Rose managed to draw her own bow, seeing the bandit leader is no small threat. She reached quickly pulled an arrow from her quiver and knocked it, lining up her shot with the bandit. Once her aim was set she released the arrow, loosing it upon the bandit. Her eyes narrowed as she watched the arrows flight, hoping that it would find it's mark within the bandit, sure and true.
Domitian begins to track forward toward the leader, but as he does, his eyes widen suddenly. "The leader is being controlled! Some sort of possession maybe?" He pulls another arrow anyway, though, and says "If you're in there, I'm sorry, but I can't let you hurt any more people." He looses another arrow at the flaming leader.
Had been taken back by how furious the bandit leader was, but she managed to swing her bow from the doorway and shoot at the leader, aiming for a solid chest shot. She prayed her shot made the mark
While Lyra and Shirak jump away arrows shot from all direction thud into the leader's body, staggering him with every hit. His horse dances wildly under him as the flames lick at its flanks and combat erupts around it. The horse begins to buck and the leader is thrown, landing heavily on the table. A bench is knocked over as he struggles to push himself up. The arrow from Domitian flickers with white light and smoke could be seen erupting from around the projectile.
"You...you can't stop me..." the entity grimaces as it struggled to pull the blessed arrow out. White fire erupted when his fingers touched the wood and he pulled back with a hiss, his finger tips blackened. "This isn't.......over." he manages with a last gasp before collapsing on the table.
Domitian sees the angry red aura flicker once before shriveling up into a cloud of ash that blows away with the next gust of wind. For several seconds the clear, pain filled eyes of the leader lock on the paladin. "Thank you."
The last gasp of air whispers out of the man's chest and he stops moving, his eyes locked on infinity. His horse calms as the source of heat vanishes and moves back with the rest of the herd. The other two bandits continue to sleep peacefully, one them resting his chin on his hand and sporting quite a long string of drool from his slightly open mouth. The other one had just lay down on the back of his horse, his arms draped on either side of the powerful neck.
Upon seeing the leader go down, Rose breathes a deep breath. She once again shoulders her bow and begins to walk over to where Lyra and Shirak were, as well as the now still bandit leader. She raises one hand, looking at the rough, deeply-wooden appearance. "I suppose I might have overdid it for such a short exchange. Though I suppose overcautious beats unnecessary injuries." She shrug, sighs and looks around. "Everyone unhurt?" She starts fiddling with her array of bandolier pouches once more, checking contents. "Once everything calms down I will need time to brew another concoction, my dear sister."
Lyra slows her breathing to slow her heartbeat down from combat speed. She holsters the club from her belt and looks at everyone. "No injuries? Good then help me tie these two up, they will wake up soon. We need to discuss what to do with our prisoners. Do that before you start cooking Rosie."
She goes back into the stables to where her bag is and retrieves a pair of manacles. Coming back out she places the manacles on each bandit, careful not to wake them up. Shirak prowls restlessly around the two, her head lowered in a combat position.
Domitian meets the man's gaze as he dies, pity in them. He cautiously approaches the body after it's apparent death, watching for signs of a trap. Not seeing any, he places his bow down, and reaches out to close the man's eyes. He'll then bow his head briefly, eyes closed, and mutter a quiet word before looking back up.
"Whatever that was, it wasn't just a bandit. I doubt seriously that we've seen the last of it. Some sort of possession was going on. I'll be very interested to talk to our new guests." As he says this, his eyes flicker to the sleeping pair, as he bends to pick up his bow.
Once the manacles are safely on the remaining bandits, he'll bang on the door of the house and call out "Oleg, it's safe to come out now"
Vetra laxed the draw on her bow as she had prepared to release another. Frowning she'd put the arrow back and quickly jump off the horse she was on before stowing her bow upon her back once more. She'd quickly help Lyra tie up the two sleeping bandits, being carefule not to wake them as well. After that she'd run to ensure any fires that were lit were promptly put out.
After which Vetra would remain quiet for a moment before looking to Lyra. "Question or Interrogation?" Simple and to the point, she'd understand what she meant.
"The hell?" Moira asked quietly. The mans overreaction stunned her enough that she hesitated to take a shot. And by the time all the others hit, the fight was over. Just like that. She lowered the bow feeling confused and uneasy. Nervously, she looks around, expecting a red-eyed creature to be watching the whole thing. Lyra's words bring her back to the present and Moira helps get the men down and in handcuffs. The least she could do was stand guard. She had little else in the way of input. This situation was way over her head.
Rose would walk over to Vetra and tap a wooden finger against her likewise wooden cheek. "Hmmm. Why not both Vetra? One way or another we need to know everything they know, to be sure." She cracked her knuckles loudly, giving a wicked grin. Once making sure they were good and tightly tied together, she would smack one awake for questioning.
"We'll start with the first and hope they cooperate. If not then...we use the second. It was written in our charter that per the Laws of Brevoy, the punishment for banditry is still a short drop with a sudden stop. If they give us the information we need I say we turn them over to the proper authorities. If not..." Lyra said, looking uneasy.
She went back to the stable and returned with two lengths of rope. She would stop by the restrained bandits and look between the rope and them. "Does anyone know how to properly tie someone up?"
Moira gives Lyra a curious look. "Yeah, you guys ain't drow at all. I can handle the hanging if necessary."
Vetra looked at Lyra and smiled, "No torture, just bully. But once done, be done with law yes." She'd give Moira a look and give her a thumbs up to her words.
"I'll help tie. You want hands band by wrist. Tight, behind back." She'd take some of the rope and begin tying up one of the bandits, showing Lyra how its done. "Then, so they no run, you tie feet, by ankles." She'd grin then, all of her pearly teeth showing as she did so. "Now there tied like hogs!"
Rose turns to Moira and gives tilts her head, speaking up. "We aren't just our blood. We hope to someday overcome and be more than just our origins." She then gives her a warm smile. "We also take no offense from it either." She then clenches her hand into a fist, making a crisp crunching sound. She then gives a bit of a nervous laugh. "Sorry for my...eccentric behavior, I have to keep moving or I will become stuck, stiff and unable to move until this runs it's course." She let out a sigh, disappointed with one of the drawbacks of her weird science.
Mehaila assisted Domitian with any burial plans of the leader, whispering a few of her own prayers. She would also tell Domitian," You seemed pained for what we were forced to do. I noticed no evil spirit, but you seem more focused to that than me. Could you tell what kind of evil it was?" She would stay focus on Domitian as her knowledge of rope work would most likely not the correct bindings needed.
"Aye, I took no pleasure in that in the end. I don't know how evil the man was or wasn't on his own, but the thing we were fighting wasn't him. When I looked for evil in him, I saw this vile aura surrounding him, this... thing... that was just full of rage. Something else, some other presence was controlling his voice and actions. I wasn't sure of that, at first, but it became more clear as we fought. In the end, before he died, the aura shriveled up and blew away, and his eyes were his own." He pauses for a moment, remembering. "He thanked me, in the end. As I said, I really don't know if he was an evil man on his own or not, but nobody deserves to be a puppet like that."
Looking over at the tied up men, he says "I don't know what the evil thing was, but I'd sure like to find out."
"Sure." Moira hesitantly raised a thumb in response to Vetra. It still felt weird to be on the same page as the a kobold. It felt unnatural. She had to remind herself how unnatural the whole situation was. Just give them benefit of the doubt until they gave her a reason to mistrust them.
She turns to Rosa. "Well yeah. That's what I was saying. Then again I only have rumors to go on as to what Drow are really like. Figure they wouldn't be squeamish about ending life."
"We know nothing of our father. He was never part of our lives. Our mother was a loving human woman so do not stereotype us because of our ears or skin color." Lyra said pertly so Moira.
Once the last two bandits were secured she would reach up and yank the first off of his horse, waking him as he slammed into the ground. She would then step over and repeat the process with the second, stepping back a moment later and staring at the two humans at the severity of their situation sank in. "You have lost gentlemen. Your leader is dead and you cannot escape. Answer our questions and that will factor in your trials."
Both bandits wake with a startled jerk as they hit the ground and began struggling against their bonds instinctively.
After a futile few minutes both leaned back against the building they had been thrown against, panting heavily. They were both human males, the older one having brown hair with grey streaks and muddy brown eyes. His nose looked like it had been broken and never healed properly and his underbite gave him a pugnacious look.
The younger of the bandits was startling young, looking barely old enough to warrant apprenticeship. Through the dirt and grime the group could see he had cornflower blue eyes and platinum blonde hair. His aquiline features hinted at a touch of elven blood and when his hair revealed his ears they were gently pointed. The older man glowered at the group with a stubborn look while the young half-elf looked around in panic.
"What do-" the young man began before being shouted down by the older man.
"Shut it Delan! Go kiss a donkee's arse." the older man sneered at Lyra. "You lot got no idea what you walked inta. My mates'll come and gut the lot of ya."
Rose's left eye twitches and she lashes out with a hardened fist, connecting firmly with his jaw and making a satisfying crunching sound. After flexing and then crouching in front of them, far enough back for them to see her strange complexion, she speaks to them. "Consider your fine predicament that you are in, boys. Do you know what the punishment for wanton banditry in this region is? So yeah we could go kindly act out the spirit and the letter of that law, or you can kindly tell us exactly every little thing we want to know without a fuss." She smiles and stands up straight again, making more crackling noises as she did so. She starts to turn away, but before she does, she does reach into one of her pouches and pulls out a flask of what appears to be acid to anyone that recognizes it. "And whatever you do, please don't give me a reason to have to use some of this. I won't be happy if I have to waste it."
Vetra would watch the bandit shut the kid up, a thought popping up into her mind. She'd let Rosa deal with the loud on. 'Seperate them, get boy to talk. Yes.' was her line of thought as she moved into the scene, grabbing the boy by the jerkin and dragged him away. "I'll let you have fun with idiot! Me have some good talk with boy here." She'd say, a bit too cheerfully as she would drag the boy out of sight of the older bandit.
Once her was out of earshot of normal talking, she'd lean the boy up against the building, crouching slightly so the kobold could see eye to eye with the boy. She'd tilt head a bit, pointing a clawed hand towards the older bandit that Rosaria had punched.
"You young, got lot life left to live. Let's make this easy yes? Why don't you tell me some things about your bandit crew and I'll make sure your not harmed and are let off hook. Group doesn't take kindly to ones who don't cooperate, as you saw." She strained to make sure the boy could understand her, common was so hard to speak! "I'd like to know who you work for, and where they are and why your group decided to cause problems for this fort. To start off with."
Moira doesn't bat an eye at Rosa's rough treatment of the older bandit. She had half a mind to do it herself but the half-drow was quicker on the draw. Really losing my edge here. She took a half step forward to help when Vetra announces she's hauling the younger man, a boy really, off to have a 'chat'. Anyone else she might have let them go. She didn't like the instinctual mistrust but she also couldn't take the chance. If nothing else, if the kid didn't feel comfortable around her either maybe another human nearby would make him feel better. She follows the gold kobold a few paces behind. She listens but adds nothing for now. She just tries to keep the scowl off her face. She tried for empathy.
Mehaila grins wickedly, and offers Rosa a hand, and points out some more exotic methods of pain inducing moves, however the sense they are used are mostly erotic as well. Maybe I should look more into the bondage side of revenge. It sure does look... fun. She would employ some of her healing magic on the man if Rosa went to far however, as a dead prisoner was not a talktive one.
Clearly the young one is the most likely to give us info, should go with Vetra and talk to him... Glancing at the older man, he'll look back at Rose with a worried glance. I hope she isn't serious about her threats; intimidation is one thing, torture something else entirely. Surely she's bluffing... After a moment's more consideration, he follows after Vetra and Moira. He catches up to them just in time to hear the kobold's offer. "Trust me, son, you'll want to listen to her. It's clear you're in over your head here, and cooperating is the best way to keep yourself out of worse trouble."
The older man's head snapped back from Rosasaria's blow and blood began to pour from his nose. He eyed the alchemist with grudging respect and spit to the side once to clear the blood from his mouth. "Fine fine, jus' don't hit me again. What do you want to know?"
The young man's eyes had gone huge and his skin paled as the small kobold easily dragged him around the side of the building and out of sight of the older man. He began to breathe heavily as the sound of a fist striking hitting flesh could be heard. "Please don't kill me, please don't kill me, please don't kill me!" he begged, his voice thin with panic but possessing a musical quality.
After Vetra's and Domitian's soothing words the young half-elf breath slowed and some of the tension eased out of his shoulders. He took a couple of slow breaths before he began to speak. "We came from the south, 3 days journey. We've got a camp along the northern bank of the Thorn River, right where the river spills out into the Kamelands. The leader of this group goes by the name Kressle and she's a piece of work. A month ago the bandits attacked my families caravan and killed everyone except me. They spared my life because Kressle liked the look of the 'pretty boy'." Delan said with disgust in his voice.
"She...." his speech failed at this time and he appeared to be struggling with his words as his eyes stared into space, seeing a horrible memory. "She's a horrible person. She likes to hurt people, likes to see them bleed and hear them scream. Even when...she spared me, I wish she had killed me."
He looked up at the group and tears gathered in his eyes. "Please don't kill me. I only joined these bandits so they wouldn't kill me and i've never hurt a single person in my life. This was the first mission they sent me on and you are the only chance I've got to escape that life."
Rose looked genuinely surprised, taking her bottle of caustic liquid and carefully tucking back into one of her many pouches. "Well crap, I actually didn't expect you to cooperate with us so easily." She gave him a bit of a sly smile. She then turned to face away and whisper quietly to Mehaila. "To be honest I am a little out of my element on this one, what do you think?" She touches her fingers together, the more shy and reserved part of her once again showing forth.
Vetra would smile if she really could without it being a frightening experience, her tones were as soft as she could make them, a hand coming to rest on the boys head. "Were not going to kill you. We'll get you safe and sound. The information is going to be very helpful." She'd stand then, looking to Domitian and then Moira. She'd walk up to them and lower her voice, her tone serious.
"If he telling truth, should we give him over to Svetlana and Oleg? Also, I get the sense we need to make taking these guys out a priority. If there leader is anything to what he says. They will retaliate against the fort in bigger numbers. We have to prevent that." She frowned, looking over to the boy and sighing lightly, her tail flicked in annoyance for a moment. "I'm getting him some water."
She'd leave the boy to the other two and grab some water in a bowl and return, kneeling down next to the boy and offering up the bowel to help him drink. "Drink, calm your nerves." She didn't move to unbind him at all as a part of her still didn't trust the human, but his story sounded like it has the truth of it.
Moira's scowl deepened. Only this time it wasn't at anyone present. Kressle. She had a name to go with the tragedy that was going on here. And the longer the boy talked the more hatred she attributed that name. She didn't pick up on the underlying message but she didn't need it. Three days ride? Assuming they had a strict schedule and that they might push it to retaliate, the earliest they could expect company was 5 days. But most likely it'd be a week. Enough to prepare. Or they could surprise them. Strike the camp.
She nods at the boy. "If you are telling the truth," she says, not willing to let up on him just yet, "then yes, she is a horrible person. And the charter is very specific about what we should do with horrible people." She gives him a long, hard look then relents. "But you don't seem like a horrible person. You said this was your first time coming? Did you witness this last time? How do you think she would react to a delay here? And how many are their? Armament? Supplies? Can you give some specifics?"
Taps a well manicured nail against her lips, her brow furrowed in thought to Rosa's question. She felt the man had talked to easily, as when she had to get some information from clients, it would take longer. She then snaps her fingers and asks the man " So, since you have no loyalty to your employer, how can we trust your word? You seem to take pleasure in others pain." She was hoping to throw the man off, since some would have taken his word at first glance, being young and inexperinced.
Domitian tries to maintain a calm, sympathetic gaze on the young man, but his mind reels with anger. This is worse than banditry, far worse. She needs to be dealt with. "Thank you for cooperating. If you can answer any of her questions, it will help us make sure this threat is dealt with."
When Vetra approaches, Domitian will join in the lower discussion. "I think we at least need to verify his story by seeing if Svetlana or Oleg recognize him. He seems sincere, but it doesn't hurt to follow up. Assuming the info checks out, I agree we need to deal with them. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if we just moved on."
Delan looks up at Moira and shrinks back from her hard gaze, licking his lips nervously. "It takes 3 days to get here. The camp is located right next to a river and guards the only ford across in the area. They have built archer platforms around the camp but those are only good during the daytime. Most of the time half of the bandits are away from the camp on missions. They have supplies stashed all over the camp and two weeks ago they sent a shipment of brandy to their big boss who lives somewhere out on the plains. Kressle will know in a few days that something has gone wrong."
The human sneered at Mehaila before answering. "I am what life made me. Our boss is a monster of a man, calls himself the Stag Lord. He’s a brute and I saw him crush a prisoner’s hand to mush in one fist. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen him without his creepy stag helmet on. Why should I be loyal to a drunkard who murders his own men? You let me go'n I'll head west and you'll never see me again.”
Vetra looked between Domitian and Moira. She shook her head then as she stood. "I believe him but we can check with the others if you want to be safe. I think he's not gonna be a problem. The other though, I think we should just take care of him." She'd look towards Delan then, watching him for a moment before turning to the other two. "I don't think we got time for this. If we can catch them with pants down. Lets do it. I know I will, with or without. Late they become big problem and I don't want to risk fort with them. Secure lands before we explore. I want a home to come back to." Once she finished her piece in the lower conversation she'd return to Delan, kneeling down once more.
"You wont run yeah? Do you want vengeance? Do you want to strike down those who brought you so much harm?" She'd gently place her scaled palm against the boys cheek, which would be surprisingly smooth and warm. "We can give you the means to do so. If you want to help make this place safe, you can find an ally in me. Expend that anger and fear in you. I can give you purpose, something greater, even after we deal with those who hurt you so. I can help you get your life back."
Moira is nodding along well enough with Vetra's plan. Hit them while they didn't realize their was anything wrong. Probably pretty relaxed with how well things went here at Oleg's for the last few months. She was better at ambushes anyway. Her agreement swiftly changes to panic as the Kobold continued to talk, now to Delan. "Whoa, whoa, whoa," she says, grabbing Vetra and hauling her back from the boy with probably a little more force than necessary. She was a lot smaller than Moira was used to handling. "We are not bringing him along if that is what you're saying? He's a trader's kid, not an experienced fighter." She was a little surprised at her vehemence. She wasn't opposed to giving him some well deserved revenge. Might help with closure. And while, it was a sound argument he wasn't a fighter, it didn't explain her fierceness when she said it.
Delan looked between Moira and Vetra as the two scuffle and takes a deep breath. He closes his eyes and leans his head back against the building. A moment later a sweet melody slips from his mouth as he begins to sing, his voice a sweet tenor.
This love, it is a distant star
Guiding us home wherever we are
This love, it is a burning sun
Shining light on the things that we've done
As he sings energy begins to gather around him as a small charm on his left wrist begins to glow with a rose colored light. A moment later the gathered energy explodes from Delan and spread out in an arc that washes over everyone in a warm tingle. The throbbing in Moira's lip vanishes as the scab fades away to leave unblemished skin. All the scratches and bruises the party had gathered over the past few weeks vanish in a warm tingle.
After careful thought, Mehaila nods softly before stating to the bandit " We will probably switch prisoners and let the others speak with you." She then pouts and sighs muttering " I just had so looked forward to playing with you, got me all excited. Maybe another time..." However, as the warm tingle washes over her, she freezes a bit. Another cleric nearby was not a good thing, especially if her comrades did not know how to deal with them. She would trust Dom to know what to do, and most who can heal like what she just felt were not evil. Was is possible these men are truly following orders? She would frown, slightly troubled over that.
"Maybe if we can convince Oleg to forgive him we can..." Moira stops as the kid begins singing. She looks at him confused. Why was he singing at a time like this? Then she sees the glow and feels the power. "Hey!" she shouts going for her blade. But it's too late. Whatever he was doing happens before she can get the blade out. She was prepared for something offensive. She was unprepared for what actually happens. Moira looks at him confused as she reaches up to touch the spot on her lip from earlier. Her fingers come away with only flakes of dried blood and no pain.
She draws her blade with angry scowl and swings, planting the blade in the ground between his legs, inches from something very important. "Don't. Do that again. Not without warning." She removes the blade, scrapes off the dirt and puts it back in the sheath. "Explain."
Lyra looks up as energy flashes out from around the corner of the building and hears Moira growling at the victim over there. She spares the older human a withering glance before ignoring him altogether and moving around the building to see what the hubbub is about. She sees Moira wiping dried blood from her healthy lip while glaring at the young half-elf. She stares at him a little longer and realizes the half-elf isn't a child, just a bit young for the adventure he had been swept into. She raises her head and sniffs at the residual energy left behind from whatever he had apparently done and tried to figure out how it connected to Moira's anger and her suddenly healed lip.
Lyra can't quite figure out what the young man had done but whatever it was didn't seem harmful to anyone. Delan would start a bit as the sword slammed down between his legs but recovered quickly and looked up at Moira with a slight smile. "Just my proof that I would able to take care of myself if you let me guide you. You don't know exactly where the elevated platforms are or where the safest approach is from. Also unless you let me help you.." his voice trails off as he realizes what he's asking to be a part of. He visibly has to control his gorge from rising before continuing. "Let me be a part of enacting justice for my family. I have more information that will be crucial in your plans that I will only reveal if you bring me with you."
Though he was struggling to meet Moira's gaze she could see in his green eyes that he was deadly serious.
Around the corner the older human would look up in surprise as the soothing energy washed over him. He flexed his shoulders and once again tried to free himself from the ropes.
Failing to extricate himself he turns and yells over his shoulder. "Oi Delan keep your bloody mouth shut! Don't let these pricks get in yer head mate!"
"Oooh that's a wonderful idea." She then smiles at Mehaila's following comment and shakes her head some. "Perhaps you can play with the other one?" She said, trying to sound a little hopeful. She started to follow Mehaila, but then shook her head and stopped, glancing back at the prisoner still. "Ah damn. Will you send the others back real fast? I don't feel right leaving this one completely unguarded." She would then glance back and forth between Mehaila's retreating figure and their 'compliant' prisoner.
She would shift uncomfortably, trying to continue to make small movements to prevent from hardening further, as she waited to be relieved and then join Mehaila at the other prisoner.
Verta gasped in surprise as she was dragged rather forcefully away from the captive. She’d let out a little squeak in protest, though while she was dragged back she’d slightly stumble the entire time, trying to not to fall on her rump. Giving off a little growl she’d twist and turn to Moira with a glare. She’d point a taloned finger at the young boy, ”He needs closure. If he is willing to swing blade, then so be it. I think he should be given choice, if he is innocent.” She’d pause then, frowning, she’d cross her arms in a little huff. Though the singing caught her attention as she turned to look at the boy.
Her eyes go wide in disbelief as she felt the energy wash over her. She’d glance to Moira and her lip though she was unable to determine what the spell was, it was apparent it wasn’t malicious. She’d find the altercation between Moira and the boy interesting and well, when he spoke up she couldn’t help suppress a little giggle.
”Let the boy come with us. I be responsible for anything to happen. Bandits took his family, let him take their lives. It’s justice he needs.” She’d say as she walked up to stand next to the human blacksmith. She’d look up to Moira then back to the boy. ”It’s apparent he won’t hurt us….” She’d stopped then sigh heavily when the other man yelled out to Delan.
”Why the other one still alive?” She’d say with a tone of annoyance.
Moira starts and stops a few sputtering sentences before finally conceding with an angry, "Fine!" This bothered her but she couldn't understand why and thus could not articulate an argument. He was a healer. He had information. And he probably wasn't going to turn on them. Probably. So yeah, let him come. Vetra was taking responsibility, not her. "Fine. He's all yours."
The other one's outburst gives her an excuse to leave...and maybe vent a little. Her blade appears again, this time pointing at the older man with the foul mouth. 100cm of finely-forged steel whips around to point at the man. The edge hovers an inch from his face without wavering in the slightest, a fine feat of strength and control from any warrior. "You mind your own business or this pricks going through your head," she says moving the blade towards his eye.
"Tell us more about this man that calls himself the Staglord. He at the camp you came from too?"
"Oh good, a reliever." Rose gives a thankful bow as she joins Lyra and Mehaila over at their other charge. She felt fairly confident that Moira could handle the cross-interrogation and could almost sense that she much needed to vent some steam on the sleaze of the two survivors. She continued to stretch and limber some, even as she felt the effects of her concoction begin to slowly wane.
The older human flinches back from Moira's sudden movement and bangs his head on the wall. Beads of sweat appear on his forehead as he licks his lips in nervousness, his eyes flicking between Moira and the prominent sword point only a couple of inches away. "Easy lass, easy. No that bastard hasn't left his fort in years. If he wants to send a message it's one of his lieutenants that does the talkin. The high and mighty bastard himself is too busy drinkin 'imself to death. The lot of them tend to stay in the Staglord's fort down by the lake, small old castle built on a hill with only one way up."
The knots only pulled tighter as the old man tried in vain once again to gain freedom. He winced in pain as the ropes pressed into his skin and began to cut off circulation. "Bloody hell loosen these things will'ya? Give up takin the castle already. The Staglord hasn't risen to ruler of these lands by luck. He's a big bastard who can kill a horse with his bare hands and he's even worse when he gets angry. Grows a couple of feet and gets claws that can tear through solid rock. Musta had a demon pork one of his ancestors."
Delan relaxed as the issue of his situation eased away from his death and towards something resembling freedom. He looked around as the group's attention was focused on the older human and shrugged at his own bonds.
When those bonds proved as solid as the human's he sighed and relaxed his body completely. Looking at Vetra he gave the kobold a weak smile. "I promise not to try to escape or fight back. His name is Morgan and he might listen to me...if you'll untie me. There six of you and two of us, not to mention we are weaponless. What mischief could I really get up to?"
Moira moves the blade down a little but every time gets just the slightest bit ornery she moves it back up towards his face. "Stop struggling and they won't get tighter," she warns. "And unless he's a werewolf or a demon you're just exaggerating," Moira says with a skeptical look. "Besides, it sounds like he's going to kill himself with drink before we even get there. Or a mutiny. Just sit there and be a good boy while we figure out what to do with you."
She'd seen him struggle earlier to no avail so she's confident he won't escape any time soon. She walks over to the others gathered around their new ward. "So there's a camp south near the river fjord and a castle by a lake. Sounds like we can hit the camp quick and surprise them. The castle sounds a lot harder. So what are we doing...about all of this?" she asks, including the two captives.
Lyra had been silent for the duration of the discussions, moving between the two captives and watching them both with clinical detachment. Shirak prowled along behind the druid with each movement and let loose with several subsonic growls that people could feel more then hear. She wasted no more than a few dismissive glances at the older human, her mind already set.
Her interest was focused more on the young half-elf who had sung so eloquently and released powerful healing magic. She had spent several minutes staring at his features with intense scrutiny. Mylee landed on the roof over the cleric's head and stared down at him with bright blue eyes while her claws dug small furrows into the wood.
"He has never denied our requests and has thus far proved helpful. If he speaks truth then he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and only fickle luck has kept him alive. That and his face." Lyra said softly, frank admiration clear on her face. She moved over and knelt next to him. "Shelyn has shielded you from the worst these lands have to offer. Her hand is clearly evident in your stroke of fortune with our arrival. However if you prove false then... Shirak will eat you. The manacles stay on."
While she began to untie Delan the tiger sat nearby and curled up her lip while letting loose a not so subtle growl at the young man.
Shakes her head, not trusting this information, and states that to Lyra. It just came out to easily, and sat unwell with her. However, based on nothing but past experience, she will defer to the group what will happen to them, since she was of the mind to kill the elder man, but after talking with the group, felt any ally might be worth having. After a few more seconds, she asks the elder man " What would happen if we bloody you up, and you limp back to the base? Could you provide us help?"
Rose came over and was surprised that Lyra was already willing to untie him. That is until she saw that he was still manacled and was far less surprised. She knew her sister could be just as cautious as herself depending on the circumstances. She did notice that for a young man caught in the dealings of a common thug, he did have kind of striking features. If situations were different, she might have found herself perhaps even falling for him. She crossed her arms and shook her head some as she allowed others to continue their interrogations on the two. She mentally noted that her time was almost up with her elixir and she would have to once again painstakingly brew yet another one. It was a potent potable, but the time it took to brew another was agonizing sometimes.
The older human smirked at Mehaila's suggestion and nodded his head. "Sure, you let me go and I'll-"
"No."
Oleg and Svetlana stepped up to the group and both were staring at the older man with open hostility. "This one dies." Oleg gritted through his teeth while pointing. "He's been here every time. He'll turn on you in a heartbeat. He hangs as a warning to the rest of them."
Waves a hand to the couple and nod. She had no issue if they knew more about the man than she. She would whisper to the bandit's ear " And to think, I could have made your passing so sweet. Alas, you seem to have had time to turn from your ways and did not. May the sting met you slowly. As she pulled away she would kiss him on the cheek, then caress his chin, as one might a doomed lover. She would then walk away, turning things over to Oleg and Svetlana