My vote is drop the prisoners at Oleg's and let us make sure he isn't sending an attack there. If the messenger gets through as he most likely will then that makes the most sense if he is going to attack. Let us spend some time there.Garick looks around to see if folks seem to agree. We can make sure defenses are up and maybe help get those catapults in order. We can patrol the area if nothing happens then most likely he is going to hold up in his hole till we come for him which I agree is something that is better thought out and not rushed.
The scrawny bandit finally starts paying attention to the conversation again, "Oleg's? Why would the Lord attack that worthless trader. It'll be your hides he's after! Why I bet he's issuing a bounty on each of your head's as we speak."
"While I don't think he realizes it, this guy does have a point. If the Stag Lord is after your group and everyone is at Oleg's you'll bring the trouble there. If he's just issuing a bounty like he usually does, and you stay mobile, the random bandit groups will have to find you first." Tuck glares at the annoying man.
No way am I letting that one pointing his long bow at Tuck wander off with two other bandits in tow. Garick says I understand everyone feels him reformed, or not even really a bandit, but I still think he was up to no good and he may still very well be up to no good.
Ox Shrugs. I don't really care what we do, so long as we get on with it. I will say this, if we are trusting Tuck, and hegoes back, then he should wait there at Oleg's and defend it, just in case. If he does anything but succeed at getting those two to olegs and to the guards then he best not stay in the greenbelt or cross my path again. Sorry tuck, you going to have to do something more than steady the horses to gain my trust.
Ox counts off those that seem to want to return to Olegs. one, two, tree, four,five vs one Corso. you got your work cut out for ya. Maybe you can convince em all to move quicker once we see they are safe? any other time Ox would argue for action, but seeing Garick and Kal turning pale makes him a bit hesitant to rush into it.
"I agree". "Tuck has not earned his probation yet". "Just because he has reformed, does no end his punishment".
He shrugs casually, "Fair enough. If we ride hard we can make Oleg's shortly after nightfall."
"If anything, avoiding confrontation might be a good things...at least for a little while longer. Bounties mean that we are getting under the Staglord's skin. He might know our faces now, but he still has no clue what we are here for or who sent us. I say we don't press that attack now, let the Staglord worry a bit more. It'll help to crush morale and possibly make it easier for us when the time does come to confront him. We can't just defeat the Staglord, the bandits need to understand that there are now consequences for their chosen lifestyle."
With the help of Garick, Tuck fashions a sled from branches for the unconscious man. With that lashed to the back of the mule and the other prisoner riding behind Tuck on his horse the group sets out. An hour after the sun falls they return to Oleg's fort.
Keston takes careful notice of the groups warning. His men unfold a fourth tent for the new prisoners. Svetlana tends to the wounded and applies her salves and bandages where needed. Its another night in the comfortable beds. The rain outside continues to fall but a person can finally get dry in the guest house.
Next day is cold and bitter. The wetness of the last two days only seems to make it worse. Keston assures that the prisoners will be taken care of as well as interrogated and that he'll pass on anything useful he finds out. In the cold dreary morning the group makes ready to depart again. Whether for more exploring or for the Stag Lord's or both, is yet decided. Garick will lead today deciding where to head out to.
Johd is still sleeping in his lean-to behind the guest house. It seems well made for a blind man and he doesn't appear to be soggy from the last two days of rain.
"I fear that we are uncovering many mysteries, and problems to be solved, but instead of solving any we are finding more". "I say we go hunt this boar like we spoke of, and think of the many other chores we have to perform". "Let's take care of what we have discovered before we explore more".
Have you ever had these radishes that the kobolds are so crazy about? Are they poisonous to humans?
To Bokken… What do you mean a war in miniature with the Sootscales? Who are the Sootscales?
To Vekkel… Sir, we are charged with making this region safer, yet we have run into some menaces that we just don’t know much about, like the will-o-wisp. Do you know if there is anyone around that knows about such things so we can learn how to better deal with them?
To the group in general… Perhaps we should head back to Oleg’s before long and make sure he’s not having any problems with some of his visitors? If anyone wants a spear for the boar hunt, I’m guessing Oleg will have several around.
The Stag Lord is likely coming for us, and, for the sake of our hosts, we should deal with him first. The boar will be there when we deal with the immediate threat.
Ember makes a 'ruh?' sound and snorts, obviously not agreeing with this logic.
Garick listens to the discussion brewing knowing that he is scouting today he asks Kal What say you Kal? To the south then? Garrick will Head out wherever Kal decides he wants to head. Explore
Alright the hew to the southwest has been explored so we can travel quick through it correct? From there the hex to the southeast needs exploring so Garick will head there.
Garick says Let us head south we have yet to explore to the east of the Thorn river camp. We can continue to learn what lies around us, and hopefully put ourselves in between any bandits and Oleg's at the same time.Garick mounts up heading south skirting the edge of the wood, yet trying to stay clear of the wisp as well. He leads the group to new territory.
Ox Has enjoyed the relaxation and takes a bit of time to ensure that Olegs is ship shape before moving on making a parmiter of the wall and making a suggestion to Oleg and Keston that they might want to keep the gates shut and let travelers in as they earn their trust, at least until they return, nothing wrong with using the fortifications to their advantage. of course it is only his suggestion.
He rides out with the others, being quiet for once instead of whisitiling and trying to keep an eye out for trouble.
9th of Pharast
Before the party departs Svetlana points out that she's tallied up the goods carried on Clip Clop. She's made an inventory with prices for each of the items Oleg can purchase today. If it all looks correct she has seven pouches for the group. Each one holds 120gp.
With new money in hand the party sets out. After riding across the plains the group reaches the uncharted hills at midday.
Like the land to the east this area consists of small hills and valleys. Hidden springs, crests of rocky stone, and ridge top forests all mark the rolling territory. The day is spent searching and charting. Garick is pretty sure that the group charted everything to see. However the sheer amount of territory could make it possible to easily miss something.
The group camps that night with the forest in their sights.
<My packs are so much lighter now!>
Tuck, which way exactly is the Stag Lord's camp from the Thorn River camp? Would the Stag Lord be coming from the same direction?
Ox keeps his pouch of gold on Noir as it seems smarter to him then carrying the fat pouch on his waist. Ox stares off in the distance wondering at how this land would look civilized. Would it be as beautiful, as carefree? as rugged and dangerous?
"It's about forty miles downriver from the campsite. We just followed the water until it met Tuskwater Lake. From there it was a short hike to the hill it's on," He explains. "To the south."
Thank you, Tuck. It seems likely that our best choices to intercept the Stag Lord's men would be to travel first into the southwest, then veer to the southeast, passing between the purported kobold territory and the lair of the spiders and wisp, both of which seem likely to be avoided by the arriving bandits, if they are coming this way...
10th of Pharast
The day starts with a nice breakfast of dried fruits only a couple days old. Svetlana certainly does know how to pack a trail ration. Servayn leads the group along the edge of the forest until they come to the Thorn River. From there the group explores all the nearby hills. Under his guidance no dale is left unmapped. A taller then usual ridge marks the edge of the territory the mites are rumored to inhabit.
Rather then explore deeper into the hills Servayn leads back to the water. Here the Thorn River winds through a 20-foot-deep gulch
between a pair of hills. An old wooden bridge spans the gulch, allowing passage over the river. The group has yet to explore the hills on the far side of the river and a crossing like this would save several hours. Not to mention the discomfort of swimming in the chilly spring waters.
The water looks very deep here. No large rocks or dangerous objects are visible. The sides of the gulch have several very large mossy boulders but a few spots are open dirt, stone, and shale.
Janku also dismounts, and keeps an eye out on the other side of the bridge while the others explore this side
Perception
Searching the area does not reveal any signs of an ambush. Except for the rushing water everything seems quiet.
Kalsgrim turns to speak to Tuck, only to remember that they've left him at Oleg's in case of an attack.
Using his holy sight he is unable to find any presence of evil within sixty feet.
Garick quick to do as Kal asks grabs a coil of rope from his saddlebag ties it off around his waist and tosses the coil to his brother. Here little brother put that abundance of bulk to work I am going to dip down and take a look under the bridge. He makes sure ox is ready then he will carefully go over the edge far enough to get a good look under the bridge area.
From underneath it looks like this bridge is fairly rickety. Someone who knows more about engineering could give a better estimate of the bridge's integrity. To the layman's eye it appears safe enough to cross. The waters below the bridge are fast flowing and clear of any large rocks or hostile creatures. Anyone falling in would be at the mercy of the current.
"why don't we send over someone light and nimble first, with missile weapons covering him. He can take a rope and tie it off on the other side as a saftey feature" "we can then cross one at a time"
I am already tied off so I will go. Garick offers Be ready Ox I want to try to make sure it will hold the horses otherwise it matters not if we can cross. Garick crosses onto the bridge If it feels sturdy enough then I will try and apply pressure to the planks by exerting more force on them.
The initial trip across the bridge causes the planks to creak ominously. After getting safely over Garick tests the boards and they continue to hold. Both sides of the gultch have trees that the rope could be secured to.
Rope tie