Garrock gives Crytalis a nod and lessens the severity of his face a bit, giving the impression of something almost like respect. Then he looks back to Colin. "I'll take your lead. When you get their attention, I'll get up onto the western tree stand.'
Then he turns and takes up his position on the flank, staying crouched near trunks and brush, looking down river.
The waters lead south for a few hundred feet before splitting into two steams, the western branch easily four times as wide as the eastern, both of them still flowing south.
"So," Colin replies, solemnly, upon reaching the fork in the streams. "I think we leave the other horses here. Safe enough, Brumir?"
If Brumir agrees, he'll dismount and help get the mounts settled, speaking calming words and hoping with ready water and grass they won't decide to run off if not threatened. He doesn't want them to be fettered if they are threatened by some beast, figuring they could track them later.
He then wishes everyone good luck and safety. He does so with Crytalis last, kissing her and embracing her. "We'll go slowly, Cry, so we don't get too ahead of you all. I'll aim to head for that place that Brumir drew where the streams converge once more. If things look really bad, far worse than we expected, try to stay hidden. I will manage." He smiles at her. "We're doing the right thing, Cry. We're doing the good and just thing."
Barring interruption, Colin then plans to remount Joyous Storm and trot down the path at a cautious pace, keeping an eye out for the landmarks and tree stands he knows will be before him.
Guillame sneaks through the undergrowth, angling to approach the camp from the northeast...
... making little sound beyond the snapping of a few twigs, and occasional low mutters of "Hehe! Quelle surprise!"
As they travel south, the river can be seen to branch and re converge a few times, the branches growing increasingly small.
Brumir slips out between the trees, making his way south and slightly to the west to bring up the other flank, opposite Guillame.
As Colin follows the road through the trees, he eventually spots the tree stand, upon which stands a cloaked human armed with a bow.
The bandit on the stand's voice calls out through the trees to Colin. "Hail, stranger."
Guillame can see another robed human standing on a second tree stand closer to a clearing where there is arranged a simple campsite. Two more figures sitting on logs in the clearing look up as the bandit up in the tree calls out.
At the stark cry of another man's voice shatters the peacefulness of the sylvan morning, Colin feels a cold weight settle along the base of his spine and in his stomach. The taste of the cool venison from breakfast rises to his throat unpleasantly.
He sets his shoulders back, however, and straightens in the saddle, continuing to trot forward making as much noise as he can.
"Good morning, sir," he calls back, but without warmth. "I apologize but I cannot in good conscience deceive you as to why we are meeting upon this day."
Colin brings Joyous Storm to a halt in the muddy outcrop of a saddle between two branches of the stream. His shield is at the ready but he holds no weapon, though the lance is in its nearby stirrup. The potion of magical protection is tucked close at hand as well. He thinks of Crytalis as he musters up his confidence to speak loudly and at enough length to allow her and the others to approach.
"My name is Colin. I have traveled from Restov and I have been looking for you.
"I patrol the Greenbelt with a charter the Regent of the Dragonscale Throne. It charges me with the authority to enforce the laws against banditry. As you know, the punishment is death.
"But I have no wish for unnecessary bloodshed. If any of you are willing to throw down your weapons and renounce your crimes, you may depart this area immediately, unmolested, never to return, or stay and join me in working toward a better life for yourselves and for those who come to this land. There are fortunes to be made not at the expense of the innocent. I realize that circumstances may have driven you to believe you must prey upon others for your livelihood. You were not born on this earth to do evil. You need not continue to do so. You have a chance to end that now.
"But this is your last chance. You have one minute to decide and comply."
The cloaked bandit on the eastern stand vanishes into the foliage surrounding him, or perhaps climbing down from the tree stand.
Guillame loses sight of those in the clearing, as they are far away and granted much cover by trees and large logs laying on the forest floor, and they seem to scramble around to hide themselves.
The only one visible at this distance, now, is the one up in the western tree stand, who pauses briefly considering Colin's words.
Crytalis lingers in Colin's kiss and embrace, finally pulling back to offer a confident nod. "We are, and this is not to be the day we die." She gives her most reassuring smile," ...remember to shield yourself in your liquid faith should the need arise."
She wiggles from his arms as Guillame begins to slip off, darting after him to press a bottle of blue in his hand. "A potion to cure your wounds." She stares at him a moment before pumping his hand that holds the bottle, an odd sort of farewell.
On her quick way back to Colin's side she halts before Muadhnait, pulling yet another bottle from her pouch, this one the color of fire. "In case you can send them dancing atop their platformed pyre." She breathes out, her excitement at the thought almost catching the words in her throat.
"Don't die" is her finally command to Colin as she brushes one last kiss over his lip before traipsing after Brumir.
She weaves through the forest as silently as possible, never straying far from where Brumir leads.
As the sound of voices are heard, one dear, one not, she silently pulls her armor around her pulling it from the air.
Muadhnait's expression is rather grim as she accepts the potion from Crytalis, and she dips her chin downward in a quick nod. She can certainly do that, and she voices as much by way of a simply uttered, "I can."
Before Guillame can move too far ahead, she reaches out to catch his arm - a ghosting of unintelligible words shaping her lips as her gaze goes somewhat distant. She releases her grasp thereafter, and regains her focus as she begins to trail behind him. She's not likely the most apt companion as far as stealthiness goes - but she tries her damnedest, and hopes for the best from her haunt.
As Colin is speaking, Brumir begins making his way towards the western tree stand, ducking into the underbrush and trying to keep stumps between him and the bandit.
The bandit in the tree stand looks out to the left in Crytalis' direction, as if hearing something, but ignores it and turns back towards Colin.
He responds, his voice loud and aggressive. "I don't think so. I'm not alone out here, and you are. Even with all that armor, you won't last long when me and my friends start raining arrows on you. Throw down yours weapons and we might let you live."
Colin appears to consider this for a moment, his eyes and ears trying to pick up some sign of where his companions have gotten to and where the other bandits have gone.
Fingering the Shield of Faith potion he shifts his shield. With no signal from Pim, he tries to delay a bit longer through deliberately poor bluffing and hints of greater knowledge of their activities.
"I never said I was alone, did I, sir?" Colin calls out. "I have ridden ahead of my heavily-armed troops who vastly outnumber you because, unlike myself, they serve the nobles of House Surtova and are ambitious to bring back the bounty of severed bandit heads.
"I convinced them to let me scout ahead in a hope to spare at least some if not all of you. Perhaps if I spoke with your leader, Kressel. I have heard she is very intelligent as well as being a skilled warrior."
Crytalis' breath catches in her throat as the bandit glances her way. She relaxes only when his attention shifts back to Colin. She carefully creeps closer to the platform.
The bandit sweeps his view out over the forest while he considers his response. He looks right at the spot where Crytalis is walking as she steps on a particularly loud branch, which snaps, but the bandit doesn't seem to see her, as he continues sweeping his gaze without response.
Frustrated that the bandits are now mostly hidden, Guillame creeps forward...
Guillame cannot see them. The trees, fallen and standing, provide too much cover to see much other than their many branches, thick trunks and exposed, tangled roots.
Guillame can see the meager campsite. A set of stones is haphazardly arranged in a circle around ashes and wooden sticks burned black. A spear is propped up on two stacks of stones on opposite sides of the fire ring, the shaft crusted with char. A few logs are arranged around the fire, the larger fallen trees they were taken from sitting further away. A pile of smaller sticks and logs also sits a few feet from the fire ring.
Muadhnait continues to trail behind Guillame, remaining as quiet as she is able.
Oh dang, she's actually pretty stealthy.
The bandit on the tree stand cranes his neck as if to look out past Colin to where an army is reportedly gathering.
"How many? Just for us? W-wait. We, uh." He looks down towards the campsite. "Er."
A harsh woman's voice strikes out from towards the campsite. "He's lying, you damned idiot!"
Guillame and Colin spot a woman in a green bandana crouched behind a large fallen log. As she realizes that she's been spotted, she stands with an axe in one hand and a dagger in the other. She is wearing large dangling earings which burst out from her ears beneath her bandana. Around her neck and chest is a large patchwork scarf. Under the scarf is a suit of studded leather armor. She grins menacingly.
"You're boastful tricks won't work on us. Now do what he says- drop your weapons and your shield, dismount and maybe we won't kill you. You don't call the shots out here-" She holds up her hand towards the bandit in the tree stand. "We do."
Crytalis can see Brumir crouched below the tree stand like a large cat ready to climb and strike.
Colin meets the woman's cold glare through his helmet's eye slits and says, "So be it."
Hoping that enough time has passed for his companions, he drinks the Shield of Faith potion and declaims in a louder voice, "If any of the other three of you is having second thoughts, do not raise arms against us, and your life will be spared."
"Hehe! I like these strong words from Sir Courneye! He acts the chevalier of stories, non?" whispers Guillame quietly to Muadhnait, buckling on his buckler until it is buckled.
Crytalis crouches, carefully drawing her sickle, keeping Colin, Brumir, and the ill-fated bandit leader in her vision. She watches Colin with a look that mirrors Guillaume's sentiment, it is quickly dispatched by a look of rage as the harridan speaks to him. She narrows her eyes in the direction of the woman's voice, her finger lifting as whispers spill from her lips to drift to the ears of those around her. Both lyrical and cutting, sweet and cold.
"Sad, sorry Kressel. Happs told me of you while I sliced off his eyelids. Of the things you confessed to him, do the others know your secrets? I swore to tell you of his remorse at his betrayal while I cut the slits into his eyes. He blubbered and cried tears of the most delightful shade of red. Delicious."
She pauses before adding with relish, "What games I will play with you once you are mine."
Kressel's sight darts around the woods, looking for the source of the whisper, but to no avail. Then she whispers back. "Where are you? Show yourself!"
Laughter, cruel and satisfied rolls silently from her, a message in itself. She allows it to fill the woman's ears for a moment before following it with words, "Why I am right here, Sweetling. So eager to meet? I brought you his amulet, stag skull….brought bits of his bones as well. A piece of him shall always be with me, not even death can free him...or you. Not that he is dead yet, mind you. Simply missing pieces for now. Shall I take you to what is left of him?"
Muadhnait palms the potion given to her by Crytalis, and flings it to the top of their platforms with the help of her mage hand.
?
"I had need for Happs once I tossed him from my bedroll, the fool." She whispers back. "NOW SHUT UP!" Shouts Kressel, who then holds her dagger high ready to throw it once she finds a target. "Kill him! Find the one whispering threats in the woods and quiet her pretty little voice!"
Sensing that the bandits are about to attack, Guillame has a chance to strike from hiding before the bandits can defend themselves.
"Ohoho! Is the combat now, e'?"
The arrow strikes true and Kressel yelps in surprise and in pain.
Brumir begins climbing the tree holding the stand, attempting to hurry as he does, but being careful not to loose his balance.
He climbs about his own height up the tree, with more than half way to go, still.
Crytalis flicks her hand from the woman's direction towards Brumir. She takes a few steps forward as her face transforms from one of malice to one of affection. Her mouth forms the words of a silent benediction.
Muadhnait moves closer to Guillame, still sneakily and all, as she summons the sound of galloping horses from the south using Ghost Sound - as far from them as she can, which is ... 25'?
"What? A charge from behind us!"" Kressel shouts and points to the east.
The three bandits hiding near the camp, stand in astonishment and look around to see the approaching horses and frantically attempt to defend themselves.
"What sorcery is this?!" Yells one as he sees no source of the horses.
The bandit on the tree stand trains his bow on Colin, not distracted by the sounds of horses and ready to fire.
Guillame gapes with delight at the confused bandits. "That was you mademoiselle?!?" he chuckles quietly to Muadhnait. "Observe ze brigands - est très comique!"
Figuring he has blown his cover by now, Guillame tries to whip the chaos and confusion up a little more. He straightens and calls out loudly. "That is right my brave chevaliers! Ride them down, I will cover you from here! Hehe!" Then he sends another arrow flying at Kressel.
The arrow narrowly misses Kressel as she ducks out of it's arc.
Brumir draws his legs beneath him and then springs upwards, clearing 15' with only a few quick hand and foot holds to support him before he reaches to grab the top of the tree stand.
Successful in his climb, Brumir pulls himself up onto the stand and reaches for his sword. The bandit does a double take at the hulking half-orc that has appeared behind him, his eyes widening and jaw dropping.
Crytalis slides through the trees, weaving around the one before her, ducking behind a branch. Her giggle rings out at the sound of the coming army, a cruel sound, meant for Kressel alone. "Your all gonna die, or pray for death at the very least."She sing-songs out to her on a whisper.
She directs her hand from Brumir to the bandit he faces, mouthing words of misfortune before her cackle rings out.
Kressel looks around frantically to find the source of the sound, sees nothing but Guillame and his boisterous calling, then turns and runs further south behind another log for cover. She readies her dagger, looking to throw it at anyone that comes close.
The two bandits closest to Colin volley two arrows at him. The third on the ground runs forward to the stumps around the firepit and fires at Guillame.
The bandit on the tree stand drops his bow and draws his short sword, fumbling it from the scabbard and slicing it uncertainly at Brumir, a gloom seemingly hanging over him.
Muadhnait offers Guillame a flicker of a smile at his praise, then moves to stand as near as possible to him without giving away her location - readying her Command for any who might brave nearing.
Colin looks to the left and right to see and hear chaos erupting all around the bandit camp. As he thinks about how the ambushers have turned into the ambushed, a grim line forms on his lips and his eyes flash with the recognition of righteousness made real.
He reaches for his lance and calls out in a clear voice, "You had your chance, bandits. If any of you escape this day with your lives and if you happen to meet others who think to prey on the people of the Greenbelt, who do not think them protected, tell them they are. Tell them, 'They have a Shield.'"
Gripping and lowering the lance, he gives a vocal command to Joyous Storm, "The Thunder!" and feels her launch toward the bandits' campfire.
His mind goes back to countless hours in the corral and the pasture since Joyous Storm was first able to bear a rider. Days. Staring straight ahead at that burlap bag stuffed with sand and painted with a red circle. Years. Slowly lowering his bromstick, then pole, then wooden lance, and finally a sharpened length of steel. Willing it towards that center again and again and again.
His vision merges with reality and the form of the bandit crouching in the ring of stones comes into focus just beyond the tip of the lance, as he is borne forward by the potent and eager strength of Joyous Storm's stride.
With a snort, Joyous Storm charges forward. Upon hearing Colin's command, "The Rain!", she takes a bite at the human at her left shoulder.
"An admirer!" calls out Guillame to the bandit who just fired an arrow at him. "Well, if we exchange the little love notes, here is one with kisses, from Guillame!"
"Mademoiselle, perhaps we upset their cover if we approach a little, e'?" says Guillame to Muadhnait.
Colin's lance drives through the torso of the bandit, breaking ribs and tearing skin. The bandit collapses to the ground with a yelp.
Joyous Storm's teeth dig into the shoulder of the other bandit with a crunch, but he remains standing, wrenching his shoulder away, reaching for his sword.
The bandit reeling from the horse bite is still provided some cover by the tree between him and Guillame, but Guillame's aim is true and the arrow sinks into the back of the target's shoulder, who then slumps down against the trunk beside him.
Brumir draws his falchion and swipes it at the fumbling bandit before him.
The blade cuts through the bandits armor with an audible slice, spraying blood onto the gnarled branches. The bandit crumples to the ground.
On light feet, Crytalis dances and weaves her way through the ancient tangle of oak and beech, making her way towards Brumir and the bandit. Light though her movement is, she makes a game of staying hidden, hopping through shadows and darting behind tree. She stops only to watch the rain of red against the green, her teeth catching her bottom lip as it tugs up in a smile at the beauty of it all.
"Pitter patter goes their blood." she sings sweetly to Kressel. "Three bones to add to my col-le-ction." She drops her whisper to, well, a whisper. A whisper like confidences shared among sisters. "I shall save a place of honor for the one I take from you, let it dangle just above my heart, sweet Kressel."
Her dance becomes a tip-toed creep as she approaches the platform where the bandit lays bleeding out.
Kressel turns her attention from Colin and scans the woods, spotting Crytalis.
"You don't scare me, little girl!" Kressel says as she dashes over, leaping from stone to stone across the shallow stream. She flicks her hand and a dagger comes spinning out at Crytalis.
But it flies wide, stabbing into a tree a few feet to the side of Crytalis.
Over by the campsite, the bandit drops his bow and draws his sword, shocked by Colin's sudden and immense presence, but still acting on violent instinct.
His sword swipes harmlessly short of Colin's armor.
Muadhnait dips her head in a show of agreement with Guillame, and trails after him - more quickly, but still aiming not to be seen.
Heedless at giving the remaining bandit a chance to strike at him, Colin calls out in distress, "Cry!" and spurs away from the melee through the campsite, skirting tree trunks, and heading back toward the creek.
As he approaches, he calls out to Crytalis, "Get behind us, Cry!
He then points his lance at Kressel. "It's over, Kressel. If you won't yield then you will face me not the girl."
The bandit takes a swipe with his sword at Colin's back as Joyous Storm turns towards Kressel.
Guillame trots forward until a tree stump is all that stands between him and the last bandit in the clearing.
"Keep your eye on the chevalier, e?" he mutters to himself, hoping that wishing makes it true. Then he quickly draws back his bow and looses an arrow at the bandit.
Brumir hops to the edge of the tree stand, spins halfway around as he does, then drops, holding onto the stand to extend his body length down then releasing and falling to the ground.
Brumir lands harder than he intended, falling prone next to Crytalis.
He stands quickly and holds his falchion out in a defensive stance between Crytalis and Kressel. He says nothing, but glares at Kressel, watching her movements.
Crytalis, with a decided lack of self-preservation, steps up beside Brumir. Her hand darting into the pouch at her side to pull a small fluff of wool. A chanting of words, passed down through time from her grandmother - and her grandmother before her, spills from her lips. Like a kiss she blows the bit of fluff towards Kressel - a ripple of air following in its wake.
She then steps back behind Brumir, quickly.
Kressel glances at Brumir as he lands to her right, and catches a glimpse of Crytalis' strange gestures. Just a moment too long she watches the wool float from the witch's hand and suddenly Kressel's eyes glaze over and she stares blankly into the air, turning her head confusedly. Her axe waivers at her side, still held up and ready to block or parry, and her hand is held by the wound from the earlier arrow, but her mind is gone for a time.
The bandit facing Guillame rushes forward, just barely manages to stagger past the stump, sluggish from his wounds, and lunges at Guillame with his short sword.