Ra'hl feels the bandits eyes on him and remains quiet, watching to see what they do before saying another word.
Duska is able to move to a good sight line and readies an arrow...
Ra'hl hesitates and waits to see what happens next...
Mattrim turns to Anton, speaking quietly. "What do you think? Should we kick things off, perhaps give a little credence to Ra'hl's story?" Nodding while he speaks at Saber who seems poised and ready to go.
"Assuming that Saber knows to act menacing rather than like the overgrown housecat he demonstrates himself to be at times, now would be a good time to send him in," Anton mutters back, already leafing through his spellbook for ideas.
Mattrim calls upon the power of the stag granting him and Saber increased speed. Turning to Saber and nods, pointing out towards the bandits. "Pounce Saber"
Mattrim himself immediately begins chanting an incantation as green energies wrap themselves around him much like a vine would a tree before unleashing the energy directing it at the bandits.
Range long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level)
Area plants in a 40-ft.-radius spread
Duration 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw Reflex partial; see text; Spell Resistance no
This spell causes tall grass, weeds, and other plants to wrap around creatures in the area of effect or those that enter the area. Creatures that fail their save gain the entangled condition. Creatures that make their save can move as normal, but those that remain in the area must save again at the end of your turn. Creatures that move into the area must save immediately. Those that fail must end their movement and gain the entangled condition. Entangled creatures can attempt to break free as a move action, making a Strength or Escape Artist check. The DC for this check is equal to the DC of the spell. The entire area of effect is considered difficult terrain while the effect lasts.
If the plants in the area are covered in thorns, those in the area take 1 point of damage each time they fail a save against the entangle or fail a check made to break free. Other effects, depending on the local plants, might be possible at GM discretion.
Saber immediately lets forth his mightiest roar as he breaks cover and starts advancing on the two-legs, his paws and claws digging into the earth as he rushes forward.
Finally seeing the cat come trotting after him, "By the gods, it caught up again. Ra'hl cries closing the gap between himself and the bandits keeping his eye on the cat, he reaches for his sword and draws it.
As big cat roars and crashes toward the bandits and Ra'hl, the lithe ranger picks out a target from those behind the dragon-blooded noble and let's fly...
:
Saber bursts into the clearing and Ra'hl closes to the other group, continuing to feign ignorance. Whatever doubts the bandits may have is nullified by the sheer confusion as one of the bandits drops to the ground as two shafts suddenly protrude from his chest.
A call of "AMBUSH!" does little to make the men ready...
As soon as the arrows fly so does Cuddles. He bursts from the underbrush with a terrifying roar and latches onto one of the live men with a crushing grip.
Vines burst from the ground and start wrapping up the bandits. Yells of confusion about the cat are now amplified amongst the arrow rain and plant assault. One scream is cut brutally short as the most outlying bandit is slammed into by Cuddles.
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Cuddles hauls the man of his horse and holds him tight not unlike a little girl holding her favorite doll. For the unfortunate bandit, this means he's the doll.
Duška watches intently as the skirmish unfolds and at Matrix's behest the forest itself rises against the bandits...
Perhaps I misjudged that one Maminka?
... before Cuddles wrestles another from his steed.
With steady practiced fluidity, the lithe ranger notches another arrow and draws her bow, ready to loose should a bandit flee or companion fall;
:
Anton stays hidden, not wanting to risk entering melee unless he'd needed. The others seem to have the situation well in hand, after all.
As blood is spilt around him, Ra'hl feels the familiar sensation of the Conquerer's blood-lust rising up in him. He hears Aleria's words telling him not to fear his own power, but Ra'hl shakes her words away. Pushing the rage down, he draws his sword. A bastard he would remain. He steps in to the bandit leader and swings down cutting the leader open.
Matt starts moving rapidly up to join Ra'hl and Saber in combat, eyes full of grim focus on the bandits.
He shifts his and Saber's Animal Focus.
"On them Saber!"
Saber moves to engage the remaining free bandit, using Matt's nearby position to gain an advantage as he bites the Two-Legs.
Screams erupt as the group moves. Ra'hl scores an easy hit as well as Saber while Cuddles continues to pin his opponent. No one is entangled as Duska looks on and Anton observes.
Aleria chooses a less reserved approach and sinks an arrow into the leader which is enough to throw the man off on his counterattack against Rahl. Saber's opponent misses the nimble cat and the last bandit can do little against the orc...
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Cuddles squeeses and the air suddenly decides that the bandits lungs is not the place it wants to be.
"Lay down your weapons you scum and surrender, or die."
Mattrim and Saber will both ready an attack against the one they are threatening if the bandit tries to attack them.
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Ra'hl smiles as he sees Aleria's arrow save him from the coming blow. "My guardian angle." He presses his attack against the guard while he is still off balance.
Ra'hl smiles as he sees Aleria's arrow save him from the coming blow. "My guardian angle.".
Amidst the chaos of battle Matt offers his ultimatum of surrender. Too slowly offered to steady Ra'hl's hand and Aleria's aim, the leader falls in a shower of blood. The death of the man has a profound effect however as the bandit standing before Matt and Saber promptly throws his hands up and the man in Cuddle's grasp desperately pats at the orc's arm gasping Surrender! Surrender!
Cuddles smiles and drops him to the ground. The man collapses in a heap and Cuddles reaches down to past gun on the head.
Ra'hl lowers his blade, "Take their weapons and tie them up if you're able." Once the treat is removed Ra'hl will look at the two men left and try to determine which of the two is more experienced, and which one seems more terrified.
As the remaining bandits surrender Duška lowers her bow and with a nod toward Aleria, moves forward arrow still notched.
As she approaches, the fey blooded ranger too scrutinises both the men appealing for mercy, but is also wary of the more hot-blooded amongst her own company;
:
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Mattrim eyes the men carefully, before stripping (or attempting to) them of their weapons while Saber keeps an eye on them. When doing so, Mattrim poses a question. "Have you ever been had a Tiger maw on you? It's not very pleasant from what I've observed. Don't try anything or I'd be more than happy to let you learn."
Mattrim will work to help tie them up.
Aleria emerges from the brush and checks the pulse of the leader, offering a curt shake of her head to the others. Meanwhile the two other bandits comply easily to being restrained.
A cursory look over the group finds solidly built longswords, shortbows, leather armor and 20 arrows each. They carry little other than provision for a few days riding and basic camp gear. Each man has a stags head amulet cast in bronze save the leader whos necklace is cast in silver.
A more robust shake down of the corpse reveals a small wrought iron key and a ring with an emerald of a modest cut.
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After quickly scanning the amulets and the ring with his divinatoin cantrips and attempting to appraise their value, Anton notes them in a journal and resumes looking through his spellbook. After a few moments, he hears Mattrim talking to the bandits, and decides to help.
"The average tiger is capable of exerting pressure of up to 1,000 pounds per square inch with its bite," he says absent-mindedly, tracing a line of runes with his finger. "The human skull collapses under less than 520 pounds per square inch. Considering that this particular tiger is under the effect of a transmutative enhancement that increases his muscle density and therefore the force of his jaws, I'd say it would be a very unpleasant experience for you."
The ring detects magic but the amulets seem simply "nice".
The remaining bandits seem well and truly terrified but offer little in response save to stare wide eyed at Mattrim's companion...
Ra'hl steps forward, "There is an alternative to death of course. We seek information about your leader, the so called 'Stag Lord'. After that, what happens to you is up to you. We've encountered many of your kind in our time here. Many have died like your leader there, others have repented and found new lives. They have good jobs, full bellies, and the benefits of community that being an upstanding citizen in the great country of Brevoy grants. The Stag Lord's days are numbered, do you truly wish to be on the losing side of a war?" Ra'hl's words seem genuine, and his voice is flat and non-threatening.
Feeling rather proud of himself for helping with the negotiation, or interrogation, or whatever it was or would end up being, and educating his companions a little in the process, Anton busies himself examining the emerald ring a little more closely. All that time spent studying under his father wasn't for nothing, after all.
Anton's skill leads him to a place of some minor irony as the ring is, in fact, imbued with a minor enchantment of protection. Precious little it did for its last bearer.
The two bandits look at each other and then at Ra'hl, What do you want to know?
"Everything."
Duška walks to Ra'hl's shoulder, her fey eyes scrutinising the men before she too speaks;
"We mean to bring down The Stag yes? We need to know what he plans... Where he reaches... Who stands with him... Who might not..."
The lithe ranger smiles;
"Speak true and you will live to sire sons and tell them of this fork in life's road. Lie and I will know..."
Duška nonchelantly tips the arrow she holds toward Cuddles;
"Lie and you speak to him yes?"
:
Cuddles completely misinterpretes Duska's smile and beans at the man. Thankfully, an Orc's smile is normally enough to make normal men to wet themselves on the spot.
How in the name of Gozreh does Anton know that about Tigers? Someone spends too much time reading. -_-
Sheathing his sword, Mattrim steps back, seeing Rah'l and Duska having things under control. Eyeing the men with an icy glare Matt begins folding his hands into themselves, running over basic divine gestures to distract him from less than pleasant thoughts.
Saber lays down, eyeing the men, in the way that cat's do when they see something to play with.
Information is practically vomited forth though it varies in interest or accuracy. Luckily Natasha had been quite detailed befre her departure so the group is able to chart a lot of the information with some level of importance.
There are currently an estimated 40-45 bandits in the area including the stag lord, his 4 lieutenants and one strange older man who may or may not be a witch or druid of some kind. Currently there are 3 patrols of 3 on the south eastern routes (where you are) with another 6 going west. One additional patrol of 3 was sent north and they have never heard back from them (sound familiar?) Leaving 25 or so men/women at the compound to the south. The most important note about the compound is that it sits on a hill that is haunted and the undead seem to rise to claim those would assault the keep from all but the front.
If the current scouts do not return within the week the Stag Lord has indicated that he will march everyone north, torch the woods and then move on to Oleg's and raze it. Apparently, according to the bandits, he is very annoyed.
Ra'hl smiles at the information. "Well that is a good start, but we'll need more. How do you gain entrance to the keep. How do you supply yourselves. I am assuming you do not have a water source inside this keep so it must be brought from somewhere."
Duska nods at Ra'hl's questioning, adding her own to the mix;
"How does The Stag Lord recruit? Did you flock to his banner yes? Were oaths made, or bonds given? This we also need to know... then we will consider your fates yes..."
The men go through the relatively boring steps of initiation, involving a sort of apprenticeship and levels. Lower inducted folks are bronze stag, then mid level are silver and the main lieutenants are gold stags. The group will take anyone though any newcomer is paired off with a bronze stag and not let out of anyones sight until "proved". That can be a matter of simply time but mostly comes through doing things like actually following through on raids, murder and thievery to ensure that the applicant is not a liar and is appropriately "part of the action.".
These two men were both petty bandits, free road types who ran into others they knew from the past and saw that it seemed like a sweet opportunity.
The keep has a main door. Wide enough for a wagon and men. You get in by someone letting you in. They confirm on sight. No passcodes, just amulets. The men kept on gate watch are actually usually silver stags and know almost everyone.
Supplies are scavenged but there are a number of hunters and of course, the banditry. Supply runs are made from time to time but usually there is a sophisticated network of trading happening with other groups passing by. Water is provisioned primarily by a magic pitcher found at some point by the Stag Lord but in rare cases water is drawn from the nearby rivers.
As for "oaths" or "bond" there is basically a system of loot sharing and penalties for non compliance but its relatively loose. Nothing overtly formal like a codex of laws or a code or anything. Don't piss off the leaders, seems to be a big part of the way things work...which perhaps exposes the biggest issue; The Stag Lord is becoming erratic, violent and tempermental...well a lot more than he used to be. These bandits, like other low level mooks are more afraid of getting killed for some reason then they are particularly committed to the cause at this point.
Ra'hl wears a heavy frown. "That is less than I hoped for. I was hoping for a pass code of some kind or regular supply runs we could intercept and use. All the same, your aid is appreciated."
Looking to the others he puts it to them, "As with before they seem ready to leave his service. Banditry is not the green pasture they sought and they could prove valuable to Sir Garess as the others have."
Aleria frowns at the nobleman but slowly nods, I can escort them back. If we use the horses and I keep them tied I can have them back to Osk in a day and some hours heavy ride. I want to warn them too, in case some attack is set to come...
The bandits for their part seem amenable to being taken prisoner and not being killed.
Ra'hl gives Aleria a glance, "You know full well I could never allow that. I'm sure we could make the time to all go back. It would also give us a moment to disseminate the information we've gained today to develop a proper plan for this fort. If the Stag Lord is growing as impatient as they claim, we should make our way there in full force soon."
Duška looks to the heavens at Ra'hl's words;
Ay Maminka! This one speaks for us all now!
The lithe ranger muses the group's course before speaking;
"Let her take them back Drakblood. She knows the Wilds and will bring them to Ser Garess yes?"
The fey blooded elf then flips up one of her Harrow cards depicting an armoured knight offering a hand;
"A good kártya. Good omen. The Levente - The Paladin yes? He symbolises standing together against foes... Nem backing down! This is our course..."
Duška casts her fey gaze around the group as if to gauge their thoughts.
Aleria seems primed to make a fight of it with a caustic ee roll and a flush in her cheeks but instead only huffs and instead points at Duska with intention.