"You left Svetlana!? NO!"
Oleg tears off with the speed of a man half his age. His water buckets scatter and the earth hungrily laps up to spilled water.
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Theodric and Oleg enter the trading post to see Edgar, bloody sword in hand, standing over Gliadel's body. From her state of dress and the streak of blood across the ground toward the bunkhouse, it is likely that she was sleeping and had no chance to defend herself.
Edgar capers maniacally and brandishes his sword at Theodric. A woman stands casually behind a kneeling Svetlana: two axes crossed over her shoulders.
"Well. I suppose you know to drop your weapons now."
Her tone greatly discourages hesitation.
Lanya manages to tangle up the man's legs and as he begins to fall, Dyrm brings up the flat of his axe and cold-cocks the man's face. He goes limp as a boned fish.
"You vant him alive?" he looks to Lanya, "Or should I kill him?"
" His own actions brand him as a bandit. He should be put to the sword. I did give him a chance to surrender."
Looks at Kern still heading to the outpost..
" But do it quickly we need to make haste."
He sets off at a lumbering pace once again.
Dyrm nods and performs the coup de grace on the bandit before resuming his run towards Olegs
Theodric glances over to Gliadel's lifeless body.
"Of course we will cooperate! Weapons down Oleg"
Theodric quickly throws his lance and shield to the ground and raises his hands in the air. He then starts trying to talk his way out of the situation.
"By now Edgar's probably told you the gist of who I am, but let me fill you in on the specifics. I am Theodric Lebeda. I'm guessing you're Kressle. I wish we had met under more happy circumstances. I am part of a group that has been chartered by the Swordlords of Brevoy to rid these lands of unrepentant bandits. Let me emphasize the word UNREPENTANT in that statement. If you were to decide to change your ways, I can personally attest that my group would not touch you. Keep that in mind as I keep talking."
"Right now we find ourselves in a tricky situation. There's been blood shed on both sides. I really am sorry about Happs by the way, I liked him a lot. That's why I convinced my companions to let me be the one to execute him, I wanted to give him a merciful death. A proper beheading is a lot quicker, more dignified, and less painful then a hanging. I was absolutely heartbroken when I botched it, I nearly threw up I felt so bad. You also killed one of my companions, Gliadel there"
Theodric gestures towards the lifeless bard's corpse.
"I'm sad to see her go. Sweet woman there. She was pretty good with a sword too. But regardless, look at the numbers. We've killed something like 13 of your men, whereas you've only managed to take out one of us, and that's because she was asleep. At the rate that this is going, you're all probably going to end up dead. That's not a threat mind you, just an observation. My group may suffer losses, but we'll finish you off in the end. Even in the unlikely event that we don't, the Swordlords are really interested in settling this territory. They will send a bigger, better equipped group and mow through here without a bit of mercy. Your band will not be able to stand against them, even if you can recruit enough new members to recover your losses, which I doubt you could quickly enough. You'll all die horribly. Banditry is quickly ceasing to be a viable career option in the Stolen Lands.
"Now I don't particularly want things to go this way. If we go the bloody fighting route that means I probably end up dead too, and I love living! There's all sorts of enjoyable things in life like riding horses and reading books and drinking wine. Not to mention it would break my poor mothers heart! I feel bad for you if you survive and that happens. She's ever so spiteful. She won't kill you, she'll just make your life a living hell til you kill yourself.
There is another simple option that you can take though. One where you not only walk away alive, but walk away rich! It would even be legal, meaning you could use the money without worrying about looking over your shoulder every day for the rest of your life. You could live the lifestyle of a successful shopkeeper without having to do any of the work til you die of old age!"
"Sound interesting? Here's my proposal. Me, your boys, and Oleg load a wagon with the choicest pick of the trading posts goods. We fill them up to the brim with gold and spices and enough valuables you can live a comfortable life for years to come. We then draft a legally binding contract giving your group ownership of the goods, and I sign it as a witness that it was not made under duress. It should hold up in any legal court, I assure you. While we're doing this Svetlana here will take my horse and go track down my group and explain the situation to them. Once they get here, we grant you a pardon for all crimes committed, assuming you repent for you bandit ways. We actually have the authority to do that, and you don't have to stop being bandits if you really don't want, just stop in the stolen lands. After the paper work is taken care of we will escort you to the border with Mevon, assuring your newly acquired goods are unharnessed by other bandits. I will ride in the cart with our lovely friend Edgar there as a hostage, so he can kill me if my group betrays you. You can release me a few miles after you cross the border. In exchange for all that, you let Svetlana, Oleg, myself, and my horse go unharmed. You also never again enter into the Stolen Lands, so that you are outside of the bounds of the charter we have been given. What do you say, do we have ourselves a deal?
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"That is a fine offer, Rose Water. I'll admit it." Kressle's voice is wrye and sultry at once. She somehow manages to flirt seductively while maintaining a very palpable threat of death...
"I live too close to the edge to take such a good deal that quickly though. I have a counter offer."
She smiles.
"You fight me here and now. You win, I take your deal and you never see me again. I win, I kill you, Svetlana, Oleg, and maybe even Edgar, then take everything anyway..."
She shrugs. "...Or I could kill Svetlana now and we can see how you hold up against Edgar and me together."
Her eyes gleam dangerously.
"I do like you very much, so please say yes. It will be so much more satisfying that way."
Theodric grins back at the bandit. "Ma'am, I like the way you think. I will accept of course, this will be satisfying for both of us. I just want to clarify a couple details before we begin. Firstly, I assume you wish me to fight on foot as opposed to mounted? Also, I am to stop just shy of delivering your killing blow, whereas you are under no such limitations? I'm fine with those terms, I just want to make sure we're on the same page."
"Just give me one moment to retrieve my shield. You want this to be sporting after all."
Cautiously, Theodric retrieves his discarded shield from the ground and puts it on. He then draws out his longsword.
"Alright Kressle, time to dance."
Dyrm continues running, Not sure vhy I am running so hard. How much trouble can they be in? He considers slowing down, then remembers Vait, they are humans. Humans rarely haf sense. and he picks up his pace.
"Ah, so we're starting slow are we? Fine by me, we can prolong this as long as you like. I will defeat you regardless."
Theodric easily blocks Kressle's strike with his shield and casually performs a counter strike, clearly telegraphing his move.
" definitely need to purchase a horse in the near future."
Wheezes Cromwell as he tries to keep pace with Dyrm.
Theodric chuckles at the bandit's blows, easily pushing them aside with his sword.
"Obviously not much better if that's the best you've got"
Theodric knows he has to finish this fight now or he will die, as will Oleg and Svetlana.
"Time to stop playing fair! Oscar, attack Edgar" shouts the cavalier as he points at the traitorus bandit.
On the verge of passing out, Theodric summons his strength for one last desperate blow before he fades into unconsciousness.
" definitely need to purchase a horse in the near future."
Wheezes Cromwell as he tries to keep pace with Dyrm.
"Ja! It takes forever diz vay it zeems," the dwarf admits, then glances over at the huffing cleric, "You are healthy for a human, but do not over tax yourself, if you need to slow your pace i can go on ahead. Better you arrive late than not at all."
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Oscar charges forward, surprising the unwitting bandit. In the space of a breath, the horse destroys Edgar in a tangle of teeth and hoof.
Theodric brings forth a mighty effort and cuts a devastating gash across Kressle's chest from shoulder to hip. She staggers backward but manages to keep her feet. It seems the blow wasn't quite enough to loose her viscera upon the ground. Her bloody grimace is the last Theodric sees before blackness envelopes him.
______________
Black smoke rises in fitful puffs over Oleg's as Lanya, Dyrm, Cromwell, Bruce, and Ned, and Ging trot up to the open gate. Oleg sits, a yellowish bruise blossoming angrily on his left temple, and comforts an inconsolable Svetlana.
Not far away, the bloody bodies of Edgar, Gliadel, and Theodric lay sprawling. It is unclear whether they yet live, but hope looks slim.
Oscar is nowhere to be seen.
Kern stops, taking in the scene, his mind racing.
Theodric has fallen, Kressle must have killed him...but not Oleg and Svetlana...surprising
"Oleg, Svetlana, what happened here?"
Svetlana wails all the louder at the sound of speaking.
Oleg looks up, a dark expression on his face.
"What indeed." He says bitterly. "I have not the heart to speak on it just now."
Now inside the fort, it is clear that someone went through here in a hurry taking everything possible.
"Vas is das?" the dwarf is horrorfied, and moves quickly to the Cavalier's side to see if he's alive, "Cromwell"
Lanya takes in the scene before her, horrified at the dead bodies of Gliadel and Theodric. Somehow she expected Edgar to be dead as well.
A quick glance indicated that Edgar wasn't stuck with a weapon, perhaps a bludgeoning one.
It seems like Edgar has betrayed us, I should never have trusted him, he was a liability. Neither Gliadel nor Theodric used bludgeoning weapons, perhaps Oscar...
After Oleg relays what happened here.
"This is unforgivable, I will hunt that Kressle woman down and kill her myself. And free Theodric's horse if she cas taken him."
" Bah! What a sad sight this is. Woe betide the bandits of this realm, for they have obtained the wrath of Abodar."
" I am not sure if he still lives, but we can try to revive him, Dyrm."
"Gather around everyone and I can heal your injuries as well as attempt to help Theodric."
When everyone has gathered near Theo. Cromwell will hold up his shield and channel the power of Abodar into those around him.
" Oh Abodar. Lord of the Vault. hear your servants prayers and aid those in need."
Dyrm nods to Cromwell as the priest saves Theodric's life. "Forgive my impatience, but Ve need him up and about as soon as possible. Oleg vill not speak of vhat happened, Svetlana is in tears... Theodric is not just a strong comrade in arms, but perhaps the only vay to learn vhat happened here."
" He lives but is very weak. Let's see if we can improve on that situation..."
After casting CLW Cromwell will get Theo standing and moves them both over by Svetlana and Oleg, then kneels and says a quick prayer.
" Thanks be to you Abodar, for we are still hale and hardy and can tame this land. In the name of Abodar!"
Repeating the prayer...
Theodric is still groggy after Cromwell initially heals him and allows himself to be led to the others. As Cromwell utters his healing prayer he starts to become more and more aware.
"Oleg, Svetlana, we're alive! I assume that means I killed that psychopath Kressle?"
"They are not anzwerink our questions. Ve vere hoping you vould be able to tell us vhat happened."
Theodric looks over
"When I got back here the bandits hadn't arrived yet. Oleg was getting water from the well. I told Svetlana the situation and asked her to have Edgar and Gliadel prepare for an attack while I found Oleg. He freaked out that I left Svetlana alone. When we got back, Kressel was here and ready to kill Svetlana, and Edgar had betrayed us and murdered Gliadel."
"My only thought was to save Svetlana. I offered Kressel a deal: safe passage to the River Kingdoms with a cart of goods if she and Edgar agreed to leave without hurting anyone else. I couldn't attack them, I was outnumbered and she would have killed Svetlana if I so much as drew my bow."
"Kressel said she would take the deal if I could defeat her in a fight. I had to accept. I'm good, but...she was better." From his tone it's clear that Theodric is only admitting that begrudgingly. "She managed to hurt me bad, and I knew I was as good as dead. I made one last desperate strike at her and had Oscar kill Edgar before I passed out from blood loss. She said she wouldn't honor the deal if I was dead: it was my only option. I hit her pretty bad, but she was still alive. Did any of you see a body?"
Without looking up, Oleg rasps out a few, barely audible words.
"She lives. Took Oscar. Ruined: ruined..."
Upon hearing Oleg's words Theodric becomes enraged and lets out an angry roar.
"The b&+*+ took my horse! That's it, death's too good for her! When we catch up to her, we take her alive to torture! We'll beat her within an inch of life then heal her back up to do it again, over and over until she's completely broken."
After his outburst, Theodric takes several calming breaths. He looks over to his party members and starts talking to them in a significantly calmer tone.
"Someone look and see if Kressel left any horses alive. I doubt it, but it's worth a shot. Dyrm, could you start looking for tracks?
I've got to get Svetlana and Oleg calmed down if they're going to help us.
Theodric goes over to Oleg and puts a hand on his shoulder. "You may be ruined, but you're alive. As is your wife, who's life was bought with that of your business. The price was well worth it if you ask me. Now honestly, I barely know you. About the only thing I really know about you is that you own a trading post. Oleg's trading post. I'm betting you built this place up from nothing with your own two hands, right here in the untamed wilderness, am I right?"
The cavalier pauses for a response from the trader.
Unable to make out what Oleg said, the dwarf instead nods to Theodric's request and heads to check to see if any horses live
Oleg nods sullenly. "Little good that's done..."
___________
Dyrm scans the ground, but the amount of comings and goings has ruined any story he might discern. All he knows for sure is that no horses remain in the stable and 4 sets of hoof prints head due south.
"Little good? Oleg, I can see a couple ways that this has done you some good. You've proved you can do it once already, and that means you can do it a second time. You can fix this place up, and make it even better! I'm sure there are some things you wished you could have changed once you already built them. This time you can incorporate all the lessons you've learned. And it's not as if all your work from the first time around has gone to waste. You already have your location, and I'm sure at the very least the foundations are still usable. There's probably a lot that can be salvaged too!"
Lanya was lost in anger as she saw Theodric came back trudging towards the rest of the group.
Though when Theodric called out, she turned around, almost elated as she heard his voice. She had to keep herself in check not to hug him for not being dead.
She simply states:"Good to have you back Theodric." She smiles a very warm smile, other than the ones she uses to influence people.
As the coversation between Oleg and Theodric goes on, she chips in as well.
"Oleg, we will do whatever we can to help you get back on your feet."
" I agree with Theo and Lanya. Oleg, you can build it up again, and we will help. Already we have made a dent in the bandit population around here, and will continue to do so until they are gone. Mayhap we can train Ging to be a permanent bodyguard here at the outpost. "
He pauses and looks around the place.
' Ahh, but first we must attend to certain things...."
With that he will go over and pick up Gliadel's body and set it aside, praying over it and folding her arms over her chest.
He will then drag Edger's body outside the outpost and leave it there to rot.
Kern has been listening impassively, giving Oleg a flat look before saddling and mounting one of the horses.
"If she is laden with goods, she'll be slower than we."
He'll wait for Dyrm to point the way.
Dyrm scans the ground, but the amount of comings and goings has ruined any story he might discern. All he knows for sure is that no horses remain in the stable and 4 sets of hoof prints head due south.
"South..." He tells the others, "Der hoofprints go South. Zo, do ve go after them now? Or rest up? Either vay, vit horses, they haf a strong head start. Ve do haf...dead to bury."
Oleg nods numbly at the attempted comfort. "I'm going to bed."
He gently lifts Svetlana to her feet and they move into the door frame and huddle under a quilt to sleep.
Soft rain begins to pelt down in sheets, dousing the smoldering flames and sending large clouds of smoke into the air.
Theodric smiles at the sorceress "Thanks Lanya, glad to be alive."
He looks at Gliadel's corpse with a frown. "I hate to be heartless, but burying Gliadel will have to wait. If we don't leave now we stand no chance of catching up with Kressle."
As he speaks, he starts tearing off his armor.
"I cannot move quickly enough in this armor for us to stand a chance of catching that psychopath. Someone see if they can find me one of those sets of leather armor we took off the bandits earlier. If not, then I will trust my thirst for vengeance is enough that Calistria will protect me."
"Ve vill find Kressele eventually, Theodric. Ve are low on healink. You are der only one with a horse. This is foolishness for you to go alone."
Theodric keeps taking off his armor while he's talking.
"I guess you must not have heard me earlier Dyrm. None of us has a horse now. Kressle took Oscar." There is a mix of sadness and anger to his voice.
" You wont catch her on foot Theo. If she's alone she now has more horses than needed. When one grows tired she will just ride a different one and so on. We will have to track her to her home and get Oscar back that way."Pausing to consider his words..
" We should clean up and fortify here. Rest the night with watches, and prepare to follow in the morning. Though I fear leaving Oleg and Svetlana alone again."
"I am sorry for your loss zhen. But Cromvell is right. Ve von't catch up mit them on foot. Ve should heal up first. You are not going to retrieve Oscar or avenge our lost comrade if you face your foes as exhausted as you vould be."
"Cromwell and Dyrm are right, Theodric. We should heal up and march on the barbarian encampment that's closest to Oleg's that should relieve a bit of pressure, perhaps Kressle went back there."
As a night's sleep and watch are brought up, Lanya thinks back to their first nights together as a group.
"Shall we continue our pattern of holding watch? Though one of us would now be keeping watch alone."