Dom's nerves get the better of him. I cannot wait any longer! "Old Deadeye, speed my arrow."
Rory uses his Great Axe to channel Magic Missile at the Head Man of this operation.
Rory and Big Head both hit, while Dom misses.
The bandit Big Head attacks dies terribly, screaming as the blade spills his blood on the dust in front of the gate.
The leader steps back again and fires another arrow at Laurel.
He misses however.
The bandit near Big Head tries to retaliate against the swashbuckler for killing his friend.
His shortsword pierces Big Head, snicking a small amount of flesh. He's unable to drive the point home before the swashbuckler spins away.
How can you not know it's hopeless?
BTW linda and I are on vacation so we are limited in posting.
Move to flank with Big. Three rounds left on buff.
damage essed up but I clearedx missed so no big deal eh?
Laruel: 5 foot step abdn attack
Watching his arrow pierce nothing but air and grass, Dom mutters to himself. "The message is loud and clear, Erastil. I will prepare to heal these heroes, should they need it." Dom stows his bow and creeps down the ladder.
The Prof. begins to utter in a low, gravelly voice, weaving in his magic as he does. "Your doom has come, bandit. You will die here and face torments beyond suffering you could ever know here and on this world you will be forgotten and lost to time for all eternity." With the strength of his magic, the spell winds its way to the Bandit engaged by Big Head.
Big Head's sword pierces the side of the bandit mightily, and what's worse the magic of Rory pours over the relatively harmless highwayman in a massive wave.
Realizing he's about to die even if he surrenders, since Brevish law is both remarkably clear and forthrightly brutal when it comes to such crimes as banditry and contributing to the delinquency of livestock, he continues to try to kill Big Head so he can enter the hereafter with at least some of the dignity which may be denied a man killed by hanging.
Sadly, he misses thanks to Rory's spell damaging his concentration. He groans in realization that he probably should have stayed on at the family hair salon after all.
The bandit attacked by Laurel likewise roars in pain as he was expecting another easy collection.
Lacking imagination he blurts the first thing that comes to mind.
YOU B&!&#!
He steps back and fires another arrow.
Move to Lauel's aid
I also double-move to engage the bad guy.
Your friends are dead! You've lost!
Isn't there one still alseep?
There are two asleep. Thought I'd gloss over that for intimidation purposes.
Move in and attack
"I really hate bandits, so the fact that you keep shooting arrows at me is not helping my attitude."
That is a crit threat.
Laurel's sword chops down on the bandit and rends deep into the man.
He drops bonelessly as the rest of you advance towards her.
You now face the decision to kill the bandits in front of the fort or otherwise capture them.
"The punishment for banditry is well known, I don't think we will get any information from these thieves before we execute them. Let us just be done with it."
"The punishment for unrepentant banditry is well known. For all we know these men were pressed into service. I would argue that we lack the authority to...execute...our duty, until we have explored the status of their penitence."
"Laurel is correct, and if any semblance of order is to come to the Stolen Lands, punishment must be swift and assured."
We have the authority, but I think we could possibly learn more from them. No point in arguing when they're about to wake up, though. Let me secure them.
I double-move back to hog-tie the sleeping bandits.
I say, let's tie them up and then ask them questions. Information is always a good thing. If need be, we can always kill them later
"Big Head, before you begin, please allow me to heal your wounds from the battle. Better to be prepared should things go awry."
The Professor aids Big Head, and does his best to look menacing as his heritage offers. He eyes the captives with hot-blooded menace and occasionally fingers his great axe as an executioner eager for the sentence.
That too.
Sure, Laural and I hold the guy down
The bandits refuse to talk, sullenly accepting their death whenever Brevoy's actual guards get here.
Oleg and Svetlana are thrilled that the bandits have been driven off.
Oleg grunts at you.
Well that was alright then. The good news is it should take the rest of the bandits a while to realize they're missing a patrol. Well, I suppose under the circumstances I can give ye a reward.
Quite grumpily he hurries back into the post and back out with a small sack of coins and several potions.
Well, I suppose you can use the guest house while ye're here. So ye're exploring the Greenbelt for Brevoy. Where were ye going to start?
We were going to start here, then look for more bandits I suppose. Was hoping these two could tell us, but apparently they figure the Stag Lord has some pull wherever bandits go instead of Valhalla.
How about you? Do you have an idea of where the bandits came from? Or any nearby outposts of civilization having similar trouble?
Oleg's grumpiness vanishes in a huge, booming laugh.
Laddie, this post is civilization out here. If there's anybody around but trappers, adventurers and trading caravans moving through it's news to me. Well, and whatever that goblin is up to - the thing talked pretty crazy.
Chuckling he'll point to a series of posters on the side of the guest house.
There's rewards out of Brevoy that get sent here. One of them ye almost got done - capturing or killing six bandits. That one'll get ye 400 gp. Someone needs to kill the Sootscale kobolds out in the Kamelands. Well, they say kill but usually they're pretty harmless for kobolds. Something's got them riled up. That'll be 800 gp.
He'll point to one that has a picture of a huge worm with two clawed feet.
That one's from me - I want the head to mount on my wall. Nothing'll bring them back like a good conversation and a tatzlwyrm head'll do better than most things for starting a good talk. It needs to be intact now - or mostly intact - so no roasting the thing alive. I know how ye wizards are with your lightning and fire!
He points a finger at Rory as he says this.
Get me a head and I'll give ye 600 gp.
The last poster has a crude picture of a boar drawn on it - despite its simplicity there's certainly something more feral about it.
That one's for Tuskgutter. That boar's a lengend, been wandering around the Greenbelt for years. Vekkel Benzen, an old hunter from the area, lost a leg to the beast and he's offering his bow and some fine arrows for hunting to anyone who can kill the thing. He's also offering to share the head cheese. Should be fine eating if you bring him the whole corpse.
- 7 horses
- 4 Shortswords
- 4 longbows
- 5 sets of leather armor
- 97 arrows
- 10 days of trail rations
- 1 dagger
- 1 composite longbow (+2 Strength)
- 75gp
- A silver Stag Lord Amulet worth 20 gp
Rory notes, "I receive power from the element of earth itself. Lightning is opposed to my power, and fire lacks the endurance for any lasting power.
We appreciate the offer of the guest shelter and use of your grounds as a base of operations of sorts. Hopefully our efforts will make this a safe location that trade for you will increase."
He glances at the bandits.
"As noted. They are unwilling to talk. The law is clear, and as we are duly chartered, I say it's best to serve their sentence now. Justice delayed and all that ..."
Throw Heal on Laruel
I agree with the Proff!
"Friends, I believe it is worth noting something."
Dom trails off as he presents his charter with a flourish. He reads aloud:
The punishment for unrepentant banditry remains, as always, execution by sword or rope.
"I recognize that they tried to kill us, and that in their reticence we may as a practical matter assume guilt. However I must urge caution as our lawful authority has limits."
"Oleg, could I see that amulet for a moment?"
The amulet, which Oleg is not holding unless you plan to sell it to him, has no religious significance.
"Having seen banditry more than I would like, I am inclined to execute them. Dom, I grant that your calling inclines you to offer more leniency than the rest of us may do. I have no doubt of their guilt and will not turn them loose even if they repent."
"As for exploration, straight south is as good of a choice as any."
"I would suggest the forest to the south, then. The more we know about where potential threats can hide, the better. Then we should be certain of the lands immediately bordering the post."
I'd like the amulet as part of my take if you-all don't mind.
And I always thought South was a fine direction.
As far as these filthy wretches, we could maybe save some discussion time...HEY! RAGABONDS! DO YOU REPENT OF YOUR BANDITRY?
The Prof. pauses to consider what he knows about the region.