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"Hm, well the typical punishment for banditry is hanging but since you caught the blaggards I guess we can imprison them for now" Kestran answers Simon.
Sigurd then begins the task of hunting down the bandits home camp and is easily able to find the path the six horses took. He quickly begins leading the group west south west.
Celeste bids farewell to the guards, then starts checking over her armour and gear making sure it’s all in good shape, strapping her swords and shield to her back and hip. She walks over to Sigurd seeing he has found some tracks.
"Ho, yes!" Sigurd calls as he beckons the party over. "They left a more obvious trail than a rampaging linnorm! Shouldn't be too hard to find their camp if this is the care they take when they travel from it." He hops to his feet, spear in hand, and begins trotting into the wilderness, bidding the rest of the party to follow.
Seeing as Sigurd has the trail down pretty hard, Pavel will keep an eye out for deadfalls traps and ambushes while noting local flora and fauna.
Actions:
Knowledge- Nature:
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Following Sigurd and Pavel's lead the chartered adventurer's head off int he direction of the bandits camp, though on foot its a much slower journey and at you're current pace you guess that the journey will take two days. The first day passes fairly quietly with Pavel noting some of the local flora and fauna, in particular a patch of edible mushrooms to add to his food stocks and a bear with a pair of cubs that quickly amble off into the underbrush when they hear the group.
Late in the afternoon Sigurd suggest breaking off the pursuit for the day and setting up camp by a small stream. The stream itself is a narrow shallow little thing but its water is cool and clear providing some much needed refreshment after the days long journey. Its with the final splash of sunlight fading from the nights sky that you hear another form of local wildlife beginning their nightly chorus. According to old an old Brevoyan myth a wolf's howl is its own little prayer to the gods.
After setting up her place at the camp, Elanora takes some time before nightfall to use water from the stream to remove the last of the dried blood clinging to her armour and Falchion.
“We should probably post a lookout for tonight. I for one do not want anyone to sneak up on us.”
Setting aside her freshly cleaned gear she then takes a moment for a silent prayer to her Goddess.
Before leaving : Guys , I would propose this about Oleg . We give him what we don't want to sell . When he does sell them , he give us back the money minus a 10 percent commission . What do you think ? "
Hearing Elanora's remark , he will reply : "I have thought a little about our organization . I would propose 3 four hours long shifts of two people at each time . Sigaurd and Jonas to begin , Me and Elanora in the middle and Pavel and Celeste to finish . All in aggreement ?
Jonas follows the rest of the group on foot pulling his mule laden with food, water and equipment I would agree with the idea of posting a watch but unfortunately Simon the mysteries of the arcane place a strain on the mind and I need a full nights rest to be able to read over my spells and commit them to memory with us doing 3-three hour shift's I would not be able to perform very well. I am unsure but I believe those that call on the divine have similar restrictions. We may need to do a single person on duty during the night and keep it to 2 hour shifts for 5 shifts to allow those that practice magic enough time to properly prepare in the morning Alternatively Pip could take my place in the watch he is probably more observant then I am any ways but I don't want to shirk my duties as a member of this expedition
Then we should be doing four hours long shifts . It is better than to have only one person on duty . If he should be neutralized , we would be toast
Jonas shrugs I certainly don't mind but that is 12 hours of down time. We could take other precautions around the camp. maybe string lines of twine with items that will make noise if its disturbed. In the future I will have to look at some magics that will help keep us safe when we camp in the future.
"Better that we waste a few hours than end up dead. It should suffice for tonight, at least, and we can work something out later. And Simon, I think that sounds like a fine plan - working out a deal with Oleg. After all, it seems his trading post will serve as something of a hub for us in the days to come, and we don't want to bankrupt our own base of operations. Now," he says, growing grim, "We'll be coming up on the bandit camp tomorrow, most likely. How do we want to handle it? I'd suggest waiting until dark, seeing if we can't pick off a few stragglers without the notice of the rest of the camp. I'd normally favor sparing those that can be spared, but we must keep our situation in mind - two already held at the outpost... I doubt we have room for anymore, so I'd suggest granting them all a swift, clean death."
Janus helps with the camp setting up the tent and making his bedroll before refilling the water skins in the small stream and sitting down to complete his rations for the day and work out a battle plan with everyone. I would be happier if we knew their numbers and defenses but we must work with what we have. We know that they had at least a dozen men and we have cut that number in half. So we can reasonably expect to face at least a half dozen more in camp. We seemed to have handled the others without to much trouble and talking with the ones we captured it appears they have little training. Jonas grabs his chalk board and notes his assumptions and shares them with everyone as they talk about their plan.
1. we should expect to face at least 6 opponents possibly more.
2. bandits may give up if they lose their leader and we give them the chance to surrender.
3. Bandits will have the home field advantage and we should expect them to use that if given the chance. may have hunting blinds, pits and other simple traps.
Given what we face I agree with Sigurd that surprising the bandits would be best. The only problem I can see is that moving at night will be difficult if not impossible without light and that would give away our position. If we can find signs of an encampment before we stumble on it such as smoke from cook fires or something similar as we follow the trail tomorrow I would suggest scouting to be certain of its position and waiting to attack just before night fall or at dawn when they are most likely to be unprepared
"I wouldn't worry too much about light. Remember that if they've got a camp, they've got fires. We can stay in darkness and spot them just fine. Also, here's a little trick I've picked up..." Sigurd picks up a fist-sized rock and waves a hand over it, imbuing it with a soft golden glow. "Toss one of these nearby, and they're sure to investigate. As soon as they're within the light, stick an arrow in their gob."
"Sigurd , tell me you are joking. It is not convenient for us to keep prisoners so let's kill them all ? Now I must aggree that having that much prisoners to keep could be a problem . I would rather we mark them and tell them that if they want honest work to come to Oleg's. I must also admit that given the description Svetlana gave of the woman , I won't offer her a chance to surrender. That we must be good is a fact that does not mean we should be stupid "
"I'm not advocating wholesale slaughter here, but I've lived in the Greenbelt before, and justice here isn't justice in the city. Say we take down their leader and we're left with 5 more bandits on our hands? Then what? Would you feel comfortable locking them up in a trading post where they outnumber the guards almost two to one? Hardly a good place for holding men, and hardly enough men to to keep a close watch on them. Remember the kind of people we're dealing with. Sometimes, a man falls on rough times and resorts to banditry, but more often than not, it blackens his heart as thoroughly as any other villain's."
Sigurd turns his back, staring into the wilds as he continues.
"Don't mistake me. When it's an option, I'll always opt for offering penance, but there are times when that's just not viable without putting innocent folks at risk. I'd risk my own life for such a goal, maybe the lives of the guards - it's part of their duty, after all. But I'm not going to put a whole clan of bandits in arm's reach of Oleg and Svetlana. There are times, Simon, when justice has to be hard."
I would not lock them up at all . Prisons are for those awaiting judgement . A man in jail is a waste of ressource for himself and for the community . What I would do is put the mark in them you were suggesting and strip them of their weapons and armor.At night I would close the gates with them outside . If they want to eat, they can work at repairing the fort during the day . If they want to run , let them do so but a marked man is given no second chance. That's why I checked the two prisoners we already have , If they had had a tattoo or something like that , I would have hanged them and we should do the same to all the bandits we meet if they surrender.
Sigurd pauses, running his finger along his bowstring as he considers Simon's proposal.
"That's a good plan," he admits at last. "It won't be easy for them, but redemption is not an easy thing. Very well then, we offer them a chance to surrender, and then to repent. Those that agree can work towards their atonement. Those that refuse, well... I won't force a man into service. If he chooses death, I will oblige him."
You all bed down with your shifts for the watch chosen. The first watch goes uneventfully with Sigurd and Jonas waking Elenora and Celeste for their turn....
Simon and Pavel you wake with an uneasy feeling deep in your stomach. Sunlight touches your face and your senses come alive as you realize that the camp is too quiet. You are angry for a moment thinking that someone had fell asleep during their shift and didn’t wake the next, but the unease grows and you know with certainty that something more significant has happened.
It soon becomes obvious that Celeste and Elenora are gone, with bedrolls left out and ready to be slept in and their gear aside from the weapons and armor they had been carrying left near their sleeping areas.
The camp carries a unearthly energy in the very air and the smells of the forest that are normally so familiar and comforting seem more vibrant to the point of being oppressive.
Pavel surveys the camp, looking for any signs of struggle.
"Wh'what the fuh'fuh'fuh..."
Knowledge Religion
Pavels outburst and the sudden movement around the camp wake both Jonas and Sigurd from a sound sleep. Something in the air makes them come alert and ready themselves as if to fend off some unseen attack.
Knowledge Arcane
Jonas stands grabbing the scabbard of his sword in one hand and placing the other on the grip ready to draw it and defend himself if a obvious danger materializes. Taking in the scene concern is written all over his face and tinges his voice. I can feel magic in the air, I mean really feel it. Do you know how powerful a spell has to be for us to actually feel it! You do feel it right!?
Sigurd leaps to his feat, whipping the dagger from his belt and dropping into a crouch as his eyes dart around the camp.
"Aye," he says with a grim nod. "I can feel it. Not right, whatever it is." He continues to look around as he speaks, refusing to lower his guard. "Do you know what did... this, Jonas? Did it take Celeste and Elanor? Is it still here?"
Jonas seems to calm his mind focusing on Sigurd's question I am uncertain Sigurd but it seems likely. I don't have the proper spells memorized to explore what we are feeling in the air. I had been prepared for our attack on the bandits. We should look for Elenora and Celeste and leave this place as quickly as possible.
I don( mind saying I am thinking that IF Celeste and Elanora have been trapped in the fey realm , we do not have YET any way to save them . It makes me a little mad but I really can not see any happy way to resolve this yet
"I'll not rest easy unless we at least make an attempt," Sigurd says as he begins donning his armor. "I'm not one to let such malice pass for lack of understanding - we can at least try to find them."
Pavel looks wide-eyed at the surrounding forest.
"Muh'Mayhap they st'stumbled into a faery ruh'ring, lured away by guh'grigs and pixies..."
He starts looking around the camp.
"A faery huh'helped me out wuh'once. Luh'long time ago, but I ruh'remember."
Perception:
"Feel that shiver run up your spine, Pavel. Whatever we're dealing with isn't in a helping mood today." He grumbles to himself as he shoulders his bow. "Bah, faeries. Fickle little beasts..."
Pavel and Sigurd use there skills to work through the tracks that litter the camp finally finding the set they can both definitively say belonged to Celeste and Elanora around the time you suspect they disappeared. The tracks move from the camp only a short way at a walking pace before ending side by side no more then 10 yards south west of where you slept, and still within sight of the camp. From that point all traces seem to disappear as if Old Deadeye himself had plucked them from the world.
As difficult as it is to contemplate there seems little that can be done to find your companions at this time.
Pavel shrugs and starts striking camp.
"B'best we keep on muh'moving then."
Dekem shook the road-dust from his cloak as he looked at the trading post he had just arrived at. Oleg's, if he recalled. He had been late arriving in Restov, and thus had missed the inital wave of adventurer's into the Stolen Lands...but he was here now. Leading his horse, Lily, forward by her bridle, he approached the entrance, waving and shouting out.
"Hullo! Any souls about?!" he called before stopping and waiting for a reply, his eyes scanning the antique walls.
"Yes, it seems there is nothing we can do for them right now." Sigurd kneels in the grass for a moment, then draws two arrows from his quiver. Whispering a brief prayer to Erastil, he drives them into the ground. "This will have to suffice. And now? Where do we go from here? I know we came to find the bandits' camp, but it seems there are forces out here that we are ill-equipped to deal with. Perhaps those who frequent these forests will know how to safely traverse them. We've still got two of them back at the Post, maybe we should ask them?"
The sound of your call alerts those working of your presences and they cease what they are doing to take stock of the new arrival. someone calls down to you The captain will be out to speak with you in a moment. Soon after The gates open and a A serious looking man steps out fully armed and armored his hand resting comfortably near the grip of his sword. Good day stranger I am captain Keston may I inquire on what business brings you to Olegs this fine day. His tone is hard and he is eying you as if to see how much trouble you could potentially cause. As his gaze sweeps over you and your mount you hear a chipper female voice from in the trading post. Keston let the poor man in he looks tired and I can't think what trouble one soul could do with you and your fine soldiers protecting us. a fresh faced human woman of no more then 20 years materializes through the gate and walking past Keston holds her hand out in a friendly gesture of welcome while turning to Keston she carries a annoyed tone You can't be scaring off every traveler that graces our door with your posturing. Turning back to you the friendly tone back in her voice Welcome to Oleg's I am Svetlana how can we help you today Sir. Keston seems to deflate slightly shaking his head Yes Ma'am With the exchange between them ended Keston moves back into the fort but he gives clear indication through his hands over Svetlana's shoulder that he has his eye on you. Svetlana oblivious to the non verbal exchange invites you in.
It is an idea sigurd but I seem to recall they were just farmers who had a string of bad luck so I doubt they can be the help what you or Pavel can be and it would mean two more days for the brigands to discover their friends are not coming back . I would vote for going on
I am for what ever plan gets us moving out of this area.
Dekem merely raised an eyebrow at the guard captain before turning his attention to the woman in front of him, giving a small smile and a small bow.
"Thank you, m'lady. It's been a long journey. I believe that there should have been a group of adventurers hired by the Swordlords of Restov that would have arrived not terribly long ago? I have been sent to join them. I was...somewhat late arriving in Restov, you see."
He paused here, patting his horse on the neck while he looked around.
"I assume they are not here at the moment?"
Oleg's Trading Post
As the discussions continue Jonas begins to pack up the camp.
"Once again, thank you for the hospitality. I look forward to the meal." he said, nodding to Svetlana as he lead his horse inside the stable and got her settled in.
"Now, if you'll pardon me, I'm going to go wash up. Fresh food will be nice again, and I'd hate to dirty up your place." he said as he took off his cloak, folding it over his arm before pausing. "Ah...may I ask m'lady where the guest room is?"
"Hmph, I suppose your right," Sigurd agrees with a heavy sigh. "Onward then, before we loose the trail." Gathering the rest of his gear, Sigurd goes back to picking his way along the bandits' path.
"I see. I shall take my leave, now."
And with that, Dekem left, arriving at the guest house. After placing his gear at the foot of the bed, he sat down and leaned back, taking a short nap before mealtime.
Pavel starts looking for the trail.
Survival (+1 tracking):
Pavel searches the area for the trail that your group had been following with the tracks left from making camp and the hasty search for lost companions the bandit trail proves difficult for you to pick back up but through perseverance you finally find them. They appear to still be moving generally west. With the trail found the group finishes packing up the camp and continues its trek.
You make your way through the woods your travel now easier through the thick undergrowth and closely spaced trees as the trail that you are following seems to have brought you to a regularly used path you realize that movement out of this narrow walking trail would be difficult and require a great deal of work to cut and push your way through. By early evening you you have made good time and the forest has opened up considerably.
Pavel tracking
With the thinning of the trees Sigurd and Pavel you find more foot traffic along the trail and it would appear that you are quickly coming on the Bandits camp
Pavel strings his longbow, pointing to the tracks in the path.
"Fuh'foot traffic. Getting cl'closer."
He looks about warily, moving from shadow to shadow.
Perception (+2 vs. Humans):
Stealth:
"Alright, then. Let's take it slow and easy. Couldn't hurt to scout a bit, see what we're getting into before we start a fight..."
Nevertheless, Sigurd knocks and arrow onto his bowstring and creeps forward, wary of any ruffians who might be on patrol.
Following Sigurd and Pavel's lead Jonas quietly readies and loads his crossbow. Then allows Pavel and Sigurd to get ahead of him a little ways so that his lack of stealth skills don't give them all away while still maintaining visual contact with them.
I am going to assume that Simon is going to follow the groups lead preparing a ranged weapon and sticking near Jonas as the stealthier in the group move forward slightly ahead to scout
The group moves forward as stealth-fully as possible moving at the edges of the trail darting from cover to cover Pavel and Sigurd seem one with the forest, their movements precise, measured and silent by contrast Jonas and Simon do the best they can but armor jingles as they move branches snare cloaks as they pass creating some sound as they follow at a healthy distance.