This wasn't going the way he expected, or was it? He'd never been good with people, books were so much simpler. Magic was easy, you do the same thing, you get the same results. But people, why was it so complicated? Daen let his emotion get the better of him for the moment and he felt a bit betrayed by it. He let himself slip back into his old comfortable callousness.
"Look, when I'm fighting, I have to be in the moment as well as three to seven steps ahead. But such plans also have to be fluid, responding to the events of the now. I'm no oracle, I don't know how things will turn out. And my plans aren't orders, they are suggestions. I've no attachment to them other than the desire to succeed."
Daen sat down with Ankova to help with the caltrops. The chain could be hidden under some dirt and pulled up into place after the bandits came through, it's just a matter of who should do it. "If Oleg invites them in, either Ankova or I could attach the chain behind them. Taking out their archer should be top priority, and I can hit them with a spell to cause confusion, and possibly spook their horses." He looked up in thought, pausing from the work for a moment.
"We should offer them a chance to surrender. Capturing one or two and making him talk would help with our long term plans, we should be prepared to let them surrender and offer information as proof of their repentance. The problem is manpower." He turns to Oleg with an impassive face, "Is there any place you could house prisoners?"
"Prisoners?" Oleg looks puzzled for a moment. "I never thought about prisoners. I was expecting bodies to string up on the wall, or at least to bury. I s'ppose I can throw one into the storage pen, at least for a day or two, but I won't house their kind here long-term." He watches Ankova for a moment or two before squatting down next to her and bending some of his own before going to work on the gates. By the time dusk falls on the fort, a sizable pile of caltrops has been formed, the chain is half-buried in dirt, and Oleg has freed up one of the two gate-doors. "Other one will come loose, but look here." He points to the top two hinges, which have completely disconnected from the frame-log. "I try to free this without new hinges, the whole thing'll crash down. Could hurt someone, and I can't guide where it'll fall. I think we should just keep the gates open."
Night falls quickly, and the Levetons show you to the guest house, which is a single room with four beds. "I'll wake you in the morning, so we can be good and ready for them." Svetlana shoots you a big smile and shuts the door behind here.
Come morning, each of you is awakened by a worried-looking Svetlana pushing on your shoulders. "Wake up, please! They'll likely be here any minute, and I'm sure you'll want to be ready to...do what you must." She leaves, wrapped in Oleg's arm. The early morning sun struggles to be seen from behind thick grey clouds, but the morning is still, if chilly.
Ankova stirs easily from her bed and smiles at Svetlana as she pushes aside the covers and begins to dress, "Mmm, morning already? Thank you for waking us, Svetlana. Now go hide in the house until this is all over, yes?" She pulls on her boots and then starts buckling on her armor, adjusting the straps carefully, as she's only ever sparred before, never having actually faced an opponent intending to fight to the death. "I'll go spread some of the caltrops behind this building and between the Leveton's house and the storage shed. We should also probably put some down between the stable and the gate, so move carefully around those areas so you don't step on any, right?"
Once she's fully attired she asks Daen, "Where would you like me to hide for the ambush? I'm not as skilled as you, but if the two of us flank them, that might enhance the value of our ambush."
Laliytsa rolls out of bed and stretches. "Thanks Svetlana. Lock yourself inside til we're done." She pulls her armor on as fast as she can, fingers flying over the buckles. Once that's in place she slings her quiver onto her back and grabs her bow. "I'm gonna go get in place. Hidin' behind that catapult I should see 'em comin' from way off." One hand digs into her belt pouch before pulling out a handful of trail bars. She pops one in her mouth before holding the rest out to the group.
Waking up in the morning, he no smiles for Svetlana. If possible he appeared even grumpier than usual. Daen felt the slight soreness that came from new work. Hopefully, the kinks would work themselves out in due time. In response to his fellow half-elf's question his groggy mind spun out an opinion. "A flank is a good strategy. I was thinking of sitting at the food tables to challenge them and get their eyes off of Oleg. If you wanted to hide by the wagon, you could emerge on the other side of the courtyard. Or you could lay in wait behind the caltrops next to this bunkhouse. If they attack you there, they'll have to deal with the nails. Either place would be decent to move the chain into it's position." He sat up and swung his legs off of the bunk. "And you have skill. I've seen it. You just have many other interests, which have their own use."
Taking a trail bar from Laliytsa with a nod of thanks, he spoke quietly to the ranger. "If you can give me an indication when they are about ten to twelve seconds from the gate, I can prepare a better defense without their knowledge. Thank you for breakfast." The swordsman got up from his position and began doing some stretches. He flipped through his spell book after he felt the blood flowing and made some last minute notes.
Oleg and Svetlana go inside the house, and after a few minutes Oleg comes out alone. He carries a handful of javelins to the stables, stowing them against the door. "Mmph. Okay, I'm ready. You city types do your jobs, and I'll do mine." He grabs a small axe and makes as if to split wood in the trading post's yard.
From her post on the wall, Laliytsa sees them first. Four figures ride toward Oleg's, two leading pack horses. As they get closer, weapons and equipment become more visible. Short swords and longbows seem the standard, although the one in the lead has a bow but no sword. Judging by their distance and speed, they look to be about a minute away.
Laliytsa lets out a slow breath as she sees them. Lotsa bows. Ok. Anyone hangin' back to shoot the others, that's who I peg. She turns and lets out a short whistle while holding up four fingers.
Ankova will remain hidden near the wagon until the bandits enter, and should be close enough to pull up the chain so they don't easily escape.
"Any minute? Drat!" Rising quickly, she dons her equipment and takes a position near the far end of the building they slept in that night.
Gods above, grant us strength.
The bandits dismount, leaving their riding horses outside the gates and guiding the two pack horses in by their leads. One, a woman with a red scar running the length of her face, stays back and holds the horses, while the others walk to where Oleg is chopping wood. They seem comfortable and relaxed, shooting crude jokes at one another until they get close enough to Oleg to talk.
"Best put down that axe, Oleg, and fetch your wife. She's much better to look at than your filthy mug. Get her, have her bring us some of that wine, and start loading pelts-wait, who's this? A guest?" He notices Daen at the table. "Best have him turn out his taxes too, or...well, you've been warned what'll happen."
"Of course, Happs, sir." Oleg sets his axe beside the pile of wood he was splitting and walks over toward the storage pen. One of the bandits follows him, while the other rank-and-file one moves toward Oleg and Svetlana's house.
Having cast his protective spell as the bandits approached the gate, Daen stands from his seated position at the table, making sure to make eye contact with the bandit following the tradesman. Putting out a hand to especially get his attention, he shakes his finger in a no-no motion to add further insult.
"Oleg is not my master, and neither are you." He draws his Aldori sword. "If you put down your weapons and surrender, I will be lenient. If you wish to resist, your punishment will be swift and severe."
Daen jumps up and runs down the table bench as soon as Ankova and Laliytsa attack, blocking the bandit from getting closer to Svetlana. Hopefully Oleg can get himself out of harms way, but Daen believed that even Oleg would prefer his wife protected to his own person. Also, if Happs pulled out his bow, he could even use the bandit for cover against the archer. His best option was to end this as quickly as he could. Drawing on his arcane power, his sword begins to glow with eldritch light, flashing in the shade of the buildings.
Laliytsa moves along the wall to get a better shot. She knocks an arrow, aims, and fires it at the bandit following Oleg. C'mon Oleg, get out of there! She mentally wills the man to make a run for it.
Ankova rushes over to the gate and tugs on the chain, hopefully preventing the horses from easily leaving, which should slow down any bandits who turn and flee. She then turns towards the nearest bandit, the one minding their horses, and prepares for a fight, her sword in hand.
Laliytsa's arrow punches into the bandit nearest Oleg, who lets out a scream and clutches at the arrow, buried to its fletchings in his belly.
Maraia moves down the narrow alley toward the gate, stopping just before the caltrops, and with a quick chant and a gesture, blesses her allies.
Oleg, forewarned that the attack was coming, makes a break for the stables, slamming the door behind him as he goes.
The shot bandit reaches for his sword, pulling it out of its rusty sheath and staggering toward the barn door. Finding it barred against him, he leans against it for a moment in pain. The bandit near Daen rips his own sword from his belt and swings it in a wide arc, but it passes over Daen's head, close enough that he can feel the wind off it. "I'll gut you, half-breed!"
The bandit holding the horses drops their leads as, at the sound of the shot man's scream, they panic. One manages to get under the chain, but the other bounces off it and careens into the trading post, toward the fire pit. The female bandit grabs her own weapon, an axe, and moves toward Ankova, swinging wildly, not even close to the investigator. "A trap! Happs, we'll cut our way through!"
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"That was hardly a surrender." Swirling in response, the swordsman artfully swung his sword through the air, it's eldritch trail deftly cutting a line across the bandit's neck, although how deeply, he wasn't precisely sure. "And you should have left my mother out of it. I'm not likely to forgive you now."
He fought the urge to glance at the rest of the battle, because even a defeated foe can sometimes make a last ditch effort. He needed to get to Haps or perhaps the injured bandit across the way. It would be best for this to be completed quickly, and quite possibly before any of their group was injured.
Laliytsa swears as one horse makes it out the gate. Heck. Hope I can catch it later. Get the bandits down quick She aims an arrow at Happs and fires
Ankova swears as one of the two horses manages to lift the chain with its head and escape, though the other is spooked into going further inside the fort. Easily sidestepping the clumsy swing of the brigand who had been holding the horses' reins, she counters with a swing of her own, slicing across the woman's chest as she declares confidently, "You're not cutting your way free. Surrender or die for your crimes."
Ankova's opponent screams and clutches at her chest, where a red line has appeared just above her stomach. Laliytsa's arrow crashes into Happ's shoulder, spinning him around. Daen's sword-stroke bites on bone and his bandit falls to the ground, crumpling like a ragdoll.
Maraia pulls a dagger out as she moves carefully across the caltrops toward Ankova's opponent, meaning to cut her off from her escape.
Happs looks around, draws his bow to his ear, and aims at Daen. "Slant-eared son of a streetwalker. This is for you." His release is early, though, and the arrow slams into the table next to Daen.
Blood continues to gush from the wound on Daen's bandit, while his shot friend, seeing no easy way out of the trap, drops his rusty sword on the ground and sits against the stable door. The woman dueling Ankova holds one hand against her wound, while the other thrusts ineffectually with her sword against Ankova's armor. Seeing her thrust do nothing, she rushes toward the gate, ducking to get under the chain.
[ooc]She provokes an AoO from Ankova. Feel free to tell me if you'd like me to do them automatically in the future.
"Not so fast!" Ankova deftly strikes at the back of the woman's legs as she attempts to flee, intending to hamstring her but not having the forethought to pull her blade so as not to cut far more deeply. She then turns her attention to the man insulting Daen and advances towards him, leaving the bandit she had fought to be dealt with by Laliytsa and her bow if still alive.
"You have a problem with half-elves, brigand? Face me and know justice!" She calls on all the skill she has, inspired by Daen's incredible dispatching of the bandit he was facing with a single perfect strike.
As the female bandit runs past, Ankova's hamstring cuts through the leg and gouges out a chunk of bone. She crashes to the ground beneath the chain.
The investigator's next stroke, this time against Happs, catches him in the side, just above his belt, and he collapses as well.
The man with the arrow in him breathes shallow breaths of pain, punctuated by a high scream as the door starts opening before catching on his back. "Hey, you lot from Restov? Are you alive out there? Did you...did you kill 'em? I need to get out of here, check on 'lana."
The trapped and spooked horse gradually calms down, having run to the alley-way behind the Leveton's house. The others, five of them, graze a couple hundred yards from the trading post.
Ankova blinks as she looks around, amazed that it's not only all over already, but that nobody seems even the least bit injured aside from the bandits. She kicks the man with the bow, flipping him onto his front to bleed out, then walks over to the bandit with the arrow sticking out of his belly and aims her sword at his neck while addressing Oleg, "Go let Svetlana know that everything is going to be just fine. We'll take of this one, and he's going to be very compliant and helpful, isn't he?"
Having been of little help, Maraia sheathes her small dagger. "All is well, Oleg. Go to your wife."
Stepping carefully around the bodies and her allies, she follows Ankova over. "Good, one still yet lives. Now, sir, you're going to tell us everything we ask or my friend here might want to see what your throat looks like from the inside."
The bandit stands up, nearly doubled over from pain as the arrow jostles, and takes a few steps away from the stable door. Oleg steps out, shooting a glare at him before nodding at Maraia and Ankova. He practically sprints to the house, shouting at the top of his lungs. "'lana! 'LANA! It's over, come on out. They killed Happs, not a scratch on 'em."
After a few moments and the sounds of wood scraping against wood, the door to the house pops open and Svetlana peeks out. The two embrace for a few seconds before Svetlana pulls away. She gives Daen a quick hug, then does the same for the ladies. "Thank you so much. I understand the risks you took standing against them, and if you need a place to stay while you're in the Greenbelt, our gate is always open."
The bandit bursts into tears and slumps against the side of the stables again. "P-please, fix it. Make it stop h-hurting." One of his hands wraps around the arrow, but when he starts pulling on it, he immediately lets out another high-pitched scream.
Laliytsa climbs down from the wall. This went far easier than she hoped; these bandits aren't very well trained. She carefully picks her way through the caltrops, unhooks the gate chain and walks outside. Slowly she makes her way to the horses grazing outside. She hunkers down on her heels and makes clicking noises with her tongue. "Hey babies. Come here, good babies" She calls softly to the herd.
"Quit whining and start talking. You're still alive, which is more than can be said for your erstwhile friends here." She kicks the corpse of the archer and asks, "This one was your leader, right? Happs, was it? He led you astray, into a life of thievery, brigandry, and... I suspect, had you quite prepared to rape and murder. Holy Ragathiel would demand your head for such crimes, but our charter only requires us to execute those who remain unrepentant. You do wish to repent, don't you? To confess your sins and receive leniency?"
She turns and heads over to the tables and grabs a bench, pulling it over so she can sit down a bit closer to the bandit, her blade still drawn, "How about we start off simple, with your name perhaps? No harm can come of sharing that."
The swordsman had watched the man fall into a gurgling heap after receiving his cut. It was the first time he'd actually taken life. He'd been there as his mother lay dying, her heart beat slowing, her rasping voice sobbing for the pain in this world. "Your life meant nothing." He said to the dying man as he flung his blood off of his sword. "What use is heritage now?"
After sheathing his sword, he received an unexpected hug. This flustered him quite a bit. Blood ran to his blanched face. He was dealing with death and here came celebration of life. Supposing it couldn't be helped, he managed to stand there for a little while, stunned at the juxtaposition. Letting the magic fade on his protective spell, the eldritch sparkles on his weapon scattered
He stayed with the bandit until he passed and then he started taking his things off. "You're going to help us finance our expedition. It's your penance to this land as you no longer have the strength to fight it yourself." He finished taking the things of value, and then moved to the other slain bandits. It seemed the ladies had left one alive to talk to, but Daen wasn't interested in talking right now.
Laliytsa gets immediate responses, as two of the horses come to her at a trot, sticking their noses near her and allowing her to stroke them. The other three look up for a few moments before walking to grass closer to the trading post. All the horses seem to be thin, and one shows signs of abuse from its former master.
As Daen searches the three bodies, he finds the following items:
Bandit 1: 1 shortbow, 20 arrows, a short-sword, leather armor, 15 gold coins, and 2 days' trail rations
Bandit 3: 1 longbow, 20 arrows, a rusty short-sword, leather armor, 5 gold coins, and 2 days' trail rations
Happs: 1 flask of alchemist's fire, leather armor, a dagger, a composite longbow (+2 Str), 20 arrows, an assortment of coins totaling 35 gp in value, 2 days' trail rations, and a silver amulet in the shape of a stag, with a circle of greenish glass held by its antlers.
"Adrik Detlav, ma'ams. The one your friend did for was my brother. What I've done is in the past, and I ain't going t'apologize for it. I did right by my mum, and that's what matters t'me. Kept Mickel from hurting anyone too badly." He pauses to spit blood from his mouth, some of which dribbles down his beard. "You leave this arrow in me, you'll have four corpses and no confession. No idea where Kressle's at, neither. She'll get wind of what happened here, and she'll hunt you down. I can help you, but take it outta me."
"Ah, see? Not so difficult. It is a terrible pity about your brother, but Daen did ask nicely for you to all surrender. My own name is Ankova, of House Schwarz from Restov." She smiles and rubs her signet ring in an almost absent-minded fashion, "As for your wound, your blood will have soaked the sinew by now. If I pull the arrow out, the arrowhead will likely slip free and be left inside. Where it's at right now is the safest place for it to be if you want to go on living, and you'll be fine at least an hour or two." Cautiously turning her head to look in Maraia's direction while keeping one eye trained on Adrik, she asks, "You can heal him, right? Bless him with some curative magic to make him well again? Not sure he deserves it if he doesn't even know where he's been camping out with his friends though..."
Looking back to Adrik as she holds up a small vial from the bandolier worn across her chest and swirls the liquid contents around, "I would offer you a swig of this, but I'm afraid the stuff only works on me. Haven't quite figured out the trick of making my concoctions work for anyone else just yet. But maybe Maraia here has the ability to make you well... if you can give her a good reason. You are quite sure you have no idea where Kressle is making camp?"
The bandit looks up at the sky for a few moments, where the clouds threaten a wet spring snow. When he speaks again, he pauses every couple of words to take a short breath. "I never said nothing 'bout not knowing where she camps. You head southwest of here, two days' travel, you'll hit the Skunk River. Kressle's band makes camp at a ford of the Skunk, but she's off 'getting instructions from her lord', she says. You girls are in big trouble when she catches up to you, though. Happs was her special toy around camp."
He winks at Maraia knowingly, laughs once, and stops as his face contorts in pain. "Augh! By the Lord in Iron, that hurts! I never did more than look at that ol' bastard's wife. Mickel wanted to do more, and Happs too, but they're dead now. Listen. I was from Daggermark, served with their siege train. I recognize them pults up there, they're old Taldan models, but I could maybe cannibalize two and get the other two working. Fix me up and I'll show you what I'd do."
Svetlana walks to the gate and watches the horses come to Laliytsa or graze. She seems lost in thought. Oleg walks to the pile of arms and armaments Daen's pulled from the bodies and puts a big hand on the half-elf's shoulder. "Step inside the house with me for a bit, would you? Got something I need to ask of ya, but..." He looks at Svetlana for a moment. "...I can't have her hearing it."
After arranging the items and organizing them, Daen realized a minor difficulty. In order to split the things fairly, he'd have to have some sort of understanding on what it was all worth. In any case, he hopefully could trust this tradesman because of their liberation in giving them a good price for things. When Oleg called him into the house, it perhaps was fortunate as well. Looking to see that the women were otherwise occupied, he nodded to the big man and followed him into the building.
As they went inside, Daen spoke up. "I'll need your help in possibly moving some of our newly acquired merchandise." Once inside, he spoke more quietly, "I'll also listen to any requests you may have."
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"There y'go, good babies" Laliytsa takes hold of the two horse's bridles. The whole herd looks skinny and ill used. She feels a new flicker of disgust for the bandits. Killing people has never come easy to her and she prays that it never will. But the more she learns about how these bandits operate the more her guilt abates. Some people are not worth the air they breathe.
Laliytsa spies Svetlana by the gate looking lost. Laliytsa feels her pity rising for the woman. 'Poor thing. Bet she's never seen violence up close like this.' The ranger heads for the gate with horses in tow. "Hey Svet. Wanna help me with these guys?" She doesn't wait for an answer before thrusting the reins into Svetlana's hands. "They're real friendly. Bet they love you forever if you give em a good scratch" Laliytsa pats one of the horses on the neck.
'Friendly critter's the best thing when you're feelin' lost She thinks as she walks back to the other horses. Chirping at them again she calls "Hey babies. Inside's better, promise."
"Wait no-I..." Svetlana bobbles the reins for a moment before grabbing them safely. After giving each of them a quick scratch, she leads them into the trading post, looping the reins around a post near the stable doors. The other three horses once again look up, but instead of coming closer, one goes back to its meal, one takes a few steps away, and the third looks at Laliytsa mistrustfully.
Inside the house, Oleg fills a couple of earthenware cups with water and holds one out for Daen. He leads the half-elf into a space set up like an office. "Your newly acquired merchandise. Ha!" He sits down heavily on the chair behind a rough wooden desk, gesturing for Daen to take one of the two in front of it. "Well, I see your friend the archer is trying to bring in those horses. We won't have room for 'em all, so you take whichever ones you'll need, I'll buy the rest off of you, on credit, of course, I don't have that kind of coin laying around. I'll give Svetlana some coin and some supplies, and she'll take your 'newly acquired merchandise' back to Restov. We get a cut of the profits, you get the majority.
Now, about my favor..." Oleg looks down, grabbing a pen to distract himself, and he turns just a touch red. "Listen here, now. I'm not a coward, but that Kressle scares me. She threatened to take my hand off with her axes, and she stole the wedding ring right off 'lana's finger, as payment. She won't say it, but she wants it back, I can tell. She told me not to go after it, but she never said anything about you. You get that ring back for me, and I'll give you a line of credit at the Post. Thousand gold Dragons, good for anything you want, as long as I have it or can order it. We have a deal?" Oleg sticks out a large hand for Daen to shake.
The half elf takes a drink of the proffered water as a sign of good faith. Businessmen worked better when they had an understanding, and although Daen didn't excel in such things, he at least knew what was going on. "Credit is fine. I doubt we'll find anywhere else to take our business unless we travel to Restov on our own. We wouldn't take advantage of your business, you have mouths to feed after all."
He finished off the water to allow Oleg's embarrassment to subside. Such a personal request was difficult. He certainly appreciated what this man was willing to pay for his bride. If only he'd had something similar in his own family. "We'll keep a look out for the ring. I'd like to return any stolen merchandise to the rightful owners if they can be found. We'll keep a special lookout the ring you've described to me, and I'll refrain from mentioning it to your lady to keep her mind at ease."
"As far as credit is concerned, I have a liking for arcane scrolls and I know that Ankova is into alchemy. If we could have some of those things available here, that would be useful. After today, I realize we should also have a few crossbows and ammunition." As for what the others wanted, he could barely guess.
He left it at that somewhat awkwardly and searched for some kind of resolution, but his lack of experience showed through. Inspiration struck and he continued. "Of course, when we confront those bandits is still up in the air. We need to be able to be assured of your safety here before we leave or they might just show up here while we're gone and wipe you out. Perhaps we can send for some more guards through the quintessences we have and get something here a little quicker. Some of us have a decent amount of pull in Restov."
Maraia slowly approaches Svetlana as she looks out over the horses being led about by Laliytsa. Making her presence known, she then places a hand on her shoulder. She looks out of the keep but is unable to see the horses, though the sound is comforting.
"You are blessed, Svetlana. You have a good man as a husband, the bandit issue will soon be no issue, you have your full sight and are beginning to quicken a child within you." She smiles at the far younger woman than she. "Describe to me what the horses are doing, I'm afraid my vision clouds the further out things are. Indeed, I have not had the pleasure of a sunrise or sunset in many years."
As Adrik the bandit watches Maraia walk away toward the gate, his face takes on a look of panic. "Please! What more do you want to know? You want an apology? I'm sorry, alright? I'm sorry for what I've done. I've worked with Kressle for three months, been with her every time she came here. I've killed traders and trappers, I've murdered innocents on the Rostland Road, and I've kept my brother from torturing 'em before they went. Mum said t'watch him and keep him safe, and for six years I've done that, but now that's over, and maybe now I can make my own way. Or maybe not, it's up to you. You're the ones with the blade, and the ones with the magic."
Svetlana looks over her shoulder at Maraia. "Well, your friend is trying to make friends with them, but the three out there seem very skittish. I saw whip marks on one of them, under the belly. I think they've been mistreated badly, and for some time. One is eating and two are looking at her. They don't seem to want to come in." She leans against a gate-post, relaxing.
"Of course, my good man, of course. You just write what's needed, and I'll have 'lana purchase them for you when she sells off your merchandise. Your share of that will be in hard coin, of course. The ring, and whatever else you bring in, is credit." Oleg stands up, walking toward the door of the office. "I appreciate this, and so will Svetlana."
"Confession is good for the soul, and I think today we shall place your fate in the hands of Olheon the Just Arbiter, rather than Ragathiel the General of Revenge." She pauses and looks meaningfully towards the Leveton's house, where she last saw Oleg enter, then back to Adrik, "You understand that you have no debt to me, and I would ask nothing more of you than the confession you have just given, but you helped terrorize these two innocent souls. I shall confer with them, but I expect that the least you should expect is some short term of indentured servitude to help pay for all that you helped steal from them and prove that your remorse is sincere. If you'll agree to that now, then I shall go talk to Maraia and see about getting that wound of yours healed right now, so that you needn't remain in agony. Some might leave the wound to remind you of your past villainy, but we are not cruel people."
She then sits back and waits for Adrik's reply, clearly looking like she expects him to agree to the provisional terms, while considering the implications of a riverside camp in the forest, already making plans.
Daen gives the man a handshake before leaving the house. There was some work to be done, possibly some graves to dig and a few odds and ends to figure out. Depending on the kind of information they got, there would be much to discuss.
He walked out and spotted Ankova leaving the prisoner to go talk to Maraia. He decided to join them there. "I'll go see how our hunter is doing with the horses. We'll meet up and discuss the info we've gotten when we get altogether in a few minutes. Does that sound good?"
Obiously thinking hard, Adrik looks Ankova in the eye. "I don't think they'll have me. You convince 'em I don't mean t'harm 'em anymore, and make sure Oleg knows to settle it without me dying or ending up in Restov, and I'll keep my word. My banditing days are done, but you best get t'dealing with Kressle's band. They catch word something's wrong, they'll all be here, and even if you can handle 'em, you'd best keep an eye out. There's more than just her out in the Greenbelt. Now go talk to Oleg. I'll still be right here when you get back." The bandit shuts his eyes and slumps down farther against the stable's wall, seeming to fall asleep.
With Adrik having agreed, Ankova stands and heads towards Maraia, just in time for Daen to catch up and suggest a group discussion shortly. She nods and says, "That would be good, he's been rather talkative, definitely eager to avoid the noose or chopping block and maybe even earnest about turning over a new leaf." Turning to Maraia, she then continues, "However, I promised him I would ask you to heal that wound he took from Laliytsa's arrow if he was cooperative. I don't want to yank it out and make things worse than they are, since the arrowhead would likely get stuck inside him, even if it's not barbed. Best thing about silk from Tian Xia is that it makes arrows easier to pull out. My uncle wanted to procure funds to equip all of Restov's soldiers with silk shirts to wear under their armor for that reason, though it was decided to be unfeasible."
Laliytsa sighs. These horses aren't inclined to trust her; and with the whip marks they carry she can't blame them. Maybe Svetlana has some carrots she can bribe the horses with.
Laliytsa turns and walks back to the gate. She looks startled to see the rest of the group there. "How'd it go with the prisoner? He cooperate?"
On hearing Ankova's report, Maraia nods and walks to the wounded bandit. In response to her channeled healing, the arrow falls out of his stomach and the wound stitches itself together.
Adrik looks at the assembled party for a moment. "I guess...I guess it's time you call that ol' bastard over here. I'll say my 'pologies, offer my services, and if he accepts, I'll take a better look at them catapults. As for you lot, Kressle will be coming back to the camp in the next day or so. If she finds out Happs isn't there, and neither is these peoples' taxes, she'll be furious. Might be you want t'deal with the camp quickly, before she comes back here with intent to butcher." He stands up, still wobbly on his feet.
Svetlana grabs Laliytsa's hand and pulls her away, whispering to her. "Are you going after the bandits today? If you are, I have a request of you. Could you...if you run across any moonradishes, could you pick some for me? I used to be able to take Claptrap out and go to a patch 15 or 16 miles southwest of here, but with the bandits, Oleg won't let me go. I want to make some soup for him, but without the moonradishes, I can't cook his favorite recipe. If you could bring me a basket, I'd be quite grateful." She smiles shyly and expectantly at Laliytsa.
Oleg, walking to the group, claps Ankova on the shoulder. "You've all done right by us, at least so far. We can hold the bandits' gear for you, and maybe even get those horses in, if you want to get going. Won't feel safe here until Kressle's dead and her gang taken care of." He shoots a glare at Adrik the bandit.
"We'll need at least one horse more to get going, but let me talk over the plans with the rest of the troop."
Daen motions for the group to discuss privately on what to do. "I'd like to go after the bandits while they're still separate. If we can defeat the base camp, we can ambush Kressle as she returns. The trouble is leaving the prisoner with Oleg and Svetlana. I'm a man of action, and I'd like to defeat this camp before they can regroup, but I'm up for whatever you decide is best."
Laliytsa nods and pats Svetlana's hand. "I think we are aye. We'll bring ya enough radishes to make soup for all of us" She winks at the woman before moving off to talk in private.
Laliytsa wears a solemn expression as Daen speaks. "If we go we're gonna have to be quick. I don' wanna race Kressle back here. Should ride out within the hour." She gestures at the trading posts as she talks "I don' like leavin' 'em defenseless like this. But I can see the advantage of ambushin' the one group an' lyin' in wait for the other. As for the bandit prisoner, we could take 'em with us. If'n he really wants to reform he can start by helpin' us."
The ranger looks down at her feet. She looks uncomfortable and a bit worried. "I'm, uh, ima practical person. I saw that bow Haaps was usin', it's better than what I got, and I'm gonna take it. I mean, I'm all for returnin' stolen loot to rightful owners, if we find who he got it from i'll give it back, but until then it might as well do some good."
"Good chance that whomever that bow originally belonged to has long since gone on to be judged by Pharasma. Best thing you can do with it is use it to dispatch the same bandits who likely ended his or her life... and their compatriots." Then suddenly she starts grinning and asks, "But why stop there? They'll be expecting Happs to be returning on horseback with a bunch of stuff, right? We can just put on their cloaks and such and they'll never know it's not us until it's too late. We'd have to leave Adrik here since they'll only be expecting four people to return, but he's sworn to serve an indenture to the Levetons if we'll leave him alive."
She turns to Oleg and Svetlana, "I know it's probably a lot asking you to trust him, since you probably don't have chains or anything to keep him in until he can prove he's sincere, but you'll have all the weapons we're not taking and he'll have nothing but whatever you give him. You can always just keep him prisoner until we return and we'll take him to Restov then, but I'd rather not bring him along with us."