Wincing in pain from her wound, Brigid dances back a step to get out of the bandit's reach, then releases two quick arrows into him.
"Surrender, it is your only recourse!" Ulryk Pronounces from his position on the cart. A hard downward glare is directed at the female bandit still struggling in the grease, his weapon at the ready.
"Woman, do not rise or I will bring you down." He says to the female bandit. In his eyes and tone of voice there is only a hard fierceness. There is little doubt he means what he says.
"Surrender now and it will be weighed in your favor when your crimes are judged." He said, hoping that his voice carried to all the bandits in the din of the combat.
"Areanna one of them is getting away shot him down!"
Svetlana beamed a cruel smile as she saw the raged expression that took over the bandit's face. But that same smile turned to open-mouthed shock and a wince as Damen caved in the back of the man's skull before he could exact his delusional revenge on the leader. First Ulryk's goblin, now this. The man doesn't PAY ATTENTION! Realizing that shooting glares at comrades in battle is perhaps not the most reasonable tactic, the priestess put Damen's self-centered foibles out of her head for the time being. The battle was certainly shifting, as Brigid's arrows brought down not one but two bandits. Ulryk was at it again with surrender requests. The fact that a female could be the captive chagrined Svetlana a bit men are much easier to manipulate, she thought, but any captive is better than none. That just left the bandit leader as far as the priestess could see. The man seemed a better warrior than the rest, and as she took stock of her available actions she was not sure there were many effective avenues. Instead of jumping in too hastily she watched the battle a bit, determined to act only before the leader did to try and prevent any further injury to her companions.
I take a shot at the fleeing man. Charging my shot with magical force.
Attack: +1 if within 30 feet. For: +1 if within 30 feet
I take another peek into the future
Not that good, but I will just but I hope that the bandit is as bad at dogeing as I am. I fire my heavy crossbow at the fleeing bandit
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Areanna's arrow flies true and strikes the boy just off centre of his spine. He stumbles, but carries on.....until a heavy crossbow bolt buries itself into the youth's back, almost punching right thorough. The bandit falls and does not get back up.
Combat is now over. The woman is still unable to get herself out of the area of the grease spell. The leader, in disgust, throws down his longbow.
Group Passive Perception:
(I have added only your Wisdom modifier to this roll)
Bandit's action:
Svetlana didn't have to wait long for the combat to draw to conclusion, as the female bandit resigned herself to Ulryk's surrender offer and the leader laid down his arms seeing the rest of his comrades out of action. Though she couldn't see the impacts the priestess was rather good at judging other's reactions, and the satisfied expressions on Kent and Areanna's faces told her everything she needed to know about the results of the projectiles they launched.
With battle over, Svetlana quickly transitioned into interrogation mode. The first step was to ensure the captured understood their helplessness. The priestess sauntered confidently over towards the leader with a victorious but also almost mirthful expression. Boring her large blue eyes into his she added, it seems you have a friend in our dear Damen. With a few simple words that poor fellow behind you was about to disembowel you for the right to bed the girl here had not my companion taken pity on you. Perhaps Damen has a soft spot for bandits. No matter. You are our prisoners now and you WILL tell us what we ask. Start with your names, then with the locations and numbers of this pathetic band of ruffians you represent. As you see, WE are the new powers here. I'm sure it has been a nice ride for you and yours, but even one such as yourself can see that we will overwhelm anything in our path. Don't believe me? With a word I can make this oily doxie here believe you were about to betray her and she would come for your throat. I enjoy revenge, so it might even be fun to watch. For your sake, I would recommend not trying my patience. This can all end far better for you both if you cooperate.
Svetlana's words were spoken matter-of-factly, as it by one who was hardly affected by the events the group had just witnessed. But her direct eye contact and tone were also precisely picked to make sure the leader fully understood the mandate for his cooperation.
Diplomacy , one less for doxie
Bluff , one less for doxie
Sense Motive
"the question now this what reason do we have to keep them alive the penalty of banditry are well known. They are not like the goblins if we let them go they leave with information and it puts olag in danger"
While Svetlana begins the interogation, Ulryk does the prudent thing and steps out of his cart and takes up a position where he can threaten both the prone female bandit and the leader with the reach of his weapon.
"Kent, Areanna... report. Is all clear? Damen, Brigid bind up this thieving scum." As Ulryk spoke the line of his mouth and his bearded chin set in a stern expression. He looked to say more, but Svetlana sauntered forward audaciously and took charge of the beginning interogation. He caught the rest of his words and held them back, not wishing to undermine the scheme of the Priestess.
As he kept watch the stink of the dead men around him reached his nostrils and turned his stomach. Areanna and Brigid had both proved fearsome with their bows and the crushed skull of a bandit dispatched with Damen's morningstar spoke volumes. The magical support of Kent had of course been instrumental in taking prisoners. He knew he had not contributed much to this encounter, though his armor and presence had deflected a few attacks away from his companions. That at least was something.
Brigid steps forward, shouldering her bow and taking out a length of rope. She makes no further sign of her injury, except possibly a even harder expression in her eyes.
She removes the weapons from the prisoners, and roughly binds them, unless Svetlana wants the woman to be free to be charmed into another murderous command.
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As Svetlana moves towards the dejected bandit, he suddenly comes to life. With lightning-like speed, he pulls a concealed dagger from the sleeve of his jacket, and attempted to grapple the priestess.
Gaining the upper hand, he places the dagger to her throat, and calls out to the others;
"Open the gate or this little poppy will bleed. DO IT NOW!!"
The female bandit, finally able to rise as the grease spell evaporates, smiles in triumph as her leader pulls a victory from defeat.
Brigid coldly asks the bandit, Vhat makes you think that I care if she bleeds?
She drops the rope and draws her zweihänder, bringing it down upon him in murderous fashion.
I cast color spray into the group it's non lethal and Svetlana has a better will save in any case.
Not sure how many people I'm geting that's why I didn't cast it during the fight. It's a 30 foot cone but I am shooting it from above so I should be able to make it seem like a circle or other weird shapes that are cross-sections of cones.
Brigid's eyes flash murderously, but pauses in her action. As the female bandit starts to move, however, Brigid turns to grapple the bandit's doxy.
Putting the rough metal of her cestus against her neck, she says, Let her go and ve'll spare you the rope.
"Open the gate... we cannot risk her lif..." Ulryk began to say, though his words were cut short by the speed at which things were happening and the sudden savagery of Brigid.
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The bandit turns to where the two women are struggling.
"Pah! Do what you want with her. She means nothing to me. Now open that gate!"
It is at this time a ray of multicolored motes flashes right into the eyes of the bandit leader and Svetlana.
Cursing, and completely forgetting about his hostage, the bandit leader suddenly falls to the ground, unconscious.
Will Save vs. Color Spray
Courtesan training in the temples of Calistria, and a life raised in a noble house imparts one with a substantial body of knowledge related to conversation and manipulation. Sadly it does little to prepare one for sociopathic bandits with little to lose. Perhaps a bit overconfident, Svetlana missed the early warning signs that the leader would pounce on her; the priestess' lithe frame was easily pulled into his as his knife whipped into place across her throat. A look of panic overtook Svetlana's face, followed quickly by what must be a flurry of decisions crossing her mind. She looked ready to reach up toward the man, but was unarmed so her exact action was not clear. In the end it did not matter, as a wave of scintillating colors sweep across both hers and the bandit leaders vision, sending both down in a heap.
"well in any case I am sort of glad we don't have to treat him as a prisoner now"
I call to the female bandit "would you care to be more cooperative"
"Brigid tie him up or kill him before in wakes up he's forgone the right's of prisoners"
Ulryk gave a glance to where Brigid and the bandit woman struggled with one another. For now, he made no move to interfere in the struggle beyond words, hoping that his companion would be able to subdue the woman. "I would not resist further. Your leader cares nothing for your life and if you continue to fight your life if forfeit." He said to the bandit woman, even as he moved past them.
If Brigid failed to pin the bandit, he or Damen could intercede. Kent's magic had clearly dispatched the more dangerous of the two, but for how long. Stepping around the fallen form of Svetlana, he moved to the immediate concern at hand. He snatched up the bandit's dagger and the rope brigid had dropped in her haste to continue the attack.
Placing his knee hard on the bandit leaders back, he cut away what he could of the man's armor and clothing, searching him for any other weapons, even as he began to truss the man up like a prize hog, going so far as to loop the rope once around the mans neck.
"Oleg! Oleg come out, the bandits are defeated and we would have your testimony and experience with us."
Only after he was sure that the bandit was subdued would he help Svetlana up, scooping her up in his arms and placing her in the comfort of the fur covered cart until she regained consciousness. No reason to let her awake on the muddy ground.
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With the battle over, Oleg and 'Lana emerge from the main house.
"Well that was smartly done! An nary a wound either. Thank you, thank you all!"
He claps Ulryk and Brigid on the shoulder, while 'Lana go and checks on the prone priestess. Under her gentle ministrations, Svetlana wakens to find all the excitement over.
Meanwhile, Areanna has wandered out towards the picket of horses the bandits left a short distance from the fort. As she approaches, she comes across a tied up Human, looking slightly worse for wear.
The bandits are tied up and placed in the storage pen. Others gather the weapons and armour and pile them up by the tables. Finally the bodies are removed from the courtyard, stripped to their underclothes.
"So bury the bodies or do you want me to de-solve them?"
Brigid hides a wince when Oleg's hand strikes dangerously close to her wound he apparently failed to notice. Which was fine; she was quite chagrined the bandit had managed to land a blow at all.
At Kent's suggested method of disposing of the bodies, she wrinkles her nose with distaste. Ve bury, burn, or hang them outside the valls. Your method sounds... messy.
At the announcement of a trussed up individual who was brought in with the bandits, she heads outside to see, curious.
I struggle against my bonds and attempt to call out to whomever might listen. "Hello? If your not the bandits I could use a little help here. If you are the bandits, holding me won't do you any good. I'll never help you find the hidden treasures of these lands." I pause for a moment. "Hello?" I wait for a response.
"not messy very hygienic, nothing left but a muddy puddle that soon washes away or can be quickly cleaned up"
"However in any case it is time for a frontier trial"
Svetlana's jibe about bandits cut, but it was forgotten a moment later as the tables were turned. He stood ready but powerless - and then with swift intervention, Brigid and Kent solved the problem altogether.
It seemed the combat was over, and at Ulryk's command he helped Brigid strip and bind the surviving bandits. For those who had died, he frowned at Kent's suggestion of dissolving them. "I think committing them to the flames will suffice. When it comes to magic and corpses... all I can think of are tales of the walking dead." He shivered. "Unholy things."
He turned his attention to the person whom the bandits had captured and went to look at him. "It's usually a bad idea to tell bandits you'll never cooperate. Either they'll take it out of your hide to try to force you, or they'll just kill you so they don't have to feed you. Lucky for you, your captors are in no position to do that right now... as for the rest of us," he paused with a self-conscious grin, "there's no love for their kind."
He inspected the other man's bindings, but made no move to remove them yet. "Tell me, how did you come to be in such a position?"
I look at the man and chuckle. "I'm an explorer. Those fools believe me to be some sort of treasure hunter. Think I can lead them to riches or some such nonsense. Though I must admit that is probably why they didn't just rob an kill me in the first place. They probably would once they found out I knew as much as they did. They was gonna start after with hit this post. Thank the gods there were folks here strong enough to take'em down. Now if you don't mind I'd like to get off this horse an untied so I can get back to work."
Bluff:
Dammit mulled over the man's story. It seemed reasonable. "Well, I'm not the one to make the final decision, but I do have a certain fondness for people who defy brigands."
He looked inquiringly at the others nearby. "Anyone have an objection to freeing our, ah, guest?"
Brigid unties the man and helps him to his feet. Eyeing him levelly, Your name?
Earlier: Svetlana had startled awake, almost bolting upright as the spell wore off. The motes of color still wafted in front of her eyes, but recalling her previous predicament held off any other concern. It took little time to realize that things had substantially changed. Instead of a vicious bandit holding her, Lana was propping the priestess up. And somehow she was on a cart. How long was I out? she asked groggily as she slowly rose to her feet. Looking around, she saw the others milling about, and seeing the bandits either all dead or tied brought the final sense of relief. Relief was quickly replaced by a sense of triumph, and Svetlana walked up haughtily to where the bandit leader was tied. Glaring at the man she waited for no one but her and the prisoners to be around before whispering in his ear. Pray, pray very hard, that I sleep well tonight and do not need to find some way to wile my time.
Rejoining the others in the main courtyard, she shared Oleg and Lana's joy at the success of the ambush. She made a point of thanking Kent, as well, for his very opportune spell. I've never had a man sweep me off my feet quite like that, it was rather...interesting. The words were spoken in a coy fashion with more than a few flirtatious undertones. It almost seemed as if she enjoyed the colorful knockout she had experienced.
As attention turned to the captive on the horse, Svetlana took a moment to pull Brigid aside. Tsk, tsk, you might be able to hide that injury from our hosts, but not from me. Hold still for just a few seconds. The priestess then focused inwardly while gripping her Calistrian holy symbol, then pressed hand and symbol both into the female warrior's wound. Sharp pain was quickly replaced by an intense, almost intoxicating wave of pleasure. It was all over almost as soon as it began, and the wound was no more.
Tending to Brigid's wound meant that Svetlana missed the beginning of the mystery man's conversation with Damen. Approaching with Brigid, the sensual blonde priestess eyed up the trussed soul while the stoic archer asked her direct question. Svetlana added, Well, he DOES look quite cute tied up like so, but I suspect in this case at least our enemy's enemy is our friend. Tilting her head to one side coquettishly she added with a mischievous smile, you have an answer for my friend, yes?
Once untied I rub my wrists so massage the bruising caused by the rope. Look at Brigit and Svetlana I smiile. "Heh, I pleasant change of scenery." I find myself staring at the priestess a bit. I have a hard time focusing on the warrior woman and I don't even give a glance to Damen. "I am Leorn VonKahn. And who might you lovely ladies be?"
Ulryk seemed more focused on the captured and dead bandits and the upcoming trial than the captured prisoner, though in truth the man trussed up did interest him, he just saw no reason to swarm the poor soul. Once the situation was under control Ulryk went to the stables and pulled his halberd from his mule's cart. Striding back into the yard, he sat down on the edge of the cart he previously hid inside and began running a whetstone along the large crescent headed blade of his Halbard. He made sure both captured bandits were near at hand. He would make sure they did not escape under his watch.
His fierce chesnut eyes raked over the two captive bandits and he joined the conversation regarding the disposal of the bandits. "Bandit scum they may be, but those that fell have passed beyond our judgement. Let the lady of bones judge them now. I'd favor taking their heads and pickling them, the bodies we can bury or burn with a simple rite." He understood that his method might come across as brutal to someone like Areanna, so he explained further. "We want the heads preserved to attest to the bandits slain. We may need to account for our actions to the law."
He continued to sharpen the killing edge of the Halbard as he let his eyes go to the captured bandit leader and his doxie. He stared at them long and hard as the sound of the whetstone being run across the sharpened edge filled the silence his lack of words created.
When Leorn was released he called over to the others with him. "At the very least, the man can attest to these bandits crimes at their trial." Ulryk said loudly, then leaned down to speak to the bandits. "Before your trial you will have a chance to tell us all you know of these lands and your group. Information may pardon some of your crimes or lessen the harshness of your sentence."
Svetlana smiled back at Leorn, then offer a slight bow in introduction. Those who didn't know her well might wonder if the priestess knew the gesture offered a better view of her cleavage. Those who did know her didn't wonder at all. It is delightful to meet you, Leorn. I am Svetlana, a priestess of Calistria. You have heard of the Lady of Stings, yes? My friend here is Brigid. And I see you have already met Damen. Looking over her shoulder at Ulryk, who seemed to be speaking sternly to the bandits, the priestess gave a wistful expression. Well now Leorn, perhaps you might want to join in hearing this upcoming trial, seeing as you were accosted by the bandits as we were. Offering her arm to the now-freed man, Svetlana walks with the rest back over to where Ulryk was facing the prisoners.
Earlier: Brigid was about to protest, to cry off the Calistrian priestess' ministrations, but she wasn't given the chance. She had placed the holy symbol upon her chest and suddenly Brigid felt the touch of magic.
A sound of footsteps behind her, in the small twist of hills to where she had retreated to hide her grief. I'm sorry Fenro chewed up Gigi. She looked up, and the handsome youth stood before her, looking contrite. A large, shaggy hound sat at his feet, and also managed to look sorry. She wiped her tears.
Umm, here. Maybe you'd like this, the boy said, and passed her a bow and a few arrows. She smiled at him, and accepted the gift.
She chokes back a cry and reaches out for something to steady herself. The memory gone in a flash, she blinks a few times at Svetlana. Did she see? The question is in her eyes. She steps away for a few moments and composes herself.
I am clearly distracted by Svetlana's presence. I simply can't take my eyes off her. So much that when she mentions Damen a look confused and look around. "Huh? Who? Oh him. Yeah hi." I turn my attention back to the priestess. "I am familiar with your god and her followers. I seem to have a weakness to the faith." She offers her arm and I take it. "Never did conquer that weakness." I join her in going to the bandits.
When Leorn and Svetlana came near to where he sharpened his halbard, Ulryk set aside the Whetstone and offered one of his gauntleted hands to the bandit's former captive. Should the man take the offer, Ulryk would give him a brief, but strong clasp about the forearm. The man should feel no threat from the halbard in his other hand, for the close proxemity would make little threat.
"We are glad to be of assistance. I am Ulryk Lebeda and you are?" He offered a faint smile, but it was mostly a courtesy.
Ulryk wasn't a tall man, not when compared to Areanna or Brigid, but with powerful muscles and broad shoulders, he appeared a formidable one. Dressed in chain with four iron plateguards, a chainmail coif and a spiked helmet, the look in his eyes hinted that he was disappointed that combat was over. A simple tabbard hung over his chest. His personal heraldic crest of a rearing Or (gold) Elk on a field of Vert (green)was upon it, beneath stood the words "Success through toil".
"Were you the bandit's prisoners long? Do you have further knowledge of their organization? Leaders, locations, numbers... all would be helpful." He pressed the man, even as he looked back to the two prisoners.