Tulsino's great blade cleaves a bandit nearly in two. As the remains tumble the ground he swings at another bandit, unfortunately only knocking of his hat as he ducks.
As Galba's bomb catches on her sleeve and tumbles awkwardly backwards it explodes against the wall catching herself in the blast, but only slightly.
Thud! As Galba falls face first into the mud, fortunately the bandits are too preoccupied with the rest of our heroes to bother with her at the moment.
Moving to the nearest bandit, sticking to the shadows, Taka slides his wakazashi free and makes a strike against one of the engaged enemies.
Anyone who happens to gaze upon Taka while this attack is made note that he looks a lot more grim than usual, his mind on the job before him, his eyes do not dart as often as usual.
Taka Rises from the shadows for but a moment to make a strike. In barely the space of a breath his blade flashed out and returned to a guard position. The bandit next to him goes still before his head tumbles from his shoulders and his body falls in a heap.
Tulsino will attempt to "Punish" the remaining two "Criminals" in front of him.
+2 VS Human
+
VS Humans
If he drops, cleave into the next.
+2 VS Human
+
VS Humans
Then he will move towards the leader again in no rush.
The remaining bandits panic and begin running for their horses, frantically trying to mount them. The leader has dissapeared behind the stables after passing the storage pen.
Cato's arrow pierces the other leg of the injured bandit who then falls under the feet of the nervous horse, which brings a swift end to his pain.
As Tulsino wades through his opponents in a wake of carnage before pursuing the leader.
With a whistle Garr'ak would signal Geoffrey to move into flanking position as he approached the bandit that was trying to flee from him.
Geoffrey, with the speed of a wild animal, would quickly move to the side opposite Garr'ak and growl to get the bandit's attention as Garr'ak once more brought old rusty to bare in an attempt to knock his foe out.
Damage: 1d6 +5 Damage +1 Breaker +1 Magic = 1d6+7
As old rusty makes contact with the bandit , Garr'ak would nod his head back towards Esmeralda to signal Geoffrey to return to his post.
In what seemed like the blink of an eye, Geoffrey could be found at Esmeralda's side again.
Garr'ak's mighty wrench hit home with a hard Thud! as the bandit crumples to the earth.
Galba's bomb lands squarely in the remaining bandits, while injuring the horses only slightly, the bandits in the middle of mounting were not so lucky. The last of the bandits aside from the leader fall from their horses a few moaning in pain.
As Thaleles rushes along the palisade he sees the bandit leap from his horse and rush up the stairs on the far end of the fort, frantically pulling at something on his neck.
The bandit leader slips and tumbles forward his right hand caught on a silver chain about his neck.
Unable to regain his balance he tumbles forward over the palisade, his hood catching on one of the wooden spikes. A sharp Pop! makes his fate clear.
Tulsino laughs sarcastically loud.
Looks like we are going to need someone to speak with their dead leader.
He will then eliminate any of the remaining threats in the area.
Jeremiah shakes his head as the bandits begin their disorganized retreat. 'All the same, these lot. Bold in numbers against the helpless and unprepared, but show even a hint of actual reprisal for their actions, and they go fleeing into the wilds.' Leading a bandit and taking his shot, he idly wonders just what their plan was for getting past the gate; perhaps they hadn't even registered it's closing in the wake of the ambush.
"Nice work there Thaleles! Looks like it's just clean-up now!"
Stepping clear of the shadows, Taka flicks his blade clean of the ichor that coated it, then smoothly slides the blade back into it's sheath. Shaking his head at the ease with which the group dispatched the bandits, he searches for any that remain alive while he moves looks to ensure anyone of their group that is dangerously injured. He makes a point to move to Galba and help her to her feet.
"Let us find one who can heal your wounds, while we find what more there is to do for Lord Oleg and Lady Svetlana."
The remaining bandits are all incapacitated and quickly dispatched if you choose to do so. The horses are in such a panic that it takes quite a bit more effort to settle them down. Oleg cheers at the victory and begins preparing a rope to hang the bodies of the bandits from the side of the palisade as a warning.
Oleg and Svetlana thank the party"You lot are welcome to bunk here any time free of charge, that includes meals too. I'll make sure to sell off anything you want if you drop it off with me and, I can resupply you lot whenever you come back from explorin'. Thank ya'll again."
Tulsino Bows to Oleg and the Lady.
Please allow us to interrogate the Leader before hanging him, if you don't mind. Perhaps he would be a good source of information on how to find the rest of your bandits.
He then goes to find the body of the bandit leader so that perhaps one of his companions can speak with him.
Garr'ak would continue to work on disabling the bandits until all of them were either unconscious or dead, at which point he would point out any he had managed to knock out. "I suggest we interrogate any that are still alive."
With his part said, he would start to try and calm the horses.
Alive, dead, No matter. That is what a priest is for. We can start with the living ones, but I am sure the leader would have more information.
Garr'ak succesfully drags two surviving but severly injured bandits out of the path of the horses before calming them, even he has some trouble with this but does eventually take control.
He speaks not another word as he goes to binding the remaining bandits with scraps of rope can find about, knowing full well that the time to come is going to be very unpleasant for them, it might as well start with the tight bonds on their hands.
After that, he begins to go through each of the dead bandits, clearing them of their valuables and weapons...and really, anything that might be valuable that he doesn't recognize as such, then he looks to Oleg.
"Lord Oleg, you had mentioned hanging these men on your wall. Do you wish me to lash them about as a warning to the others?"
Oleg grunts"You get some rest, seeing as you lot did all the fighting roping up these poor bastards is the least I can do, though its up to you what you do with your prisoners. I'm just taking the dead ones up to hang as a warning."
In looting the bandits not including their leader each of the ten have: leather armor, longbow with 20 arrows, short sword, 2 days
of trail rations, 10 gp.
Having settled the horses down, Garr'ak would turn his attention to Oldeg. "I would be more than happy to lend a hand in removing this filth from within the confines of your home here."
"On another note, I might ask if you have a saw. We still have plenty of daylight and I would like to make use of it."
Svetlana leads Garr'ak to the tool closet behind their home and retrieves a set of woodcutting gear. "Try not to wander to far into the forest the grove of trees nearby is probably safer dear."
"No worries. I was planning on bringing Geoffrey along with me to keep an eye on things while I work. I'm sure he would appreciate the chance to run about some more as well." As he spoke, Garr'ak would gather some tools for shaping the wood once it had been cut, however he would pass on the axe to cut the tree down itself.
After equipping himself, Garr'ak would address Oleg once more, "Is there anything in particular you would like for me not to cut down? Or perhaps something you would like for me to cut down for you while I am out?"
Oleg grunts at Thaleles, Yeah that the symbol for some sorta bandit king around these parts called the Stag Lord, not sure where he is though." After inspection the most Thaleles is that it has some sort of transmutation aura.
Svetlana smiles at Gabla. "No worries dear I often get dirty as well let me take you inside and I will fill the Tub for you dear." As Svetlana takes Gabla's cleanest arm and leads her inside.
|
Thaleles takes the medallion back and flips it over a couple of times. We need one of those bandits awake, now. His demeaner seems much colder now.
As Garr'ak clears the grove of the largest of the trees, it becomes clear that the odd sound is not an axe but Garr'aks' trusty shovel and it is suprisingly effective, much more so than a normal axe. Then upon dragging the trees closer to the fort he began using a few tools from the woodcutting gear and the shovel again to make planks. Garr'ak manages to finish converting most of the trees into planks, posts and, scrap wood in the span of a single day. Geoffrey returns from the woods shortly before dinner painted blue and with a strangely poofy squirrel tail in place of his own.
As the bandits come to they are grim and sullen, as they see no point in talking if they are just going to be killed.
Tulsino will eye each of them trying to find which one might be the weakest link. He then says.
I know what each of you might be thinking, but do bear in mind that at the moment we are the ones choosing how you go. And I am sure someone among us has some knowledge on how to prolong your deaths.
His stare cold as he sees right through each of them.
Jeremiah walks up behind Tulsino, idly fiddling with the workings of his crossbow. "Seems the way I remember it, we've got the options of blade and rope when dealin' with bandits. Sounds like rope is more appealing to the like of you. Slower, too, from what I hear." He pauses slightly, before glancing over to the front of the fort. "Oleg mentioned something 'bout a deterrent, didn't he? I'm sure he's not likely to be against sparing us some of the latter option."
Looking over to Thaleles, he shrugs. "No reason to bother asking where they came from. Eleven men on horseback? They'll leave a trail you can follow blind. Cut any of this lot loose, and they'll just be catching a bolt from someone later down the road for more of the same crimes. Only question is how many other Olegs and Svetlanas they leave behind them, and likely not as kindly as the current ones have been treated."
His eyes grow cold as he turns back to the bandits. "So, really, this all ends the same way, irregardless of how helpful you make yourselves. But if you are, between me and Tulsino, I imagine we can make your judgement quick. Or you can keep up the unrepentant act, and we make it less effort on us. Rope around your neck, toss you over the wall and let your weight kill you. Also give you more to be discussed when the Lady puts her eyes on you. But maybe you can lessen that stain you've put on yourself, just a bit. Your choice."
After speaking with Oleg and hearing what the Lord of the Manor had to say, he goes back to working on things, his blood still burning from the excitement of the battle, although it was quite short.
The rush is a wonder to him, because he feels as if it is a step in the right direction.
Finding Esmeralda, he bows to her. "It does not appear that the battle brought harm to you. Is there anything I can do for you before I head outside to scout about for any stragglers or outliers?"
The bandits both look at you all grimly. Neither of them are very young and it is likely they have lived this way for quite some time. They know how this will end and do not care to speak.
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I will pull up a chair and observe the two captured bandits, offering them a bit of apple I am eating.
Gentlemen, I'm certain this isn't the first time you have been captured. Likely you have been once before and escaped somehow. But this time is different. You see, my companions aren't given to talk and games and would no sooner see you hanging from the walls than listen to you. But is that what really needs to happen? I mean, come on, unless you are a glutton for punishment than there are things you enjoy in life. Surely you want to continue eating delicious food, guzzle cold beer, smoking prime tobacco, or enjoying the company of women. It doesn't have to end with you dangling by your necks. What if we made an offer to you for your services? Would you be amenable to that?
Diplomacy
Despite Geoffrey's odd, and perhaps some what comical look, Garr'ak would not laugh at his companion.
"Did the fey get to you again boy?"
As he spoke to Geoffrey, he would run one of his hands through the wolf's fur.
At Cato's word the bandits perk up a bit and seem to consider things for a bit. The fatter of the two bandits speaks first. "We ain't ever killed nobody. We threatened alot be never done the killin. We just ne'er got any other skills. What do you want to know? An' what are ye offerin?"
Geoffrey whuffs an affirmitive but also drops a gem from his mouth. Upon inspection it is a rather large but uncut raw Amethyst, about the size and length of Garr'ak's index and middle finger held together.
Garr'ak would look over the gem. He had never been one for jewelry so he was unsure of what it might be worth, but he figured it was probably worth something.
"Is there more where this came from boy?"