Damen watched Brigid's healing, and the moment of discomfiture and shock that followed. For a moment he thought it was simply the archer's usual standoffishness, but in a flash of insight he realized the magic had provoked a memory in her like it had in him. Thoughts of a sun-dappled glade came to mind... followed by thoughts of broken ribs. It could be some things were better left in the past.
He edged closer to Brigid. "It's intense, eh? I know you keep your own counsel, but if you want to talk about what you saw..." He shrugged, then grinned. "I'll show you mine if you show me yours." With a wink and a snort of amusement at Leorn's dismissal, he returned to the fort.
"we are about to hold a trial so far we only have these bandit for extorsion and hostage taking can you add any crimes to the list?"
Take Ulryks hand and shake too. "Leorn Vonkahn. I was cornered and captured while they were enroute to this place and they didn't speak much beyond coming here for a shake down of sorts. Serves me right for trying to explore on my own."
Ulryk raised an eyebrow, though most of that expression was lost due to the shadow his spiked helmet cast over his brow. "Did the bandits say what they intended to do with you? If they were merely after the wealth you were carrying, I suspect they would not have taken you with them."
Ulryk exchanged a quick look with Svetlana and any of his other companions nearby and then turned back to the explorer. "Are you chartered by anyone to be out in this frontier or are you merely exploring out of your own interest and motivations? You're not from Brevoy are you?" To Ulryk the man's name didn't sound local to father's lands. He guessed the man a riverlander or maybe an Iobarian. That he didn't react with respect or surprise at the mention of his noble house's name was also a potential signifier that Leorn was not of Brevoy.
To all gathered about, he spoke. "Who wishes to put questions to our prisoners? Perhaps we should question them seperately as well."
Brigid turns to look at Damen, and save for a slight redness at the eyes, her face is again the cold mask framed by her fiery hair. She eyes him silently, and her gaze follows him when he returns to the fort.
She stands quiet and still outside the walls for a moment, her graceful fingers caressing the bow in her hand. She touches it to her brow, then moves inside the fort.
.
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.
Inside the fort, as it appears the group is readying itself to question the prisoners, Brigid approaches those who will be speaking to them. She plants her greatsword tip-down in the earth, and as it sways back and forth, she draws the rope and begins fashioning a noose in one end. Let them know they can die in honor by the svord, she gestures, or in disgrace by the rope. If they care about such things.
I respond to Ulryk. "The idiots thought I knew the location to some treasure or I know how to find some. They were going to make me help them finds some. Soon as they learn I couldn't, I'm sure I'd be dead."
At the the questions of my origins I respond. "I come from Chelax to explore these parts. Hoping to find my fortune or a quiet place to settle down."
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During the entire time that Ulryk was sharpening his halberd, the female bandit had been watching him; almost hypnotized by the rhythmic strokes. The bandit leader kept his head turned away, ignoring all around himself. When he stopped, the female seemed to snake out of her trance.
"Please kind sir. I did not wish this life. I had no choice. They killed my parents and forced me too..too.."
At this point she breaks down in tears; her whole body shaking with powerful sobs. You notice the leaders body also shaking, but not with tears of regret, but rather laughter.
"That's right Mel! Tell them how they died. Tell them how you sneaked into the woods to meet you lover. Tell them how you told him of the wealth that the family kept hidden in a hidden cellar. And tell them how you accidently knocked over the lamp as we were leaving...your parents and siblings tied up, unable to escape. Go ahead and try your wiles on that fine gentleman there Mel and see if he will take pity on the 'helpless' country girl"
If looks could kill, the bandit leader would be laid out, stiff as a board. Instead, Mel simply turns away, muttering under her breath.
"I am neither kind nor a Sir." Ulryk Lebeda said bluntly after he heard the woman's words. Though he had no real skill at discerning whether her tale was false or not, in his gut it felt a lie and he trusted that.
He walked over and seized the woman by the shoulders, leaving her bound. Yanking her up, his hard glare did not seem to soften with her tears. "You can plead the unfairness of your road when we begin the trial, now however is your chance to soften your sentence by providing information we can use."
He looked back to his companions, indicating that Brigid should join him just to be sure, and that the others should stay.
"Brigid and I will question this one in the stables. Can you question the other one out here?" Ulryk suspected that Svetlana would relish the chance to put the screws to the man who threatened to cut her throat.
Ulryk would then drag the bandit Mel to the stables to begin his questioning, provided there were no objections.
Brigid follows Ulryk into the stables with Mel. She stands behind the polearm master, silent and imposing with arms crossed and a leveled stare.
When alone, though Mel may be listening in, she asks Ulryk, Vhy must ve insist on a trial for these two? They are bandits. Ve have seen their actions. Ve are the vitnesses who vould condemn them, so who judges?
"I will admit It is a bit of a kangaroo court that is more of a formality than anything else. However this is a lawless place so we have to bring the law with us. Under the circumstances we have no prisions so the only choices are kill them or let them go."
I shrug. "Law is overrated. Man should be left to govern himself. Trust me, where I come from, laws ain't nothing but a way for real criminals to get what they want out of lesser folks."
I look at the bandit closely. "My capture could happen with or without laws. Ultimately it was by my own short comings that I was caught. No law would have prevented that."
I stand up. "Was it by some law of the land you chose to stand up to these creeps or your own moral code? Good or evil motivations are good enough reason to want to stop the opposite but don't tell me law is truly such a "good" thing. It can be made to serve good or evil. Best to do without and let folks police themselves I say. Do what you deem fit to these bandits, they've broken no law, only wrong people and it should be the people they wronged that should decide their fates."
I look at the others. "They done me wrong but I personally don't see the need to kill them for it. Up to the rest of you but that's my two copper there."
I look at Svetlana. "I suppose they put you on interrogation duty. Need any help?"
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The girl can definitely hear Brigid and Ulryk talking, but keeps a brave face.
"He was lying, you know. About my family. It was him who set the fire, not me. But I did not morn them, the small minded dirt farmers. They brought it upon themselves. If only they had listened and followed Kressle's requests. Whatever. Do what you will. I'll answer any questions, for whatever good it will do me, but please allow me the satisfaction to see that dog's vomit Happs exit this world before you do the same to me."
Once within the stables Ulryk turned to Brigid and tried to answer her questions as honestly as he could. "Our charter encourages us to dispense law and bring civilization to this frontier. Morality is the domain of gods and philosophers and I am neither. I believe what I do is good and right, but by another man's standards you and I could be judged villains. We killed men today. Men who had been and were intending to continue robbing Oleg and his wife Svetlana, but still, we ended their lives and we stuck first, without warning. It was only later that surrender was offered."
He scratched his beard and then turned back to the prisoner Mel. "Law, honor and tradition we can know. It is defined and exacting. There are precedents and values in tradition. Law is the wisdom of the old, carrying forth to the young. Law is the sword point at which savagery ends and civilization begins. It can be hard, cold, and merciless, but without it we'd be no better than the Orcs which devestated the world when the light did not shine. By upholding this law, we remove ourselves from the stigma of rogues enforcing our right through might and become instead agents of law, civilization and one would hope justice." He did not speak about the law with a zeal of a lawyer or the passion of a beauracrat, merely uttered it matter-of-factly. He had no over-riding love of laws, but it was clear he believed in them.
"My grandfather, the sentimental man that he was once told me 'No man is above the law and no man is below it; nor do we ask any man's permission when we ask him to obey it. Obedience to the law is demanded as a right; not asked as a favor.' Of course, as a noble, he was more often on the creation side of laws, but I have taken to heart his words. We will judge these bandits, witness against them, and enact the sentence."
He heard the words of the bandit Mel and nodded his head. "Speak truthfully and without hesitation and you will have as you requested and perhaps more. The captured man, Happs, I take it he is not your leader. Who is? You mentioned the name Kressle, tell me who they are and what was Kressle's request? How many are there of your bandit group and where are your lairs and hideouts? Who else does your group extort besides Oleg and his wife? How many has your group killed and what did you intend to do with that man you had trussed up? Who is he? Lastly, what can you tell me of the lands south of this tradepost?" Ulryk gave pause between his questions, providing ample chance to the prisoner to explain herself and answer each in turn.
Lost in thought for a moment, Svetlana offered little outward objection to Brigid and Ulryk dragging off the girl. Still as they did so, the twinge of a frown came over her. [i]I not entirely sure either of those two would know if a good lie was told to them. Tough to survive in House Orlovski that way.[i] Coming back to her senses, she nodded grimly as the warriors led off this Mel. She also dropped Leorn's arm and her demeanor changed completely as she circled around the bandit leader, a wicked grin on her face as she addressed the man. This adventuring is an interesting life, so different from where I come from. Leorn here is correct; laws and regulations are for the simple-minded. Back in Brevoy, many cling to their laws. That is what lost me my job, you know. I go by Svetlana now, but my true name is Kerringa Lespala. Perhaps you have heard of me? No? It is of no matter, I was exiled for my ways. See, before I took this guise as a humble priestess of Calistria I was the best interrogator Brevoy had ever known. They just left me their captives and the words flowed. I didn't necessarily like my work, but I was good at it. Very, very good. And all went well until nosy bureaucrats wanted to know more about *how* I was able to get the prisoners so freely talking. Let's just say that, in my opinion, the ends tend to justify the means. I care so little for the others justice. You could simply run away for all I care, but one way or another we will know that information.. Looking back to Leorn, the priestesses eyes, still beautiful, were full of dead psychopathic malice. Leorn, prepare the branding fire. Loosening them up with flame tends to be the best way to start.
Bluff Check
Actual Bluff Check:
Brigid listens intently to Ulryk's speech, although he could not tell whether she approved or disagreed with what he had to say. She simply absorbed his words. Then she leans forward and quietly whispers, Ve should talk about this later.
When she turns back to Mel, her face is hard.
Sense motive:
I look into Svetlana's eyes and I get a hint at what she's up too. It's a show, guess I'll play along. I let an eerie sadistic smile creep onto my face. "As you wish milady." I seek out a brand as she requests and bring. I appear as though I am looking forward to using it. I call on my good fortunes to aid me in this endeavour.
Aid Another Bluff DC so Svetlana gets a +2
Intimidate:
Damen leaned against the wall as he watched Svetlana and Leorn interrogate the bandit, keeping quiet. This was hardly his domain, after all. At Svetlana's performance he raised his eyebrows a little. How far did she intend to push this? He couldn't keep a subtle frown from creeping across his features as he idly played with the haft of the morningstar at his belt, but he resolved himself to watch and see how things played out.
I look in. The lies seem a bit see though, but who knows maybe the bandits are idiots.
Just in case it might help I nod and grut in affirmation.
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The man looks truly scared, and he seems more frightened by Leorn then by Svetlana.
"Do not burn me! I will tell you whatever you wish to know. My name is Happs Bydon. I am just a thug, no one important. Kressle; that's who you want, not me. I don't even know who the bandit king is...but Kressle does. I can take you to her...its not far by horse..just a few hours. You can take them by surprise, like you did us. There are only a few at the camp now. Please just leave me alone!!"
All outside make a roll on Knowledge-Local please. DC-15.
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He heard the words of the bandit Mel and nodded his head. "Speak truthfully and without hesitation and you will have as you requested and perhaps more. The captured man, Happs, I take it he is not your leader. Who is? You mentioned the name Kressle, tell me who they are and what was Kressle's request? How many are there of your bandit group and where are your lairs and hideouts? Who else does your group extort besides Oleg and his wife? How many has your group killed and what did you intend to do with that man you had trussed up? Who is he? Lastly, what can you tell me of the lands south of this tradepost?"
Mel gives you a look of pure venom.
"Why should I tell you anything! Your just going to kill me; by rope or axe it does not matter, I will still be dead. Go tell your pretty stories about the law to someone who cares. I will tell you no more without some guarantee for my release. I will not go back to that life...it was not what I thought it would be; no romance and adventure, just cold nights and hunger. No, if you release me, I will head for Restov. At least a whore there can find food and a warm bed for herself."
Brigid shoots Ulryk a look that says, See?
Then, she turns back to Mel with a disgusted look, and leans in close. So you vould trade a life of taking for one allowing others to take from you? Is that all you are? Can you do anything? Can you make anything?
She stands back up, interposing herself between Ulryk and their captive. Seeming to address both, she spits out, Our charter is vords on a parchment. Vithout it, nothing vould change. Ve can still kill these two, and say ve are upholding law. But they vould still be dead.
Calming, she crosses her arms and stands over Mel, looking down at her. You vant to live, no? Then vhat can you do?
Knowledge Local:
I raise the brand and look over to Svetlana. "Well that was easy. These bandits really are nothing more than spineless cowards."
I walk up to the bandit. "It is nice of you to offer your service as a guide but I feel it is best you give them a map. I will put in a good word for you so these folks might not kill you as I hold nothing against you. Best if you are kept here until the whole ordeal is over. If you have proven helpful, I will consider negotiating your release. As you can see, banditry is one of the most dangerous and difficult jobs to profit from and live long doing. As a stableboy, carpenter, or an innkeeper's assistant, fewer people hate you and fewer people will try to kill you. Wouldn't that be more worth while. Are you even living the life you wanted right now?"
Diplomacy:
Ulryk glared at the woman, his gaze intimidating and forceful, yet with the weight of execution apparent, he doubted fear would change her mind. At least, fear of the axe or the rope.
"You are a foolish woman to speak with such insolence at this time. I am offering you the chance at some redemption, bartering away some of the severity of your crimes with information. Are you faithless? Do you truly believe that death is the end of all things? Furthermore, there is something to be said about dying well. Have you ever seen someone die by the rope? Or worse, drawn and quartered? As it stands your crimes may earn you such a fate, unless you speak now."
Ulryk was careful not to argue with Brigid in front of the prisoner, but he would have words with her later. Words on a parchment they were. Words written by lords and made into law. Would she call holy books but words on a page, or the mysterious arcane runes on scrolls but chicken scratch? The written word had power, especially when invested with spirit and belief.
Keeping his frustration with his companion hidden, he directed his anger alongside Brigid's own attempts, speaking along side her line of questioning.
"My companion is right and it is possible that your words may grant you a stay of execution, but I make no promises. Answer our questions and we shall see."
She knew it was far from her best work even as the words left her lips, exiled torturer, where did THAT come from?? but also knew the worse thing to do then was to waver in the lie. So Svetlana bore in with her woven story and to her surprise the bandit bought it fully. But she was more impressed with Leorn's work. Hoping the man could at least hold his own as an accompanyment, he went far beyond. In truth the greatest effect was his, not hers. The double impact left the man, Happs, a quivering pool of helpfulness.
He is correct you know, a good word by either of us could make life better for you. The priestess had decided to change tact along with Leorn's efforts, but in her heart knew she would not let this man live. No priestess of of the Savored Sting would. But for now the concilitory words flowed. Now, first let's have you draw that map. And do tell us all about this Kressle, her tactics and ways, how she fights and what she fears, everything. Oh, and don't forget the layout of the camp!
Aid other on Leorn's Diplomacy: [dice]1d20+10[dice]
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@Svetlana; can I get a knowledge-local or default knowledge roll from you please.
Happs takes the charcoal stick and paper from you and begins to sketch a crude map. When he is finished he hands the items back to you.
"There. Should be easy to find. There might be guards in the blinds, but we usually did not bother. no one knew we were there. Kressle will be there with maybe 6 or so others. Its hard to say, as groups are always coming and going. Kessle is straight forward..she will attack you head-on. And will keep attack until you are dead or she is. The others fear her, and rightly so! I do not think she is quite sane. I heard tell she was once the Stag Lord's woman, but she was too crazy even for him, so he sent her away."
Happs slumps against the ground, defeated.
"That is all I know. Do what you must, it is a fate that I never escaped, jut delayed for a time."
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Ulryk's mention of a possible stay of execution gets Mel talking.
"Happs is just our group leader. He answers to Kessle, and she answers to the Stag Lord. Happs knows the way to the river camp, so you will have to ask him, I am not very good with directions. Kessle has about 15 or so bandits under her, but most are away at any given time. The camp usually has only 5 or 6 people in it. Happs has been hitting these people up for the last few months just for fun. I think he was sweet on the woman and planned to kill the man and take her. I know he was tried of me! As to the fellow we picked up, well we caught him sleeping and decided to take him back to Kessle as a little gift...she always likes a pretty face, even if they do not stay that way for long. This is all I know! I was never invited into planning secession's with Kessle or the others. Please have mercy!"
This Stag Lord, what do you know about him? How far does his supposed domain stretch?
Mercy!? Brigid's voice is incredulous. Mercy for a life as a whore? Living as men use you, and pay you less and less as your beauty fades? It vould be a mercy to spare you from that.
She spares a glance to Ulryk, with a look telling him not to interfere. You still haven't answered my qvestions, she says in a menacing tone. She grabs Mel by the collar and drags her outside, bringing her within full view of the area where firewood is chopped. The implications should be obvious. Holding her head so she can't look away from the split logs, splinters and the gleaming axe, Brigid leans in close to her ear.
Vhat vould you do vith mercy? Remain a bandit or become a whore? Or is there something else for you? Another path?
Ulryk got most of the information he wanted, but he still had no idea who this Stag Lord was. Apparently Kressle was Happs boss, and Kressle's boss was the Stag Lord. Further information about the Stag Lord would be required, but he said nothing when Brigid dragged the woman outside toward the firewood. He shrugged his powerful shoulders and followed Brigid out of the stables.
He personally didn't think life as a whore would be as bad as Brigid made it sound. It wasn't exactly an honorable profession, but it was a needed one. They were indispensable to soldiers, sailors, and unhappy marriages.
I nod at the man. I then look at Svetlana. "So, do you think this man can still be worth something? My some amends for his crimes? I never liked the concept of capital punishment. No one learns from that. Punishment should be correctional. Not final. Whatever crimes this man committed in the past, we should at least give him the opportunity to make something more productive out of himself. A chance, just one. A man should be able to correct himself when he hits bottom. If he cannot, then you can deal the final judgement. Way I see it, only man that deserves to die is one who cannot be corrected. My guess is this Kressle is beyond correction. Well, do you think a man should die because of wrong?"
Svetlana let Happs answer her question about the Stag Lord, then looked at Leorn as the man waxed philosophic, letting just a touch of tightness grip her eyes before adding, Final judgments come at unexpected times, in my experience; death visiting whether wrongs or not. Hard to say when such would happen. Just then Brigid came barreling out of the nearby building dragging the hapless doxie out by the scruff. The priestess seemed to take the opportunity to drop the discussion with the archaeologist and turned to look at Brigid with an amused expression. Nice to see some passion out of the woman, she said softly to no one in particular. A frown covered her countenance for a few seconds while the warrior woman spoke poorly of whores, I suspected the subtleties of distinction between a courtesan and a whore might be lost on her right now. Another time, but otherwise looked on at the drama with a smile.
Damen watched impassively, although he was impressed with Leorn and Svetlana's skillful interrogation. Progress with Happs, at least, and without violence. So far, anyway. But... what was to be done with them? From where he stood, he could see Brigid drag out the other captive, suggesting she had a solution in mind - or else hadn't gotten the answers she wanted.
Happs had been cooperative, though. Was that enough to redeem him, at least to the point of being allowed to live? His life was in the hands of two people he had directly wronged. The thought brought his mind to Oleg. What was his opinion? Any outcome that didn't end in the bandits dying could have serious ramifications for him.
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The girl writhes in Brigid's grasp, calling out many curses and oaths against the warrior. At the sight of the cut logs, however, she quickly quiets. To Brigid's forceful questions, she replies;
"What would you have me do? Starve as some drudge scrubbing floors for coppers a day. What is wrong with being a harlot? What do you want from me!!" She breaks down into what seem to be genuine tears, as Happs glances over and quickly looks away.
At this time both Lana and Oleg appear from their house. Lana seems taken aback by the scene before her, but quickly brings her emotions under control. Oleg looks grim and stands off to the side watching the goings on.
Oleg suddenly takes a long look at Happs. His look gets even darker as he disappears back into the main building , only to return a few moments later with a piece of parchment. He seems to examine the paper, then swears under his breath;
"By the Hunter's great balls...it is him!"
He brings the tattered sheet forward for all to see.
Wanted Poster
I look at the poster with a raised eyebrow. "Those some pretty high crimes there. Quite a list." I look at Happs. "Well, we have a bandit who is wanted somewhere for these crimes. A bounty, there is a fine line between Law and work." I squat to my haunches before Happs. "Sorry my friend. If you were a petty nobody bandit I would have offered you redemption. But now I see your criminal enough to be worth something. Today aint your lucky day then."
I join the others. "Like I said, if he was some nobody bandit then I would push for his release. That poster on the other hand points out that he is a known heathen an has foolishly made his name worth something. He's alive, lets turn him in."
I look over towards Brigid. "What about her, you got a poster for her too?"
Since Brigid has the bandit woman under control Ulryk strides over to Oleg and takes a look at the wanted poster that he displays to the group. He takes a few long moments looking over the artist's rendition and then the face of the man himself. He nods his head in agreement with Oleg's accessment.
"It does seem to be a match. The order says wanted dead or alive. The former would certainly be more manageable. How helpful has that scum been to you?" Ulryk asked, having not been a privy to Svetlana and Leorn's interogation. There was little compassion in his voice and his chesnut brown eyes seemed as hard and unmoving as a great sequoia.
"I would wish to wrap this up and move on to a sentencing. Ours has made no attempt at denying her crimes. Though she has begged for mercy." Ulryk said, indicating the squirming Mel. "If I were sole judge here, I would give her no more mercy than a choice of axe or rope.
Swinging halberd down to grasp it in both hands once more, he inspects the edge to make certain he did a good job honing it's edge. "I do not think much mercy should be extended to them, they have not even provided us anything useful, like how they identify other members of their bandit organization or who the stag lord is."
Calistria provides! Svetlana made no effort to hide her exultant look as the wanted poster came to light. There was no way she was going to not let retribution come, the Savored Sting demands vengence, but it would have been awkward to stab the man while everyone slept, as she had been planning. Turning to the group she said, I agree with Ulryk that this delay has gone on long enough. Oleg, what does that poster say regarding where the man is to be turned in for the reward? For him there is no mercy; his crimes demand retribution. If it is close it can be alive if the others wish. Frankly, I do not care as long as Calistria sees the man pay for his deeds. Walking over to where Brigid held Mel she frowned a bit and looked again back to Oleg. Do you recall this one's deeds? Has she done more than having been along for the trips? The priestess then bends over next to Mel, By the gods, woman, you really have no survival instinct do you? Do you think perhaps you could become a barmaid or..., Svetland shuddered here, join some Iriorian convent if we let you go? The priestess nodded with a fake smile as she said it, as if suggesting the idea might get the doxie to tell Brigid a different tale for her life after being shown mercy.
Brigid's face sours even more. Hissing low into her ear, You hated being a farmer. You hated being a bandit. Vhat, in this life, do you vant to do? Can you create instead of destroy? Can you grow instead of cut down? Is there something that vill make this vorld better?
She stands up, exasperated, and looks for a response, though she no longer expects one.
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Mel grasps at any possible help.
"Yes, a bar maid, or I could enter the church. I will do whatever you tell me, just let me live!! Its him you want!" and she points at Happs.
"He killed a man and his own wife, then burned down their home to cover the evidence. He use to be a guardsman in Restov! He told me the whole story! His wife cheated on him, so he killed her and her lover, then burned the place down!! Then when they went for him, he took a small child and threatened to kill her unless they let him go. He is the one you want. He ..he..corrupted me!! I was only a farm girl and he placed these ideas of adventure in my head! I will lead a good life now..please just give me a chance!"
She wipes the tears from her face and tries to look repentant.
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Oleg looks at the group then nods.
"The poster is from Restov. I received it on a supply run we made last summer. I did not think about it until I got a good look at that scum! The Swordlord there will be happy to have him returned. The girls story is true, as far as I know. I heard it when we were in town. "
He again looks the group over before continuing.
"I would still have my letter delivered. Perhaps you can take this convict and his doxie back with you, and deliver it. I am sure there is a reward. Your charter says you are to explore, not protect this post, so I would feel much safer if some full time guards were stationed here."
Ulryk thought that Brigid was wasting her time. Some people had no great ambitions. This girl was the spawn of simple farmers and rejecting her station in life, rather than try to do something noble she sold her parents out and became the whore and accomplice to that villain Happs. At least this was the impression that formed in Ulryk's mind after having heard her tale.
While he waited for answers from the others and further word from Oleg, Ulryk gathered up the bodies of the fallen bandits and began placing them neatly in a row, with their faces in the dirt. He turned to Kent afterwards and gestured to the corpses. "Did you see enough vinegar or similar liquids to allow for us to pickle these heads? Failing that, I guess we can pack them in the snow. It would be best to keep them as preserved as we can in case we come upon any others that are wanted."
Ulryk then went about the grisly task of severing the head from each of the corpses with the axehead of his halberd. He would stop if any in his group objected, but he did not believe they would. The display might futher highlight to the two captives the need to be even more cooperative.
Once finished with the task, he flicked some of the gore and blood from the head of his halberd and considered Oleg's words. "It would drive us deeper into winter to go back to Restov and return here. Once the snows begin to fall exploration will become more difficult. Yet if all agree, perhaps we can delay ourselves briefly to return to Restov with these criminals and deliver your letter or if we cannot spare a full trip back to Restov, at least to the tower where Damen joined us." Ulryk was not opposed to the idea, but it was clear from his tone of voice that he would much rather not head back the way he came so soon.
Brigid offers her a tight smile, then her stoic facade returns. She steps away from Mel and leaves her to Svetlana's care.
She walks over to the pile of gear stripped from the bandits and inspects Happs' compound bow, testing its draw, though she's clearly listening to the conversation.
Svetlana shook her head as Mel wailed on, the girl truly was pathetic. That said, she felt her first twinge of sympathy for Happs upom hearing Mel's version of his story. Calistria's priesthood had a soft place in the heart for those exacting vengence in the name of cheating lovers. It of course also had a place for risky, caution-to-wind, lusty romances but such complex potential contradictions seemed the stuff of real life.
After initially flinching and looking away as Ulryk did his brutal butchering, Svetlana brushed back her long blonde hair, sighing but nodding at the warrior's suggestion. Taking them both back to Restov would leave the legal work to those who enjoy that sort of thing, clearly she left herself out of that group, and allow us to claim the reward and gain soldiers for Oleg. But we need to end Kressle's threat and the rest of the bandits first. I say for now we leave these two well tied up here, ride up to the camp first thing on the morrow and then return to Restov right after. What say you all?
"Did you learn the location of this camp from Happs? Mel didn't seem to even know in which direction of the compass point she was riding. The land beyond the tradepost is unknown to us and there may be more then just bandits to concern ourselves with. Mel said the camp usually only has six or so bandits in it, plus this Kressle. Even so, that is a lot to deal with and we may not have luxury of planning an ambush." Ulryk said to Svetlana. He was not opposed to dealing with the leader of the group, but he did worry that it could result in casualties.