"Good, I think. I believe you are right, the bandits do need hugs today. Hopefully there will be some for you to hug soon. One in particular I think really needs your hug, he will probably have a big mouth and speak a lot. Maybe yell at the other bandits. But we haven't seen him yet. I'll be sure to tell you though, so you can hug him real well..."
Matt casually glances out of their hiding places towards the working men, waiting for an opportunity where the guards are not watching.
Ra'hl takes a long pause mulling their options over in his head. "Aleria will kill me when she hears of this, but if I have the opportunity to end this without endangering any more of their lives how can I pass it up." He can already hear her voice in his head terms of "gloryhound, reckless, fool" floating around.
"So be it. Lead the way and I will end the Stag here and now." Ra'hl finally states breaking the silence. He wondered if the others would understand why he left them behind. If they would still trust him after. Even if they would not, the good of the people is more important to him now.
Akiros stares at Ra'hl intently and then stands. HAnd on his own sword the sharp eyes dart over Duska and the bloodrager and then Akiros turns waving a hand towards the back of the room. His quarters were built below. Follow me.
Up above the cart is near full and there is another flurry of activity as the few bandits in control hustle the prisoners to drop the last stacks that the cart can carry and the gate is opened once more. The cart moves to leave while another is brought in.
The new cart is this time escorted by one of the other lieutenants from the walkway, the thin black haired man, and at least 3 other bandits while a new group of six prisoners are ushered in. The new cart seems to be carrying supplies (weapons, barrels and so on) and the thin black haired man from before gestures at the guard who stands near the second door beneath the wooden walkway. The guard nods and opens the door to what is clearly a storeroom/armory.
Looking about with a scowl the black haired man places a hand on his brow to shield his eye from the sun. Murmumring to himself he then points straight at the stable where Mattrim, Anton and Cuddles are idling, You lot come out and see to the supplies so these men here can see after the prisoners. Clearly used to being listened to the man turns his back on the group after making a lazy gesture towards the cart...
Ra'hl will rise and follow after a quick warning. "I'll not kill him in his sleep. Once we are in there I want the two of you to grab him and hold him on his knees that I may execute him properly."
Cuddles, apparently completely forgetting that he isn't in fact a bandit, hops to it and gets to doing the one thing he's truly good at: manual labor. He walks up to the cart and scoops up an entire barrel of weapons, each weighing around 200 pounds, in each arm and starts casting them back to the store room.
Ai Maminka! Is this my path? Is this my redemption!
As Ra'hl rises Duška gently places a hand on his shoulder;
"Drakblood a moment..."
The ranger looks hard at the rager, her voice slow and edged;
"If he sleeps we will butcher him in his slumber... If we are to do this there is no room for honour or righteous execution yes? If we have this chance we kill him quick and without hesitation or word. If the Stag rises then we may fall... Let us not tempt providence yes?"
She nods toward back outside;
"We are just two... but we are more... Remember this yes? Do not let glory guide you now... If we fail... then all will fall. Should they not fall with us, than because of us..."
Ra'hl pauses to hear the council. Her words were not without truth. It was a seemingly unnecessary risk to allow the stag even the opportunity to fight back.
"A wise man once told me, 'If you would take a man's life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. If you can not do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die. A ruler who hides behind paid executioners soon forgets what death is.'"
"I can not kill a man in his sleep, even one as wicked in deed as the stag. Nor can I allow any of you to do the same. If I were to do so, I would be no better than the usurper Surtova."
Akiros looks at the pair with a bit of impatience, Look he's surely awake but most likely drunk. Which is good news for us because he is a beast. Are we doing this or not?
Hearing Akiros's words, that likely settles Duska's protest. "I am ready." Ra'hl meets Duska's eyes and says in a surprisingly gentle and sincere tone, "You do not have to come if you do not wish the risk. I will not hold it against you. You can return upstairs with the others, let them know where I am and ensure none of the other bandits can join the stag."
Duška looks hard back at Ra'hl, pride burning in her eyes:
"Pah you will not do this alone Drakblood. Let me show you the mettle of this Umírajícíkrev... Fey blood in the old words... yes?"
The ranger stops and retrieves a potion from her belt, gulping it down...
... As the potion majicks manifest themselves her skin takes on a bark like quality, with hints of lichen in her complexion - an effect with merely adds to her fey-like qualities.
"I have my own tricks... My blood was here before even yours Drakblood... Lead on Silverhair."
Unable to help himself, Matt gives the Lieutenant a dangerous smile after his back his turned before casually following after Cuddles. Staring in forever amazement as Cuddles carries a truly astounding amount of weight, Matt begins to assist, for the time being, with moving the equipment into the storeroom.
"I beg your pardon, but surely you don't think me suited to such a task?" Anton asks in amazement, holding out a bony arm for emphasis. Receiving no response, he stares after Mattrim and Cuddles for a few moments before grumbling, adjusting the weight of his pack, and shuffling after them.
Ra'hl nods at Duska's words though he does not understand them all. "Then it will be my honor for you to join me in battle. Let us end this now. As the lady said, lead on Akiros."
Duška nods and notches an arrow, before moving cautiously behind the bigger men...
As she walks she whispers to Ra'hl:
"I am ready. As you engage the horns Drakblood, I will pierce the Stag with my arrows... drain his strength..."
Oblivious to whom he seems to be taking orders from Cuddles starts the task of unloading the cart. A quarter of the cart at the time. This actually proves to make for an excellent distraction of sorts as the few people who car to take notice of anything odd, seem transfixed on the orc.
The room in question is certainly a storeroom in every way; armor, weapons, food stuffs and day to day supplied. The room is roughly ten by ten and previously was very bare as the new supplies fill empty shelves and racks. The ambitious expansion has clearly been at the cost of building stores.
Below Akiro leads the pair to the back of the room to one of the narrow wooden doors. Opening the door reveals flickering torch light and a pungent smell of sweat and alcohol mixed with earth. Crude wooden steps lead down and take the trio through a stairwell of what appears to be a mix of freshly cut dirt, wooden planking and scaffolds to hold the earth, and occasional spots where stonework is being placed to make the area more permanent.
Descending into a room roughly as large as the one above, acrid torch smoke masks the ever increasing smell of sweat and alcohol. Emerging in front of the others, Akiros holsds his sword down and to to his side, moving with a mixture of stealth but attempted "ease".
Exiting the steps the group sees a mixture of furniture (desk, table, chairs) a couple of chests and a large wooden altar covered in melting candles, animal skulls and other ephemera.
Standing before this altar (on the opposite side of the room, approx 50' or so) is a mountain of a man. Wearing a mix of leathers the tall man barely fits in the height of the room when one considers the tall stag horned help that adorns his head, even in his private chambers. Dark paint covers his jaw and cheeks giving his head the look of some ghastly skeletal creature awalk on two legs.
A longsword glints against the altar but is not in the stag's hand. A deep rumbling voice of menace echoes in the room as the stag head turns to look at the newcomers, I was not to be distrubed Akiros. Who is this?
Akiros presents his sowrd with two hands, looking as though he might strik but the bandit simply stays in place, Your time is done you drunken lout. I mean to be free. You mean to die.
Behind the two men Duška can still see the head of the stag, his sheer size taking her aback for a second;
Ai Maminka! The campfire talk was true... He is a giant...
before her steely resolve engages as Akiros' words ring true;
... Yet giants too can die...
The lithe ranger brings her bow to bear on this Stag King and lets fly an arrow:
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Seeing the gleam of the sword on the altar Ra'hl charges forward grabbing the blade.
Matt gives a small nod to Anton before trying to separate from the main group, with their attention being drawn to Cuddles.
[dice=Perception for anything "noteworthy"]1d20+9[/dice]
Ra'hl covers the room with great speed and tries to use that speed to dart a hand out and grab the Stag's sword but the bandit leader grunts in aggression at despite his clear drunkenness block's Ra'hls gambit.
Matt does his best to peel away from the others and though the execution is awkward no one seems to care.
Matt notes two things of interest. One is that there is, in fact, a mature Owlbear in a the pen at the end of the row of doors. The second is that of the 3 or so bandits that are carrying bows, none of them have more than 3 arrows each. Another point of proof at their lack of supplies.
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As Ra'hl approaches the stag an arrow lands home right in the breast of the bandit leader. He gasps in pain, but seems to slowly realize what is happening.
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Matt approaches the Owl-Bear cautiously, doing his best to make eye contact with the creature as he walks towards it.
Matt moves to the double wide doors and manages to poke a head in. Within is another stable like open area with a large cage 20'x20'x10' with the owlbear. Usually ones to be extremely agitated at being confined this particular creature seems abnormally docile. Despite its strange "creet" like sound (one of its normal vocalization) the owlbear seems to carefully watch Matt with its orb like eyes rimmed with the thin red membrane that many consider indicative of madness but most likely is some feature of its eye's construction...
As she watches one arrow drive home into the huge bandit king, Duška mirthlessly draws forth another arrow and releases another shot at their foe:
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There is a brief flash of potential struggle as Ra'hl and the drunk bandit lord get close but it ends all too quickly. With only the taut pull of the string and the muted "thwang" little else proceeds the gore that follows.
Blood splashes across Ra'hl's face as suddenly buried beneath the black paint and stag's head is the brilliant fletching of the ranger's arrow. Buried through the man's throat the feathers slowly soak what blood it can but wild spurts accentuate the surprised gurgle of what was the most fearsome man in the area. The Stag Lord collapses to the floor more blood flowing from his throat.
Akiros can do nothing more than turn to the half-elf with a mixture of surprise and abject fear.
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Duška lowers her bow as the Stag King collapses. The fey tainted ranger walks slowly toward the dying man, stopping to address Akiros in a voice flat and melancholy;
"This is what you wanted yes? What we wanted? You are free now yes?"
She looks down at the Stag Lord, before speaking further;
"I do not celebrate death. Not unnatural death... Death wrought by iron and arms driven by hate... But this "Stag King" needed to learn: The Wild cannot be ruled nor disrespected, not by those who do not understand it..."
She signs wistfully then looks to both Ra'hl, then Akiros:
"I am the Wild's long shadow... Men should remember this."
Glancing across the courtyard, Fergus's gaze transfixes upon the muscle bound orc as he gathers an immense amount of supplies and lifts it with ease. He quickly racks his brain in an attempt to remember there faces but comes up blank, I wonder who these people are, they could be new laborers, the orc is certainly built for it however they don't seem to being her.
Matt continues into the room. Moving up to the cage itself, slightly memorized by the being of primal brutality before him. He begins to inspect the cage more closely to see if appears to be locked (composition, etc). No creature deserves to be trapped.
Ra'hl's eyes widen in amazement at how quickly she was able to end the stag. Though his rage will go unanswered, he had to appreciate her efficiency. "Well done Duska."
Ra'hl will draw his blade, separating the stag's head from his corpse. "We promised the swordlords his head, and the bridge-man desired his body. His helm should go to you Duska, you have more than earned it."
Akiros looks over Duska still and sighs as he sheathes his sword, Lady, I won't ever forget. That was plain spooky and I was a paladin once so I know a thing or two about that.
Looking over at Ra'hl the bandit motions to the door, [b]We should probably get to preparing him for what is next after we deal with the next part...unless you are thinking his head is how we announce the stag is no more?
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Through the haze of lost time Fergus is still sharp. Definitely strangers here. Of course there had been many new comers in the last few weeks but an orc was a strange thing...
Matt looks over the cage. Primarily wooden there are strong bindings of leather and metal at certain points to reinforce the construction. The door featured a iron metal swivel with an iron spike to hold the cage shut.
The owlbear continues to watch Matt with interest and gives no real sign of aggression. The cage is clean and Matt notes that the cage is unmarked or any attempts to scratch or bite the bars. All of this strikes Mat as odd given the species' reputation.
Again the owl-bear offers its strange screeching coo. It occurs to the hunter that it is the only sound that the creature has made, even before when he was outside. Almost like the beast wants attention more than anything.
Wholly oblivious to his surroundings, Anton continues to follow Cuddles, making sure the enormous orc doesn't get himself in trouble.
Duška looks down upon their infamous nemesis and particularly his helm.
"I will claim it."
At the former bandit's words she flashes a quizzical look;
"What is this next step you speak of Akiros-Now-Free? The Stag King is dead, his reign is ended yes? So his kingdom shall crumble?"
Ra'hl will chime in, "The Lord may have fallen, but there are usurpers waiting in the wings. We need to bring his lieutenants to heel before they try to fill the void of power." Turning his attention to Akiros, "Dovan, Auches, and Kressel correct."
Matt attempts to pull the Iron Spike that is holding the door shut out.
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Akiros reluctantly draws his eye from Duska as Ra'hl speaks. He lips his licks distractedly still seemingly quite stunned from the events as he shifts his gaze, Uhm yes. Those are the ones. I would suspect with head in hand Dovan and Auched will run if the path is clear. Kressel...I'm not sure what she will do.
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Matt pulls the pin to the door. The owlbear, quite slowly, shuffles forward but does not make any hostile actions...
Looking to Akiros, Ra'hl will ask, "Is there a good spot overlooking the courtyard where I could get all eyes on me?"
Ra'hl turns his head explaining to Duska, "I'm thinking if I can show the head, it should panic and drop morale on most of them. You could find and ready the others to corner Dovan and Auched. I really don't want them coming back to haunt us later."
I am free Maminka. This Stag King was the life I led. It lies dead at my feet as he does. The debt is paid. I am free.
Duška snaps from her thoughts and fixes Ra'hl with an intense stare, before replying in her accented tongue:
"Drakblood do not fret yes? If they run we will hunt them. If they fight we will kill them. You know this to be true."
"I will not hunt them. They hurt Aleria, their penance is paid today. You've gotten your vengeance and I can only imagine what that means for you, but do not deny me what's mine."
Akiros nods, You have seen the courtyard, the walkway on the Northern wall is really the only elevated place. We will walk out into the courtyard itself before you can go up there...
Matt moves back and gives the creature a wide birth to see what it will do with it's freedom.
Ra'hl nods at the information and glances to both Akiros and Duska, "I would hear your thoughts before we proceed."
Akiros offers a shrug at Ra'hl, Just walking out of here with the helmet will say all you need to say. I honestly can't say how many will drop to a knee, start to run or try to offer an arrow until we walk out.
Matt stands back from the pen door and the owlbear cocks its head at the hunter and trills softly. Seeing the human walk away the owlbear hesitantly exits the pen and then makes a move to leave the greater room out into the courtyard...
Matt will not try and stop the creature, if anything he will try and keep a step ahead of it to make sure that no allies or any of the "indentured workers" have the misfortune of stumbling into the Owlbear.
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Matt gives the owlbear a wide bearth and the creature meanders out of the cage and towards the door. Not truly latched the creature pushes the door to the courtyard and trills a bit and cocks its head in curiosity as the door opens wide.
Chirping again the creature builds up some momentum and starts walking/running toward the stable...