"Well, ... okay then.
Gang up men, we've had enough rest. Time to head to that barbeque at Oleg's! We wouldn't want to run into that group of yours. We would've to kill them, you know." Vasily speaks, rallying his men.
The men seem disoriented, still thinking of their promised wealths and probably wanting to hold onto it, but the thought of burning down Oleg's trading post does seem like a nice alternative for the time being.
They quickly pack things up and are on their way north towards Oleg's within minutes.
"Sounds like an excellent plan Vasily. Delfey, Taras and I shall accompany you and your men to Oleg's. He's far to gruff of a man, and wanted to outright kill Taras."
If asked why we're coming with them, Devlin says, "That's a simple one to answer. If I'm there, I'll be able to get Oleg, or his pretty little wife Svetlana, to open the gate and let us all just ride right in."
Vasily sure wonders why Devlin would want to blow his cover right there, but doesn't question his decission. He just replies that they would have simply shot fire-arrows over the fort's walls. "There's no well inside the fort, and anyone trying to get out gets fed with our arrows. Why would we want to get in?"
Taras look wanders between Devlin and Vasily not speaking but shooting stares at Devlin, when he thinks no one notices.
Agerron turns a bit at the dwarf's words. "And I see a great army, surging from that city to expand the empire and turn back those who would try and take it away." He smiles, a glint in his eye.
"As long as there's booze and hookers, I'll be happy."
Big Ern smiles sweetly at Xanda and says:
Xanda initially looks blankly at the large fellow,
"Um...no...?" She hesitantly replies to Big Ern.
Majet quietly sighs and facepalms at Ern's antics.
Xanda looks from Ern to Majet and raises an eyebrow questioningly.
"I speak my language with Queslin together knowing it better than speaking this way with you. I be trying harder to learn this speaking better soon." Xanda tries to explain to Ern, thinking their differences in language may be the barrier between their understanding one another.
"Well such ladies and gentlemen have their place" He says to Ern "But by Adabar how can you call anything a civilization without ale! That's just...just down right uncivilized!" The dwarf shouts in utter disbelief.
"I speak my language with Queslin together knowing it better than speaking this way with you. I be trying harder to learn this speaking better soon." Xanda tries to explain to Ern, thinking their differences in language may be the barrier between their understanding one another.
"Well such ladies and gentlemen have their place" He says to Ern "But by Adabar how can you call anything a civilization without ale! That's just...just down right uncivilized!" The dwarf shouts in utter disbelief.
"Damn straight, Beard-o."
Xanda purse her lips as Queslin speaks again, then looks to Ern at the large man's next comment.
With a shrug of her shoulders she rides on in relative silence.
"You can't loot ash."
"That's not completely true though. Simple fire doesn't harm gold and iron. For most of the other things, we have not much use. Or have enough of anyway." Vasily answers casually.
They slowly make their way north, the bandits walking, Devlin and Taras rolling behind on the cart, and Delfey making the last one.
The eidolon doesn't have much to do make a trace for someone to find and follow, with the cart leaving a trail on it's own.
Come evening, the summoned creature informs Devlin without words that he thinks to see the other group riding on their trail.
"Indeed! Civilization must be maintained, an army is the arm of a civilization. It is the sword that vanquishes barbarism and protects from invasion and brigands. " He says for once in full agreement with Agerron.
"Not just maintained, but made larger! And larger ... and larger ..." Agerron still has his smile, although it's hard to tell if he's just exaggerating in jest, or looking forward to such a thing.
Xanda smiles and shakes her head at evey one's reasonable goo cheer, her grin showing her appreciation of people's humor.
Riding on the rest of the day, come afternoon the group of people led by Queslin find a trail of markings in the ground, that points to someone traveling the lands by cart. A cart just like the one Xanda brought when you first met her. Beside the traces of the cart and horse two sets of footsteps can be found.
One of those is unique enough to be easily identified to belong to Delfey while the other could be pretty much any humanoid.
Following those tracks, you come to a tree, where the cart met up with some more humans that where resting here. They later all went north, towards Oleg. No sign of battle is found, no blood spilled to the ground.
Being quicker on horseback than the cart can ever be, come evening and you riding on top one of the small hills, up ahead you see the group of people up ahead in the distance. If you hurry along, you can catch up to them in about an hour.
We'll pick up the pace.
Branomnrik holds on with prayers to Adabar upon his lips as the damnable Horse gains speed.
As he rides, Agerron asks any of the others if they know who those men are with Devlin. "And why did you all split with him, anyway?"
As he hold on for dear life to the accursed beast Bran exclaims "The Gods alone know why that one does anything"
"No idea who they are." Majet answers
Closing the distance between your group and the one you follow, you notice them turning to see you.
Some sort of commotion arises, with the men on foot stoping and discussing with Devlin and Taras. One of the men you don't know seems to be rather angry at the developement, but once you are within some yards, they all are more or less calm.
Devlin greets you, saying: "Finally! I was looking for you lot for two days now. What happened with the Kobolds?"
After getting a really quick briefing, he points to the people accompanying him, explaining: "These band of former bandits are Vasily and his men. I met them earlier the day and could persuade them to repent and swear fealty to our cause. I was about to escort them to Olegs."
Sense Motive
At the words 'former bandits', Queslin begins to reach for his weapon, but stops himself and looks to Branomonrik.
Sense Motive
Branomnrik is a bit wary at the thought of Devlin converting anyone. And while they are armed he guesses it could be possible.
"Former bandits, sound like my kind of people."
Sense motive
While Devlin's words are good enough for some of you, Branomonrik and Big Ern have their doubts about the truth of them.
Branomonrik goes only by his guts, but Big Ern notices Taras being slightly nervous, the mans gaze darting between the group, Devlin and Vasily.
"Say, Taras ol' buddy, why don't you come over here and give me a big manly hug. I missed you!" Big Ern grins, none too convincingly.
Bluff:
Taras stares at Big Ern shortly, then replies shrugging: "Same reason I don't go near you any other day: You stink."
Michael and Devlin start snickering at that, while the 'former bandits' look just as confused.
Perception:
"Hey! Buddy over there is pulling a knife!" Big Ern bellows, pointing at Vasily as he reaches to draw his own big axe.
Majet hearing the warning goes for a bomb
Perception +2 v Humanoid (human)
Xanda doesn't see anything obvious from where she sits upon her horse. She cranes her neck to try and get a better idea of who Ern is indicating.
sense motive
perception
Being totally oblivious to everything, Agerron only reacts when Big Ern shouts his warning. He casts shield of faith on himself (giving a +2 to AC) and then draws his greatsword.
Branomonrik does not like the feel of this, not at all. As he sees one go for a dagger he yells Trap! and brings his crossbow to bear on the lead bandit.
perception
Crossbow
Damage
With the leader of the bandits trying to secretly draw a dagger, all hell breaks loose as he is observed by Big Ern and Branomonrik. They instantly shout out a warning, bringing their own weapons out as well.
Vasily throws his dagger at Devlin, shouting: "Lying basterd! Get him, boys!"
The dagger hits the human close to the throat, sticking out on the other side, dropping him where he stood, on the cart. Delfey vanishes in the same second, and the horse pulling the cart goes wild.
Branomonrik brings up his crossbow, but has no time to aim properly, so the bolt only hits thin air.
Init
Big Ern draws his axe and dismounts.
Xanda stands in her saddle and casts a spell, flinging a glob of green bile at the fellow who threw the dagger.
init:
Init
Initiative:
Ride
Queslin dismounts Lómion and readies his bow.
If the bandits move first and choose to charge, he instead draws his sword and attacks if possible.
Longsword
to hit damage