As Akiros began to approach, Svetlana flicked one hand behind the tree to alert the party of the man's nearing proximity. As he arrived at the copse, Svetlana nodded vigorously. I knew you'd understand! Happs started it, thought it would get him ahead in the Stag Lord's eyes. Mel followed him, as did a few of the others. I cornered Happs when the fight broke out and got him to admit to the plan before I cut off his head. He said others in the fort were behind him too! He wouldn't name names though, so I dunno who to trust! Can you think of anyone who would join the betrayers??
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Perception:
Akiros moves into the trees with Svetlana, continuing to talk.
"Well I would not put it past Dovan to be in on such a plot, and where Dovan goes, Auchs is not far behind. A couple of the others might join him, but any plan to take over from the Stag Lord is doomed to fail! you should know that better than most....'
He looks over Svetlana's shoulder as if he had spotted something.
Damen lowered himself slightly, hiding from Akiros's eyes, but it was clear the moment had come. Catching Brigid's eye he mimed drawing back the bowstring, then held up three fingers.
Nodding once to Damen, Brigid looks back just when a breeze pushes a cluster of leaves aside, letting a shaft of sunlight completely illuminate her face. Silently cursing her luck, Brigid aims a blunt arrow at Akiros.
Kent will stay hidden.
Brigid immediately shifts her position and sends two more arrows, this time one at each of the other bandits to quickly deal with them.
"now for the tie up and interrogation."
I will watch the interrogation over with detect thoughts. First round figure out if he has a mind. 2nd round I find out his int score. Third round he makes a will save DC 17 if he fails I read his thoughts.
Watching the two arrows sail out of the tree line and ending the two armed bandits several yards from the tree line surprised Svetlana as much as Akiros. The priestess shrugged as she made eye contact with the bandit lieutenant. Oh Akiros, it is so much more complicated than you know. Since you are already unarmed....thank you that, by the way, I believe you can consider yourself captured. See the man there with the pole arm? She points to Ulryk, he's as deadly with his weapon as the archer is with her bow. At the risk of being of being cliche, resistance is futile, yes?
Holding out one hand as if to usher Akiros into the copse, Svetlana follows behind the man to ensure he does not run.
So what's the man's int? And does he make his saving throw?
The defeated bandit wobbly walks further into the trees with Svetlana and the others.
Kent: He has an Intelligence of 10
Save: 1d20+6Surface thoughts: By the gods my head hurts! What is going on...who are these bandits with Kessle? (1st minute gone)
Now in the copse, and fully surrounded by the party, Svetlana eyed Akiros thoughtfully. We have quite a few questions for you, and I'd suggest you consider your answers carefully before responding. Lies will be detected and dealt with....harshly. Tapping a finger on her upper lip, she starts a series of questions, giving the bandit a chance to consider each. We know there is a secret entrance to the fort, where is it? Second, how many people are in the fort? Third, tell us all about the Stag Lord, pretend I've never met him before. What powers does he have, how does he fight? Aside from yourself and Davon, who else is in the fort of elevated fighting ability? Are there any spell casters in the fort? Is there an alarm system of any kind. Again, I strongly recommend you answer as if I have no idea about the fort itself. I'd like the others here to get the answer directly from you.
"where is the secret passageway?"
Brigid stepped away from her hiding spot and watched Akiros steadily as he moved into the copse of trees. She had another arrow -- a lethal one -- nocked and ready, but not drawn back. Her face was tight; she did not relish taking those two lives so suddenly. However, when she knew her position was revealed, she had to act swiftly and decisively. The best sort of warning shot, after all, was one that didn't miss.
Since Akiros seemed to have all the fight taken out of him, Brigid relaxes slightly, though she keeps her eyes on him and her arrow nocked. To Damen, she whispers, I am sorry. But I believed I had been seen. I have been taught that to hesitate is to fail. I am... tired of failing.
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You can read from him confusion and pain, but also relief, but what he is relieved of you do not know(a very deep and hidden thought). So far everything he is thinking relates to what he is saying...so all is truth as far as he knows.
Others:
"You have changed Kessle, and I am not sure if it is good or not. I have no idea what secret door you are talking about. You were here longer than me, if any existed I should think you would know. You also know all the people inside..Devon, Auchs, Ayles, Cragger, Jeb, Falgrim, Norry, Jex and Topper. There is that stupid owlbear the Stag Lord keeps imprisoned in the cage...oh and his Nibs daddy in the cellar. That's everyone, I think.
We have no alarm except the bell by the owlbear's cage and spell casters...well the Old Man might have some juice still in him, but I don't recall ever seeing him do anything."
Ulryk spoke up, his voice projected in a manner learned from his noble birth, laced with command and a subtle hint of threat.
"Would you, if it were offered, take the chance to repent for your life of Banditry and embrace a more noble path? If yes, would you join us against the Stag lord without seeking to betray us?" Ulryk knew that Kent had cast some sort of spell to detect lies and he decided it made sense to get to what he considered most important. Did this man Akiros have to die or not?
He held his weapon at the ready and was glad that the bandit sympathizer was no longer with them. Ulryk had never enjoyed passing judgment but he knew it had to be done.
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When Ulryk asks this question, you get a sudden picture of a cathedral and a number of, what you assume might be paladins, lined up and praying at the altar. One by one you see the faces of these holy warriors..and none mean anything to you, until the last one...it is of this bandit, Akiros. Suddenly the vision is gone and replaced by pain and longing
A look of hope seems to brighten the bandits eyes and his stature seems almost to grow to a more demanding presence, but just as quickly it deflates, and the man sinks back into the bandit.
"I would help, I suppose, if it will help."
"We seem to have a case of fallen paladin."
At first she nearly scoffs at Ulryk's suggestion. But then Brigid's eyes go wide at Kent's statement. She studies the captured bandit, furrowing her brows.
Heilagur bardagamaður? she states in a disbelieving tone. She frowns and shakes her head.
Damen shook his head and offered a smile to Brigid, eyes crinkling. "Nothing to apologize for. And don't judge yourself so harshly. If I've ever met anybody less prone to failure than you..." He shrugged and suppressed a laugh. "Fear'll undo you as much as, ah, anything else."
He stretched his back as the others spoke, nodding as Ulryk offered redemption. When Kent mentioned a fallen paladin, though, he turned back to Brigid and spoke in a voice loud enough for Akiros to hear. "A perfect example, you see? Now he's no doubt weighing his options, maybe seeking a return to the path of the lofty polished breastplate, maybe weighed down with fear that he'll face retribution, maybe afraid he can't make up for whatever scum he's had to coat himself with working for this Stag Lord. Seems he's not letting the fear win out."
His eyes turned to Akiros, hand clasping the haft of his morningstar idly, almost as if by accident. Unlike Ulryk, there was no command here, no particular nobility, just an offer between men drinking in a pub. "You have a chance to do some good here, Akiros. Maybe spit shine that halo just a bit." He smiled. "See the wife and kids again, or maybe just go home, find a wife, make some kids. We'll give you a fair shake. Nobody hunts bandits like a man who's been one, after all."
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His look is pure venom to Damen.
"What do you know of it! You who have never felt the loving embrace of the higher powers. You who work for a brigand far worse than me. You do not know me sir, so do not embarrass yourself by trying to understand what you clearly have no comprehension about!"
He is quite angry and it takes a few minutes for him to get control of his emotions. Kent's revealing of this very personal secret seems to have shaken him to his core.
Svetlana let the queries from the others go without intervention. Kent's spell had soused out a good piece of information, but now things had gone sideways. When was the right time to reveal the truth. Not just yet, the priestess concluded.
OK, ok now. Svetlana took on a soothing tone as she stepped between Damen and Akiros. Looking at Damen she said sternly, Akiros can decide for himself what his opportunities here are. Just back off. Her back to the brigand, was there a hint of a wink to Damen as she spoke? She then turned back to Akiros, sympathy on her face. I...I didn't know that...about your past. Look, we all have our demons, things from the past. You're going to decide what that all means for you. But for now, you know we aren't going to let you just walk on back into that fort and rejoin the Stag Lord. So, you do have a decision to make. But we will need an honest answer. With a glance a Kent she added, and you know we'll know if you tell the truth.
She then paused and added, What brigand worse than the Stag Lord do you presume us to work for?
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"I assume you work for yourself Kessle. The Stag Lord might be a mean, underhanded drunkard with little care for those around him, but you are a cold calculating bi@#h who would think nothing of killing someone simply because they were in your way...or not quick enough to fetch you what you wanted..or not quick enough with a compliment. He may be a monster, but you are true evil!
You offer me a choice of joining you or dying...then kill me! It was bad enough to work with him, I could not stand myself becoming one of your flunkies!"
He sinks down onto his knees, head bent.
"I think there might be a better option available, Svetlana"
Svetlana nodded at Kent, with a wry smile on her face. If only there was a better option. With a wave of her hand the priestess dismissed the illusion masking her appearance, again taking her willowy but curvy blonde form. Akiros, my name is Svetlana, a priestess of Calistria. Given your rather low appraisal of Kressle then I suppose you would not mind knowing that we killed her. I apologize for the ruse, but gaining information about the Stag Lord and this fort required deception. So I chose the form of an especially wicked female bandit we encountered earlier in our travels. We are exploring these lands on writ from legitimate lords to the north. We rather abhor banditry, and in fact seek to wipe it completely from the lands.
Smiling again, that familiar mischievous, flirtatious look took hold in Svetlana's blue eyes. Now, would you be willing to keep little 'ol me company on our quest? A little revenge on your former bandit mates might be fun, yes?
Brigid had remained silent with a severe gaze at the captive. Her frown became a bit more pronounced when Akiros shouted at Damen, and her eyes flicked briefly toward the ranger before returning to focus on the former paladin.
When Svetlana drops her disguise, Brigid studies his reaction, although her mouth twists in irritation as the priestess returns to her usual flirtatious demeanor. Shaking her head, she turns back to face the direction of the fort, looking to see any reaction if the sound of Akiros' outburst reached the ears of the other bandits.
"The optimal solution would be to kill the stag lord and give the rest a chance to surrender. That allows for the minimum amount of killing. Also this land is soon to be settled and reforming the this organization would be a great help in that. I know this sort of fortress is going to have a secret passageway inside. However I don't know my way around. We could use a guide. So do you want to help us kill the stag lord, reform the bandits, bring civilization to the greenbelt and be an important personage in that new civilization Or do we have to go though them all the less optimal bloody way. You have 2 minutes to think about it feel free to ask questions."
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Akiros looks at Svetlana, a stunned expression on his face. Then a smile cracks the surprised look, followed by snickering and finally a full round of, almost hysterical, laughter.
As he gets control of himself, Akiros turns to face Kent.
"Devon and Auchs will fight to the death, as will the Stag Lord. Some of the others might be persuaded to lay down arms, but not until the Stag Lord has been defeated. Their fear is too great."
He looks your group over and after a few moments nods his head.
"I will help you. It is the right thing to do! I have been living on the razor's edge for too long; trying to balance some good out of the evil this group does. I was blinded by my own desire to see us as adventurers eeking out a living in the rough and lawless wilds, but the ture was we were a parasite feeding off those who lived here. Thank you for sparing me."
"Good now that that has been cleared up, let's go secert passage hunting"
Brigid tries to force her skepticism away. She had heard tales of the holy warriors of the south, yet could hardly believe that means they should trust him now. But Kent's magic allowed him into Akiros' mind, so she had to trust that the spell showed no falsehood. He had successfully drawn out the mites' lair, so she hoped it will work here.
If ve find the passage, ve vill have to move soon. The Stag Lord vaits for you to return, Brigid offers, while thinking of the likelihood of a two-pronged attack.
"He said not to come back without Kessle. It's a pity we didn't bother to bring her body with us. I had not thought it would be needed."
Brigid shakes her head at Akiros. You have agreed to side vith us. You remain vith us until the Stag Lord is dead.
Ulryk shot Kent a look that spoke of his distaste. Kressle may have been a wretched, vile human being, but the thought of lugging about her corpse through the wilds struck a nerve with Ulryk Lebeda's more traditional upbringing and simple faith.
"What can you tell us of the Stag Lord and the bandit opperation he has been running?" Ulryk said as he stroked his bearded chin. He did not yet trust this Akiros individual. It was either incredible good fortune that one so willing to accept the olive branch of redemption was the first to be captured or it was some kind of trap.
He studied Akiros, but he could get nothing from the man. He tended to judge men by their actions, not the thoughts and emotions they kept hidden within.
He gazed off in the direction of the fort and then began dragging his pole-arm's butt through the dirt. Scribbling down a few measurements and trying to figure out where a secret passage could potentially reside.
"Don't worry we have a cleric that chancels positive energy."
Also want to spend 15 minutes preparing Create Treasure map in my empty slot.
Then I skin one of the killed bandits and Creates a Treasure map out of him of the fortress.
"Waste not want not"
That will take an hour. But I don't think we are in a hurry.