Kalima moves close to the bandits These idiots seem unable to learn they're not fit to face ME as she moves her hands and intones an arcane lithany. As she extends her hand a cone of changing colors appears in front of ther and catches both bandits, one of them seems unaffecte but the other falls to the ground unconscious Take that you filthy knaves!
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Seeing the flash of light and nauseating display of colors makes his guts turn. Teuni holds back, not wanting to get mixed up with Scaleless magic. He instead focuses on the Bandit he had injured before,, taking aim with his bow before unleashing another thorn arrow at his hated foe once more.
Tal continues to stand by her companion, Chacta was much further away, his ears flicking as he ignored the distant fighting.
Seeing themselves completely outnumbered after two of them fall unconscious the bandit facing Sams and Paval drops his sword and says Hey! No hard feelings! I was just joking with you Sams my friend!. The other one start running towards the forests trying to escape.
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Wonky thinks fast when she sees the last two bandits surrender and flee, respectively.
I do not like firing my bow at someone running away, but they ARE bandits. We could let him flee and track him, but we have Sams, and we likely have another prisoner as well. There is also the unknown archer in the woods as well, and we do not know their loyalties. What humanoids lie in these woods?
Wonky loads her stonebow and aims it at the forest from whence came the masked arrows, trying to use her enhanced senses to detect what lies therein.
"The enemy of our enemy may be our ally, but is definitely not our enemy," she shouts at the woods. "Show yourself! We mean you no ill will!"
Please do not be a monster.
The running bandit is still harried by Teuni, who isn't willing to let them escape uninjured. He advances forward, launching another barbed arrow to inspire the bandits to run harder. Though an injury would make it easier to track them later.
He steps up cautiously around the trees he had been hidden by, revealing his head as the bandit gained distance. Tal stood just a step behind, her crested head barely visible around the trees as Teuni surveyed the Other Scaleless group. His emerald colored reptillian eyes widened as he looked for the one speaking before he stowed his bow, exhaling roughly as he released his frustration.
He stepped fully out when no threat presented itself, his mottled green scales mixed well with the natural green of the forest. He stands at his full height, trying to makr a good impression. Though being seven foot and four inches tall made him tower over some scaleless.
His body was mostly lean muscle and a strong frame though he wore little in the way of clothing. Save for some worn belts and only what is needed to get through the day's activities with minimal restriction.
He is wearing wooden armor, which is protecting vital areas and relying on his scales to protect him in other spots. His body bares many, many scats. Several criss cross his muscular chest, claw scars on his arms and some of his muscles are deformed because of past injuries. He had the appearance of being mauled.
Teuni's head frill are more brightly colored, extending slightly as he curiously looks at this group.
His tail wavers side to side as he moves. Though it bears a couple spikes, it's too thin to be of much use aside from looking threatening. His legs are digitigrade.
He pulls off the wooden flaps protecting his ears before speaking. "Not. Enemy." He mimics the words. "Why. Let go?" His common is rough, but he gestures with a clae in the direction of the bandits. Though his gaze was sweeping the group as he looked for the one that spoke before.
Tal leans out looking at the group, then Teuni and back again. This thick bodied dinosaur has a whip like tail and a long neck, it's head is topped by the crest of a backward curving horn. It bears the scars where chains had rubbed its scales through its skin and a circular scar where a skin tight collar once was. Its mottled green scales shine lustrously, showing it was well taken care of and it often stays very close to its master. Standing a few inches taller then him.
Its backward curving horn is a copper red in color and around the arches of its eyes as well. The underside of its body is a yellowish desert sand color, which runs from the bottom of its jaw to the bottom of its tail tip.
When he notices Wonky he tilts his head and regards her crossbow curiously. His third eyelid to clear his eyes. While not losing sight completely.
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"Wow...." Wonky manages, her mouth agape. Realising her position, she shakes her head slightly, closes her mouth, and lowers her stonebow.
That's a lizard-man! And a bigger lizard! Oleg and Svetlana were right!
"Do you know Svetlana and Oleg Leveton from the trading post?" Wonky blurts out, half-forgetting the semi-dangerous bandits still in their midst. "They know you."
"Yes. Svet'ana. Teaches." Teuni says this with a sort of reverence. "O'el'eg." He was gruff, respecting the scaleless strength and attitude. "Know and honor. Oteg say. No trouble near mound."
He looks at the downed bandits as their chests rise and seeing they were not dead makes his pupil's narrows into slits. He puts his clawed hand on the head of his handaxe, where he hesitates. His voice is rough, his want to kill his foes rising to the surface as his muscles flex. "Track. Ki'el. Stag Man." His hand wavers at the shout of the large man, Ahto, speaking loudly. Before he looked over at the short child scaleless, Wonky. "No troub'e come to mound..."
He looks at the one who fights with fists, Sams, perplexed by his words before taking his clawed hand from his Handaxe. Taking ones kill is not wise... He speaks roughly. "Sevt'ana teach Sca'e'ess tongue." He points at the downed Stag men bandits. Speaking roughly, he was almost disappointed that he couldn't finish them. But it saved him from sharpening his Handaxe. "Your ki'el, Hexa hunt ones that run." He struggles with the language, not so used to talking. Though at the mention of the runners he turns. Preparing to hunt them down as the large man was still chasing them. He scratches the nervous Tal.
Throughout the exchange Tal looks back and forth, nervous but waiting for a command from her master. She stops her moving and closes her eyes as Teuni scratches her chin scales, comforting her.
Chacta comes trotting up, rolling his lips at the new people, before snapping at Teuni-Hexa. Who ducks easily out of the way, expecting Chacta's attack before chuckling throatily at the fiery horses antics. Chacta though stares impassively at his scaled master before exhaling roughly at Teuni and shaking his head.
Teuni stops and looks back at the small Child-like one again, curious about the word she had just used. He looked back at the runners and after a moment of indecision turned back towards Wonky.
He taps Tal on the chin, motioning towards the small Child-like scaleless. He did something similar to Chacta, the horse, who huffed in annoyance.
Tal looks between Teuni and Wonky before obeying the directions she was given. Chacta brushed by both of them, trotting up to Wonky before stopping. Tail whipping.
Teuni and Tal both step up to Wonky, swaying ever so slightly as they walked but in a few strides they were within a few paces. Where Teuni halted and kneel down, his digitigrade legs folding somewhat awkwardly under him. "Svet'ana say, intro-du-ce self when meeting Peop'el'e" These words were difficult, he nearly bit his tongue trying to say them, though comically his forked tongue was wagging out of the front of his teeth as he hissed the -du-ce part. Though he wasn't laughing, he felt strange struggling so much.
With that said, He taps his chest with his fist. "Teuni-Hexa, this..." He scratches the large one horned dinosaur on top of its head. Tal leans down, giving a grunt of pleasure at the attention. "Teuni-Tal" He then points a claw at the horse. ".. it, Chacta." He snaps his jaws together, in a biting motion and points at Chacta before laughing again. His laughter came from deep in his chest, like a gravelly rumble.
After that he then gestures to Wonky and her strange furred creature, waiting for her self introduction.
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"Oh, wow!" Wonky says, over-joyed at the introduction. She thinks back on what Svetlana told her.
"Keep an eye open for Hexa, a huge lizard with another huge lizard as a pet, he's weird, smells funny and drives a hard bargain but is as decent a fellow as you'll meet around these lands."
Wonky considers her words carefully, bowing her head slightly.
"I am Wonky Prong. Junior. This is Sprocket!" she points at her dog with pride.
She looks around at the group. "The big one with the sword is Ahto Ulrych. The slim one with the sword is Paval Fagyaszt. The lady is Kalima Raustald. The biggest one is Sams." Here, Wonky drops the tone of her voice a touch. "He used to be a bandit, but he has decided to help us out instead of following a life of villainy."
Her face takes on a bit of a frown. "I do not know who the others are, but we were asked by our sponsors to rid these lands of the bandits, and they are bandits. Ahto leads our efforts, though I think Kalima thinks she is in charge most of the time!" Wonky says merrily.
She looks inquisitively at the large horned lizard, her voice taking a far-away tone. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Teuni-Tal," she says, entranced in the moment.
So. Fascinating. Must find out more.
"Teuni-Hexa, I am charmed. I have noted that Madame Svetlana refers to you as Hexa. Would you prefer to be called that? I confess that I know little of your language, but I would endeavour to attempt to refer to you in as close a fashion as you would prefer with my incapable tongue."
She catches herself. "Oh! And Chacta! I had not meant to overlook you, my equine friend. I am pleased to make your acquaintance as well!"
The gnome quivers with excitement.
Chacta looks away, tail whipping.
Tal leans down when her name is said, looking at Wonky cautiously but inhaling her scent sharply. Ruffing Wonky's clothes slightly as she breathed so closely to her. She pulls back when Hexa clicks his tongue, though she isn't as cautious as she pulls back this time.
Hexa tilts his head, pondering Wonky's words and following her eyes as he worked to understand the words. Though not the terminology. He repeats what names Wonky says and chews on Junior for much longer. Though when she says it was nice to meet him he bows his head deeply. "Hexa. Yes. Simp'el'e. Can teach tongue's." Svet'ana often called him Hexa, it was practical and simple was best. Then what she said hit him...
"Wait... Stag Man worth coin?"
"Traza... Stag man worth coin?" This thought was astounding to him, so much so his tongue slipped and he spoke his native tongue instead. He was almost furious because he had been burning the corpses to avoid feeling the need to eat the meat. Burning them was wasteful, but not burning them was more hurtful to his survival. He didn't want Svetlana to be angry with him and if she was Oleg wouldn't trade with him anymore.
That couldn't happen.
Hi all, I'll be out of town from friday 28th july to friday 4th august.
I may get some chances to post but I'm not sure how many. So if I don't post much during that time don't think I've abandoned you!
Tal makes a low call at the swift purposeful approach of Sams, Hexa's head snaps up and he reacts his frill extending fully as he looks at the one who Fights with Fists, Sams. Rising to his full height in response and waving Tal back behind him. Though as he does so Tal starts growing hair which grows from the back of her head down her spine to her tail tip. er muscles seem to become leaner as well...
Hexa gave Sams a strange look before laughing throatily at his words, finding humor in the Scaleless's lack of knowledge. He reaches back and pats the parasaurolophus muzzle calming her as he spoke. Raising a hand to halt Sams. "Tal and Chacta eat..." Unable to think of the word he waves at the plants. "... not chi'le'd or man." He indicates Wonky then Sams then before adding. "Man hurt her, choke and chain her. Tal hold no anger for man's." He rub the scars around her neck scales then before patting her muzzle again, placing her chin on his shoulder.
As Sams gets close to Chacta, the fiery horse rolls his lips but pauses when Hexa clicks his tongue loudly at him, giving the horse a stern look. The horse snaps his teeth, watching Hexa and Instead blasts the man with an annoyed horse sigh from his nostrils. Tail whipping he throws his head to the side, narrowly missing Sams and only trots a few feet away before stopping, tail whipping furiously.
At Sams other question he puts his hands up on either side of his head, his frill snapping flat as he mimicked a pair of antlers. "Stag man spoke of horned stag man, say 'Kiel Hexa for fighting them." He shrugs his shoulders before laughing throatily again. "Keep hunting Stag man's, no horned stag man come. Keep hunting, unti'el stag man's dead." His statement is matter of fact, no remorse or hesitation either as fighting was the way of life for his people. Killing your enemies too, meant securing your territory and protecting the tribe. Being a loner didn't change that fact he had Tal, Chacta, Svetlana and Oleg to protect...
I mirrored off a young stallion my uncle had, he was a fiery, spirited biter for about a year. He often ran off but for some reason if you were being firm with him he listened. But gods forfend you turn your back on him, he would bite shoulders and hair and drag you around like an a$$.
I was thirteen and for some reason he liked me, still tried to bite me but not as hard as he did other people. When he ran off I waded into a small lake to go get him. Because he was standing in the middle of the water and whinnying at us, I assume he was was like. "Ha ha, can't get me. Suckers." But once I waded out there he followed me out.
Not my brightest moment, knowing the horse's history. XD
But Chacta is a horse that was loose for awhile in the Stolen lands alone until he got tangled in trees and Hexa found him. Hexa hasn't had time to try and break him in. Since he is working with Tal more. Its on the to-do list.
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"Stag Man? Who is this Stag Man, Hexa? We know that the bandits are led by a woman," the gnome looks confusedly between Sams and the lizardman.
An inclination hits Wonky just then.
"Oooh! Hexa, have you met or seen a man out here in the wilderness named Lothar? Not a bandit, mind you, he would have dark hair and dark mustachios," here, the gnome draws her fingers across her upper lip to simulate the look of a moustache.
"He is Svetlana's brother, and she is worried for him," Wonky finishes.
He looks to the small one again, Wonky, before tucking his legs again and kneeling down. "Don't know, see no chief. Hexa Keep Hunting, even chief. No Chief, Ban-deet's..." He tries to use what Wonky calls them, unsuccessfully "... Stupid." He remembered it was what Svetlana had said once. This was a better name for them.
He tilts his head and thinks about her question before shrugging his shoulders. "Not... Sure..." He becomes especially focused when he asks. "Where see? Track El'othar? Helping Svetlana was in his best interest and would make Oleg not so tense. It possibly meant too that the bandits could use her clutch brother to hurt her. This couldn't happen.
Hexa tilts his head as he answers immediately, regarding he who fights with fists curiously. "Ban-deets worry Sven'lana & O'el'eg, attack Tal, Hexa and try to take Chacta. So we kiel them. Trade Ban-deets things, burn rest. Things fine then." Scaleless were strange, did they not kill that which threatens them? Hexa was interested and confused by this.
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I am confused, but then again, I am having a conversation with someone who likely does not understand me, and also, our lizardman friend.
Wonky giggles aloud at the mental joke she made, glancing at Sams with mirth as she does so.
"It sounds like we could be helpful to you, Hexa!" Wonky offers. "We are hunting the bandits as well, to the benefit of Svetlana and Oleg. I think it might be good to rely upon one another, if you do not mind me asking you all sorts of questions, that is," she adds with a wink.
The small child like scaleless understood him better them he who fights with fists. The offer of a war party sounded very useful. Much more so then being bloodied by every encounter alone. His thoughts halt when she winks though. His attempts at mimicing it leads to him merely blinking one eye then the other with his third eyelid.
Casting that aside he nods at her proposal. Accepting her words he leans down and scraps up some soil, rubbing it between his claws as he speaks to himself quietly. Tal leans in, listening but not comprehending what he was saying. "Si confn de thric vucat thaczil, de thric taoul, si mi ios tribe usv ancestor. si mi vi deevdru di wer edar vur Mazludeh... kartahir wer donoap lae coi annishic." He finishes his prayer, rubbing the soil on the wooden talismen he wore about his neck.
Satisfied he releases his wooden talismen and mumbles. "H'okay" Looking at Wonky then he nods again. "Be H'elpful, kiel ban-deets. Questions fine. Learn and survive. Hexa fights with you." He offers her his forearm, clawed hand extended to her.
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"Why, I speak Draconic, Sams," Wonky explains. "When I said that I knew little of Hexa's language, I may have been over-stating fact." She includes Hexa in her explanation. "I would not have fared well in my studies into the arcane energies connecting all matter in this world if I did not know how to use the most arcane-infused of all languages - Draconic!" She smiles as she gathers speed. "Now, while I am conversant in Draconic, Hexa, I still maintain that I do not KNOW much of your language apart from the sheer linguistic skills necessary in order to make myself understood! And that brings me to my desire to ask you questions such as 'Are you from these lands originally?' and 'Are you part of a clutch?' and 'Is Mazludeh a god with a specific sphere of influence?'"
Wonky takes a deep breath. And glances between the faces of the two large men.
"I am sorry," she breathes heavily. "I get excited when a new avenue of knowledge opens up to explore. I should learn to pace myself."
Sprocket whines and nuzzles the gnome's thigh.
Hearing her speak draconic was a breath of fresh air. Making things easier to communicate. Much, Much easier. He was more animated now, Tal seemed more interested as well. As his normal language was what she was used to. "Ehtaha Mazludeh vur zulf zara arytiss ancestor's, Veskat jahus vrant isthasy shar jaci lokri Hexa. l'grada si ornla svent jacion ekess xkhat rimem. nurti tuor ekess qe rimem hak, xkhata ir mrith wer thaczil vur Tal."
"Found Mazludeh and left behind warrior ancestor's, Veskat was clutch brother but he banish Hexa. Feared I would kill him to become chieftain. Never want to be chieftain then, became one with the land and Tal.
He withdraws his forearm then, gesturing to the land before pointing off to the distant horizon. "hexa kitril persvek vi thaczil di moxt shar pab, inik vur nugri, ir di asildk vrantvrakic. de asildk ergriff veskat vur hexa gahri, stronger svern wer jihl di vrant isthasyi vur myvishi.
sia cirau struggle, throden fade de nugri vur return ekess save lyriki. tiichi wer wielgtor ihk asta majakir tobor, hak wer cycle widegoaic. slathalin, gahri vur loreat. shio luh di coi.
hexa ui aovbiaj cycles, harroc persvek saurivic di tribe vur jahus halkvri vesket drove mojka. tepoha ti return, hexa ui vin sjach jaka." When he mentions Veskat he gestures to his mant, many scars.
Hexa born in a land of little but water, sand and hunger, one of ten eggs. From ten only Veskat and Hexa survive, stronger over the mound of clutch brothers and sisters.
My kind struggle, many fade from hunger and return to save others. Honor the fallen for their giving life, then the cycle continues. Fight, survive and die. All part of life of tribe.
Hexa is twelve cycles, hunter in eyes of tribe and was until Vesket drove away. Have not returned, Hexa is a shadow now and unwanted."
"Mazludeh new, Svet'ana know little but teach about Faith . Hexa have... vision and understands Faith . Do... new things." He looks to Sams, his injuries fairly obvious. "No move?" Hexa tilts his head as he asks the question then speaks a incantation and taps Sams with a long claw.
A warm pulse comes from where he touches Sams. Like a slow ripple across a pond, some of Sams injuries heal knitting together .moments after Hexa touches his skin. He looks from Sams to Wonky then, shrugging as he stated simply in common tongue. "New things."
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The gnome is entranced, drinking in the Draconic and the new cultural exposure with the succour of a desert nomad finding an oasis. She shakes her head after a few more minutes, realising the events happening around her, Hexa, and Sams.
"Um, Ahto, what are we going to do with this bandit?" Wonky asks the Abadarian.
Paval and Kalima have been curiously quiet. The sorcerer always has an opinion, Wonky thinks with a smirk.
Seeing the palm up raised extension from the small child like Wonky Hexa tilts his head. At her greeting in his tongue he attempts to do it her way. He extends his hand palm down, though his dwarfs hers, and touch his palm to hers before looking at her unsure of what to do next.
That was until Sams picks him up in a bear hug, to which he just goes rigid. Such affection was unknown to his kind. So he just waits until its over before reacting with a throaty chuckle, amused greatly. Scaleless were very different, though their differences made them stronger and his people weaker in comparison.
At the odd question posed to large angry man, Ahto , Teuni looks at the bandits then him. "Do tribe not kiel foe? Why let go?" so many questions, new thing's and strange ways to comprehend.
The fourth bandit stops dead in his tracks, held in place by a divine will he cannot fathom.
Shivering, he slaps his hand to a dagger at his hip, but then, thinking better of it, throws his arms up.
"Have mercy, I beg of you," he cries.
Midday is past, and the shadows of trees, rocks, and bodies begin to lengthen.
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"Well, we seem to be gathering people wishing of mercy from the benedicted one. If you gather many more of these to your flock, Ahto, then you will be able to start a ministry!" Wonky quips.
"I think we should probably make camp in this area for the evening, all things considered. Time and a half for us to sort our stories, suggest a trail, and settle the fates of these new people! Is this a good place for a camp, Hexa?"
Two bandits lie unconscious on the ground, one who succumbed to Kalima's magic and the other who fell to a combination of Sams' fists and projectiles from Wonky and Teuni-Hexa.
Kimber had thrown down his weapons already and now kneels on the grass.
The final bandit, no longer bound by Ahto's spell, is too frightened to fight back. His dagger falls to the ground beside his short sword and bow, and he slowly approaches the party with empty hands raised.
Looking over the haul, Sams finds that the confiscated arms include 3 shortbows with perhaps 2 dozen arrows, 3 short swords, a rapier, 2 daggers, and 3 throwing knives.
The weapons have not been well cared for, but they are serviceable, if not remarkable.
"So you're not going to kill us, right?" Kimber asks hopefully.
"Yeah, we wasn't even aiming to 'urt nobody," the other bandit says plaintively. His eyes dart around and he chews his lip before adding, "Well, we weren't aiming to kill nobody, at least. We were just eyeing that trading post, looking to see what 'appened to Haps and 'is boys. They came to shake down, I mean, collect the protection, er, fee from the trader couple yesterday, but they ain't come back."
"Hey, wait a spitting minute!" Kimber exclaims. "Sams, you turncoat, you went with Haps! What the devils happened?!"
Keen on listening to Ahto, Kimber and the other bandit shuffle over to where the inquisitor indicated.
They even drag their unconscious comrades to the ordained spot and then kneel on the ground.
"You're all here for the bounty on the Stag Lord, right?" Kimber asks eagerly. "We might be able to help with that, if you let us go."
"Kimber, be silent! Don't betray the Stag Lord!" the other bandit hisses.
"It was inevitable that Rostland would clean house in the Greenbelt, by Gorum, and they've sent competent bodies to do the job. Do you not see their bloody Thunder Lizard? It was a good ride, but I'm not throwing my life away for that mask-wearing drunkard. So how about it?" Kimber asks Ahto with a wry smile. "The Master of the First Vault surely allows for agreements and fair bargains. Let us go, and we'll tell you about the Stag Lord, who marshals all the bandits in these parts."
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"The terms of any such agreement may not be to your liking, brigand. Lawlessness will no longer be tolerated in the green belt. In exchange for your life, your freedom is forfeit to the station of indentured servitude until such time as you have been judged to have repaid the cost of your predations. If you attempt to escape before you have made sufficient recompense and have been granted your freedom, your death will be slow and painful, rather than the quick and clean one you now face."
He looks at the man, awaiting his response.
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'The Stag Lord'? This is the second time that we have heard of this strange figure. He is a mask-wearing drunkard. Perhaps an alcoholic Razmiran? We are not so far away from that worrisome place.
The gnome filters through bits of information, her fingers idly fiddling in the air as she considers things. She fixes the brigand known as Kimber with a stern glare of her own.
"We had heard that your leader was female, yet you keep referring to the 'Stag Lord' as a male. Would you elucidate your statements, please?"
Such obedient fear is probably how he remained loyal to his bandit lord for this long. You have a modicum of optimism that Kimber can be reformed.
After Wonky's question, the two conscious bandits look to each other before saying, in unison, "Kressle."
"You're speaking of Kressle," Kimber clarifies in an almost haunted tone. "That woman is almost as frightening as the Stag Lord. Most of us fell into banditry just for the money, but she's got a cruel streak like I've never seen. Jerrick, you know her business, right?"
"Aye," nods the other bandit, whose name you now know. "She came round these parts not too long ago and started robbing folks freelance. Some of our boys caught her and they tried to, er...'attack' her. She wasn't having that and lopped fingers and whole hands off'a them with her hatchets. The Stag Lord was impressed and recruited her on the spot. He put her in charge of our camp on the Thorn River. Hells, it was her bright idea to put the squeeze on the trading post for protection money."
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"Are you all then admitting to the crime of banditry and submitting yourselves for indenture as I described? If so, the information you provide, if it proves useful in the tracking down and disposal of this woman, Kressle, and the Stag Lord will be taken into account when determining your length of your service. If you are accepting indentured servitude in lieu of your death sentence, speak your oath now before all those assembled here."
Ahto eyes the men sternly, making it clear that he is quite ready to carry out their sentences.
"So it's death or servitude?" Jerrick asks his comrade.
"Such is life, it seems," Kimber sighs before turning to Ahto. In a mock-grandiose voice he continues, offering their oath, "We swear, before all the gods and their emissaries gathered here, that in return for a stay of execution - long may it be - I, Kimber Menan, and Jerrick of Pitax, as gentlemen robbers now turned to the wondrous path of redemption, will be bound to your service as you scour and tame the Greenbelt, thank you, and amen."
Jerrick nods his head mutely before managing to squeak, "I swear. I will abide."
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"Very well, then," Ahto replies, sheathing his great sword and settling across his back. "Your two compatriots will be shaking of the effects of Lady Kalima's spell soon. We shall see if they, too, choose to acknowledge the error of their ways."
Ahto walks over and begins roughly rousing the men with the toe of his boot against their ribs. "Get up!" he barks at the men. "The time has come to face judgment."