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"How many bandits are we talking about?" Asta asks, her fingers steepled in front of her face and the food ignored for the moment. "How many warriors do you have to defend this place? Do you have recent maps? What is the status of the fortr -- I do apologize, the 'trading post''s defences? How many entrances and exits are there?"
Croft the raven speaks up from Asta's shoulder: "And do you have any cheese?"
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Strawberry's eyes maintain a constant vigil on Croft's form.
Scetlana looks hopefully @ Torod
”You will all help?”
"Y-yes. I will."
Terri finishes off the stew in her bowl and looks at a knot in the table.
Silly girl, what are you going to be able to do?
“We must help. Show them the charter, Asta.”
“Now, please answer Asta’s questions.” Jennet frowns. “Also, explain why they left the first time.”
”I will tell you all I can the bandits’ first visit was 3 months ago—they threatened to burn down the trading post and abduct me and take me back to their camp for amusement.”
"We had to agree to hand over all of the furs and trade goods we had from the past month from trade with hunters and trappers.”
” Since then, the bandits have returned twice more, each time within an hour of sunrise on the first day of the month. They just expect us to have their “taxes” ready and hand them over quickly—the bandits usually seem eager to return to their camp somewhere in the Greenbelt. It makes me think the camp is about a day ride from here, they said get back before dark.”
”The first time the bandits visited, there were a dozen of them—10 lower-ranking thugs led by a cloaked man armed with a bow, and a woman who carried two small hatchets. The woman did the majority of the talking on that first trip, and her black sense of humor and the way she smiled when she spoke of what fate would await both of us if we didn’t comply frightened me half out of my wits. I begged Oleg to abandon this place and go back, but he won’t.”
” The woman was particularly sharp and observant, whereas the man seemed to be a bit more crude and foolish.”
”She almost cut off Oleg’s right hand with one of her hatchets, she then took my wedding ring right off my finger and tossed it to one of her men as payment for “not shortening Oleg’s reach.”
” On the second and third visit, only the crude hooded man accompanied the bandits. The second visit, he came with only six other men, while on the third he only came with only four men.”
”I hope when they come tomorrow they’ll be even fewer in number, and that terrible woman with the hatchets won’t be with them.”
"Do they all come inside the walls or do any of them stay outside? Are they on horseback?"
When Svetlana mentions what the bandits threatened to do with her, Valeria's face turns noticeably more serious. She listens intently, then rises and says, "I'll be right back. Gonna go look and see what we are working with."
She steps outside and walks around the post, getting a good look at how the place is layer out.
She returns as Torod asks his question, replying, "If they are traveling with so few, they'd have to have horses to haul the goods most likely. And I would wager that they are, at this point, feeling bold enough to not fear retribution, otherwise they'd bring a large force each trip. If they all come inside, I have a plan to deal with them."
Valeria sits back down at the table, and continues, "Torod, Strawberry, and I will wait behind the open gates as they enter. Once they are inside and away from the gates, we shut the gates behind them, cutting off retreat. Terri, you say you are good with a bow, you can take a hidden position off behind them along the wall. Jennet and Asta, you two take positions throughout the interior that you feel you could put to best use of your skills. Thoughts?"
"The bandits ride up, leave their horses outside and then start loading up furs and things. You could hide in the guesthouse or stable until they get busy loading."
You have the remainder of the day and the evening to prepare for the bandits arrival!
"Any particular person you want hurting? I can get one real good, but I'm only going to get one chance to do it."
Terri looks at Valeria as she talks. Her fear is still there, but it's not quite what it was.
Valeria turns to Terri, "Hopefully we can get them to surrender. If not, we take out their leader. 'Without the head, the body will fall.'"
”I know it sounds horrible, but I hope to see them all dead—Oleg has plans to hang the bandits’ bodies from the southern palisade wall as a warning to the other brigands.”
"I can conjure mists and monsters," Asta says. "Or I can unleash a shout that may stun one person. When all of that fails, I have a sling and a quarterstaff. I defer to your strategic insight, Valeria. Where can I be most useful?"
"And is there any cheese?" Croft asks, insistent.
Oh crap! I don't know anything about magic! Just great...
"Um, not to sound...silly...but magic is not my strong suit. I'll leave that to you as you see fit."
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"No, friend Valeria," Asta says, her voice patient and slightly amused. "Think as a warrior. Would a temporary fog be useful to dull your enemies' senses? Would the sudden appearance of an unexpected creature to flank our foes be beneficial in the kind of ambush you plan? Would either of these things be more useful than an attack which might stun one person? Think of me as someone who may help you better prepare the field of battle to suit your preferences."
Jennet sets aside a half-eaten bowl of stew. “Valeria, your plan places you alone at the gate, blocking the bandits’ only escape from our trap. Are you certain that is what you wish?”
She closes her eyes, considering what she’s seen of the old fort. “Asta with her spells and Terri with her bow might hide on the walls above, near the gate. They can strike from outside the bandits’ range, and take down any who might otherwise break free.”
“Heptamegistos and I will flank them from the stable at Valeria’s signal.” She opens her eyes and smiles. “The gods will favor our cause.”
“Before then, we’ll ride out and learn the ground around the fort. I’d appreciate it if one of you could accompany us and be my eyes on the horizon, and perhaps map the area.”
Svetlana brings both cheese and butter along with a hot loaf of bread.
"I'll have Torod and Strawberry there with me," Valeria says before pausing. As for the magic, fog would cause us as much trouble as them. And a monster may dissuade surrender...
Turning to Asta, she says, "Try to stun their leader. May cause more confusion and dissection amongst them." She then turns to Jennet and replies, "I'll ride with you once we are set in our plan."
"Then Heptamegistos and I will get between the Levetons and the bandits. Svetlana, you bar yourself inside your house so that Oleg doesn't worry about you. Oleg, get them inside the gates, then get out of their reach and stay clear."
"Valeria's plan seems sound. We can station people on the walls to keep watch for them and have everything ready by the time they get here. That way we'll also know if there's more of them than expected. "
"What if they leave one on a horse outside?"
Jennet shakes her head at Torog. "They might see watchers on the walls. Perhaps Croft can be our lookout. If they send ten or more than we expect, we'll have to give up on trapping them inside the walls, and instead simply try to keep them out."
"If they leave one outside, Terri, he must be your first target, and Asta's."
"Ugh! They would see you if you keep your head popped up like a baby chick squawking to get its mother it feed it. But if you keep your head down they won't and the height and open plains will let us see them from miles away."
"We can keep our heads down while Croft sits lookout on top of the wall," Asta says.
The raven squawks indignantly. "Hey! I don't...!"
His voice trails off as Asta gives him a Look, one eyebrow raised.
"Fine," the raven grumbles. "But I still want cheese. And I don't want to have to get down to eat it. That fleabag is looking at me funny."
Strawberry licks her lips and flicks her tail.
Croft somehow manages to make the sound of blowing a raspberry at Strawberry Deathstrike, and then half-hides in Asta's snowy locks.
"I can keep a look out, My eyes are pretty good and I... I've done some sneaking around before, and being a lookout."
Terri looks at the others, wondering if she had perhaps said a little too much.
Too late now. They probably think I'm going to turn them over first chance.
After everyone's finished discussing strategy and eating, Terri pulls Valeria aside to a more private corner of the trading post. She looks more nervous than usual.
"I need to tell something, but I-- I-- *sigh* Can you promise not to judge me?"
Terri shuffles her feet and eyes focus on a patch of dirt to Valeria's right. Her hands wring themselves behind her back.
Oleg who had come in for some stew due to a light rain.
"I spend so much time on the roofs I could be up and drop a rag or something when I see them coming and come down an open the gate."
“That sounds fine fine, Oleg. I’m sure you all can judge what the bandits can see at a distance better than I can.” The corners of her milky eyes crinkle as she smiles.
After plans have been laid, Jennet hobbles outside, where Heptamegistos has been wandering the main square, sniffing at the corners. She hugs his great neck and whispers the details in his ear. The stallion chuffs and nickers, pawing at the ground and tossing his head. Jennet listens intently.
“There are some places inside the wall a bandit might reach but Heptamegistos can’t squeeze into. Can I get some help blocking those off?”
The two of them move tables, barrels, the wagon and construction materials to barricade the narrow gaps between the buildings and the outer walls, grateful for any help they receive. They then set out with Valeria to scout the area, learning the ground. Heptamegistos learns the quickest routes through the area, noting rises and gulleys. Jennet spends the time staring through Valeria, or out at nothing at all.
Afterwards, she brushes Heptamegistos down, and joins the party and the Levetons for dinner indoors. “All seems in readiness. Now we wait. I hope everyone will be able to sleep tonight.”
Valeria rides along, occasionally trying her hand at small talk with Jennet. Once they return, she has a seat at the table in the yard and finishes sharpening her blade with her whetstone.
"No. It should look like they expect it to look. If anything is out of place they might get skittish and run. You and Heptamegistos will just have to trust the rest of us to take care of the nooks and crannies." Torod will spend time with Jennet and Heptamegistros. He'll try to get a feel for how bad her leg is and how good her vision is.
Jennet doesn’t see a thing beyond a few wagon-lengths away. She orients herself by the heat of sunlight on her skin when she can. You’re not sure she uses her eyes at all. But she reads, recognizes faces, picks food up without fumbling for it, and even throws an apple neatly to Heptamegistos across a fence.
Her legs wobble when she walks, like they’re poorly attached. They seem quite strong enough for riding, however, and she carries big loads around the stables...slowly.
Asta takes some time, measuring the distance between the hiding place suggested to her and the trading post's courtyard, where the bandits are most likely to be.
"By the way," the young Ulfen woman says after she is finished with her preliminary checks -- and after having seen Jennet move about -- "I should like to offer a useful boon to your Heptamegistos. Come see me when Croft reports on the arrival of the bandits. I will cast a useful spell on him."
Asta then shrugs her shoulder, launching Croft to the top of the wall. "No one bother him," she warns. "That includes the cat!"
"I-- I know that you are probably suspicious of me, but I promise that I won't betray anybody in this group." Her head hangs in shame as she continues. "I was a member of a gang of thieves. I did a lot sneaking and stealing. I was--am good at it. One day I had had enough. I couldn't bear living as I was, so I grabbed my things, stole as much gold and gear as I could, and ran. I was scared that they were following me. I'm still scared that they are. If they caught me, they'd kill me, and I don't want to be dead yet."
She looks up at the taller woman's face.
"I don't want to die, but I can't let things go on as they have been with Svetlana and Oleg. I promise that I will fight until I am the only one of us left or until I'm dead if things go poorly tomorrow."
When the rag drops, Jennet reaches down and claps Asta on the shoulder. “Gods watch over you and guide your steps, Blackheart.” She then raps her knuckles on the invisible force now shielding Heptamegistos, and nods in satisfaction.
She and Heptamegistos wait until they hear the gates closing, then push open the stable doors and step 5’ outside.
“This outpost is under the protection of Heptamegistos,” she barks at the bandits. “Throw down your weapons and your lives will be spared.”
She lifts her shield and spear arms to the sky, and cries, “O Iomedae! O Erastil!” Then she lowers them into a fighting stance, grinning fiercely.
She has sparred with training weapons, but has never been in a fight in her life.
She’s quivering with anticipation.
Bless (All allies, 10 rounds remaining): +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saves vs. fear.
Heptamegistos snorts and paws the ground, bracing himself for action.
In the surprise round Torod closes the door. Strawberry Deathstrike comes out from behind the building to stand between the bandits and the Oleg and Svetlana.
Intitiative
Valeria waits for the bandits to begin gathering the goods before calling out, "Now!" signaling the others to spring the trap. She quickly slams her side of the gait shut, turning with her sword and shield out. She quickly tries to find the leader, then says, "Okay boys, how about we make this easy and y'all just give up now?"
Jennet leans over Heptamegistos’s shoulders and speaks calmly into his ear. “Yours is the blood of Arangin. You were born for this day. To battle!”
Bless (All allies, 9 rounds remaining) : +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saves vs. fear.
Divine Favor (Heptamegistos, 10 rounds remaining): +1 luck bonus on attack and damage rolls.
Terri gets up from her crouch on the catwalk next to the gate.
Terri takes aim and pulls back on the string before sending an arrow streaking off towards the apparent leader.
If he's not flatfooted but within 30 feet: Attack => 18, Damage => 4
Heptamegistos approaches cautiously and strikes out with a hoof at the nearest bandit, aiming for the unlucky man’s face.
Heptamegistos rears and lashes out at the remaining bandits, aiming to break skulls, and tears at a unprotected face with his teeth.
Jennet give a triumphant cry. If no bandits remain standing, she slides off Heptamegistos to see which one is least injured, planning to stabilize him before he dies and so take him captive.
If any still stand, she lets him have her shortspear.