Chastened, the bandit seals her lips after a nervous glance at Hildr. 

For the rest of the day you travel on the road back to Greenest. Crannoc keeps a vigilant eye, but thankfully nothing seems terribly out of the ordinary. No obstructions blocking your path, no shadowy figures moving in the treeline. Just a peaceful road out in the Greenfields. As before, you pass a few others on your way. Farmers on their way back out to their homesteads, or into town. They're curious about your prisoners, and seem elated and impressed upon learning who they are. 

It's not enough to strike you as an immediate danger, but across one stretch of the dirt path, the cleric of Silvanus would notice a significant amount of tracks crossing the road from east to west, as if a group were forsaking traveling the roads for the woods.

As night begins to fall, you yourselves move far off the road, taking your watches in turn. It's a stressful night. Every twig snapping or flutter of movement makes you believe that creature is stalking just outside your vision...But in the end the night passes uneventfully. 

The following day of travel is just as dull, and equally uneventful. Night has begun to fall again as the town of Greenest comes into view once more. Calavaz looks like he might be sick from nerves, throwing up his hood to cover his face. The bandits likewise appear to be nervous, and for the first time in a while the woman speaks once more. "Look. Friends. We really got off on the wrong foot here. What can we do for you to convince you to not take us into that town?"

Gallant looks at the woman and stokes his chin, “Well, I may be interested in some kind of deal but I know that my noble friend here (pointing towards Gawain) will never do such a thing and will talk my ear off about for weeks. So, sadly you did the crime now you must do the time!” 

As they approach Gallant will pull out his lute and sing, “The heroes are back, tell a friend. For we come baring gifts and tales. So grab a pint and take a seat, for the adventure of of a life time will unfold in the tavern!” 

Gawain takes Gallant's assessment in stride, offering a shrug to the captured bandits. "He's right. No way out of this one folks. Be grateful you're even alive, many would have just killed you outright."

"I for one," says Hildr.

Privately she pities Calavaz and harbors no ill will toward him, as she does toward the other bandits.

If he has a chance, Crannoc pulls aside his companions privately for a moment.

"I know you must think me strange, not knowing your city ways.  And I did wish to kill the female leader of her portion of the pack yesterday when she did not show her belly.  But now, it seems she has, and we have slain their pack leader and uncovered something far worse."  He pauses, considering.

"There are tracks here showing mass creature or humanoid movement through the woods instead of the path.  I sense something is afoot, possibly unrelated to the Sunless.  Should we instead offer these bandits the good pack leadership that Galdren never provided?  We have a bit of coin.  Might they fight alongside us should the need arise..." (Crannoc once again eyes the numerous off-path tracks with concern),

"...if we promise them some payment?  They might, through redemption, then have a better chance of forgiveness from not just pack leaders Nighthill and Escobert, but from the people of Greenest who may hold a grudge."

He looks uncertain, but adds, "I am fairly skilled at discerning a lie, should they think to take our coin and betray us."

"They are not sled dogs, nature priest, following the lead. Nor are they wolves seeking a new alpha. They are criminals who would just as soon slit our throats while we sleep and take all our gold, not only what we offer. Nevertheless," Hildr strokes her chin, impressed with Crannoc’s canniness, "it is an interesting idea. There is power in numbers. All I know is that the woman bandit should be kept on a leash."

Gawain considers their cleric's musings, looking back over at the restrained bandits. "I'm not beneath giving them a path to redemption..." And giving themselves extra muscle in the case of another surprise, such as one Crannoc suggested might be waiting for them. "I can agree to this. Nighthill is paying each of us 20 gold pieces a week. We could each give 4 gold a week to pay them."

While numbers are on his mind, he thinks back to what the woman told them of their remaining number. Thirteen. Two they killed in the tower, three counting Galdren. So Thorn's group held ten? That was more than enough to still cause problems. "If no one objects, I say we do it. Though we make it clear that this is the last chance. Betray us, and Hildr gets to decide their fate."

“I still think it is worth letting the towns people know what is lurching in that tower. They deserve to know what dangers they may face.”

Quote from ZelocktheDragon >>

“I still think it is worth letting the towns people know what is lurching in that tower. They deserve to know what dangers they may face.”

Crannoc looks at the bard, puzzled, thinking:  Of course we will let them know.  Nighthill and Escobert at least.  What does that have to do with...

"I apologize if I was unclear.  In considering whether to offer a different choice to these bandits, I was never suggesting we should not also report back to pack leaders Nighthill and Escobert of Greenest regarding what we found in the tower.  Of course we will do the latter - that was our task."

"They could be useful. But should we just waltz into town with them, or make them camp on the outskirts?" Iris was sure they would be recognized if they tried to stay in town. It was hard to forget a face that robbed you. "They might just run...But I guess that's an acceptable risk if it means we have help later."

“ I think we should bring them into town and we inform our benefactor that we want to give these bandits a second chance at life by redeeming the misdeeds. I want everything to be above board so we do not burn any bridges with the wonderful townsfolk here. I do agree that they should be cloaked and their restraints should be hidden to not create a stir.”

Hearing Gawain's words, a part of Hildr hopes the bandits do indeed betray them...

"That's...Going to take some persuading." Gawain says slowly, thinking of how they might sell this to the governor. "But we can definitely try." He looks back to the bandits, ready to take the deal to them. "Any other details we need to discuss?"

Crannoc looks around.  It sounds as if everyone agrees.  With the possible exception of Hildr, who looks about as content as a tiger with a toothache.

Crannoc's own plan had been to come to an agreement with the bandits as a means of mutual self-defense against whatever group had left the multitude of tracks.  Then leave them outside Greenest and make a request on their behalf to Nighthill and Escobert when reporting back in town.  But he supposes that the other city-dwellers know better, and if it is better to bring the captives with faces and restraints hidden, then so be it.

Gawain nods, and returns to the captive bandits, addressing the woman. "Alright. Here's how this is going to work. You're in a very deep hole, and we're going to give you an opportunity to pull your way out of it."

"Our work here in the Greenfields isn't done, and we ran into a bit more trouble than we were expecting in that tower of yours. We suspect there might be more surprises for us, and a few extra swords on our side would be helpful." He pauses for a moment to let them catch up and see where this is going. 

"Instead of taking you to Greenest and letting the governor toss you in a cell, we're going to try and convince him to let us hire you instead. You'll get paid weekly, same as us. A pile of 20 gold pieces that you can divvy up however you see fit. You stay with us, help us do our jobs here, bonk the people we need to bonk, and tell us what you know about other bandits in the area and any other helpful information. No more banditry. No more crime. Once we're done cleaning this place up, you're free to go on your merry way."

Again, he pauses to let the words sink in before pointing to Hildr. "You betray us, or try and run before that...My lovely friend Hildr here probably just splits your skulls open."

"Does this sound like a workable deal to you, or would you rather take the jail cell?"

Persuasion: 17

Gallant will give Gawain advantage 

“Come on chaps, I got him to see reason here, but it won’t last long. Take the offer, trust me.”

Persuasion (advantage roll) - 12

The woman glances back and forth at her companions after Gawain finishes his speech to them, a look of disbelief on her face. Finally she turns to face the paladin. "Just like that? We work for you now, don't have to go to jail, and you pay us?" She chuckles, shaking her head. 

"Unbelievable. Almost feels like you're pulling one over us."

"Yeah, we'll do what you need." She says, and the other three vigorously nod their heads. "And uh, we won't run or nothin'." She adds quickly, casting a nervous glance at Hildr.

Hildr smiles and offers the woman bandit her hand: "Shake on it then: Your loyalty or your life." If the bandit takes her hand, Hildr adds, "You're shaking for the lot of ya," and draws the woman bandit close, abruptly and rather menacingly, "and I didn't get your names."

If the woman bandit resists, Strength (Athletics) check: 20

At the first opportunity, Hildr gathers her (non-bandit) comrades together: "The townsfolk are going to bay for blood if we take them to Greenest directly. I suggest that one of you lookers among us," Hildr means Gallant, Irisviel, or Gawain, "go ahead and strike a deal with Nighthill and Escobert. If they don't go for it, we bring this bunch in."

Gallant smiles at the changes that are happening and his group's touch of Choas! 

Gallant will look at Gawain, "Maybe you and I should good into town to strike up a deal and leave the rest of the part on the outskirts to make sure our new friends don't have a change of heart."