The bandit freezes in the spot. What do you do with him?
Brinda turns to Cynerik. "I despise him and his kind... but we should not kill him. Battling bandits is one thing; executing them is another." She seems as though she will speak further, but she just looks around, waiting for others to speak.
Cynerik would look back at Tas and give a slow nod; the Clockwork was absolutely correct. It would be easier to just kill him now, one less threat in the forest, and let the worms have at his corpse for what he and his fellows have done. Yet that wouldn't be justice anymore, not with him being left unarmed the way he was here on the road.
"No, we take him with us. -If- he guides us well, perhaps we'll put in a good word for him at Fletcher's Rest and he won't be hung for banditry. Sound fair, bandit?" It would be an unpopular opinion, Cynerik thought, but it was what was right at the moment. At least, what he felt was right. "You know where the town is, right? You'll help us get there?" It was a chance for the mood between them and the man to possibly change now. Would the offer of a good word from the survivors be enough to make the man a more willing comrade?
Jexen nods.
"I agree. He comes with us to Fletcher's Rest."
He turns to the bandit.
"Help us, and we will help you."
S-sure. I know how to get to Fletcher's Rest. Can be dangerous out here, though. With the knowledge that he's going to live, he starts vomiting out information.
I can do my best, but I promise nothing. The road leads straight to Fletcher's Rest about 20 miles ahead, but the road isn't always easy to follow. Sometimes it disappears into the weeds and shrubs, and you can lose your way into the forest.
This whole forest can be dangerous. Haunted ruins, mists that kill, There's a mad lumberjack out here - dangerous man. And an old hermit somewhere that we keep clear of.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Jexen pipes up.
"I would wield shield again, if others do not have greater need of it."
Cynerik listens to the man's words, his eyes narrowing as the bandit begins to blubber out everything he could. Survival was a powerful thing, powerful enough to make one switch sides nearly immediately. He couldn't keep the shiver from going down his spine when he mentioned the mists, looking over his shoulder back the way they came. The woods swallowed the light of day terribly now, consuming everything that they could. Who knew if that mists was still following them right now, hungry for their lifeblood.
"I hope you do your best. Your life depends on it." Cynerik whispers to the man, stepping aside and giving a quick nod to Jexen's suggestion. A well-defended Clockwork would make them all feel a little better, for certain. Cynerik's eyes were drawn to the brigadine armor, better armor than he ever had during his time in the military. "Would anyone care if I wore that armor there?" He hadn't complained of it but he could still feel the pain in his side from that club earlier, a little more protection would be nice.
Turning his attention back to the bandit, Cynerik's voice would lose its harshness to a slight degree. "What is your name?" It would be the beginning of a conversation with the man, trying to not just make him stay calm as a captive but maybe begin to feel at some level of ease among them. Cynerik would walk beside him, trying to lead the way down the road once more.
"You were kind enough to share the wealth last time, it would seem unkind to deny you the armor" Slugoth chuckles as he talks of kindness as they stripped this man of his gear, at least he gets to live for now, which Slugoth isn't overly pleased with but it was the choice that made the most sense for the time being.
Jexen sheathes the sword, accepts the shield and feels the weight.
Familiar. Very familiar.
He turns to Mary and softly says:
"Now that I am equipped for battle, it would be foolhardy of me to carry the baby. Would you carry him for now?"
He nods when Cynerik looks to put on the armour. And goes quiet again.
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
T.A.S. uses his sling to tie the bandits arms on his back. "Sorry, this is nothing personal but we have to be careful. We have children with us and I don't want to wake up in the night seeing a knife on their throat. Show us you're trustworthy and help us to safely reach the town and we will make sure that you stay alive."
The cold, calculating, mechanical part of his mind wants to see that bandit dead. He won't be much of a help but chances are high he will become a threat given the opportunity. The more human part does not won't to cause any harm unless absolutely necessary. And then there is - deeply hidden in his mind - a tiny part that wants to kill the bandit. Slowly and painfully. For no reason other than causing pain. T.A.S. quickly blocks these thoughts out.
You make your way along the road, and true to the bandit's word, you quickly lose it again.
While trying to gain your bearings again, two gigantic spiders - easily the size of a full grown man - descend from the canopy and bite into the bandit. The man falls limp under the weight of the two spiders.
Kandl's reaction was to charge, but this time Cynerik managed to hold him back. As the bandit surrendered, Kandl ceased his attempts to get around the large man and even sheathed his blade...right before the spiders dropped from the trees.
Cynerik's eyes were drawn to the brigadine armor, better armor than he ever had during his time in the military. "Would anyone care if I wore that armor there?"
"If yer gonna keep playing the hero and chargin' headlong into danger, then aye, ye should probably 'ave it." the dwarf replies, half joking.
Sköllji stares at the bandit as the others issue warnings and get information from him. He doesn't feel the need to say anything else.
Sorry son of a b&&@% is a coward. Just like the rest of 'em. He'll try to run. He knows he'll hang, no matter what we say. Better just to kill the bastard now. I think e'ryone knows it, too. They ain't the killin' types though. Guess I'll just have te keep an eye on 'im until 'e screws up.
Sköllji is gripping his club tight, waiting for the bandit to cry out or try to run, when the spiders descend from the trees. As the spiders sink their fangs into the man, the dwarf stumbles backwards, shocked. After just a moment to collect himself he can't help but think sarcastically, Oh no, what a shame.
Sköllji stands perfectly still, gripping his club so tightly, his knuckles turn white. He doesn't know much about spiders, but he thinks movement is one of those things that set them off, right?
Horrified by the sight of the huge arachnids, Brinda falls back, wanting nothing to do with them. If there are gods, perhaps this is their way of exacting justice...
Shocked by their appearance T.A.S. tries to remember if he ever saw spiders like these. Are they are venomous? Is that bandit dead anyway? Do we have a chance against them or should we run away?
If the bandit is to be punished, so be it. But this is too miserable an end if we can help it.
Jexen bashes his sword on his shield and shouts, trying to scare the spiders off with noise.
Sköllji's eyes widen in horror when Jexen starts banging on his shield. He whisper shouts through gritted teeth, "Are ye bleedin' off yer rocker, man!? What're ye doin', offerin' em a second course!?"
"I think we should leave him and try to find our way back to the road..." Slugoth says in a cold deadpan manner. "Or are we dead-set on finding and taking out the bandits?"
Cynerik would've changed into that thicker armor, already feeling somewhat calmer within the protective suit. With a bit more confidence, he made his way down the road with the bandit until the road disappeared again among the trunks and they became lost once more.
"Curse these trees and how they swallow the road." He mumbled softly, looking down just as the thwump sounds landed beside him. These massive spiders clung to the man's body, pinning him down on the ground, and Cynerik's heart nearly jumped out of his chest.
"Leave him alone!" Cynerik shouted, bringing that staff down low and sweeping it across the bandit's body to knock that beast away.
As Cynerik moves up to help the bandit, Kandl goes with him, and begins dragging the bandit back towards the group.
"You fools! Do you want to kill us all?! Great idea to take on not one but two f*cking giantic spiders!"
T.A.S. grabs Mary's arm and looks at Brinda. "Please, we have to leave now, if we don't want to end up as a spider snack." He retreats to the direction they came from - carefully not to walk into any webs.
Jexen clangs his weapon against his shield, really only serving to make a loud noise.
Cyrenik moves forward and jabs his sword at one of the spiders. The spider, in return, stands up on it's back four legs, lifts up his front teo legs, and hisses.
Kandl moves up to try and grab the bandit and bring him back.
The other spider tries drags the bandit back away into the foliage.
TAS and Sköllji both start yelling/chastising Cyrenik and Jexen.
Brinda moves away.
Slugoth questions why anyone is helping.
The baby starts crying - a piercing shrill scream.
Cynerik watches the spider who has entered into a more defensive pose the beasts seemingly hungry. It was a terrible way to go but without the help of the others, it wouldn't do any good to try and strike against the beast.
"Kandl, Jexen, let them go." Cynerik would murmur, his lips hard pressed together. He would keep his staff raised up high in a defensive stance as he moved away slowly from the angered spider and towards his party once more.
"You fools! Do you want to kill us all?! Great idea to take on not one but two f*cking giantic spiders!"
T.A.S. grabs Mary's arm and looks at Brinda. "Please, we have to leave now, if we don't want to end up as a spider snack." He retreats to the direction they came from - carefully not to walk into any webs.
"Finally, some damned sense.“ Sköllji backs away from the spiders and catches up with TAS.
When they're clear of the danger, he turns to Cynerik and Jexen, "Trying to kill us all, are ye!? You'd risk our entire group to save one murderin' scum?", the dwarf shouts over the screeching baby. He turns a finger to Cynerik, "You especially... Charging into e'ery hazard without thought. Tryin' te play the 'hero'. Ye wanna be a hero?", Sköllji turns his finger towards Mary."Her. An' the baby. They're yer charge, not the bleedin' bandits, en trees, en Gods know what else! Get them te safety. Stop risking they're lives! Get them to town, then ye can come back an die tryin' te save every bleedin' soul in this Gods forsaken forest! It's your duty! If ye ken not even save her, what kind o' man are ye even!?" Sköllji's voice cracks with that last sentence. His red face goes from fury to sadness almost instantly.
The dwarf lowers his arm and walks slowly away from Cynerik. He leans against a small tree and holds his forehead in his hand. Only the baby's screams break the silence.
Too late.. That one is busy with the bandit but the other will certainly try to hunt one of us down as a second serving.
Cursing, T.A.S. grabs the scroll he found at the caravan and starts to read it. He concentrates not to make any mistake speaking word after word. A strange but faintly familiar feeling of power streams through his circuits and fills his mind with a mystic trance - and abruptly disappears as he finishes the last word.
His body felt numb. His cogs had turned much quicker during these seconds and he could feel his key winding down.
He could see small ice crystals appear on the spider's hairy legs. "Kandl! Run!" he shouts to the goblin.
The scroll in TAS' hands dissipate as the icy tendrils of magic spread to the giant spider, encompassing it in a thin layer of ice.
This allows Kandl to pull the bandit away from the spider without trouble.
After about five yards, Kandl realizes that the bandit he's dragging is dead.
Cynerik was moving away from where the spiders were, his head hanging low and his brow furrowed as he walked. The thoughts of the bandit, a bastard that he was, would come back into his mind softly. What a terrible death to suffer, he could only hope that the young man's mind was gone when their fangs sunk in and their poison twisted his insides. He was stopped though as Sköllji stepped forward with his accusations. Cynerik's eyes would widen further now, standing there as the dwarf berated him.
A storm slowly crossed Cynerik's face there, like dark cloud obscuring the sun. His head lowered and while his arms shook, his voice did not raise. He didn't refute the dwarf's words. When he spoke, his voice was a shaky whisper. "I-I am a poor excuse of a man, one of the poorest. We have to be...better...than them. We have to...it is the only thing." He'd move away from the group and lean against one of the trees there. Staring off into the forest, the man would go quiet as he retreated in on himself.
Thoughts went back to the Marchlands, of the muddy trails as he walked with a few other soldiers that had earned the wisdom to get away from the militia. Harvstock was along this trail, his home. The men accompanied him were promised the warmth of the tavern, fresh drinks and warm food. Yet the rain drained the warmth from his body and when he came over the hill, he'd feel that coldness seep into his soul. There were no brilliant lights in windows, no warm hearths resonated from within the simple homes. There was just ruin there, charred remnants of what was once homes. Only the church remained standing, some terrible darkness emanating from within it.
He approached unwillingly, drawn to the darkness within it. The church was simple, humble, but a terrible place now as those front doors opened. There was bodies within it, men in the darkest of cloaks whispering words of the most foul imaginations. There was then this thing, oozing along the ground. Dozens of faces, all speaking at once. His friends, his wife, his children. They begged him to talk, to stay, to listen. When they turned to flee, the abomination fell upon them. He ran, as far and as fast as he could, it was only when the sun finally shined again that Cynerik finally stopped and vomited up what little he had. A real man would've died trying to save his family. Yet, like with his comrades in arms, he ran once more.
After being injured and having their dinner ripped away from them, the two spiders scurry back into the foliage.
The bandit has clothing, two days worth of food, , , and what looks like a mam's wedding ring on a chain around his neck (value: ).
His thoughts addled by the pointless, miserable death of the man and his own abject failure either to save him or to do right by his charge, Jexen has trouble concentrating.
He aims for the northwest.
You continue to trudge through the tangles of the underbrush trying to find your way back to the trail, but still lost in the woods.
Nearby, you can see an old tower poking out through the trees. Perhaps you can get a good view of things from the top, or find respite from the dangers of the woods overnight - which will come in a few short hours.
Sköllji has been silent for a long time now. He only notices the tower when the others stop to look at it.
“Gods... What is this now?", he sighs. The dwarf combs his hand through his beard and ponders what horrible creature could be waiting in there for them. "I don't trust it... But it could point us in the direction of town. If we're gonna check it, we should keep the wee ones 'ere."
Sköllji sweeps his gaze across the party, and after a short pause speaks again. " I'll go. If I don't return in half an hour's time, leave me."
Resting his club on his shoulder, the dwarf nods to Cynerik and walks off toward the tower.
From what you can tell, it does seem like a place that could provide shelter. At the very least, it's fairly defensible from anyone on the ground. And someone clibming up to the top would be able to see over the trees.
Cynerik remained quiet, following with the others deeper into the woods. He remains silent and stern, eyes not meeting anyone else's but still alert in case something wicked should come.
As they stopped, the tower in the distance was a cautiously welcomed sight. The dwarf said what all of them seemed to be thinking but he volunteered to go. Sköllji would give him a nod and Cynerik would nod back, only whispering softly as the dwarf passed. "May God walk with you, brave dwarf." He would not follow, keeping watch and waiting for the dwarf and whoever accompanied him to check out the tower.
Moving beside Jexen, he'd notice the Clockwork's demeanor had seemed to change. His hand would reach out tentatively, resting on the machine's shoulder. Cynerik's smile was small and forced as he looked between Jexen and Kandl, giving them both a nod. "You tried. Thank you for what you did." It was better than what the bandit deserved but his death had at least seemed to be quick. Cynerik would leave them after that, returning to watch the woods carefully as the sunlight slowly began to die.
Now who's the one that's gone mad? A chance to find our way out of this damned forest is worth the risks though.
Sköllji approaches the portal leading to the inside of the tower as quietly as he can. He grips his club tight, ready to strike anything that shows itself.
Brinda observes the exchange between Sköllji and Cynerik, biting her lip. Both men had good reasons for how they'd acted, even though they were very different. When there are two rights, but they are opposite, how do you choose between them? What with her physical exhaustion, Brinda does not have the energy to grapple with such difficult philosophical questions. She shakes her head and trudges on.
Once the tower is spotted, Brinda sees a chance to act decisively, rather than to simply wait and react. "I will come too," she announces to Sköllji. She draws her dagger and moves out with the dwarf.
Depsite the brush, you've encountered nothing dangerous so far.
The iron door looks to be still intact, and it's even a little challenging to open, but with a bit of effort you manage to push it open all the way.
Making your way into the tower, the inside is just as strewn as the outside. Rocks and rubble everywhere. I makes from some hazardous steps, but with a little work you could create a clearing. Stacking rocks against the door could help barricade it further.
There is a set of stairs leading up the tower, which only has a few gaps. The upper levels are missing sections of flooring and wall, explaining the rubble below as well as leaving them open to the outside air. Light streams in from the gaps.
The final push to the very top to get that perfect view requires a Strength or Agility Challenge Roll with One Bane.
Mary is sitting next to a tree gently rocking the baby while snacking on some jerky taken from the bandit. Do you think it will be much longer? This place scares me, and I'm worried little Jericho here will scream and attract something. Do you like that name? I just came up with it. I didn't know his name, but he needs one. Jericho.
Do you think there will be more spiders? Or wolves? I had a nightmare about a pack of wolves the other day, back when we were on the caravan. What do you suppose is in the tower? Do you think it will be safe?
So far, the only sounds out of the ordinary are the words of young Mary.
Brinda can't quite get up the last section to the top of the tower, try as she might.
Anxiously, T.A.S. watches the shadows between the trees. He decided not to go with the dwarf and the others to protect Mary. After a while, he noticed how poor Mary looked. Her clothes were worn from the journey - the holes in it had atleast doubled - and she did not have proper food for a while.
"Don't worry Mary, we should not be too far away from town now. The tower looks abondoned to me, they will be safe. You know what? Stay with Cynerik, I'll go for a quick hunt!" he says confidentely. "It's about time you get some real food instead of this scavanged junk."
With the sling in his hand he heads into the wood. He was not good at sneaking. But over the time he spent hunting he learned that the animals did not seem to care about the noises his mechincal body made unless he got too close.
After a short while he returned and raised a hand with a fat rabbit in it. "This will be enough for at least two of you!" he said happily.
Brinda picks herself up painfully, then motions to Sköllji. "You go ahead and try if you like - I don't think I can make it up there."
Slugoth follows his dwarf and human companions toward the tower, keeping his sword drawn and his eyes open for trouble. When they arrive at the tower an eerie sensation runs up his back. I don't like it, somethin' is off about this place he says with a grunt but follows as they press on. After Brinda misses the ledge he looks around, looks at Sköllji, looks at the ledge, looks at Brinda, looks back to the ledge and then the stairs, then finally to Sköllji, What if we tossed her?
When Brinda falls, Sköllji's eyes widen as he tries to scramble to catch her. When she hits the stone, he winces. "Ah! Sorry lass, I din'et expect ye te try that.Are ye alright? I'm not sure. If you can't make it up there, I doubt I could.", he chuckles, placing a hand on his protruding gut.
Sköllji hears the orc's proposal as he's looking for anything to climb. He stifles a laugh, "She's hurt 'erself already tryin' te help. I think one o' us should give 'er a go, first. I may be able te climb the rocks 'ere. Stand back, I dun want te crush ye when me fat arse falls."
As he unconfidently mounts the wall, he turns back to Brinda and Slugoth, "Thank ye fer comin' along."
Sköllji stands triumphantly at the top of the stairs. "I'll see if I ken get a good look around."