"Get on with it then," Tursk says without moving his spear an inch from the bandit's neck.
The bandit licks his lips beforespeaking " Ya see, me and the boys been paired up with this feller, Rohkar Cindren for a while. We have a lodge upon yon hill, trail likely take ya like to it, fouls snow" He spats "Twas the unnatural snow that brought the troll and her little fey gang. Rohkar feel in with em, and well me and the boys didn't like being in a troll stew pot"
A gives a half hatred smile " It were the troll hag who hard the idea to be taken that noble lady. All on her!"
Did they take her to the lodge?
Helen pinches her nosebridge and closes her eyes, thinking to herself, "I'm fluent in ten languages, but I still struggle with bumpkin-ese."
"Okay," she says, holding out a hand for pause, "So you're saying that your boss joined a troll, then you and your partners split off to do your own thing? And now this hilltop lodge is occupied by Rohkar and the troll?"
"Yes, I'm sure the troll really had to put the screws to you to get you to attack the caravan. Lead us to this troll and you can go in peace."
The Bandit nods " Oh yeah, they took her to the lodge. We..umm didn't slit off really..ya see we was atold to watch the road. An nota wanting to be eaten, we watched the road."
He looks at Tursk "Oh sure, I'll show ya the way, long as ye be aletting me go. I don't want the troll or Rohkar upset with me, you understand. So Hows about I show ya where it be and get?"
Tursk nods his head.
"Very well then. March. But I warn you, try anything rash and it will be your last bad decision."
Vic gets off the prisoner's back and sheathes his dagger. He immediately took to the flank as the party advances to the lodge.
Kat makes sure to keep the bandit in front of her. People like him, you never want to have behind you where you can't see what they're doing, no matter how well they're tied!
Mildly flustered by all the violence she's seen (and participated in) lately, Helen tries her best to keep her composure while walking with the group toward the lodge.
with a shrug, the bandit leads you into the hills.Your trail gets slowly steeper as you climb, after climbing at lest hundred feet above the forest floor, you can see a clearing. In the center of that clearing stands a lodge, with a rope bridge spanning a Ravine.
Smoke rises from two of the lodges snow covered red chimneys and a large pile of wood is stacked next to the outer wall. A small outbuilding stands to the east of the lodge and a stone well, blanketed by snow lays to the north. Several tracks lead south( toward you) to the stable.
The bandit looks at you "See, I kept me end ol this. We good?"
Leave the other one to his slumber. Mayhap he will find his way to safety upon awakening.
As they come in view of the lodge, Vic leans in close to the prisoner.
How many are in there?
as I'm crossing the bridge, I look down to see what I can find
"Careful, Jack. The troll and the bandits have had time to fortify this place."
Fidgeting nervously, Helen hesitates before crossing the chasm-spanning rope bridge. "Are we sure this thing is safe?" she asks as she looks it up and down.
"If a troll uses it, it's gotta be able ta hold your or my weight, shouldn't it?" Kat asks, entirely too cheerily. "I wonder if it has tusks and glowing red eyes, like in the stories?"
Barl steps confidently onto the bridge, walks a few feet, then grabs both railings and shakes the whole thing violently. "WhhHHooOOaaAA ThhHiiiSSS ttHHInnngg iiSSS gooooNNNaaa fffAAlllll!!" Barl chuckles and keeps walking. "C'mon Helen! It's fine" he adds with a smile as he keeps walking.
Helen glares at Barl. As soon as his back is turned, she covers her mouth and mutters "Prestidigio". Suddenly Barl's pants feel kinda dirty and grimy.
"Eeepp!" Barl lets out an unmanly squeak as his eyes widen and he half runs across the bridge clutching the seat of his pants.
Kat gasps and then she giggles as Barl runs.
Vic simply shakes his head, then he proceeds across the bridge with his shortbow drawn. Assuming he safely makes it to the other side, he takes cover and peers at the lodge, looking for a target.
Tursk sighs as he pinches the bridge of his nose.
"Erastil grant me patience."
At Vic the Bandit shurgs "Ten, mayhap a bit more. Those critters tend to come from no where and come and go as they owned teh place"
The bridge does seem study to Helen, and the others have left her and Tursk standing on the other side anyhow as they race across. The Bandit, seeing as folks are now paying him on mind breaks off in a run back down the trail toward the woods.
Vic is first across the bridge and luckily has some sharp eyes. Not only is there across bow buried in the snow, but he sees it may be linked to a rope and a bell. If you are not careful, you could trigger one or maybe both, warning anyone inside as to your presence, if the yelling has not already.
Vic holds up a fist as he stops dead in his tracks. He also turns and puts a finger to his lips and motions for everyone to crouch down. Vic then carefully removes his Thieve's Tools by unrolling the worn leather holder. He selects the appropriate combination of scissord and tweezers and sets to disarming the trap.
The cold weather obviously numbed his fingers as he drops the tools and turns his head in anticipation of the trap being triggered.
With a click the trap goes off and the bell, clings with ice as it sounds, spoiling any hope you had for surprise. It nearly gets vic, but he luckily is bent lower than expected. Now you stand outside with the bell ringing on the wind and the lodge not too far away
Attack, trap
Who
Attack
Tursk sighs.
"Oh, well. I was never happy sneaking around anyways."
The priest's eyes begin to glow white.
"Alright, step lively, friends."
Jack moves forward, front line.
Helen hurriedly hoists her dress a few inches and steps quickly up to the rest of the group, not wanting to be left too far back from her sturdier allies.
Vic addresses the others quickly in a low voice.
Shall we make for the side door, or ring the front bell?
"Might as well try the front."
"Indeed, just because we expect to be greeted by thugs and monsters does not mean we must become so ourselves. Let's knock politely at the front."
"Knock on the front door of the bandit camp?! Ha! You're brave ones, that's for sure. Alright, works for me. Ulga will be here when we need her."
Barl hefts his maul over his shoulder and trots off toward the front door.
Vic shrugs and approaches the front door with the others, but he does so cautiously, checking for traps leading up to and at the door.
As vic goes about checking for traps( he really does not see anything like a trap), Helen goes forward with her plan( or threat) to knock on the door. It has a frost covered and very large door knocker that gives a nice solid thunk. You can hear someone coming from inside with heavy footstep and the door yanked open.
"Do you have to always forget about the alarm I almost yelle..." says a rather hairy half-orc as Her sentence trails off taking you in. She is carrying a crossbow in one hand, and seems to have on both armor and a cooking apron. She blinks, seemingly totally off guard and not expecting ...well you.
Behind the Half-orc you see nothing but a bear skin rug, some side doors( one of which has a glow of a light coming from it) and deer heads on the wall. If anyone else is laying in wait you do not see them.
Tursk stares down the half-orc, his eyes glowing blue. When he speaks, his voice seems to shake the ground a little.
"We're here for your prisoner. Step aside now and perhaps you'll live a long and happy life. Or you could stand in our way and meet Pharasma wearing an apron. Choose wisely."
"Now, Tursk!" Helen admonishes, "There's no need to be so threatening." Turning to address the woman, she smiles sincerely and says, "So sorry about that. What he means to say is that we're here to collect the noblewoman. Would you be so kind as to bring her out for us? Thank you so much."
Helen then waits, smiling, as though she fully expects the half-orc to fulfill her request.
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Barl scratches his head in confusion, wondering if he should hit the half orc with Ulga or not. He shrugs and decides to let the smart folk talk.
Then he starts to day dream about what the half orc might be cooking..
"Haven't had a good stew in a while. Menander always puts too many damn turnips in his."
The half orc stands there, clearly knowing if she goes for her weapons she is done and also clearly knowing that crossbow is kinda useless in one hand at this range. " Ah, look I just do the cooking here." She ways holding the crossbow well out to her side.
"I had nothing to do with any of that, and if I yell they will come a running. But, say you just let me slip out of here, ya know get out of the way and you have the whole run of the place with nary an alarm triggered" She says somewhat hopefully.
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"Drop your crossbow, and you have a deal. And might I recommend a different employer."
The half orc does not seem to give it much thought "Ok, not my fight. I am just the cook" She lowers the crossbow to the ground and holds up her hands. I think I'll take a coat, its a bit cool out"she says taking a warm coat from off a hanger near the door. With that she edges onto the porch, making sure to move slow. "I am not sure if you know what you are getting into, you are a bit outnumbered here, but that is none of my affair" She says slowly edging down the stairs. If not stopped she will back away and head for the bridge.
Vic slips into the house and moves quietly, staying to the shadows and listening for the sounds of the other inhabitants, on this ground floor.
He whispers,
Allow me to scout ahead just a bit. I will motion you forward as I examine and clear a room. Try to keep it down.
As he finishes examining a room at the door, he will motion the group up to his position.
As Vic sneaks into the house, Helen smiles and (quietly) addresses the rest of the group: "You see? Being civilized can still get the job done."
"Alright, you don't have to rub it in," Tursk says admonished.
"I wonder what she was makin'" Kat wonders aloud, sniffing the air. "Would be a shame to let it go to waste." the girl declares, seldom letting a potential meal pass her, a habit from the streets.
"Alright, you don't have to rub it in," Tursk says admonished.
Barl looks to Kat with a wide grin. "Thought I was the only one. Let's check the pot!!" the big man says in a loud whisper, then makes his way to the cook fire, still careful not to get ahead of Vic.
Jack creeps ahead into the warmth of the larger room, it is dominated by a large bearskin rug on the floor. A large stone fireplace lays farther in , seeming to act as a separator for another room, which you can't fully make out but do see along table.. To the left are three doors, the first of which Barl is now peeking into to find what that delightful aroma happens to be.
To the right is a single door, near you and some stairs leading upward. You re not sure, what other than the table lays in the large room past the fireplace.
The room Barl looks into is dominated by a large fireplace/stove built into the far wall. It has four windows overlooking the winter landscape and built in shelves and cabinets. A large iron pot hangs in the fireplace, which is where the delightful smell is currently coming from.