help you protect it from the bandits. We brought Luck the Hero Horse with us! His hooves smote a paladin dead...just think what he'll do to bandits!"

I bet Oleg feels much more confident with Luck here.

I bet...I'm sure all good Fort Commanders are looking for them paladin killin' horses

Vishoon gets his food and eats quietly, annoyed that once again he will have to prove himself to someone else. After eating he gets up and to Svetlana "Thank you for food." and takes a walk back to bulletin board. Maybe one of their names appears on there somewhere He makes sure he reads every notice looking for signs of those he's hunting.

Sitting down to join everyone for the meal, Valeska hands Tzerny a morsel as she initiates conversation.

"Thank you so much for your hospitality. This is such a beautiful place you've managed to build up out here. I grew up in a small fishing village on the Lake of Mists and Veils, and no one I knew would have dreamed of building this much for themselves, you are clearly quite talented.

What can you tell us about these bandits? What have they been up to, and how do they attack? Do you know of anyone else living out here who has suffered at their hand?"

"Thank you for the meal," Ravens says politely after eating.

"If I may be excused..." Ravens says as he leaves the table.

Ravens wants to check out the rest of the Outpost and see what goods they have for sale. What does Oleg do? Do they have weapons? Scrolls? Foodstuffs? Beers?

Ok! Back in business! An earthquake, my wisdom teeth surgery, a hurricane, and my fall courses starting all occured in less than two weeks. Go figure. With the start of school and my busy course load, I'll be posting regularly but at random times through out the day instead of normal business hour time.

Oleg eyes Areanna's apology not sure if her innocence was sincere or not. His face grows a little stern as you mention your wealthy upbringing and lack of hard labor in your life but Valeska's assertion calms his face a little and lets whatever he was feeling go. Especially as Ravens timely introduces himself. Oleg completes the aldori fistbump ritual with a smile. "Been a long time since I've done that." He muses.

Svetlana produces a nice pot of Borscht for you all for the evening. "Eat up! I made plenty. Oh and don't worry... It's on the house. Especially since you're hear to fix the bandit problem." Oleg looks to his wife.

"She's the one who sent ya. Not me. I have everything under control, but she think's she knows better..." He pauses and chuckles. "Probably because most of the time she does!"

Over supper, Svetlana clues you in some more about the bandits. "Oleg and I moved into this old post less than a year ago! We're tired of the politick of New Stetven and thought this place would be the adventure of a lifetime! It was for while at least. Three months ago, though, a dozen bandits came to the post, saying that the Stag Lord demanded a tax collection. Like a tribute. Once a month."

She stands up as to go to the kitchen for something but stops and continues.

"They threatened... They said they would do us in unless Oleg handed over most of our stock and money. So we obliged and silently sent word for help. A month after that, half a dozen of them came back. Last month, they came back again. One of them demanded my wedding ring."
She glances and feels for her naked ring finger. Oleg begins to speak but Svetlana moves over to where he is sitting, places a hand on his shoulder, and continues. "Oleg refused, saying that they could have anything else, but not that. Their leader broke his arm and said they would do worse to him, so I handed it over. Whatever. It's just a ring."

Oleg finally speaks "It is a good thing you came today! Their next payment is tomorrow morning."

Areanna hears out the couple and immediately raises to her feet in outrage. "This is detestable! These ruffians go around bullying those less fortunate than themselves! It is positively infuriating. Fear not for I the beautiful, dignified, and arrogant archer and singer extraordinaire Areanna Dalante will see to it that these animals bother you no more!" Areanna looks at the other for a moment. A little embarrassed by her outburst at the dinner table, Areanna straightens up and sits down in as dignified a manner as her upbringing demanded. She then calmly clears her throat. "Ahem. Me and my companions understand your plight good sir and madam. We will be happy to assist you. Honored even." She looks to the others seeing if they agree.

It's curious that our elf refers to herself as 'arrogant'. Usually that's a bad trait..

Bregan shakes his head at the thought and focuses on the conversation. He had been a bit distracted during dinner while he considered the tremendous responsibility on his shoulders and those with him.

"Our charter includes bringing justice to all bandits and thieves while we map The Greenbelt."

He says this with a bit of resignation in his voice, far from the enthusiastic call to arms that others may have expected.

Can you reason with a bandit? No, best to kill them and hang anyone who lives for the rest to bear witness to.

"We will deal with these bandits...we should try and take one or two alive so we can find their base. Unless you know where that is?" Looking at Oleg.

ah a fellow east coaster...happily i don't have to worry about college these days, or wisdom teeth

Valeska giggles lightly at Areanna's sudden speech.

"Tomorrow? That gives us time to prepare..." Valeska's voice bounces lightly, twisting oddly, more elfin, more mischievious. Tzerny's head whips around to look at her.

Instantly, the accent disappears, the human sound returning. "Would you like me to look at your arm? The bone will have to mend itself, but I can check the setting for you, and relieve some of the discomfort with a bit of tea."

She thinks for a moment before adding, "What are they planning to take this time?"

Holbrecht listens as he chews his food methodically, almost mechanically. "Well, we should move our supply wagon, they will most likely try to take what we have in there." obvious that he doesn't quite grasp the impact of the bandit's threats.

"So, about that gate, I could get that thing fixed in no time I'm sure of it. Let me just grab my tools from the wagon, I'll get to it straight away." He grabs a hunk of bread, gets up from the table and heads out to work. His eagerness to work plain on his face.

DM O, I hear ya, East coaster here too, and just started 10 credit hours. This last week and a half has been hectic.

Bregan chuckles (a rare one) at Holbrecht's suggetion of moving the supply wagon.

"I... err, Holbrecht."

"We're not going to let them take anything tomorrow."

Bregan scratches his chin and looks at the entrance to the keep.

Aren't knights supposed to be tacticians? They should have given me a handbook...

Oleg declines Valeska's offer to tend his broken arm. "Thanks, gal, but I'll let it heal on me own. No use wastin' resources over this scratch."

"There ain't no strict ransom they are after. They take what they want. Your guess is as good as mine. I'd shoot to say maybe 6 or so of 'em will be coming... not much. I never put up a fight and it seems less and less of their muscle come each time for their payment."

Sventlana chimes in, "Yes. Perhaps you could use their arrogance against them. They won't be suspecting any resistance. But what do I know. Anyone care for a shot? For good health and to give the bandits what's coming for them!"

"Oh, yeah, sure...we can help fight them off. I'll be there to help. I'll help protect this place."

If this is going to be a starting point for my new life, I better get to protecting it.

"What time do they come? From what direction?" Ravens asks. He would like some time to scout the surrounding area more. Tomorrow, he'll be preparing spells to really help in a fight like this.

Areanna pipes in dignified. "I could approach them with an able melee combatant and use my charming wiles to lull them into a false sense of security and then we could capture them and hold them ransom......" Areanna seems to ponder for a moment looking a bit confused at what she just said. "Well we could use them as a bargaining chips for something? I guess?" She looks to the others waiting to see if any add on to her rather odd plan. Realizing it didn't sound so great she throws her hands into the air. "Oh! I don't know! It sounded like a good idea as I was thinking about it but it just doesn't make sense. Would bandits even care what happens to their own? I really don't know." Areanna slumps to a posture of defeat.

Bregan gladly accepts Svetlana's offer of a shot.

He imbibes it with the skill of a man who has had drank his fair share.

He then shakes his head to confirm what Areanna saw on his face. "No, I don't think ransom would work, unless one of them was this Stag Lord's red-headed nephew."

He chews on the thoughts a bit.

"They won't be expecting us. Likely we just hide among Oleg's stables and jump 'em when they're loading whatever they think they can take this trip."

Bregan continues to think, a slow and onerous chore.

"And we want to cut off their retreat real quick at the gate, lest we be chasing them for miles."

He then looks at Oleg.

"Six you say? How many come on horse?"

"Aye. Six of 'em" He then loses some of his confidence about that number. "More or less. As far as horses? They'll all be riding. They usually come in the morning at first light through the gate. It's the only way in. They'll probably be looking for more furs for the coming winter so they won't need a big cart. Usually they just take what they can ride with."

Svetlana chuckles at Areanna's strategy. "Oh my dear! You do have much to learn! I'm sure the Stag Lord doesn't care about these men too much. But perhaps questioning them would be a wise decision. It is a sign from the gods that although you aren't here specifically to protect my husband and I it was a blessing our paths would cross tonight and you be willing to help us." She turns to and agrees with Ser Bregan's plans. "Yes that could work Ser Bregan. Very well. Ambush them when they get off their horses and close the gate. That would do nicely. I was going to suggest the stables or the guesthouse as good spots with views of a cart with goods on it. We'll keep the bait in the open and present and lure them in. Then you'll pincer the poor bastards in here without an escape route. Brilliant."

"another?" She fills her shot glass again with some more vodka and wants to know if Ser Bregan would like another.

"It has been a while since I've felt so...without fear. Perhaps it is this vodka but I feel confident and optimistic thanks to you all. We stand to weather this coming winter very well if we don't have to give our wears away to these bastards. It's supposed to be a bad one, you know."

Holbrecht, before heading out the door, reminds the group. "Under typical circumstances, ambushes follow a general course of action. First, we will need to block any avenues of escape.... I guess when I get the gate fixed... closing it after they enter would work... Second, there needs to be people both surrounding and hiding... so, that's one behind each gate... maybe one in the stable... another in the storehouse... another in the bunk house... so that's five... where does the sixth hide... they could be with one of the others... but that would unbalance the equation. AHA, one in the house." he beams, proud for figuring out the ambush equation "Oh, wait there's more to them than that. Third will require an activation to set all the parts to moving, like a lever or something so everything happens at the same time... I could rig up a lever.... maybe attach it to a bell... or a bucket that would dowse each participant to readiness..." He finishes strapping on his tool belt and mumbles his way out to the front gate.

Ravens perks up as the discuss the strategy.

"Oh yeah, I can help prevent them from leaving. Remember that spell I used on that Paladin before Luck smote him? The one that slowed down the knights? I could do that again. I could do that twice if needed."

And once more via my magical writing. I can magically write. Ravens smiles proudly.