Aletha tries to feint the boar
Before striking at it with her blade
Likely doing a pretty good job at it.
Under magic, and Aletha's attack, the angry boar goes down.
The injured bandits visibly calm down, with the adrenaline of combat over, their senses of strain on muscles come back to them.
One of them, "Good grace, that animal's as aggressive as could be.."
Vasaam moves up to examine the boar. "Looks like a really big pig. Is the meat edible? If so, we could probably help with butchering it. ??"
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Lariel relaxes and collects whatever arrows he can reuse. He, then, approaches the boar and inspects it.
After his study of the scene, he approaches the bandits and says with his bow in one hand and an unnocked arrow in the other "So, you're the ones who stole these goods, aren't you? Care to explain?"
Yay I did it! Aletha smiles to herself as she tries to refocus on whats going on currently
She breathes more deeply, as her rage wears off.
While keeping her ability to heal further to herself, given there was no thinking they may not be attacked again and she could only help so many times, Coraline would try and help bandage the wounds of everyone, to at least give some comfort, if no benefits.
Vasaam doesn't notice anything particular about the boar. It's solid, it 'was' very angry, but nothing unnatural for such an animal.
@ Lariel,
- Boars like these would attack if it had young to protect.
- It can be made for dinner, but the prep will be tedious and time. (skinning/fire pit/gather firewood/skewing)
- You don't feel a pulse in its neck, it may well be dead.
- You don´t find signs that would indicate disease, in your opinion.
- With your low light vision, you determine it came from the west.
The two injured bandits shrug. "We were the ones driving the wagon alright. Got out for just a minute, then this boar charged at us after some aggressive grunting."
Vasaam looks the wagon over. "The owner of this wagon wants it back. We'll be taking it, unless it's damaged too much."
Vasaam finds the wagon pretty much intact. The bandits don't protest, being both injured and having seen your team's efficiency.
The wagon holds a variety of assorted goods of good quality grade.
Lariel wraps up what he saw was a wet gash on one of the mens' legs, which matches with a bloody smear on one of the boar's tusks.
The horses went west. It would be a fair assumption the horses startled the boar, and the bandits chasing the horse got the aggression for it.
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Lariel looks at the tracks and says "Looks like the horses went on to the west. I'd say they are the ones that startled the boar and as the bandits were chasing the horses, they got the boar's attention."
Despite it being almost night, he suggests that the group carries the cart back slowly. Between him, Coral and Aletha, they can do good time due to their strength. In the city, they can rest after a work well done.
" So no horses to return, but the cart and some workers, right workers who we found trying to help the lost cart?" Coraline calls over, figuring the theft of horses on land was similar to the sea, though she was not sure how the sharks would eat them after the Many Cuts.
Vasaam will try to help.
Oh well, I can probably double as a draft animal for a short time
Aletha offers
And so everyone, including the 2 'conscripted' bandits, start pushing and pulling the fully loaded merchant wagon. 3 hours later, around 21:30, you get to the gates of the city.
The guardsmen look up at your faces, slightly glistening sweat in the moon's light. Thankfully, you needn't move the wagon uphill, 15 minutes later you push the wagon into a currently empty space that can be locked.
Entering 'The Warden's Respite' before closing hours at 22:00, Margaret is found speaking with the master at arms, both sitting at a table with a pint of ale. Both look up. "Welcome back, team. You look tired, by the looks you've either been dragging something, or running laps around the city."
Vasaam does feel that the thieves deserve a kind word.... "But they did help against that angry boar, rather than run off. And they helped drag the wagon back. I don't think the punishment should be too harsh. Maybe they just need a proper job so they don't feel any need to steal?"
" I do feel they have perhaps learned that good work is better yes? When the shark attacks, those who stay to fend it off get to wear it's teeth. Even if one brought the shark near with blood by accident."
It seems even among Coraline's people they had mercy on those who tried to do the right thing, even when they did not have to.
The bandits are kind of at a loss for words. Not left to the risk of death at the tusks of an angry boar. Sure, they were situationally pressed to assist pushing back the cart. Yet here they are offered water and two people speaking for a lighter sentence.
Margaret and the master of arms look at you, then the two bandits, then briefly at each other, before back to you.
"Theft is still theft. But aiding in a threat against guild agents, and bringing back the stolen goods, i'll see what can be done for their situation tomorrow. Perhaps less time in the dungeons, paired with assigned labor, or some such."
The master at arms stands up and heads out, returning some time later with a group of city watch to take the bandits to the watch station.
Margaret on her part, takes your payment. 300gp each.
"Take a long rest, agents. And, since you're doing well on the tasks, one other matter. Instead of several loose names, come with a name for your fixer team tomorrow. Few as it happens, sometimes larger coordinated missions are better with a fixer team's name assigned to it."
"Leonans? Well, it's not likely that any other group will be using that name. I'm OK with it."
The following day, as you come back to the *Warden's Respite Inn*, already a couple of new notices hang on the board.
A few hard jobs are getting taken by two other teams.
The ones currently still hanging are the following:
A small farming community is rumored to have made a shrine to an unknown spirit. Food deliveries from the community to the city have been less than usual 3 times in a row.
Confirm origin of rumor. Cult or ill favor on harvest?
A lumberyard in The Thickets is plagued by wild animals of late. Boars and wolves are encountered more frequently. The workers have been working to construct a fence, but attacks have been frequent enough that the workers themselves are unable and under-equipped to both properly protect and construct at the same time. They request security for 3 days to finish constructing the fence.
Vasaam agrees. "Kind of strange though, wild animals interfering with people. Boars and wolves working together? Wouldn't they usually avoid each other and find easier food?"
" Why not do both again? I think our singing friend can be spoken with, if that is who it is, but I thought we had already spoken with her on that. Let us do the lumberyard first, then see if our new friend is okay. It may not be her, which is even more problems. We wouldn't have a way to speak with them." Coraline seems to reason out.
I am fine with either
Aletha opines, having no strong opinion on the matter
"Sounds good."
The team sets out to the lumberyard. A few hours on foot later, there is the sound of combat in the distance. When the scene comes into view, a number of lumberjacks have just finished killing a few wolves.
The lumberyard boss is giving directions for getting the scrapes and gnashes seen to.
"Spirits damned wolves."
As Lariel speaks to the lumberjacks Vasaam moves closer to examine the wolves. He quietly casts a detect magic spell to scan the area for any auras, and counts the wolf bodies as well as the number of men.
Information is ammunition, any further detail you can share about the timing of the attacks, the number of wolves, what they attacked exactly etc. can aid us in tracking them faster and more effectively
Lariel's observation of wolf tracks, indicates they came from the west. But the older tracks indicate more wolves have been here at least over the past 1 or 2 days.
He also observes their fur and condition, no traces of disease as far as he can tell.
To Aletha, the lumberyard boss replies:
"They attack my men. Not the food supplies, they go for my men every single time. It began 3 days ago. The smell of roast meat has been known to draw the occasional curious wolf but always at a distance, but not this."
"3 days ago, we were mapping the surroundings, check what areas hold the best yield of lumber, after we'd be done with the big ones here. Three of them went scouting, you'll find one of them, Tobias, in the tent 2nd on the left. The others, Mark and Leo, should be working erecting the fence to the west. The wolves, so far in quartets, seem to be coming for those three specifically, but fight others who come too close too. I don't know what happened, and they either don't know what caused them to be hunted, or are very determined to not tell anyone for whatever reason keeps them silent."
Vasaam listens, slightly confused. Why would simple animals target specific people? And why would four wolves attack a larger number of humans with weapons. And why four, multiple times?
"Pity that we don't have anyone that could use magic to speak with animals."
" If we could speak to animals, that would be helpful. But I do not think they would make good talking, not like these humans will. Maybe the three tainted a water supply? Perhaps took land from them? What would upset a wolf? It is just a big dog right?" Coraline asks, a bit unfamiliar with why animals would attack like that.
"I don't think wolves are that intelligent.
No, wolves are not intelligent. The only ones who are are either companions, but those don't get sent off to die.
[ooc]Kn. Arcana roll for a different kind.
To Lariel the lumberyard boss replies:
"Those three have worked for me for 5 years now, no problems in the past, which makes me all the more curious why they'd not come clean. I don't ask my men if they were old friends, but Mark and Leo seemed to be acquainted at least before starting to work for me."
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Lariel replies "Maybe we need to find out if they've been involved with something you don't know about. Is there anyone else they usually associate with? Other friends, or family?"
The half-elf feels awkward discussing other people, but it turns out that this is where this particular investigation is leading.
Magic could be involved. A curse perhaps, with unintelligent animals knowing whom to target.
"The lads work 5 days a week, with an overlap on the 6th and 7th day to keep things running in the weekends. In general i haven't seen any tensions among them, and they mingle only during meals. But i would assume most of them have families or friends, but none that came visit. Non-workers stay outside of lumberyard limits unless supervised."
Vasaam considers what they've been told. "Where were the three scouting? This sounds like magic, particularly a magical curse. Four wolves each time, coming and attacking those three men each time? Fighting others that got involved? I think they disturbed something. And if it isn't set right no fence is going to stop the attacks."
"We need to speak with them, and they need to know that trying to hide what they did will only get them killed."
" Could it just be they are crossing into another area? Not the wolves, but shark's guard their hunting areas sometimes. So does an eel, but we do not blame them when we cross it." Coraline offers, trying to think of a peaceful way to remove the animals.
I think we are most likely to find out more if we investigate the actual area, so far we are mostly speculating. Aletha opines
As well as meet with the specific lumberjacks as quickly as possible.
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Lariel answers Coraline "Well, it is dangerous to enter an animal's territory, but it typically gets safer when you exit it. So unless these wolves were tricked to believe their territory is exactly where these lumberjacks are, I'd side more with Vasaam on this. I agree with Aletha, let's find them and talk to them."
Turning to the boss, he says "Can you give them a few minutes off so we can talk to them?"
As the group approaches the lumberjacks, Lariel wants to stay silent as he knows he isn't the best at talking. Still, he is too curious and blurts out "We're investigating the wolf attacks. Tell us your version." He forgot to say hello, and he realizes everything he said could have been better, but he doesn't like these men already and he doesn't know why.
Vasaam smiles at the brusk question and adds, "Sorry. We probably should do introductions first? We are the Leonans, a group of investigators and problem solvers. I'm called Vasaan. You three seem to be cursed or something? We've spoken with others and we think the attacks might be linked to something that you encountered when you were scouting. Can you think of anything odd that you observed? Or, could you take us out where you scouted? We can protect you from the wolves. But if there is a curse involved that would indicate powerful magic. And, just so you understand, a curse will follow you even if you run away. You will be plagued with these attacks until the curse is lifted or the wolves kill you."
To Lariel's request the boss nods, he calls them aside for you to question.
All are of average build.
Mark, a man with black hair and short stubs.
Leo's a guy with wavy blonde hair and a checkered vest.
Tobias is the eldest, with early signs of getting grey hairs in his beard.
Leo answers Lariel's question.
"We were exploring the next logging site, you know. We went back and got chased by wolves where we saw none before."
@ Vasaam, roll a diplomacy with that.