NPC - Cal the Former Bandit's page

Cal, Dell and Grubby all greet Thad warmly thanking the elf for the food. The other former bandits also offer their greetings but with a more mixed response of guarded caution and wariness.

When asked about Cal shakes his head sadly. "Well sir, I'm just not sure about that one. Don't know much about her really. She was a tough boss, but then she'd have to be out here and among a bunch of rough men on the down and out."

He runs a handkerchief across his brow and shrugs his shoulders. "Truth told, she seemed okay 'til the Lord an' his Blackrobes came along. Sure she was a mite tough an' 'ud kill ya for not follow'in orders, but again that's the way things work out 'ere."

"I heard once she grew up in these parts. Folks were bandit's, so its all she knows. Don't know much else beyond that. Cept after the Lord got his 'ooks into her she seemed to take a turn for the worst. Meaner, darker."

He shrugs again, "Like as not, you're a better judge o' folk than me. I will say some o' the lads, might be a bit nervous 'avin her back around."

Standing at Hemp's side as Thad approaches, Cal watches as the paladin rests his hands on the former bandit's blackened body. Stifling a startled intake of breath as the healing power removes the necromantic taint, he looks to Thad with surprise and just a bit of awe in his expression.

"You've truly the power of the good gods with you Sir Knight. The Stag Lord should fear your arrival."

After the magical glow dissipates, Hemp is breathing easier and resting much more peacefully.

Cal bobs his head to Thad and then moves over to where the remaining food is still laid out. Grabbing a couple of rolls and slices of meat he eagerly dives into the meal while watching the rest of the proceedings quietly.

Cal's expression remains serious at Kams' words, but there is a strong sense of personal pride that seems to return to the man, as if he has regained something he had thought lost forever. He bobs his head at the ranger and the others and with all seriousness says, "I thank you good sirs, an' I'll do all I can to make you an' these good folk proud o' your choice to give me 'nother chance."

He then looks around with a puzzled look on his face, not sure what to do. After a few moments he turns to Thad, "Will that be it, Sir? Is there somethin' I can get to work doin' right now?"

Cal listens intently first to Thad, then Kams. As the ranger speaks, an expression, half frown, half ironic smile crosses the former bandit's face. His shoulders sag further, and silence fills the air while the man struggles to put together the thoughts swirling around in his mind.

"'Tis true my life isn't worth much, being as I'm a small man in'a big, big world. I could cross blades with you, but we've already tested that an' we ended up 'ere. I never was much with a sword, but I'd take a beating if it'd satisfy a sense of justice."

He turns to look back over his shoulder at the shed and then back to the group, "Every man in that shed 'as a story. Some set out on that path willingly, an' are simply bad trouble on two feet. Others, ended up there by chance or bad luck. I'm not sayin' I made all the right choices, fact is, I know I didn't."

"I could'a laid down an' starved, but I tried to live. In doing that, I got trapped in with the only power in this forsaken scrap of country, an' ended up dying little by little on the inside."

His stares back at Kams, matching the ranger eye for eye, "You ask, what I'd swear by, well sir, I got nothin' 'cept my dead wife and younguns that mean anything to me. Everything else I 'ad in this world is gone. All I got is Emily's memory, 'an I'd swear on that, I'll be true to these folks 'ere, and do what I can to 'elp 'em make a go of it."

He looks Meyerson in the eyes and says softly, with what sounds and appears to be honest regret, "Neither Dell or I knew there were children in your wagon. We couldn'a stopped 'apps from attacking, not with that thing aroun' 'is neck, but I would not 'ave 'armed 'em none."

Dropping his gaze the man steps back a pace waiting. His shoulders slump a little and he holds himself as if carrying a heavy weight, but at the same time he appears to be easier and more at peace than at any other time since his capture. As if telling his story had finally released him from his own burdens and brought a needed sense of relief to the man.

Stopping his speech for a minute Cal seems lost in thought. Lifting his head, he looks around at the gathering again and says, "I guess you folk know the rest. I admit to stealin' from people an' helpin to ruff 'em up a bit if they put up a struggle, but I swear to you that neither Dell or I sent anyone to their god. We did what we 'ad to do an' we'll gladly stay on with you folk, pay our penance, an' do our part."

The bandit glances over to the shack, "As I said afore, Dell he don't talk much, but he's a good lad. Never was the same after loosing 'is baby girl and wife to the plague."

"Grubby's not a bad man either. Not sure o' 'is story, but I think it's 'is sister what keeps him tied to the Lord. Mentioned 'er once when we were drinkin'. Said she was a servant in the fort, an' as long as Grubby played along, she'd be safe."

Cal leans in dropping his voice, "Personally, knowing the Lord and those that stay on at the fort, she's likely already used up and forgotten." He says sadly shaking his head.

"Well, there you 'ave it. Not much more to add as you know the rest since the bridge." He looks to the various faces waiting to see what his fate might be.

Cal nods at Thad's whispered advice. The former bandit's features are still brightly colored from the fey magic, but in some way the man seems to have taken well to the experience and treats it as a badge of honor. As if he has survived a terrible encounter with ferocious beasts.

As he steps in front of the group, Cal holds his head high, but also with a level of respect and deference. Clearing his throat he looks each of those in front of him in the eye. After a few seconds and a deep breath he tells his tale.

"Well, it's like this. I used to be jus' like you good folk. Had me a fam'ly an' believe it or not even a few friends. Worked a bit of land jus' north of Jovvox in Mivon. It weren't an easy life, but it wasn't bad. Most years we 'ad enough to eat and a few coppers to spend an evening in the pub with a cheap pint and talk."

He pauses for a moment, a pained expression crossing his face as memories surface that have been buried for a long time. "All was good until one o' the local barons got into a tiff with 'is neighbor. The two went to feuding an' o'course it was us poor folk who took the brunt of it."

"My oldest boy was impressed into the baron's guard and promptly killed in some skirmish. With 'is death, I packed up and moved the rest o' us north into the Stolen Lands with a bunch o' us folk who just wanted out. Figured it'd be better than stayin. We did alright for the first couple o' years. Had a nice little village and system."

Cal's eyes take on a haunted look and his voice grows quiet, "But then the plague hit an' changed everything. Lost Emily 'an both the little ones within a month. After it was over, there were only two of us who lived in the village left. Myself and Dell. He ain't hardly spoke since."

"We tried to make a go of it on our own, but wasn't enough left to save, and truth told, neither of us 'ad our 'earts into it."

"So we wandered north. Eventually came across 'is Lordships settlement. Not knowin' what he was at first, we didn't avoid it. So we was impressed ourselves. Of course, he wasn't as much a big shot then as now. But still a scary and paranoid bastard."

Shrugging his shoulders, Cal sighs heavily, "Weren't nothin' else to do 'cept loose our 'eads at that point. We did what we were told and nothin' more or less. Took the chance to get out o' the main fort and come north to join Kressle's group when we could."

"She's pretty even 'anded for one o the Lord's bunch, but then she's pretty much on 'er own up 'ere. Runnin' the protection rackets and makin' sure the Lord's own brew got shipped on regular and on time. It wasn't until the last month or two, that orders to get more aggressive came along with one of the Blackrobes."

Shivering a bit at the mention of the blackrobes he unconsciously makes a simple peasant gesture of protection against evil. "Our bunch under 'apps was sent north to watch the river, an' 'pparently there was order to knock over ol' Oleg who always was stubborn about payin'."