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Bokken smiles at Den's question. "Since you asked...the best part of my potions, besides the magical effects, of course, is the taste. Everyone loves how sweet they are. Well, that's due to.." Bokken pauses, his eyes wide, and looks around and moves to the window and looks outside to make sure no one is eavesdropping. After a few seconds, he continues, "It's due to my secret ingredient: fangberry juice! Unfortunately, I'm running low on supply. A large thicket of fangberries grows about 55 miles southwest of Oleg’s. If you were to bring me some berries, good, clean ones, of course, about 30-40 of 'em. I'm sure I could give you some kind of discount on my wares. What do ya say? Huh? Huh? Well....I'd go meself, but it's dangerous out there and who would watch my home when I was gone." Bokken peers outside his window again, hiding behind his curtain.

Bokken seems to calm down at the mention of Lana and Oleg and at your introductions. "Well met then. I am Bokken, reclusive potion maker. Please come inside and tell me of your tales to defend these parts."

The hermit invites you into his home. He's got everything labeled, including the furniture and tables and alchemical workshop. He rushes off to his ledger and as he writes, you hear him mumble, "I had visitors today." After you are comfortable and though he does not offer you anything to drink, he puts his ledger away and starts "Doyawant any potions by the way? Ya seem to be people of coin! I usually sell only to Oleg but in this case, I can make an exception. Need healing? Need to withstand the cold temperatures? Letmeknow! Wait, did ya say you were exploring these parts? How far south ya'll going? Maybes ya can do me a fava!" It is obvious he has not lost his jittery speech pattern.

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, the party heads out on horseback east, in the direction of Bokken the hermit's home, with Den leading the group. He steers them clear of any dangers, as the group maps the terrain, taking note of the game trails and timber resources, per their charter.

1d100 ⇒ 96

You eventually find what you believe to be the hermit's hut. As you approach, a disheveled human man with crazy eyes, who looks like he's been out too long by himself, comes out of his hut, crossbow in hand. He speaks very rapidly and you can barely understand him. "Whatdoya want, strangers?? Getoffmyland before I plugsya!"

Pic of Bokken

Oleg and Lana introduce themselves as the married couple that owns the Trading Post. "Any friends of our liberators are friends of ours! Please come warm yourselves by our fire and we'll prepare a later supper for you." Your horses, if any, are led into the stables, and you all sit down for dinner and the food is hearty and delicious. Anyone going to clue in the new arrivals on your plans? Which hex will you be exploring?

Anybody out there?

Don't forget you have treasure to split up and let me know who is carrying which potion (Shield of Faith and Cure light wounds).

The rest of the day passes, with the party burying the dead bandits, which takes several long hours. By mid-day, a messenger stops by the Post requesting Athenasius' presence. It seems there is a family emergency and he must report immediately to Restov. Not wanting to travel alone, he convinces Anibeth to accompany him and the pair leave the Trading Post shortly thereafter. Sorry, can't think of any logical reasoning in game why wizard and cleric would leave. If you can come up with something better, let me know.

That night, another knock at the gate and Damrak gets up from the table to answer it, weapon at his side and ready to strike. "Guess I'm going to have to get used to answering the door around here." As the party watches, when Damrak looks and sees who it is, he gets excited and quickly opens the gate. "Borden, by the gods, is that you? How long has it been....it must be since the Abadarian seminary those months ago when I was finishing my religious studies. What brings you here? And who is your companion? Please come in from the cold."

Damrak must have learned religion somewhere; he has a skill point in the matter. You can all make introductions in game with new players.

"Yah Oleg, thanks a million! Hopefully well get to meet this Bokken fella sometime soon. He shack up somewhere near here?"

Lana jumps in, "I believe he once told me he lives several miles SE of our Post. Though he's not too fond of strangers. He's a hermit for a reason. But if you say I sent ye, he may be let you live." Lana and Oleg laugh a little.

So where to?

There are six horses, one for each bandit, which you can store in the stables. After the clean-up and the burial of the dead bodies, Oleg heads into his storeroom and then gathers the party in his home. "Thank you for all you have done. Lana and I finally feel that justice is being done in these lands. I can only offer you these meager rewards as well as these arcane potions, which should help you on your journeys. You are free to stay at our guesthouse, no charge. Lana and I will provide you meals as well free of charge. Thank you!" Lana smiles as well.

Oleg offers you 50 gp, a potion of shield of faith +2, and two potions of cure light wounds.

Oleg smiles as he sees your perplexed looks. "You're probably wondering where I got these potions from? This old coot Bokken sold 'em to me. He stops by the Post once in awhile, when he gets tired of his hermit life. He's a potion maker and he's no hater of gold. I thought it would be a good idea to purchase them in case Lana or I ever got hurt. I think we no longer have to worry about that. So what are your plans?"

Oleg snorts, "As long as I don't have to watch 'im, I won't mind the free labor."

What's party's next step? After disposing of more bodies, of course.

Damrak speaks, "I think that is a good idea and compromise, Den. I was thinking that our actions may have subjected Oleg and his wife to reprisals from the bandits and I would never forgive myself if something happened to them, while we were out exploring. I'll stay and guard them and watch over the prisoner as well, if that is what we decide. Besides, Lana makes the best coffee."

Hope that's not too ooc for Damrak.

When Den is searching Happs and the bandits, Oleg moves up to him and in soft shy voice asks, "Hey, friend. Did you happen to find a woman's silver wedding ring? That bastard Happs took it off of my Lana the first day they came to collect their taxes. If you find it in your travels, I would love if you could return it to me. Lana says she don't mind but I know she does. She's given up a lot to be with me to make our lives out here in the frontier. If I could return the ring to her, it would mean a lot....well, let me know, okay?"

You find the following valuables on Happs and his men:

Happs: alchemist’s fire (2), studded leather armor,dagger, Longsword, masterwork composite longbow (+2 Str) with 19 arrows, 2 days of trail rations, silver Stag Lord amulet worth 20 gp, 50 gp
Bandit: leather armor, longbow with 20 arrows, short sword, 2 days of trail rations, 10 gp

To Athenasius, Darrin says, "My father was an alcoholic and he beat me and my mother. I ran away and lived on the street, stealing. Then, when I got older, Happs and his men gave me an easier way of life, where I could carry real gold in me pockets instead of scrounging on scraps, like the other beggars. He taught me to fight, shoot a bow, and to prey on those weaker than us. That's nature, he said."

To Grim: "We's expected in 3 days' time." He sounds despondent, like he's given up on life.

The bandit (Darrin), who has surrendered, respectfully asks that you free his leg from the bear trap, since he is in much pain. Assuming you free him, he tells you the following:

*Their bandit camp is located near the Thorn River just inside the treeline about 30 miles southwest of Oleg’s Trading Post.
*There are 9 bandits left as well as their leader, a sadistic woman named Kressle, who is known for fighting with 2 handaxes.
*The Thorn Ford camp is relatively large, and well defended by numerous hidden platforms placed in the trees. The camp itself is about 60 feet from the Thorn’s north bank — a path winds alongside a shallow creek that leads directly up to the campsite.
*He reports to Kressle and has never met any of the other leaders

Oleg and Lana come out of their homes, a bit nervous and scared. Relief washes over their faces when they see the party is alive and well. When they look over the massacre of the bandits, they both whisper "By the gods!" Lana nervously asks the party, "Won't there be repercussions for this when Happs and his men don't report to their camp? Have we made things worse?" Oleg hugs his wife reassuringly, though you see the same questions on his face.

Sorry, Den. You are correct.

Current HP tally:
Den -1/11
Grim 5/14
Olo 8/10
Athen 4/9
Anibeth and Damrak full (Den is 20' up on walkway so Anibeth needs to channel)

The bandit, having pieced in his head that the scream belonged to Happs and given that his leg is caught in the bear trap, quickly drops his bow at seeing the death stare in Athenasius' eyes and falls to the ground in tears. "Just kill me already."

Combat over! Congrats!

Fear grips Happs' face, as he sees how the dwarf maneuvered him into the swing! Grim's axe rips Happs' midsection, spilling his guts on the ground, as the bandit's screams end just as quickly as they started, his body collapsing to the ground, quite dead!

Happs' horse stands and gallops west, only to trigger the trap!
Attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 5) + 3 = 10

Round 4: Bandit

The lone bandit, his foot still caught in the bear trap, yells out, "Happs, you still out there?" When he hears a response of "yes", he continues the fight, as he notches another arrow and shoots Athenasius. The arrow buries itself in the mage's back!

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17...hit!
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Updated Combat Map

Rest of party is up!

Oh, my bad. Never read that Grease was round/level! Duh! Those Grease squares are gone. So you can get close enough.

Happs' Reflex save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14...success!
Reading the spell is says items receive saving throw to avoid effect. Greased items continue to save every round. Thus, since he made initial save, item is not greased so no new saves needed when he wields it.

Happs is currently in T20, 30' from Olo in T14. Range of Grease is 25' at 1st level. Out of range. Want to do something else, Olo?

I will DMPC Damrak for now...

Damrak reloads his crossbow and fires again, but his nerves get the better of him and he misses!
Bolt: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9...miss!

Round 3: Happs
Happs moves 5' to the east and strikes at Grim again, cutting him across the shoulder! "Give up, dwarf! Let me go or I'll kill you!"
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Summary of Round 3:
Olo moved back
Bandits missed
Den and Anibeth killed bandit
Athen moved and cast Color Spray
Damrak and Grim missed
Happs wounded Grim.
Den: -1/11
Grim: 5/14

Olo to start Round 4.

Happs covers his eyes in time to avoid the effects of Athenasius' spell.

Happs Will save vs. Color Spray: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Horse Will save vs. Color Spray: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

Happs is no longer mounted and he is outside of point blank range of Den, so his attack was directed at the bandit on Olo. His dagger combined with Anibeth's glaive kills him.

Damrak then Happs to end Round.

Did Den throw his weapon at Happs or at the bandit engaged with Olo? Den wrote Happs but calculated his bonuses with the latter. Please clarify.

Sorry, Olo, I meant T10.

Olo deftly moves before the bandit can try and attack him, but worried that he might set off the trap, his arrow flies wide of the mark.

Round 3: Bandits

The bandit attacking Olo moves to S9 and attacks but he misses the short agile halfling.
Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10...miss!

The bandit in the bear trap shoots Damrak but misses poorly as well. He decides not to put more pressure on his wound so he does not move.
Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7...miss!

Rest of party is up!

Olo, when you tumble you move at 1/2 speed unless you want to increase DC by 10 to go at full speed. 10 feet back puts you in T9. Acceptable?

Athenasius' acid splash lands on the bandit's face and kills him.
Grim's move to U19 is the bale of hay so moved him to U19.
Anibeth squeezes behind the wagon and she heals herself, Olo, Den (prone and no weapon), and two bandits.

Round 2: Happs
Seeing Grim approach battleaxe in hand, Happs moves 5' east to T19 and draws his longsword, still gripping the bow in his other hand. "Too bad, you're not an elf!", he spits out. His blade cuts Grim across his belly. Happs looks shocked that the dwarf did not fall and he looks worried at how tough Grim looks.
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Summary of Round 2:
Olo wounded his bandit
Bandit wounded Olo
Bandit wounded Anibeth
Bandit missed
Den rested
Grim cast spell and moved into melee with Happs
Damrak severely wounded bandit
Athenasius moved and finished off bandit
Anibeth channeled
Happs wounded Grim

Hit point summary:
Den: 1/11
Anibeth: 8/9
Grim: 9/14
Olo: 8/10
Bandit in bear trap: taken 2 damage
Bandit fighting Olo: taken 5 damage
Happs: taken 11 damage

Updated Combat Map

Olo is up to start Round 3!

Athenasius, squares Q15 and R15 are difficult terrain, so the furthest you could move this round is Q15, which leaves Happs out of radius of spell. You can change action.

Sorry about that Damrak. The narrative is correct, bar should be on Anibeth.

Damrak's bolt hits the bandit in the chest and he wobbles, unsure of whether to die or live. Bandit at 0 hps.

Round 2: Bandits

Olo's arrow connects again, wounding the bandit severely. The bandit grunts and draws his shortsword, moves to S13 and swings at Olo, cutting him deeply!

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17...hit!
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

The bandit caught in the bear trap shoots at Damrak but misses completely.
Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8...miss!

The last bandit shoots at Anibeth, "Die, priestess!" The arrow hits her in the chest.
Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20...hit!
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

The bandit's horse stands and steadily makes its way out of the greasy squares and moves up.
Check to wade through: 1d20 ⇒ 12

Updated Combat Map

Rest of party is up! If Anibeth channels, please note that Den will benefit from healing but will not act this Round. His initiative was 18 and Anibeth's was 14.

Happs clutches his bleeding shoulder and looks at Den up on the wall. "Damn elves! I hate you, I hate you all!" He quickly grasps his longbow and pulls an arrow, the hatred clear in his eyes as he looks up at the elf. He pulls back the string and lets an arrow loose! It flies straight into Den's chest propelling him backwards into the wall, pain running throughout his body. The elf looks down to see blood pouring out the wound. He tries to speak but is unable to before he collapses to the floor and loses consciousness, the bow falling out of his hands.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 2 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 13
Happs dismounts as a move action on the right-hand side onto the non-grease portion.

Meanwhile, the horse moves forward trying to get out of the grease and falls. Reflex save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Summary of Round 1:
Olo wounded a bandit
All three bandits missed
Den wounded Happs
Damrak and Athenasius' bolts killed the closest bandit
Anibeth blessed the party
Grim closed the gates
Happs took down Den (-2/11) and dismounted

Updated Combat Map

Olo is up to start Round 2!

Den, do you mean east or north? East puts you in point blank range. If you head north, no +1 hit, +1 damage.

Missed that, Olo.
Bandit horse: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13...fails!
Bandit Ride check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15...success
Bandit rolls off horse in non-grease square.
Then he gets shot in chest by Olo!

Round 1: Bandits!
Bandit just shot by Olo grabs his short sword from his sheath, takes a 5' step, and tries to cut Olo, but the swing sails high! "Accursed halfling! It's an ambush!"
Sword thrust: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9...miss!

The bandit shot by Damrak sees he is stuck and dares not move. He fires back at him but he stumbles in the grease and the shot goes wide.
Bow shot: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7...miss!

The bandit adjacent also dares not risk falling and grabs his bow and shoots Anibeth but missed poorly as well.
Bow shot: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7...miss!

The fourth bandit, his leg caught in the bear trap, enraged, drags the bear trap with him and comes outside the storeroom and draws his bow.

Updated Combat Map
Everybody except Olo is up in Round 1!

Surprise Round:
Damrak's bolt finds its mark, embedding itself in the bandit's thigh!
Den, Anibeth, and Grim move (cannot close gate on this action)
Olo's Grease spell
Horse Reflex save 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
The horse neighs but does not fall!
Athenasius' Grease spell
Bandit #1 Reflex save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Bandit #2 Reflex save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Both amazingly keep their footing!

Happs screams out, "Kill them, kill them all!"

Initiative Order:
Olo
Bandits
Rest of party
Happs

Olo is up!

The bandits continue laughing as they move to the storeroom. "Yeah, heat up some breakfast for us wench! We mighty hungry!" The two unsuspecting bandits move into the storeroom (I will assume party spread some hay on the floor to mask the bear traps rather than leave them out in the open even though it was not stated).

As the first two bandits walk in with smiles on their faces to grab the goods, the steel jaws of the bear traps go off! You all hear a sustained scream, as the trap rips off the leg off one of the bandits, killing him instantly, while the other bandit screams in pain, his leg restrained by the trap!

The other two bandits behind them stare in shock and they start screaming for help. Happs and the bandit rider look up in shock, "What the...OLEGGGGGG!!!! Think "KHAAAAAN!"

Oleg, aware of what was going to happen, bolts into his house!

Free surprise round for party if combat ensues or do you continue watching..Remember only move or standard actions. I allow 5' steps in surprise rounds. Let me know.

Updated Map

Soon enough the clacking of multiple hooves draws near. You then hear a knock, followed by a yell, "Yoohoo, Oleg! Wakey, wakey, it's tax time!!!" Laughter from multiple male voices ensues. Then several men dismount and push open the gate. Grim and Olo stick to their cover, as two mounted riders pass them by, unaware of them. One of them, a leader by the sounds of it, yells loudly, "Oleg, get your butt out here now! My men and I are here for our monthly tribute, ya old oaf! Tell yer perty wife to make my men some breakfast! We're hungry!"

A door opens and you hear Oleg's voice speak up, "Yes, yes, sir, Mr. Happs. I'll get Lana right on that. The goods are ready for you sir. They're in the storeroom." Happs responds, "Good, Oleg, good. Such an early riser. I like that. Glad to hear you know your place and exhibit proper respect. Davis, Jerold, Milhaus, Manny, get off yer asses and pack the goods on the horses! Now!"

Pic of Happs

The bandits hurriedly dismount, "Yes, sir, Mr. Happs."

As the bandits walk to the storeroom, Happs suddenly yells out, "Hey Oleg, ya seen Rufus and a couple of his boys? They been missin' from the camp. They didn't visit ya and yer missus?"

Doing his best to stay calm, Oleg replies, "No sir, Mr. Happs. I reckon he might be drunk somewhere."

The bandits laugh, as they joke around and push each other, as they make their way to the storeroom.

Current Map
One error with map: Oleg is outside front door instead of inside. Happs and a bandit rider are near entrance mounted. Bandits' four horses are outside. Four bandits are making their way to storeroom. Any actions? I assume Lamrak and the people in the stable are looking out a slit in the doorway. Nobody has noticed them. Same for Grim and Olo. Den occasionally looks up from his perch but he is also safe. Should I just move the scene to when bandits enter storeroom?

Hope you all had a good weekend.

The rest of the day passes slowly, as the party puts its ambush plans into action, doing reconnaissance on the Trading Post, burying the 3 bandit corpses, planting traps, and discussing strategy. Lana prepares a decent dinner and then goes to the bedroom with Oleg. He says, "I know you want me barricaded inside my home, but if the bandits call me outside, I will have to go. It will appear unusual if I do not go out and they may smell a trap. I trust you warriors will give them the hell they receive. Of course, as soon as battle starts, I will rush back inside."

The next morning, as one hour after sunrise approaches quickly, Den sees in the distance six men approaching on horseback. I figured the bandits could not time their approach with one hour before sunrise. It also cuts out vision penalties for either side.

Check map and see if accurate. Olo and Grim are on ground level hidden behind hay stacks covering one square. Oleg warned you any more than that may look suspicious. The green crosses are traps. Confirm they are in the right squares. Once everybody is good with map, we can start.

Ambush Map

Okay:
Den starts at W5
Olo at U11
Grimath at U18
Where are Damrak, Anibeth, and Athenasius?

As to your question Damrak, if you post a scout on one of the towers, you will have plenty of time to see the bandits coming. However, the time it takes them to get there is not the time the ambush starts. They have to go into the storage or trigger your traps, correct? So while that is happening, it may take rounds and your buff may wear off. Be aware.

"Should be easy enough to surprise them if they stroll in so pompously." Olo replies, with a mouth full of stew dripping from his chin. He's clearly happy to be eating a home cooked meal, no matter how simple it may be. "We may want to get that door shut behind them though. Think I should hide and bar them in from the outside? Someone on the terraces can drop me a rope and I'll scurry on up. Could also summon a creature or two from the other side of the walls... Would have to be sure the whole lot of them comes inside though. Have you noticed if any keep watch outside, Master Oleg?"

Oleg thinks for a second, "No, none stay outside. Happs waits on his horse near the entrance, while his men dismount, grab the furs, and then they all leave together. And yes, they all have bows and swords."

Lana replies, "We leave it closed but unlocked. However, they make plenty of noise to let us know they are collecting their "tax". They like to see our faces of sadness as they take our furs and goods."

Oleg smiles, "Sure, I'm always open for business. I'd be happy to take some goods off of you. As for items for sale, I'd have to check my inventory. I haven't had to in awhile due to these bandits. I'll check after you hopefully deal with them tomorrow and let you know."

"By the way, the bandits come mounted and arrive one hour before sunrise. They dismount and go into the Storage Pen and leave soon after back the way they came."

Spending time there and preparing for the ambush, you familiarize yourselves with the grounds.

Map of Outpost

Key:
A1. Market Yard
A2. Guesthouse
A3. Stable - Oleg's horse Claptrap in there
A4. Storage Pen - goods like furs are stored here. Here is where the bandits come to to take their monthly tax. Oleg has laid out this month's payment already.
A5. Middens - 3 feet deep
A6. Main house - double doors leading out to market yard can be barred not locked.
A7. Dining room
A8. Office
A9. Stockroom
A10. Storeroom - contains 2 barrels of drinking water, half full barrel of lantern oil, dozen candles, week's worth of firewood, hooded lantern, 70' of rope, and 2 weeks' worth of food (dried cheese, hard bread, and dried venison)
A11. Bedroom

Couple of things:
1. What do you do with three corpses? Will attract carrion and disease if left alone.
2. Oleg volunteers to have himself as bait if that helps your ambush plans but he does not want his wife involved in any danger whatsoever.

The ranger looks apologetically at the bandit. Well, you did try to rape his wife. I cannot blame the man for not wanting to have you around the house. Seems like there will be no room for rapists in the new order we are bringing. I fear the only kindness we can show you for now is to let you pick; sword or rope?

Rufus begs for his life and that he will repent, but Athenasius or anyone with ranks in Sense Motive can tell he is so desperate to live that he will say anything. In the end, with the party's judgment already decided, Rufus selects the sword but not before cursing and spitting at all of you and cursing you and your family's names, ancestors, and descendants. Oleg watches the execution, while Lana decides to stay in the main house. When Den cuts the bandit's throat, no tears are shed.

You are then treated a lunch of stew with bread and water.

"Mind if I go upstairs and take a look at 'em, Master Oleg? Perhaps I can figure how to fix 'em, or at least what we'll need to do the job."

Checking to discern how long they will take to fix, what materials are needed, if we are capable of such a task or if someone needs to be hired, etc. Basically, do I know anything about these things at all?

Does Olo see anything from this vantage point that the group hasn't noticed yet? If so, what does the surrounding area look like?

Olo determines that with time the catapults could be fixed, perhaps weeks, if he had the proper skills (Craft siege engine). He would need a steady supply of timber and metal parts and artisan's tools and time.

From his vantage point, Olo can see a mile in each direction. He notes the Greenbelt forest way in the distance to the south. To the east and west and north are plains.

Combining the total information Dendarial adds We should ambush Happs here and then go for Kressle before she knows Happs is not going to report in. Oleg, what resources might you have here that we can use to enable this ambush? Are those siege engine in the towers operation?

Den would be fine with stringing this guy up, but he is willing to let him pay reparations in labor to Oleg to redeem himself IF Oleg is willing to give it a go after what all just happened. The range does not think it a good idea to arm the man and try to use him agains Happs though.

Oleg smiles. "I think that'd be a pretty fine idea, you putting the bandits who come to sword and rope as well! Unfortunately, those engines up there ain't see much use in years. I reckon it would take weeks to fix, if someone even knew how to do so."

If Oleg is asked his opinion on the Rufus matter..."I'd say kill the murderin' rapist and be done with it. There ain't no forgiveness for trying to take another man's woman, while his friends hold him hostage in the house. I wants him dead, deader than a doornail!"

Combining the total information Dendarial adds We should ambush Happs here and then go for Kressle before she knows Happs is not going to report in. Oleg, what resources might you have here that we can use to enable this ambush? Are those siege engine in the towers operation?

Den would be fine with stringing this guy up, but he is willing to let him pay reparations in labor to Oleg to redeem himself IF Oleg is willing to give it a go after what all just happened. The range does not think it a good idea to arm the man and try to use him agains Happs though.

Oleg smiles. "I think that'd be a pretty fine idea, you putting the bandits who come to sword and rope as well! Unfortunately, those engines up there ain't see much use in years. I reckon it would take weeks to fix, if someone even knew how to do so."

If Oleg is asked his opinion on the Rufus matter..."I'd say kill the murderin' rapist and be done with it. There ain't no forgiveness for trying to take another man's woman, while his friends hold him hostage in the house. I wants him dead, deader than a doornail!"[/b]

Anibehth pauses to think and speaks again saying "When do the raiders typically arrive? What's their usual routine?

Oleg and Lana light up to see their wounds healed. Lana runs up and hugs Anibeth. "Bless you, child! Thank you for healing us." Oleg nods in appreciation and he continues, "Well, let's see, when the bandits first visited—they threatened to burn down the trading post and abduct Svetlana for their own amusements back at their camp if we didn’t agree to hand over all of the furs and trade goods we’d accumulated over the past month from hunters and trappers. Since then, the bandits have returned twice more, each time within an hour of sunrise on the 28th day of very month."

Lana picks up, while she stirs a pot, "We've learned to have our “taxes” ready and hand them over quickly—Happs and his men usually seem eager to return to their camp somewhere in the Greenbelt, which makes me think their camp is not too far away."

Athenasius also pumps the bandit for information about the surrounding area and about the Stag Lord, Auchs, and Akiros.

Damrak's intimidation, Den's comments, and Athenasius' "good cop" routine have Rufus sweating and pleading for his life, as he sits bound in the stables. "Please! No sword, no rope! I'll tells ya all ya wants to know. I work for Happs, cockiest guy I ever known. He thinks he's the best and cruelest and will let you know all about it. Happs and all of us reports to Kressle, meanest bit*h you'd ever want to meet in a dim alley. You don't mess with her or she cleaves your head off with one of her 2 handaxes! Anyways, we got a camp by the northern bank of the Thorn river. I think she reports to the Stag Lord directly. Before you ask, I have no idea as to where he lives. I've never met him, guess not important enough to make his acquaintance. Anways, I never heard of Auchs and Akiros. We just reports to Happs and Kressle." Athenasius senses no attempt at deception on Rufus' part. He is genuinely scared for his life. The bandit looks pleadingly to see if that is enough to spare his life.

Gesturing towards the corpses:

"Any ideas where these brutes came from? If there's more out there, that sounds like the type of thing we're supposed to deal with!
Do either Oleg or Lana look injured, more than the mentioned slap?

Anibeth sees a small gash on Oleg's forehead with dried blood and the swelling on Lana's cheek (non-lethal damage). As Oleg and Lana lead you into their home and seat you at a table, Oleg says, "Oh you don't know about 'em? Those are Happs' men. He's a local bandit leader. He and his men have been extorting money and supplies from our Trading Post for the past 2 months. He's supposed to be coming tomorrow to collect for the upcoming month. Paulo and his boys today said they came early, to help themselves to something "more than supplies". So glad they're dead now! But will you stay and help us against Happs and this other men? I hope so given your charter and the fact that youw ant to use our Post as a base of operations. Happs is usually accompanied by 6-7 armed goons. We are already in your debt and would appreciate any assistance you could provide." Meanwhile, Lana goes about starting to cook lunch.

After which he moves wordlessly to the two dead men, removing arms, armor and other valuables, and stacking them in a neat pile before dragging the corpses out of the post. He does not ask for help, but accepts it if someone joins in.

Den finds the following on the bandits: