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After long conversations with both bandits, where Isabel pulls out all her charm, threats and the significant force of her own personality she extracts relatively little from them.
"You will be released - on condition that you never again take up banditry or preying upon innocents." She fixes each man with her gaze in turn. "You have seen what happened to your fellows, it is only by Shelyn's grace that I spare your lives. Do not be unworthy of it."
As they stand up to leave Isabel calls to them. "If you truly wish to make something of your lives and are not afraid of hard work, then there may be a place for you with us. We are headed south to establish order in the Stolen Lands - we could use trustworthy folk, if you are willing."
Jory nods as Isabel offers the surviving bandits a chance at redemption, and listens closely for any sign of deception.
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When Isabel offer's the men a chance at freedom, he says "Isabel..." but it was too late, the offer had been made. He eyes the men warily for their response before allowing them to be freed.
When the scouting group returns with two horses and more rations, Darian smiles. "Ah, good work! It would have been a shame if these poor creatures had starved from being tied up. Not that they look well cared for anyway..." he says, sending a cutting glare at the surviving bandits.
The raven caws loudly from Freya's shoulder as the woman regards the bandits skeptically, but says nothing.
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When Isabel offer's the men a chance at freedom, he says "Isabel..." but it was too late, the offer had been made. He eyes the men warily for their response before allowing them to be freed.
"The Fushi sisters were valuable allies." Isabel replies, meeting her lover's gaze without fire. You know I have to offer them a chance. Her eyes say, silently.
"The Fushi sisters approached us peacefully after their psychopathic 'sibling' was dispatched..." Darian says pointedly, but stands beside her move and awaits the captive bandits decision.
"I don't know anything about Fushi Sisters, but some bandits can turn over a new leaf." Rok says with a shrug, "Few of them were in my old company, doing some good with their lives after a lifetime of thieving."
She pulls the arrow from her armor and inspects the minor wound she received after looking over Kasper. "Good boy." She says with a smile as she pats his neck and remounts.
"We should probably get on our way though, maybe we can tow those horses along, sell them at Olegs?"
"We could, but we may be better served if we could get them healthy and comfortable with us. Extra mounts would be helpful."
He then turns to the bandits. "So what say you? You will not receive a second offer."
All three of the captured Bandits immediately agree that they will stop being law breakers. Two of them are obviously lying, one seems sincere.
What are you doing?
"Those two are lying and will go back to their brigand ways as soon as we let them go. The charter is quite clear as to the punishment." Freya says plainly.
Turning in the direction of the sincere repentant, she says, "This one seems like he may be worth giving a second chance to."
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"Then they have decided their own fate." Isabel agrees, after Freya gives her opinion. "Rok - would you please?" As justice is dispensed upon the bandits Isabel watches with a straight face. Her grip on Darian's hand tightens as each bandit meets his maker but otherwise she does a god job of seeming unconcerned.
Turning to the final bandit, whose intentions seem honourable enough, Isabel nods to the horses. "Do they have names? You will look after them and report to Rok here on their condition every morning. If you think about using them to flee just compare them to her horse - I would bet on her in a race."
Relaxing her stern glare she flashes a smile, "I really am glad you've chosen to join us. What's your name?"
Darian holds Isabel's hand reassuringly, but looks to the final man who claims repentance. He gives him a moment to introduce himself before stating bluntly, "I hope you understand that this offer is only good once. Try anything foolish that would be seen as an attempt at escape or harm towards anyone, you will be killed like these men. Do you understand?"
Once the man is bound and secured, Darian hops into the wagon once more and says, "Let us go and meet his Oleg fellow."
"Would I...no, not an unarmed man." Rok says with an eyebrow raised at Isabel. "We can drag this sorry lot back to somewhere with authority to lock them up. I have a few pairs of manacles to bind them, but I'm not going to strike down a man that has surrendered just because we think he's lying." She crosses her arm and frowns while Kasper snorts beneath her.
"I told them they would live if they surrendered. I won't break my word."
"We are the authority, Roksana," Darian says reassuringly. He unrolls the charter at his hip and reads the relevant portion aloud, "The carrier of this charter should also strive against banditry and other unlawful behavior to be encountered. The punishment for unrepentant banditry remains, as always, execution by sword or rope. And I agree with Freya, those two men are trying to lie just to save their own skins."
Darian returns the charter to his pack and says, "I'll do it." He draws his sword as he walks over to the men, and says, "By the authority of Restov, House Surtova, and the Dragonscale Throne, I, Darian Aulamaxa, sentence you to death for the crime of unrepentant banditry."
He then slices his sword through their necks quickly, so as to prevent any unnecessary suffering.
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Isabel steps up, next to Rok, and puts a hand on one shoulder as Darian finishes the grim, but necessary work. "I'm sorry Rok. I spoke without thinking and assumed. I should not have - please accept my apologies." She winces slightly as Darian strikes again. "Darian and I have seen much that we should not have - we were rebels once, standing up for righteousness in the face of injustice. We gave up a lot in that struggle and one of those things was probably our principles. Honour had no place in a conflict where our families could be torn apart by starving dogs if we even fell under suspicion."
She pauses, looking at the two bodies and the remaining bandit. "I must show mercy where I may - I could not live with myself otherwise. Once the blade passes the beauty of the world is forever dimmed - but neither Darian or I will show mercy more than once. We lost too many and too much for that. We are within the law here and what we do must be done. But still, I am sorry for ordering you about like that." She grins, ruefully. "Avrora always said I shouldn't let power go to my head. Will you forgive me?"
Having given up hope of learning anything more than 'human, deceased' from the dispatched bandits, Jory watches the delicate sentencing and execution of the prisoners play out with raised brow.
After Darian carries out the sentence, he adds "I've seen back alley justice in all its sordid forms. That was a veritable high court proceeding compared to Such. Honestly done, and in accordance with the charter. I suspect this is not the first time we shall have to seek recourse in that particular provision."
Darian sighs, his hands trembling from the anxiety of shouldering the burden of carrying the sentence out. He cleans his blade off in a patch of grass before sheathing the blade. "Perhaps, Jory. Perhaps. But it doesn't make the task any easier."
He then makes his way to the wagon, saying coldly, "Let's go."
Noticing the trembling of Darian's hands Freya says, "I can give you something to calm your nerves if you would like. It may not taste the best, but it will help."
Lisl finishes cleaning her shield and then she sets it down next to the wagon. She chooses her words carefully.
"It's true that the charter gives us the responsibility to enforce the laws against banditry. And bandits fleeing their crimes and living on the fringes of society are a malicious hazard that must be corrected." She rolls the necklace of her holy symbol in her hand in what seems to be a practiced gesture that causes the gleaming silver key of Abadar to rotate.
"I can accept that as agents of the law we have the authority to mete out capital punishment. I would prefer, in the interests of justice, that we do so only when we have taken all means at our disposal to determine the circumstances of a case and the best possible results."
"There is a spell with which I am familiar and I could prepare it on the morrow, called touch of truthtelling. Should it take hold on a subject, it will brook no falsehood in their answers to questions. If the magic works and the subject answers, we can be certain that their answers are true, and this may aid us in... supporting our intuitive judgement."
The surviving ambusher, a scraggly looking young human male, who looks to have been a farm boy until his recent career change looks nervously back at Isabel. "Ivar." He mutters. "Just Ivar, when me Da kicked me outta home he tole me I weren't no son of his! So Ivar is me name."
When the other two are hung he sways, face going pale as he tries not throw up. He looks you all over with a lot more nervousness. It's clear to see that until now the consequences of his actions hadn't really sunk in to him.
The next few days travel are uneventful, finally at mid afternoon your destination looms in view. Set on a rise the old fort looks shabby, as if it's only recently been occupied after years of quietly crumbling.
You pull into the open area by the gate A1 and look around curiously. A sturdy man in early middle age is busy repairing shingles on the roof of the main building. He looks at you when you arrive but makes no move to greet you.
The front door of the building the man is on opens and a women, much the same age as the man bustles out of it. Wiping her hands on her apron and giving you a warm smile as she comes over.
Welcome, welcome!" She says in greeting. "I'm Svetlana Leveton. We received world you were coming so I have a meal waiting for you."
She looks up at the man on the roof, and through the magic of marriage makes some incomprehensible gestures that draw a grumble from him. He packs his tools away a starts climbing down form the roof.
"That's my husband Oleg. He'll put your animals in the stable. You must be tired after such a long journey?"
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"Thank you Mistress Leveton." Isabel answers, clambering down from the wagon and returning Svetlana's smile. She introduces each member of the party in turn. "This is Roksana, an accomplished warrior and horsewoman. Lisl Morozov, a cleric of Abadar. Jory Haltine, formerly a retainer to Master Gulbis of Restov. Freya Velson, our herbalist and healer. Darian Aulamaxa, formerly of Kintargo and Ivar, who is seeking out a new life in our company. I'm Isabel, Isabel Rhelian. It's a pleasure to meet you both."
Rok stiffens as justice is carried out and she says nothing as the men are killed, but she climbs aboard Kasper silently and speaks very little for the remainder of the day, only offering a grunt of solidarity when Lisl offers her services for future bandits.
She warms again as the travel continues, and by the time they reach Oleg's you might not even remember she'd had a disagreement. She helps Isabel look after Ivar and tries to teach him a little about better horse care as she tries to get the rescued horses into better shape.
"Well met Svetlana, I could go for a hot meal!" Rok says with a smile as she slides from the saddle and greets their host.
"The journey wasn't so bad, aside from a little bandit encounter, but we made it out unscathed. We have heard they've been an issue around here lately."
Darian is not his usual pleasant and jovial self for the remainder of their trip. It was clear the burden of his task weighed heavily on him. He had seen his father administer punishment to his liegelords and criminals against his house before, and knew that one day the responsibility would fall to him. But actually performing the task, it was not what he expected.
He had thought the knowledge of it being the law and the appropriate punishment would clear his conscience, but taking those men's lives was not like when he had killed a man before in a fight. This was different. Their lives were entirely in his hands, and he sniffed them out like candles in the wind.
He envied Roksana's clearly free conscience on the matter as the days passed, but seeing her levity did little to lighten his own spirits, because given the task at hand, he knew it was more likely than not that he would have to do this again...
As they rolled into Oleg's, Darian feigned a smile as best he could. "Mrs. Leveton. A pleasure. Thank you for your hospitality. A warm meal and friendly greeting is much appreciated!"
Lisl keeps an eye on Ivar, and on the second day of the trip she does as asked: She sits Ivar down for a short conversation.
"Tell me..." she says coolly to Ivar after applying her spell, "...what prompted you to take up this life of banditry, and what future you would seek."
It hardly seemed believable that their first successful encounter with the bandits of the Stolen Lands could so strain their band's fragile cohesion, yet it was plain no one was entirely happy with how the conclusion of the ambush had played out, and the group seemed shaken for the remainder of the journey. Rok was stiff and distant, and Darian much the same. Freya did her level best to provide support, and Jory was glad to see her warm to the others. She had shown a steady healer's hand in attending to the wounded bandits, a talent he was sure would benefit them in the days to come.
In Darian's case, he seemed to have recovered his good nature as they were greeted by the proprietors of Oleg's. The dour mood had rubbed off on Jory, but the promise of a hot meal and roof overhead snapped him out of his melancholy. Addressing Ms. Leventon, he said "My lady, it warms my heart to receive such a kind greeting after many days on the road. You'll find us very much appreciative of your hospitality. As Roksana says, our first encounter in these lands was not nearly so amicable..."
Freya watches on with a combination of concern and curiosity as Lisl casts her spell on Ivar.
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Isabel likewise watches the conversation closely, the results will prove whether she was right or a fool. She spares a worried glance for Darian every so often - he seems fine but she knows from past experience that such things had always made him uncomfortable before.
He's either becoming desensitised or much better at hiding his feelings... which is worse?
With such cheerful thoughts rolling around her head Isabel returns her gaze to Ivar, a prayer to the Rose on her lips that the boy in front of her is sincere.
Ivars story is simple enough, his father decided that Ivar was going to marry the daughter of the farmer next to his family's farm. Ivar decided he wasn't and the ensuing argument grew heated enough for his father to cast him out. Rather than giving in as his family expected Ivar ran off. Since then he's been guilty of stealing food. Only falling in with the band you encountered recently. Your's was the first group they felt bold enough to try and take.
He's not too bright, stubborn and thanks to an overbearing father not too fond of authority. He is reasonably good with animals though, and the two light horses you captured are looking better under his watch.
Oleg and Svetlana exchange an uneasy look when Bandits are mentioned. Oleg stalks off the tend to your horses, suggesting your cart be placed by A4 for the moment.
Svetlana leads you into the dinign area A7, after you've washed up she serves you a hearty stew, warm bread and she even opens a bottle of wine for you.
Eventually Oleg comes in, "So you've already seen off some bandits?" he remarks. "There will be more showing up here tomorrow? What are you going to do about them?"
Svetland bites her lip and looks away with a saddened look when her husband speaks to you.
"They arrive by a schedule? That's fairly bold of them...things mus be pretty rough here. Hopefully we will be able to bring that to an end," Darian says to reassure Oleg. "How many usually come? And what sorts of weapons do they use?" he asks as he looks over the fort.
Oleg looks like a long buried anger is coming out. "About three months ago they first showed up. Said they'd burn the place down, kill me and take 'Lana for some camp amusement if we didn't hand over all the pelts and trade goods."
You can see on his face the rage of a man who can't defend himself as he wants to for fear of what would happen to others. "Since then they've been back twice, hour after sunrise, first day of the month."
He growls as Svetlana rubs his shoulders to calm him. "First time it was about a dozen. Ten common scum with a cloaked man armed with a bow, and a woman who carried two small hatchets. The woman did the the talking. She was the mean one, had a happy smile when she told me what would happen to 'Lana if I didn't do as I was told."
Svetlana says quietly. "She nearly cut Olegs hand off, just to show us she was serious! Then she took my wedding ring as payment for leaving him his hand."
Oleg takes her hand in his. "Next time she wasn't with them, only the thug with the bow and eight of his men. Last time only him and six others. They believe they have us cowed now. They all wear leathers, have longbows and blades. They come on horseback, no wagon and they want everything fast. Load on the horse and set off as quick as they can for the Greenbelt. So they must be only a day away?"
Freya scowls more than usual at the mention of "taking 'Lana for some camp amusement.
"These men must be stopped." Freya growls. Turning her gaze in the direction of Darian and Isabel, she adds. "Based on what I have heard here, I see no reason to offer them a second chance. It will only be wasted breath."
Darian looks over the fort and its layout. "Pardon me," he says as he heads to and climbs the wall. He looks the interior over a bit before climbing down and rejoining the others.
"We put Isabel and Freya up on the wall, to have clear vantage to work their magics. Lisl and I will hide behind the open doors to the fort, and close them the moment they've all ridden inside. Roksana, you and Kasper wait inside the stable, and once the trap is sprung, you can ride out as a show of force. Jory...would you prefer to take a position by the benches and fire, or up on the wall with your crossbow?"
"This way we cut off any who might flee for reinforcements, and may even be able to convince them to surrender. We need information on this group's activities and locations. Svetlana can wait inside out of harms way. Oleg...it seems like they will be expecting your presence, so perhaps you should be somewhere visible at first, then take cover once the trap is sprung to avoid giving them any leverage."
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Isabel sits quietly through the story, although she reaches out to gently rub Svetlana's shoulder as the more unpleasant parts come out. Once Darian leaves she speaks briefly. "He'll come back with a plan - this is the kind of thing he is best at." Suiting actions to words she says nothing while Darian outlines his plans, until he has finished.
"Do we give them the chance to surrender?" She asks quietly. "I believe in mercy where we can offer it but I understand that we need the element of surprise..."
She has little else to contribute to the discussion of tactics, but as talk dies down she yawns theatricallys. "I'm for bed then, if we are to set an ambush at dawn we'll need all the sleep we can get!" She gets up, shoots Darian a glance that says Don't stay up planning all night and follows Svetlana's directions to bed.
"Of course, darling," Darian says. "As I said, we need information, and I'd much rather give them the chance to see the error in their ways rather than...well..." he then falls silent.
Lisl looks about the compound and nods as Darian outlines his plan. "Your tactics seem sound," she finally says. "I will do my best."
After Isabel speaks up, Lisl forcefully says, "We absolutely capture those we can and offer terms of surrender. Then we decide their fate based on their circumstances. Unrepentant bandits, noose or blade. Those who are genuine and sincere in their hope for a new life, we will find a way to make an opportunity for restitution."
As Darian solicits more information from Oleg, Jory could scarce believe what he was hearing. A protection racket! These thugs would fit right in as part of Restov's underworld. But they were chartered to build something different here, something better. They could do better, by Oleg and Svetlana and whatever other kindly people struggled here.
Jory followed along as Darian made a quick appraisal of the fort and outlined his plan. He is a quick mind, and not afraid to act. We are in good hands.
When the question came, Jory responded, "Let me take to the walls with Freya and Isabel. I am not without a cantrip or two myself, and will be assured a clear shot from above. We'll teach these brigands to look up!"
Darian nods to everyone's input. "Anyone else have any suggestions?"
Morning comes, and after a quick breakfast you hustle to your places. Oleg sets out the bales of pelts for the bandits to collect as he normally does at A4, then goes back to repairing the roof again. This time with a crossbow concealed in his tool box.
The bandits ride in with casual contempt. The leader glances around then shouts up at Oleg. "Where's your woman old man? You think hiding her will keep her safe if we decide to take her?"
His followers laugh cruelly, ignoring any basic precautions as they follow the familiar routine they've grown accustomed to.
As the gate slams shut Frey gazes in the direction one of the bandit's horses, rhythmically shaking a bone bracelet on her wrist.
Rok directs Kasper to ride out of the stables and beside the bandit in red. Alone behind their adversaries, Rok warily scans the group, hoping they don't have any surprises up their sleeves.
"Am I the woman you're looking for?" She growls at the leader.
Darian already had his sword and shield ready, using his shoulder to push the door closed. Once done, he turns and commands, "Lay down your arms and get down off your horses! None of you have to die this morning!"
Lisl puts her shoulder into the gate to close it.
Seeing his compatriots act, Jory tugs a pinch of sand from a pouch, tosses it into the air, and mutters an incantation.
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