Kevros adds to Quince's neighborly comment, "And being more neighborly comes with its perks. It may persuade us to think to ourselves, that Bearik, he's a stand up kind of guy, a neighbor, we should scratch his back since he is scratching ours."
Bearik smiles at Kevros's statement, "Well there are a few things to be aware of, but just what I know..." He points out to not go much father than a certain part to be safe, basically clear out/explore this area first. The rivers are about right. Some ruins he points out are roughly in certain places and such.
"Anything else, I would invite you in, but the place is still a massive mess?"
Quince makes a few notes on the map at Bearik's direction, "You spoke of lizard folk tribes do they have fixed settlements or are they semi nomadic. It might be wise for us to note where not to go looking for trouble. Ruins, I wonder if those are the ruins Alkron is interested. Do you know who built or is rumored to have built these ruins?" Quince looks around confused. I guess he has a home near here. I guess that mess is what he wanted the prisoners for. "Thank you Bearik. You have been a great help."
Quince, I do believe that Bearik stated that the lizard tribes may be open to allying with us. At least, more so than the kobolds and definitely mark the kobolds settlements as points of contention. ... Kevros shifts in his saddle to give his left side a break.
"Well there was a group of priests that came through and made a small monastery, there was a temple to Eristil I believe with several other monuments or statues to him as well. The lizardfolk are a bit nomadic, though they and the boggards are near the end of where I pointed out for where you should be exploring. If you would tell any releasees that if they want some good honest work, to come over to these boulders and just sit on them, we can come to a good arrangement. Yes the Kobolds are here. Bearik shows certain locations on your map. The kobolds are to the South East. Ruins more to the South. Temple to Eristil is to the South West.
Kevros looks at Bearik, "Do you have the locations of all bandit encampments and fortresses or at least all of the ones you know about?"
"I don't know where any of the bandits are making their lairs, I would suggest asking the hunters and rangers of the region. I could scry for them, but I would need some special ingredients." Bearik offers.
Kevros nods, "What ingredients do you need and what is your price for services rendered?"
"Some Vendrick root, 5 shoots should be good. A polished silver tray or mirror that is at least 2 feet by 2 feet. Silver, be it bars about 3 pounds, or dust 2 pounds. I will need the silver and roots for each scrying you wish me to do. Payment can come later, a magical item." Bearik says.
Kevros quickly responds ... "And what is this magical item?"
"Any magic item would do, I am sure you will find some on your exploring. Is there anything else I can help you with?" Bearik says though he seems a little agitated.
Observing Bearik agitated, Kevros responds, "I apologize for being direct, however please be specific in your requests? Thank you Mr. Bearik."
Quince continues to let the men talk for a moment, "Well I think the perhaps in time we can take you up on the offer. Thank you for the help with the map."
"Yes, it's good to know that we can call up on you for such a service...Is this where you dwell, Bearnik? " Angeus asks
"I have been direct in what I want, and yet you still deny me. Thus I will go find helpers elsewhere. Just an avenue to get to my dwelling place, though only try to use it if you understand magic well enough. With that I will say good day." Bearik turns around and steps onto one of the boulders, pausing a moment to see if you have anything else to say, then the next thing you know he is gone.
"Prickly sort, isn't he?" Angeus says, a smile twitching her lips.
Kevros shrugs, "Was it me or did Bearik seem secretive about his agenda? What we need is a better spy network or a network in which we can do integrity checks on someone. This will eliminate our inability for bad diplomacy in the future and chase away potentially good allies. Since Tristan is from the area and Quince has some knowledge of this area, perhaps we can form a team. An alternative would be to attract more Greenbelt citizens to the outpost who can vouch for individuals we meet during out Campaign to recover the Stolen Lands.
Quince looks to Kevros, "Lets move on from here."
After a little distance is behind them. "Developing a ring of informants is difficult and expensive. Also can backfire easy. For now I think we are limited to asking around and experience. Though I think with that one we may have put up barriers to friendship. Whether that is good or bad I do not know. He said he will look for help elsewhere. I wonder who he will call on, lizardfolk, bandits or worse."
Kevros mounts up and rides beside Quince on the left.
Kevros nods, "Since Stalker is taking care of the Gnome, should we go collect up Tristian and knock out some of the bounties? We have men to pay for services, make our current allies happy, and we also need to create a treasury of our own to help us succeed in our mission such as creating a spy ring, other important things, and perhaps a larger garrison if we find the outpost becoming too "comfortable"?"
Angeus' grin fades as talk returns to the serious business they've undertaken.
"It's unfortunate, but Bearnik may come be an obstacle to our plans... but we'll have to deal with that when the time comes. she says as she draws up on Quinces right side.
"Yes, lets take care of the bounties..."
"Who knows maybe the giant thing that he is runs excentric."
Quince thinks a moment and changes the subject, "I think the most troubling thing on the bounty board is the Kobolds. Berries and legendary boars aside. We can hunt berries, radishes and demon pigs on the road at any time."
Quince, Kevros and Angeus get back to the outpost before the others, they do their best to map out what they know and prepare for the trip tomorrow. Resting, exercising, etc. Tristan gets back with Vale, they have scrounged up food for over a dozen people laden with vegetables, berries, roots, a turkey, and several hares. Sala gets back last to report that there is no much in this 'Hex' region around Oleg's outpost, though the ground is plains and could be farmed, just need to make some wells.
Unless there is something else pressing, state if you are leaving any of your equipment at Oleg's, or on your horse. You all are eating a warm breakfast of sausage, eggs, milk, and bread.
S'ala speaks as the group breaks bread together. "If we are to make this area safe for our settlers, we must pacify the local humanoids. To that end, this One respectfully suggests going to the kobold dens and either working out a pact, uprooting them, or ending their presence here. These creatures have a chaotic nature and will be thorns in our side continually otherwise."
Kevros nods, "The thing about Kobolds are, this can be an easy put down or a campaign depending on the size of the den. We should scout it out the den first, then make the decision to attack or build a larger force. At least that is the rumor, I do not know for sure myself."
Kevros gut instinct tells him otherwise, "We are starting to get off in a tangent. Let's deal with the bandits first, I am quite sure that an Outpost raiding party and one camp is not all that is to offer. We need to scout out for more bandit fortifications and map the Stolen Lands as we go. Putting down the kobolds first is not against our charter since they are within bounds and they are practicing banditry, however we will be adding a second active aggressor to our already outstanding one and we are giving the bandits time to regroup. Let's first collect the bounty for our past operations against the bandits and then set out." ... Kevros looks around ... "Where's Tristan?!
Angeus nods, "Kevros is right, we can't get distracted now that we've kicked the hornets nest. The Bandits will probably already or will soon know that their outpost was attacked...they'll be looking for who did it and proabably won't be caught so unawares."
[ooc well looks like we are cutting straight to the end then, you guys are all over the place[/ooc]
Taken the fight to the bandits, I like it. So do we know where the Stagg Lord is held up?
So I guess we are just going to go start exploring hexes on the map?
Quince nods, "Time to talk some more to the prisoners the newer batch may have more info about the Stag Lord than the first. Angeus and Tristan I think might be the most effective. Angeus did our questioning before and they all just watched Tristan serve as headsman. I think that might make for incentive."
Kevros nods, "I agree, Tristan should be standing around sharpening the beheading weapon while we question them. If we can not extract the information from them, then we will need to scout out for them."
OK, I'll talk to them...Tristan you come along, try to look suitably executional." Angeus says, beginning to walk over to where the prisoners were working and/or held.
Calling out, Angeus has them all convene before her, looking to the side to make sure Tristan has come along.
"Alright, you're all here because you were defeated fair and square by us Wardens. As you also know, we've treated you fairly. If you've contributed and shown genuine remorse for your association with the Stag Lord....well, you're still alive. We know there's more of you out there.
We need to know where. How many. Patrol patterns. Defenses. Information on the habits and weaknesses of any other Lieutenants and the Stag Lord himself. Speak up...your continued cooperation" she says , glancing meaninfully at Tristan " well, keeps you in our good graces."
Intimidate
As they bring out the prisoners, Kevros has his repeating heavy crossbow at the ready and remains at the ready.
Several of them speak out, and their words are lost with all the commotion. Assuming you stop them and point to one individual they begin to tell you what they know one at a time.
"There are many bandits, the Stag Lord just requires us to tithe to him some of what we claim each month."
"The Thorn river camp is the closest thing to organization the bandits have, most just roam looking for targets."
"Some of the bandits wear silver amulets that resemble a stag’s skull—these bandits belong to a debased cult dedicated
to a hideous animal demon."
"Besides Happs and Kressel, only a few of us have been to the Stag Lords camp. All of them are dead. Though we know that it is to the South, two days I think from the Thorn River camp." *Many nod in agreement*
"I heard there are undead protecting the Stag Lord's base."
"A man named Dovan from Nisroch was said to be the Stag Lord's main man, but recently a man named Akiros had taken that position."
"There used to be a bridge crossing the Shrike River to the southeast, but bandits ruined it. They say the old bridge keeper Davik Nettles haunts the place now."
"Breeg Orlivanch, a foul-mannered trapper, has been missing for some time—they say he gave up trapping and joined the bandits!"
"A group of evil monks and priests of a lesser-known goddess of hatred, extortion, and spite once dwelt on the northern shore of the Tuskwater to the south. I bet there are still cultists out there, and that they’re behind the sudden rise in banditry!"
"There are worse things out there than the Stag Lord and the other bandits, there are trolls and fey, evil fey."
Tristan smiles as they spill the information out.
Well that tells us a lot. How do wish to go on? Should we just start heading south hex by hex? Or should we explore a perimiter around Olegs? May be best to do a perimiter then go south. What do you guys think?
Quince nods in agreement with Tristan, "I think that the perimeter is a good call."
Kevros nods to the prisoners, "If this information checks out, we may make things easier on you all as long as your good behavior remains." ... Then turns to Quince, Tristan, and Angeus (and S'ala if he is there), "I agree, let's make sure the outpost is secure first then proceed south and recording as we go."
With that decided and most of the day ahead of you on the 5th of Pharast... The group heads out to the West or NorthWest to explore for a day?
Lets go west and circle around the outpost, we should explore and return here until we expand out then we can start camping in the wilderness.
Quince smiles and nods in agreement, "West and sunwise around the outpost. Should be close enough that we can return here in the evenings."
So on the 5th of Pharast... the group goes West to explore that area. You find nothing much in the plains and in the sparse forest you find a couple deer trails. Nothing of much importance.
On the 6th of Pharast... you search the plains and the main road that leads to Oleg's. There is a simple caravan of 3 wagons. Most of their wares are shoddy, but one is a carpenter, another a basket weaver, and the last is a tinkerer.
On your way back to Oleg's on this day you see a lone figure traveling with a mighty pack, for one so small.
On the 5th Day of Pharast
Kevros also nods in agreement, "That sounds like a good first day patrol and mapping route. However, we will need to start expanding further away from Oleg's if we ever want to find the bandit leadership, dispatch any other bandit camp, and explore our charter's designated territory." ... Later ... "Regardless of how boring it is, we need to make sure we map the area and notate information about the area including deer trails."
On the 6th Day of Pharast
Kevros pulls along side of the Caravan within conversational distance, "Hail traveling artisans, where are you headed and have seen any thieves or monsters on your current travels within the Greenbelt?"
Returning to Oleg's
Keveros treats the small traveler no different than the others and rides up next to the lone rider within conversational distance, "Hail citizen, where are you headed and have seen any thieves or monsters on your current travels within the Greenbelt?"
"Greenbelt, Ha! That's a good un. We be traveling from New Steven to Restov. Nothing has accosted us much, we fixed a few bandit's shoes and traded with em as payment for passing but that was yesterday. No monsties." Says an elderly man holding the reins to his oxen.
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"Ach!!! Don't hurt me!" The kobold yells.
Kevros lights up a bit and does not really mind they did business with the bandits, "Were the bandits on horseback or on foot, and could you point out where you conducted your services with them on our map?"
_____________________________
Kevros looks at the Kobold like candy, "STOP YOUR HORSE AND SURRENDER! THIS IS THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL NOT GET HURT!"
"Nah, they were about a day away, accosted us about this time yesterday. They said they were heading back South, but who knows if the bandits were tellin the truth. They were on foot about a half dozen of 'em." He says rather nonchalantly.
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"HORSE, WHAT HORSE, you got a horse!" The kobold yells then has his pack drop over ontop of him.
Quince seems excited at first to be making notes on his map the sparse plains and such seem to bore him after awhile. At several times durring stops he runs his hands in the soil to check if is good for growing. He keeps an eye out for moon radishes and other things that the bounty board has a reward for.
[dice=perception looking for "things"]1d20[/dice]
Quince smiles at the approach of the caravan nodding along with Kevros' greeting. He listens to their conversation, "Stay safe," he offers as they leave.
Confused Quince looks about as Kevros levels his crossbow and the traveller falls, "Huh what's . . ." at this point he trails off into another language.
Tristan doesn't have much to say to the merchants besides casual conversation.
____________________________
Hello little one, Where did you stumble upon all that gear at? And where might you be taking it?
Quince composes himself when he realizes it is a lone kobold. "Oh a kobold traveller . . . that's odd." He listens and watches the surrounding as Tristan and Kevros address the little lizard thing.
Quince sputters and waves his hand about his face as he brushes Scrams mane from his face and continues trying to keep watch.
Kevros nods to the artisans, "Thank you for your time and take care." ... And rides off with the group.
_______________________________________-
Kevros smiles at the kobold, "Yes, I have a horse and the other horse is you since you are carrying that oversized backpack like a horse." Kevros tries not to laugh as the Kobold stumbles about ... "You can take that backpack off while you talk to us."