Grey takes cover behind a tree, ready to lend a hand if one of her party gets hurt.
"Is there a plan? Do we have a plan?" Fryja asked as she looked among the group. "I mean I have one but it is fairly foolish..." She said.
"Find a way inside and try not to get killed is usually a good plan," Freyr mutters. "It seems almost too quiet though. If you have something, we might as well try."
"Well they did want you and me before... Maybe we could just... walk in with some talk?" Fryja asked with a shrug.
The hobgoblin laughs at the two humans and their conversation. How about we just go in there, set everything on fire, and laugh as they desperately try to get out? she reloads her Crossbow and takes a long drag from her pipe. Well... Now that I think about it, not many things are gonna like me shooting flames about the place...
The High Sentinel Lodge
Faethera shushes the discussion, "They've just exited the front door! Let's let them come to us..."
As you watch, you realize she is correct as three of the Bandits exit and start heading down the path towards you. They are moving slowly and quietly but as you are arrived in the trees before they exited, they cannot see any of you!
Lanyssa keeps herself quiet and motionless, trying not to make the slightiest sound, until the bandits are close enough to feel her blade.
Greivous puts away her crossbow and draws her trident, the three pointed spear the right size and shape for throwing.
She hefts it up with one hand and readies it for a good throw, remaining silent.
However, she seems to be the most unstealthy hobgoblin in the world, the way she does almost nothing to mask the smell if her pipe, much less the smoke itself.
Fryja looked to her twin, a small bit of worry upon her face. What do we do? She asked him as she tried to make as little noise as she could.
"Well, if you want to talk, this is probably your only chance. Otherwise it looks like it's time to fall back on swords." Freyr grips the hilt of his sword and prepares to attack if the party elects to handle things the quick way.
The High Sentinel Lodge
The rest of the troupe remains still as Grievous and Frjya shift a bit in the copse of trees.
One looks up directly at the copse where your group is currently "hiding". He pauses and motions to one of his fellows whispering.
Fryja, taking a chance, moved from her hiding place to face the bandits. "Are you the ones I'm suppose to find? Who will take me back beyond the portal?"
Lanyssa takes the chance that Frjya gives her, by talking to the bandits, to stealthily reposition herself in a place from where to avoid their potential escape.
Freyr nods and wordlessly moves to join his sister. If her plan doesn't work, he's not going to leave her to deal with the bandits by herself.
Grey will step out with the twins staying a bit behind them and looking as harmless as she can, considering she is not armed or armored.
Greivous snorts at the group's "amazing" stealth and follows the twins actions, assuming that if they didn't attack the strange looking humans, then they definitely wouldn't hit the hobgoblin.
The High Sentinel Lodge
Frjya steps out as do a few of the others.
The four bandits pause and raise their bows one yells out, "Back beyond the portal? Who the hell are you?" They seem a bit confused by the tactic though with longbows raised, this is clearly a tense situation.
The High Sentinel Lodge -
Without question, you were ill prepared for the weather! How and why is it so cold!? Why is it snowing in the Border Woods? Despite the difficulties, you manage to work your way through the woods with extreme caution and find where these Bandits have been holding up. A nice place to be sure. You return to Demgazi for supplies and winter clothing and return to the Border Woods once more.
You've had to be careful to take them unawares as you believe they outnumber you. Now that you have discovered them, a new development arises as another group steps out from the woods...
What is not clear is who they are? What portal do they speak of? Are they on the side of the Raiders?
Nox's cloak billows around her, despite being out of the breeze. She holds her bow in one hand while her belt hands her an arrow.
She whispers to her comrades. "I'm not sure if those people are with the bandits or not, but they seem to have the Raiders distracted. Perhaps we should hit them before they notice us. What say you?"
"Let's give it a few more moments. I want to see who's in league with who." Aerin whispered back to Nox
"I am Frjya Elvanna." She answered. "Daughter of Queen Elvanna, 14th Queen of Irrisen." Frjya added as she did her best not to incite any more violence... yet.
"Sister. I'm not sure that they have any idea what's actually going on here," Freyr says slowly. He wasn't quite expecting this tactic, but it would hardly be the first time he backed one of his sister's unexpected plays. "I wonder if their leader has told them at all what's happening."
Lanyssa take a step forward. "You hear, fools? You are before a Princess! From Irrisen, no less! Imagine all the explanations you're going to need if you will her blood!"
"Let's give it a few more moments. I want to see who's in league with who." Aerin whispered back to Nox
Mh good idea. I have a tendency to try and rip them all to shreds, since most people you meet out in this country aren't the kind of people you invite to your home anyway, but who knows who they are. Perhaps we can get some coin for them as well. Or they are about to be ambushed.
A few moment later Satu adds:
Ah being robbed and ambushed seems more like the case. Should we circle them and take them from the back while they are busy? There might be more in the cabin.
Zeylud snickered a little bit "Most fortuitous, Zeylud suggests we take advantage of the situation and slip in behind these Raiders while those do-gooders have their attention. We shall do much in the chaos that ensues with little risk" he said grinning a cheesy grin.
Nox nods to Zeylud. "Circle around. We will catch them between us."
The High Sentinel Lodge
One of the Bandits calls back, "Wait there and I shall retrieve someone you can speak with!" He states as boldly as he dares.
"Don't keep us waiting too long," Freyr says dryly, keeping one hand near his sword, just in case.
Zeylud seeing that the others agree with the idea...simply vanishes as he makes his way behind the bandits.
As Zeylud turns and vanishes into the snow, Nox gets a sudden nasal irritation and sneezes. Ahh, wonderful time to realize I may be allergic to ratfolk. Or maybe just Zaylud.
Figuring that any guard worth his salt (or conscious in this case) would probably have heard that, she lifts her bow, arrow nocked, and prepares herself for the inevitable.
Frjya looked to her twin. I can't believe this is working so well.
"Assuming he's not going to get more men so they outnumber us when they attack," Freyr mentally replies, his voice obviously dubious, even confined just to their minds.
Satu tries to follow sneakily.
Grey seems focused on any upcoming havok.
As the Bandit moves to leave a loud crack cuts through the air catching everyone's attention. Although everyone catches the form of something moving in the trees Freyr and Lanyssa notice two other figures sneaking around.
"S-stay here, I'll be right back," the bandit says, seemingly more nervous. With that said the bandit quickly moves back into the lodge.
Lanyssa tries to capitalize from the fact that the bandit is distracted inside the lodge to close the distance a bit more.
Nox steps forward, bow ready, but pointing at the ground. A princess? They don't seem to be "part of" the bandit's group. Are they hoping to ransom the missing noble? Ah well, either they mean good or bad. One way to find out.
"Excuse me," she calls to the princess and her entourage. "Did I hear you say you're a princess of Irrisen?"
Zeylud slipped into another hiding spot and noticed one of his crew falling out of the plan to address the other group. He made sure he was hidden properly once again, he pulled out his kunai and gave the edge a lick. His whiskers twitched as he sniffed the air and eagerly awaited a good opportunity to start twisting people's fate.
He spied the leader of the bandits and eyed them carefully, attempting to curse their ability to protect themselves from attacks.
Frjya looked to the newcomer with a graceful nod of her head, "Yes, I am Frjya Elvanna youngest daughter of Queen Elvanna." She answered.
Freyr resists the urge to face palm. "Yes, she is. So who are you and what are you doing out here?" The tall blonde firmly puts himself between the newcomers and his sister. "If you're friends of the bandits, I strongly advise you take after your buddies over there and don't make a fuss. I think that everyone would rather not start fighting just yet."
Nox looks taken aback. "Friends of the bandits? We were wondering the same about you!" She shakes her head. "We're not interested in fighting you either. I was simply wondering what Irrisen royalty is doing in this neck of the woods." She releases the tension on her arrow, but keeps her bow ready should the need arise. Her cloak billows out briefly behind her and then wraps itself warmly about her frame.
After breaking two branches and clanging her falchion against her armor, Lanyssa leaves all stealthy intentions. Instead, she walks to the group formed by the twins and the newcomers and checks what they're talking about, staying silent herself.
Freyr relaxes a bit as the new arrivals seem to at least be relatively friendly. Or at least peaceful. He still looks wary, but now less like he's expecting to pick a fight. "Then I still wonder what you're doing so far out in the woods. Especially with things the way they are."
Satu steps in as well, but circles the twins a bit.
An Irrisen princess mh? How interesting. Where you gonna hire those bandits to kidnap children? Or what did they do for you? she says with her raspy voice, adding in an ironic tone: You need not worry about those bandits. They are indeed our friends and we came to give them the pleasure of our undivided attention. Some hugging, cuddling and caressing, you know.
She has no weapon in her hands, but her fingers twitch as she speaks.