[Game Thread] Chapter I, Part I: Oleg's Trading Post

[VaerSheth]

Brune rises from beside the body of the green-cloaked man just in time to see Harken lift his axe. Brune raises one arm wearily but quickly.

Stay your blade, Harken. There has been enough violence here today. Do not add dishonor to it by striking the defenseless in anger. Is it not said: not all are born strong?

The dwarf sighs, rubbing his temples. Still staring off into space, he addresses the bandits.

Your former leader will live, for now. You have lived lives of crime to this day. By one path or another, that ends now. You will have to convince us all of your sincere repentance if you wish to survive. If you cannot do that, I believe I can promise you a swift death and proper cremation. I... think you can guess how little begging will help your cause.

Raising his eyes, Brune glances around at the other members of the charter. He smiles faintly, one eyebrow raised.

Have I left anything out?

OOC In the event that Harken follows through and kills the bandit, the remainder of Brune's action is unchanged. I hadn't actually intended the post to work either way, but it does appear to.

[Ryoga]

Harken growls, looking at Brune as his muscles had tightened, getting ready to swing the axe. He exhales violently and slams his axe down into the earth and stares daggers at the bandit. Brune was one of the few people Harken was actually growing to respect, and he decided it best to stay on his good side. He leaned on his axe and watched the bandits as Brune gave them his ultimatum, staring at the bandits present through keen eyes, attempting to guage their reactions.

[LupusRegalis]

"It might have been better to kill them all," Kostas adds from where he sits his mount within the gate, after Brune's intervention. "but Quarter was offered, and accepted. I will not have it said of Kostas Achtzavar that he is a black-guard. And perhaps we might find use for such as these, and maybe they fill find Purpose as well."

"At the very least" he continues, turning a pointed and calculating gaze upon the so recently vocal bandit "we might find what this one know. There is the shed, and we might speak with each alone, and so discover some truths, heh?!"

[Rohor]

The bandit shrieked a little as Harken lowered his weapon. As Brune mentioned enough bloodshed was had, the bandit managed to utter out through his sobs the words “Thank you.”

He looks towards Kostas, asking “What did you want to know? I’ll tell you anything that I know. Just let me go afterwards.”

OOC It’s been quite a busy week for me and it’ll continue to be as I make final preparations for my trip tomorrow. I might be able to make one more post before heading off tomorrow. In case I cannot though, I wish you all a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. Enjoy yourselves, be safe, have a good break and I’ll hopefully see all of you early in 2011 to continue this story. Hopefully by that time I can pick up the pace as well. Thank you everyone for sticking with the game so far.

[LupusRegalis]

Kostas just smiles coldly at the bandit, and blithely dismounts Apotheosis. He returns the broadhead arrow to his quiver, and slips the bow over his shoulders. Hands free he grabs the kneeling bandit by the collar and roughly drags him into the shed between the stable and main hall. He tosses the bandit down and closes the door behind him, blocking the way out. Slowly, deliberately, he draws his dagger but makes no more threating moves. Instead he speaks, and tells the bandit what he wants, and what he expects.

"There are questions I will ask, and you will answer them true." Kostas begins "You will not lie, because you wish to live. When I am done with you, I will ask the other two the same questions. If you have lied to me, I will cut you down. If you think to lie so we are killed, remember that Oleg would kill you. Do not lie to me, roza bandita."

His little speech over he asks the man what they need to know. Who leads the bandits? How many are they? Where is their camp? How is it built? Are they watching the outpost now? How long until they are expected back? How many mounts, what weapons, where else do they attack, do they have informants or accomplices elsewhere? He wrings every bit of information he can think to ask out of the man. When he is satisfied, he drags the man back out of the shed and into his comrades care. He takes the next bandit, and repeats the process. Remembering any discrepancies that aren't more than just differing viewpoints. Then he does the same again with the third bandit.

[VaerSheth]

While Kostas is busy questioning the first bandit, Brune trudges over to Harken's side. He stands there in silence for several long moments, dirty fingertips brushing the edges of the white linen kerchief wrapped around his bicep. His eyes rest impassively on the remaining bandits. Without looking up, he murmurs quietly:

Thank you.

[Rohor]

The first bandit begins blurting out everything he knows to Kostas.

“There are two bandit camps, one approximately a day’s ride out from the trading post to the south-west near the river… our camp. There’s perhaps about a dozen of us that stay there. The other one is further south from our camp, another day’s ride from our camp.”

His face grows pale as he mentions the second camp. “That is the Stag Lord’s fort. You won’t be able to get in. It’s heavily guarded and well placed on a hillside. You’ll be shot down before you even reach it, and there’s many more inside.”

As he hears Kostas ask when they are expected back he stammers out, “We’re expected back later this evening. It takes about a day to get back and if they know we’re not back by that time that something is up.”

As Kostas continues to interrogate the bandit, he blurts out the following additional information:

• There’s two key phrases that they use to identify themselves to whoever is at the main gate of the Stag Lord’s Fort. One is a master phrase used to identify themselves at the gates of the fort whilst the other is an infiltrated phase when they believe someone has infiltrated their ranks. These two phrases are changed weekly to the bandit’s understanding.
• The master phrase is: “By the Bloody Bones of St. Gilmorg, who wants to know?”
• The infiltrated phrase is: “And so the stink marks the jackal in a den of wolves.”

“That’s all I know. Please let me go…”

Having interrogated the other bandits, they provide the same answers as above.

As Kostas interrogates the bandits, the door to Oleg's house opens and he pops out, holding a small pouch and a small wooden box. He drops the small pouch on the table, which lands with a dull thud. He opens the box and takes out three vials.

"I thought I'd hand these over to you. I won't be needing them and uh... I wanted to thank you for your help. These three will help cure any wounds that you might suffer during battle, and this one..."

He dips his hands in the box and pulls out a fourth vial, which has a distinct X marked on it compared to the other three vials.

"This one will protect one from harm."

He looks towards the group in general. "So what do you plan to do with the bandits, and what are your plans now?"

OOC Rather than ask you to specifically ask for the type of information (and prevent duplication of information), I decided to lay it all out, as you wrangled everything he knows. Whether or not Kostas decides to relay the information out, I’ll leave to you. The camps you discern from the bandit’s information are somewhere in hexes 04.03 (the bandit’s camp), and hex 05.06 (the Stag Lord’s Fort) on this map. The potions are three cure light wounds and one shield of faith +2 (the one marked with an X).

[Ryoga]

Harken pats Brune on the shoulder and smiles, as the bandits and Kostas come out. 'No thanks needed.' He nods to him and then goes to form a circle with Kostas, Oleg and the others, awaiting the next part of their game plan, and eager to see what comes next.

[VaerSheth]

Brune also rejoins the circle, glancing over at the silent members of the charter. After a moment, he stirs himself again to go and make sure the gate is shut and barred. The dwarf rubs his palms together as he returns, muttering in Dwarven.

Does us not much good to be stuck in the arse like a fine bunch of dumb sheep. All standin' here in a circle. 'Tis all to the good, but the smart herds face out!

His gaze falls on Rogan.

What think you? Will we have more visitors this morning?

[LupusRegalis]

"Short-term, I say we attack these poor fools camp." Kostas says to Oleg and his comrades. "Long-term, we need more information about this Stag Lord before we commit, yes?!"

"These three roza banditas are a problem." he continues "Since we will not be killing them. So, we can be letting them go. Or, we can bind them and lock them in Oleg's shed until we figure out what to do with them. We can set them to work, under Master Oleg's supervision. Or, as was the old custom, we might take a hand as punishment and let them make their own way."

"Which is your preference, comrades?"

[arguilios]

"I don't see any more outside the gate just now," Rogan snorts derisively. "I shouldn't be surprised. These brave men were expecting a helpless landowner and his defenseless wife."

"As far as these roza banditas are a problem," the ranger produces a thin blade from his boot and stalks silently near the captives, "we can help these poor bastards find redemption through suffering. ... A quick *snick* behind the ankles -- they're dependent on the good will of their fellow man for survival. Or," he muses aloud for the bandits to appreciate their situation, "I make a cut higher and geld their wanton ways right out of the human race."

"You just give the words...." he grins darkly for their view. The venom-tongued ranger favors Brune with a broad wink outside the bandits' view.

"If you're asking my preference," Rogan addresses Kostas' question, "I'd keep this lot alive here -- trussed up but good. I mean to hunt their companions and end their days. And, if I find this lot's left out any details that might put me out at all ... I'm gonna be coming back here with blood on my mind. And, if they haven't earned the forgiveness of a kindly benefactor by the time we return," he returns to the bandits' view, "there won't be any force under heaven to stay my hand from ... cutting."

[Ryoga]

Harken thinks for a moment, and then smiles. 'We kill this...Stag Lord, and we take his men. We need men, lots, to tame this land. What better than bait and servants?' he laughs at the idea and continues smiling, a big toothy smile and pats Brune on the shoulder. 'Only problem is, they'd cut our throats in our sleep!' This image amuses him further as he brandishes his axe from it's resting position once more, ready for whatever the group decides to do.

[Rohor]

Oleg interjects his own comments into the conversation, "If you're thinkin' of attacking their camp, you might want to visit Bokken over to the east first."

He pauses for a moment as he attempts to gauge the group's reaction to him mentioning Bokken.

"Bokken is an alchemist or somethin' like that. Lives in a hut brewing potions, a bit crazy to the head but would be useful to you to stock up on potions. These potions are the only ones I have. If you're looking for more, he'd be the one to go to, then you'd do better against those bandits. He's only a few hours away, not too far from here."

Again he pauses, this time looking at the bandits, who are still cowering and looking nervously at the party.

"Personally I'd see these men dead. Who knows whether they can be trusted, they'd probably backstab us in a heartbeat if they could, but... they could be useful. A bit of a nuisance they are. By the way, did you want any of their equipment? If not, I'll take them and sell them. It'll be good compensation for them stealin' my stuff"

OOC Based on Oleg's comments, you believe Bokken's hut may be located somewhere around hex 06.01.

[VaerSheth]

Brune nods slowly in response to Oleg's question.

We should take enough of their horses so that we can all ride. I do not like riding, no, but it is faster than the cart.

After a moment's frowning thought, the dwarf adds.

I will give you my cart, and the ass, in exchange. They are perhaps not worth as much as a horse, but should be of more use to you. If His Lordship wishes to stay here and watch over the prisoners, then I see no reason why the rest of us cannot be off now to collect this Bokken.

Brune directs a raised eyebrow toward the sorcerer and smiles with patently false benevolence at the bandits. Resting his thick palms on his aproned hips, the dwarf leans forward and places distinct emphasis on each word.

Be. Good.

Straightening again, and turning away, he winks back at Rogan. The middle beard spike twitches violently, totally giving away a much more subtle upturn at the corner of Brune's mouth.

OOC I hope I'm not stepping out of line in suggesting what to do with Alistair now that Mogg's vanished.

[HughtheHand]

*Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop* From the South Rostland Road, outside the wooden palisade can be heard the squeaking and clattering of a carriage alongside the steady clop of horse hooves. A loud "woah!" can be heard from outside and the sounds squeak to a halt, then a voice raises a shout over the wall. "Olegg! Open the damn gates, its Bert! I've a shipment for ya', as well as a passenger that I damn well want to get rid of!"

Another voice, quieter and higher pitched with a slight accent, replies to the man outside the gate, "Really, all I did was remark about the atrocious nature of this carriage, I could practically count every pebble between here and Brevoy. I am very happy to be disembarking, and will trouble you no more."