Priyya: Surya-ka-Vahaak bulls-eyes the archer on the north cliff. As he passes out from his injuries, the man slips forward falling off the cliff. He bounces twice on the rocks before landing with a loud thud behind the thug that Felmor is fighting. Nodding in satisfaction, she drops the weapon, unsheathes her scimitar and runs towards Felmor's location. (Normally need BAB +1 to draw weapon as part of a move action, but I'll allow it.)
Morgaard: The able dwarf snatches up his bow as he runs past the cart.
Felmor: As the cliff-top bandit crashes down behind his first opponent, the brain-addled bandit just about jumps out of his skin.
Once again, Felmor cracks him upside the head and says, "That be two fer flinchin'!"
As the poor sap keels over with a concussion, he ducks and pivots on his right heel and sticks a dagger in the ribs of the guy behind him. "Git off me arse ye lead-footed landlubber!"
After seeing this his buddies are all either down or dead and that there are no sounds but those of people running towards him, the bandit turns tail and tries to run.
Felmor mutters "Ye ain't jumpin' ship yet, lad."
Priyya:(Normally need BAB +1 to draw weapon as part of a move action, but I'll allow it.)
Alis runs to the opposite side of the tree she's near and takes a shot at the guy...
...but the shot is stopped by the thickness of the armor on his shoulders.
From atop the south cliff, her new friend calls out, "I'll get 'im miss."
He waits until the fleeing fool runs past an opening in the treetops and fires...
...catching him in the right side about a hands-width below his armpit. The thug hits the turf face-first bleeding onto the ground. Nodding in satisfaction, the south archer winces as he remove off the bolt that Alexis put into his gut and then makes his way off the cliff using a concealed rope before jogging over to his new best friend.
"That should be all of 'em!" he says cheerfully.
If all the bad-guys are down, Priyya says, "Alis, maybe your new friend can tell us where the horses are, and other interesting facts."
"Oh, good idea!" Alis turns to face her new buddy and pauses, "Wait, where did the guy Morgaard jumped go— OH NO!"
Looking back towards the cart, you see that the bandit leader, who you thought was out cold, is standing over Suny with a short sword held over her.
You each have time for a single action before the enemy acts.
Both Alis and her friend fire on the murderous half-orc but are unable to hit him.
"Oh, good idea!" Alis turns to face her new buddy and pauses, "Wait, where did the guy Morgaard jumped go— OH NO!"Looking back towards the cart, you see that the bandit leader, who you thought was out cold, is standing over Suny with a short sword held over her.
You each have time for a single action before the enemy acts.
MAP: Grassy Ridge #04
Felmor sees the half orc about ready to plunge his sword into Suny's body, and a reddish haze comes over him. He vaguely notes someone is yelling but it sounds out of focus, only later would he realize, it was him yelling foul obscenities about what he would do to the bandit, should he be caught. He knows he is too late to stop him but he tries anyway.
Bloody Hell! thinks Priyya, considering her options. Her crossbow is unloaded and on the ground and she doesn't have one damn useful spell at this range. She falls back on the only thing she can think of... it might buy them some time.
She says matter-of-factly, "A DEAD Elf princess isn't much of a bargaining chip. Kill her and you will surely die. Keep her alive and you'll most likely walk away from this with your skin intact. Your choice."
Morgaard stops in his tracks and turns to see the bandit standing near Alexis. He takes quick aim with his short bow and fires:
Freaking out, Felmor tries to bullrush the tree. He makes a valiant effort snapping a few branches as he struggles towards the would-be murderer.
The bandit leader hesitates for a moment at the words "dead elf princess" and then laughs loudly saying, "It's own reward then!"
As he raises his sword to strike, Morgaard's arrow catches him in the back and the half-orc cries out in frustration.
Freaking out, Felmor tries to bullrush the tree. He makes a valiant effort snapping a few branches as he struggles towards the would-be murderer.
The bandit leader hesitates for a moment at the words "dead elf princess" and then laughs loudly saying, "It's own reward then!"
As he raises his sword to strike, Morgaard's arrow catches him in the back and the half-orc cries out in frustration.
Alexis's eyes flutter open from the noise above her. Thinking fast, you hear her yell out, "Elbereth!"
In the next moment, a dazzling riot of colors erupts from her open palm blasting both Suny and the half-orc.
Suddenly blasted into next week, the half orc drops his weapon which embeds itself in the ground about a half-inch from the side of Suny's head. He then topples forward landing atop her with a soft *thud*.
"Tch..." Alexis scoffs as she struggles to her feet, holding her neck. " A princess? You actually thought she was the princess?! Please!"
She boots the unconscious half-orc in the head before regaining her composure and shouting, "Alissariel, Morgaard, are you alright?"
Alis motions to her new friend and the two come running over to Alexis' position. The archer looks at the nasty wound he caused on Alexis' neck and grimaces, "Oof... Sorry about that yer highnesses, I didn't know you two were together..."
Not wasting any time, Alis speaks a few words and touches the nasty wound with a blue light that radiates from her palm.
After healing her sister, Alis hears a groan from the half-orc as he starts to wake up. "Sweetie," she says to the archer, "bind this guy before he recovers, would you?"
Hopping to obey, he uncoils a length of rope on the half-orcs' body and starts tying his hands and feet together.
Priyya picks up her crossbow and returns to the cart to check on Alexis and Suny. She will use her scimitar to coup de grace the 1/2 Orc unless someone objects.
Priyya picks up her crossbow and returns to the cart to check on Alexis and Suny. She will use her scimitar to coup de grace the 1/2 Orc unless someone objects.
"No, don't kill him." says Alexis, as she sees Priyya walk up. "He and his men need to face trial in Kassen for their crimes."
"Although, I suppose someone should at least get the ranger off of her," she pauses for a moment before frowning and walking off.
"She's liable to lay him if she wakes up like that." she mutters under her breath.
Priyya looks at Alexis, "Why? They have attempted to do far worse here than steal a few horses."
With the help of Morgaard and her new buddy, Alis rounds up the rest of the unconscious bandits and ensures that they are all tightly bound so they can't escape. Only the one who fell from the cliff is dead — his neck and back both broken from the fall.
As her charm spell is about to run out, she has Felmor cold-conk the archer with his belaying pin and then ties him up too.
"Right, and they'll likely hang for that, but that's up to the people of Kassen to decide. This isn't Kyonin. It would violate decorum for Alis and I to have any part in executing foreign fugitives who have not had their due process."
Priyya sighs. Clearly her view of justice is different than the Kirmoon's. She says "Who is still injured aside from Suny? If we have to march this rabble back to town, you should all be in top form."
"Right, and they'll likely hang for that, but that's up to the people of Kassen to decide. This isn't Kyonin. It would violate decorum for Alis and I to have any part in executing foreign fugitives who have not had their due process."
She seems to be about to respond and then merely waves it off.
Morgaard breathes a sigh of relief, then lights up his pipe. After taking a few puffs, he comments:
"We have to either dispatch them or take them back. If we do not, they will either follow us hoping to throttle us in our sleep or alert others of their clan and come back in greater numbers. Personally, I'd vote for the former, because they could have loyalty or kin in Kassan which would aid in their escape. For all we know, this might have been set up by someone there."
Priyya pulls Suny, Alexis, and Morgaard away from the prisoners. She absolutely refuses to heal any of them even a single point, and channels energy, twice.
She bows her head, the scar on her right hand glows as she touches Suny...
Alexis thanks Priyya for the healing but remains unswayed in her opinion of justice.
Sighing, Alis comments, "If this was Kyonin or even Taldor I'd be all for dispatching them, but Sis has a point."
Looking at the cart, she says, "Why don't you guys load up the dead and injured on the cart. We've disarmed the half-orc, so tie a rope around his neck and fix it to the wagon to ensure he can't make a break for it. I'll scout around the area to see if the horses are nearby. It's getting late, but if we do find horses, we might yet be able to make it to town before it's too terribly late. If the dungeon is merely a game then it can wait another day. This is a bit more pressing, wouldn't you say?"
"We have to either dispatch them or take them back. If we do not, they will either follow us hoping to throttle us in our sleep or alert others of their clan and come back in greater numbers. Personally, I'd vote for the former, because they could have loyalty or kin in Kassan which would aid in their escape. For all we know, this might have been set up by someone there."
"That is certainly possible. Regarding their fate, your Mistresses have already reached their decision - we return them to Kassan. We could question the leader and try to see if they had help from someone in town. We still need to find the horses as well. Perhaps they are hidden around here somewhere. There seems little sense in returning to town with the alleged criminals without the stolen property as well."
"I'll start searching to the east," Alis comments. "If anyone else wants to help, try to be quiet about it..."
With that, she heads for shadows of the southern rock face and disappears from sight.
Priyya seems tired and withdrawn as she looks to Felmore, "Would you mind searching West please? Go quietly. The faster we locate the horses, the faster we can get moving. I'll check in a Southerly direction."
Without another word she heads off, as stealthily as she is able.
Felmor (NPC):
Although he's quiet about it, Felmor fumbles around in the bushes and trees for some time before returning to camp empty-handed.
Meanwhile to the south and east, with Priyya's help, the ladies eventually manage to come upon 9 horses tied up to the trees with black sacks secured over their eyes to keep them docile.
Alis comes out of hiding not far from Priyya and smiles. "Thanks, now let's get them back to the others..."
After a few minutes, the ladies return with the better part of a dozen horses in tow and satisfied looks on their faces.
"Hey, look what Priyya and I found." Alis beams. "Horses for everybody! Now, then, let's get them hitched up in place of the ponies."
She pauses and a sadistic grin crosses her face. "Guess we'll see if our half-orc is good at keeping his mount at a steady pace. Although I'm sure Suny wouldn't mind seeing him dragged along in the dirt by his neck should he not keep the same pace as the cart."
The half-orc blanches at Alis' words and regards the his situation ruefully.
Morgaard takes his place in the cart, sitting on top of a supine corpse. He pops the reins lightly and turns the cart around begins the trek toward town. Looking over his shoulder, he comments:
"Aye, they want to take you to town, so we'll do that. However, if I hear a peep out of any of you, I'd kill the lot of you stone dead like my seat cushion here."
Morgaard pats the corpse gingerly on the head before popping the reins again to get the cart underway.
The prisoners who are actually conscious pale when they see that the surly dwarf was serious about using their dead friend as a seat cushion and remain dead-silent.
As the healing power of Priyya washes over the brown skinned Elf, she groans. "Owwiiee, I done feel like I been rolled aroun' in'a surf too long..." She blinks and looks around at every one.
"Whut happen? Last thin' I reme'er seein' is..." She blinks at the half Orc and a dark look comes across her features
"YOU! Ye scrivvin', scum suckin', wood rotten' no good spawn o' a bilge Hag! Yer darn lucky there in't no ships mast handy, or'n I'd be runnin' a rope up th' mast, swingin' ye over th' side by yer ankles an' usin' ye fer BAIT!" She snarls, then winces again,
"Owwie..." She winces at the wounds and such that she still has, spending the rest of the journey back to the town doing her best not to bounce or jostle her still wounded shoulder.
At Suny's outburst, the half-orc finds himself suddenly grateful that she isn't the one in charge here. Throughout the trip, he pays extra-close attention to regulating his mount's pace to match that of Morgaard's cart.
Now mounted on horseback, you have a much easier and shorter trip retracing your earlier progress. Even so, it is well after dark when you return to town. The sound of so many horses arriving at such a late hour does attract some attention and a pair of guards who were out patrolling the town run up waving their hands.
"Ho there, what's all this then?" calls out one of the guards.
Priyya, glowing faintly in the darkness and being a mite irritable, decides to make a big splash. She casts...
Daylight on herself, lighting up the night out to a distance of 120'... which very clearly illuminates the cart, the missing horses, the prisoners, and probably a good sized chunk of the the town.
Suddenly able to see well thanks to Priyya's spell, the guards exclaim, "Is them the ones what stole the Schufer's horses? Ha! The ole man will be right tickled pink when he sees his stock back! I'll run 'n get 'im. Billy, would you show our new guests to the jail please?"
With that the man runs off to the east.
"Sure thing Tom!" Billy turns to you and says, "Thanks for your help strangers. Say, aren't you the ones who were heading off to do the tomb?"
Suny takes advantage of Priyyas' light to cast an appraising eye over their prisoners. (Except the Half-Orc, on principal. :P)
Priyya hops lightly off the horse, turning it over to the townsfolk. She stands quietly to one side, a human streetlamp, so the guards can do their work.
After you finish getting the prisoners secured in the jail, Darren and his boys Pete and Jim come running up. When their eyes land upon their horses their faces light up.
"Hot damn!" whoops the old man, "That's damn near all of 'em!"
"I thank you folks kindly. If you want to stop by in the mornin' I'll have yer reward for you. I can't thank you enough for this!"
Upon seeing the stable hands again, Suny brightens up.
'Um...we in't wanderin' back out in't th' forest agin' t'night, is we...?" She asks, though something seems to be distracting the blond Elf from her conversation with her adventuring companions...(^_^)
As the Schufers lead their horses away, Tom says, "Hey, and be sure to stop by and see the constable in the morning too. These men were wanted bandits long before they ever stole Darren's horses. There was a reward of 50 gold on each of 'em and a 'nuther 100 for the leader!"
Billy explains further, "They've been harassing people on the roads for the better part of a year now. Even killed a few folks who tried to stand up to 'em. Half-orc doesn't like elves much and actually raped a lil' half-elf girl not much younger than you before giving her to the others." He scowls and looks down at the ground, "It weren't pretty... hangin's too good for 'em but they'll git what they deserve, don't you worry."
Paling at Billy's words, Alis responds to Suny, "No, we'll stay here at the inn tonight."
With Alexis in tow, the two of them say their goodnights and head into the Seven Silvers, Morgaard following behind them.
As Suny looks on at the stable hands, the singer from last night wanders by. When he sees her he scowls and shouts out to them, "Hey, just a warning guys, don't lay the blonde. My junk's been burning like a god-dammed bonfire since I woke up this morning!"
With that he glares at Suny before heading off to where-ever he lives.
Eyes growing wide, the stable-hands recoil in disgust and finish their work with all due haste before departing in the opposite direction.