"This one prefers the rope. Still, maybe we should give him a day or two in chains to contemplate his fate."
"Or we could just give him a few moments alone with Karthas," Harther says, motioning toward the hulking, scarred Kellid. "It's amazing how persuasive he can be when he's ripping someone's arms out of their sockets."
The ranger pauses for a moment before adding, "It's when he starts beating them over the head with the bloody ends that starts to turn my stomach..."
I suggest we spend the rest of the daylight dumping the bodies and making it appear how we want it to, and spend the evening simply enjoying the hospitality of our new base of operations; the fight was a hard one, and we're not pressed for time. Lets work out what we want to sell to Oleg, and get to know our hosts better. I'd also like the opportunity to provide some entertainment for all; I have a tale in mind.
Berenkor looks particularly pleased with himself, as Oleg picked up on his suggestion to employ Mik and Gilbert.
Scowling, Karthas approaches the bound prisoner, "Do you know that some of the barbarian tribes of Numeria believe that the knowledge of a person can be gained by eating their still beating heart while gazing into their eyes as the last vestiges of life leave?"
Reaching down to his boot for a dagger, Karthas flashes a wicked grin toward the prisoner, "Did I mention that I'm Numerian? Of course you could just tell me what you know and save us the mess and trouble."
Intimidate:
Eseldra votes for setting up their own ambush at the staged ambush site and waiting for investigators. "Assuming that they are completely disorganized is dangerous. Never underestimate your enemy; that's what got these guys killed." Her sweeping arm takes in the brigand corpses.
"I know its the Andoran way to think everybody else is inferior, but we're not in Andoran at the moment."
We waste time hoping they will fall into our ambush; and we lose the initiative. Follow the tracks and take the fight to the enemy, I say.
And your ignorance of Andoran ways is rather telling; that everybody is equal is one of our underlying principles; I daresay you should research a culture thoroughly before presuming to judge our ways
"I have no issue with taking the battle to the brigands; you'll recall that was my suggestion in the first place. However, I have come to realise that there was sense to be found in the suggestions of others, and we did well to divide the brigands. We will still have the initiative laying an ambush for more brigands and if they don't come in a day or two, then we can make our way to their encampment. Of course, the best of both worlds would be set-up our ambush, then follow their tracks back to their camp before they wash away, and then return to our ambush. That way we know where to go."
"And if everybody is equal, then these brigands deserve a little more credit to their planning, until proven otherwise."
And yet if we are to respect their planning ability, why would we allow them time to realise their band of robbers has not returned, and to organise their defences and forces? We should not lose the initiative
"That also has merit. I suppose our best bet will be to stage the scene and make our way along the trail to their camp. When we get there, if we determine that their forces are too strong, we can fall back to our ambush site. Best of both worlds."
"I say there's no need for this bickering. We all seem to be agreed to follow the bandits' tracks, scout out their location, and bring justice to them as soon as possible. I suspect this lot is not operating on a fixed timetable and whether we attack them again tonight, tomorrow, or three days hence I doubt the missing raiding party will have been noticed as such by that time. So, let's set off before we waste more precious time. We have laws to uphold."
Scowling, Karthas approaches the bound prisoner, "Do you know that some of the barbarian tribes of Numeria believe that the knowledge of a person can be gained by eating their still beating heart while gazing into their eyes as the last vestiges of life leave?"
Reaching down to his boot for a dagger, Karthas flashes a wicked grin toward the prisoner, "Did I mention that I'm Numerian? Of course you could just tell me what you know and save us the mess and trouble."
Intimidate:1d20 + 9
"All right," the bandit says with an audible gulp, "that does sound worse. Head south...camp is on a ford over the Thorn River. Maybe a half day's ride. Desna's mercy!" He looks around desperately at the rest of the group and begins struggling at his bonds. "Don't let him eat me heart!"
"Very sensible. Shall we load these bodies onto one of these pack animals? Tyr? Harthas?"
"I will go with you as well...but I think we should just scout the location, then decide how to handle things. Dropping the bodies along the way is a good idea. It may even sow some dissention among the bandit ranks: if indeed this Stag Lord really is the master of all bandits hereabouts then he will wonder who bested his men."
Rani easily finds the tracks leading to an old game trail starting right under the tree line that snakes off to the south. Even though tracks criss-cross and muddle the dirt path, with the aid of Harther and Karthas it becomes obvious that some of the tracks are fresh, and thus indicate they must belong to the bandits.
"All right," the bandit says with an audible gulp, "that does sound worse. Head south...camp is on a ford over the Thorn River. Maybe a half day's ride. Desna's mercy!" He looks around desperately at the rest of the group and begins struggling at his bonds. "Don't let him eat me heart!"
As Karthas wonders over to help with the loading of bodies, "You told me what I wanted to know. I won't eat your heart...for now."
The bandit continues sputtering.
"There's at least another eight or so fellas back at camp though, not to mention Kestra. When we ain't back by sundown, they'll know somethin' is up."
"I will go with you as well...but I think we should just scout the location, then decide how to handle things. Dropping the bodies along the way is a good idea. It may even sow some dissention among the bandit ranks: if indeed this Stag Lord really is the master of all bandits hereabouts then he will wonder who bested his men."
Rani easily finds the tracks leading to an old game trail starting right under the tree line that snakes off to the south. Even though tracks criss-cross and muddle the dirt path, with the aid of Harther and Karthas it becomes obvious that some of the tracks are fresh, and thus indicate they must belong to the bandits.
"And what makes this Kestra so special?" Eseldra asks.
"And what makes this Kestra so special?" Eseldra asks.
"The Stag Lord hisself put her in charge o' the camp at the Thorn River Ford. She's a mean one. I's seen her take off a bloke's finger when he questioned her, with her pair o' hatchets."
Stealth-
Perception-
Perception:
Stealth:
Tyr listens in quietly upon the groups discussion simply going about the Outpost doing chores and other work. With the last bandit changing his 'tune' under Karthas' ministrations, Tyr does smile a little.
"We should go as soon as everything here is put to rights. So in a way I agree with Berenkor. However the plan to lay about a false ambush site with the bodies should still be followed, since I still don't want to leave Oleg and Svetlana in any danger..." He pauses for a moment.
"Once the bodies have been dealt with, we move on and try and take the remaining bandits in their camp." Tyr frowns, "Though this fight, I fear, will not go as well as our first few. I do agree with Harthor and Karthas, t'is better to be the ambush-er than the prey."
"Karthas? What's say we try and both deal with this Kestra together?. While two against one might seem like an unfair fight, most wars are won by those with the most troops..."
Perception:1d20 + 4
Stealth:1d20 + 0
[ooc]Stealth:
Eseldra sells the unclaimed loot to Oleg, which at his offer of 60% nets them 193 gp and 2 silvers, which with the other money, nets everybody a share of coin equal to 41 gp and 1 sp.
Stealth:1d20+3
Eseldra sells the unclaimed loot to Oleg, which at his offer of 60% nets them 193 gp and 2 silvers, which with the other money, nets everybody a share of coin equal to 41 gp and 1 sp.
"Karthas? What's say we try and both deal with this Kestra together?. While two against one might seem like an unfair fight, most wars are won by those with the most troops..."
Placing his hand firmly on Tyr's shoulder, Karthas says,"I agree, sounds like this Kestra is not one to be taken lightly. Two against one, while not a fair fight, is a rather effective fight. My brother and I dropped many a foe using similar tactics. It would be an honor to go into combat with you, as my brother and I once did."
"Shall we load these bodies onto one of these pack animals?"
"The horses may not react well to the bloodsmell of the bodies. We may have to drag the bodies on a litter."
After the companions finish cleaning up the signs of battle and eating a hearty breakfast, Harther saddles the horses in preparation for their foray into the wilderness of the Greenbelt.
"So we are agreed? We will follow the bandits' trail south toward the Thorn River, covering all tracks behind us that lead here to Oleg's. Karthas, would you mind taking 'track-covering detail' at the rear of the party while Rani and I take the lead? We'll watch for a likely ambush site and stage the bodies there, then scout ahead to the bandit encampment."
"The bandits are expecting Happs and his men to be back by sundown. I'd still prefer to try to ambush any who leave to investigate Happs' disappearance rather than assault the whole group on their home turf, but we can make that decision later."
Perception:
- vs. Humans add +2 to Perception
Stealth:
Survivial Check #1:
Survival Check #2:
"So we are agreed? We will follow the bandits' trail south toward the Thorn River, covering all tracks behind us that lead here to Oleg's. Karthas, would you mind taking 'track-covering detail' at the rear of the party while Rani and I take the lead? We'll watch for a likely ambush site and stage the bodies there, then scout ahead to the bandit encampment.""The bandits are expecting Happs and his men to be back by sundown. I'd still prefer to try to ambush any who leave to investigate Happs' disappearance rather than assault the whole group on their home turf, but we can make that decision later."
The group manages to easily load the bloody corpses onto a makeshift litter. Fortunately for Harther, the bandits made no effort to cover their trail, and he is able to easily follow their tracks south and slightly east down an old, well-used game trail for what had to be at least a dozen miles or so.
The forest is very thick through this area, and often times the spring leaves overhead nearly blot out the sun, giving the dappled light that filters through a mottled feel. Dust motes dance in the beams that find their way to the forest floor, and shadows are deep.
It is early evening, and the trail is still clear. The trail dips down into a small valley and rises in a small switchback to a rise dead ahead. The crest of the rise is about twenty feet from the forest floor.
Perception check - DC 10
Perception check - DC 15
Perception check - DC 25
"So we are agreed? We will follow the bandits' trail south toward the Thorn River, covering all tracks behind us that lead here to Oleg's. Karthas, would you mind taking 'track-covering detail' at the rear of the party while Rani and I take the lead? We'll watch for a likely ambush site and stage the bodies there, then scout ahead to the bandit encampment."
"The bandits are expecting Happs and his men to be back by sundown. I'd still prefer to try to ambush any who leave to investigate Happs' disappearance rather than assault the whole group on their home turf, but we can make that decision later."]
"Not a problem, just leave me room to run up towards the front if need be."
It is early evening, and the trail is still clear. The trail dips down into a small valley and rises in a small switchback to a rise dead ahead. The crest of the rise is about twenty feet from the forest floor.
Harther raises his fist, signalling for the others to halt. He motions for them to gather around, and then whispers, "I don't know if you can hear it, but there is a river flowing somewhere ahead. I can hear at least 6 voices talking and laughing over the sound of the water - none of the voices are female."
Eseldra's mind is wandering, trying to work out the ins and outs of a new spell as you move along through the forest and she sees nothing.
It is early evening, and the trail is still clear. The trail dips down into a small valley and rises in a small switchback to a rise dead ahead. The crest of the rise is about twenty feet from the forest floor.Harther raises his fist, signalling for the others to halt. He motions for them to gather around, and then whispers, "I don't know if you can hear it, but there is a river flowing somewhere ahead. I can hear at least 6 voices talking and laughing over the sound of the water - none of the voices are female."
Drawing his greatsword,"I hear them too. Your call Harther, do we want to attack now, or set up and wait?"
I hear only the river; but I admit I was daydreaming a little about a new play I saw before we left Restov... Berenkor admits guiltily.
I must warn you all though, that I can contribute little but my music, my longsword and my crossbow to this fight... My best enchantments have already been used today.
Perhaps the stealthier among us can work our way towards them and scout out their forces? You and I, Harther?
Tyr also draws his sword along with Karthas.
"Yup, I too hear the voices." He looks to Karthas, "Well, wait here for them to go looking for their friends? Or square away and have at them?" He glances to Harthor,
"Well, that might mean that she doesn't talk too much." Though Tyr gives an over blown wink and then 'nonchalantly' begins to scan the trees around them.
Harther whispers to the group. "While I see the advantage of a couple of us scouting ahead, I would hate for something to go wrong and have our scouting mission necessitate a rescue mission - particularly since our magical resources are somewhat depleted for the rest of the day."
"I think it safe to assume that the bandit camp is nearby, so we can find our way back here again tomorrow. I suggest we move back along our trail for a couple of miles - or even to the spot where we staged the bodies - and set up an ambush there. We can camp there this evening, setting watches of two people each to keep a look out in case the bandits come to investigate in the night, and be prepared to surprise them on ground of OUR choosing."
"Of course, we'll need to cover our tracks leading from here to the ambush site."
"I do have a colour spray spell left today," Eseldra says, "and I can use my grandmother's ring to cast another. It is a short-range spell, but can render several people unconscious, or at least stun them somewhat."
"There are advantages and disadvantages for either option. If we attack now, we will likely catch them unaware, but we are decidedly not at full strength. If we wait, we will be at full strength and we may yet surprise them, but they are very much more likely to be on their guard because of their brethern not returning."
"The risks of someone being spotted are great, but if we are going to attack, we need to know how many and where. If it is just six, with the element of surprise on our side, we should be able to take them. If it's more, then we have a problem and should withdraw and wait for them to come to us."
"The advantage of withdrawing to our ambush site is that even if they suspect something is up and are on their guard, our positional advantage will be so great that we'll still be the favourites to win the fight."
Nodding in agreement with Eseldra's statement, "I am ready, whatever we choose."