Had it come to this?
Quintessa exhales sharply, steadying her breath as she shoulders her crossbow. This wasn’t how she preferred to solve problems! She’d rather deal with fools through wit and reason, praying to the gods she could land a bolt on a target nearly a hundred feet away and fleeing quickly.
Casting her runic weapon spell on her crossbow, she takes a resolute sigh and lets the bolt fly.
Quintessa casts a spell to make her bolt more effective then takes aim at the fast moving target which is quickly getting out of range. She pulls the trigger, and the bolt flies in a high arch. Hoping against hope the noblewoman traces the flight, and gives a little nod of approval as it scores a direct hit in the back of hunched over rider who falls from the saddle about 150' from the outpost wall.
End of Combat
As the last fleeing bandit falls, Alvis descends the ladder and goes to look at the corpse of the fallen Happs. It appears the raid leader is truly dead, a dagger stick from his chest, and a gaping slash wound across his belly. The fallen leader has a composite shortbow with 20 unused arrows, a dagger, a small purse with 15 silver sails, a bag with jerky and hardtack (enough for two days rations), and, most interestingly, a silver amulet on a thong around this neck. The amulet has the a similar shape to the icon on the papers at Fort Serenko -- the skull of stag complete with antlers. The amulet appears to be real silver and probably is worth a fair price.
Oleg dances a little jig and clasps each of the heroes near him on the back. "You did it! You saved my wares and my business! I didn't believe it could happen, but it looked so easy! You routed them! Bet they won't come back now, not by a long shot!" He rushes to the house to celebrate his good fortune with Svetlana.
Teela does a little celebratory jig when the as she seems the man fall from his horse. As she turns around she stops when her gaze falls upon the barrel tied to the net under the gate. She ponders something for a second, then shrugs and heads for the nearest ladder.
"That was them?" she questions the situation out loud as she walks towards the gate. "That can't be it. This is like a two- or three-soldier job. Right?" she looks to Graham for some sort of confirmation before heading outside the gate to bring back the horses and drag in the bodies.
She lines the bandits neatly on the ground and starts going through their pockets. "Well, Oleg, it's a good thing you're so handy with an axe, because you will need a big pyre for these. But at least you got some horses out of it."
Faen's initial dejection at not quite bringing down the last fleeing bandit changes to hope as she follow's Quintessa's volley up...up...up...then she cheers wildly as the crossbow bolt finds its mark!
"That was a hell of a shot!" she says, giving the noblewoman a hug. Then not aware of any impropriety she may have committed, joins Teela in fetching bodies and horses.
Looking at the row of dead bandits, she wonders aloud, "I wonder how long until they're missed. Oleg, do you know aught of what else or whom else they may have waylaid after coming here?"
Alvis is disappointed at the death of the leader with it closing an option. "Inconvenient, I hoped to question him." Looking at Oleg's misplaced joy, he continues, "Glad Oleg's happy but this is not a real victory, but a possible disaster in waiting."
On that less than uplifting note; Alvis, still concerned about losing surprise offers a cautionary statement, "They are unlikely to be missed, more like they will run back to that other leader, the woman, that was mentioned before. Warned they could rally with their full force, and unknown but I suspect larger number. The boldness shown earlier by leaving markings suggests they belong to the strongest gang by far out here. We need to give chase now; we cannot be pinned here on the defense."
Following his own advice, Alvis heads to the stables as he goes, he asks, "Anyone, where did you last see them heading? Any idea of where they are going? Let's go!" Alvis preps Parable for the stern chase ahead, unless stopped.
Graham meets Teela's eye at her question. They both nod almost imperceptibly in assent. A small group, likely because they successfully cowed them in the past. Next time won't be so few in number.
Despite his own sense of foreboding and Alvis' glum remarks – they're all gone, friend, and no one left to report in elsewhere – he gives a grin and sets to work with Teela to line up the bodies (and loot them). He will help Oleg dispose of them as needed. Have you a garden? These would help to make fine fertilizer, being as they showed up here all full of dung already!
Alvis is surprised, "I thought at least one got away, did someone take him down?" Alvis stops and looks outward since he moved down from the catwalk.
Darkvision, Trained
Scan - For the bodies of the fleeing, and anything that might be interested in such, two or four legged.
"Great shooting, I didn't know we had such good archers. I still have a bunch to learn about teamwork."
Alvis still leaves to check on the others to see if any managed not to die yet. If so, he will cast a stabilize on them and bring them back for interrogation and trial. Otherwise, he will get his horse and bring the bodies back, for services.
Alvis remarks, "Wasn't one of these wanted in Brevoy? If so, we should see the writ answered with his well-deserved death."
At the right time, he will conduct a service, part of which is to release the souls from his god to the Lady of Graves. "Oh Abadar, these despicable violators of the law have been punished in this world, I now, in thy name commend for their souls to pass from the Judge of the Living to the Judge of the Dead. May they receive whatever justice they deserve."
The fallen bandits are all similarly equipped with leather armor, daggers, shortbows with 10 arrows each, and 2 day's dry rations. They have 28 silver sails among them, and each wears the same stag skull silver amulet. Oleg offers you first dibs on any of this gear, and then says he plans to include it in his trade goods, if you don't take any.
The stable inside the trading post has no more room in it for the horses ridden by the defeated marauders, but Oleg suggest he could sell them for a fair price to trappers or hunters or perhaps the army should they ever send the reinforcements he asked for.
Oleg shrugs when asked if he knew where the bandits lived. "They came from away south some where's all I know. Didn't go looking to poke that hornets nest."
When it it pointed out that this might just be the beginning of the trouble, Oleg looks startled. "I didn't think of that. That woman, the one who near to chopped my hand off, she might come back? I don't want that kind of trouble, no sir."
As Alvis gives the fallen their last rites and mentions the men being wanted, Oleg points out a spot on the wall of the guest chamber where notices are tacked up. One is from the Swordlords of Restov and says:"Cash Reward Offered: slay or pacify the Sootscale Kobolds who have run amok in the Stolen Lands. 40gp reward for proof of completion." Another appears to be a handscrawled replica but written in a very hard to read script:: Kill That Pig! Bring the bloody head of the dirty pig Tuskgutter to Oleg and I'll give me bow and arries to the fool what did it." This poster is signed Vekkel Benzen.
"Well," Teela sighs heavily as she stands up and looks to the owners of the trade post. "we have some time before they figure out something is wrong. I assume, at least. So that gives us some time for our move."
She scratches her head. "I don't know anything about no kobolds, but I feel like this bandit situations takes priority?" she shrugs. "They came on horseback, through the forest, so I will assume there's either a path or some prominent trace of their movement. I assume someone here can track?" She looks around the party, wondering how this somehow never came up, especially given the nature of the charter. [b]"I think we should head out before the weather does something to the tracks.
Svetlana emerges from the cottage and hugs Oleg. "You are going out after them? Is that safe?" she seems afraid for you at the idea of leaving the security of the walls.
Oleg respects the initiative. "Don't worry, poppet. They can handle themselves. Besides, the best defense is a good offense, yeah?" He pauses for a moment and says, "There are expert hunters and trackers stop here to resupply regularly. Maybe one of them can help back track you to the bandit encampment?"
Quintessa stiffens slightly at Faen’s unexpected embrace, her noble upbringing warring with the genuine warmth behind the gesture. After a brief hesitation, she gives Faen a small, awkward pat on the back before stepping away with as much grace as she can muster.
At Alvis’s remark about her marksmanship, she arches a brow and smirks ever so slightly. Beginner’s luck, I’m sure of it." she says. THough, though there’s a hint of quiet satisfaction in her tone. "Or perhaps just a necessity. One does not always get to choose their talents. But please, do not rely on my aim to save the day again."
Quintessa watches as the excitement settles into a more strategic discussion, and she finally exhales, placing her crossbow on her lap as she leans back against the wooden edge of the palisade. The tension had melted away the moment she saw the bandit tumble from his saddle. Now came the harder part... What did they do next?
She listens carefully to the conversation unfolding, nodding slightly at Teela's suggestion. The forest would indeed make tracking difficult, but a bandit camp of that size wouldn't be able to completely erase its passage.
"I believe Teela is right. We need to move quickly before the weather turns or the forest swallows their tracks. We may have won this skirmish, but they will regroup, and I’d rather not be caught defending this trading post against a larger force."
She glances toward Oleg, then Svetlana, noting the danger. "If there are hunters or trackers who pass through here regularly, Oleg, I suggest you send word to them if they happen by. Otherwise, we’ll have to make do with the best of our own skill. Who among us is a competent tracker?"
She looks expectantly at Alvis, Graham, Velas, and Faen. Someone had to be decent at reading the land.
"As for the loot..." she waves a dismissive hand, "I’ve no need for it, though I do agree with Teela. We should keep the silver medallions. If these bandits are organized under a larger force, we may be able to use it to infiltrate or deceive them. A symbol of loyalty can open more doors than a blade at times."
Alvis nods in agreement with Lady Quintessa, "Yes, milady, I agree that we should keep all the amulets for just the reason you said." At her obvious hint about who might be a good tracker, Alvis' head and tone lowers, "I have some training as a tracker, but I am not experienced. We can try to follow with me in the lead, but I may lose the trail. If we had even a hint as to its location, well that would help a lot."
He finds and asks Oleg, "Do you have some paper or such like and ink? We'll need to make an itinerary as we travel."
Oddly Alvis stops short, suddenly feeling his lord's presence, he prays and as he does his armor feels lighter, and he know he can well wear any armor.
He follows up with, "Any do you have any heaver armor than scale, perhaps, if so, I'll check with the quartermaster to see if I can afford it."
Oleg gladly gives paper and pen (with ink) to Alvis. "It might take a day or two for a huntsman to show up here. It's not like they keep a regular schedule or anything. If you want to leave now, you'll likely have to go alone. I don't know where the bandits camp is, or if there's more than one, just that it's away south somewhere."
To Alvis he says, "I traded for half-plate suit from a soldier who was coming to try his hand at farmstead. Not much truck for that kind of gear here on the edge of civilization. Take it if you want it. You earned it for sure."
Oleg starts gathering the gear off the fallen bandits, leaving the amulets and the silver coins to the side. "If you need to reload quivers or get other supplies, you're welcome to them. Anything you need. If there's something you want, I ain't got, then I can make order for it from Restov, might take a few weeks to get here..."
To Alvis again, he says: "What do you think about hauling them corpses up on the walls, to scare off any other brigands? I hear that's what nobles do...begging the lady's pardon." He makes an awkward little bow towards Quintessa, which elicits a giggle from Svetlana. "Oleg, you must practice your courtly graces. What would Papa say, if he saw that effort?"
She turns to look at all of you. "If you really must go now, we thank you. Be careful in the Stolen Lands. Kobolds, goblins, and other creatures call this place home, and they are none to friendly to outsiders. Besides that, fairies and gremlins prowl the woods, casting spells on the unwary. A hunter told us he even saw a giant as big as a house in the wild, and I believe it. If I were looking for the bandits camp," she continues, surprising you with her woodcraft, "I would look close to a source of fresh water. They would have to have it near at hand to keep a dozen men (or more) fed and bathed. Maybe on a hill or other defensible area, likely in the Greenbelt and not the open prairies, so its easier to hide out. But what do I know?" she says with a shrug.
Graham claims the composite shortbow from the late Happs – a little extra "oomph" might come in handy – and will give his old shortbow to anyone in the party who wants it, or to the Levetons to sell if no one does. He is careful to save all the rations found. Two days' worth, he muses. That means a camp within a couple days' ride, as at most they would spend one day away from it.
He gazes off to the south and ponders. Svetlana is quite right, clever lass; near fresh water would be essential. Surely one of the rivers in the Stolen Lands...
How flow the rivers south of here, hmm?
Alvis is overwhelmed by Oleg's generousity but in faith cannot fully accept it, "Oleg, thank you, I appreciate it but it's too generous for what I've done yet. At least let me give you my scale armor. I'll also do my best to end the bandit scourge of this land soon."
As to Oleg's macabre suggestion, "I do not think you would enjoy the smell of bandits rotting or the creatures such a feast could attract. Not to mention if I was interested in trading here honestly, I think I would just move on elsewhere."
Faen fills her quiver with arrows from the bandits and like the others takes one of the stag amulets, placing it in her pouch.
She looks south at the trail the bandits left as they camp to Oleg's camp, "Me and my da used to hunt now and then, he showed me some tricks to follow game and such...following these tracks shouldn't be too much different."
Experienced Tracker isn't great, but it is the prerequisite for Swift Tracker which is useful. Food for thought.
Oleg does his best to answer Graham's question. "If you came down the road from Restov, you followed the Shrike River for a piece. It empties into the Tuskwater, a freshwater lake away to the south. It picks up a couple other streams along the way, The Crooked River empties in along the waterfalls to the east. The Thorn River, which is to the southwest a bit empties into the Shrike also, as I recall.
Svetlana wrinkles her nose at the thought of decomposing bodies on her doorstep. [b]"We should just burn them and be done with it, their ashes can fertilize my garden when we are done. At least some use will come of them then."
"I would be honored to take your scale mail in trade for half-plate, Brother Alvis. Consider it done." He nods appreciatively as Graham takes the compound bow and Faen takes arrows to refill her quiver.
Graham joins Oleg and Alvis for a bit of the morning building a pyre to dispose of the half-dozen bodies. Save the skulls, if you're so inclined, Graham says, though I don't suggest displaying them out in the open for all passing merchants to see. They might get the wrong impression.
Around midmorning, the deed is done and the flames are roaring. Graham turns to Tessa. Are we ready to move on?
Svetlana removes the skulls from the fire and uses them to line the edges of her garden. "Room for more," she says with a dark wink.
"If you're going into the woods," says Oleg with some hesitation. "I hate to ask you for more, but there is a trophy that I have always wanted to display - the head of a tatzlwyrm. It is the sigil of Svetlana's family, and it would be a powerful message to her father that we are going to make it here on the edge of civilization, where we are both happiest. If one happens upon you in the Greenbelt, and you defeat it, return the head to me, and I will reward you handsomely for it."
Teela chuckles at the request. "Oleg, I am not saying no, but..." she scratches her temple, not sure how to say the thing she wants to say. "Like, priorities, man! I'd much rather you tell me how that ring of yours looks like. Just so that we don't bring back something else."
Velas accepts the shortbow from Graham and takes a quiver full of 20 arrows from the bandit loot. "Maybe next time I won't have to run all the way to attack a fleeing foe."
Velas considers the group's next move. "Well, at some point, these bandits will be noticed that they are missing. Who knows when. Oleg, you should consider closing your gate, especially at night. As for us, I'm with Teela and Quintessa. Finding the other bandits should be our top priority. Oleg and Svetlana - not to mention others in the area - are in danger until they are dealt with. It's early enough to travel today yet, I think. South seems like the general direction, right?"
"Sticking to water seems like the sensible option." Teela is already putting saddlebags on Caramel's back. "At least we will be able to find our way back, and I would assume it's good practice for camping. I also made a friend that advised me to look for bandits on riverbanks."
"We will keep it buttoned up tight until you return," Oleg says nodding along. "Maybe the troops I sent for will be here when you get back."
Svetlana offers you a wheel of cheese made from her cows' milk, some bread and a bag of venison jerky that she smoked and dried from meat traded by hunters. "Be well and travel as safely as you can. We already owe you so much!"
The tracks of the dead bandits mounts are not hard to spot right around the gate of the outpost, and you can clearly see where the one who tried to get away rode, and died. Compass in hand, Alvis can fairly easily tell that the direction the bandits appeared to have come from, and the direction the one was fleeing was generally southwest.
Alvis preps for the journey. As he does the feeling comes over him that Abadar blesses this endeavor and he provided him with the means to do so. With rising sprits his spurs Parable into the lead, saying, "We have a few choices here we can try to track but it's likely I'd lose the trail in the next few hours and it would be slow. We could also go forward and just check out a large area and try to pick up signs every now and then by thorough investigation, also slow. Last, we go down and find the river and hope that works. Note these lands are really part of the River Kingdoms; brooks, streams, and pools of water tend to be common, feeding these mighty rivers all the way to the sea. So what's the call for how to proceed? The last has the most speed but a bit higher risk of missing the camp. Teela's news helps with that a lot, but no certainty that the bandits didn't find a small tributary to water themselves."
Teela nods. "Fair enough. Now, I am not saying they're the same group. There might be dozens of bandit groups here. But the one I heard about was at the head of... Thorn? River? I think." she scratches her temple. "If we can track, all the better, I suppose."
Velas listens intently as Alvis lays out the options as he sees them, and as Teela shares her thoughts. "The Thorn River is the best lead we have at the moment. Oleg said the river is to the southwest. Plus, the fleeing bandit went that way. How does everyone feel about using Alvis' tracking skills. If we lose the trail, then we keep heading southwest and hope we find a river. Sound like a plan?"
Quintessa nods, following the conversation. "Following the tracks seems wise, even if it's slow going. If we lose them, then the Thorn River is our next best bet." She glances at Alvis and Faen with a small, encouraging smile. "I'm confident in your abilities. Besides, it's better to start carefully-if we rush, we might end up overlooking exactly what we're hoping to find."
Alvis listens as well, learning about the Thorn River camp. "Well, even if the camp at Thorn River is not the camp of our late raiders, it's a place to look, I'll keep it in mind."
Alvis a few minutes of conversation the consensus seems to settle on trying trading first, followed by following the river to a camp. He then asks, "Anyone willing to assist me? The more eyes on the trail the better. Thanks for the confidence. Tracking for hours and days is tricky, though."
Modify any results as needed
On the road, Faen walks with Alvis, "Does it go this way...or that way?"
Working together, Faen and Alvis are able to backtrack the bandits, who seemingly made no effort to cover their tracks, for several hours. The going is slow, painfully so at times, but the progress is steady. The bearing is consistently to the southwest, and the trees of the Greenbelt grow steadily thicker taking the place of the open grasslands.
After about 4 hours, the team is stumped, unable to be sure of the trail. The group spreads out looking for evidence of fresh horse traffic, and after about an hour, they are able to resume the trail.
Over the next 4 hours, they are on the trail about half the time and searching for signs the rest. The sun starts to grow dim and dusk approaches and you've made only about half a day's progress from the outpost.
Graham has not relished getting back on Horse, and enjoys even less the tracking that slows the trip down. He keeps his complaints to himself for the most part, only an occasional grumble or unhappy grimace. As night falls he eagerly dismounts to help set up camp.
Are we getting anywhere with this tracking thing? he asks Teela as the tents are pitched. I'm not a ranger so I don't know quite how it's supposed to work.
Quintessa glances up from brushing down her mare, then over at the firelight flickering off Graham’s armor. "We’re following hoofprints through dense forest with no map and fading light... So yes, we’re getting somewhere. We will get better at this, in time." She does her best to hide the aamusement in her voice, but there's a faint smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
She walks over, offering Graham a waterskin. "The pace is miserable, but the trail hasn’t gone cold. We’re closer than we were this morning, and that’s all that matters."
After a pause, she adds more quietly, "They’re out there. And I think they’ll wish they weren’t by the time we find them."
5 Pharast, Greenbelt, Stolen Lands, not far from Oleg's Trading Post
Despite learning that woodland sounds are bit more scary than the open grassland sounds at night, nothing eventful happens to the group overnight here on the edge of the Greenbelt. The sun rises warm and clear on this early Spring day, and it promises to be fair, which may keep the tracks you are trying to follow safe for another day.
After breakfast, the team loads back up for another day of riding and following, hoping for better progress than the day before. The path still seems to lead generally southwest.
Alvis does his best but they spend a lot of time searching rather than progressing. As the day wears on Alvis apologizes to Graham and others with weak excuses. "Sorry that much time wasted. I'm not familiar with this terrain, poor excuse as it is. Can only hope and pray tomorrow is better."
Sighing, Alvis in a wry voice says, "Thank you, milady for your kind word. I don't feel that I deserve them though."
Modify any results as needed
Faen likewise apologizes for their slow progress, "Yeah, sorry it ain't the same as tracking hare with my da! "
Velas is not disheartened by the slower than anticipated progress, as he is excited to be entering the wilderness. Leaving the tracking to Alvis and Faen, Velas keeps a keen eye their surroundings, know that danger could be waiting for them around any corner.
Knowing that they are facing a challenging task, Velas tries to encourage the trackers. "You are doing well tracking these bandits. Take your time. No need to hurry."
Getting an earlier start, the trackers struggle to find the trail. Over the 6 hours, there is only progress for about half that time. The woods get thicker as you progress to the southwest and you find you are in a full on forest over the course of the morning.
Sometime as the hunters are scrounging for the trail over a particularly rocky patch, a sound is heard off to your left. The sound of something large moving through the undergrowth. It's not moving fast, so you have a moment to dismount and prepare if you wish, or take evasive action on horseback.
Velas snaps to attention when he hears the noise of something approaching. He scans the area for a good place to hide, maybe some large undergrowth and bushes to hide behind, and he moves that direction.
"Quick, we should hide. That sounds like a large creature. Or maybe many."
Quintessa calmly reins in her horse and raises one hand to still the others, her eyes focusing on the sound in the underbrush.
She dismounts quickly, crossbow already in hand, and moves toward a cluster of shrubs at the treeline behind Velas. Let’s not be seen before we know what’s watching. If it’s a beast, we’ll decide if it’s worth the quarrel. If it’s bandits... well, better we spot them than the reverse."
Velas and Quintessa move to a hiding spot off the path they are following, and it's not long before a large elk comes crashing through the underbrush near them. If it notices the trackers, it doesn't seem to care as it goes on its way to whatever destination it has in mind. The elk has a magnificent rack of antlers carried high above its head, but doesn't seem intent on using them aggressively. Behind the bull elk, comes a doe elk trotting along at a leisurely pace.
This time it appears that noise in the woods was no threat at all.
Graham stares as the elks bound away before turning back to the rest of the group, laughing out loud to break the tension. Bandit elks, it seems! He gets back up from the ground and walks back to Horse. Glad to let the creatures get back into the woods. We should do likewise.
Alvis follows the others staying on his horse until he has to dismount, then slowly leads it to their hopefully hidden spot. When the encounter is a magnificent stag, he is relieved and as it passes bye he says, "Thank you for the good omen, blessed ally of my lord."
Alvis nods and says, "Yes, let's do that, Graham, I felt that I had made some progress in the last hour but overall, we are not doing all that well. I suspect any allies of our previously unwelcome guests will be wary by now. I see if I can make some progress this afternoon."
Modify any results as needed
The elk pair moves across the path of the heroes without incident and is soon out of sight onto who knows what.
Taking the beat to recenter, Alvis is able to find clear tracks to follow for a considerable amount of time, losing the trail just one over four hours of tracking. At that point, as the day grows late and sun is just starting to set, you find a running stream of water. You can't be sure, but this must be the Thorn River. The bandits' tracks run parallel to the stream back to the northwest as far as you can tell.
Velas remarks at the skill displayed by the party's trackers. "Well, look at that. Thanks to your keen eyes, we were able to follow the bandits all the way to a river - just like our intel suggested. Alvis and Faen, trackers indeed!"
Velas starts to head in the direction of the tracks, but pauses despite his excitement. "What's the plan? We assume that there are more bandits ahead. Hobble the horses and proceed on foot?"