Tassira is on edge as the party continues, her magic *buzzing* at her fingertips. If nothing else, it could at least incapacitate a few of the bandits long enough for Sheoll & Alex to mop up the rest...
It wasn't an image she liked, but it still had to be done.
"I hope this goes alright..."
Gernon and Hans begin to get on edge as they near the camp. Riding close to Cadell, Hans leans in and whispers to the rogue. "We should have seen... something by now..."
Gernon can barely contain himself as they near the trail that leads to his camp. "Stay on guard. Something about this doesn't feel right..."
With the warning Alexander adjusts the grip on his lance making it ready for use and reviews the words and gestures of his spells in his mind. He feels a foreboding as they continue toward the camp and is moved to whisper a prayer to Erastil. Erastil provide me insight and strength to protect those I travel with and keep safe those I care for.
Tassira becomes even more on edge. She starts whispering an incantation under her breath, feeling the magic gathering in her hands.
Like the others, Sheoll reacts cautiously hearing the former bandit's words. Eyeing him, he noiselessly wonders if perhaps it was a bad idea to bring them.
Pushing aside the thought, he pulls the sling that Alexander gave to him and readies it should they encounter trouble.
Slowing the horse, he carefully looks around, trying to call on his past experiences with the bandits he ran with, and keeps a careful eye out for trouble.
As the party angles itself towards the wood, a small trail, the trees begin to draw in heavily over the top, blotting out more and more of the sun. The trail is narrow and a little rugged, forcing the horses to travel at just a trot.
And as the party rounds a small corner Sheoll sees something ahead. A thin cord was strung close to the ground, perhaps no more than two or three inches above the ground about 20 feet ahead of the person in the lead.
"We should have seen... something by now..."
Stay alert and pray Sheoll has sharp eyes. Cadell replies. He checks the arrow in his short bow ensuring that he will be able to draw the bow and fire without any problems should the need arise.
Sheoll pulls his reins on the horse to a full stop at the sight of the tripline.
"Whoah there Kalak.!" he says.
Calling attention to it quietly, he motions for everyone to stop and points at the line. He then motions for Gernon and Hans to come to the front.
"What do you think, should we avoid it entirely , or can you disarm it? I wouldn't know hot to do it, but I'd hate for some random beast to set it off.
With that, Sheoll looks for a way around it, but preoccupied, he only notes that the path is narrow and waits for the others to chime in.
As the horses are brought to a halt, Gernon dismounts and looks, spotting the cord. "Some sort of trap, I guess. We could go around, but we'll never get a cart through the trees this deep in." Hand looks over and shrugs.
"Damn shame. Could throw rocks until it goes..."
Tassira looks down, then over at the gathered group of Hans, Gernon, Cadell, Alex & Sheoll. "Can any of you do something about it?"
A trap can be a force multiplier we should assume it is being used as such and expect an ambush. Saying this Alexander scans the forest for any signs of threat.
Perception checks are in order!
Worried, Tassira looks around as well...
The young priestess had silently and intently listened to the discussion. The word 'ambush' did not sit well at all with Rowena. Her eyes glanced purposefully around, wondering what other threat awaited close by, not knowing how elaborate the trap was or how dangerous.
Keep a tight rein on him. Cadell tells Hans as he slips from the cart and makes his way to the front of the group where Sheoll is stopped.
Did someone say something about a trap?
"Aye, over here." Sheoll says in a low voice to Cadell, pointing out the tripline.
Trusting in Rowena's instincts, Sheoll takes another look around the area in the same areas as she, the trap making him wary of who may be watching for it to be sprung.
As Cadell gets off the cart, almost everyone notices something in the trees ahead except the sorceress, Tassira. Two men, huddled behind some bushes.
Seeing the party looking at them, they jump up, longbows drawn. "Hold it! Give us what you have and we might let you... Wait... Hans? Gernon?"
The two men look at each other, fairly confused no doubt, as they lower their bows.
Cadell dashes to the front of the group drawing his bow string to his ear as he arrives. Drop your bows and surrender and we might let you live! He yells at the startled bandits.
Ware the sides! he says to the others in a low voice.
How many more of you fools are lurking out there? he calls to the bandits.
you would do well to follow his directions we will put you to the sword or rope if you do not surrender.
Alexander looks meaningfully at Tassira for a moment before directing his gaze back at the bandits barring their path and continues to speak stressing the last two words without actually raising his voice. So why don't you put your weapons down you look weary enough to fall a .
Tassira panics briefly when the bandits spring out of the undergrowth. When Cadell and Alex start speaking up, she starts intoning her sleep spell.
Sheoll moves slowly towards the lookouts, a scowl on his face. Something inside him pushes to bring them down, to tear them apart in the most inhuman way possible. He stops for a moment, his eyes glinting in the moonlight. The internal struggle just barely eeks to the surface in his expression.
Through gritted teeth he intones deeply (without yelling), reaching for the greatsword on his back.
Rowena surveyed the current situation. The two bandits had lowered their bows at the sight/recognition of Hans and Gernon. But could they be trusted to remain non-combative?
Watching her male companions speaking to the two visible bandits, Rowena decided not to interrupt them and undermine their gambit.
Rather, she lifted her light crossbow, loaded a bolt and aimed her weapon at the bandits in case they turned on the group instead.
Quietly/Discreetly over her shoulder, she asked Hans and Gernon, "Are you on friendly terms with these two? Can they be reasoned with?"
The men go wide eyed, raising their hands up and throwing their bows to the ground. One speaks up loudly. "Please! Don't kill us!"
The other, just as scared as his comrade, tries to speak, but his voice seems to hitch and he stops.
Gernon and Hans shrug. Gernon speaks up."They are bandits. The one talking is Ulric, the other is Jon. Lots of bark, but neither have been on a major raid. And reason? They just gave up."
Gernon, Hans get some rope and go tie up Ulric and Jon. Cadell says still watching the surrendered bandits. Be careful of this tripwire here.
Ulric if you have any friends lurking in the woods you had better call for them to come out and lay down their arms because if they attack us the first arrow is going in your heart.
The two former bandits avoid the wire by a wide berth, and begin tying up their former compatriots. To be on the safe side, Hans even pulls off some of their clothes, making some make-shift gags. Walking them back, they pull Ulric's gag some.
"I don't know if there are others. We were told to be here and stop anyone..."
In a low serious voice Alexander explains the situation to the new prisoners. Understand we intend to shut down this operation with or without your cooperation gentleman however in the end your actions from now until we have settled things in the camp may weigh for clemency or against it in the coming hours. Having said that is there anything that comes to mind in the way of useful knowledge you wish to share.
"I don't know if there are others. We were told to be here and stop anyone..."
Rowena had listened to the one named Ulric and silently pondered the honesty of his words.
She did not lower her loaded crossbow. Her eyes roamed the woods for any sign of the other bandits.
Sheoll moved to make sure the new prisoners were secure, nodding his approval at Hans and Gernon.
To the prisoners,
"Don't struggle, and it's likely you'll come out of this alive. We're here to end this banditry and if you renounce your former ways you'll be given the chance to repent. I'd say that's a fair deal better than the noose, don't you think?"
Tassira stops her casting once the bandits stand down.
"He's right--if you are sincere in your desire to change, we are prepared to offer you that opportunity." She says, rather relieved that bloodshed has been avoided for now.
I am going to go take a look around and see if there are anymore lurkers in the woods. Don't forget to search those two. Cadell says and slips into the trees on the right side of the trail. He makes a slow circle around their little column looking for signs of other ambushers.
The two men nod at Alexander, obviously rather panicked at the size of the group. And they appear to be telling the truth. With simple glances around, it becomes obvious that there are no others in the immediate vicinity.
At Sheoll and Tass's suggestion, the men nod but are soon regagged by Gernon. "It may be best to keep them quiet. Any loud noises or last minute change of hearts could get us killed, right?"
Hans, however, is looking at the wire. "Someone will still need to take care of this. The horses can't get through the trees unless we dump the cart and prisoners here..."
Cadell steps forward. "I'll try, I'll try." Bending down, he begins to work at the mechanism attached to the wire. With a small twang, he stands up. "No prob..." A small dart is in his shoulder. Looking at it, he goes wide-eyed.
"But I... Who.." With a tumble, he falls back, his body being wracked with tremors.
Tassira's eyes widen and she practically jumps off Percival.
"Cadell!" She races to his side, her hands trembling and her heart racing. "What's going on?!"
Alexander is shocked for a moment but quickly recovers, dismounting in what seems to be the blink of an eye he takes only a moment to lay his lance to the side before moving just past but still within close proximity to Cadell. Alexander orients himself to face the general direction of the darts apparent origin. Pulling sword from scabbard his other hand set to start the first of several intricate hand gestures for a protective ward Alexander appears ready to engage anyone that might decide to rush in. Rowena check Cadell I will cover you. Tassira prepare to defend yourself and Cadell if anyone gets past me.
As his comrades come to his aid, his twitches begin to subside and the look of horror that had been on his face begins to fade. Looking up at Alexander, his eyes register the man, then slowly fade to lifelessness. His muscles slowly lose strength, his breath eases and his head goes limp. The trap, it appears, was two-fold!
Sheoll had been looking around, keeping his eyes on the bushes when the dart had sprung. For a moment, his mind went blank. He wasn't quite sure of what he was seeing. As Cadell's body slumped to the ground, and Tassira ran to his side, he merely blinked.
When Alex stepped up, he snapped back to reality. He could feel the voice very near, right behind his eyes, pushing to get out. He felt warmth in his mouth, and realized he was biting down very hard.
Then the rogue's body went limp as his spirit went to the beyond.
Pulling his sword from his back, he frowned, keeping his teeth clenched so as not to yell out a challenge. The whole point of this was to use diplomacy, or catch their enemy unawares...but someone was going to pay for this. Sheoll didn't know Cadell well, and sure, he could be grating, but he didn't like the idea of not being able to learn more about the man. Yes. Someone would pay.
With a grumble in his voice, he was shaking slightly in his attempt to stay calm and quell the voice within;
"I think talking may be out now..."
Dropping into a combat stance he began looking for someone...anyone to make bleed.
But his war with the dark voice was taking far too much of his attention.
Rowena check Cadell I will cover you. Tassira prepare to defend yourself and Cadell if anyone gets past me.
It took the young priestess a full moment to realise what had befallen Cadell as her gaze had been elsewhere searching for other threats. She warily attended Alexander's instruction and had moved to examine the younger nobleman. Just as she had positioned herself beside him, she heard the tell-tale catch and then the final breath leave Cadell and his body go limp. Rowena held his still hand, bowed her head and sent a quiet prayer to Erastil.
At the end of her prayer, she looked up at the others and then swiftly surveyed the area around them for any further threat.
As quietly as she could speak and be heard, Rowena solemnly declared, "Cadell has passed from this plane. May Pharasma judge him fairly and well."
Rowena, unfortunately, had not formed a closer bond with Cadell, yet as a priestess she stoically mourned his death and the effect it would have on his family, friends and community when they were informed. Her divine magic was not advanced enough to bring him back to life or she would have tried.
Her eyes sought Alexander's, and she directed her next query softly to him, "What do we do now, Alex? We cannot leave Cadell's body here, where it could be debased by brigand or other fell creature."
Coming to the conclusion that it was the trap that had struck Cadell and not an ambush Alexander relaxes and puts his sword back in its scabbard. When Cadell pass away his death rattle seems to echo's loudly in Alexander's head and its significance all but drowns out Rowena's words as if she is speaking from long way off and it takes a moment for Alex to realize she is addressing him. Wanting to project a sense of calm and control Alexander appears to ponder several moments before answering. We can load him onto the cart for now and make preparations for burial later when we return to Oleg's. It is such a shame. I had hoped to become a friend to him. I will need to inform his parents of his passing.
Rowena simply nodded once at Alexander's subdued answer and placed Cadell's hand, that she had been holding, upon his still chest. She lifted the other hand/arm and placed it atop the first. She stood silently (yet cautiously) and waited for the others to draw closer so they could lift Cadell's body into the cart and cover it.
Tassira is silent the whole time, still in shock over Cadell's death. It was so sudden...
She still says nothing, but her panic is beginning to rise. It's visible on her face.
Rowena glanced at Tassira and noted her panic-stricken face.
She moved quickly to stand beside the noble lady and took her hand, in comfort and strength. In very low words only for Tassira's ears, she instructed gently,
Tassira swallows and looks Rowena in the eyes as she holds her hand.
She nods and sighs. "Okay."
Thanks...
Alexander was ready to provide support to his cousin but stops when he sees the interaction between the two ladies and how Tassira seems better. Alexanders mouths a silent thank you to Rowena before putting on his game face and takes on the responsibility of the situation. Han please give me a hand with Cadell's body. Gernon move what you need to make room on the cart. If everyone else would keep an eye out while we deal with this and then we can move on to the camp.
"Speaking of that..." Sheoll says with a dour look on his face, and begins to clear the cart as well. He paused for a moment to look at Cadell's face.
Stars guide you, stranger.
"Don't you think this changes things? Certainly this shows the ruthless of our opponents, more than just opportunism. We must be willing to respond in kind. Things must be balanced."
He was calming some, and he shook out his arm, as a cramp had formed in his fist from holding it so tight. He wondered for a moment if he wanted justice or merely bloodshed...he brushed it aside, deciding for at least this moment, that they were one and the same.
As Alexander moves the body into the cart laying it carefully and with as much reverence as possible he answers Sheoll. I won't lie Sheoll I am angry and I want to punish someone for Cadell's death too but...
Alexander stops for a moment and looks at Sheoll A new determination in his voice. No I know the right answer even if I might wish otherwise. Those that are determined to stand against us we will meet with force. If they surrender we need to maintain our honor and take them into custody. We must move past an impulse for vengeance and be paragons of justice. Our charter grants us authority to kill to maintain order but we need to stay worthy of that responsibility.
She had met Alex's gaze and discreetly nodded in acknowledgement of his thanks. Rowena continued holding Tassira's hand as Alexander and Sheoll discussed what was to be done with the remaining brigands.
Quietly she spoke to Sheoll, who now stood by the cart preparing space for Cadell's body, "Indeed justice must be sought, but not vengeance. You are a warrior and your heart speaks to you in a way I cannot understand. I simply ask that you direct the fury and emotion in a way that will make your purpose truer and your mind clearer, Sheoll." All the while she spoke in a soft, gentle manner, neither rebuking nor challenging him. The young priestess attempted to calm the bright flame within her friend and companion before it turned into a wildfire.
Rowena continued to keep watch over the surrounding woodland/area/two bound bandits as the men settled Cadell's body into the cart.
Tassira appears to be too distracted by many things to notice anything coming at them.
Rowena gives a quiet warning to the group, "There is something in the southwest bushes, something larger than a woodland creature."