"Maybe we want to spend some time and rest first? We've all been up for a long time now."
Valkus nods in agreement. "We should be fully rested before making a move, whatever that may be."
"Yes, whoever needs rest should have it. I am surprised that I am not flagging myself at the moment."
"In regard to the bandits: I would not trust them as servants under threat of force or otherwise. They might have been moved by desperation, but they still preyed on innocents. I support the branding option because it does serve as a second chance of sorts. Naturally, the soldiers will have the final say when they arrive."
"I agree with you all. We should gather our strength and rest. If we're not going to be chasing after bandits right now, then there is no point in chasing after other teams. True, there are some rewards for kobolds and bandits, but from what I understood, there's a much bigger reward in taming this area. So I would propose for all of us to get a proper rest, and then start with the exploration tomorrow. My preference would be to go straight South, but I would accept any other suggestion you might have. So, what say ya?"
"I am in no rush, being less then alert in the wilds is dangerous. I suggest we avoid the forest for now and stick to the open areas. At least until we have grown accustomed to the dangers this land has to offer. This will let us see enemies coming from a great distance and make mapping the region a slightly less rigorous task. I would suggest we go south east from here to start."
"South east is fine with me. And although I love forests, the notion to avoid those in the beginning, if possible, is a sound one. But let us see what we might uncover once we start exploring. I am trained in the ways of the wild, do you want me to scout ahead of the party?"
"Southeast is as good as any other direction. It would be better if we had a clear destination or goal in mind when choosing a direction. But that will not always be possible."
Marlina suggests we rest for 8 hours, and then regroup and plan when we awaken. we can also get to know each other better.
"Resting is fine, but we'll still need to sleep tonight. I could use the rest myself. As for taking any of the bandits with us . . .. What tasks would we assign him? I'm not averse to picking one, if I know what he'll be doing."
Valkus furrows his brow at Gareth's concerns. "I would not deign to press anyone into service against their will. But the truly repentant should have some recourse by which they can be seen to have been truly redeemed. I have nothing against the branding. In fact, I think it does not go far enough. If we batter the bandits into submission only to send them back into the world that turned them to banditry to begin with, what good have we done them?" Pausing for breath, he considers Josef's question. "There are many ways that we can make use of an extra pair of hands. At the very least, they can tend the horses and aid in setting up and tearing down camp. There may be some among them with other skills as well; hunting or trapping, perhaps. They know the land better than we do, and they understand the way life is here. We may have charters that grant us authority, but authority without understanding or compassion leads only to despotism."
Lorald checks his crossbow as he speaks.
"Frankly I do not trust any of the bandits. I would not like to have a possible spy and traitor among us while we are out in the wilds. It would be far to simple to ambush us or leak information, as well I do not wish to waste my energy keeping an eye on them. Their is the matter of collective crime and sentence. Would we spare one the fate of the others, if so which would we choose. A man with skill would have greater value then those without yet by the same token that skill made his crime all the more a personal choice in my eyes."
He shoulders his crossbow bring his full attention to the matter.
"As things stand we simply do not have the ability to deal with so many bandits in any manner of repentance. While this may change in the future we must deal with the present. For now we make our recommendation and leave it to those with the ability to handle it. Less we give up on our endeavor before we start to tend to these bandits."
Valkus frowns in consideration, nodding as he listens to Lorald's reasoning. "You are correct that we lack the resources to personally see to the redemption of each and every one. They have committed a crime, though whose laws have they broken? Brevoy lays claim to these lands, but as it stands, we are the full and only extent of her arm here. They have surrendered to us, and that grants us the authority to decide their punishment under both Brevic law and under the River Freedoms. We may freely turn them over to Brevoy, but I admit I have little understanding as to what their fate would entail if we were to do so. Perhaps you could enlighten us to that point?"
Sighing, Valkus takes a seat, leaning forward and resting an elbow on his knee. "If we were to take only one, we could keep them in check without much problem. They have demonstrated no loyalty to their own lawless ways, and surrendered without a fight once their leader had been deposed. I admit it is a risk to take any of them on, but it is a risk I am willing to take, and a responsibility I am willing to shoulder. I don't blame you for your reluctance to choose who among them might be spared. Allow me one chance to choose a candidate, using my own methods. If the rest of you find the candidate to be truly wanting, they will be consigned to whatever fate the rest of them might share when turned over to the Brevic soldiers, and I will let the matter rest without another word."
"The church of Abadar has a strong influence in Brevoy, they normally play a hand in matters of justice. You can expect them to be fair, if they find the bandits repentant. They have far better methods of knowing the truth then we do. I would expect that ether a term of imprisonment or more likely a term of service will be their punishment. After which they will be free to do as they will. Should they expose them as unrepentant then they would likely die, one does not deceive a cleric of Abadar easily."
Placing a hand over his mouth as he suppresses a yawn.
"I have said my peace and will retire for now. Do as you will. Our departure will not wait and I intend to be well rested."
Marlani reflects: "You know, these ones are probably just down on their luck; I know the charter prescribes the particular justice, but if we employ some of them, they'll probably have a better life, but also stay out of trouble. If we are to be exploring and settling the lands to the south, there is plenty of opportunity for wholesome work."
"We could offer then a contract as an alternative to the punishment the rest of the larger group has suggested."
GM: It's hard to tell the state of the "prisoners" based on the noise in the group IC channel; how many of these prisoners were left at the trading post, and what was their status?
"This may sound strange, but I agree with Taldoran on tis one. One or two of them might be a boon to us, and I respect the idea that the bard had - if we offer them an alternative, at least some of them, it may be worthwile. Now, I have no idea how Valkus here plan to choose them, but I'm ready to accept his authority on this matter, just like all of you're ready to accept mine in terms of ways of nature. For me, that is enough...for others?"
"I am against this idea. How would we trust such a man not to run off with our horses if he is entrusted with their care, as some of you suggested? He would have to be watched when the rest of us sleep. There are other risks that I am sure I am not considering as well."
"Let's put it to a vote. I am against the idea."
"If it comes to a tie then we should play a game of chance with the winner deciding the out come. Something simple, like drawing the highest card from a deck or the longest straw", he continues.
If no one responds immediately, Gareth will place attend to his new horse and try to get a feel for the new steed. Once he is satisfied he will replace the horse's current saddle with that of his late horse.
Speaking to the horse he says "Another sturdy mare, I see. I hope you feel comfortable wearing Chaser's saddle. She was a fine animal, may she rest in peace."
"Now, what to name you? Does anyone have a suggestion?"
Marlani also retires for a rest.
Valkus carefully takes in Lorald's words. Taking his departure as assent, if not approval, he bows his head. "Sleep well." He listens as each of the others says their piece, smiling in thanks for their support. Though he is disheartened by Gareth's frank rejection, he nods agreement. "A cleric of Abadar might read the truth in a man's words and heart, but what can he know of the beauty of redemption that saves the wicked from their own ways? Abadar is the scale, but Shelyn is the rose." Valkus sighs again, the deliberation wearing on his soul. "I understand your concerns, Gareth. Perhaps you may be the wiser. I concede myself to democracy. I am for it; that makes one for and one against. Lorald seems a no, and Marlani a yes. It is tied at two for each. Aran? Josef?"
"I said that I would not oppose the idea had we a planned use for the man. General flunkie isn't very planned, but it is a place to start. I have an idea for some questions to ask in order to help us pick out someone less likely to betray us. If we can find one with family in the area but not with the bandits, that would be a very good start. Such a man would have a reason to want to do well without the bandits."
Valkus, emboldened by the gains he's making, turns to Josef to engage him fully. "The planned use is to demonstrate that an outlaw that willingly accepts honest employment is capable of being reformed. The nature of his employment, aside from being honest, is unimportant. We are wandering explorers, spurred by the vain but noble goal of civilizing a land descended into anarchy; in terms of employment, we have little to offer beyond, as you put it, 'flunkie'. I would be willing to take him on as a personal servant and assistant, though I doubt that that would be deemed acceptable." Creasing his brow, he waves a hand absentmindedly while he organizes the rest of his thoughts. As he talks, he begins pacing back and forth, slowly at first before picking up steam as he winds up.
"It's true that a man with family nearby would seem to have less reason to betray us, but in fact they likely have more; if for family they betrayed their neighbors and countrymen, then for family they will turn on us as well. Furthermore, if what has been said regarding the clerics of Abadar, any with family that are truly repentant would likely be afforded the opportunity to return home, while if they travel with us, they will be kept from home. Therefore, if they agree to travel with us, it is more likely that they are unsure that their freedom would be assured otherwise, and more likely would betray us to secure that freedom!"
Having talked himself into a frenzy, Valkus comes to a stop before Josef. "Therefore, the candidate that poses the least immediate threat to us is one who fell in with the bandits for lack of any other place to go or family to turn to. If he has fallen in with his brothers in crime as brothers in kind, he is more likely to join them in punishment than abandon them in repentance; if he were willing to die a bandit, he would not have surrendered at the first sign of resistance. A man with no other recourse and no great love for his fellows is the man who has the most to gain by accepting our offer and the least motive to betray us. Such a man is the man we want."
"The man with no ties to the community is not more trustworthy. He has the least reason to care about the community. The man trying to provide for a family is the one most likely to have turned to banditry after finding no other answers, but desperately wanting another. We already know that those who want to be reformed, can. If your purpose is to prove the known, then we have no reason to take the risk."
Lorald is fully rested and eager to get underway. Roak and Sai where laying down near by as he prepared Mith for the journey. Making sure everything was secure in the saddlebags and well in place. Checking his own person as well. Soon he was ready and waiting on the others.
Valkus frowns, seeing the tide turn against him again. He takes a breath before making one final, last-ditch rebuttal. "If it is known that those who want to be reformed can, indeed, reform, there is no risk in proving it. You take it for granted that those men want to and can be reformed, and so, by your own reasoning, there is no risk. However, we have no way of knowing whether or not we will be betrayed by any of those men, and therefore we have no way of knowing if any of them can be reformed and it is that uncertainty that introduces risk. The experiment is not invalid." Breathing out, he deflates. He has pushed too hard, and perhaps has lost it all. "I am willing to take on a man with family as well as a man without. If you are still willing to take on a man, even if only a man with family, it is that sort of man we shall take."
"If we do take a man with us, I can place a supernatural mark upon him and tell him that it would slay him should he betray us. It actually is nothing more than a tattoo of a month's length but he may well believe it capable of punishing treachery. Also, I would be able to track it for a short distance if he chooses to flee."
"If we settle this matter it still leaves the question of how to proceed on our journey. I am for confronting the tribe of kobolds."
He was starting to think everyone was nervous, they seem to forget the very things they spoke of. He could understand that as he was young once.
"We are headed to the Kamelands which is where the kobolds are said to dwell and were sighted. We start by heading south east, if we hit the Shrike river we can't go east anymore without heading into the Nomen Heights."
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So you saddle up and head south east. It takes you you three hours of riding to get out of the hex. You can tell that you are following pretty closely after another group of riders, team Antlers to be precise.
Upon entering into another plains hex its still day, do you want to ride across this hex(in which direction?) Or explore it?
"Well, let's find a spot and make camp. Eusebius! You and I will start by gathering some firewood. I imagine the others can work out who will be doing what."
After the two return with wood for the cook fire, and hopefully enough for the overnight watch (even if it takes multiple trips):
"What do you feel qualified to do in camp, Eusebius? I mean, I can find things to assign you (like cleaning up after supper), but is there something you think you can do better or that you like to do?"
"Obviously, we need to set up a watch overnight. How do we want to split it up? I think Lorald's blood wins him the mid-shift, since nobody else can see as well at night as he can. Other than that, I'm figuring whoever's gonna make breakfast should be half of the third shift."
"Ugh; The cordial in these parts is angry gentlemen."
She also will help setup the camp;
Afterwards she tries to wash away the hangover with some of her standard travelling wine, and by campfire will tell a story of a grumpy town drunk with a cursed tankard (every few weeks a live frog would appear in the tankard).
Still lost in thoughts and enthralled by the beauty and strangness of Marlani's story, Aran does not pay too much attention to his surrounding.
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Coming form the north you find an old lightning-struck oak tree that stands atop a low hill. It is noticeable because it is the only tree within a two mile radius, also the tree looks eerily like a claw reaching for the clouds.
You decide to check it out when Lorald spots a section of earth that has been disturbed not long ago in a hollow on the tree's north side.
Dismounting he makes his way to the disturbed earth.
"I don't know about anyone else. But I have a fair amount of curiosity when it comes to things out of place."
Removing a dagger he uses it as a make shift shovel to carefully dig by removing top layers of dirt.
While Lorald is busy with checking the disturbed ground, Aran asks the rest of the company to remain there, so he could study the tracks at the site. Dismounting his newly acquired horse, he starts to look for almost imperceptible clues and tracks of any passing creatures.
Initially, Gareth is taken in by the lone tree's singular appearance. It would probably make for an excellent milestone on a map. That conjures the matter of who will be responsible for mapping the wilderness that they travel through. And then Gareth wonders how one goes about mapping wilderness in the first place
When Lorath beings to dig, Gareth dismounts and stands nearby with his sword drawn in case an unseen enemy should appear.
Perception
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Lorald digs up the disturbed earth, with only a dagger and no assistance it takes him about half an hour or so. Once he's done he finds a heavy leather cloak wrapped around something.
Bringing it up to the surface and unwrapping it you find a very fine dagger, a wand, an expensive looking silver ring and a heavy, rain-damaged book.
"I wonder if someone was buried here. At the least, it looks like some unfortunate soul's possessions."
Looking the items over he lays them out.
"If you find anything in these lands and their is no body. Then it's safe to say it is stolen. With the state of the dirt I would say the recent hiding place of some bandit or thief. If anyone has the ability to detect magic or a practiced eye, they may want to look these over."
He had seen a mage or two in his time on patrols. He knew a wand when he saw it. But he certainly could not tell much more, he put away his own dagger once he cleaned it off.
"Somebody buried some things that were important to them under a clear landmark. Recently, too, since the digging was relatively easy to spot. Is there a family crest on the ring? Anything obvious in the book to identify the owner?"
Half an hour later, Aran finishes his scouting, and with nothing to show but the tracks of a lightly armored half-elf which were probably about three score minutes old, he notices Lorald finishing his digging with only a dagger. With a sheepish look on his face, Aran points that: "There is a shovel and also a miner's pick on my mule, Defiant there. Plus a whole lots of other outdoor equipment. You guys are free to use it, should you need it in the future..."
Gareth finally gathers his wits and casts Detect Magic on the items.