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Thaleles contimplates what the good cleric has to say and simply replies, [/b] Good Cleric, the nice thing about exploring new land, even if we are here on behalf of the sword lords, is that we don't have to abide by all their laws. However, political and judicial debate can be held at a later time. [/b]
Brennyn regards Thaleles and sighs.
"It is entirely because we are here on behalf of the Swordlords that we must abide by their Laws. That is the entire premise of our charter, Thaleles. To act any other way would invite their... scrutiny," Brennyn looks at both Garr'ak and Sir Garess in what he hopes Thaleles shall take as an indication to keep quiet.
"In the same way that I respect your education on matters arcane, I would expect the same respect afforded to me on matters judicial," Brennyn continues, "After all, I have studied various Laws around the Inner Sea for several decades."
Esme spends the afternoon helping Svetlana with her daily chores around the fort while allowing the men to deal with the prisoners. She walks up as they decide to pardon the men. Verrry good dezizion men. Theze men have only lived the livez they vere borrn to. Though vee come to brrring light of civilized world, vee must no forrrget they may never hearr of Abadarrr or Dezna.
She looks at Brennyn with disdain. You know law, but do you know deez menz customz. They worrrd iz good. They no need harrsh laborr to be good zitizen.
Stepping out of seemingly nowhere, Taka nods, "I can attest that people can change. While some of you may have a good history with the law, some of us may have earned out redemption...or may still be earning their redemption as we speak." There were more emotions and words spoken up until this moment.
Brennyn regards Esmeralda with the same disdain that she shows him.
"There are more gods than Abadar or Desna, Esmeralda. At the very least, I suspect these men will be aware of Erastil, god of the community, farming and hunting. While I may not agree with the teachings of his clergy, he certainly does not advocate the killing and robbing of innocent civilians," Brennyn indicates towards Oleg and Svetlana.
"We are not here to make excuses for these men, and if they prove they are repentant, then they shall be offered citizenship under Brevic Law. Until that time, they are prisoners and should they relapse into their old ways, they shall suffer the fate of their leader. Who, I might add, still needs to be buried, so if we're done with the attempt to subvert the very Law we have been sent here to uphold, I'd suggest we get on with it," Brennyn nods towards the body of Happs, whose blood has finally stopped pumping from the wound in his head.
Brennyn regards Toritaka.
"And that upholds the point, Taka. These men must earn their redemption. It is not simply handed out with a pat on the back. They must prove to us that they can be trusted and that they want a better life for themselves. Should they prove that, then they shall be pardoned. Failure to do so shall result in their execution, as stipulated in the very charter that Garr'ak holds," Brennyn looks at Kesten, "Sir Garess, might I trouble you to lend the hands of a couple of your sturdiest guards? I'd like to ensure that those who tasted Brevic justice are buried. Failure to do so may lead to... undesirable complications."
And again my frriend. You arrre one vote in grroup. I rrrespect you vays, but do not think you arre final vord.
Esme looks kindly towards Taka. You arrre good man Torrritaka. It nize to know you had opporrrtunity to change on own and not due to zome law forrcing it on you. True goodness come frrrom inzide of uz. Not frrrom irron fizt of law.
She turns and walks over to the dead men. She bends over and prays for them....giving them their last rites. May you zouls be free to roam the heavenz and find the life you no have in harsh vilderness. May you travel be blessed. She touches each of them compassionately.
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Thaleles stares at the priest and Vasierian preying for the dead. Preparing those who have not been strung from the walls for burial. Let them have their laws and religion. he thinks to himself, if the fates would grant these pathetic peons to gain power over a nation, then I have little pity for them once that nation falls. May their gods have pity on their souls, and their minds see the true light of what their power will bring them He looks bacj with distain once again, not knowing what the fates will hold for them. I am in no mood to argue law in a lawless land, finish your rights and lets get moving, less you wish to travel by night.
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Gabla listens to the party argue more, tears well up in her eyes as she watches Thaleles grow dimmer by the passing moments. She rests a hand on Brennyn's shoulder and speaks. Please, let it go for now. Thaleles will come around eventually, In a wisper she adds, I hope. Her voice picks hp a little and continues, though a gentle tear falls down her face, Perform your rights, I will ensure that everyone recieves a proper burial to the north. We can start a grave yard there. I'm sure I can get one or two of the new guards to help me. You must hurry and find that campsite though, and make sure they don't return to this place. It will be difficult, I'm sure, but all will be well in the end. With that she walks quietly away and finds the Guard Captain to ask foe help digging the graves for the bandits. She tells him they will need nine graves in total as she is sure he is aware, the bodies on the wall will start to stink in the hot sun and will need to be buried as well sooner or later.
Jeremiah leans against the nearest surface and bites back a smile as the two clerics snipe back and forth. "Ah, the joys of civilization; the freedom to loathe each other without the loss of vitals." he muses, before walking over to to Brennyn and and nudging him slightly. "Let it go, friend. The Wander's own are always going to walk a different path than ours, same as most. Our jobs just to keep the road clear for 'em as we can."
Toritaka's sudden appearance seems to catch him off-guard, and he smiles faintly at his words. "Wish that type were more than the exception to the rule lad. Coulda' gone back to book-keeping. Cleaner line o' work."
Garr'ak would find himself listening to his new companions arguing over laws when there was work to be done. With a soft kick to his horse's flanks, he would start out the gate with Geoffrey after offering Oleg, Svetlana, and Garess a farewell. Before stepping foot outside the gate, he would also let Garess know to keep an eye out in case if the bandits managed to circumvent them on their way down to their camp.
Once outside the gate, Garr'ak would lean down in his saddle and roughly scratch Geoffrey behind an ear. "Let's start looking for the trail boy. I don't feel like wasting anymore time."
Brennyn smiles at Esmeralda.
"So how would you suggest that the settlement that arises once we've carried out our charge be run? With smiles and handshakes? Enforcing the law now shall mean that people know what to expect in the future, when it comes to the boring things, like collecting taxes, and hunting down criminals. Or perhaps you would prefer it to be run like the River Kingdoms, where the threat of violence is used to exact that what is needed. Or perhaps we'll invite in the shadows, like the nation of Nidal," Brennyn's patience with the party's willingness to look the other way when it comes to the law is obviously wearing thin. He shakes his head and nods when Jeremiah approaches him.
"Yes, Jeremiah. I can see that we shall have to play the diplomat with Restov more than was at first thought," Brennyn says with a sigh.
"You have my thanks, Gabla," Brennyn says as she offers to coordinate the efforts of digging the graves, "Might I suggest the erection of a small wooden fence, to mark the area." He watches Esme administer last rites and shrugs. There was no need to administer them twice and he is no supplicant to Pharasma, so he trots over to the stable and saddles up Valour. He swings up into the saddle, with some trouble, due to his armour, and nudges her out of the fort.
"So then, Garr'ak, do your skills lie in tracking?" he asks the half-orc guardedly.
Tulsino turns to Esmeralda, and cocks a small smile.
One vote in a group. Funny I thought this was a monarchy. Are we set on changing the dynamics of the kingdom as well?
He turns to Brennyn.
I think we have bored everyone with our talk of application of the law and the judiciary system and all the other things that go along with it. Maybe we should just keep our mouths shut and apply it when it is necessary. If explanation is needed we will give it. If someone is stepping outside of the law, they will be punished. It would be interesting to see how keen they are to listen then.
Tulsino gets all of his gear ready and bows to lady Svetlana and Oleg graciously.
Many thanks for your hospitality, I hope we meet again.
He then readies his horse and leaps into the saddle.
Looking to Brennyn, "Perhaps you give people a chance at redemption. There are certainly belief systems that are working and good that fit into that concept. Regardless, a punishment should befit the crime if you are going to hand out the punishment without finding out the entire situation. If it is simply: Bandits...DIE, then we are likely cold-blooded killers which is worse than banditry in my eyes. If there is to be a settlement, then we should all have say in it, with the highest voice among us being Garr'ak, since the Swordlords trusted him most." His voice trails off and he fidgets, feeling very uncomfortable talking so much or so definitively, but the conversation has struck a cord with him.
Brennyn looks down at Taka from atop Valour.
"Taka, the punishment for unrepentant banditry is execution, either by sword or by rope. How would you suggest we co-exist with people who are willing to murder, rape and pillage while we aim to establish order? Granted, I would much rather that we help as many as we can away from that path of murder and theft, but there are those souls in this world for whom that is the way they wish to live. For them, I have no mercy," Brennyn replies.
"Do not forget that I have spent the best part of a decade bringing civilisation and justice to the River Kingdoms. I shall not see the so-called Stolen Lands become a similar place, where only the virtue of being strongest gives the right to command," Brennyn continues, before looking over at Kesten.
"Sir Garess, do you have a fast rider with you? I would like to send a missive to the Church when we return, in an attempt to secure some building materials with which to improve the defences of the fort. I don't believe any of us are engineers, do you happen to have anyone amongst your number that have experience in such matters, or should I request that the Church provides someone?" Brennyn asks the knight.
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Stopping a few feet down the road Thaleles stops his cart, pulls his hat down over his eyes and leans back in the seat. If he only knew what Restov's punishments were for being one of the First in these lands. Human arogance. There's the road North if ya ain't happy you religeous peon. Perhaps I should go and leave this group. Hmm. I can't though. Not if I am to help build a society tolerant of race. Though with finatics it would prove itself to be impossible. The party if listening can here a low laugh escape his voice as his inner monologe completes.
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I joint he conversation with Brennyn.
Brennyn is right. These bandit fellows shouldn't get off scott-free. I think we will see to that. And we are in Brevoy, with a charter from the government. We are limited at least formally to Brevic laws. But as we are the executors of the charter, I believe we have the authority to make these decisions. I say put the men to labor when we can but keep them close and involved. Extra sword hands wouldn't hurt, especially if they are trying to change. I vote they come with us. Letting them go would be giving them freedom. Killing them would be a waste. Taking them would allow us to use them.
Addressing the attended group. None of us is as familiar with the law as Brennyn. His counsel would be wise to be heeded as we will need his knowledge in the future.
I will point to the hanging bodies. I'm helping take these poor bastards down. They are defiling Desna's beautiful nights. Garr'ak's right, a little work is called for.
Garr'ak's head would turn to regard Brennyn as the man approaches him.
"My skills lie in doing what I must to survive. Often that has come with a need to hunt something down. However, Geoffrey is by far better at tracking then I."
Then, hearing his name come up behind them, he would turn in his saddle to look at the rest of the group.
"This fight is silly. We can sit here and debate the fate of these men for eternity and get no where. It is simple enough. We have come here to not only explore this land, but uphold the law of Restov in regards to banditry. While these bandits might not have been repentent to begin with, they seem to be now. So while I would have just as soon seen them die at the end of a sword or hanging from a rope, I say we give them a chance to prove that they are truly repentent. As it was already said, the law is not very specific in how to deal with bandits that wish to repent. So I can think of no better way to make them redeem themselves then in the field of battle helping protect those that they made suffer. Do not get my wrong, I find simple theivery hardly better than murder as it can just as easily lead to the death of someone, but often it is a slower and more painful process. So if all of you have concluded this silly bickering, I would like to get moving. We have plenty of ground to cover and while I do not mind the cover of the night, I don't know how well the rest of you can see in darkness."
Then, with a glance up towards the bodies strewn across the walls, Garr'ak would add in.
"As for the dead bandits, Oleg said he wanted them up there as a deterrent for any further banditry. If you wish to bury them, then you should bring that up with him. This is his and Svetlana's home, and I would see their word upheld here."
With his part said, he would prompt his horse forward while Geoffrey started along beside him.
Brennyn looks back at the corpses that decorate the outer wall of the fort, and looks grim.
"I can understand his line of thought, but I suspect it would only serve to cause the bandits to attack in greater numbers," Brennyn muses aloud, "However, time marches on and we should be about our business. Sir Garess and his squad should be more than enough to defend the fort for now."
As Kesten Garess watches the party wander off into the wilderness arguing and fighting he began to wonder why he left the politics of Restov. Oleg slapped him on the back and said. "Come on in get some food in ye and yer boys."
Garr'ak would push to the front of the group with Geoffrey to try and pick up on the trail the bandits had created yesterday.
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I say explore and look for the bandits. Thier scout probably already told them about the raid party and have moved. Exploring the hrx is only logical as to take away any potential hiding spots or covered tracks.
EDIT: As a side note, if we are to try and follow the trail, I would say not to travel outside the area of our charter, seven hexes across, five down, with our current hex as the top center point.
"Sir Garess is an associate, but I know little of the others. Why do you ask?" Garr'ak would respond.
"He reliable? Gods know that with all the bureaucracy and politicking in Restov these days, there's any number of reasons why Oleg's request for reinforcements would have taken so long to get a response. Would be happier in leaving knowing he's got good men at his gates."
"From what I know of him, he seems reliable enough," Garr'ak would reply simply while keeping an eye out for the trail.
Jeremiah urges his own mount, Jericho, to the head of the group, aiming to assist Gar'rak in tracking.
"Even forewarned, thirty odd men ain't moving anywhere in a good hurry. And mounted, it won't take us more than a day to give a good sweep of things. Be good to know nothing troubling's at our backs before we go poking the hornet's nest." Looking back at Cato, he calls, "Your friends there have a solid location we're riding for? Would give us an idea on how much time we've got."
"From what I know of him, he seems reliable enough," Garr'ak would reply simply while keeping an eye out for the trail.
"You say so, good enough for me."
Taka moves to the stable and gets Tokubetsu and smiles as Diro trots up to him, "Hello, my friends. It appears we go into further danger, are you ready, Diro?""
The little fox responds with a yip which causes him to nod.
Esme yields to the group and quietly gathers her belongings. She asks Oleg and Svetlana to watch her coach.
She mounts her horse and arches her back with pride as she follows the men into the wilderness.
Putting his saddle back upon Tokubetsu, he slides into his saddle and drops the reins, at which point Diro runs over, grabs the reins and scales up to take a seat in front of Taka, seeming to still be holding the reins. "Let's go, my friend. I do not want them waiting on me." With that, the fox snaps the reins and they are off, riding out to join the rest.
Cato smells some sort of mild stimulant though it's definately not tobacco.
Esme and Taka catch up to the rear of the group as they travel.
They offer you some if you ride close enough. "We call it Jitterweed, it keeps us awake and alert for hours."
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[Ooc]Hey, not all of us can carry 1000 lbs ok? Lol. I figured it would be good for hauling camp gear, loot, that sort of thing. Basically we set up a camp, explore around the area, then return and break down the camp. This way we can keep everything together and we don't have to worry about carry capacity.
Tulsino will ride with Esmeralda as she seems like an interesting person. He has no skills in tracking and feels like others are more than able to take lead of the group.
So Ez, What brings you into the service of the swordlords?
Occasionally the Tien man will rush ride up to the head of the line and take a look at the way they are heading, looking for tracks as well, to help assist his companions.
Unless spoken to, Garr'ak would remain rather silent on the road. Only every now and then would he speak to Geoffrey and perhaps send a message back to the rest of the group about what he or Geoffrey saw.
As the party travels towards the woods and eventually the bandits they make good time even with the wagon in tow. However they will have to set up camp in the woods for the evening or risk travelling at night.
As the party settles into camp all seems peaceful.
During dinner it appears Thaleles does not approve of dinner as the food from his plate flies into the face of Tulsino.
Tulsino is not amused by the antics and it takes every bit of his self control not to unleash his anger violently.
You'll take care not to do that again. Others might have the patience to deal with such insolence, but I will not.
Almost immediately after Taka flips his plate all over Esmeralda's dress.
Tulsino stand and draws his sword, his attention no longer fixated on Thaleles.
There is something else here, keep your wits about you!