(ooc: I don't want to metagame and have Arren grab his armor and weapons just because I read now that Bryn is taking them . It also makes sense that he wouldn't be as worried as Bryn, since he knows nothing about what is inside the excavation. So he won't take anything else with him. It might the dangerous choice for my character, but also the one that makes the most sense. For me, at least.)
During breakfast. Arren notices that Taceis bringing both his weapon and armor with him, but he doesn't pay it much mind. Maybe he's too focused on thinking through what precautions the workers should take. Maybe he's learned that hauling armor and weapons around the excavation site has been mostly a hassle so far. Or perhaps it is because he genuinely sees no reason for the wall of dirt to hide any real danger right now, same as Walnuts does.
Whatever the reason, he sticks to his plan. The only equipment he brings with him is the same as the day before: his dagger.
At the excavation site. Arren tries to focus on what's happening around him—how the workers are faring and whether they're following the precautions he gave them. That's probably why his digging is, once again, less than optimal.
…or perhaps he just has to accept that he simply isn't good at this.
Constitution check: 15+3 = 18 (+2 if it was a save) Perception check (at advantage): (5, 9) + 3 = 12 Strength check (at disadvantage): (8, 4) + 4 = 8
"Not if you plan on wearing these uniforms," Predak answers Bryn's question regarding the lodestones. "But even if you change clothes, I doubt the guys will want to help you with it." Beyond that, as expected, Predak doesn't mind where Bryn works, as long as he'll help somewhere.
Bryn can split from the main group with the others who walk to the top side and follow their lead. He walks alongside a few workers, two horses and a donkey. One armed bandit also tags along with the group, walking a little behind them. None of the workers seems to mind him, and he's not very attentive to them either, but it is nevertheless different from the site below, where only Predak stands unarmed. The group leads up on the mountain, and then for some time on its side until Bryn can see from some distance a large pile of rubble and mud.
Several metres away from the pile, Bryn sees wooden posts and a few contraptions that are used to raise the barrels from below. Similar to a ship's anchor or a mill, there are wooden wheels which can be turned, either by the workers or by the beasts of burden that serve them, to raise the ropes. While most of the ground around is covered by grass, the area just around the top of the well is all solid rock, and it is slightly inclined to catch rainwater into the well. As such, the dirt that the workers raise from below must be moved away to the large pile to the side, else it will just fall back into the well.
Work on the topside is a little easier, since there are longer breaks between each barrel that needs to be raised, and because a lot of the work is also done by the horses and the donkey. And yet, whenever he needs to push a wheel with the other workers to raise a barrel, it takes a lot more effort, momentarily, than the work he had done before. On top of that, the harsh weather makes the whole experience very unpleasant. Bryn finds the work here to be less suited for his strengths, or maybe it's just the weather, but he feels himself relying on others' strength more than he did the previous day. During the times when the workers rest between barrels, however, Bryn has more time to pay attention to the other workers and notice which workers cough more than others.
Meanwhile, below, Arren faces a similar situation, as once again he is attentive to those around him, but trying to determine who coughed each time he hears a cough, and to notice whether they followed his instructions or not, ends up distracting him from actual work most of the time.
By noon, the wind hasn't subsided yet, although that's hardly noticeable down in the tunnels. Eventually, Predak calls the workers for lunch, and they drop off everything to head back to camp. At the time, Arren believes they've made a lot of progress as, compared to the harder stones and rubble from the other day, the soft, loose dirt makes digging a very simple work, and clearing it away from the tunnel is what takes the most time. Yet, unlike Bryn, he doesn't know how much distance is left.
It is not long before 'Tace' starts to regret his decision to work on top of the mountain, but he sticks out the shift regardless, letting the animals do the majority of the work.
He looks about for signs of any trees or plants like the ones below, just in case they have somehow managed to grow all this way through the rock. he also takes the opportunity being higher up to look about for signs of roads or paths in the distance, in case he recognises anywhere he has been.
He takes note of the coughing, so he can feed the information back to the Sergeant, but also engages in a little conversation with the few workers. "Hey, the names Tace, what about yourselves? Where were you heading when you were taken? I understand there are many paths through the mountains, and it seems the bandits have cast a wide net".
"Where do you suppose they got the materials to create the winch?", is another question he asks.
"Have you ever seen anyone in camp that seems to be in charge? Nohem seems to have some authority, but who does he report to?".
He also takes the opportunity to ask the bandit keeping an eye on them some questions, after a little small talk about the weather and the like. He also asks the man's name.
"What was life like before they had you running an excavation site? Were you a part of the band before the discovery? Dwelling in the mountains, or brought in from elsewhere?".
Depending on how talkative the guard is, he might continue in a similar vein to the above. "So who is really in charge here? Do you think you will get rich from whatever they discover, or is this just another means to get from day to day for you?".
"What about equipment? A lot seems to have been cobbled together, but there must be more that has been collected that might be of use? Is there a supply tent, or somewhere more secure?", he will ask finally, if he has gained enough rapport with the guard to risk a more dubious line of questioning.
When lunch is called, he tries to estimate how fast they are progressing by the amount of dirt they have shifted up top, before heading back down to the camp for a bite to eat and to try and get warm.
During the lunch break, Arrengathers whatever makeshift bandages have already been cleaned and dried, taking only as many as Mydri and Walnuts feel comfortable parting with, since the infirmary still needs its share. He'll distribute them among the workers who seem the most ill and most likely to spread the sickness, based on what they've observed throughout the morning. Since most the cloths are too small to tie on their own, he hands out two per person so they can knot them together and wear them over their faces while keeping their hands free for work. It certainly won't be enough for everyone, but it's be better than nothing.
With that settled, he spends the rest of the lunch break resting, eating from the soldiers' rations, and speaking with Tace and the rest workers. He's particularly interested in whatever the Corporal may have noticed on the upper side of the well. With the nearby workers, he keeps the conversation casual at first, asking what they think might be found once the tunnel finally opens.
After some speculation is shared, Arren glances around carefully, making sure Predak—or any other figure they've come to recognize as a captor by now—isn't close enough to overhear before continuing. "Do you think they'll just let us go once the excavation's done? What if we dig up something they won't want to share? Not even with the people who unearthed it?"
He doesn't offer an answer himself, but he's interested in gauging their reactions—whether any of them have already considered this, or whether the thought is new to them. Either way, he feels its better for them to be wary now than to react once it is too late.
Later, he approaches Predak—assuming the man takes his lunch alone again as he did the day before—and asks: "What's the plan once the dirt wall is cleared? Will any of the workers be allowed inside to investigate, or will someone choose a small group to enter first? I imagine only a few people at a time will be better, so nothing inside is disturbed more than necessary."
He pauses only a moment before adding, "I'd like to volunteer to be part of that group."
((A winch! I honestly couldn't recall the word in either English nor any other language I know.))
Bryn sees small trees and shrubby around, but nothing that seems out of place. In particular, he doesn't see any thick roots or vines that remind him of what's underground. As for recognisable landmarks, Bryn actually thinks the scenery didn't change much. Of course, it's hard to tell when there are mostly only the same mountains around, but he believes they're not too far from where the path they rode on before. More elevated, surely, but not much beyond that. Although he can't see it from where he is, the path may run on the side of the same mountain, just at a lower elevation. Bryn isn't familiar with the mountains enough to make anything of this observation, except that they're not too far from the mountain path, probably.
From talking with the other workers, Bryn learns that most of them were headed east from Pyorre or back to Pyorre from the east, although he recognises none of the names of the towns they mention - except one who came from Tus (the city, not the prison). The group is small and might not represent everyone in camp, but at least for the moment, it seems the bandits' net isn't as wide as previously thought. Bryn might also recall the Commandant's thoughts from just two days ago:
"Besides, they can't chase us forever. There must be other bandit groups in these mountains, not to mention how stretched their forces must be already, if we've seen them every day."
Of course, she couldn't know what the situation was exactly, but it might come to Bryn's mind when thinking about the Bandits' reach.
As for the winches, they seem to have been improvised from whatever the bandits could get their hands on that was somewhat round - wheels, barrels and the like. If nothing else, one cannot take away the bandits' resourcefulness.
"Haven't seen anyone to whom he answers," one of the workers replies to Bryn regarding Nohem, "and they all seem... mostly equal. Still, there are two with whom he seems more familiar. Or perhaps, more on equal terms; I don't know the nature of their relationship entirely." The man then describes two bandits. One, as far as Bryn can tell, is probably the Elf who accompanied Nohem during their nightly assault on Lory's Hostelry, the one who wielded a good shield and a straight sword. The other, a Human without any prominent features, doesn't ring any bells in Bryn's mind.
"Look, soldier," the bandit answers Bryn, and while he did exchange a few words with Bryn before, he doesn't look very fond of soldiers, and seems to converse with Bryn only because the alternative is to freeze in silence. "My life ain't none of yer business. If ye wish ta hear a sad story, ask Predak - man loves reminding us all about his past, I'm sure he'll entertain you too." While the bandit doesn't feel exactly hostile, Bryn believes he won't get much from him either.
When the workers head back to eat at the camp, Bryn estimates they're about halfway through, though it's a very rough estimation since he doesn't know how wide or how tall the passage is they're digging, and so he's assessing based on the 5ft cubes he could magically excavate.
((Sorry, replying to Bryn took longer than I expected. I'll reply to Arren's post in a few hours.))
Mydri and Walnuts seem to have gotten all the pieces of cloth they use to cool the sick's feverish heads or cover their faces washed. They hung them inside one of the other tents to dry since the wind would blow away anything hung outside, and most of it is relatively dry by noon. If asked, Mydri is torn between saving these for use for those already sick and handing them out to stop the sickness from spreading. Eventually, she gives Arren some number of them in hopes that it will suffice, and she tries giving him those that are largest, although none are really big enough to cover one's entire head.
"Well," one of the workers tries to answer Arren's question, "I doubt we'll get anything at all from there. If they wanted to pay for our work, they'd just hire skilled hands. That's my take on this, anyway. But once they no longer need us, I do believe they'll let us go. Criminals though they are, they haven't mistreated us much. I think they're not cruel enough to just kill everyone once we're no longer of use. I hope so, anyway."
The rest of the workers seem to share a similar view on the matter. Some of them voice their displeasure with working so hard for nothing, but none of them believes they'll be killed once work is done. One of them suggests that, of course, none would work if death were promised at the end of the tunnel, so the bandits must keep them believing so. In response to that, most workers go silent for a few moments. None has a good answer, and yet they don't seem to believe that's the bandits' plan.
When asked, Predak looks at Arren for a few moments with an expression that's hard to read. "What makes you think we'll let any of you in?" He asks eventually. "Once we believe your help is no longer needed, everyone will be sent off on their way, and our gang will take care of the rest. I don't know if this new blockage is the last obstacle on our way, although it's different enough to make me believe it might be. If I don't see any more immediate obstacles there, you'll all be taken back to the mountain path where you were found, and from there... not my concern."
'Tace' doesn't push it with the bandit, getting the message that he doesn't want to talk.
When back at camp, he heads to talk to the Sergeant.
"Nothing much to report from topside, sir. They post a guard up there, likely to make sure no-one legs it, but other than that it is just windy and cold. Better to be in the well. A couple of people coughing a little too. How is clearing the tunnel going?", he says as he tucks in to yet more cold rations. I am starting to regret not sharing food.
He will point out the people who coughed if the Sergeant asks.
"Sounds like there are three bandits who appear more in charge. Nohem and the one who was with him at the Hostelry. And there is one more. perhaps if we can't talk to Nohem, we can find one of them?".
Once he has eaten and spoken to the Sergeant, he will walk the camp, as discretely as possible looking for where they store their supplies. He also wants to get a proper count of bandits, and he keeps an eye out for another with better weapons and armour. Trying to identify the third more senior bandit.
Arren gives Predak a faint bitter smile. "Ah. I see. I suppose getting our freedom back is reward enough for all this divine labour," he says dryly, then gives the Elf a sharp nod and returns to sit in his previous spot, where he spends the rest of the lunch break.
When Tace approaches, Arren takes note of the people who coughed during the Corporal's shift and, if he still has any cloths left after distributing them among the diggers, includes those workers in the handout.
"It felt like we made more progress than yesterday," he tells Tace, "since the loose dirt is easier to work with. But honestly, I have no idea how much is left." Arren tilts his head subtly in Predak's direction, and continues, "He's just confirmed they won't let any of the workers inside once the blockage is cleared. Just as the Commandant suspected."
He pauses, thinking. "Not much we can do … unless work progresses this afternoon, but doesn't quite finish. If that happens, we could try to break through the rest ourselves tonight and take a look. I'm far better rested than yesterday. The problem is they'd know by morning that someone broke through."
Arren also keeps watch for Nohem and his two close comrades as they wait to return to the excavation site.
(OOC: Apologies in advance, I'm a little busier and expect to be so for the coming week or two, maybe more, so I might post less frequently than normal.)
Arren, please make an Insight check. If you pass DC14:
Arren notices Predak feels a little uncomfortable with Arren's last remark. A sensitive spot, maybe. He's about to respond, but then stops and, seeing that Arren is about to walk away, keeps quiet, looking surprisingly despondent.
While looking around the camp, Bryn notices one large tent guarded closely by one of the guards. The rest of the guards guard the camp's perimeter, rather than a particular tent, so that's enough to catch Bryn's attention. Bryn can't be sure he saw all the bandits present, but he counts eleven of them around the camp, including Predak. However, like Predak, there could be others who walk around unarmed. In fact, (OOC: I'm almost certain that) the workers already mentioned they believe some of the bandits work alongside them. On top of those, there are Nohem and others who aren't present at the camp. None of the bandits catches Bryn's eye in particular, but there are currently three whom Bryn can identify as guards, who are Human and might match the worker's somewhat undetailed description of the third senior bandit.
Predak will soon call the workers back to the excavation site, so unless you plan on doing anything more in the camp or wish to discuss the matter further, feel free to describe your character's activities during the second shift of the day.
On hearing that Predak won't let any of the workers into the tunnel, 'Tace' frowns under his mask. "It does make a certain amount of sense, but what it will show is who out of the workers are bandits. They will need to leave some guards outside, but they will want more than a couple of people inside as well I would think. It might not be the worst thing letting others go first, I still worry it was blocked for a reason, and I know it has been a long time, but if it is related to Gaitha that might not mean much", he replies before leaving on his tour of the camp.
As he walks around the camp, he notices the guarded tent and makes sure to do a wide circle around it to see if it is visible from all sides. Perhaps I can approach unseen from the rear?
With regards the third senior bandit, he will check the quality of the human's armour and weaponry, and the way they move and speak to try and narrow it down. Beyond that, he will head back to work, going to the well this time so as not to be up top and exposed to the cold wind.
He will find the Sergeant first, who will once again notice he is armoured and armed. "I just want to be ready for anything. Something in the tunnels, or a reaction from the bandits to the work being finished. Who knows, some prisoners may even be more interested than us in the find and decide to push their luck".
Once there he will be able to monitor progress, although he tries to avoid the digging and instead busies himself taking the dirt out to be hauled up top.
Insight: 20+5=25(to determine the third senior bandit)
(OOC: Would Bryn be able to cut a hole in tent fabric using a dagger and his mage hand?)
(ooc: I know I said Arren walked away after speaking to Predak, but if a small adjustment is allowed…)
Arren notes Predak's unexpected reaction to his remark and furrows his brow in surprise. Did I strike a nerve there? He starts to turn away, but hesitates, studying the foreman for a brief moment before adding, "If something about this isn't sitting right with you, now it would be a good time to speak up."
Later, when listening to Tace's thoughts about the workers being kept out of the tunnel, Arren rubs his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm. You're right. Having them go first certainly has its advantages."He still frowns at the mention of Gaitha—he sees no good reason to think anything divine or dangerous lies within—but his mind flicks back to Ersta, and how wrong they had been thinking nothing out of the ordinary would happen there.
He doesn't answer immediately, but when Tace returns from scouting and speaks his final warning, Arren's expression hardens with renewed caution. After all, he had himself spoken to the workers of the possibility that the bandits might turn violent once the tunnel is open, after all. And truth be told, he hadn't stopped to consider that the danger could come from the other side as well.
"All right,"he finally concedes. "You make good points. Caution never hurt anyone. Quite the opposite."
With that, he heads back to the carriage and equips himself properly with armor and weapons before returning to the excavation site. Once there, and given he's already proven that digging is not his forte, he switches tasks and helps with clearing out the rubble instead.
After studying the bandits for a while, Bryn decides that it is unlikely any of them is senior to the others. Or, if they are, they don't treat themselves as above anyone else, and nobody treats them differently either.
The tent looks like it has only one entrance, guarded. Pegs hold the tent down, but Bryn thinks he could pull any of them out with some effort and then slide under. It might attract some attention, but if he comes from the rear, the guard at the front at least wouldn't see him. Regarding the others, it's not exactly in front of anyone, but it's not perfectly hidden either (would require a check). Although he knows the spectral hand isn't capable of forceful actions, Bryn believes that a sharp blade should be able to poke a hole through the fabric, even with the hand's limited strength.
Predak, sitting on the ground at the moment, lifts his eyes to look at Arren. He hesitates for a moment before conceding. "Have you ever been to Phoja?" He asks rhetorically. "It's quite different from here. Not the landscapes - those are almost identical - but society there... I was born there, you see, and it always surprises me how little Kattons know of Phojan life. Merchants all know about it, and so do those old enough to remember when this land was the same, but the average folk no longer do.
"On the surface, Phoja looks like a flourishing kingdom. Almost all trade routes pass through there; they export precious metals found almost nowhere else in Dite... you'd think the kingdom and all who live there are rich. If you ever visit the largest cities and stay in the wealthy areas, well, you might even convince yourself that it is. But in practice, it's a land where the only law is coin. If you have gold, you're strong, and you must keep acquiring more gold to stay strong. If you have no gold, you're worthless, and you'll do anything to acquire some. You end up with a corrupt class of wealthy people and a second class of criminals and crooks, maybe a few good poor people, but no soul remains pure like that for long.
"Then, lastly, you have the slaves. I could be wrong, but I think there are more slaves than free people there. It is the slaves who work the fields, the mines, in the harbour; if you're a lucky slave, you might act as a servant for some rich person, and if you're truly lucky, you might even have a master who doesn't enjoy hurting and humiliating their slaves." Predak stands up, facing Arren. "Despite my criticism of Meyens, I can at least appreciate them abolishing this order in Katto. Their laws are strict, but they at least pretend like everyone is equal."
He pauses for a moment. "Don't think this will change anything. I was well aware of the situation before, too. All I'm saying is, I know well enough that any of those people there would swap with any of the workers here without hesitating for a second. We may not be perfect, and you may believe us to be bad men, but what we do - whether it is right or wrong - at least we try to be considerate, as much as we can."
Predak then clears his throat once, then raises his voice. "Alright, time to get back to work!"
((I'll give you two a chance to conclude your business in the camp before heading back to excavating.))
'Tace' takes note of the situation with the guarded tent, but does not do anything further, heading back to the excavation site to move dirt. He also decides that if there is a third senior bandit, they likely aren't in camp at this time.
(OOC: Bryn is ready to move on when Arren is, though no rush)
Arrenlistens in silence, arms loosely folded, not interrupting as Predak speaks. When the Elf finishes and rises to his feet, Arren's expression softens. Not approving, exactly, but more understanding than before.
After a moment, he finally says, "No, I've never been to Pohja. I didn't know it was like that. Sounds like a hard place to grow up."
He tilts his head slightly, studying the foreman for a moment. Was he a slave there? Or did he oversee slaves? He doesn't ask directly, saying instead, "Whatever your role was, it's good to hear that is behind you now." He glances toward the workers, then back at Predak. "And… I can see you're trying to be better than what you came from."
A brief pause follows, during which the Sergeant considers adding what he's thinking—that just because somewhere else is worse doesn't make this right. But he decides against it, simply saying, "Thank you for sharing this."
When Predak calls everyone back to work, Arren turns toward the excavation site. Nothing has really changed: they still won't be allowed inside, and he and the Corporal will have to wait and see what happens next. But something in how Arren views the elven foreman has shifted. There's a measure of respect now, quiet but genuine.
Predak's account of the situation in Phoja isn't entirely new to Arren, though it's the first time he's heard it directly. That is, it's not a secret that slavery was common in the past, but for most Kattons accustomed to Meyen rule, that often seems like a phenomenon that belongs only in the past and has nothing to do with the present. Although Bryn isn't there to hear the talk, this isn't entirely new to him either. Having passed through Phoja before, he may have even noticed something along the way.
As for the other nations in Dite, Levickans claim and strive for cultural superiority and have abolished the custom of slavery in their lands. However, they do still hold the class-based hierarchy in their society. Pravice is known to have gone through multiple revolutions in recent times. Some of the resulting regimes tried to put an end to slavery, but others built their power based on it. The instability in that region means there's no telling what the people there experience, as any account of it might no longer be up to date. Lastly, Etana... there's too little common denominator among the people there to group them and make one claim or another. It must vary from area to area, even village to village, perhaps.
Work in the excavation site resumes smoothly, at least for a while. The workers split again, and not necessarily to the same groups as before. Bryn (with his high Perception check) notices there are plenty of Humans digging underground. Not that there's anything wrong with them, but rather, he notices there are only a few Elves, despite the Elves making up about half of the camp's population. As a result, they also light a second lantern to make more light in the now longer route the workers must take to carry out the excavated dirt. Arren, meanwhile, his mind occupied with other issues perhaps (having rolled slightly lower on the Perception check before), doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary unless pointed out.
Regardless, both notice that during the second shift, more workers appear at some point - both Humans and Elves - along with the 'senior' bandit that accompanied Nohem during their raid on Lory's Hostelry. It appears to be another captured caravan, but the Elf stays upon arrival, after exchanging a few words with Predak. He doesn't work or interact with any of the workers around, but rather sticks to one side of the tunnel and observes progress. Both Arren and Bryn can feel his eyes on them whenever they pass him, and although he keeps it sheathed, his sword remains the only proper weapon in the tunnel, other than those carried by the 'soldiers' themselves.
It's hard to estimate the time while inside the tunnel, but since both Arren and Bryn work in clearing away the dirt, they pass by the opening of the well often and can see the sky. Although the wind still howls outside and grey clouds cover the sky, it doesn't seem like it rained at any point, and as it gets darker outside, it is clear the sun is heading down in the west, although there's still some time before it'll be gone under the horizon, probably. Meanwhile, in the tunnel, Bryn notices the work is progressing at an alarming rate. Despite the Sergeant's mostly unremarkable work today, and his too, the addition of several new workers boosts the speed in total. At some point, Bryn is certain that, if work resumes at this rate, the workers will pass the barrier before dusk.
At the same time, Bryn and Arren both notice rising unrest amongst the workers. The ideas previously planted in their minds by Arren, or perhaps only brought to the surface by his questions, now echo between the walls as whispers from one worker to another, whenever they're not too close to Predak or the other 'senior' bandit. "All this work while they just stand and watch. And then what?" One worker whispers to their neighbour. "At best, they'll let us go back as if nothing happened? Where is our cut in all this? At the very least, where is the compensation for the time, effort and the property they stole from us?" Other such whispers now fill the tunnel, and soon, although it's not clear who initiated it, talk of uprising begins. "After all, we're the majority here, aren't we? There are only two of them here, and Predak isn't even armed. Besides, we even have the soldiers here, armed. They weren't armed before; surely they plan something similar, and we can help. If the pickaxe can break the earth, it can be used as a weapon, too."
Many eyes turn to Arren and Bryn as they pass them, and none try to hide their whispers in their presence, although none, at the moment, talks to the soldiers directly, unless approached by them, as if talking to them would seem suspicious to the bandits, which you're certain must have heard at least some of the whispers by now.
'Tace'makes himself busy, but having noticed the disproportionate ratio of humans to elves finds his mind wandering to nefarious reasons. If those lanterns go out, the humans will be lambs to the slaughter.
And so he focusses his attentions on discovering if such a plot were likely. He keeps his eyes peeled, looking at the position of the lanterns, and who is in control of them if anyone.
He will also, when he gets a chance alone with the Sergeant, whisper to him. "Have you noticed there are an awful lot of humans in the tunnel now? Strange with their poor eyesight in the dark, don't you think?", is all he says, letting the Sergeant come to his own conclusion.
The return of the 'senior' bandit and more workers also peeks his curiosity. Especially the elves amongst them. There are no weapons on view other than the Sergeant's, his and the 'senior' bandit's, but what about concealed weapons? Either on people's person or somewhere else. And is Predak looking any more shifty after his chat with the 'senior' bandit?
Does the senior' bandit focus more on particular people, or obviously not focus on others?
Are all these workers really workers, or bandits in disguise?
He tries to avoid talking about an uprising for the moment, a little disappointed with himself that he didn't realise that he and the Sergeant wearing weapons might end up leading to the very unrest he was worried about.
(OOC: I know there is a lot he wants to look for, I hope the shift is long enough he can do all this. Let me know what is possible, and what to roll if needed, please)
The lanterns appear to be placed strategically to maximise the light in the now long tunnel, so that those clearing away dirt don't have to stumble in the dark, and so that those breaking away the dirt with pickaxes don't hit each other in the dark. The 'senior' bandit sits some distance away from one of the lanters, not exactly within reach but not much beyond it either. Predak walks in and out periodically to observe progress at the front or to stand by the well. Nobody in particular is "in control" of the lanters, and they mostly stand unattended, though Predak adds oil when needed.
Beyond that, please roll an Insight check (studying Predak/the senior bandit), as well as a Perception check (looking for concealed weapons). Also, make a straight Intelligence check. The shift has been going on for several hours, so Bryn can do almost anything time-wise, but consider that he wouldn't notice everything right off the bat, especially anything relating to the senior bandit's arrival. Assume you have time for what you want to do, and I'll stop you early if it seems to take too long.
I posted early because I thought this might affect Arren's post, too. If Arren wishes, he can roll the same checks as Bryn.
Arren, who had absolutely not noticed the distribution of workers, frowns sharply once he's told about it. "Damn it," he mutters under his breath. That had to be deliberate. What easier way to keep the workers from seeing what's beyond the tunnel than to pack it with Humans? The bandits would only have to snuff out the lanterns over to leave them blind.
He doesn't say more to the Corporal, but gives him a small, acknowledging nod.
When the Elf from Lory's Hostlery arrives with the new batch of workers, Arren studies the way they're being assigned. Are any Elves actually digging now? Or is it still mostly Humans being sent inside? And just how many of these newcomers are even real captives? Some of them could be bandits, for all we know.The missing third senior bandit could easily be among them. Thinking of this, Arren tries to search for differences in behaviour: posture, confidence, the way someone unused to subservience moves. He also checks if Predak is behaving unusually from what he's observed so far.
When he hears the whispers of mutiny, Arren doesn't react at first. He keeps working until his next run to dump the dirt, then uses the return trip—when he stops to fill the barrel again—to drift near one of the workers he knows well. Hugo, perhaps. Or the Elf who once served as his bodyguard. Someone he can trust is not a bandit. When he pauses beside them, he quietly relays a warning.
"Careful," he murmurs. "You're one gust of wind away from being left down here with no light, and all of you are Human. Think before you act. They may be more numerous than you think, and some of them might be carrying concealed weapons. Don't start anything while you're bottlenecked and easily blinded."
Then Arren straightens, masks himself in the role of a gruff superior, and raises his voice. "Come on. Less slacking, more digging. We all want out of here as soon as possible."
With that, he hoists the refilled barrel and returns to work as if nothing unusual passed between them.
(ooc: I don't want to metagame and have Arren grab his armor and weapons just because I read now that Bryn is taking them . It also makes sense that he wouldn't be as worried as Bryn, since he knows nothing about what is inside the excavation. So he won't take anything else with him. It might the dangerous choice for my character, but also the one that makes the most sense. For me, at least.)
During breakfast.
Arren notices that Tace is bringing both his weapon and armor with him, but he doesn't pay it much mind. Maybe he's too focused on thinking through what precautions the workers should take. Maybe he's learned that hauling armor and weapons around the excavation site has been mostly a hassle so far. Or perhaps it is because he genuinely sees no reason for the wall of dirt to hide any real danger right now, same as Walnuts does.
Whatever the reason, he sticks to his plan. The only equipment he brings with him is the same as the day before: his dagger.
At the excavation site.
Arren tries to focus on what's happening around him—how the workers are faring and whether they're following the precautions he gave them. That's probably why his digging is, once again, less than optimal.
…or perhaps he just has to accept that he simply isn't good at this.
Constitution check: 15+3 = 18 (+2 if it was a save)
Perception check (at advantage): (
5, 9) + 3 = 12Strength check (at disadvantage): (
8, 4) + 4 = 8Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren
"Not if you plan on wearing these uniforms," Predak answers Bryn's question regarding the lodestones. "But even if you change clothes, I doubt the guys will want to help you with it." Beyond that, as expected, Predak doesn't mind where Bryn works, as long as he'll help somewhere.
Bryn can split from the main group with the others who walk to the top side and follow their lead. He walks alongside a few workers, two horses and a donkey. One armed bandit also tags along with the group, walking a little behind them. None of the workers seems to mind him, and he's not very attentive to them either, but it is nevertheless different from the site below, where only Predak stands unarmed. The group leads up on the mountain, and then for some time on its side until Bryn can see from some distance a large pile of rubble and mud.
Several metres away from the pile, Bryn sees wooden posts and a few contraptions that are used to raise the barrels from below. Similar to a ship's anchor or a mill, there are wooden wheels which can be turned, either by the workers or by the beasts of burden that serve them, to raise the ropes. While most of the ground around is covered by grass, the area just around the top of the well is all solid rock, and it is slightly inclined to catch rainwater into the well. As such, the dirt that the workers raise from below must be moved away to the large pile to the side, else it will just fall back into the well.
Work on the topside is a little easier, since there are longer breaks between each barrel that needs to be raised, and because a lot of the work is also done by the horses and the donkey. And yet, whenever he needs to push a wheel with the other workers to raise a barrel, it takes a lot more effort, momentarily, than the work he had done before. On top of that, the harsh weather makes the whole experience very unpleasant. Bryn finds the work here to be less suited for his strengths, or maybe it's just the weather, but he feels himself relying on others' strength more than he did the previous day. During the times when the workers rest between barrels, however, Bryn has more time to pay attention to the other workers and notice which workers cough more than others.
Meanwhile, below, Arren faces a similar situation, as once again he is attentive to those around him, but trying to determine who coughed each time he hears a cough, and to notice whether they followed his instructions or not, ends up distracting him from actual work most of the time.
By noon, the wind hasn't subsided yet, although that's hardly noticeable down in the tunnels. Eventually, Predak calls the workers for lunch, and they drop off everything to head back to camp. At the time, Arren believes they've made a lot of progress as, compared to the harder stones and rubble from the other day, the soft, loose dirt makes digging a very simple work, and clearing it away from the tunnel is what takes the most time. Yet, unlike Bryn, he doesn't know how much distance is left.
Varielky | Werhann
It is not long before 'Tace' starts to regret his decision to work on top of the mountain, but he sticks out the shift regardless, letting the animals do the majority of the work.
He looks about for signs of any trees or plants like the ones below, just in case they have somehow managed to grow all this way through the rock. he also takes the opportunity being higher up to look about for signs of roads or paths in the distance, in case he recognises anywhere he has been.
He takes note of the coughing, so he can feed the information back to the Sergeant, but also engages in a little conversation with the few workers. "Hey, the names Tace, what about yourselves? Where were you heading when you were taken? I understand there are many paths through the mountains, and it seems the bandits have cast a wide net".
"Where do you suppose they got the materials to create the winch?", is another question he asks.
"Have you ever seen anyone in camp that seems to be in charge? Nohem seems to have some authority, but who does he report to?".
He also takes the opportunity to ask the bandit keeping an eye on them some questions, after a little small talk about the weather and the like. He also asks the man's name.
"What was life like before they had you running an excavation site? Were you a part of the band before the discovery? Dwelling in the mountains, or brought in from elsewhere?".
Depending on how talkative the guard is, he might continue in a similar vein to the above. "So who is really in charge here? Do you think you will get rich from whatever they discover, or is this just another means to get from day to day for you?".
"What about equipment? A lot seems to have been cobbled together, but there must be more that has been collected that might be of use? Is there a supply tent, or somewhere more secure?", he will ask finally, if he has gained enough rapport with the guard to risk a more dubious line of questioning.
When lunch is called, he tries to estimate how fast they are progressing by the amount of dirt they have shifted up top, before heading back down to the camp for a bite to eat and to try and get warm.
During the lunch break, Arren gathers whatever makeshift bandages have already been cleaned and dried, taking only as many as Mydri and Walnuts feel comfortable parting with, since the infirmary still needs its share. He'll distribute them among the workers who seem the most ill and most likely to spread the sickness, based on what they've observed throughout the morning. Since most the cloths are too small to tie on their own, he hands out two per person so they can knot them together and wear them over their faces while keeping their hands free for work. It certainly won't be enough for everyone, but it's be better than nothing.
With that settled, he spends the rest of the lunch break resting, eating from the soldiers' rations, and speaking with Tace and the rest workers. He's particularly interested in whatever the Corporal may have noticed on the upper side of the well. With the nearby workers, he keeps the conversation casual at first, asking what they think might be found once the tunnel finally opens.
After some speculation is shared, Arren glances around carefully, making sure Predak—or any other figure they've come to recognize as a captor by now—isn't close enough to overhear before continuing. "Do you think they'll just let us go once the excavation's done? What if we dig up something they won't want to share? Not even with the people who unearthed it?"
He doesn't offer an answer himself, but he's interested in gauging their reactions—whether any of them have already considered this, or whether the thought is new to them. Either way, he feels its better for them to be wary now than to react once it is too late.
Later, he approaches Predak—assuming the man takes his lunch alone again as he did the day before—and asks: "What's the plan once the dirt wall is cleared? Will any of the workers be allowed inside to investigate, or will someone choose a small group to enter first? I imagine only a few people at a time will be better, so nothing inside is disturbed more than necessary."
He pauses only a moment before adding, "I'd like to volunteer to be part of that group."
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren
((A winch! I honestly couldn't recall the word in either English nor any other language I know.))
Bryn sees small trees and shrubby around, but nothing that seems out of place. In particular, he doesn't see any thick roots or vines that remind him of what's underground. As for recognisable landmarks, Bryn actually thinks the scenery didn't change much. Of course, it's hard to tell when there are mostly only the same mountains around, but he believes they're not too far from where the path they rode on before. More elevated, surely, but not much beyond that. Although he can't see it from where he is, the path may run on the side of the same mountain, just at a lower elevation. Bryn isn't familiar with the mountains enough to make anything of this observation, except that they're not too far from the mountain path, probably.
From talking with the other workers, Bryn learns that most of them were headed east from Pyorre or back to Pyorre from the east, although he recognises none of the names of the towns they mention - except one who came from Tus (the city, not the prison). The group is small and might not represent everyone in camp, but at least for the moment, it seems the bandits' net isn't as wide as previously thought. Bryn might also recall the Commandant's thoughts from just two days ago:
Of course, she couldn't know what the situation was exactly, but it might come to Bryn's mind when thinking about the Bandits' reach.
As for the winches, they seem to have been improvised from whatever the bandits could get their hands on that was somewhat round - wheels, barrels and the like. If nothing else, one cannot take away the bandits' resourcefulness.
"Haven't seen anyone to whom he answers," one of the workers replies to Bryn regarding Nohem, "and they all seem... mostly equal. Still, there are two with whom he seems more familiar. Or perhaps, more on equal terms; I don't know the nature of their relationship entirely." The man then describes two bandits. One, as far as Bryn can tell, is probably the Elf who accompanied Nohem during their nightly assault on Lory's Hostelry, the one who wielded a good shield and a straight sword. The other, a Human without any prominent features, doesn't ring any bells in Bryn's mind.
"Look, soldier," the bandit answers Bryn, and while he did exchange a few words with Bryn before, he doesn't look very fond of soldiers, and seems to converse with Bryn only because the alternative is to freeze in silence. "My life ain't none of yer business. If ye wish ta hear a sad story, ask Predak - man loves reminding us all about his past, I'm sure he'll entertain you too." While the bandit doesn't feel exactly hostile, Bryn believes he won't get much from him either.
When the workers head back to eat at the camp, Bryn estimates they're about halfway through, though it's a very rough estimation since he doesn't know how wide or how tall the passage is they're digging, and so he's assessing based on the 5ft cubes he could magically excavate.
((Sorry, replying to Bryn took longer than I expected. I'll reply to Arren's post in a few hours.))
Varielky | Werhann
Mydri and Walnuts seem to have gotten all the pieces of cloth they use to cool the sick's feverish heads or cover their faces washed. They hung them inside one of the other tents to dry since the wind would blow away anything hung outside, and most of it is relatively dry by noon. If asked, Mydri is torn between saving these for use for those already sick and handing them out to stop the sickness from spreading. Eventually, she gives Arren some number of them in hopes that it will suffice, and she tries giving him those that are largest, although none are really big enough to cover one's entire head.
"Well," one of the workers tries to answer Arren's question, "I doubt we'll get anything at all from there. If they wanted to pay for our work, they'd just hire skilled hands. That's my take on this, anyway. But once they no longer need us, I do believe they'll let us go. Criminals though they are, they haven't mistreated us much. I think they're not cruel enough to just kill everyone once we're no longer of use. I hope so, anyway."
The rest of the workers seem to share a similar view on the matter. Some of them voice their displeasure with working so hard for nothing, but none of them believes they'll be killed once work is done. One of them suggests that, of course, none would work if death were promised at the end of the tunnel, so the bandits must keep them believing so. In response to that, most workers go silent for a few moments. None has a good answer, and yet they don't seem to believe that's the bandits' plan.
When asked, Predak looks at Arren for a few moments with an expression that's hard to read. "What makes you think we'll let any of you in?" He asks eventually. "Once we believe your help is no longer needed, everyone will be sent off on their way, and our gang will take care of the rest. I don't know if this new blockage is the last obstacle on our way, although it's different enough to make me believe it might be. If I don't see any more immediate obstacles there, you'll all be taken back to the mountain path where you were found, and from there... not my concern."
Varielky | Werhann
'Tace' doesn't push it with the bandit, getting the message that he doesn't want to talk.
When back at camp, he heads to talk to the Sergeant.
"Nothing much to report from topside, sir. They post a guard up there, likely to make sure no-one legs it, but other than that it is just windy and cold. Better to be in the well. A couple of people coughing a little too. How is clearing the tunnel going?", he says as he tucks in to yet more cold rations. I am starting to regret not sharing food.
He will point out the people who coughed if the Sergeant asks.
"Sounds like there are three bandits who appear more in charge. Nohem and the one who was with him at the Hostelry. And there is one more. perhaps if we can't talk to Nohem, we can find one of them?".
Once he has eaten and spoken to the Sergeant, he will walk the camp, as discretely as possible looking for where they store their supplies. He also wants to get a proper count of bandits, and he keeps an eye out for another with better weapons and armour. Trying to identify the third more senior bandit.
Arren gives Predak a faint bitter smile. "Ah. I see. I suppose getting our freedom back is reward enough for all this divine labour," he says dryly, then gives the Elf a sharp nod and returns to sit in his previous spot, where he spends the rest of the lunch break.
When Tace approaches, Arren takes note of the people who coughed during the Corporal's shift and, if he still has any cloths left after distributing them among the diggers, includes those workers in the handout.
"It felt like we made more progress than yesterday," he tells Tace, "since the loose dirt is easier to work with. But honestly, I have no idea how much is left."
Arren tilts his head subtly in Predak's direction, and continues, "He's just confirmed they won't let any of the workers inside once the blockage is cleared. Just as the Commandant suspected."
He pauses, thinking. "Not much we can do … unless work progresses this afternoon, but doesn't quite finish. If that happens, we could try to break through the rest ourselves tonight and take a look. I'm far better rested than yesterday. The problem is they'd know by morning that someone broke through."
Arren also keeps watch for Nohem and his two close comrades as they wait to return to the excavation site.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren
(OOC: Apologies in advance, I'm a little busier and expect to be so for the coming week or two, maybe more, so I might post less frequently than normal.)
Arren, please make an Insight check. If you pass DC14:
Arren notices Predak feels a little uncomfortable with Arren's last remark. A sensitive spot, maybe. He's about to respond, but then stops and, seeing that Arren is about to walk away, keeps quiet, looking surprisingly despondent.
While looking around the camp, Bryn notices one large tent guarded closely by one of the guards. The rest of the guards guard the camp's perimeter, rather than a particular tent, so that's enough to catch Bryn's attention. Bryn can't be sure he saw all the bandits present, but he counts eleven of them around the camp, including Predak. However, like Predak, there could be others who walk around unarmed. In fact,
(OOC: I'm almost certain that)the workers already mentioned they believe some of the bandits work alongside them. On top of those, there are Nohem and others who aren't present at the camp. None of the bandits catches Bryn's eye in particular, but there are currently three whom Bryn can identify as guards, who are Human and might match the worker's somewhat undetailed description of the third senior bandit.Predak will soon call the workers back to the excavation site, so unless you plan on doing anything more in the camp or wish to discuss the matter further, feel free to describe your character's activities during the second shift of the day.
Varielky | Werhann
(ooc: I only have time for the roll tonight. Got a 3+1. Then I rerolled with the inspiration, and got a lucky 13+1)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren
On hearing that Predak won't let any of the workers into the tunnel, 'Tace' frowns under his mask. "It does make a certain amount of sense, but what it will show is who out of the workers are bandits. They will need to leave some guards outside, but they will want more than a couple of people inside as well I would think. It might not be the worst thing letting others go first, I still worry it was blocked for a reason, and I know it has been a long time, but if it is related to Gaitha that might not mean much", he replies before leaving on his tour of the camp.
As he walks around the camp, he notices the guarded tent and makes sure to do a wide circle around it to see if it is visible from all sides. Perhaps I can approach unseen from the rear?
With regards the third senior bandit, he will check the quality of the human's armour and weaponry, and the way they move and speak to try and narrow it down. Beyond that, he will head back to work, going to the well this time so as not to be up top and exposed to the cold wind.
He will find the Sergeant first, who will once again notice he is armoured and armed. "I just want to be ready for anything. Something in the tunnels, or a reaction from the bandits to the work being finished. Who knows, some prisoners may even be more interested than us in the find and decide to push their luck".
Once there he will be able to monitor progress, although he tries to avoid the digging and instead busies himself taking the dirt out to be hauled up top.
Insight: 20+5=25 (to determine the third senior bandit)
(OOC: Would Bryn be able to cut a hole in tent fabric using a dagger and his mage hand?)
(ooc: I know I said Arren walked away after speaking to Predak, but if a small adjustment is allowed…)
Arren notes Predak's unexpected reaction to his remark and furrows his brow in surprise. Did I strike a nerve there? He starts to turn away, but hesitates, studying the foreman for a brief moment before adding, "If something about this isn't sitting right with you, now it would be a good time to speak up."
Later, when listening to Tace's thoughts about the workers being kept out of the tunnel, Arren rubs his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm. You're right. Having them go first certainly has its advantages." He still frowns at the mention of Gaitha—he sees no good reason to think anything divine or dangerous lies within—but his mind flicks back to Ersta, and how wrong they had been thinking nothing out of the ordinary would happen there.
He doesn't answer immediately, but when Tace returns from scouting and speaks his final warning, Arren's expression hardens with renewed caution. After all, he had himself spoken to the workers of the possibility that the bandits might turn violent once the tunnel is open, after all. And truth be told, he hadn't stopped to consider that the danger could come from the other side as well.
"All right," he finally concedes. "You make good points. Caution never hurt anyone. Quite the opposite."
With that, he heads back to the carriage and equips himself properly with armor and weapons before returning to the excavation site. Once there, and given he's already proven that digging is not his forte, he switches tasks and helps with clearing out the rubble instead.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren
After studying the bandits for a while, Bryn decides that it is unlikely any of them is senior to the others. Or, if they are, they don't treat themselves as above anyone else, and nobody treats them differently either.
The tent looks like it has only one entrance, guarded. Pegs hold the tent down, but Bryn thinks he could pull any of them out with some effort and then slide under. It might attract some attention, but if he comes from the rear, the guard at the front at least wouldn't see him. Regarding the others, it's not exactly in front of anyone, but it's not perfectly hidden either (would require a check). Although he knows the spectral hand isn't capable of forceful actions, Bryn believes that a sharp blade should be able to poke a hole through the fabric, even with the hand's limited strength.
Predak, sitting on the ground at the moment, lifts his eyes to look at Arren. He hesitates for a moment before conceding. "Have you ever been to Phoja?" He asks rhetorically. "It's quite different from here. Not the landscapes - those are almost identical - but society there... I was born there, you see, and it always surprises me how little Kattons know of Phojan life. Merchants all know about it, and so do those old enough to remember when this land was the same, but the average folk no longer do.
"On the surface, Phoja looks like a flourishing kingdom. Almost all trade routes pass through there; they export precious metals found almost nowhere else in Dite... you'd think the kingdom and all who live there are rich. If you ever visit the largest cities and stay in the wealthy areas, well, you might even convince yourself that it is. But in practice, it's a land where the only law is coin. If you have gold, you're strong, and you must keep acquiring more gold to stay strong. If you have no gold, you're worthless, and you'll do anything to acquire some. You end up with a corrupt class of wealthy people and a second class of criminals and crooks, maybe a few good poor people, but no soul remains pure like that for long.
"Then, lastly, you have the slaves. I could be wrong, but I think there are more slaves than free people there. It is the slaves who work the fields, the mines, in the harbour; if you're a lucky slave, you might act as a servant for some rich person, and if you're truly lucky, you might even have a master who doesn't enjoy hurting and humiliating their slaves." Predak stands up, facing Arren. "Despite my criticism of Meyens, I can at least appreciate them abolishing this order in Katto. Their laws are strict, but they at least pretend like everyone is equal."
He pauses for a moment. "Don't think this will change anything. I was well aware of the situation before, too. All I'm saying is, I know well enough that any of those people there would swap with any of the workers here without hesitating for a second. We may not be perfect, and you may believe us to be bad men, but what we do - whether it is right or wrong - at least we try to be considerate, as much as we can."
Predak then clears his throat once, then raises his voice. "Alright, time to get back to work!"
((I'll give you two a chance to conclude your business in the camp before heading back to excavating.))
Varielky | Werhann
'Tace' takes note of the situation with the guarded tent, but does not do anything further, heading back to the excavation site to move dirt. He also decides that if there is a third senior bandit, they likely aren't in camp at this time.
(OOC: Bryn is ready to move on when Arren is, though no rush)
(ooc: Sorry for the wait!)
Arren listens in silence, arms loosely folded, not interrupting as Predak speaks. When the Elf finishes and rises to his feet, Arren's expression softens. Not approving, exactly, but more understanding than before.
After a moment, he finally says, "No, I've never been to Pohja. I didn't know it was like that. Sounds like a hard place to grow up."
He tilts his head slightly, studying the foreman for a moment. Was he a slave there? Or did he oversee slaves? He doesn't ask directly, saying instead, "Whatever your role was, it's good to hear that is behind you now." He glances toward the workers, then back at Predak. "And… I can see you're trying to be better than what you came from."
A brief pause follows, during which the Sergeant considers adding what he's thinking—that just because somewhere else is worse doesn't make this right. But he decides against it, simply saying, "Thank you for sharing this."
When Predak calls everyone back to work, Arren turns toward the excavation site. Nothing has really changed: they still won't be allowed inside, and he and the Corporal will have to wait and see what happens next. But something in how Arren views the elven foreman has shifted. There's a measure of respect now, quiet but genuine.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren
Predak's account of the situation in Phoja isn't entirely new to Arren, though it's the first time he's heard it directly. That is, it's not a secret that slavery was common in the past, but for most Kattons accustomed to Meyen rule, that often seems like a phenomenon that belongs only in the past and has nothing to do with the present. Although Bryn isn't there to hear the talk, this isn't entirely new to him either. Having passed through Phoja before, he may have even noticed something along the way.
As for the other nations in Dite, Levickans claim and strive for cultural superiority and have abolished the custom of slavery in their lands. However, they do still hold the class-based hierarchy in their society. Pravice is known to have gone through multiple revolutions in recent times. Some of the resulting regimes tried to put an end to slavery, but others built their power based on it. The instability in that region means there's no telling what the people there experience, as any account of it might no longer be up to date. Lastly, Etana... there's too little common denominator among the people there to group them and make one claim or another. It must vary from area to area, even village to village, perhaps.
Work in the excavation site resumes smoothly, at least for a while. The workers split again, and not necessarily to the same groups as before. Bryn (with his high Perception check) notices there are plenty of Humans digging underground. Not that there's anything wrong with them, but rather, he notices there are only a few Elves, despite the Elves making up about half of the camp's population. As a result, they also light a second lantern to make more light in the now longer route the workers must take to carry out the excavated dirt. Arren, meanwhile, his mind occupied with other issues perhaps (having rolled slightly lower on the Perception check before), doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary unless pointed out.
Regardless, both notice that during the second shift, more workers appear at some point - both Humans and Elves - along with the 'senior' bandit that accompanied Nohem during their raid on Lory's Hostelry. It appears to be another captured caravan, but the Elf stays upon arrival, after exchanging a few words with Predak. He doesn't work or interact with any of the workers around, but rather sticks to one side of the tunnel and observes progress. Both Arren and Bryn can feel his eyes on them whenever they pass him, and although he keeps it sheathed, his sword remains the only proper weapon in the tunnel, other than those carried by the 'soldiers' themselves.
It's hard to estimate the time while inside the tunnel, but since both Arren and Bryn work in clearing away the dirt, they pass by the opening of the well often and can see the sky. Although the wind still howls outside and grey clouds cover the sky, it doesn't seem like it rained at any point, and as it gets darker outside, it is clear the sun is heading down in the west, although there's still some time before it'll be gone under the horizon, probably. Meanwhile, in the tunnel, Bryn notices the work is progressing at an alarming rate. Despite the Sergeant's mostly unremarkable work today, and his too, the addition of several new workers boosts the speed in total. At some point, Bryn is certain that, if work resumes at this rate, the workers will pass the barrier before dusk.
At the same time, Bryn and Arren both notice rising unrest amongst the workers. The ideas previously planted in their minds by Arren, or perhaps only brought to the surface by his questions, now echo between the walls as whispers from one worker to another, whenever they're not too close to Predak or the other 'senior' bandit. "All this work while they just stand and watch. And then what?" One worker whispers to their neighbour. "At best, they'll let us go back as if nothing happened? Where is our cut in all this? At the very least, where is the compensation for the time, effort and the property they stole from us?" Other such whispers now fill the tunnel, and soon, although it's not clear who initiated it, talk of uprising begins. "After all, we're the majority here, aren't we? There are only two of them here, and Predak isn't even armed. Besides, we even have the soldiers here, armed. They weren't armed before; surely they plan something similar, and we can help. If the pickaxe can break the earth, it can be used as a weapon, too."
Many eyes turn to Arren and Bryn as they pass them, and none try to hide their whispers in their presence, although none, at the moment, talks to the soldiers directly, unless approached by them, as if talking to them would seem suspicious to the bandits, which you're certain must have heard at least some of the whispers by now.
Varielky | Werhann
'Tace' makes himself busy, but having noticed the disproportionate ratio of humans to elves finds his mind wandering to nefarious reasons. If those lanterns go out, the humans will be lambs to the slaughter.
And so he focusses his attentions on discovering if such a plot were likely. He keeps his eyes peeled, looking at the position of the lanterns, and who is in control of them if anyone.
He will also, when he gets a chance alone with the Sergeant, whisper to him. "Have you noticed there are an awful lot of humans in the tunnel now? Strange with their poor eyesight in the dark, don't you think?", is all he says, letting the Sergeant come to his own conclusion.
The return of the 'senior' bandit and more workers also peeks his curiosity. Especially the elves amongst them. There are no weapons on view other than the Sergeant's, his and the 'senior' bandit's, but what about concealed weapons? Either on people's person or somewhere else. And is Predak looking any more shifty after his chat with the 'senior' bandit?
Does the senior' bandit focus more on particular people, or obviously not focus on others?
Are all these workers really workers, or bandits in disguise?
He tries to avoid talking about an uprising for the moment, a little disappointed with himself that he didn't realise that he and the Sergeant wearing weapons might end up leading to the very unrest he was worried about.
(OOC: I know there is a lot he wants to look for, I hope the shift is long enough he can do all this. Let me know what is possible, and what to roll if needed, please)
The lanterns appear to be placed strategically to maximise the light in the now long tunnel, so that those clearing away dirt don't have to stumble in the dark, and so that those breaking away the dirt with pickaxes don't hit each other in the dark. The 'senior' bandit sits some distance away from one of the lanters, not exactly within reach but not much beyond it either. Predak walks in and out periodically to observe progress at the front or to stand by the well. Nobody in particular is "in control" of the lanters, and they mostly stand unattended, though Predak adds oil when needed.
Beyond that, please roll an Insight check (studying Predak/the senior bandit), as well as a Perception check (looking for concealed weapons). Also, make a straight Intelligence check. The shift has been going on for several hours, so Bryn can do almost anything time-wise, but consider that he wouldn't notice everything right off the bat, especially anything relating to the senior bandit's arrival. Assume you have time for what you want to do, and I'll stop you early if it seems to take too long.
I posted early because I thought this might affect Arren's post, too. If Arren wishes, he can roll the same checks as Bryn.
Varielky | Werhann
Bryn
Insight: 7+5=12
Perception: 10+5=15
Intelligence: 7+3=10
Arren, who had absolutely not noticed the distribution of workers, frowns sharply once he's told about it. "Damn it," he mutters under his breath. That had to be deliberate. What easier way to keep the workers from seeing what's beyond the tunnel than to pack it with Humans? The bandits would only have to snuff out the lanterns over to leave them blind.
He doesn't say more to the Corporal, but gives him a small, acknowledging nod.
When the Elf from Lory's Hostlery arrives with the new batch of workers, Arren studies the way they're being assigned. Are any Elves actually digging now? Or is it still mostly Humans being sent inside? And just how many of these newcomers are even real captives? Some of them could be bandits, for all we know. The missing third senior bandit could easily be among them. Thinking of this, Arren tries to search for differences in behaviour: posture, confidence, the way someone unused to subservience moves. He also checks if Predak is behaving unusually from what he's observed so far.
When he hears the whispers of mutiny, Arren doesn't react at first. He keeps working until his next run to dump the dirt, then uses the return trip—when he stops to fill the barrel again—to drift near one of the workers he knows well. Hugo, perhaps. Or the Elf who once served as his bodyguard. Someone he can trust is not a bandit. When he pauses beside them, he quietly relays a warning.
"Careful," he murmurs. "You're one gust of wind away from being left down here with no light, and all of you are Human. Think before you act. They may be more numerous than you think, and some of them might be carrying concealed weapons. Don't start anything while you're bottlenecked and easily blinded."
Then Arren straightens, masks himself in the role of a gruff superior, and raises his voice. "Come on. Less slacking, more digging. We all want out of here as soon as possible."
With that, he hoists the refilled barrel and returns to work as if nothing unusual passed between them.
Insigh: 3+1 = 4
Perception: 19+3 = 22
Intelligence: 15+1 = 16
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren