Masota takes a few minutes to organize her own equipment before tying a few things to her horse's saddlebags. Having everything situated, she climbs atop her horse and nods to the others. "We've delayed this long enough. Let's put Restov as far behind us as the sun will allow."
Kevros makes sure his horse is tied in a horseman's quick release knot just in case Hala panics and someone has to quickly release her so she or no one else around her gets hurt, then he addresses everyone, "Let me check your riding gear and equipment to insure that your horse will not be lamed from folded over or under riding gear, or you will be thrown, or your gear is not too loose or too tight, and to make sure you will not lose anything?" ... Kevros goes about checking everyone's gear and equipment who will let him. Then he double checks his gear. After all, anyone who attempts to lead or leads must lead by example or not lead at all.
Kevros nods in agreement with Masota, "One last check and we will be off. Trust me, it sucks to lose gear, riders, and horses!"
Once the gear is secure, Kevros mounts up, settles into the saddle ... "I am ready to move out when you are, I'll take rear guard."
Quince makes ready taking time to talk to the horses and get a feel for pecking order. He mentions to the others which horses to keep separated. He stores the map kit in his saddle bags. "Ready to get underway Angeus. It will be goid to be in the wild.
"Indeed it will, Quince, indeed it will." Angeus responds, her face at first happy as she obviously remembers some happier times, then darkens as something more worrisome comes back to her. Shaking off whatever disturbed her she says "I've been too long in the city, Quince, it will be welcome indeed to be free once more in the wilderness."
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I guess you guys are waiting for me to send you off, there are no more issues within the town of Restov. You get to the passing post and find the wizard waiting for you. Assuming you invite him to come along, he nods and joins the center of the group.
Kevros is in back. Stalker is in the front. Alkron and Narcissa are in the back middle. Where are you? Check out the Ivory Lass for marching order.
Saren is 50 feet behind Kevros, for none of the horses are familiar with the Fell Drake yet.
Masota are you fine with pushing your horse a bit to keep up with the rest of the group, or what? Going at the speed of 40 feet, allows the group to get to the Outpost in 16 hours of riding. 8 hours riding today, rest for all horses. Another 8 hours the next. Getting you there in two days.
Going at the speed of 30 feet, allows the group to get to the Outpost in 20 hours of riding. 8 hours riding today, with 2, hour long rests. Another 12 hours next day with 3, hour long rests. Getting you there at the beginning of the 3rd day.
Perception
Angeus will stay with Stalker out front.
S'ala is pre-occupied enough with riding (he usually walks everywhere) and concentrating on the unfamiliar skill, that he doesn't get to look around much except for the usual. He settles into line near the rear of the group (in front of Kevros who wanted rear guard). He watches with some interest as the miles slide by and the surroundings go from the city's built up areas to the nearby farmlands to a more wild, natural setting as they approach the Outpost.
Quince spends much if the time enjoying the scenery and praying quietly as he rides. Occasionally talking to his horse or the others. He does after lunch take some time to match his own time in the green belt with Stalkers knowledge trying to get a general lay of the land.
Angeus comments to Stalker "Hmmmm, flying squirrels are a bit uncommon for these parts.
Two days later you can see an outpost in the near distance, you have ridden the last 8 hours, and it will likely take another half hour what do you do?
The weather was with you the entire time, just some breezes and a small patch of rain. Everyone subtract two rations and two feed for your mount. Did anyone do anything extra during the last camp?
. S'ala catches that bit of conversation but does not see what they are describing. Interesting perhaps, but not particluarly relevant. He lets the steady rhythm of horse gait lull him into a light meditation as they ride along.
S'ala is all for pushing on to the outpost.
Kevros takes in the scenery as he rides along behind the majority of the party. He keeps one eye on Saren and his lizard since he is not too sure of either and rather be the far rear guard instead of second rear guard. He notices the flying squirrel but dismisses it as part of the local fauna or a migrating animal. After all, he is a soldier and not a scientist or a wizard. Unless Masota rides to the rear to talk to him, he pretty much keeps to himself remaining alert and taking in the nice stroll to the outpost.
Angeus turns in her saddle to look at Stalker "Perhaps someone has an interest in our expedition.". She maintains her vigilance
Perception
Angeus stays with Stalker for a time, discussing various survival techniques. She then will fall back to chat with the others before rejoining Stalker at the front.
Quince is enjoying the time small talk about Erastil, nature, and he has a few campfire tails. He works with any one willing to make sure the horses are well looked after.
Masota will spend much of the trip talking with everyone about their reasons for traveling to the stolen lands and what they hope to accomplish. She's basically trying to get a feel for everyone through small talk.
Sense Motive
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Officially no you are not in the green belt, just entering the somewhat unsettled out area. Farmlands for several miles after Restov, then just open plains. You are still on a road. You see merchants and wagons pass you at intervals during your travel.
Narcissa is actually from the green belt, you learn that a small colony was started about 10 years ago, and it was burned to the ground from Sylvan creatures and an unnatral forest fire. She is coming home to pay her respects to her dead parents, and enjoy companionship on the way.
During camp Saren is looking to find wealth and adventure, same as his fell drake which can speak but is more quiet than Stalker. They know of a legendary weapon or somehting like that should be in an Elk temple or some such place.
S'ala will answer questions dutifully, but will not engage in other small talk. If anyone shares information, he will listen. He prefers the silence and is not uncomfortable if no one speaks for long stretches.
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This rugged trading post is on the southern border of Rostland. To the south, the green line of the Narlmarches looms only a few miles away.
Upon getting closer you see that 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.
As you come up to the one entrance, see Oleg's Map, through the palisade—a 30-foot-wide wooden gate. It’s a DC 15 Climb check to scale the walls of the palisade. The gate is closed but has two torches burning above it.
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You would recognize that you don't see anyone else at the gate, then in the outpost, or even on the palisades.
Perception DC 10:
You can see if not hear a person on top of the largest house in the outpost, he... is fixing the roof with a hammer.
Svetlana will actually take you to the stables first to drop off the horses, leaving the groomer, then tell you that the rooms in the south would be great for you and your help, for that is where the rooms they rent out are, it would be nice if your guards could protect the front doors but that should not matter for the bandits won't come until the morning or the day after.
"Once we sit down for stew I will send Oleg out with the rest of the stew and some wine for you boys." Svetlana responds with in between addressing all the other questions.
"Ah, you are one of those wonderful groups that are going to tame the Greenbelt, two have come before you, one about two months ago, and the other was about a week ago."
"The bandits want everything that's not nailed down, they have come for the past three months, taking our livelihood rather than our lives, first there was a whole band of them..." At this point she has brought you into her house and stops for Oleg is coming down from the roof.
He’s sweaty and gruff. Only recognizes you with a nod, then Svetlana tells him to take the stew out to the others. She quickly pours up some bowls before he takes it out with an unhappy look on his face.
Once Oleg leaves to take the rest of the stew to the guards Svetlana continues telling about the bandits and such. "We sent several requests to the city for reinforcements whenever a trapper or hunter stops by on their way back to civilization and we even have recently received word back with a promise that a group of guards will soon be sent, but no sign of such protection has yet arrived. You are the first real chance to stop the bandits.
The bandits threatened to burn down the trading post and abduct me for their own amusements back at their camp if we didn’t agree to hand over all of the furs and trade goods we’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."
"We have learned to have our “taxes” ready and hand them over quickly—the bandits usually seem eager to return to their camp somewhere in the Greenbelt, which I think their camp is about a day’s ride away."
Svetlana stops her story for a moment to tell Oleg to take a bottle of wine out to our friends as well, while she brings in some wooden cups and a bottle of wine herself, she pours a glass for each of you. Then Sly pops up smiling at her, she pours him a cup as well and leaves to get another cup for herself.
"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 me if we didn't comply frightened me 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 us 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. We suspect that the bandits have let down their guard and think that we are completely cowed. Hopefully, when they visit tomorrow they’ll be even fewer in number, and hopefully the scary woman with the hatchets won’t be with them."
Meanwhile Oleg comes out of the houese puts the stew pot down on the fire. He then pours two bowls and brings them to Fionn and the guards. Do one of them suggest to give him a hand?
Approaching from the south on horseback five individuals come slowly, about an hour after sunrise. About 70 feet away, yes poor perception check, you spot them. Do you know they are bandits, no. They are in simple garb.
Upon reaching the door, Kevros covers the above and once Svetlana greets them kindly, he nods and waves at her. Then he turns around to keep the rear guard secure while the diplomats talk to her.
Quince greets the woman warmly and playfully, "Hello, well we are not here to hinder you that is certain." He grows more serious, "We are to be neighbors. Settling the lands to the south. If there is aid we can offer? We will."
Hearing the request for help, Angeus allows the others to make introductions and gain entry, she walks her horse over to the limit of the torches illumination.
Facing the growing darkness, she allows her eyes to adjust and gazes out alertly.
Perception
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Svetlana, comes down and opens the gate.
Svetlana, "Please come in at least you are not bandits, which is the trouble, I will tell you more over the stew. Where do you hail from? Neighbors? Ah, you are one of those groups, two have already come and gone."[/b]
She gives you the verbal tour of the outpost, see the 'map', as she takes you to the stables first to drop off the horses. Then she tells you that the rooms in the south would be great for you, for that is where the rooms they rent out are, it would be nice if some of you could protect the front doors but that should not matter for the bandits won't come until the morning or the day after. She finally takes you to the tables outside and has you sit down. She brings out a large pot and puts it on the fire. She goes back in and comes out with bowls and a ladle. She serves up the group healthy portions.
You can see if not hear a person on top of the largest house in the outpost, he... is fixing the roof with a hammer. You would recognize that you don't see anyone else at the gate, then in the outpost, or even on the palisades.
Before Svetlana comes down to open the gate, Saren dismounts and pats his mount. It then just bounds off into the dark. "I don't want to frighten the people inside." Saren remarks to any recognition.
Stalker stays outside with his horse for a while, as everyone else goes in.
Masota happily takes the food Svetlana offers and thanks the woman for her hospitality. "So Svetlana...why don't you tell us more about these bandits?"
Perception:
Quince looks about as he stoes his horse. "This is a big outpost but few are about . . . I hope we have not come at a bad time."
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Svetlana, tells Quince, "It is just Oleg my husband and I, we came out here a few months back to fix up the old place and to get away from the city."
"The bandits want everything that's not nailed down, they have come for the past three months, taking our livelihood rather than our lives, first there was a whole band of them..."
"We sent several requests to the city for reinforcements whenever a trapper or hunter stops by on their way back to civilization and we even have recently received word back with a promise that a group of guards will soon be sent, but no sign of such protection has yet arrived. You are the first real chance to stop the bandits.
"The bandits threatened to burn down the trading post and abduct me for their own amusements back at their camp if we didn’t agree to hand over all of the furs and trade goods we’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. We have learned to have our “taxes” ready and hand them over quickly—the bandits usually seem eager to return to their camp somewhere in the Greenbelt, which I think their camp is about a day’s ride away."
Perception
Angeus sits down at the table, eyeing the courtyard "Two people alone in the wilderness is prime picking for bandits. This place was built to be manned my many more, why just the two of you? If you don't mind me asking." she says taking a spoonful of the stew, making appreciative noises.
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She brings some wooden cups and a bottle of wine, she pours a glass for each of you.
"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 me if we didn't comply frightened me 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 us 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. We suspect that the bandits have let down their guard and think that we are completely cowed. Hopefully, when they visit tomorrow they’ll be even fewer in number, and hopefully the scary woman with the hatchets won’t be with them."
Quince listens intently he leans forward takes big bite of stew. "This is good." Pausing to chew he continues,"The question that is before us are we better served following the next visitors back home or simply dealing with the few that may show up."
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"Oh, please, please don't make us suffer through that ordeal of dealing with the bandits again!" she pleads with you, actually dropping to her knees and almost starts to cry.
At that point Oleg comes from the largest building in the outpost. Just North from where you are at. He’s sweaty and gruff. He quickly gets to his wife and pulls her up and holds her. "What do you want, why do you make my wife cry?"He is stern but trying to be comforting at the same time, just being able to be stern.
Masota stands up from her meal when Oleg comes to comfort his wife. "Apologies, sir. We were only discussing your predicament and how to best deal with it." She holds out her hand to introduce herself. "Masota Kaedin. This group and myself were sent here by the swordlords of Restov to tame the stolen lands. If the bandits are truly as terrible as she says then I'd say our first step to settling the area would be to deal with them. Perhaps, if it's not too distressing, you could tell us more about the bandits that visit." She continues, offering a few questions to get the discussion started. "Are they well armed? Do they ride mounts? Anything you can tell us to better prepare for them would be much appreciated."
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Oleg looks at your hand, and nods at you. "Give us a moment, I think I will put Svetlana to bed."
When he comes back, "I really don't like the situation. My suggestion is to keep the gate open and ambush them when they come in to take the stuff. Or keep the gate closed and attack them when they call themselves theives." He asks you to ask the questions again and his responses are short and curt: A few bows, clubs, swords, daggers, each brings a horse, you could also post someone out in the tree lining to make sure none of them get away.
Stalker comes in at the right time, "Did someone just recrommend sniping?" Oleg gets up walks promptly over to Stalker and swings at him, instead of hitting him they embrace for a moment. "You crusty ole B*stard, how is it going?" Stalker says to Oleg.
"Well pretty bad, bandits and all." Oleg replies.
S'ala listens with interest as the innocent women relates her tale of woe at the hands of the bandits. His heart is stirred at her words, but his features do not betray this emotion. "Perhaps rescuing innocents from chaos and evil is why I am on this Path. Sometimes Peace must be fought for and this seems like the right time.".
S'ala breaks his long silence, intoning: "This One will fight to defend this place and restore peace here...should that be acceptable to the others." He nods to the rest of the company gathered around.
"Perhaps the soldier can come up with a suitable battle strategy to take advantage of our position here?" he says gesturing to Kevros.
Kevros listens to the conversation as much as possible as he climbs up the ladder to the parapet walkway. And looks out across the outpost, then out from the main gate, and doesn't realize that S'ala is talking about him.
He walks over to the parapet walkway closest to the conversation, sits down to avoid detection or being sniped, and addresses the group, "How far are we away from the Stolen Lands? In addition, who here has engineering skills? I have some suggestions but I need to know how sound they are and not just a dream." ... Kevros quickly adds ... "Of course Oleg and Svetlana, us remaining here nor any keep modification will be done without your expressed permission." ... Kevros pauses, then adds hinting indirectly on why there is strife within Brevoy... "One of the things I learned while serving in the Brevoy military and that is fight like a swordlord but do no practice their politics nor their diplomacy."
While waiting for an answer, he looks across at the main gate with concern.
"Well, I've no engineering know-how but it would seem that we have a nice ambush site here in the courtyard." Angeus says, then continues "If it's as Svetlana and Oleg say, these cretins will sashay in here all confident, not expecting to be filled with arrows and bolts. Put a couple of us up on the roof of the stables and bunkhouse, another couple behind the wagon and up on the walkways...." She trails off, looking to see if her plan has any support.
Stalker and Saren both look at you with admiration, and nod their heads in confirmation. Oh Boy! This is going to be fun! Saren says.
"I think I will be out with Saren's dragon friend to make sure that none of them get away but I will enjoy your company tonight."
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Alkron speaks up, "Would you wish me to be apart of this 'ambush'?
Narcissa frowns on the topic of the conversation, she gets up and leaves with a 'Humph', she goes to one of the guest rooms.
Oleg nods his assent to the plan, "I can lend a hand if you want, though only after you begin fighting." He says bluntly.
Kevros a little frustrated that his question went unanswered, speaks up ... "Letting them inside is bad. My suggestion is leave the gate open until they are close, then slam the gate shut on their face and let them have it with range weapons. If we have time and they are not stuck, perhaps re-aim the catapults for a certain distance and let them have it when they reach it. They are going to attack the main gate because they have learned in the past that it is not secure. By the way, have the palisades been treated for fire resistance?"
Kevros looks over at the catapults, "On second thought, the catapults need some help. Oleg, have the bandits always attacked at the front gate? I really think letting them is how people get more seriously injured, and things get stolen. I like that ambush idea but keep them outside of the outpost. In addition Oleg, if we prove ourselves, do you mind if we use your outpost as a main base of operations? We can help fix it up, help defend it when we are not on patrol, and perhaps draw commerce and/or more good people to it to help defend and maintain it? No promises for drawing in commerce or more people, but the first two points are achievable."
Kevros studies Oleg's emotions, "Oleg, are you worried about food and water? The wild can provide us what we need until we can extend the walls protecting agriculture and farming." Kevros looks at the gate, Is the main gate well oiled or does it move freely. "In order for my ambush plan to work, that gate must shut easy enough to cause chaos while we rain matches down on the raiders. I wish we could use oil but that would be bad for a palisades fort."
S'ala follows the exchange of discussion about the tactics with interest. "This One agrees that keeping the enemies outside the walls would be safer. Is there a sally port or other way out of this stockade to help encircle the foes?".