Quote from LordShadowthorn >>

The bandit bares his teeth.

"I die on my own terms, scum."

 Jairus whistles, and takes aim again (although his actual turn is later). “Dang, real patriot for his cause, whatever that is. Guess this ain’t over.”

The bandit grunts in pain as the stinging note of fire hits him, but keeps fighting.

Rubin shrugs, fanatics were best off dead than coming after you later...

Attack: 24 Damage: 9

bonus action Attack: 23 Damage: 5

The bandit finally falls.

(You’re out of initiative)

Symon lowers his crossbow as the last attacker is slain.  He looks around the party, noting the heavy wounds Kethra had suffered.  Unfortunately, he was no healer.

"The woe-bringers?  Have you folks crossed blades with this cult before?"

Jairus shrugs. “Last nutter we met said he was the lord of the undead or something, I don’t remember the woe-bringers specifically, but I could be wrong. People start pointing weapons at me, I’m usually thinking more about lining up my next shot than worrying about their organization or whatever. Anyone else know?”

Jairus searches the bodies, looting them for valuables and useable arms and armor. He is also not a healer, so he simply adds, while doing so, “Kethra, if you’re banged up, or if any of us are pretty worn out, we could leave, take a rest and come back down. ‘Sup to y’all.”

Breathing heavily from her wounds, Kethra's eyes slowly faded from raging red back to their normal blue as she put away her sword and mutters something quietly. "Ah...probably wasn't even worthy of this blade..."

Quote from Izraal1 >>

Jairus shrugs. “Last nutter we met said he was the lord of the undead or something, I don’t remember the woe-bringers specifically, but I could be wrong. People start pointing weapons at me, I’m usually thinking more about lining up my next shot than worrying about their organization or whatever. Anyone else know?”

Jairus searches the bodies, looting them for valuables and useable arms and armor. He is also not a healer, so he simply adds, while doing so, “Kethra, if you’re banged up, or if any of us are pretty worn out, we could leave, take a rest and come back down. ‘Sup to y’all.”

Still in her grasp, Kethra props the dead leader's body up for Jairus to search. "See if you--all of you--see if there's any clues of where they came from, and stock up on supplies. They said they came to 'reward our curiosity' so that means they think they own this place. They crossed swords with these poor dwarves living underground, turned them into stone and turned their grand halls into a toilet and a slaughterhouse." Kethra karate chops the dead corpse in anger

"Those disrespecting idiots! And I hate to say it, but I hope they didn't just force us to fight some of the villagers or something. If they were, there'll be hell to pay!" She raises her hand to hit the corpse again, but then suddenly remembered the children running back to their fathers, and the kind men helping them with the ladder.

"Dammit!" she just punches the ground instead.

(Would I be able to use Kethra's background as a Guild Artisan, or use my proficiency in smith's tools to examine the armor of the Woe-Bringers? Specifically for any clues that might lead to it being armor forged at Red Larch.)

 After searching the bodies, Kethra will snatch the spare cloak she had stuffed into the west door, then clears her throat,

"Anyone want to try wearing their goods underneath a cloak? I'm not a good liar, but maybe of you boys can pull it off if we run into more of them. To distract them for a small moment, at least. I don't want to kill them all next time...you know, so we can question them...for information! Or something like that."

The Woe Bringers' armor is leather, and appears to be of standard make.  There's no mark telling any location of make, just the cult symbol.

(Also just to be clear, the petrified dwarf is very old and has been there for a while.  These caverns may have been originally dwarven in make, but there have been no dwarves here for quite some time.)

(Oh right, thanks. Might be more reason to suspect that these weirdos might be connected with the town, or the reason the deli guts are missing lol.)

“Aimin’ crossbows at vitals don’t exactly do much fer’ takin enemies alive,” Jairus says, half apologetically. “I’ll see what I can find on these dead ones, though. As for a ruse and a bit of playactin’, I can wear a robe and keep my damn mouth shut, and leave it to folks more glib than myself, which is most, to handle the actual bluffin.”

Investigation if needed for thorough looting: 23

Jairus, you find 33 gp.  The bandits' scimitars and shortbows are also usable, if anyone wants an extra weapon.

Quote from LordShadowthorn >>

Jairus, you find 21 gp.  The bandits' scimitars and shortbows are also usable, if anyone wants an extra weapon.

 Jairus divides this to 3 GP and 5 SP per party member when there is an opportunity to split it, and claims two scimitars and a shortbow for himself. 

“We’re kinda the leftovers of a group that set out on a quest then most of ‘em decided to seek their fortunes elsewhere, to ta speak,” Jairus says. “In other words, we’re having to make due. Having new blood join has been a huge help. But I don’t think we can unlearn what we know and hope to pick up a whole new way o’fightin just in a moment. If we’re bad off, need a rest, maybe we hole up for an hour or so, take a lunch break, or just leave and come back after a good night’s sleep. I don’t think we’ll suddenly have folks learnin’ front line melee who ain’t suited to it, though.” 

Listening to Tydes concerns, Davian moves to stand next to Tyde and Kethra. "I offer my services if they will be of help, but I'm afraid that my animal form can only manifest a limited number of times before I am too drained to make the shift. Whilst I have strength I vow to bring nature's wrath down on our enemies. I have magics that can help control the battlefield but I fear they may affect our warriors too." His offer quite genuine although his fear of harming his new friends plays heavily on his mind.

Symon reluctantly raises his hand.

"No offense, but most of us took up defensive positions.  Kethra, you made the choice to meet them head on.  That said, I'm no stranger to getting blood on my shirt.  I will try to help hold the line next time."

He will also take two scimitars.  As he does so, a rivulet of blood runs from his fingernails and along the edge of each jagged blade.  The effort obviously takes some grit as both scimitars burst into flame.

Symon takes 4 damage.

"Tyde's right, lets at least take a breather," Jairus says, having earlier suggested a full rest, he now pushes for a short rest.  "We can secure one of these rooms easy enough.  Munch some rations, catch out breath for an hour, then see what else we can do today."  

OOC: Jairus suggests a short rest.  

Rubin will step forward and cast goodberry, offering the ten berries to whomever seems the most injured.

"I cannot be a fighter in melee combat, as i do my best when I am not that close, but I can heal some..." He tells the group.

OOC: Are we all agreed to at least a short rest?  

(For expedience, I'll assume you're taking a short rest.  Divide the goodberries however you see fit.)

Nothing of any import happens during your rest.

Jairus quietly chews on rations and sips from his flask of water during the rest, and then stands and stretches.  "Let's see what else we can find down here, today."