Slandra looks about ready to take off after the fleeing bandits, but then lowers her sword and sighs. "I am not dressed for running," she says and sheaths her sword.
Kārlis looks to Slandra with a nod, looking down at the bandit at their feet as he watches the other bandit flee into the woods. "Kristaps... let him go..." he calls, turning to nod towards Wynn, reasoning the wrapped figure is probably right and that seperating deeper into a forest when they have no knowledge of how many other bandits their might be, is critically dangerous. "Slandra, see if any of these are alive and try and keep one of them that way eh?" he says with a shake of his head.
The Bandit and Markus are into the forest, and the bandit continues to withdraw, drawing the Knight-Errant deeper into the woods if he chooses to follow.
Raising her bow as if to fire, Wynn relaxes and drops it, slumping down wearily. Dropping the bow she starts pawing through her rags, suddenly all too aware of her bleeding wound. For her, the skirmish is over.
Continuing to pursue the fleeing bandit with furious devotion, Markus takes a finial swing with the flat of his blade as his mount attempts to ride him down.
HP: 7/11
AC: AC 17 (+4 armour, +2 shield, +1 Dex), 11 touch , 16 flat-footed
Challenge 1/day
Markus continues to try and run down the bandit, who dodges and weaves and such. The Bandit takes a furious swing at the horse, side-stepping to let it pass but attempting to slash at it as it moves in front of him.
The Bandit waves his sword wildly at Markus as he tries to move around the horse.
He can't quite get the man however, even as he tries to marshal away.
Kārlis looks around for a moment, having already advised Slandra to try and see if any of the bandits are still alive, while he gestures to Wynn and Kristaps. "Where did the Knight go?" a bit of unspoken derision tonning his voice.
Amazed by the boldness of the fleeing peasant Markus takes a further swing of his sword attempting to incapacitate the outlaw. " Got you now little rabbit." he proudly proclaims.
HP: 7/11
AC: AC 17 (+4 armour, +2 shield, +1 Dex), 11 touch , 16 flat-footed
Challenge 1/day
Slandra begins checking the bodies. If she finds any still alive, she'll cast stabilize on them.
With a -Thunk-, Markus causes the Bandit to crumple, presumably returning with him to the scene of the battle.
Of the five that remain, two of the Bandits are Dead, one outright, and one having bled out in his time on the ground. The other two are quickly stabilized by Slandra and though unconscious, appear to be in little danger.
Congregating on the road Kristaps smiles "Well that went pretty well I think? Certainly not that tough eh..." his Jovial smile spreading and raising the corners of his moustache.
Kārlis nods as Markus returns with the fifth Bandit over his sadle. "Well that's five bounties at least..." standing back and working to clean his blades.
Markus bursts through the forest with the bound bandit slumped in front of him. His eyes linger briefly over the bloody corpse of the peasant he murdered a moment earlier.
"Well that went pretty well I think? Certainly not that tough eh..."
Rubbing the arrow wound on his shoulder Markus notes to Kristaps. "...it could have gone a bit ...smoother"
Dismounting where the others are congregating he slumps his prisoner with the others. He peers around looking for his misplaced man servant. "OSKAR... the way is clear....hmm where did he get off too" he belts in a commanding voice.
"Perhaps we should rouse them here... I suspect the mayor will want to make and example of them, and we need answers. " He proposes as he gestures towards Slandra as sh sees to their wounds. All the while making sure to keep his distance from Wynn.
"They can tell us where their leaders are," Slandra says. When she's finished stabilizing the bandits, she looks to the others. "Do we have rope to tie them up so they do not run?"
Assuming somebody has some rope, she then carefully ties each surviving bandit's hands and feet. When that's done, she calls to the others. "Gather close. I will ask Menuo to heal us." Once everyone who wants healing has gathered close, she channels energy.
Wynn joins them slowly, having gathered a full quiver from the fallen foe, and shouldered one of their Shortbows. Wincing she drops her pack.
"I have...rope." Fishing a fine silk weave from her pack she measures and cuts lengths with a dagger, passing them to Slandra as she goes from bandit to bandit.
That was..perhaps...a good lesson in...how to not conduct...a skirmish.
Though her frown is concealed, it is evident in her voice.
"We would lose...any advantage we had...in returning to town. Let us question these....folk...we must needs find the...camp...and finish the job...started." Slumping in weariness and pain she joins the others as the bandits are done being bound.
The Bandits bound hand and foot, Kārlis nods the Wynn "We can bet the one who fled is probably on his way straight to where-ever this camp is." He just nods as he moves among the others.
In a subtle emergence of moonlight flesh reknits itself, and the power of the gods spreads through the assembled. It causes all of the bandits to slowly regain consciousness, though some are obviously better healed than others. The One Markus brought it is the first to regain some semblance of awareness and he tests his bonds before looking around and taking stock of his predicament.
Kristaps takes up a position just on the side of vision, having finished cleaning his dagger and going about sharpening it in a vaguely threatening manner. Kārlis just stands there, his eyes moving from person to person as if to ask who should be doing the interrogating. The Bandits seem in silence, though one or two do continue to test WYnn's bonds.
"...blasted fool had better not run off and got himself killed..." Markus murmurs under his breath as he takes a last look for his misplaced servant.
As his bloodied arm mends under the power of the clerics blessing Markus grips his sword and offers his own prayer. "may these bloody vanquished be a humble offering to you blessed Menuo" He states softly and firmly.
Approaching Slandra he greets her with a gentle and cautious pat on the shoulder, smiling ever so slightly. Markus leans in to offer a whisper. " follow my lead..." Assessing her hulking form he attempts to be more clear for the simple warrior "...just..um.. do what you do"
Approaching the bandit he captured he takes a knee being careful to keep an appropriate distance. "Now little rabbit we need answers...that is my only concern, however my friend here has a different plan." he states in a gentle calming tone. Leaning in ever so slightly he whispers "and we all know how the Kef deal with their prisoners" He then turns his head to emphasize the warrior priests presence.
"So I suggest you tell us all you know about your leaders, the location of your hide out and the names of the townsfolk that work with you... or I fear I shall not be able to protect you." A forced frown twists Markus face and with a calm sorrow he then slowly turns to stand away from the bound bandit.
Slandra seems a bit confused by Markus's intentions, but she follows him over to the bandit. After he begins speaking to the prisoner, she looks at him with a frown on her face. When she speaks, it's hard to be sure whether she's finally understood what he wants of her or whether she's still confused. Either way, it has the right basic effect as she takes on an intimidating stance. "You make no sense," she tells Markus. "You are cruel to the servant who helps you, and nice to the bandit who tries to kill you. It should be the other way round. You should tell the bandit that you will cut his throat if he does not talk. If you do not, then I will."
Resettling her pack, Wynn takes a seat near to Kristaps. She sets to cleaning her sword, though her movements are more proffesional over threatening. She watches the proceedings with a sideways tilted hood, her amusement evident.
The Bandits stir, and Kārlis and Kristaps do there best to look intimidating to add to Slandra's undeniable aura of menace. The Bandit Markus speaks to stutters a bit before saying "...it..it's the gallows for us one way or another..."
One of the others blinks back and forth at the various displays and yells out "Better the f&#*ing noose than what that Kef B*$*&'ll do to us. I seen how that kind work, we'll be staked out to bleed to death or have out guts eaten by wolfs..." even as the 'leader' tries to shush his men, the ones who regain consciousness seem eager to fall all over themselves to betray their former compatriots, honour and thieves indeed.
[b]"The New Leader is a guy named Napus. I ain't never seen him before last year, but he's got the look of a professional soldier or the like, and he's real smart. He's the one that got us boys together eh. Says if we work in a big group and share the spoils we'd get more and be able to get better targets, and he's right. We've never eaten so well during a winter..."
Another pipes in just as quickly as the first finishes. "He's a tall man, Darkish Hair, and a scar on his cheek, nice and wicked, like from a claw or a duller blade or something. The camp... the camp is maybee two hours walk east... we can show you the trail, it's not hard to follow..."
Further interrogation leads simply enough to the truth that their orders were simply to look for ripe looking targets, ambush them, get their money and than let them go. The little band is by far the worst resistance they have ever encountered. They dont' seem to know much about Napus' motives, save to 'Get Rich', and though they do say they know they are getting supplies from in the town, they mention the names you already know in that regard, who seem to have handled most of those negotiations.
When pressed one of them also offers up "Napus was going to move the camp soon. Said it would be better pickings on the East Road soon... now please, we told you what you want to know... just keep that crazy savage away from us..."
Of course there is also much pleading for their respective lives, all save for the one Markus retrieved, who seems to have fancied himself a braver sort, and has merely fallen into sullen, dejected silence as his companions offer up information as freely as water.
Kārlis clears his throat and draws the group to the side. "The man ahead of us knows the land better... but if we headed now, we might be able to over-run him... or reach the camp first. Though we don't know what we'd be riding into... and it would mean having to figure out what to do with this sort and the wagon. Wynn.." he says, pausing for a moment "... you seem apt at tracking Men, I think between the two of us we wouldn't have much trouble." He puts strange emphasis on the word 'Men' and than looks to the others, having voices his opinion now content to follow the lead of others.
"Well each man worth coin to a head, and a Bandit to boot, we can't really take them with us. Not sure what we can do with them unless we waste a bit of time to go back to town... which I mean, we did promise we'd bring back the wagon..." Kristaps volunteers.
Wynn nods after a moment, offering little comment to anything outside of direct conversation. "We have few...choices...it seems. Slay them...their fate is...death...anyways....or strip them...and bind them...like hogs...then one of us...perhaps Kristaps...return with them...and the wagon"
Rubbing under the bloodied rags briefly she offers a nod to Slandra "Truly....we are blessed....with your presence. My thanks Lady."
Her hooded gaze then turns East, remarking over her shoulder
"We must be....gone soon, to intercept our prey...or even to have the...clearest trail..."
As Markus listens to Wynn's raspy word he covers his mouth. " Yes lets lash them to the cart make them pull it back with their fallen brethren in tow." He adds with an agreeing tone.
Turning to the bound men he seems less diplomatic than before. " Yes it is true they are dead already... but the nature of their death is yet to be determined perhaps the quick snap of the noose... or something slower... its been a long winter and the crows are hungry, should the fools be disagreeable that is."
Taking a brief moment to dust himself off Markus recovers his mount. " we'll lets set to work we have little time to waste."
Slandra begins tying the bandits to the cart. She seems quite amused by their predicament. "You should pull hard," she tells them, "so that the cart does not run you over."
The pleading continues, but apparently, falls on relatively deaf ears. It's a quick measure to lash the three men to the cart, and pile the two bodies in the back. It seems unlikely, unless they manage to slip their bonds, that they will be going much of anywhere.
Sadly, the Bandits appear to have very little on them. After a few minutes or rumaging and man-handling, they only give up 5 daggers, 5 Short-Swords, 5 Short-Bows, and a collection of 42 Regular Arrows. Each was also wearing studded leather armour. You also find a crudely half-carved figure of some sort, and one of them is wearing a rabbits foot on a leather thong around his neck, if your so inclined. Everything they have is functional, but not of exceptional quality.
Moving into the forest, Wynn and Kārlis co-ordinate their efforts at tracking, and the party begins to move into the woods, the ground still thankfully frozen, though some spots are more thawed than others, and the going is not especially easy once you get far beyond the road.
The tracks, laid as they are through the remnants of snow and the beginnings of melt, are relatively easy to follow, and after the first while it takes little to follow the trail, though the men making it have at times tries to cover their tracks. As you move through the woods you may, of course, discuss strategy. You know there are perhaps a dozen and a half men left, though who knows how many will be at the camp.
Wynn pushes on, not hurrying but at a determined pace. Her hooded gaze swiveling back and forth. Occasionally a muttered curse slips out, a bandaged hand grabbing at the drooping edges of the hood. For the most part she travels with a pilfered bow in hand. Once in awhile her 6'3 frame bends, touching sign here and there, Amber eyes looking to Karlis for any help he may offer.
"There will be more...at the end of...the trail...then we have faced already. Surprise may make...some bolt...but count on being...outnumbered...ideas?"
Aiding the group in loading the cart with the bandits supplies Markus turns to Kristaps and suggests with a disappointing sneer. "See if you can get anything for this ... stuff." Retrieving his supplies and lance from the cart as well before mounting Argentus.
While trudging through the forest astride his mount Markus
"There will be more...at the end of...the trail...then we have faced already. Surprise may make...some bolt...but count on being...outnumbered...ideas?"
" They will have numbers and bows on their side but we have skill of arms and surprise on ours." he notes to the group. " We need to divide their forces ... a distraction to lure several away... a fire perhaps." Staring at the tree tops he rubs his scraped chin in contemplation. "It will be difficult to determine until we can survey their camp"
In reply to Markus' comment Kristaps only shrugs "Might get something for the swords, always money for swords, but I'm not exactly a weapons merchant you know..." before setting up to trudge along with the rest of the group after double-checking some knots.
The movement through the woods takes a considerable amount of time, with strategy being discussed in hushed whispers between Wynn and Kārlis' discussions on some aspect of the trail.
"We'll probably not notice we've hit the camp till we're within... well maybe 100 paces, 150 if we're lucky..." Kārlis observes. "... if they've got scouts out, they might see us before we see them. Distraction might be good, might be pointless if that other one got there before us. Fire is always good.." He shrugs as if to indicate he's given what input he thinks he can, and looks to Wynn as if he expects her to have something else to add.
The forest gets darker and thicker as the motley band gets deeper and deeper into the woods.
Wynn seems as if she has nothing to add, keeping her focus on following the trail. She finally does mention in a low voice "Kill the leader first...it will...break the others...if we are lucky..."
She then makes an impatient gesture urging the others on to catch there fleeing quarry.
"A good plan," Slandra says as she trudges noisily through the brush. She's clearly trying to move quietly, but stealth is not one of her strengths. "Without their leader, they will not know what to do."
Noticing Slandra trudging through the woods in her cumbersome armour Markus extends his hand towards her. "Come Slandra we must make haste." while attempting to help her up to his mount.
"Aye, he will also be mightily protected. Once he falls the rest of the rats will scurry off into the woods no doubt." He adds.
As they move on, Wynn hands Karlis two torches and two tindertwigs.
"throw one...or..both, all men fear...sudden fire..."
Pausing in a moment of indecision, Wynn plucks at a few rags then sighs and moves on, readying the bow and loosening her sword in its scabbard.
Kārlis takes the offered tindertwigs and torches and nods. [b]"I'll split off when we think we're getting close... wait for the smoke, perhaps a count of twenty afterword?" He says, nodding his head as if that's all that needs to be said.
After perhaps two hours of moving through the forest, slow and steady, patiently observing the two trackers move, Wynn and Kārlis both stop, look to each other, and with a nod Kārlis fades into the forest. To most of you, the Forest remains as it was, the sounds of clattering branches, the near-by caw of birds, and the dampening muffled sound of so many tree's.
Waiting with purpose, the regular noises of the forest are broken with the unmistakable bark of a dog, and a thin trail of smoke pursing upwards further along, the work of Kārlis one hopes. You have moment to prepare yourself.
Markus does a quick check on the strappings and claps that secure his armour and mount. Resting his lance upon his shoulder he turns to Slandra. " We'll make quick work of them, I'll deliver you to their nest to dispatch them. " pausing for a moment he proposes in a dulcet tone. " Perhaps you could say some words to Menuo for our victory"
Hunched into a low crouch, Wynn holds up one hand and flashes five fingers three times to her mounted companions. All the while keeping a slow count to 20 going in her head.
Stealth check
As you come across the bandits you find that there camp is a well used clearing, the ground slightly mucky from travel, but a well-worn path leading straight to them. The men seem to be on guard, but are partially distracted by the plume of smoke that emits from the North-East -North being up on this map-.
The two nearest to your small group are obvious sentries, and have bows drawn and arrows at the ready. The remainder are split between those with readied bows, and those that seem to be engaged in furious packing. You see tents that have been struck, small bundles of fire-wood. Most of the men seem to be wearing packs of some sort. It's obvious they have been striking this camp as quickly as possible. One of them sits relatively high in the large tree in the centre of the clearing, only partially visible among it's branches(the one surrounded by the yellow ring).
Slandra will cast magic weapon on her sword.
Markus cautiously guides his mount further towards the distracted bandits.
HP: 11/11
AC: AC 21 (+4 armour, +2 shield, +1 Dex, +4 dodge), 15 touch , 16 flat-footed
Challenge 1/day
Glancing around quickly trying to pick out all the targets, Wynn advances towards the sentry nearest her. Slowly sliding Her longsword from the scabbard on her pack, keeping her bow in one hand.
The Bandits seem, if not surprised by the entry of the party, at least wary, and they leap into action. The two sentries are yelling even as they fall back, slinging arrows at the approaching Adventurers.
Those bandits who were busy packing stop what they are doing, a few pushing stray objects into packs as they unsling bows or heft swords, a couple beginning to move towards you. Those with bows readied take their shots, arrows whistling through the air.
Most of the Arrows sail wide, though at such close range, one does manage to pierce into Markus' Leg.
Keeping her steady pace, Wynn slides up behind the distracted Bandit and cuts through him with a slashing arc of her sword
Damage
Markus steadys towards his purpose spuring his mount to action. Thrusting his lance towards a hapless bandit with fury. Continuing his charge Argentus stomps at the bandit unlucky enough to be at the end of the charge.
Rearing his mount to steady it, Markus turns towards Slandra and barks " Deliver these rats to the underworld. "
HP: 8/11
AC: AC 15 (+4 armour, +2 shield, +1 Dex, -2 charge), 9 touch , 14 flat-footed
Challenge 1/day
While the Sentry Bandit to the South seems focused on the charging main force, he seems barely even aware as Wynn approaches him, only turning too late, as the sword slices across his body and he collapses in a spray of blood.
Markus's mount spurs forward into the midst of the Bandits, driving his lance straight through one's shoulder, who collapses to the ground. The horse stamps forward, battering another of the foes about. Slandra is jarred about by the movement of the mount, the saddle not truly made for two, but manages to stay steady.
Drawing his Dagger, Markus runs behind the horse for a moment, veering to the side to get to one of the bandits.
It's Slandra's turn. Sorry about forgetting you were on the horse.
It's Slandra's turn. Sorry about forgetting you were on the horse.[/ooc]
Slandra dismounts , trying to get into a position to attack one of the bandits nearest Markus and the horse. Then she swings her sword.
Slandra's blow goes wild, the Bandit that had been nipped by the horse ducking beneath her blade.
Most of the Bandits with bows discard them for swords, save for a single one who quickly fires the bow towards Wynn. The Bandit in the tree seems to be taking his time, but after a moment does a quick draw and sends an arrow flying at Slandra.
The Bandit engaged with Kristaps Draws his sword and attacks, and the rest alternate between attacking Slandra and swarming the mounted knight. Though the tension of battle means none of you have really taken the time to make a careful look, none of the ones you've engaged as of yet match the description of the leader, though no-one has a good bead on the one in the tree.
The Combined weight of the sudden mob seems to over-whelm the Knight, Blades flashing from around him and finding holes in his armour. An Arrow nicks Wynn's shoulder, while Slandra and Kristaps escapes unscathed for the time being.
Covering the ground in long loping strides, Wynn charges forward, dropping the bow and taking a two-handed grip on her sword.
Turning to assess the situation Markus is overwhelmed by the swarming bandits. As the swords find their way deep into his flesh he slumps over, his bloody lance falling to the way side.
Markus continues to bleed... heroically.
In a blind flurry Argentus strikes at the bandits with hoof and teeth to defend his fallen rider.
HP: -6/11
AC: AC 17 (+4 armour, +2 shield, +1 Dex), 11 touch , 16 flat-footed
Challenge 1/day
Slandra grimaces as she sees Markus slump over in his saddle. "You fiends will pay for that!" she yells and presses her attack against #2.
The Bandits seem taken aback by the ferocity of the Horses attack, even as the slumped knight on it's back clutches precariously to life and saddle both.
Slandra's blade slips through first her opponents defences, and than his rips, tearing out through his back before he slides to the ground, his own blood bubbling from his mouth.
With nearly half their visible members gone, the Bandits do seem shaken, and indeed, the one in the tree yells out, even as he sends another arrow flying. "Fall back! Stay together you fools! Ignore the Double-Damned Horse!"
One bandit, at which Wynn rushes, fires one last arrow, before dropping his bow and drawing his sword to meet the onrushing bundle of bandages and fury.
The Bandit bitten by the horse ignores the issued commands and presses on against the beast, though his two fells turn to the large Kef woman, trying to flank her, one moving left, the other right, though the horse proves a bigger obstacle than one might imagine.
Slandra truly seems blessed by the gods, as neither Arrow nor Blade seems able to touch her. Others are not so lucky however. The Arrow finds it's mark on Wynn, sinking deep into her flesh. Kristaps takes a quick wound across the side, but presses his own attack. The Horse, foam streaming around it's bit, takes a sizable chunk out of one of the bandits, proving that perhaps ignoring it was not the wisest move.
Kristaps however, proves unable to beet his opponents defences.