Eseldra, seeing the battle over and the wagons secure, returns to her two unconscious bandits.
"We're only keeping the bandits alive that we have a use for, right?" she asks loudly to the others. She pulls out a dagger. "You know, the ones that are going to answer our questions and tell us what we want to know? Looks like we have enough prisoners."
She bends down and performs coup de graces on the two unconscious bandits, pausing just long enough to stop in case anybody has a good reason to stop her.
Tyr stops what he's doing, straightens and shouts back a reply,
"We 'keep' all the Bandits! Whether they have a use or not, whether they have declared themselves or not. The surrender has been called, we take them all prisoners." When others look to him he looks back calmly,
"It is such in the way of war." He returns to seeing to the burying of bodies, the collection of gear, etc.
Jamison rushes around from wagon to wagon, hoping desperately to find Mary, his wife.
Cinders lowers her blade at the driver's surrender and proceeds to tie him to his seat. She then helps to free the prisoners.
When Eseldra calls out her intentions, Cinders responds, "No! The battle is over! Tie them up!"
Tyr, unfortunately, goes straight back to his digging, or straightening, or whatever it was he was doing before the call. Seeing single minded in his endeavors and oblivious to his companion Jamison's plight.
After freeing the prisoners on the first wagon, Karthas moves to the next.
Disable Device (if needed):
Eseldra shrugs, letting her tail fall out of her blouse to twitch in the air in full view of the captured prisoners. "Meh. Whatever. But if they don't prove useful answering your questions, I want to eat their livers. I don't need to kill them for that."
Intimidate:
Jamison pauses in the frantic search for his beloved wife, and arches an eyebrow.
After releasing the prisoners, Karthas walks over to Eseldra and whispers in her ear...
After releasing the prisoners, Karthas walks over to Eseldra and whispers in her ear...
** spoiler omitted **
Karthas says to Eseldra, but certainly loud enough for the captive bandits to hear, "Just give them a chance to spill what they know first, if they prove to be uncooperative, I have no problems with some far less pleasant."
Here's hoping we don't lose this game!
Starday, Pharast 30 - Early Afternoon
With a bit of effort the heroes see to gathering up the horses and wagons and securing the five surviving bandits while Karthas releases the bandits’ captives.
”Thankee, stranger,” Nell Hardesty says. ”My girls an’ me owe ye a debt o’ gratitude fer savin’ our skins, but don’t ye go thinkin’ ‘bout no funny business with my girls, now. Ye hear? Ol’ Nell here’ll give ye what fer, heroes ‘r no!” the elderly crone says, shaking her bony finger at you. Behind her, Vianne rolls her eyes in embarrassment.
Cinders, Eseldra, and Hiram secure the surviving bandits and strip them of their weapons and gear. The bandits eye Eseldra fearfully as she casually speaks about eating their livers as her demonic tail twitches about in full view. Tyr busies himself stripping the dead bandits of any useful gear and preparing them for burial. Disappointed at not finding his wife among the bandits’ captives, Jamison moves to assist Tyr. Euron tends to the wounded animals; in addition to the bandit leader’s mount, two other horses were injured when the horses pulling the rearmost wagon bolted and crashed into one of the mounted bandits.
The heroes recover the following from the bandits and their leader: 3 potions, a masterwork chain shirt, a darkwood shield, a masterwork battleaxe, 2 suits of studded leather armor, 2 bucklers, 13 suits of leather armor, 2 long swords, 13 short swords, 8 light crossbows, 8 longbows, 90 bolts, 80 arrows, 60-days trail rations, 105 gp.
The bandit leader’s horse, a gray combat-trained stallion (heavy horse), along with two riding horses and six draft horses survived the battle. The draft horses are hitched to three well-traveled wagons, each bearing a crest depicting a black bear, rampant against a red field, with a spread of black antlers above the bear’s head. Karthas, Eseldra, and Tyr recognize this as the crest of the Brevic noble House Medvyed, the house of their erstwhile companion Harther. The two lead wagons contain a total of eight crates of furs and hides, four barrels of salted fish, and six casks of ale. The third wagon bears metal vessels of varying sizes (some quite large), copper tubing, and several ceramic jugs containing a potent alcohol that smells like juniper berries.
Additionally, a crate buried under the metal vessels in the third wagon contains a masterwork agile breastplate and a masterwork quickdraw light steel shield, both bearing a crest depicting a green-shelled crab climbing from blue waters toward the gray band of a shore surmounted by a gray tower-keep in the center, against a backdrop of black (Tyr recognizes this as the crest of the Brevic noble House Lodovka). Also in the crate are a masterwork backpack, a large, damaged book (most of the pages appear to have been ripped from the binding), and two clay spheres, each possessing a braided string sticking out of it, that Tyr identifies as fuse grenades.
Eseldra sniffs the alcohol in the jugs, mutters something under her breath about not having any tonic water to properly enjoy the moonshine (gives it a taste just in case it isn't vile), and then gloms onto the book, opening it up eagerly to see what it was about.
Hearing Old Nell's warning about "funny business", Karthas's less than civilized upbringing comes out... "If that were my intentions, would I have been so quick to release you all?"
The barbarian then helps each of the freed captives down out of the wagons. "Stretch your limbs, I'm sure the bonds were not kind to you. Come, have some food and drink, and know that you are now safe."
Looking closer at the wagons, Karthas recognizes the house sigil of House Medvyed, and that of his friend Harther. Turning to the surviving bandits... "When and where did you get these wagons, and what have you done with those you have stolen them from...I would highly suggest you tell me what I want, and that right quickly, or my friend and I shall be dining on you still living flesh."gesturing toward Eseldra
Karthas then walks away from the bandits, and goes over to the former captives and whispers to Old Nell and Vianne "No fear, my friends, I have no intentions of actually eating them, just trying to motivate their tongues."
The massive Kellid then returns the captured bandits... "Well...I am waiting for an answer, but will not wait too long, battle makes me....hungry."
Cinders moves and stands beside Karthas, her hand on her sword. She says nothing, but simply stares menacingly at the captives.
Tyr frowns when he see s the heraldry and, while keeping his features stoic, is more than happy to allow Karthas, Eseldra and Cinders their time with the bandits. Looking from the freed captives to the new captives and the equipment with in the wagons.
Tyr goes about redistributing things so that those that are free can now ride well. Those that are bound can be carried safely and that the load will hopefully put no more strain upon the horses.
The large leatherbound tome is quite obviously an old spellbook. Unfortunately, the years have not been kind, and most of the pages are torn or have been entirely ripped from the binding. However, you are able to determine that four spells remain legible .
The barbarian then helps each of the freed captives down out of the wagons. "Stretch your limbs, I'm sure the bonds were not kind to you. Come, have some food and drink, and know that you are now safe."
"MY STILL!!" the elderly woman in the second wagon screeches as Karthas helps her to the ground. "Deadeye's Bow, but it's prob'ly ruint!" she exclaims, hobbling over to the wagon bearing the metal vessels and copper tubing. "Vanna! Vala! Vianne! Come over here an' help yer poor Granny sort out this mess! I'll never be able to brew th' med'cine if th' still's been ruint!" The three other former captives - two twin girls of about sixteen years in age and another older girl who is likely their older sister - scramble to help the old woman sort through the various pieces in the back of the wagon, holding them up to be inspected by her critical eye.
Looking closer at the wagons, Karthas recognizes the house sigil of House Medvyed, and that of his friend Harther. Turning to the surviving bandits... "When and where did you get these wagons, and what have you done with those you have stolen them from...I would highly suggest you tell me what I want, and that right quickly, or my friend and I shall be dining on you still living flesh."gesturing toward Eseldra
Karthas then walks away from the bandits, and goes over to the former captives and whispers to Old Nell and Vianne "No fear, my friends, I have no intentions of actually eating them, just trying to motivate their tongues."
"Hmph! If th' still can't be fixed, I'll cook 'em for ye meself!" Ol' Nell exclaims quite loudly. "Give th' girls 'n me some carvin' knives an' we'll fix ye up a fine meal. Yes sirree, a fine meal indeed!"
The massive Kellid then returns the captured bandits... "Well...I am waiting for an answer, but will not wait too long, battle makes me....hungry."
Cinders moves and stands beside Karthas, her hand on her sword. She says nothing, but simply stares menacingly at the captives.
The bound bandits shrink away from the angry Kellid and the robed specter of death looming behind him, glancing nervously at the demonic elf as well as their former captives. It is quite obvious that they would all burrow into the ground to get away if they could.
"A-b-b-b-bout six months ago! N-n-n-north of here a'ways," one of the prisoners - the former driver of the middle wagon - stammers. "St-st-st-Stavros had us raid a caravan o' one o' them noble houses from up north. Killed 'em all 'cept th' leader. Stavros took 'im t' th' Stag Lord!"
Karthas continues to scowl in displeasure at the captive bandits...
"Who in the Nine Hells is this Stavros, and where might we find him?"
The bound bandit jerks his head toward the bodies of his fallen comrades. "St-st-Stavros was our leader. Rode the gray stallion over there. Y'all killed him."
The scarred Kellid turns to his companions...
"When everyone is ready, we should return to Oleg's and bring these bandits with us. Maybe we'll be lucky and see our old friend, Harther, there. I'm sure he'd be very interested in hearing about the fate of one of his family's caravans."
Tyr nods in agreement.
"MY STILL!!" the elderly woman in the second wagon screeches as Karthas helps her to the ground. "Deadeye's Bow, but it's prob'ly ruint!" she exclaims, hobbling over to the wagon bearing the metal vessels and copper tubing. "Vanna! Vala! Vianne! Come over here an' help yer poor Granny sort out this mess! I'll never be able to brew th' med'cine if th' still's been ruint!" The three other former captives - two twin girls of about sixteen years in age and another older girl who is likely their older sister - scramble to help the old woman sort through the various pieces in the back of the wagon, holding them up to be inspected by her critical eye.
After depositing his captive with the others, and a stern glance at all of the prisoners, with a pointed twang of his bow string, Hiram turns to the commotion caused by the recently freed captives,
"Howdy Granny!" He nods his head, I'm Hiram Salatin. Pa used to run a still back home on the farm, and though I never had no mind about it, I know'd enough to help out here and there. Is there somthin' I can do for you? Your three helpers here could prolly use a rest too. Might I be doin' the liftin' and a sortin' and such for you ladies? And what medicine y'all packin' here?"
As the bandits stammer out an explanation of the goods on this caravan, Hiram looks up from helping Granny, , "Granny, y'all come from that caravan they talkin' about? You see this leader taken prisoner? What'd he look like?"
Hiram nods as well, "We need to get these folks back to some safety, and resupply. Matti and Gerti will need more provisions soon."
Jamison, decimated by not finding his wife among the captives, merely works that much harder. At the old woman's shout, he turns his head, sighs, and steps forward with his friend Hiram to hear the reply. He listens particularly to determine what type of medicine the old woman needs.
Hearing that the still that crafted this exquisite gin has an owner, Eseldra looks crestfallen, so much so that she forgets to keep lashing her tail. She brightens a bit however, upon discovering the spells, and quickly casts a read magic before that gets taken away from her too.
Euron grumbles as he examines the arrow wound - a small one if measured up against any of the one's he's had in prior seasons.
Seeing as the others have tended to the bandits, the prisoners and the equipment, the old druid focuses his attentions on the animals, checking them for injuries, good care, while doing his best to calm them as they will certainly be needed to haul the wagons.
"Surely we don't mean to march all this up to to the stag lord's front door, so we're probably looking at circling back to Oleg's I wager?"
Cinders nods in agreement. "Yes, a return to Oleg's is our best option at the moment."
Tyr nods in agreement with the assessment.
"Indeed, taking these people to safety is the thing to do."
"Howdy Granny!" He nods his head, I'm Hiram Salatin. Pa used to run a still back home on the farm, and though I never had no mind about it, I know'd enough to help out here and there. Is there somthin' I can do for you? Your three helpers here could prolly use a rest too. Might I be doin' the liftin' and a sortin' and such for you ladies? And what medicine y'all packin' here?"
"Salatin, eh?" Ol' Nell says, squinting at Hiram. "Any kin of th' Salatin's up near Nivakta's Crossing?"
"Thankee fer the help. Here, turn that big kettle over," she directs Hiram and Jamison. "Wouldn't do fer it t' have any holes in the bottom. What med'cine? Why, only th' best white lightnin' in all th' Kamelands! Just ask th' elf lass with th' tail over there, she's already nipped a taste."
As the bandits stammer out an explanation of the goods on this caravan, Hiram looks up from helping Granny, , "Granny, y'all come from that caravan they talkin' about? You see this leader taken prisoner? What'd he look like?"
"Oh, no. We ain't from some high-falutin' noble's caravan. These b@$t@rd$ raided our farmstead an' burned it to th' ground 'bout a week ago. Their boss-man wanted to use my still to earn 'im a top spot with th' Stag Lord. 'Course he needed me to actually make th' med'cine with it." Her expression turns even darker and her voice lowers with rage as she adds, "He also said he'd get a fine price fer th' girls from th' Stag Lord's men."
Alter Winds,
Hydraulic Push,
Touch of the Sea, and
Slipstream
It does strike me that we might use this setup to approach th' Stag Lord's encampment. It'd allow us 't get close in-like without bein' seen and attacked right away. Might even be able t' walk in th' front door like that, yep. Jus' a thought.
"That's a fine idea, Jamison. Perhaps we can flesh out a plan of attack on the way back to Oleg's"
"Stealth and subterfuge have never been my strong points," Cinders says. "Life experiences have taught me to be blunt and upfront. However, that's gotten me into trouble a few times, too. I think Jamison has a good idea for getting us up close without suspicion."
"Salatin, eh? Any kin of th' Salatin's up near Nivakta's Crossing?"
"Yes ma'am. Though the original homestead's down in these parts, but that was ages ago. I stayed on with Pa for quite awhile...till I met an ol' travelin' priest of Old Deadeye. I was working with Mr. Jameson here at his farm at the time. I had my eyes opened, and now do the best I can by other folks, so if you need somethin', you just let me know."
Hiram nods at Granny's words, assisting when and where he can with the examination of the still. The mention of selling the girls however causes him to pause for a moment. His jaw clenches hard, and his face flushes almost instantly to red hot. He calms, and settles himself.
"Not while I still got blood in these here veins, Granny."
Hiram continues on, and nods in agreement with the travel plans, and looks up as the others mention possible ways to get at the Stag Lord.
"This Stag Lord likes his drink then? Mayhaps we get together somthin; that looks like all these still parts an' use that to get in?"
Ol' Nell gives Hiram a fierce grin and pinches his cheek as she says, "Ah, yer a good boy there, young Hiram Salatin. Girls! Ye'd do well t' spend some time with young Hiram here an' learn from his example!"
Ol' Nell inspects every piece of her still and determines that nothing is damaged. She supervises Hiram and Jamison as they re-pack each piece into one of the wagons while her granddaughters prepare a meal consisting of trail rations and salted fish for the heroes. Euron tends to the animals and Eseldra studies the damaged spellbook while Karthas, Cinders, and Tyr dispose of the bodies of the slain bandits.
Once the meal is complete, the bandits are secured in the wagons, and the still is stowed to Ol' Nell's satisfaction, the large party mounts up and heads northward. The caravan reaches a sheltered valley nestled in the hills by the time the sun begins to dip below top of the Narlmarches to the west.
Hearing the young woman's questions about 'heroic deeds', Karthas begins to relay, as best he can, the exploits of the Chartered Six.
"Berenkor is really much better at this sort of thing than I am..."
He begins as he tells his tale of battles with bandits at the Leverton's homestead, and both battles at the Thorn river crossing. He continues on with The Charter Six's encounter with the werewolf, early in their travels and even tells the tale of the Sootscales and their issues with the Mites of the Old Sycamore, and the kobold's traitorous shaman, Tartuk. He finishes his long winded tale with the cleansing of the Shrine of Erastil, and how Rani chose to leave the Chartered Six and stay behind to see to her god's shrine, how Berenkor chose to stay behind at Oleg's, and of how Harther's family obligations pulled him from the group. As he finishes up, the barbarian's voice gains a more somber tone...
"The Chartered Six did many deeds of great merit, and my new companions have quickly proved themselves to be cut from the same cloth as those who have left, but I am no hero, Vianne. The others travel the Greenbelt and try to end the rampant banditry because they wanted to. I started out on this quest because I must. Granted, I now feel a sense of purpose that had been missing from my life, but not because I chose this path. My travels with these good folk have changed me, I only hope that I can continue to prove myself worthy to travel with them."
As the others pack up and begin the return trip to Oleg's, Euron volunteers his thoughts to any interested audience.
"Might be this Stag-man comes lookin' for us after what we just did. A mother only loses so many birds before she starts being real keen to find the wolf."
As Niko looks offended at being compared - metaphorically - to the Stag Lord, Euron quickly picks up on the canine's feelings apologizes to the animal. "No offense to any wolves, intended..."
While at camp that evening, Eseldra can be heard muttering to herself in ever-increasing volume, until she finally just tosses the spellbook down in disgust, her tail making another violent appearance.
"What a stupid, worthless, pointless collection of spells! Most of them aren't even worth the paper they're scribbled on. No wonder the wizard who owned this spellbook is likely dead and butchered if this is the kind of magic he filled his stupid head with."
While at camp that evening, Eseldra can be heard muttering to herself in ever-increasing volume, until she finally just tosses the spellbook down in disgust, her tail making another violent appearance.
"What a stupid, worthless, pointless collection of spells! Most of them aren't even worth the paper they're scribbled on. No wonder the wizard who owned this spellbook is likely dead and butchered if this is the kind of magic he filled his stupid head with."
"I'm beginning to think you've spent too much time around me. First, you are threatening to eat a bandit's innards, and now you are frothing at the mouth and raging." As the Kellid wears a wry grin across his face, and prepares to dodge the spellbook he assumes is to headed toward his head...
"As long as she saves her rage for the enemy," Cinders says with a grin, "I suppose it is not much of a problem."
As the others pack up and begin the return trip to Oleg's, Euron volunteers his thoughts to any interested audience."Might be this Stag-man comes lookin' for us after what we just did. A mother only loses so many birds before she starts being real keen to find the wolf."
As Niko looks offended at being compared - metaphorically - to the Stag Lord, Euron quickly picks up on the canines feelings apologises to the animal. "No offence to any wolves, intended..."
Tyr frowns a little.
"but remember, friend Euron, the Stag Lord has no one to carry any messages to him of those we have defeated." He rides along, thinking still,
"Though planning for an attack upon him is definitely better than awaiting for any planned attacks he may muster against us." Tyr finishes.
"MMMMhhhhmmmmmmm," Hiram agrees with Tyr regarding the planning of an attack, "though I'd rather we make a more pratical go at it. I think we need to be the Hunter...taking down the Stag. Ya just don't walk right up on 'em...gotta circle around, get downwind, and wait for a good moment to catch 'em off guard."