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Dahlia looks suspiciously and somewhat fearfully into the trees again, and backs slowly away. "Whatever it was that did this, it either does not want to be seen, or cannot be seen." Her whiskers tremble as she looks around and shrugs. "Whatever it is, let us assume it does not wish to be disturbed." She clears her throat and says (a little too loudly): "We are very sorry for disturbing you. We will leave you be." She motions to the others that she thinks they should continue away.
Dahlia blinks several times in surprise, attempting to clear the honey and berries from her eyes and fur with the back of her hand. She peers into the trees to try and discover where the bowl and its presumed contents may have recently been stored. She looks a quick warning back at the others, unsure if she should cry out danger or try to avoid drawing attention.
Dahlia does her best to remain alert while marveling at the various sights in the deep green woods.
We're back!
"I think I'll have to do an incredible job, watching all by myself if at this point you think I'm a 'good-badger'." He shakes his head, faking seriousness. "You for sure isn't a very perceptive mouse." Dahlia laughs. "How about 'great-badger' instead? I admit it is difficult to think of an appropriate form of address, my experience with your kind being so, uh, limited. I certainly do not wish to give any offense! I could just say Kizzirark, I know. What would you prefer?"
Dahlia nods. "I will gladly take an extra watch so that others can get a full night's sleep. Perhaps Kizzirark and I can split them? What do you think, good-badger?"
Dahlia nods agreeably. "We'll have to travel slower, being on the watch for such hazards, but it would be just as dangerous to try and go around this area."
"At least we may assume we are getting closer to the bandits' claimed territory," Dahlia murmurs. "But we must be careful! That waterbear-trap could have badly injured one of us at the very least."
Dahlia bows her head respectfully. "Of course, goodmouse, I will be watchful for you."
Dahlia nods grimly. "Agreed. We have our plan. May Martin smile upon our efforts!"
Dahlia frowns as she reads the words on the map. "Old Bokken's Place?" she asks. "Who is Old Bokken, I wonder?"
Dahlia looks carefully at the map as Oleg draws it, trying her best to commit it to memory. She refrains from speaking, respecting his apparent desire for silence while he works.
Dahlia accompanies Oleg to check on the prisoners, and also takes a turn acting as the watch. Just in case the bandits that fled found their way back to their superiors, and come back with vengeance on their minds, she thinks.
Dahlia makes preparations for the arrival of the Long Patrol and their mission to venture out looking for the bandits' camp.
How exciting! I can't wait to hear how everything goes well! :)
Dahlia nods toward Oleg and Svetlana. "We are guests of the masters of this holdfast, and the decision of what should be done with you is theirs. We will respect their authority in this wild place-- even here, we are all of us civilized. If you would beg for mercy, your entreaties are better directed to them rather than us." She sighs regretfully, as if she fears she already knows what they will rule.
Dahlia frowns, and to try and head off any more cruelty, she asks the bandit who has revealed to them useful information: "Where will you go if we do not execute you? Clearly, your former superior will not accept you back, and you’re probably in for at least a beating if you return to her. I do not think our hosts will welcome you here, even if you offered to work for them."
Dahlia nods supportively. "We must safeguard your stronghold from reprisals quickly. Alas, since one of them escaped, it is possible that they will know we are here, though they may not suspect that we will come after them. The sooner we can follow, the better, don't you think?" She looks at Kizzirark with some concern, wondering if his injuries are worse than he lets on. "Thank Martin that all of us seem to have emerged safely from the ordeal. A blessed victory!"
Dahlia looks at the others, particularly Oleg, and raises her eyebrows as if to say “Is that enough for us not to kill him?" She keeps her sword at his neck to make it clear that the rat is hopelessly captured.
Dahlia stands vigil over the captured bandit while the others help in their own ways in the aftermath. She frets a bit that she will be seen to be slothful by remaining on guard instead of digging or provisioning, so she makes a point of holding her drawn blade in a ready position, ensuring it is the first thing the rat sees when he comes to.
Dahlia considers. "Perhaps the beetle was taught to recognize the wearer as its master? Sometimes beasts of burden learn to respect tokens, or so I have read."
I put all of Dahlia's starting equipment on her tab, and the features that track carrying capacity and treasure percentages work best when we add everything we buy and keep from loot on our characters' tabs. (I don't know if our GM cares much about carrying capacity, but if they do, it's there.)
Can I suggest we keep some kind of loot spreadsheet? I'm happy to maintain it. I started one on Google Drive here, and everyone should be able to edit it. GM, maybe you could add it to the campaign tab so everyone can find it easily?
Dahlia stays on guard against the remaining rats, after seeing that they are tied up. She shrugs when Oleg says they should be killed. "It is possible that they have information that you might value, such as where they take the treasures they have stolen from you, and to whom they deliver it. As this is your keep, the right to mete out justice is yours, of course." She turns to Happs. "If I were you, I would start talking. That may be your only chance to redeem yourself."
Dahlia catches her breath before checking that the two remaining rats are also still breathing. ”While it is easier to slay those who oppose us,” she murmurs, "it is better to offer them the chance at redemption, while justice is served upon them by the authorities. I suppose that is Oleg, here.”
Dahlia swings at the fleeing rat with the flat of her blade, trying to knock him out instead of skewering him.
Then, instead of chasing the fleeing bandits, she turns and advances on the beetle.
Dahlia swings at the first bandit (being the first attack of opportunity she sees), and no longer pulls her punches since her foes have forgone her offered mercy.
She ducks and weaves around the overturned cart and presses her attack. "Please, you must see sense," she cries, as she swings at the bandits. "You cannot win! Put up your weapons!"
Dahlia raises her sword to try and defend against the beetle's haphazard flailing as she sees the bandit leader fall. Ducking as she sees the other bandits firing arrows, she moves toward them to engage. "Put up your bows!" she cries. "Do not make me slay you. Surrender and you will be spared!" She swings at the closest bandit with the flat of her blade.
Dahlia waits in the building, her ear against the wall and straining to hear what is happening. When she recognizes that the bandits have arrived and sprung the trap, she leaps into action. Nodding to Bertram as he opens the door, she rushes around the corner of the building and leaps upon the nearest enemy with her shiny sword.
Looks good to me! Excellent choices of artwork, too!
Many games I play in use Google Slides, which lets everyone with permission place and move tokens around. You can even draw arrows to indicate movement, or circles to show area of effect and so on.
Dahlia spends the short time before the bandits arrive praying in her own way, thinking of Martin and focusing her thoughts on the battle that is to come. She hopes that she can live up to his legacy, and imagines that if she comports herself with valor and compassion, Martin's spirit will shine upon her as it is said to have done on others in the past, his voice speaking to her within her heart.
Dahlia shakes her head. "Martin passed on long ago, before my time. I have seen pictures of Him, and of course my fencing-master relies upon traditional practices that He is said to have perfected. I have seen scrolls that it is said He wrote, describing the Art of the Sword and the Hero's Journey, but these are all kept safely archived beneath the Abbey because they would deteriorate in the open air, and so it is rare that they are made available to petitioners. I believe I am quite fortunate to have gotten a look at them. But I would be happy to show you some of what I have learned, of course!"
Dahlia gasps in amazement at the basic cantrip, and applauds excitedly. "I am all wonder and amazement," she says with awe in her voice. "Truly, you understand more than simply how to say large words and what they mean. You have made good use of your time studying! Me, well, I have spent my days at Redwall Abbey studying the Way of Martin the Swordsman," she admits almost shyly, beaming with pride. "He is a distant relative of mine, through my father's line. My fencing-master tells me I am a fair hand with a blade, though I always strive to do better every chance I have to practice."
Dahlia is startled by Squawkowk's question. "Oh! Did you intend for me to wear that? I-- well, I have never worn such colorful things in my life, for my sisters usually prefer to be the center of attention more than me, and so such gaily-worn pieces of apparel typically found their way to them in our household. So I had thought it was a sort of totem, or a favor received before a tournament. I would think it would look much more fetching on you! Would you like to try it? I should like very much to see that."
Dahlia is curious about the hedgehog's scarves, and asks him about them while they all prepare. "That is good thinking. Are all hedgehogs as clever as you?" she laughs. When they settle down for the night, Dahlia counsels that they sleep in separate buildings, just in case anything unexpected happens in the night. She wakes early in the morning, nervous about their first battle, and spends some time walking the inside of the keep, to familiarize herself with the terrain. She murmurs her thoughts to calm herself, sounding almost like a prayer in the crisp, still air.
Dahlia nods, following the badger's strategy. "The rest of us lie in wait somewhere just inside the gate, and when we see that they are engaging Bertram and Tawnystripe, we charge?"
Dahlia nods to Kizzirark, a bit nervously but also with a healthy respect for his abilities. "If we are dividing our forces between inside and outside the gate, perhaps Squawkowk and I should remain without and try to surround the creatures who stay with the beetle?" She frowns pensively. "We might want to have some sort of signal to open the gate again if there is a need," she adds.
At first, Dahlia hesitates for a moment-- her natural inclination to immediately pledge her sword in defense of the innocent tempered somewhat by her being mindful of their mission. She is not sure if her companions will be as willing to leap to Oleg and Svetlana's aid. Then Bertram and Rowan and Squawkowk and Tawneystripe all respond positively, and Dahlia feels reassured. "Of course, master mouse, we are now engaged in your cause. My good right arm is yours for the duration. If we can divide the enemy and catch them unawares, all to the good!" She frowns slightly as the cat seems to advocate for (and even relish) killing the creatures, and she privately hopes that they can avoid wanton murder, though she recognizes that taking captives will be difficult. She thinks, This is the frontier, I suppose, and perhaps there are different rules out here in the Green. Still, they are people, with thoughts and dreams like us, and slaughtering them mislikes me.
Dahlia bows with respect to Oleg. "Well met, goodmouse. I thank you for your hospitality, and for my part, in return, I would be happy to help you and your wife with any chores or other work you may deem proper. I am sorry that we do not know of what exactly you are speaking, but may I venture a guess that it has something to do with the siege engine on your roof?" She draws her sword and points with it. "Do you expect some kind of trouble?"
Dahlia smiles encouragingly. "Welcome, then!" she says in a friendly tone. "We're all getting to know each other still, but I'm sure none of us would refuse help so sincerely offered." She looks around at the others. "Shall we go inside and see what awaits us at this outpost on the edge of the Green?"
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