While the rest of the party calls on the bandit to surrender, Votjek does not get the memo in his rage. His blade misses, however.
The man cannot run, though, after being affected by Davosh's spell.
Edward keeps his crossbow trained on the dazed man.
Kappi tries to calm the crazed warrior. Vojtek! You can stop, be at peace now warrior. You fought well.
Ooc-hmmm... what would a raging mega-pissed barbarian do in a situation like this?
Vojtek withdraws from combat and flops down across the fire from his former foe. He kicks his dead companion's burning severed foot out of the fire, and reaches out tiredly to grab the roasting meat from the spit over the fire before it chars too much for his taste. Vojtek munches on the spoils of war contentedly. He keeps the hilt of his Greatsword close at hand though.
After he is sure that Vojtek isnt going to decapitate or bifurcate the dazed bad guy, the quick fingered Varisian reaches down and quickly strips the man of his weapons.
Who wants to question him?
Ali looks her companions over carefully. Looking between Vojtek and Davosh repeatedly, she says You two are the scariest-looking. Probably should be you.
"i am not a skilled interrogator. I am however good at buttering people up first, no matter the approach."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Vojtek, Kappi, let's tie him up. We need to ask him about the motivation of the crime and the location of the lady."
I'll assume they get about it.
"Edward, let us try honey first."
Davosh then divests the ruffian of his worldly possessions.
Bah, I'm very tired. I have to eat something and regain buy strength. Kappi, can you handle it?
Vojtek's prominent snaggletooth tears a goodly chunck of meat from the captured dinner. The messiness and violence of it leave the remainder looking extremely unappetizing. Vojtek is quite markedly drooping, slouched over the repast with his chest heaving.
Bah, I'm very tired. I have to eat something and regain my strength. Kappi, can you handle it?
Vojtek's prominent snaggletooth tears a goodly chunk of meat from the captured dinner. The messiness and violence of it leave the remainder looking extremely unappetizing. Vojtek is quite markedly drooping, slouched over the repast with his chest heaving.
|
Edward slowly paces up as the daze spell wears off. As he does so..
That's enough friends lower your weapons. I'm sure that... Edward pauses looking at the gentleman to fill in the blank.
With his head clearing it takes a second for him to realize what Edward is waiting for..Stava my name is Stava He seems glad that he remembered.
...Stava here will be willing to have a gentlemanly chat here with us without any need of further violence. Edward bends over and gently takes one of the dead bandit's decapitated head and puts it next to the body. He then covers it with the bandits cloak.
See Stava, here's what we know. We know that you and your companions here attacked a caravan recently, and in that caravan was a noble lady. So here's what I want you to do. I want you to regale us with the story of how you learned of the caravan, it's attack, and what you've been doing since up until now. Especially the details of where the noble lady was taken, or by who.
Edward pauses just a moment. Reaches down and hands the bandit his cup. Now you've seen our violence, but don't think that is all we are. We can be very kind to those that treat us well and give us what we want. So don't hold any detail back. We have the night for you to tell your tale.
Are you...you're from Taldor to execute us, right? Best get on with it then...I hate long waits.
I'll give him the stink eye, but not the Stink Eye:
His inquiry about you being Taldan authorities seems legit — perhaps he's more afraid of them than of you.
"He really is worried we're from the Kingdom of Declining Glory. Let him know that if gives up everything he knows, we'll spare him that fate."
Kappi stands there holding his new mwk throwing ax. He was very impressed with the weapon. It was simple and plain, but so finely balanced and sharp. With a good throw it had easily killed the bandit he threw it at. He was surprised at how deep it penetrated his skull.
He now stood with the weapon wondering if this bandit deserved the same fate as his two comrades. Death for his actions or another chance at life for some honest answers?
The young lad felt his youth and inexperience at such matters. He hoped Davosh and Edward could sort this out.
Vojtek looked up at Kappi, watching the lad turn the tomahawk slightly back and forth and could feel the familiar stirrings in his breast for the hunt. The lad was a tough one, relaxed and effective in the scrum. He knew how to handle himself and knew how to evoke the stillness of the tundra when it was time to be still.
The small and wiry barbarian proffered the meatier half of the fowl he had been devouring to his young friend with a questioning grunt. Grease and juices ran over his fingers and down his arm, but Vojtek ignored the sensation in his exhaustion.
Once Kappi took it, Vojtek heaved himself up, wiped the grease on his thighs and rolled his shoulders.
Out of the man's line of vision, Vojtek caught Edward's eye and flashed a grin with a wink. He made a slight hand motion to the oracle as if to indicate, "me then you"
Without a word, he walked across the outer ring of melted snow surrounding the fire and grabbed the remaining man's shoulder with a grip the power of which this man had probably never experienced. He leaned into the man's face, which was in reality slightly higher than his own, but Vojtek's other hand grabbed the man's collar and throat and pulled him down to the point where they were nose to nose.
With a rumbling growl, Vojtek slowly increased the intensity and crushing power of his grip and bared his fearsome teeth in a very real threat.
Vojtek held the pose, growling deep in his chest and waiting for Edward to interject with the expected objections over Vojtek's manhandling of the oracle's 'new friend.'
|
|
Stava Stava Stava Edward starts his reply with an amused grin and slight nod.
Ya have us all wrong. Cmon look at us. He gestures to each person Now ask yourself which one of us looks like Taldan authority? None? that would be your best guess. So that leaves us at mercenaries. That I can honestly say we are at the moment. Not only are we doing the honorable thing in rescuing not just a lass, but a noble lass at that.
So be a chum will ya? Tell us what we need ta know, and we'll let ya go. Although I suggest that ya don't stick around here since I'm sure the Taldan will be on their way.
Stava looks back and forth among your party, as if weighing his options. Finally, he speaks.
Look, we — I — work for Rohkar Cindren, part o' his gang. We been makin' an honest livin' as bandits outta the Border Wood for a few years now. Or we were, until this damned winter blew up outta nowhere. We don't have much to handle this sorta thing. Don't usually get this cold down here.
The bandit licks his lips and thinks a moment before continuing. Spent a few weeks after the cold come in scroungin' up some food and a little bit o' coin. But then Rohkar got mixed up with them blue-skinned freaks. Can't even go to the Lodge no more cause o' them.
"Where is the lodge? Is that where you took the lady?"
Stava looks quizzically at Davosh after his question. The High Sentinel Lodge, of course. Everyone knows that place. The rangers used to base their defenses against them Qadiran bastards there. Course there hasn't been much call for them the last few decades. Rohkar got them blue-skinned freaks to clear it out for us. But now we can't use it cause o' them. Go figger.
Any other info about the Sentinel Lodge? Kappi wracks his brain a little.
Knowledge Local
For many years, an organization of Taldan rangers called the High Sentinels has operated out of a fortified lodge in the Border Wood, charged with guarding the forest against Qadiran aggression (Taldor's ancient enemy once used the wood to hide invasion force).
Over time, however, the continued lack of hostility with Qadira dulled the sharpness of the Sentinels, and most of the unit's decorated veterans either retired or moved on to other posts, turning their attention to more local matters, such as hunting down bandits who used the forest to attack trade routes in the southern reaches of Taldor.
"How far is the lodge?"
|
|
So Stava, who's Rohkar dealing with in the blue skinned bastards your referring to?
Trained Hireling
Stava looks at Davosh with what seems like genuine surprise. Just up the top o' Red Run Gorge, overlookin' Timber Creek, a'course. You lot aren't from around here, are ya?
To Edward, he says, Only seen some o' 'em, though they all say there's more. One's like an overgrown blueish bat — thin, leathery wings an' small horns — that stands on its back legs maybe up to your belt, an' breathes ice clouds. Nasty thing, she is. An' one's a tiny thing, maybe as high as yer boot, with dusty wings like a moth.
Is that enough to attempt a Knowledge check?
Knowledge (Nature): DOH!
Sounds like some sort of fey, maybe. ;-)
Also,
I prepared explosive runes today.
Lets go.
So should we kill him... Vojtek asks, …or hire him?
Cut him loose. Spread the word, winter shall pass. Keep around. If I call you, come.
Vojtek helpfully adjusts the man's collar and lapels, hands him his weapon and clasps his forearm firmly.
May it be so - that the next time we meet, we meet as friends Stava.
Vojtek smiles, but the effect with his offensively protruding tooth is something from a draconic nightmare.
Vojtek takes his great sword in hand and with a practiced slice, severs a sapling about two fingers' breadth in diameter and trims it down with his dagger.
Once the tree has been trimmed of its top and its limbs and he has a staff about six feet long, he deftly ties up the remains of his captured food in a handkerchief which he ties to the end of the stick. Ignoring Stava's stunned expression and the bodies of the man's companions, Vojtek slings the stick with handkerchief food bundle over his shoulder and sets off on the trail.
Off we go with the barbarian hobo. The party heads toward the Lodge, though they stop far enough away that Kappi can scout it out a little before everyone approaches.
"We must be on our guard. This could be a pivotal encounter at the lodge. Keep our wits and blades sharp."
Maybe we should rest and come to the lodge tomorrow, fully prepared.
"Agreed."
"Stava, stay the night with us. We'll not pay you for this. There may be a time someday when I pay you to draw blood, but tonight it is in your best interest. I'd hate to have you succumb to temptation and rejoin the others, only to feel the unfettered wrath of Vojtek of the North."
Stava considers his options and decides that facing the raging Northman might not be healthy. Uh...might be a good idea, that. There's a little bit o' huntin' around these parts. Less since the snows came, though.
Kappi sure as frag doesnt trust Stava to stand a watch.
The Varisian is clearly uncomfortable knowing he killed his comrade and wonders if Stava is considering revenge of some sort.
The rest of the lad's waking and sleeping hours have him holding his new favorite ax or fingering one of his knives.
Kappi sure as frag doesnt trust Stava to stand a watch.
The Varisian is clearly uncomfortable knowing he killed his comrade and wonders if Stava is considering revenge of some sort.
The rest of the lad's waking and sleeping hours have him holding his new favorite ax or fingering one of his knives.
Yep, that's what I get for high intelligence, low wisdom.
Soooo..... we survived the night?
Okay. We part ways with Stava, "Go forth and sin no more...". And the rest of us head on to the Lodge.