Sams proves to be the best font of knowledge on the bandit lair.
The former bandits now working under the party's auspices were never part of the Stag Lord's personal band. They sent him a cut of their plunder each month, but most never even met the man before witnessing his execution.
However, as a former henchman of Kressle and Happs, Sams has visited the Stag Lord's fort once or twice. Although that is not enough to cement the directions in his memory, he does recall a few key details.
It is built within the ruined shell of an old stone fort or large tower on a hill.
You also remember that it's very important to stay on the path leading to the fort's gate and never stray onto the hillside. You just aren't sure why.
Comparing Sams' description with Wonky's geographical knowledge and map making leaves one clear location for this bandit stronghold: the shores of the Tuskwater, a lake in the Kamelands region of the Greenbelt, which serves as a confluence for the rivers that cross this land.
The Tuskwater is approximately sixty miles south from the trading post. On horseback, it will be a little more than two days' ride to reach the lake.
Once the initial traps are laid around the perimeter of the outpost, Svetlana leads a few indentures in packing supplies for your next expedition.
Garess appears conflicted. On one hand, he relishes the opportunity to distinguish himself as a commander by defending the fort against the bandit army's attack. However, he also knows well your prowess and understands that your plan, if successful, will bring you the glory instead.
As you prepare to set out, one of the indentures asks if you have any orders for while you are gone.
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Ahto pulls Captain Garess aside, and speaks quietly to him. "I can see the frustration on your face, Captain. You want to prove yourself, and you see those opportunities being taken from you." He gives the man a look that clearly indicates that the captain should not bother to deny it. "What you are doing is honorable and necessary. There is a very real possibility that we will fail, and you and your men will be the last line of defense against the brigands. Make your preparations on the assumption that we will, in fact fail, and you will be more than ready to stop them. Doing your duty with purpose and with honor will bring you the recognition you seek in due time."
Once he has concluded his conversation with Garess, Ahto address the indentures. He does not pull them aside, but makes his address quite public.
"Your orders are to remember your oaths and honor them. Obey those here placed in authority above you. Defend this Post and its inhabitants with your lives. Any act of cowardice or betrayal will be considered a forswearing of that oath. Oath-breakers will be sentenced to death by slow-hanging, no quick snap of the neck, no clean death. Am I understood?"
Paval pays little attention to Garess as he talks.
"I'd suggest we travel parallel to the main route, preferably under some cover. That way we should be able to avoid being spotted by the bandits while we can keep a clear line of sight. It would be best if we spot them before they spot us. Having the element of surprise would be very helpful."
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Wonky takes little stock in Captain Garess' grumpiness. As they prepare to leave, she comes up to Sams and hands him a small vial.
"This has worked well before," she says as she smiles at the big man, "but do please try not to get yourself killed when you use it. It makes you such an awfully big target!"
Wonky heads over to find Ahto and team.
"I would like to request an evening of rest here so that I might prepare some reagents useful for our foray into the wilderness. I cannot be of much use to this band of heroes as a warrior, and if I am to be of any use then I will need time to prepare."
Wonky works through the night hours, collapsing early into the dawn for a few hours prior to the group setting out.
On the morrow, after Wonky has prepared a new vial of alchemist's fire and modifying her stonebow to launch the vial, the party sets out to scout the bandit army's advance. The rolling plains between the outpost and the forest expedite your travel as you skirt the treeline.
However, pausing at midday to rest and eat lunch, you find yourself with a choice. You could move into the forest and towards the old bandit camp, or you could progress into the hills and towards the river.
Which way will the bandits travel? If you encountered them, where would be the best place to fight or hide?
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"What do you think?" Ahto asks the group. "Would the bandits approach through the forest or through the hills? If it is a relatively small band, I would wager the forest; they could move quickly and quietly and remain relatively unseen. If they are a larger force, they will likely be horses or supply wagons with them. They would need to run between the hills and have access to water."
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"I would rather approach via the cover of trees myself," Wonky suggests, "as I make use of them within combat to fire down upon our foes."
She shakes her head at Ahto's suggestion. "It would be extraordinary to find a bandit band with horses and wagons. There is the suggestion that Thrune monies may have augmented their force, but it would be hard to imagine that they would be that well supplied."
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"The bandits have been paid to attack, according to our newest indentures. Either their patron provided them the means to succeed, in which case they will be well-armed and provisioned, or she is using them as a gambit to draw us into a larger scheme." Ahto replies. "Given the likely outcomes, I would almost prefer to find an organized force on the road ahead."
Wonky and Ahto each make compelling cases, but what do Paval, Hexa, and Sams think about the conflict looming in the near future?
The party proceeds through the more open country leading into the hills of the Kamelands. To avoid detection, most of the party keeps to the shallow valleys between the hills. Hexa and Paval take turns creeping atop the hills to scout ahead and keep watch for movement as their fellows march along.
You reach the area of the previously discovered gold vein before the dwindling light and creeping fatigue compel you to make camp for the night. So far, you have not spotted any signs of the bandit force.
Breaking camp, you proceed south among the hills until the Thorn River comes into view. Your path turns southeast, parallel to the river's course.
You spot the bandit army.
Despite the fact that morning is waning into midday, they are still striking their own camp, north of the river crossing where the waters of the Thorn and the Shrike converge. It is hard to judge from afar, but based on the size of the camp, Hexa and Paval estimate that the force may be three to four dozen strong.
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"A large force; too large for us to handle alone, but one that would not prove sufficient to breach the Post," Ahto remarks.
"I suggest we try to gather what intelligence we can, and perhaps hit them with a few raids. They appear undisciplined, with weak commanders. We might get lucky and disperse the force if we manage to inflict sufficient casualties. If they press on, we will need to hurry back to the Post to defend it."
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Wonky peers with caution over the hills into the enemy camp and utters a low "Wowwww..."
She makes sure that Sprocket is close by her side and comes up to Ahto.
"I would trade in my left pinky for one of those cool seeing-spy-glasses that my father has worked on before. That would be an excellent way to gather more reconnaissance information. Nevertheless, I wonder how best we might use the landscape to our advantage in order to fluster and hinder our foes..."
Wonky begins scheming.
However, you spot some places not far from the river where the ground appears sodden and almost marshy, perhaps from recent flooding. Luring the bandits in the direction of one of the more sizeable marsh patches could slow them down, cost them bits of equipment, and even demoralize them.
As you are considering such approaches, something else catches your eye. A woman possessing surprisingly vivid red hair is approaching stealthily - or at least trying, despite your keen gnomish eyes.
Something about her is almost reminiscent of Kalima, although she appears far more road-weary. She has no weapons drawn, but you are unsure if she is part of the bandit force - perhaps one of the mercenaries hired by the baroness?
Leaving behind the escort, made up of a handful of the sellswords who bolster the bandits' ranks, you creep towards the band of adventurers. The men, including a lizardman, are very focused on surveying the camp at the riverside, so they fail to notice your approach from their flank.
Hexa is chomping at the bit to creep forward into the heath and sedge, lying in wait until the bandit army passes, and then picking off men from the rear.
"Like stalking a herd of elk," he insists in a growling whisper.
Paval likes the idea, but he fears what would happen if the enemy too quickly took notice of their missing comrades. He instead suggests double backing the way you came, using your smaller size and quicker pace to keep ahead of them, and setting traps to lure in small numbers of them at a time.
"For instance, we could dress up a fake camp site, making it look laden with food and drink. I'd bet my left hand that they couldn't resist," he proposes. "We could cut down their doomed, curious scouts and slip away before they investigate their disappearance."
She emerges from the cover of trees, walking on her toes in her well-practiced way. Surely, a masked woman in stilettos arouses suspicion of the onlookers. The Vixen counting on this far more than her alluring attire. Her vermilion qipao is not trashy by any means. The side-slits reveal some skin, as they travel further up the thigh than her prized boots. The Vixen is proud of the muscular thickness, as much as she is of the freckles on her strong shoulders. The gloves cover her arms from mid-bicep down. Only enough skin is shown so eyes searching for flesh see strength.
Those watching her approach surely see the confidence in her poise.
Once close enough to speak she says to the man whose face resembles a mountainside, "There will be no touching. Just watch me with suspicious expressions." Without really trying to get a read on the faces, she adds, "That's adequate."
She holds out her hands calmly, with poise, showing she is not armed.
"Ye can call me Vix, but whatever ye say, say it calmly. By 'calm' I mean, for example, don't attack me should I say something like, I'm with the bandits, here to lure ye into a trap."
Vix waits to see if the strangers will freak or not. She's clearly banking on 'not.'
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Wonky alerts the team just before the newcomer arrives.
"There is a woman with the most iridescent crimson hair that I have seen since my time away from the Varisian markets making her way pseudo-stealthily from the bandit encampment towards our position. She holds bare no weapons but she does not look like she would shy from a fight."
Wonky blinks her green eyes behind her spectacles and screws her face up. "It is a very curious thing; if she is a spy, then she is not sneaking properly. If she is an assailant, then she must be a monk though I do not know of any monastic orders that dress as she is dressed. And if she is a...."
Wonky trails off as the stranger arrives and greets the group. Sprocket growls a low-throated tone.
"Be at ease, Sprocket," Wonky says softly.
The Vixen replies, "Ye might wanna postpone congratulating the cleverness o' me ruse until we're able to finish our conversation without our torsos feathered." She turns to the not-cracked brick to explain, "That's how the archer phrases it. I guess he thinks 'feather' is a cuter verb than 'shoot.'
"Speaking of cute," she goes on glancing at the gnome, "Me ruse got more convoluted when the archer took aim in ye're direction. I told him he'd miss, ye'd run off, best I lure the lot o' ye into the woods."
Turning her attention back to the cracked brick, she says, "But to answer ye straight on how I got into this mess, I heard about an assassin—an archer hired to take out a small group, specifically you, as they travel an anticipated path."
Vix momentarily lowers her emerald eyes to the ground where the party stands.
"They wanted a man who'd not hesitate to kill a li'l lady. What they got was a man who'd enjoy it. I followed him, intent on stomping his eyes until me heels pierce his brain. I had no idea there'd be four thugs in his lair. I played it cool, said I want in on the job. 'Good enough to sneak up on the lot o' ye,' I told 'em.
"They bought it, so here I am."
She has more to say, but gives time for a reply. Hopefully from a pair o' lips and not an arrow sailing toward me back.
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Ahto considers the woman's story. "How did you hear about this assassination plan, and why did you move to foil it? Have you been hired as a mercenary of some noble, or deputized as an officer of justice?"
His tone is not hostile, but very matter of fact. An interrogation without bullying or intimidation, at least so far.
The Vixen finds the 'why' part strange. She wonders, did I skip the bit about the archer enjoying...?
"Self-employed," she says to answer the last question first. "The pay sucks. Call it a labor o' Love." She stresses the word 'love.'
She then casually goes on, "The archer wasn't me intended target. How I heard's dumb luck, really. I felt the urge for a nibble, so I stopped at a brothel and made eyes with a sweet painted Tien. I thought o' how she looked like a doll, how she should be home playing with dolls, how funny her pimp would look with his severed penis plugging the hole in his lung. Then I overheard two ass-hats at the bar talking about the archer.
"I suppose I told ye I learned his whereabouts, but failed to mention the reason I mean to kill him. He likes 'feathering li'l girls.'"
Sure they heard it that time...
She says to the gnome, "Turns out 'li'l' was in reference to yer stature. I took it to mean child-killing, but still," she faces the cracked brick—obviously the leader—"me semantic misunderstanding don't change the undeniable fact he deserves death."
She has more to say but waits for a response. If ye don't let 'em get a word in, they'll think ye're a babbling loon.
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"I understand your intentions," Ahto replies. "I was asking after your credentials in matters of law enforcement. A civilized country cannot thrive on vigilante justice. Galt is a clear example. If you are inclined to assist us in taming the lawlessness of this land, please allow me to deputize you and record your status as a member of our retinue."
This... legitimizes me calling.
The Vixen makes no attempt to mask her small smile.
"I'm honored, and I accept—under two conditions. One, I must never be asked to kill a woman. Stop One, yes. But I will never apply lethal force against a woman. Reasons later.
"I expect me deputization will be unceremonious, but if there's a badge, I cannot pin it on me outfit. Reason later."
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Ahto nods in acknowledgement. "I have no expectation that anyone here carry out execution of the condemned, be they man or woman. I have chosen through my calling to the priesthood of Abadar, the God of Walls and Ditches, to bear the weight of that responsibility. As to your second condition, I have no badge of office to offer you at the present, so it is of no immediate concern. The matter can be discussed at the time you disclose these reasons you have mentioned."
Ahto turns to the other members of the group. "Do any of you have an objection to Miss Vixen joining our company? It should be known that I was granted insight to her character through Abadar's will. She bears no malicious intention towards us."
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Wonky screws her ‘cute’ face in consternation at the newcomer’s words.
Such a striking figure - I must have heard something of someone such as her!
”I trust you, Ahto, to see things that my eyes cannot. I accept your offer of allied assistance, Vicks, though I fail to see how a sniper would think that you were not engaging the enemy in a suspicious way if we persisted in this communication. How do we proceed from here?”
It's not lost on VV that the only other woman present is checking her out.
"Eyeing me the way y'are helps. I don't mean as in the way it boosts me ego," she says with a rather proud look. "I mean being genuine helps."
Realizing there's no time for a Bluffing 101 lecture, the Vixen gets to the point: "What I need to do to trick the enemy is be a hundred percent truthful. Not one of us, self included, can tell a lie. A lie is easily forgotten or contradicted. I told you and the bandits the same truth: I'm here to lure ye into a trap, and here's the only truth ye need to play yer part in the bluff:
"Ye're in a dangerous land well aware men lie in wait to kill ye, yet ye're following a strange woman into a destination of her choosing 'cause ye've been magically convinced she's with ye, not against."
She pauses to let the truthfulness of her words sink in.
"I had no idea one o' ye could will his god to vouch for me." She tells the cracked one, "No offense meant: ye don't appear holy and magical. Likewise, the bandits probably expect I am magic, seeing how all I got on me not in plain sight's me mithral undies. So we won't explain how-or-why ye follow me. Let 'em imagine I used some sort o' bardic suggestive spell on ye."
IF they follow me...
The Vixen waits to see if the others want to attack per her plan.
The Vixen isn't particularly bothered by the ogling. Turning heads is a skill that The Child Inside learned long ago, and one that her new calling banks on. The rose arms herself with thorn and petal.
She smiles pleasantly when the not-cracked brick pays a compliment, but what he says next surprises the Vixen. He underestimates me strength just as I underestimated his intelligence— "Sorceress—yes—that's brilliant.
"I mean, how am I to bluff I've bardically suggestive magic without me grand piano in me purse?" Bardic! The hells was I thinking? "Sorcery'll do. Long as they believe ye're under me spell, they won't risk breaking the enchantment prematurely. They may just wait for me signal."
Unless o' course they've already pegged me a bee-esser.
"But only one way to find out if me hair-brained scheme'll go as shoddily planned." Subtley gesturing to where the sell-swords await, she asks in the inviting tone of a gracious hostess, "Shall we?"
The Vixen regrets that the scouting party accompanying her is made up of sellswords rather than the bandits they were sent to bolster - the bandits would have been easier to fool and easier to dispatch. It's all the more vexing that whoever is bankrolling these men matches their desire to see these adventurers dead with an intelligence to see it done effectively.
The band the Vixen was accompanying is only four-men strong, but she could tell that they are trained killers. Two of them are lookouts-turned-sharpshooters, keen to feather their targets. The third is a mercenary priest, selling his blessings for coin; fortunately, he is not nearly as astute as the Abadaran brick, else the Vixen's bluff never would have worked.
The fourth mercenary is perhaps the most dangerous - and the most important to take down. With his arrogant boasting, the Vixen even caught his name: Baldar the Summoner. He never fails to remind others in the rough army of his magical talents, and if left unchecked, he could pose a particular danger to the trading post should the army reach its target.
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"I am ready," Ahto replies, his thoughts going to the descriptions of the priest and the summoner as he assesses which will become the focal point of his attack. "If the rest of you are as well," he says to the rest of the group, "we will follow."
Ahto makes sure his crossbow is cocked and loaded, and carries it at the ready.
The Vixen isn't entirely sure she can get the sell-swords to surround her targets first. None specialize in melee as she does. Just the same, her promise to deliver the group will lend credibility. Milani, I mean to put the strength ye've given me to use for the second time. Should I fall, I kindly direct me soul to Miss Vikki Finn.
"Weapons in hand, but held passively, or they'll just shoot the lot of us. I need the big to shield the small. The only reason they let me lure ye is I said the gnome'll flee and alert the main force. If they lack a clean shot o' her, they've reason to hold fire and play this me way—
"—that being an implication ye're under me spell, which'll be broken first act o' hostility. I'll say encircling ye's insurance none can run off. I might say attack on me signal, but you just attack when first blood's drawn—hopefully by me."
VV leads the way once all are ready.
The Vixen leads you back to the enemy army's scouting party. The four mercenaries, presumably hired by Baroness Althea, emerge from hiding to encircle you. Although they aim a mix of bows and crossbows at you, they are visibly surprised that the Vixen's ruse has worked, leading the adventurers right into their clutches.
The archers murmur their surprise, while the wizardly one keeps a spell ready on his lips. The fourth, a jowly man in a chain shirt, keeps his light crossbow trained on Wonky, as he barks, "Good job, lass. Now, the rest of you: throw down your weapons!"
The Vixen slinks her way to within 10 feet of the archer who spoke.
"Easy, Gents," she says. "Me persuasive charm don't work on the dog. If ye'll allow me, I can, in me own suggestive manner, compel the lot to do exactly as I say. Barking orders'll break the influence I've on 'em."
Continuing her bluff, thanks to a willing participant, the Vixen repeats the cracked-brick's word, "Friend," then goes on, "They cannot possibly see me any other way, even at arrowpoint. Now will you kindly let me continue my work?" She asks this in the tone of an artist who is both proud and eager to please. "Getting them here is only half of it. I guarantee you, I can get weapons on the ground within a minute. As soon as weapons touch ground, that is the signal."