The road forks ahead with a smaller wagon path heading south towards Oleg's. As you walk closer towards the outpost you can hear the sound of hammering. It appears that there is a middle-aged man on top of the northeastern building, near the large wooden gate on the Eastern wall. He appears to be fixing the roof. When he spots you he turns, walks to the edge, and disappears.
Oleg’s trading post is surrounded by a wooden palisade that stands 10 feet high. At each corner of the palisade are 20-footsquare watchtowers, each armed with a run-down catapult left over from the site’s original use as a border fort. You can clearly see that the smoke originates from the largest, northwestern building. You get the occasional whiff of roasting venison.
The smaller road you are now walking on slightly bends towards the East and curves back towards the West, into the Eastern wall of the fort. You hear the large wooden doors creak open as you approach and the man you saw earlier on the roof steps out. He lightly taps the hammer in his left palm as he peers at you with a judgmental look, almost as if here were sizing you up. He does not speak. He just waits for what you have to say.
"Greetings. May I assume you are Oleg?" says Melismar, striding forward to begin negotiations on behalf of the party, and holding forth a hand for the shaking thereof.
glad someone else is doing the politicking
Prior to the fort...
Not the warmest of welcomes, thats for sure. But not the coldest. I think the big man lacks in tact what he makes up for in... size. Although judging by the size of his sword, not size where it counts. It couldnt hurt to return the joke, keep things light with his companions. They would be together for the foreseeable future.
"Its true I'm not the biggest. Although it seems like you could eat enough for both of us. Oh, and its Oro for short."
At the fort...
Its a good thing the half-breed spoke up first. I am not the most... eloquent person. And this little man seems to have enough slick-talking to go around. He takes a good look at the fort while the two men are talking, in case there was anything of note.
Oropher, you notice that the fort is largely devoid of people. From what you can see it also looks in ill-repair.
"I am. And you are?" The man is blunt and straight to the point. His stoic personality is really hard to read.
What, an old man in a run-down fire-trap of a building? One wrong spell and I'll probably roast the entire place. If those catapult's work, I guess that's something at least. Maybe I'll see if I can't mess with those later. Wonder how many people are stationed here?
Deanarth begins to carefully examine the fort for other signs of life.
Hrm, I like this old coot. At first glance he and I are cut from the same cloth. You can trust a man who is direct and gets the most mileage out of every word.
I'm Krallek and this fierce bunch I travel with has been tasked with the chore of cleaning out bandits in the area. We would be mighty grateful for some information regarding such as these.
... that and a dripping hunk o whatever that is yer cooking over there.
When I first looked around, it just looked like any fort, set on the edge of the wild. Looking now, whatever it may have been in the past, it no longer is.
I drift over to Deanarth, the short, young looking wizard-to-be, while the other two seem to be trying to charm their way in. Just my luck, and he'd set this place on fire accidentally.
"This is a joke of a fort" I murmured to him, keeping my voice down from Oleg. "If the bandits ever attacked, all they'd have to do is let a few fire arrows, or just walk in during dinner. Sad to think this is all that protects the city."
Deanarth whispers back. "A burning building or two is fine by me, I just don't wanna be in it."
At least not yet.
"'course what good will it do 'em to just light it on fire. The tradin' post must keep some trade alive or somesuch or whoever lives here would've fled. Probably why it's still up, bandits use it to lure out their prey." Deanarth smiles sinisterly. "Maybe we can use it as our bait and turn the bandits into our prey."
"Right." He opens the door and gestures in, "It is 5sp per bed per night."
He waits until the last of you have entered the fort before he follows you in. As you enter the outpost you notice a few things of interest:
A1. Market Yard: This open area is where trade takes place. The two tables near the fire pit are used to display wares and serve food to visitors, while bulky trade goods are offloaded into the storage pen.
A2. Guesthouse: Oleg rents out the beds in this guesthouse to anyone who wishes to stay the night at a rate of 5 sp a bed per night.
A3. Stable: Oleg keeps a jittery horse here.
A4. Storage Pen: This fenced area has a wooden roof to keep off most of the rain and snow—trade goodslike furs and other goods are stored here until enough build up to warrant a trip to the city to sell them off. It is currently empty.
A5. Middens: Three 3-foot-deep composting pits and middens.
A6. Main Hall: This squat but solid wooden building is Oleg and Svetlana’s home and the storeroom for the trading post. The double doors lead out into the market yard.
A7. Dining Room: This is a comfortable room with a few chairs and a table. The Levetons use this room primarily as a dining room.
A8. Office: This room is where Oleg keeps his ledgers and meets with important visitors—in theory.
A9. Stockroom: This room is used to store the trading post’s stock.
A10. Storeroom.
A11. Bedroom: This modest bedroom is where the Levetons sleep.
A middle-aged woman opens the door of the main hall with an apron on. "Oh darling! You didn't tell me we had visitors! Are these the guards..." She looks you over for a second, "Or maybe the adventurers that the hunter was talking about!" She smiles and reaches her hand out to greet each one of you, "I'm Svetlana. It is sooo good to see you." She nudges Oleg with her elbow but he just remains quiet.
"Well, I was cooking up some deer meat, but I can easily turn it into a stew. Have a seat. It'll be ready in just a few minutes!" She retreats back into the main hall to tend to dinner. Oleg takes a seat at a nearby table and just waits, staring at you all.
She reminds me of....NO, something else.
Deanarth pushes the memory out of his head and desparately thinks of something else to talk about.
Hey, Oleg, mind if I try one of those catapults after dinner? Always wanted to fire one off.
She reminds me of....NO, something else.
Deanarth pushes the memory out of his head and desparately thinks of something else to talk about.
Hey, Oleg, mind if I try one of those catapults after dinner? Always wanted to fire one off.
Oleg shrugs at the comment. "Good luck." He smirks.
As you approach the catapults it becomes glaringly apparent that they are not in functioning condition. It would take many weeks worth of work to repair them all.
I began walking towards the table, thinking of what was going on. Oleg clearly lived here with his... wife? I sat down at the table, and thought about making some polite conversation while the food was cooking. I was definitely starving. At the same time, curiosity was beginning to get the better of me.
"So tell us about this place, Oleg. Whats it like being out here near the stolen lands? Your wife mentioned the guards you're expecting?"
He sighs at the mention of the guards. "It is away from Brevoy which is nice." He stops suddenly and thinks his next words over, "But, the bandits are a problem. You will see why tomorrow." He leans closer to you with his elbows perched on the table, "If it were up to me I'd hang them all." Before he can finish the rest of his thought, Svetlana comes bursting out with a stew pot in hand.
Svetlana scoops out the hearty stew and slops it into bowls, handing them out to each of you. She smiles as she speaks up again, "I'm so grateful you are here, but your timing couldn't be worse." Her smile dwindles as the thought of tomorrow consumes her mind, "Happs will be here tomorrow and will be coming for his share of what we have earned over the past month. It is mostly furs and trade goods though. We are able to save a little to get by." She sits down next to Oleg and swirls her spoon around in the stew, but doesn't take a bite.
"Oh I forgot the bread!" She runs in and grabs a fresh, warm loaf and hands each of you a chunk she meticulously pulls from it.
"You are welcome to stay the night here, but I'd keep my head down tomorrow morning at dawn."
Oleg grunts at the comment and continues to eat his stew. He is clearly not happy about the situation.
Leans over to Oropher and whispers
"looks like we have stumbled upon a little extortionist racket ... and they are coming right to us.
We may have us an opportunity to make good on that charter rather soon me thinks. Keep my head down she says. Hehe we'll see whose gonna need to keep their head down tomorrow.
"Marvellous food, my dear," Melismar says to Svetlana. "I can't imagine how you managed to rustle up something so completely delicious in so little time. You're a very lucky man, Oleg. In your wife, anyway. Less so in your company and situation, it would appear. Who is this 'Happs' your wife spoke of, and who else is likely to be visiting with him tomorrow?"
Svetlana blushes at Melismar's comments, "Why thank you for your kind words." She waits for a few seconds for Oleg to respond, but he remains tight lipped about the whole situation and focuses on eating. "Well when they first came three months ago there were a dozen or so bandits led by a cruel woman wielding two axes. I think her name was Kressel. Happs must be her boyfriend or something because she was really fond of him. He has led the last two groups of bandits here, each time with less men. Last month he only brought four others with him. All on horseback."
"And this boyfriend comes back regularly at the same time each month? Were they violent to start with, or merely threatening?" asks Melismar.
Free horses! Woo hoo! Looks like my lot in life is improving rapidly. Man, if I ever go back to Restov I gots to go visit the alley and ride past the boys on my very own hawse! Lol Pugs jaw will drop right off.
An extortion racket might be right. On the other hand, Oleg was living in a rundown fort on the edge of the stolen lands. What was there to extort? It certainly didnt look to be doing any amazing business.
I whispered to Krallek, "I dont know about extortion, but something is up. I'd love to meet these guys tomorrow morning. If they truly are bandits, the right justice is by sword."
I listened as the charming young man continued to ply information out of Oleg and his wife. The urge to ask directly what was going on came up, but I was worried it might kill the conversation. Something wasnt right.
Hrm, he is right. It is possible that there is something other than extortion going on here. Good thing I am not the brains of the expedition. I am a criminal at heart so I see a criminal conspiracy behind every sign I suppose. We'll know soon enough I suppose.
I whisper back to Orp ...
Yeah, you don't need to be rich and successful to have your stuff stolen. I grew up on the streets and didn't even have a pot to pee in but I've been beaten and robbed more times than I care to remember. Sometimes extortion is about profit ... sometimes its about intimidation too.
As soon as the moment permits I tell the party that ...
we should have a plan in place before this meeting. Maybe even some signals for when to attack or when to back off. Some simple signals to communicate when things go wrong without tipping our hand. One person should call the shots.
I try to state this without it being obvious that I've done this sort of thing before.
"You want a plan? Here's one for ya. We lure 'em into the fort. Keep 'em from runnin' away. Then I knock 'em out with my magic. Anyone unlucky enough to stay awake can get knocked down by Krallek. Then we'll tie 'em up and beat some info out of 'em. After that we hang 'em. Nice, clean, easy. What could go wrong?"
I stay safe and sound while the big guy does all the hard work.
Quietly, "Relax gentlemen, we'll have time later to discuss. For now, lets eat and get all the information we can." I got the feeling we were jumping the starting bell a little. It was a little comforting that Krallek seemed to have some experience. The wizard's plan had some issues too. I'd never been in a pitched fight like that, but I got the feeling the wizard couldnt take out all of them at once. Not four. And not at such a young age.
We still dont have enough information to really know what is going on. I address the couple. "To add on to what my friend is asking, what do they want? No offense, but you dont appear to have much here. Did you try asking for help from Restov?" Why would a trading post be abandoned like this? It would be a nice place to put a border guard, perhaps.
The questions from Melismar begin to agitate her a little bit. Her gleaming eyes look down at the table. " Yes, they threatened us quite a bit. Oleg is so good to me, he stood up to them, but there were just too many. They were about to..." Tears begin to fill her eyes, "Cut his hand off!" She begins to sob, "But instead they took... my wedding ring as retribution." She composes herself a little as the group begins to talk amongst themselves. Oleg puts his arm around her and brings her in close, comforting her.
After Oropher's line of questioning she begins to speak again, "Oh yes, we sent word to Restov awhile a go. Recently a hunter came by and gave us wonderful news. He said that our petition would be approved shortly and we should have a contingent of our own here to protect us. These men are like clockwork. They show up the same day just an hour after dawn. All they want is to take and not have to work for it."
Oleg finally speaks up, "The bastards take almost everything. We aren't in the greatest location for trade, but we mange to accumulate quite a bit of wealth between the travelers, traders, and hunters that frequent the area. I can't kill them all myself, but maybe with your help we can dispatch them easily. I stack everything in the market yard for them to load onto their horses. You can hide in the nearby buildings so they can't see you. Then, when I give the signal, you attack What do you say?" Oleg seems impressed by his own battle plan. He doesn't have the look of a fighter or soldier, resembling more of a tradesman.
"The plan seems ok, not that I would know better. I wish someone with more experience than a tradesman would suggest something. The big man with the big sword seemed to have some ideas. I dont mind hiding, since confronting people with stuff in their hands seems like a smart idea. The wizard might need protection, too. If he could do something hidden... the chaos would be worth it. Hah, seeing a fire suddenly erupt on one of your friends is slightly disrupting."
This was difficult for me to figure out. Studying tactics would have made this easier. "I think we're all agreed that this extortion cannot continue. Our charters provide for us to confront and execute any violating the laws of the land. And certainly these bandits seem to be. You all have more experience at this than me. I know that you magic users may need protection, and I offer myself. Or perhaps from the battlements, you'd have the time to do what is necessary. Surprise seems to be good."
Krallek, gives Olegs plan a grunt of approval.
I like the simple plans for sure. Less can go wrong when the plans are simple. Truth is, things almost NEVER go exactly as you plan em. When they do go wrong, and they always do, the simple plans go less wrong than the not so simple ones.
Krallek ponders the situation for a few minutes scratching his stubbly chin.
I like the element of surprise like Oleg suggests. When things get bloody, if we get first crack, that can turn a fight our way pretty fast.
Choosing his words carefully, he continues ...
Only things I would change would be that we have the bard chat with em when they get here. Try to pry as much out of em as possible. If these guys are organized, they ain't gonna tell us squat about their boss unless they think they are completely safe. Truth is, if they is crooks, their boss will peel their skin off em for letting out any info. I'd like to see Orp in earshot of the conversation. Once we get as much out of em as we are like to get, a simple go signal from Orp will set things in motion. Boy, ... um I mean Dean I want you behind me and outta sight. I'm headed straight for the biggest sum @$%! in the lot of em. You let loose with whatever you think will work best. Dean you got anything that will take the fight out of em with out killing em? We really only need keep one alive; two would be better but at least one. Orp, you able to get up close and personal?
Another lengthy pause, then ...
Mel, you will be front and centre doing the jawing. I don't like the idea of you being that close when the fighting starts. All it would take is two or three of em to take a cut at you and that might not be a good thing. You think you could keep an eye on Orp for the signal then fall back to me soon as you see me? Or just get the heck out of the way of any arrows should they come at ya?
If we make it out alive with a prisoner or two, the questioning ain't gonna be a pretty thing. Most don't got the stomach for it to tell the truth. I can handle the nasty bit. Anyone want to stick around for it can do as they please. But Oleg, if it ... WHEN it comes to that, I want you to take your girl somewhere else. Seeing that kind of thing changes a person for good. Anyway you slice it, we will know what we need to know by tomorrow afternoon me thinks.
Who knows, if Mel is any good at prying information out of em maybe no one needs to die tomorrow.
That plan make any sense? What say you all?
I whisper to Orp, by the way, I use a spear not a sword
So same thing I said, but we give up surprise on 'em in exchange for some yappin'.
Yea, I got a spell to put 'em to sleep. Probably best since this place would likely go up in flames if I go all out in here.
"You want a plan? Here's one for ya. We lure 'em into the fort. Keep 'em from runnin' away. Then I knock 'em out with my magic. Anyone unlucky enough to stay awake can get knocked down by Krallek. Then we'll tie 'em up and beat some info out of 'em. After that we hang 'em. Nice, clean, easy. What could go wrong?"
Oh dear. I seem to be working with someone who likes tempting the gods. Great...
The questions from Melismar begin to agitate her a little bit. Her gleaming eyes look down at the table. "Yes, they threatened us quite a bit. Oleg is so good to me, he stood up to them, but there were just too many. They were about to..." Tears begin to fill her eyes, "Cut his hand off!" She begins to sob, "But instead they took... my wedding ring as retribution." She composes herself a little as the group begins to talk amongst themselves. Oleg puts his arm around her and brings her in close, comforting her.
Melismar reaches across the table, and pats her hand. "Try not to worry, my dear, that's why I and my colleagues are here. We're going to try and sort these nasty bullies out for you, and if at all possible, we'll get your ring back for you. That's if it's not been sold on by now -- let's hope this Kressel woman likes jewellery as well as axes.
I whispered to Krallek, with a smile, "And its Oro, not Orp. You get it right and so will I. Not that having a big spear does much for your case." I turned away smirking and think of the plans.
The tactics sounded pretty good. A chance to use the sword would be worthwhile. "I dont mind getting up close to listen, but I fear I dont have much experience with this, and may get impatient. If that is fine with you, then it is fine with me. I could listen from the stable door, since it is close by.
As cruel as it sounds, our task is to remove these bandits from the world. I dont mind doing what it takes to fulfill the charter. If they choose to talk before the fighting gets started, then grant them a cleaner death. But some will die, and Iomedae willing, I will live, and it will be the evil ones."
Oleg finally speaks up, "The bastards take almost everything. We aren't in the greatest location for trade, but we mange to accumulate quite a bit of wealth between the travelers, traders, and hunters that frequent the area. I can't kill them all myself, but maybe with your help we can dispatch them easily. I stack everything in the market yard for them to load onto their horses. You can hide in the nearby buildings so they can't see you. Then, when I give the signal, you attack What do you say?" Oleg seems impressed by his own battle plan. He doesn't have the look of a fighter or soldier, resembling more of a tradesman.
"It has the merit of surprise, I've no doubt! I wonder whether we might booby trap the area in some way -- if we disturb their routine as little as possible, and you tell us their likely approach, they might walk precisely where we mean them too. As you'll have noticed, our young friend here has quite the passion for burning things. Melismar gestures grandly at Deanarth as he speaks, but slips him a sly wink as well. "I imagine it's too much to hope that you've a barrel of alchemist's fire knocking about, but perhaps a patch of lamp oil covered by sawdust might escape detection until... things get a little heated.
As someone mentioned earlier, using too much fire in this tinder box is not such a good idea.
"But I do see advantages in leaving one alive to talk. Perhaps this Happs fellow might like to see his axe-wielding girlfriend again. Tell us some more about him, if you'd be so kind? Is he a pretty ornamental thing, or a great big bully?" Melismar addresses Svetlana and Oleg directly, hoping to get as much information as possible.
As someone mentioned earlier, using too much fire in this tinder box is not such a good idea.
"We don't actually need to set fire to it. Perhaps a helpful explanation of the perils of whereon he stands, with a suitably pyrotechnical display from our young friend as a backdrop, might loosen his tongue. I have to say, I'm also inordinately fond of the plan where we put them all to sleep, first. A combined effort on Deanarth's and my part there could be very soporific indeed, I think.
"He's a brute. I'd prefer not to set a fire. I've got enough to repair. Svetlana has been hiding in the bedroom since the first time they came. She'll be safe there."
Putting everyone to sleep takes out the risk, that's for sure. At the same time, what if it didnt work? Magic is risky.
"I dont mind you gentlemen putting them to sleep first. It takes the risk. We can wake them one by one and see if they wish to speak. If not, then we can move on to the next.
Perhaps a show of your powers, Deanarth, would be enough if they are subdued already. I do think, however, that myself and Krallek should remain ready in case things do not go according to plan."
"It would be so great to be done with them. We'd be in your debt. You can stay the night free." A big smile runs across her face. "Let me go get a bottle of wine to wash down the meal." She goes to cleaning off the table and returns a short time later with some wine, pouring each of you a glass.
"He's a brute. I'd prefer not to set a fire. I've got enough to repair. Svetlana has been hiding in the bedroom since the first time they came. She'll be safe there."
Unless we all get killed. Doubt she'll be too safe after that...
The sleep first plan is a good one for sure but we lose the chance to pry them for information first. I been around these types most of my life and one thing I can tell you for sure is the LOVE to brag about stuff when they think they got the advantage. The trick would be to coax the info out of them by offering them a weak challenging. If Mel can make em think its just him here as the guard emissary from Restov they might laugh him off as no threat and be willing to cough up information readily. Then after we nail em and take a few prisoners we can torture ... I mean tease out any gaps in their story.
Oleg and Svetlana will eventually go along with any plan you choose. Although Oleg is reluctant to tell you at first, he mentions he has half a barrel of lantern oil in the storeroom that could be used. As time goes on and as you question them further they reveal:
• The bandits’ first visit was 3 months ago—they
threatened to burn down the trading post and abduct
Svetlana for their own amusements back at their camp
if the Levetons didn’t agree to hand over all of the furs
and trade goods they’d accumulated over the past month
from hunters and trappers.
• Since then, the bandits have returned twice more, each time
within an hour of sunrise on the first day of the month.
The Levetons have learned to have their “taxes” ready and
hand them over quickly—the bandits usually seem eager
to return to their camp somewhere in the Greenbelt,
which makes Svetlana think their camp is about a day’s
ride away.
• The first time the bandits visited, there were a dozen
of them—10 lower-ranking thugs led by a cloaked man
armed with a bow, and a woman who carried two small
hatchets. The woman did the majority of the talking
on that first trip, and her black sense of humor and
the way she smiled when she spoke of what fate would
await Svetlana if the Levetons didn’t comply frightened
Svetlana all the more. The woman also seemed to be
particularly sharp and observant, whereas the man
seemed to be a bit more crude and foolish. This, plus the
fact that the woman quite nearly lopped off Oleg’s right
hand with one of her hatchets in a cruel bit of mockery,
convinced the Levetons that she was the most dangerous
of the bandits. As it was, the woman took Svetlana’s
wedding ring right off her hand and tossed it to one of
her men as payment for “not shortening Oleg’s reach.”
• On the second and third visit, only the crude hooded
man accompanied the bandits. The second visit, he
came with only six other men, while on the third he only
came with four. The Levetons suspect that the bandits
have let down their guard and think the owners of the
trading post are completely cowed. Hopefully, when
they visit tomorrow they’ll be even fewer in number, and
hopefully the scary woman with the hatchets wont be with them.
When you are ready to go to bed for the night and ambush the bandits the next morning just let me know where you will be on the map in the format like this: A1 (top left corner). Any traps or other things you are going to set up please also tell me what they are and where you are going to place them in the same format.
"It would be so great to be done with them. We'd be in your debt. You can stay the night free." A big smile runs across her face. "Let me go get a bottle of wine to wash down the meal." She goes to cleaning off the table and returns a short time later with some wine, pouring each of you a glass.
"My dear lady, you are *far* too kind." Here's hoping it doesn't taste of vinegar, though. I doubt it will be vintage this far out from civilization. Melismar, very subtly, also waits until his companions have had several slurps, and made sure there's no ill effect, until he tries it himself.
"These bandits don't like surprises. Anything out of the ordinary may spook 'em. Especially one with the look of a noble 'bout him."
The sleep first plan is a good one for sure but we lose the chance to pry them for information first. I been around these types most of my life and one thing I can tell you for sure is the LOVE to brag about stuff when they think they got the advantage. The trick would be to coax the info out of them by offering them a weak challenging. If Mel can make em think its just him here as the guard emissary from Restov they might laugh him off as no threat and be willing to cough up information readily. Then after we nail em and take a few prisoners we can torture ... I mean tease out any gaps in their story.
"Oh dear, I liketh not this plan at all. No, no, no. Not one tiny jot. I'll not have you think me craven, but when they arrive tomorrow, I'm sure they should see nothing out of the ordinary but Oleg himself -- I think everything should appear exactly as it would were we not here, and the poor Levetons were proposing to hand over their, um, tribute, just as they always would."
well that settles it then. Sleep first then attack anything that doesn't drop like a loaf of bread. We will need to engage the awake ones fast. We don't want em waking up their buddies.
I will be in A3 peeking out the door. I assume the loot is on A1? Dean? Where are you best kept hidden and safe? Oro? Mel?
Incidentally, this would have been my first choice under a normal gaming session with my buddies. However, I thought Mel would want to chat with them and RP that end of things first. Lol I guess I was dead wrong.
"Generous of you, my lady, but I fear I must abstain since tomorrow I require all of my reflexes. If we triumph, I will take you up on your offer."
The plan for tomorrow seems to be coming together. Our magic wielding allies will attempt to put them to sleep, and Krallek and I will clean up the rest.
Well that settles it then. Sleep first then attack anything that doesn't drop like a loaf of bread.
Melismar blinks a little in bewilderment at his coarse friend's metaphor, but says nothing. Perhaps the fighter's family had an odd ritual with bread.