Hearing Jack voiceclose, Finnabar warns his friends.
"Jack's just 60 feet ahead telling the girl to run and hide, but he's also running away from us"
With a clear voice devoid of hesitations, he set out his odrers.
"Xarafine, drop the girl and the mules here then join us over the ridge."
"Mirama, once your alone with the mules, lead them to hide and wait untill we call you. Your sister is just ahead and alive."
"Bein, form with me to reach the bandits then keep mounted to chase them dowm while I dismount. My horse is not ready for battle yet."
He then spurs his horse forwards over the ridge, looking for the bandits that are supposed to be with Aranea.
"You heard the Captain, child. Take the mules and move off. We will come for you when these bandits are dealt with."
Once Merina has dismounted and taken the reins of the mules, Xarafine spurs her mount forward, moving behind Finnabar and Bein.
Jack can only hope the girl heard him and believed him, as with one of their arrows striking true, he has to worry about getting out of this alive--although at least with the bandits targeting him, they were not targeting Aranea. Remaining in cover behind a tree, he crouches in a defensive position, watching the bandits' movements and listening for whether Aranea stopped running yet.
Bein does as he is told ignoring the feeling in his utilized as he charges forward towards the enemy with a well disciplined resolve. Death by rope or sword the choice had already been made. But today one would suffer his lance strike and let the will of Tue gods be done...
...
Init order:
Finnabar (18)
Xerafine (17)
Areana (8)
Jack (7)
Bandits (6)
Bein (6)
Finn roll your attack...
As he crests the ridge, Finnabar pinpoints the bandits position on either side of the road. Pushing his horse forwards, he reaches the closest one and dismount in striking distance.
Once on his feet, he swigns Belam's Gift with all his might.
, damage
Xarafine spurs he mount towards the bandit closest to Aranea
As she closes, she calls out in her sternest voice: "Surrender, brigand, or your life is forfeit!"
Finnabar crests the ridge and then, seeing the bandit's position, spurs his mount forward to the closest one, slipping of the horse's back at the last moment and using his momentum to lend power to his strike with Belam's Gift. The axe bites deeply into the bandit's shoulder and the man staggers backward , dropping his bow and drawing a rusty but serviceable shortsword. The other bandit likewise drops his bow and draws his sword. He does not, however move from his position.
The third bandit, unable to get a clear shot at Jack, and leaving the fleeing girl for a moment, takes aim at Xerafine and lets fly...
.. the shaft flies wide burying its head in the soft soil harmlessly. Meanwhile, Aranea turns to run towards Jack but nervously remains in the cover of a small tree rather than run out into the open.
Bein (6)
Finnabar (18)
Xerafine (17)
Areana (8)
Jack (7)
Bandits (6)
Guiding Arundel with his knees he moved forward into battle, the sound of pounding hooves and clang of heavy armor told his opponent that his doom was approaching.
Finding the Bandit hiding by some foliage Bein looked down on him with disdain. He took up a defensive position behind his Lord Finnabar and used both Arundel and himself as a living shield to prevent the bandit from flanking his lordship. Then using a two handed grip on his lance he used his superior reach and stabbed downward from on high against the bandit. "I hope you enjoyed your last days cretin. For when this battle is over you will have breathed your last."
Seing the bandit retreat and wave his rusty sword, Finnabar steps forwards and presses the attack.
,
Xarafine spurs her mount forward, closing with the bandit . She swings out with her staff, trying to connect with the brigand's form.
Jack moves forward, toward the grove where Aranea is hiding. He fires at #3 while he is hopefully distracted by engaging with Xarafine.
Finnabar's strike slams into the bandit, dropping him in a spray of blood which splatters over the nearby wall whilst Bein maneuvers himself into position and strikes the other man with his lance. Simultaneously Xerafine canters forward and strikes out at the other remaining bandit as Jack's arrow takes the man in the shoulder.
The man facing Bein staggers, but manages to step forward and strikes at the cavalier with his sword. However, hindered by his wound, the blow fails to land. Meanwhile the bandit facing Xerafine scowls and takes a step back and sends another shaft at the woman attacking him. The arrow sreaks past Xerafine, cutting a thin gash on her arm but failing to do any real damage.
Bein (6)
Finnabar (18)
Xerafine (17)
Areana (8)
Jack (7)
Bandits (6)
Bandit 4:
Bandit 3:
as the bandits sword sparks off his armored pualdron which forces Bein to drop his lance and draw his sword lest he wanted to be impaled by this bandit...
By the time the lance struck the ground, arterial blood sprayed skyward as Bein struck a brutal blow with his long sword.
If his opponent is down Bein kicks Arundel forward to the last remaining opponent. He gives a loud shout to the Teacher. "Save the girl I've got this cretin!" With his sword raised high Bein intended to bring this man low swiftly and decisively lest the bandit fort hear there epic struggle...
Jack moves toward the girl hiding behind the tree. It is hard to give a reassuring smile in the midst of dealing with the bandits, but he does the best he can. "Don't worry, you'll be free soon."
With that, he draws another arrow and shoots at #3 again, hoping his long distance assistance helps Xarafine and Bein take care of the final bandit.
Xarafine launches herself from the saddle, tucking into a somersault,
landing in front of the surprised bandit. She swings the Speaking Staff at him again.
Looking round to see his companions had clearly taken the upper hand, Finnabar bends over the bandits he just hit and tries to stop the bleeding in case they need to interrogate him.
Under the combined assult of Bein, Xerafine and Jack the final bandit drops to the ground, blood gushing from his ruined throat. Finn's ministrations seem to work on the second bandit, whose brething slows and whose bleeding eventually stops.
The situation calmed, Aranea finally emerges from the trees and approaches Jack. "Thankyou. she gasps "You said you were with Minara. Where is she? I've been so worried!"
Jack nods to the girl as he puts his bow away. "Turn around, I'll untie you. I was scouting ahead, so she was with the others. As I don't see our pack animals, I assume she's hiding with them. Come, let's go ask the Teacher."
He points in Xarafine's direction and approaches her. "Where is Minara?" He asks the last to Xarafine. "She is anxious to see her sister."
"Well done every one. Stay sharp, we're close to the bandit's fort and we don't want to meet some by surprise."
Interrupting Aranea, he asks a quick question. "Sorry to ask that now, but you've been with this rabble all the time. Was there a leader in the bandits? If so, which one was it?"
If Aranea can design one of the bandits, Finnabar tries to stabilize him. If not, he quickly looks at the fallen bandits for a stag pendant? If one of them has one, he will try to stabilize him as well.
Then, letting Xarafine deal with the girls, he suggests:
[b]"What I propose is that we hide the bandit's corpses, lees the one we want to interrogate. If they make for the fort, they must know the coming and going and the passwords, the layout, the guard positions and the strength of the opposition. So we take the time to stop here, bind our wounds and rest. Then with all the information, we'll try to devise a plan."
"She is with our mules, child. She cannot be far off, I just left her mere moments ago. Come."
Xarafine mounts her horse, then helps the young woman up behind her.
"Let us go find her."
She urges the horse into a canter, heading back to where she left Mirana and the mules.
Jack helps Aranea up on Xarafine's horse.
After they are on their way, goes to the fallen bandits' bodies (apart from the one Finnabar already stabilized) and checks to see if any are alive.
If he finds that any of them are alive, he tells Finnabar, but he does nothing to stabilize them himself, unless he is asked to. He knows in truth they are men like any other, but he finds it hard to have any measure of respect for these marauders.
He also searches their bodies while he checks for vital signs.
Aranea, dirty and disheveled but clearly a very attractive young girl, nervously turns to let Jack untie her and then follows the half-elf to Xerafine. She pauses as Finn asks about the bandits "I don't know which was the leader" she says "none of them really seemed to want to follow the other's orders. I think he may have dies when they ambushed our party and took Minara and I. Oh my god. They killed mother and father! They said we were for "The Stag". Please, can I see Minara now? I've been so worried for her. These bastards were so angry when they couldn't find her - I'm sure they would have killed her! They seemed to want me more than her."
When you crest the hill back to Minara the girls, immediately on seeing each other, run together, greeting each other with hugs and cries of joy. Standing embracing each other as if they will never let go.
Finn: When you search the bandits none have a stag pendant. But you do find...
4 shortbows
57 arrows in 4 quivers
4 sets of studded leather armour
78 GP
120 SP
A scrap of paper with a picture of Aranea and writing...
The girl will be traveling to Pitax on the 26th of Pharast. The party will not be well guarded. Capture her and any others you think The Stag will have a use for and take what you will.
The note is marked at the bottom with the image of a raven.
The Bandit Xarafine downed got no second chance. Bein dismounted, his closed helmet shielding his features as he sheathed his Longsowrd and unsheathed his greatsword. He was running on total assumptions but its clear what he is thinking as he speaks. "Worthless abusive violators by sword you die this day. Honorless dog..."
He remains quiet and his thoughts were completely his own when the girls were reunited. When he does speak it is low and respectful but heavy with unsaid emotion. "Shall we make haste to Olegs Milord where they can be guarded by the Kingdom Guards? Or shall I make camp?"
Giving the reunited sisters ample time to comfort each other, Xarafine moves over and places a gentle hand on Aranea's back.
"We need to move away from here. We are close to the bandit's fort, and they could decide to attack us in force if we linger. Come with me back to the others, so that we may discuss how best to proceed from here."
She smiles at the girls, and takes each one's hand in hers for a moment, as a gesture of reassurance. She then turns and nods her head in the direction of the party, indicating for the girls to follow.
"Bring the mules, if you would, please."
Bein bows his head in submission to the Teachers command. "Ye Teacher, I will bring the mules if they need a stout horse they may ride on Arundel's back it would leave you three free to react in case we are pursued." Arundel wickered quietly but lacked the usual fury or impatience he had.
Lifting his head up, Finnabar checks if he can see the fort from where they are or more importantly, if they can be seen.
Eventually coming to a decision, he turns to Jack. "Jack, I'll need your help here. But... you are injured. You should have said so earlier. Let me have a look."
Calling for Belem's aid, finnabar first lay a hand on the wouds then adds the second.
"Now that is done, I want us to clear the site. Let's move back behind the ridge and off to the north toward a some trees. We'll carry the corpses and the one still leaving there. In the mean time, Jack, I'll need you to clear most of the tracks from here, so that no one can figure what happened here."
Helping to load the bodies on the horses, Finnabar begins proposing a plan. "Every thing will depend on what the last bandit can tell us, but I've got a few ideas on what to do from here. If possible I'd like us to use this missive to get into the fort with you Xarafine playing the part of Aranea. If we can get taken straight to the "Stag", it will be easier than a full frontal assault. This means all of us will need to pass for bandits. So as gruesome at it may seem, we may have to use their clothes."
Waiting to hear his companions' reaction, Finnabar meads his loaded horse towards the cover of trees.
Bein piped up then looking to Finnabar. "Perhaps this Stag Lord would answer a formal challenge milord, shall I throw down the gauntlet and see if he is man enough to leave his fort behind?"
Jack's hatred of the bandits was such he hadn't seemed to pay much attention to his injury until Finnabar had pointed it out. "Thank you. I was lucky the arrow did not get stuck inside, a clean cut. Deeper than I thought." He relaxes as the healing energies wash through him, sanitizing and closing the wound.
When asked to cover tracks, he nods. "There's still enough mud that may not be easy, but I'll do my best. Do I have time to hide signs of their camp on the ridge as well? If it led us to them, it may lead others to wonder as well."
As the conversation continues, he adds, "We can use their clothes, if we can find what isn't soiled by their deaths, or bloodied by what caused them. What we can't take, perhaps we can at least adjust our own clothing to make it resemble it."
Whatever the answer to his questions about the campsite, he sets to work covering the tracks, borrowing Bein's shovel if he needs it to help cover over tracks and the campsite nearby.
Xarafine nods at Finnabar's suggestion, and turns to Aranea.
"Come child, you may wear my spare robe while I try on your dress."
She retrieves her robe from her mule's saddlebag, and leads Aranea over behind the large bushes.
Considering the suggestions of Jack and Bein, Finnabar answers each of them.
"Bein, while I command you for having this idea, I'm afraid this idea has no chance of working. Do you think a bandit leader ready to kill a whole family to capture a bride would just accept to fight a duel with such a knight? Against another opponent, it may work but I don't think this one has a single once of honor left."
"Jack, I think we'll need to move before tonight or tomorrow morning, so I don't think you should bother with the bandit camp we crossed this morning. We'll just have to keep a close watch on the path an intercept anyone using it."
"I think Finnabar is right. Bandits have no honor. Just greed and cruelty. Even if he agreed to a challenge, it would only be so he could attack you while he had assassins line up to shoot you in the back when you were focused on him. I think the disguise is a better idea. We just must be absolutely sure to make the girls safe, if we are to leave them on their own."
As for clearing the tracks, Jack does as Finnabar suggests and ignores the camp on the ridge, focusing on where they are and eliminating both their tracks and whatever signs of the fight he can.
Once every one is settled into their hidden camp, Finnabar lower the unconscious bandit to the ground. "Before we move forwards with a plan, let's get all the information we can from that one. We'll have to rely his information so we'll need to sort out truth and faslhoods."
"Teacher, would you help me revive this one? I'm not going to harm him anymore than he is, but he better be cooperative."
Once the bandit is conscious again, Finnabar stands above him with arms akimbo.
“ Be it known that you’ve been caught carrying a kidnapping and are accused of multiple murders with direct eye witnesses. Under the laws of Restov and of the Dragonscale throne, unrepentant banditry is punished by death by sword of rope. The key term here is “unrepentant”. So I will be clear, unless you answer truthfully all our questions, this is the sentence you will get. Your life is in your hands now. Think well before answering.“
He nods at the words of his fellows before responding. "This is true but from what I have gathered these bandits follow him because he is strong and if he refused a fight with a single lowly night perhaps we could break them apart... But of course these young ladies take first priority. The idea of the disguise as you suggest could work but I would need to find different armor to wear." Leaving that conversation for now he watched as the others revived the thug.
Before the thug was conscious once more he made sure to escort the girls to one of the erected tents and had them stay inside while they talked to the captured bandit. He remains fully armored and armed as he stands watch at the edge of the campsite, letting the others due their work...
Bein moves between the downed bandits, dispatching each of them in turn as Finnabar first stabilizes the captured man and then strides to the top of the next ridge, cupping his hand over his eyes to see if the fort is visible. From the ridge a wide valley extends downwards and, in the distance the shimmer of a large body of water, presumably the Tuskwater glints. The fort itself is just visible on a mound at the lake's northern edge, near where the Shrike widens and discharges its flow.
Whilst Finnabar looks over the land ahead, Jack busies himself disguising the tracks of the bandits and removing signs of the fight. That done, everyone gathers at the new hidden campsite and Finnabar outlines his plan before reviving the bandit. (A short, disheveled man with several days growth shadowing his thin jaw. The man's greasy long hair flops over his face and, when he opens his mouth, yellowing stained teeth are revealed.
The man looks around fearfully and then, at Finnabar's words, seems to melt... "I'm sorry milord" he gasps, his voice shaking with fear, "I never did meant to join 'em milord! Was Harl's fault milord, e' said we should make some quick gold an' do a job.. I didn't know what we was goin' t' do. I thought we was just goin' t' scare folks. What d'ye want t' know milord? I'll answer true. I swear it milord!"
The man's response weren't just displeasing but caused Bein to detach his greatsword, which was still sheathed and slam the shethed sword tip first in the ground. He stood there then blade standing vertical as he made an effort not to stare at the bandit being questioned by his fellows...
However you'd have to be a fool to not feel the righteous outrage that permeated the very air around the young cavalier as he thought of what he would say and do with this man. Blaming dead men because you were to gutless to stop them. Pathetic coward...
He made no move to leave the side of camp where the girls were now resting and he only hoped they would finally get some sleep knowing they were properly defended. Thugs, Rapists, Murderers. They will all pay dearly. As will this Stag Lord... May the gods warn you of my approach so that you will know who will send you to gates of hell.
Hoping the thug was good and terrified he continued watching out for unseen threats around their campsite. In fact he was itching for a fight...
You discover that the man's name is Aarden. After questioning it seems that his story is that his friend (Harl - one of the corpses) came to him about a week ago in Restov claiming that there easy money to be made working for a man called Greer who worked for a bandit called "The Stag". They were hired to help capture "the girl" and take her to The Stag's fort. Greer died during the raid but the surviving hirelings wanted to make their money. They grabbed the girl (and her sister since The Stag might be happier with two of 'em?) and started East to where they had heard The Stag's headquaters was....
What is his name? - Aarden
Who was the leader of the group? Greer (Dead)
How many of them where they and what were their names? - Greer and two others died whilst capturing the girls, and one fell breaking his neck during the recent storm. All the others were killed by you.
How did they receive the letter from the raven? - Greer had it on his body. Don't know where he got it from.
Who is this raven? - No idea. Greer never mentioned anyone called "The Raven"
If he's already been to the fort: - He hasn't, but Greer wanted them to take several small barrels of spirits with them. They were on the horses that ran off during the storm. Greer seemed to think The Stag would reward him for the booze almost as much as for the girl.
Has he seen the stag, what does he looks like? Don't know, never met 'im
What were his plans for Aranea, was she a hostage, a ransom, was she being retrieved for this Raven fellow, or was she a reward to the Stag for assassinating her family? Don't know why they wanted her but Greer was really insistant that they not kill her. He didn't care whether anyone else died.
Are others kidnapped "for the stag" the way the girls were? He got the feeling that this wasn't Greer's first time.
Xarafine motions the group out of earshot of the group.
"Captain, we now have two rescued girls and a prisoner," she says in a hushed voice. "We need to move them out of the area without further delaying our mission. Should I use the Bird figurine, even though it is not an emergency, to contact the garrison at Oleg's, and request a detachment to retrieve them?"
Moving over to Xarafine's conference, Jack nods. "I think that's a good idea. We should also tell them to inform the authorities in Restov of the 'recruitment.'"
Finnabar nods at the proposed plan. "This sounds fine. I see multiple possibilities for action and I will lay them down so that we can discuss them."
"From what we learnt, Xarafine can try to impersonate Aranea and we can play the bandits to get into the fort and get to the Stag Lord. Then we can take him down and use the confusion to take care of the other bandits."
"This is a rough layout but we don't have much information to work on it. However we have two issues: what to do with the girls and the bandit."
"Your suggestion about warning the sergeant at Oleg's is good. But it will take him a week to come down here. The other possibility is to escort the girls to a safe camp and let them wait for the milicia or our coming back from the fort. If we do that, we can leave them with the bound bandit. He should not be able to fight for at least a few days without magical healing."
"Another issue to add is the love of the Stag for spirits. If we can find the horses, it may be easier to see the Stag with them and the girl. We can also get the sergeant to bring us the spirit we found at the first bandit camp."
"My opinion on that is that we act as fast as possible, before it gets too cold. So I would suggest we move the girls back to the elven caves where they can safely wait for the soldiers. On the way, we look for the lost horses. then we ride back to the fort with Xarafine as Aranea and the rest of us disguised as bandits."