'Tace' doesn't respond to the rebuke from the Sergeant, but says no more to the prisoner so it is obvious he got the message. And back to having that stick up his backside. So I have to watch my tone with him and everyone else as well now.
Now he has two reasons to sit at the back of the carriage with the Lieutenant.
Together, Arren and Bryn lead the prisoner and tie him to one of the nearby trees, despite his struggles and the ceaseless stream of insults. But once they're done and the carriage starts moving again, it doesn't take long before the prisoner is out of sight, and not long after, his shouts stop. Either his comrades came to rescue him, or he just gave up once the subject of his anger disappeared.
Bryn:
If nothing else, the prisoner is at least impressive in his ability to roll well on performance checks act well. When Arren approaches, he starts struggling a little harder, so Arren feels his help is needed.
Through his insults, the prisoner manages to pass on one last message before the crew leaves: "If possible." As far as Bryn can tell, he seems truthful in this response, but there's no question that, if deemed impossible, he wouldn't care much if they're not taken alive either.
The soft rain continues periodically. Occasionally raining for a few minutes and occasionally stopping. Since the sky isn't completely covered by the clouds, the sun shines through occasionally, and despite the clouds and the rain, the weather is just slightly warm for this season and at this altitude. Occasionally, someone might even spot a rainbow. If it is the Lieutenant who spotted it first, he'll call it out every time.
But aside from the occasional rainbow, the spirits aren't too high in the carriage. Maybe it's because of the raid, maybe it's the short interrogation that followed, or maybe it's the figures in the mountains. They still attempt to hide, but after spotting several of them along the way, or perhaps the same one moving around to keep an eye on the carriage, there's no doubt they're out there. Both Arren and Bryn spot these figures. Perhaps they don't both spot each of them, but each spots a few. The Lieutenant seems also aware of this. However, each time you spot such a figure, they soon step out of sight, and apart from watching the carriage, they don't seem to do anything, yet.
"I don't know. I've never passed through here." The Lieutenant answers Bryn's question, perhaps after spotting one of these figures. "We could check the map, I suppose, but I imagine we're going to pass through whatever is ahead, even if it doesn't look right." He speaks loud enough, perhaps on purpose, that both Arren and surely the Commandant can hear. Maybe the hidden figures, too. "Aside from turning around, I don't think there are many other options."
In truth, that's not entirely true. The carriage passed through an intersection not too long after leaving the tarn, and the Commandant says you can expect to see more soon. After all, the mountain path isn't one straight line connecting Ersta and Pyorre, but a network of roads through the mountains that connect all of Katto. Nonetheless, climbing down one of these paths to the shoreline remains undesirable to the Commandant.
"But, you shouldn't worry too much," Lieutenant Tireur continues, now without raising his voice too much. "The bandits we fought off yesternight were about as dangerous as any other we've fought before your arrival, and we're still alive after several years on the job, eh? Besides, you're not so bad either. I had expected the fighting skills of someone who only had to keep the order in a prison to have dulled, but yours are good. I'm glad to know I leave the Commandant in capable hands."
'Tace' is unaccustomed to being in the mountains, and he is quite moved by the vistas around them as they travel. If there wasn't an impending ambush it would be quite a pleasant journey, even despite the rain. At least he feels a little better prepared since they left the tarn, with the crossbow he now keeps close. Is that for the protection or because the prisoner told me to wield it so I will be recognised?
He sits in silence next to the Lieutenant for a few long minutes, before replying to his superior. Is he confident or merely hopeful that it is over?
"The Ledge Lodge has never been abandoned before, Sir. Something is different. Something is brewing", he says as he surveils their surroundings, before briefly looking at the back of the Sergeant ahead of him on the carriage.
He pauses as he thinks things through. Can I really let them move headlong into a trap without saying something? These are not the Meyens that invaded. These are soldiers, but that doesn't define them. Not all of them. The Sergeant is proof of that, with his kindness and empathy underneath the rigid training. But how to explain what I know without tipping my hand. And would it matter? They are unlikely to surrender. Only an order from the Commandant herself could make them do that.
And then he remembers something. The prisoner knew they were heading to Pyorre. Perhaps if they deviated from that path and took one of the paths that led to the coast, they would be able to avoid the ambush. The Commandant seemed careless mentioning our destination, but perhaps she was just canny. Laying false breadcrumbs. But perhaps not.
"Sometimes in Tus, you could just sense something was brewing. I just get that feeling, and no matter how much of what that elf said was bluster, he believed in his cause. And there are other folk out there who are likely as fanatical as him", he finally says, his voice barely loud enough to carry to the Sergeant. "They expect us to be heading to Pyorre, but what if we don't?", he suggests tentatively.
Insight: 1+5=6 (on the Lieutenant to see if he is concerned or not. Or if he knows something he hasn't shared yet. Not that it matters with that roll haha)
(OOC: He is careful when bringing up Tus.I don't think he is deceiving anyone, even as a prisoner you would need to be able to read the place to survive. He also isn't telling the full truth of what he knows though)
Arren doesn't speak for most of the journey. From time to time he raises his eyes from the road to watch their surroundings, or when Walnut calls out after spotting something. Each time, Arren expects bandits—yet more than once it turns out to be another rainbow. By the third time he makes the same mistake, he lets out a quiet snort and allows himself a faint smile.
It doesn't last, though. Soon after, when the figures in the mountains begin to appear, his mood darkens again. Or is it only one figure, moving with them? He can't be sure. What strikes him most is how easily they're being seen now. Perhaps it's just that the raid has made them more aware. But part of him wonders if it's deliberate. A tactic meant to keep them on edge?
Arren listens as Tace speaks with Walnuts, but doesn't respond right away. After a pause, he asks, "Do you mean taking a longer route. Through the shoreline?" He suspects the Commandant will reject the idea. And truth be told, he isn't entirely certain it's wise to alter their plan. Raids like the last one had become familiar, almost routine, and it seemed strange to alter their course when they've never needed to do that before. The shoreline may bring its own dangers, as well.
Finally, he says, "It might not be a bad idea. It would take us longer to reach the capital," he admits, stating the obvious on purpose, as it might make the Commandant weight the suggestion more seriously, knowing how she hates it when they have to stay in Pyorre. "But ... a change might be good. Things have been too strange since we took the mountain route. The inn. The absence of other travellers on the road. The figures watching." He leaves out the bandit raid. That, sadly, is all too ordinary for them.
He leaves it there, certain the Commandant will soon give her view.
"Hmm, maybe you're right. That lodge was strange, alright," Lieutenant Tireur answers thoughtfully. "I did wonder, what if they just left? I mean, what if they decided to leave, abandon the lodge? I can't figure out why they'd do that - well, other than the bandits we've run into - but that could explain why everything was gone. Just... taken away, you know? With the people to whom it belonged. Well, whatever the case, I agree we shouldn't be carefree here. Especially given our distant admirers." He gestures in the general direction of the mountains above, where the figures were spotted.
Bryn can't read the Lieutenant much. The Drow is focused on the journey most of the time - on the watch for either potential threats or rainbows - and all on board the carriage know they can't speak too often and too much without disturbing the Commandant's work, so they don't talk a lot while riding, which often seems to work in Bryn's favour. At least, while keeping his false identity is the objective.
After hearing Bryn's suggestion and Arren's response, the Lieutenant gives the matter some thought, perhaps waiting with you for the Commandant's response, but as that doesn't come, he finally gives his own opinion. "No, I don't think so. Those bandits last night were... well, they were normal, in terms of combat prowess. We've been encountering robbers like these along our path for years now, and, well, we're still alive, aren't we? I'm not saying we should fall into a feeling of complacency, but they're also not a threat worth altering our course for. I mean, we're also likely to encounter such threats on the shore, so it's not like a detour will guarantee safety. Besides, if our admirers want to meet us, I imagine they'll see us changing route and just... follow? We might avoid an ambush at one point, but wouldn't we just fall into another at some other point? We don't even know the terrain well enough to know if one route is strategically safer than the other."
The Commandant keeps quiet for now, but when you reach the next crossroad, she'll direct Arren to the shortest route towards Pyorre, without adding any further comments.
By mid-late afternoon, the crew reaches a small hut. Above the front door facing the road, in the Common Humans' Tongue is written: "Lory's Hostlery". While there are still a few hours of light left today, Commandant Nattensbarn decides to stop here for the night. "After last night, it would be best if we slept in a place that's easier to protect," she justifies, though the thought probably passed through everyone's mind even before she voiced it.
Lory's Hostlery is a small wooden building with a single floor and just three rooms. The room to which the front door opens is the largest of the three, though far from large by most standards. It is empty, save for a bell fixed above the front door, which probably used to ring when the door was opened. The bell seems to have been smashed, however, and the squashed metal no longer touches the door as it opens, and doesn't seem capable of producing any bell-like sound. Aside from that bell, the place looks mostly well-maintained; however, one of the windows is broken, and rainwater has pooled inside underneath.
The second and third rooms, only one of which is directly connected to the first, make up a small house where, from the looks of it, a single person lived. They are both very small, and while furniture remains, there is nobody there, as well as no food, no water and nothing else that isn't too heavy to carry. From the looks of it, the small counter that must have been used for making food wasn't used to prepare food for many people. Perhaps food wasn't served here, or maybe the owner just never prepared for more than a handful of guests.
There is a hitching post outside, and a trough full of rainwater, but nothing to shelter the horses and the carriage from the weather.
"You know best, sir", 'Tace' replies to the Lieutenant, and not wanting to be seem to be insubordinate, drops the subject. At least the Sergeant had seen merit in the idea, which meant he didn't sound completely crazy. Maybe the lieutenant is right, and that prisoner was exaggerating or outright bluffing. Either way, without revealing what I know there is nothing more to say.
He will spend the remainder of the days travel trying to pick out distinct bandits so he can get some kind of count of them. It is hard from this distance, but he looks for anything that might differentiate one from another. But it is at least a distraction from the feeling of guilt at having killed the man outside "Ledge Lodge". He keeps an eye out for any markings along the path written in Thieves' Cant.
He also switches places to sit by the Sergeant at the front the next time they stop. "Thanks for taking me seriously about changing routes, sir. I had to say my piece, even though the Lieutenant didn't agree", he says whilst gazing up at the mountains, bandit spotting.
He relaxes a little when they come upon "Lory's Hostlery" without incident, or any sign of this rock that the prisoner mentioned, and they get the order to stop for the night. Finding it abandoned just like "Ledge Lodge" adds to the mystery. We have still not come across any other traveller's as well.
He helps sort the horses out before taking a better look around, especially at the bell and broken window to see what might have caused it. Was the window broken from the inside or outside?
Assuming they sit and eat together, he will bring up his reservation once again, "You mentioned an ambush point before, sir. I suppose if there is one ahead, that might be why we have not seen any traveller's. Of course, that would mean the bandits are not just robbing traveller's and sending them on their way. Perhaps they are sending them back, or....". He tries not to sound afraid, just curious, but leaves the thought unfinished.
Investigation (looking around "Lory's Hostlery" at the window etc): 3+5=8
(OOC: What is the weather like at the moment? Are they drenched? Is keeping watch from outside going to be uncomfortable?)
Walnut's dismissal and the Commandant's choice of route settle the matter for good. Arren can't say he hadn't expected it, but he still thinks the Corporal's suggestion had merit.
"I admit I wasn't sure about the idea myself," he says when the Corporal addresses him. "Part of me wants to think as the Lieutenant does—that this isn't any different from the journeys we've made so far. But at the same time…"He pauses, eyes sweeping the surrounding mountains. "...I don't know. Something isn't right, and I don't mean the bandits. I don't think I'll be entirely at ease until we reach Pyorre—or until we figure out what's going on."
He falls silent for a moment, then adds, "Either way, from my experience, suggestions are always welcome in this company. They might be turned down, but I've never felt like we couldn't speak our minds. It was a good call to bring it up."
When they reach Lory's Hostlery and find it is abandoned as well, Arren shares a look with the others. "Another deserted place? Too much of a coincidence," he says, though he agrees with the Commandant's reasoning: they'll be better off defending solid walls than open ground.
Same as in previous nights, he begins spreading the bedrolls in the largest room. "I'll sleep here, by the front door," he offers, then turns to the Commandant. "Ma'am, would you prefer one of the smaller rooms? Anyone trying to enter would have to pass by this room first."
Like the Corporal, he inspects the building, searching for anything they might have missed in their first quick assesment. Beyond the bell and the broken window, he looks for other signs of disturbance. He half-expects traces of a fight—like those at the Ledge Lodge—though it's possible none occurred here, since the building seems to have never hosted more than a handful of customers at once. (Investigation: 19+1 = 20)
He also takes a stroll around the outside of the hut. To anyone watching—for example, their admirers, as Walnut has begun calling them—he appears to be simply inspecting the building or keeping a casual watch while the others set up inside. What he will do, from time to time, is drop a few of his caltrops at specific points outside: near every window, and a few more before the main entrance (though not directly in front, so they won't give away their position themselves when entering or switching watches).
Once he returns inside, Arren announces where the caltrops have been set, so no one steps on them. (ooc: I'm hoping he will be able to retrieve them the next morning, knowing exactly where he left them.)
(OOC: What is the weather like at the moment? Are they drenched? Is keeping watch from outside going to be uncomfortable?)
It's been raining periodically all day, but the rain is soft when it rains. The raincoats do an acceptable job of protecting from this soft rain, so they'll be dry where the coats protect them, and wet in areas that aren't protected by the coat (face, shins, hands...). But even there, they're not really drenched. Just... wet.
What he will do, from time to time, is drop a few of his caltrops at specific points outside: near every window, and a few more before the main entrance (though not directly in front, so they won't give away their position themselves when entering or switching watches).
Once he returns inside, Arren announces where the caltrops have been set, so no one steps on them. (ooc: I'm hoping he will be able to retrieve them the next morning, knowing exactly where he left them.)
The caltrops can be spread over 5 square feet. Maybe 10 if Bryn also has a bag of them and decides to follow Arren's example. You can't cover all windows and doors without spreading the caltrops thin, making them less effective. Let's say, for each portion (5 square feet) of caltrops, you can divide the amount into as many places as you want (let's say, N spots), but lower the DC of the save for each (let's say, a DC of 16-N, so one spot is the normal 15, two spots are 14 each, three are 13 each and so on).
There are a total of two external doors and four windows in the entire hostlery, or one external door, one internal door and two windows if you only account for those that lead in\out of the main hall. Only one of those windows is broken.
Given this layout, tell me how Arren spreads the caltrops. Also, since Arren's suggestion that the Commandant sleeps in one of the other rooms doesn't make much sense (to me), I'll assume he didn't suggest it. If he still does, let me know.
The bell looks like it was smashed by a blunt object, with enough force to squash the metal. Could be a rock, a club, even a durable mug, maybe. The window, meanwhile, was broken from the inside, as evident by the shards of glass that still line the mud under the window outside. Upon a closer inspection, Arren notices traces of blood on the broken glass that's still attached to the wooden frame. Most likely, someone either broke the glass and then went through or broke the glass while going through, and got cut in the process. Or maybe someone got cut by it without going through, it's hard to tell.
As Arren looks for signs of a fight, he notices that what he originally thought was a nail in the wall that might have held a poster or a painting is actually a crossbow bolt stuck deep in one of the wooden walls.
Commandant Nattensbarn, after briefly inspecting the hostlery, walks over to the carriage to take out her small wooden table and a stool to sit on. But before she resumes her work, she comments on "Tace's" reservations. "Indeed. I wouldn't be surprised if they just killed all who passed through their turf, given the lack of other travellers and the vacancy found both here and in the previous lodge, after seeing that prisoner this morning. But, in that case, what did the-" she cuts off abruptly, sitting still and quiet for a moment, before suddenly rolling off the stool and under the wooden table, lying on the floor there, covering her head with her hands.
It takes just a second for everyone else to feel the cause of the Commandant's behaviour. First faintly, but rapidly growing stronger, the floor beneath them starts to stir and shake violently, quaking, as it did when they were in Tus. Except, unlike in Tus, the quakes are a little weaker and, more importantly, the floor doesn't cave in. In fact, thanks to the lack of loose objects in the room, the only things that are affected are the Commandant's quills, papers and inkwell, which roll to the floor, scattering around. The inkwell, fortunately, doesn't shatter upon impact, and since it was closed, the ink doesn't spill.
But after a few moments, the quakes weaken and eventually die down. A few more moments later, the Commandant rises, swearing irritably in Meyen, and starts collecting her scattered papers. "Whatever Aleshi fed to Gaitha got her stomach rumbling again," she says once she finally manages to collect everything and sits against the table again.
Arren scatters half the caltrops near the front door and the rest by the back. He's fairly sure that's all they had on the carriage, but asks the Corporal just in case he has more.
At the window, the blood on the broken glass catches his eye, along with the bolt buried in the wall. He mutters a curse under his breath, then says, "If the bell and the broken window weren't proof enough of a fight, this seals it. Same as in the Ledge Lodge."
He falls quiet, mulling it over as the others talk. Like them, he wouldn't be surprised if the bandits killed anyone they found. Still, last night they'd demanded surrender first. Maybe that was just bait, or perhaps they were a different group altogether. For a moment, he wonders if the owners managed to get away. A missed shot, a dash through the window, maybe luck had been on their side.
When the Commandant suddenly stops speaking and dives beneath the table, Arren only stares, puzzled, until the tremors reach him. He then braces against the nearest wall, waiting it out, relieved when the floor holds firm this time. Once the shaking ends, he looks back at her, a bit surprised that she's sensed the tremors so quickly. "Sharp instincts, Ma’am", he tells her.
When the topic of watches comes up, Arren offers to accompany the Corporal on his shift. Unlike last night, when he had only his dagger, shield, and longsword with him, this time he'll also take a couple of javelins from the carriage. He plans to sleep in his armor as well. It won't be comfortable, but perhaps the discomfort will help keep his mind sharper when he tries to trance again tonight.
'Tace' finishes his perusal of the building, his attention distracted by thoughts of the bandits.
When the Sergeant points out the blood and the crossbow bolt, he wanders over to have a look himself, looking particularly at the position of the crossbow bolt and where it must have been fired from. Was it the attacker or the defender that fired it?
Either way it didn't matter, someone went out the window and disappeared one way or another.
When the Commandant addresses his concerns, he is actually a little taken aback, and he is a little confused when she stops mid sentence. What did the...?
And then the floor starts to shake again. The memory of the last time surfaces and he looks about for the safest place to be, moving quickly into a corner of the room and squatting down.
When it subsides he stands and looks across to check everyone is ok, before heading outside to check on the horses, making sure to avoid the caltrops the Sergeant placed.
When he comes back inside, he looks across to the Commandant, "You were saying something about the bandits, Ma'am?".
With regards the watches, he nods to the Sergeant. "Ok, Sir. I assume at least one of us will always need to be outside, keeping an eye on the horses and the carriage. Probably best that I am not in my trance whilst I am out there".
He assumes he and the Lieutenant will split the night, trancing inside and being alert when outside. He will keeping his crossbow close either way, remaining armed and armoured.
Bryn can't be sure, but it's most likely that the bolt was fired from inside the hostlery. The bolt is also rather high above the floor. Not out of reach, but it seems higher than even an average Human.
The difference in time between the moment the Commandant dives down and when Arren and Bryn start feeling the tremors is brief, a second at most. By the time she's under the table, they already start feeling it. However, it's still a brief moment before them. In any case, she ignores Arren's remark. Bryn will find Choco and Mocha a little spooked, but as well-trained horses as they are, it doesn't take much to calm them down. In any case, they're still hitched to their post and remain in place.
The Commandant, who had already started reading something, raises her head and thinks for a few moments before answering Bryn. "I was just wondering, speculating, what they'd have done with the bodies, assuming they killed everyone they ambushed. Even if they stripped every traveller of everything they had, if they killed everyone, we would have seen some signs, wouldn't we? And if they didn't, then where are everyone?" It doesn't look like she's expecting an answer, though, as she immediately resumes reading the paper in front of her.
The Commandant will keep working until nightfall, and then light a candle in the lantern and resume working under its light into the night, as usual. Lieutenant Tireur will watch outside while there's light, and will continue to watch outside after sundown if his watch is first, or will start trancing inside otherwise.
Please choose whether Bryn and Arren take the first watch or the second. Lieutenant Tireur will take the other and has no preference between the two. Arren, please roll Charisma and Intelligence saving throws again, to see what happens during his attempt to trance.
'Tace' nods at the Commandant's thinking, but seeing as she goes straight back to reading doesn't bother to reply.
As they are setting up for their watch, of which he requests to take the first, he will find a place outside that provides cover for him but gives him a good view of their surroundings. He keeps the crossbow very close, if not in hand.
Assuming he is close enough to the Sergeant, he speak quietly.
"I guess you are used to being a target like this, Sir. Out in the open, exposed. It is quite disconcerting, I won't lie. I would prefer to be a little more discreet when travelling through hostile territory like this, or with greater numbers".
I wonder if I speak for Tace as well as Bryn saying that.
"Why do I even bother,"Arrenthinks as his remark is ignored. He straightens slightly, then turns his back to the room and watches through the broken window as the light outside slowly fades.
As he does, he turns the Commandant's and Corporal's words over in his mind. Indeed, if the bandits hadn’t killed anyone, where were the survivors? And if they had, where were the bodies? They wouldn’t have carried them off—to what end? Nor could they have disposed of them without leaving some trace. He’d like to think the travelers and innkeepers were merely stripped of their belongings and sent on their way. Perhaps they’d fled to some nearby village the crew simply hadn’t yet passed through.
When it's agreed that he and the Corporal will take the first watch, Arren nods to Walnuts and steps outside. The light rain still falls, but he welcomes it, since it isn't strong enough to be bothersome and it keeps him alert and focused—exactly what he needs for a watch.
When his companion voices his unease, Arren realizes he's never really asked him how he's handling this post. He'd seen him so steady in every fight and investigation that he'd simply assumed he was fine. Unsure of how to respond, he begins, "I guess we are, yes."He pauses, thoughtful. "Come to think of it, I wasn't all that comfortable either at the beginning. But with time you learn to… well, it's not that you care less for the dangers, or get complacent with yourself, as Walnuts said before—" He stops, blinking. "Did I just say call the Lieutenant by his nickname aloud?"A faint chuckle escapes him before he presses on. "Anyway. What I mean is that you just get to know your team, and each other's skills. And that grounds you. I know it's not foolproof, but it's worked for us so far."
He shakes his head lightly. "Probably not the answer you were seeking, though."
CHA ST: 4 + 3 + 1d10 Tactical Mind (3) = 10 (Can I get the Second Wind use if this is a failure?) INT ST: 17 + 1 = 18
'Tace'listens as the Sergeant replies, trying to understand he means. Like everything, you adapt to your reality I guess.
"I will admit you and the Lieutenant are fearsome, Sir. The lieutenant even with his injured arm as well. I guess you have grown to trust each other. And it likely isn't by chance that you have survived all you have. I guess we have survived a few scrapes as well though, what with the spiders and Emma's alter ego and that bandit attack. Why did they think they could rob the camp with us in it, that makes no sense. They must have seen we are well armed soldiers. They didn't have to die...", he says, rambling on slightly before realising he is doing it and shutting up. Careful, starting to sound anything but a seasoned solider.
"And Walnuts, Sir? That is the Lieutenant's nickname?", he says cocking his head slightly as he changes the subject. "That leads me to wonder why. And also to wonder whether the Commandant has a nickname as well", he adds, not directly asking but interested if the Sergeant wanted to divulge that information.
Bryn finds that there isn't much cover near the hostlery. Close enough to be relevant for watch, the only sources of reliable non-living cover are the hostlery itself and the carriage nearby. On the bright side, these are also the only cover positions available to potential enemies, within range where an Elf could see in the dark (i.e., the darkvision's 60 feet). Given the immediate threat you've already encountered, you imagine Drow with their superior night vision aren't likely to be a threat tonight.
It hasn't been long into the watch before the conversation between Arren and Bryn begins. Half an hour at most since the Lieutenant started his trance, and yet it's already quite dark outside. At the moment, the rain still falls softly, though it's not strong enough to bother anyone with a raincoat.
But before Arren gets a chance to answer Bryn's last question, their conversation is abruptly interrupted by an arrow that suddenly plunges into the wooden wall next to Bryn, almost scraping his elbow. The arrow, fired at an angle to the house, sticks out as an indicator of the direction it came from. Quickly looking in that direction, both Arren and Bryn spot a movement just at the end of their darkvision's range. Something, possibly the shooter, moved away and out of sight.
Above is a schematic map of Lory's Hostlery, but I do not intend to run this combat with a map. Hence, you don't see anyone on the map. Consider this an aid for a theatre of the mind because I know I'll fail in explaining everything without this. The white rectangles in the walls are doors, and the small bumps on the walls (four, two on each of the longer walls) are windows. The window facing the carriage from the larger room is the broken window. The rectangle labelled 't' is a table next to which the Commandant sits, working. Lieutenant Tireur is trancing inside. Choco and Mocha are hitched next to the carriage.
Arren and Bryn are both by the door leading to the large room, outside. The arrow came from the direction opposite the carriage (left in the image), but the shooter is currently out of sight.
"Fearsome?" Arren repeats, considering the choice of words. "I think I understand what you mean, and I see the usefulness of projecting that image in a fight, for example. Or as a way to prevent a confrontation from escalating. But, having said that, I really hope it isn't the image we usually present," he adds, with a slight smile, "Serious, pragmatic, ready to act when needed. Those, on the other hand, should come with the uniform. But I'm not saying anything you don't already know."
He listens as the Corporal continues, nodding in agreement when he mentions their past scrapes. When he continues to the topic of the dead bandits, his gaze lifts. "I also wish I knew why they did that," Arren murmurs. "Perhaps they underestimated us, or believed strength lies only numbers. But you're right — they didn't need to die."He looks out across the dark landscape, pondering his next words. "It's a delicate matter: knowing when to draw a weapon and strike, with all its consequences. And when not to. Distinguishing when hesitation might put your life at risk, or the life of someone in your care, or of a civilian."
He pauses. "It's the worst part of this job, but one we must learn to bear. There's no magic solution, no procedure that guarantees the right call every time. We do the best we can, and make it our duty to learn from each encounter so we do better next time."
The Sergeant is about to reply to the Corporal's next question when suddenly an arrow flies past them, embedding itself in the inn's wall. He curses, quickly drawing his weapons and moving toward the broken window, beside which he knows the Commandant is sitting. He assumes the Commandant — perhaps even the Lieutenant — have heard that. But in case they hadn’t heard, he whispers through the broken window, "We are under attack. We've only seen a figure so far, but there may be more. Wake the Lieutenant, Ma'am, please."
To Tace, he adds, "If they're not attacking all at once, that makes me think they want us to go looking for them, which would draw us far the inn. I'd say we stick together instead." He waits for Tace's opinion on the matter, bracing for more arrows.
(ooc: I'd say for the moment Arren will simply move towards the broken window, getting cover from the carriage. His action is Dodge. He'll want to stick closer to Tace if possible.
I thought of suggesting the Commandant/Lieutenant that they block the back door in the chamber they are in. With the table, or other furniture? That may prevent attacks comming from the external back door, at least for a while. Not sure if that would make sense?)
'Tace' listens to the Sergeant speak of the expectations that come with wearing the uniform, and gains quite the insight into why he acts the way he does. The uniform comes with the expectation of being serious, pragmatic and ready to act. That certainly tracks for the Sergeant. If that is what the training teaches them then he is a model soldier.
The Sergeant's words regarding when to draw your weapon is also of interest to him. The responsibility of reading a situation. That is what I missed the thinking part. I just fought for my life, him against me, when I killed that bandit. It was almost primal, without thought.
He breaks the serious nature of their conversation with questions about nicknames, to stop him spiralling more into thoughts of the bandit he killed. And then the bolt strikes right next to his elbow.
The Sergeant reacted like the soldier he is, and 'Tace' is a little slower getting over the surprise, but react he does. His mind clicking into gear thinking along the same lines as the Sergeant as he sots the figure disappear into the darkness beyond the range of his vision.
"Agreed, Sir. They are trying to draw us out, or perhaps distract us from their real target, the other door", he whispers as the Sergeant moves around the Hostlery. He hears him speak to the Commandant so knows those inside have been warned, and moves around the building, trying to remain concealed to anyone moving in from the opposite direction.
His thoughts are on the Sergeant's words, about knowing when to strike and when hesitation will put your life at risk. What if these are not the bandits, but the owners of the Hostlery?
"We are soldiers of the Katton military. Leave now or drop your weapons and come out with your hands raised. This is your only warning", he calls out, using a hand to cup his mouth to hopefully conceal where the sound came from a little.
With his crossbow at the ready, he looks for shapes in the darkness.
Movement: Around the building in a clockwise direction, opposite to Arren, stopping at the corner by the north most window on the left. Trying to cover a bit of the north as well as the west. Bonus Action: Hide Stealth: 14+6=20 Action: Ready crossbow attack on any figure he sees that appears like it could be hostile
(OOC: If anything appears, let me know if 'Tace' can see if they have their hands up and are not armed. Also if he is hidden to them and would benefit from advantage should he attack)
"I'm awake!" Comes Lieutenant Tireur's response to Arren's call within moments. It doesn't take much to rouse him from his trance. Since he sees Arren guarding the broken window, he quickly shifts to crouch by the other window and peeks outside. "I can see them!" He calls, loud enough for both Bryn and Arren to hear even through the hostlery's wooden walls. "There are three of them there, with bows and crossbows ready, though they keep their distance!" Then, after he hears Bryn's call and sees him passing by the window on his way to the other side of the hostlery, he calls to him: "They're moving along with you, Corporal!"
And indeed, as Bryn crouches by the corner of the house, he sees three figures emerge from the shadows at the edge of his sight. They are tall enough to be Elves or Humans, and dressed all in black. One of them holds a shortbow ready, and the other two hold crossbows. All search for a target, but fail to notice him unless he fires his readied crossbow, revealing his location. If he fires, he is certain, those who remain alive will retaliate. In either case, after firing or not, they then retreat out of his darkvision's range.
Arren, sticking to the wall and partly covered from attacks orthogonal to the wall by the carriage, makes for a difficult target, and two bolts fly past him but miss (11 and 15 to hit), one from each side of the direction of the front of the house, and the other from the opposite side. Both shooters appear just for a brief moment, close enough to see their target, before retreating out of Arren's line of sight.
Before the party's turn, I want to see whether Bryn attacks, and if so, the shooters' response. If Bryn chooses to remain hidden, you may post your actions for the following round.
'Tace's heart sinks when the Lieutenant warns him that there are three with weapons ready. And when he sees they are dressed all in black, he knows for certain they are bandits. Damn them, why couldn't they listen and leave. I warned them. If I do nothing they will ignore me every time.
He reluctantly squeezes the trigger of his crossbow, aiming it at one of the bandits holding a crossbow, then hopes that their aims are not good enough to pick him out. The first one had the drop on us and missed, please let that happen again.
Reaction: Attack with crossbow at one of the bandits also holding a crossbow. Advantage due to hidden. Sneak attack due to advantage. To Hit (with advantage): (19, 6)+6=25, Damage: 1+4=5 [piercing], Sneak Attack: 2+5=7 [piercing]
The three bandits had already started retreating when Bryn's bolt suddenly hit one of them square in the chest. Unarmoured as he is, the bandit falls back and out of Bryn's sight. A bolt and an arrow are released in Bryn's direction in retaliation, once the other two bandits spot him by the corner of the hostlery. The bolt misses, flying past the corner and into the ground somewhere behind Bryn, but the arrow strikes Bryn's arm, rolling 17 to hit, dealing 5 points of piercing damage. The two shooters then retreat farther into the dark and out of sight.
Party's turn.
Should Bryn step just a few feet in the shooters' direction, he'll spot the hit bandit on the ground (at least during Bryn's turn), though it's hard to tell whether he's unconscious, dead or just prone.
'Tace' doesn't respond to the rebuke from the Sergeant, but says no more to the prisoner so it is obvious he got the message. And back to having that stick up his backside. So I have to watch my tone with him and everyone else as well now.
Now he has two reasons to sit at the back of the carriage with the Lieutenant.
Together, Arren and Bryn lead the prisoner and tie him to one of the nearby trees, despite his struggles and the ceaseless stream of insults. But once they're done and the carriage starts moving again, it doesn't take long before the prisoner is out of sight, and not long after, his shouts stop. Either his comrades came to rescue him, or he just gave up once the subject of his anger disappeared.
Bryn:
If nothing else, the prisoner is at least impressive in his ability to
roll well on performance checksact well. When Arren approaches, he starts struggling a little harder, so Arren feels his help is needed.Through his insults, the prisoner manages to pass on one last message before the crew leaves: "If possible." As far as Bryn can tell, he seems truthful in this response, but there's no question that, if deemed impossible, he wouldn't care much if they're not taken alive either.
The soft rain continues periodically. Occasionally raining for a few minutes and occasionally stopping. Since the sky isn't completely covered by the clouds, the sun shines through occasionally, and despite the clouds and the rain, the weather is just slightly warm for this season and at this altitude. Occasionally, someone might even spot a rainbow. If it is the Lieutenant who spotted it first, he'll call it out every time.
But aside from the occasional rainbow, the spirits aren't too high in the carriage. Maybe it's because of the raid, maybe it's the short interrogation that followed, or maybe it's the figures in the mountains. They still attempt to hide, but after spotting several of them along the way, or perhaps the same one moving around to keep an eye on the carriage, there's no doubt they're out there. Both Arren and Bryn spot these figures. Perhaps they don't both spot each of them, but each spots a few. The Lieutenant seems also aware of this. However, each time you spot such a figure, they soon step out of sight, and apart from watching the carriage, they don't seem to do anything, yet.
"I don't know. I've never passed through here." The Lieutenant answers Bryn's question, perhaps after spotting one of these figures. "We could check the map, I suppose, but I imagine we're going to pass through whatever is ahead, even if it doesn't look right." He speaks loud enough, perhaps on purpose, that both Arren and surely the Commandant can hear. Maybe the hidden figures, too. "Aside from turning around, I don't think there are many other options."
In truth, that's not entirely true. The carriage passed through an intersection not too long after leaving the tarn, and the Commandant says you can expect to see more soon. After all, the mountain path isn't one straight line connecting Ersta and Pyorre, but a network of roads through the mountains that connect all of Katto. Nonetheless, climbing down one of these paths to the shoreline remains undesirable to the Commandant.
"But, you shouldn't worry too much," Lieutenant Tireur continues, now without raising his voice too much. "The bandits we fought off yesternight were about as dangerous as any other we've fought before your arrival, and we're still alive after several years on the job, eh? Besides, you're not so bad either. I had expected the fighting skills of someone who only had to keep the order in a prison to have dulled, but yours are good. I'm glad to know I leave the Commandant in capable hands."
Varielky
'Tace' is unaccustomed to being in the mountains, and he is quite moved by the vistas around them as they travel. If there wasn't an impending ambush it would be quite a pleasant journey, even despite the rain. At least he feels a little better prepared since they left the tarn, with the crossbow he now keeps close. Is that for the protection or because the prisoner told me to wield it so I will be recognised?
He sits in silence next to the Lieutenant for a few long minutes, before replying to his superior. Is he confident or merely hopeful that it is over?
"The Ledge Lodge has never been abandoned before, Sir. Something is different. Something is brewing", he says as he surveils their surroundings, before briefly looking at the back of the Sergeant ahead of him on the carriage.
He pauses as he thinks things through. Can I really let them move headlong into a trap without saying something? These are not the Meyens that invaded. These are soldiers, but that doesn't define them. Not all of them. The Sergeant is proof of that, with his kindness and empathy underneath the rigid training. But how to explain what I know without tipping my hand. And would it matter? They are unlikely to surrender. Only an order from the Commandant herself could make them do that.
And then he remembers something. The prisoner knew they were heading to Pyorre. Perhaps if they deviated from that path and took one of the paths that led to the coast, they would be able to avoid the ambush. The Commandant seemed careless mentioning our destination, but perhaps she was just canny. Laying false breadcrumbs. But perhaps not.
"Sometimes in Tus, you could just sense something was brewing. I just get that feeling, and no matter how much of what that elf said was bluster, he believed in his cause. And there are other folk out there who are likely as fanatical as him", he finally says, his voice barely loud enough to carry to the Sergeant. "They expect us to be heading to Pyorre, but what if we don't?", he suggests tentatively.
Insight: 1+5=6 (on the Lieutenant to see if he is concerned or not. Or if he knows something he hasn't shared yet. Not that it matters with that roll haha)
(OOC: He is careful when bringing up Tus.I don't think he is deceiving anyone, even as a prisoner you would need to be able to read the place to survive. He also isn't telling the full truth of what he knows though)
Arren doesn't speak for most of the journey. From time to time he raises his eyes from the road to watch their surroundings, or when Walnut calls out after spotting something. Each time, Arren expects bandits—yet more than once it turns out to be another rainbow. By the third time he makes the same mistake, he lets out a quiet snort and allows himself a faint smile.
It doesn't last, though. Soon after, when the figures in the mountains begin to appear, his mood darkens again. Or is it only one figure, moving with them? He can't be sure. What strikes him most is how easily they're being seen now. Perhaps it's just that the raid has made them more aware. But part of him wonders if it's deliberate. A tactic meant to keep them on edge?
Arren listens as Tace speaks with Walnuts, but doesn't respond right away. After a pause, he asks, "Do you mean taking a longer route. Through the shoreline?" He suspects the Commandant will reject the idea. And truth be told, he isn't entirely certain it's wise to alter their plan. Raids like the last one had become familiar, almost routine, and it seemed strange to alter their course when they've never needed to do that before. The shoreline may bring its own dangers, as well.
Finally, he says, "It might not be a bad idea. It would take us longer to reach the capital," he admits, stating the obvious on purpose, as it might make the Commandant weight the suggestion more seriously, knowing how she hates it when they have to stay in Pyorre. "But ... a change might be good. Things have been too strange since we took the mountain route. The inn. The absence of other travellers on the road. The figures watching." He leaves out the bandit raid. That, sadly, is all too ordinary for them.
He leaves it there, certain the Commandant will soon give her view.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
"Hmm, maybe you're right. That lodge was strange, alright," Lieutenant Tireur answers thoughtfully. "I did wonder, what if they just left? I mean, what if they decided to leave, abandon the lodge? I can't figure out why they'd do that - well, other than the bandits we've run into - but that could explain why everything was gone. Just... taken away, you know? With the people to whom it belonged. Well, whatever the case, I agree we shouldn't be carefree here. Especially given our distant admirers." He gestures in the general direction of the mountains above, where the figures were spotted.
Bryn can't read the Lieutenant much. The Drow is focused on the journey most of the time - on the watch for either potential threats or rainbows - and all on board the carriage know they can't speak too often and too much without disturbing the Commandant's work, so they don't talk a lot while riding, which often seems to work in Bryn's favour. At least, while keeping his false identity is the objective.
After hearing Bryn's suggestion and Arren's response, the Lieutenant gives the matter some thought, perhaps waiting with you for the Commandant's response, but as that doesn't come, he finally gives his own opinion. "No, I don't think so. Those bandits last night were... well, they were normal, in terms of combat prowess. We've been encountering robbers like these along our path for years now, and, well, we're still alive, aren't we? I'm not saying we should fall into a feeling of complacency, but they're also not a threat worth altering our course for. I mean, we're also likely to encounter such threats on the shore, so it's not like a detour will guarantee safety. Besides, if our admirers want to meet us, I imagine they'll see us changing route and just... follow? We might avoid an ambush at one point, but wouldn't we just fall into another at some other point? We don't even know the terrain well enough to know if one route is strategically safer than the other."
The Commandant keeps quiet for now, but when you reach the next crossroad, she'll direct Arren to the shortest route towards Pyorre, without adding any further comments.
By mid-late afternoon, the crew reaches a small hut. Above the front door facing the road, in the Common Humans' Tongue is written: "Lory's Hostlery". While there are still a few hours of light left today, Commandant Nattensbarn decides to stop here for the night. "After last night, it would be best if we slept in a place that's easier to protect," she justifies, though the thought probably passed through everyone's mind even before she voiced it.
Lory's Hostlery is a small wooden building with a single floor and just three rooms. The room to which the front door opens is the largest of the three, though far from large by most standards. It is empty, save for a bell fixed above the front door, which probably used to ring when the door was opened. The bell seems to have been smashed, however, and the squashed metal no longer touches the door as it opens, and doesn't seem capable of producing any bell-like sound. Aside from that bell, the place looks mostly well-maintained; however, one of the windows is broken, and rainwater has pooled inside underneath.
The second and third rooms, only one of which is directly connected to the first, make up a small house where, from the looks of it, a single person lived. They are both very small, and while furniture remains, there is nobody there, as well as no food, no water and nothing else that isn't too heavy to carry. From the looks of it, the small counter that must have been used for making food wasn't used to prepare food for many people. Perhaps food wasn't served here, or maybe the owner just never prepared for more than a handful of guests.
There is a hitching post outside, and a trough full of rainwater, but nothing to shelter the horses and the carriage from the weather.
Varielky
"You know best, sir", 'Tace' replies to the Lieutenant, and not wanting to be seem to be insubordinate, drops the subject. At least the Sergeant had seen merit in the idea, which meant he didn't sound completely crazy. Maybe the lieutenant is right, and that prisoner was exaggerating or outright bluffing. Either way, without revealing what I know there is nothing more to say.
He will spend the remainder of the days travel trying to pick out distinct bandits so he can get some kind of count of them. It is hard from this distance, but he looks for anything that might differentiate one from another. But it is at least a distraction from the feeling of guilt at having killed the man outside "Ledge Lodge". He keeps an eye out for any markings along the path written in Thieves' Cant.
He also switches places to sit by the Sergeant at the front the next time they stop. "Thanks for taking me seriously about changing routes, sir. I had to say my piece, even though the Lieutenant didn't agree", he says whilst gazing up at the mountains, bandit spotting.
He relaxes a little when they come upon "Lory's Hostlery" without incident, or any sign of this rock that the prisoner mentioned, and they get the order to stop for the night. Finding it abandoned just like "Ledge Lodge" adds to the mystery. We have still not come across any other traveller's as well.
He helps sort the horses out before taking a better look around, especially at the bell and broken window to see what might have caused it. Was the window broken from the inside or outside?
Assuming they sit and eat together, he will bring up his reservation once again, "You mentioned an ambush point before, sir. I suppose if there is one ahead, that might be why we have not seen any traveller's. Of course, that would mean the bandits are not just robbing traveller's and sending them on their way. Perhaps they are sending them back, or....". He tries not to sound afraid, just curious, but leaves the thought unfinished.
Investigation (looking around "Lory's Hostlery" at the window etc): 3+5=8
(OOC: What is the weather like at the moment? Are they drenched? Is keeping watch from outside going to be uncomfortable?)
Walnut's dismissal and the Commandant's choice of route settle the matter for good. Arren can't say he hadn't expected it, but he still thinks the Corporal's suggestion had merit.
"I admit I wasn't sure about the idea myself," he says when the Corporal addresses him. "Part of me wants to think as the Lieutenant does—that this isn't any different from the journeys we've made so far. But at the same time…" He pauses, eyes sweeping the surrounding mountains. "...I don't know. Something isn't right, and I don't mean the bandits. I don't think I'll be entirely at ease until we reach Pyorre—or until we figure out what's going on."
He falls silent for a moment, then adds, "Either way, from my experience, suggestions are always welcome in this company. They might be turned down, but I've never felt like we couldn't speak our minds. It was a good call to bring it up."
When they reach Lory's Hostlery and find it is abandoned as well, Arren shares a look with the others. "Another deserted place? Too much of a coincidence," he says, though he agrees with the Commandant's reasoning: they'll be better off defending solid walls than open ground.
Same as in previous nights, he begins spreading the bedrolls in the largest room. "I'll sleep here, by the front door," he offers, then turns to the Commandant. "Ma'am, would you prefer one of the smaller rooms? Anyone trying to enter would have to pass by this room first."
Like the Corporal, he inspects the building, searching for anything they might have missed in their first quick assesment. Beyond the bell and the broken window, he looks for other signs of disturbance. He half-expects traces of a fight—like those at the Ledge Lodge—though it's possible none occurred here, since the building seems to have never hosted more than a handful of customers at once. (Investigation: 19+1 = 20)
He also takes a stroll around the outside of the hut. To anyone watching—for example, their admirers, as Walnut has begun calling them—he appears to be simply inspecting the building or keeping a casual watch while the others set up inside. What he will do, from time to time, is drop a few of his caltrops at specific points outside: near every window, and a few more before the main entrance (though not directly in front, so they won't give away their position themselves when entering or switching watches).
Once he returns inside, Arren announces where the caltrops have been set, so no one steps on them. (ooc: I'm hoping he will be able to retrieve them the next morning, knowing exactly where he left them.)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
It's been raining periodically all day, but the rain is soft when it rains. The raincoats do an acceptable job of protecting from this soft rain, so they'll be dry where the coats protect them, and wet in areas that aren't protected by the coat (face, shins, hands...). But even there, they're not really drenched. Just... wet.
The caltrops can be spread over 5 square feet. Maybe 10 if Bryn also has a bag of them and decides to follow Arren's example. You can't cover all windows and doors without spreading the caltrops thin, making them less effective. Let's say, for each portion (5 square feet) of caltrops, you can divide the amount into as many places as you want (let's say, N spots), but lower the DC of the save for each (let's say, a DC of 16-N, so one spot is the normal 15, two spots are 14 each, three are 13 each and so on).
There are a total of two external doors and four windows in the entire hostlery, or one external door, one internal door and two windows if you only account for those that lead in\out of the main hall. Only one of those windows is broken.
Given this layout, tell me how Arren spreads the caltrops. Also, since Arren's suggestion that the Commandant sleeps in one of the other rooms doesn't make much sense (to me), I'll assume he didn't suggest it. If he still does, let me know.
The bell looks like it was smashed by a blunt object, with enough force to squash the metal. Could be a rock, a club, even a durable mug, maybe. The window, meanwhile, was broken from the inside, as evident by the shards of glass that still line the mud under the window outside. Upon a closer inspection, Arren notices traces of blood on the broken glass that's still attached to the wooden frame. Most likely, someone either broke the glass and then went through or broke the glass while going through, and got cut in the process. Or maybe someone got cut by it without going through, it's hard to tell.
As Arren looks for signs of a fight, he notices that what he originally thought was a nail in the wall that might have held a poster or a painting is actually a crossbow bolt stuck deep in one of the wooden walls.
Commandant Nattensbarn, after briefly inspecting the hostlery, walks over to the carriage to take out her small wooden table and a stool to sit on. But before she resumes her work, she comments on "Tace's" reservations. "Indeed. I wouldn't be surprised if they just killed all who passed through their turf, given the lack of other travellers and the vacancy found both here and in the previous lodge, after seeing that prisoner this morning. But, in that case, what did the-" she cuts off abruptly, sitting still and quiet for a moment, before suddenly rolling off the stool and under the wooden table, lying on the floor there, covering her head with her hands.
It takes just a second for everyone else to feel the cause of the Commandant's behaviour. First faintly, but rapidly growing stronger, the floor beneath them starts to stir and shake violently, quaking, as it did when they were in Tus. Except, unlike in Tus, the quakes are a little weaker and, more importantly, the floor doesn't cave in. In fact, thanks to the lack of loose objects in the room, the only things that are affected are the Commandant's quills, papers and inkwell, which roll to the floor, scattering around. The inkwell, fortunately, doesn't shatter upon impact, and since it was closed, the ink doesn't spill.
But after a few moments, the quakes weaken and eventually die down. A few more moments later, the Commandant rises, swearing irritably in Meyen, and starts collecting her scattered papers. "Whatever Aleshi fed to Gaitha got her stomach rumbling again," she says once she finally manages to collect everything and sits against the table again.
Varielky
Arren scatters half the caltrops near the front door and the rest by the back. He's fairly sure that's all they had on the carriage, but asks the Corporal just in case he has more.
At the window, the blood on the broken glass catches his eye, along with the bolt buried in the wall. He mutters a curse under his breath, then says, "If the bell and the broken window weren't proof enough of a fight, this seals it. Same as in the Ledge Lodge."
He falls quiet, mulling it over as the others talk. Like them, he wouldn't be surprised if the bandits killed anyone they found. Still, last night they'd demanded surrender first. Maybe that was just bait, or perhaps they were a different group altogether. For a moment, he wonders if the owners managed to get away. A missed shot, a dash through the window, maybe luck had been on their side.
When the Commandant suddenly stops speaking and dives beneath the table, Arren only stares, puzzled, until the tremors reach him. He then braces against the nearest wall, waiting it out, relieved when the floor holds firm this time. Once the shaking ends, he looks back at her, a bit surprised that she's sensed the tremors so quickly. "Sharp instincts, Ma’am", he tells her.
When the topic of watches comes up, Arren offers to accompany the Corporal on his shift. Unlike last night, when he had only his dagger, shield, and longsword with him, this time he'll also take a couple of javelins from the carriage. He plans to sleep in his armor as well. It won't be comfortable, but perhaps the discomfort will help keep his mind sharper when he tries to trance again tonight.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
'Tace' finishes his perusal of the building, his attention distracted by thoughts of the bandits.
When the Sergeant points out the blood and the crossbow bolt, he wanders over to have a look himself, looking particularly at the position of the crossbow bolt and where it must have been fired from. Was it the attacker or the defender that fired it?
Either way it didn't matter, someone went out the window and disappeared one way or another.
When the Commandant addresses his concerns, he is actually a little taken aback, and he is a little confused when she stops mid sentence. What did the...?
And then the floor starts to shake again. The memory of the last time surfaces and he looks about for the safest place to be, moving quickly into a corner of the room and squatting down.
When it subsides he stands and looks across to check everyone is ok, before heading outside to check on the horses, making sure to avoid the caltrops the Sergeant placed.
When he comes back inside, he looks across to the Commandant, "You were saying something about the bandits, Ma'am?".
With regards the watches, he nods to the Sergeant. "Ok, Sir. I assume at least one of us will always need to be outside, keeping an eye on the horses and the carriage. Probably best that I am not in my trance whilst I am out there".
He assumes he and the Lieutenant will split the night, trancing inside and being alert when outside. He will keeping his crossbow close either way, remaining armed and armoured.
Bryn can't be sure, but it's most likely that the bolt was fired from inside the hostlery. The bolt is also rather high above the floor. Not out of reach, but it seems higher than even an average Human.
The difference in time between the moment the Commandant dives down and when Arren and Bryn start feeling the tremors is brief, a second at most. By the time she's under the table, they already start feeling it. However, it's still a brief moment before them. In any case, she ignores Arren's remark. Bryn will find Choco and Mocha a little spooked, but as well-trained horses as they are, it doesn't take much to calm them down. In any case, they're still hitched to their post and remain in place.
The Commandant, who had already started reading something, raises her head and thinks for a few moments before answering Bryn. "I was just wondering, speculating, what they'd have done with the bodies, assuming they killed everyone they ambushed. Even if they stripped every traveller of everything they had, if they killed everyone, we would have seen some signs, wouldn't we? And if they didn't, then where are everyone?" It doesn't look like she's expecting an answer, though, as she immediately resumes reading the paper in front of her.
The Commandant will keep working until nightfall, and then light a candle in the lantern and resume working under its light into the night, as usual. Lieutenant Tireur will watch outside while there's light, and will continue to watch outside after sundown if his watch is first, or will start trancing inside otherwise.
Please choose whether Bryn and Arren take the first watch or the second. Lieutenant Tireur will take the other and has no preference between the two. Arren, please roll Charisma and Intelligence saving throws again, to see what happens during his attempt to trance.
Varielky
'Tace' nods at the Commandant's thinking, but seeing as she goes straight back to reading doesn't bother to reply.
As they are setting up for their watch, of which he requests to take the first, he will find a place outside that provides cover for him but gives him a good view of their surroundings. He keeps the crossbow very close, if not in hand.
Assuming he is close enough to the Sergeant, he speak quietly.
"I guess you are used to being a target like this, Sir. Out in the open, exposed. It is quite disconcerting, I won't lie. I would prefer to be a little more discreet when travelling through hostile territory like this, or with greater numbers".
I wonder if I speak for Tace as well as Bryn saying that.
"Why do I even bother," Arren thinks as his remark is ignored. He straightens slightly, then turns his back to the room and watches through the broken window as the light outside slowly fades.
As he does, he turns the Commandant's and Corporal's words over in his mind. Indeed, if the bandits hadn’t killed anyone, where were the survivors? And if they had, where were the bodies? They wouldn’t have carried them off—to what end? Nor could they have disposed of them without leaving some trace. He’d like to think the travelers and innkeepers were merely stripped of their belongings and sent on their way. Perhaps they’d fled to some nearby village the crew simply hadn’t yet passed through.
When it's agreed that he and the Corporal will take the first watch, Arren nods to Walnuts and steps outside. The light rain still falls, but he welcomes it, since it isn't strong enough to be bothersome and it keeps him alert and focused—exactly what he needs for a watch.
When his companion voices his unease, Arren realizes he's never really asked him how he's handling this post. He'd seen him so steady in every fight and investigation that he'd simply assumed he was fine. Unsure of how to respond, he begins, "I guess we are, yes." He pauses, thoughtful. "Come to think of it, I wasn't all that comfortable either at the beginning. But with time you learn to… well, it's not that you care less for the dangers, or get complacent with yourself, as Walnuts said before—" He stops, blinking. "Did I just say call the Lieutenant by his nickname aloud?" A faint chuckle escapes him before he presses on. "Anyway. What I mean is that you just get to know your team, and each other's skills. And that grounds you. I know it's not foolproof, but it's worked for us so far."
He shakes his head lightly. "Probably not the answer you were seeking, though."
CHA ST: 4 + 3 + 1d10 Tactical Mind (3) = 10 (Can I get the Second Wind use if this is a failure?)
INT ST: 17 + 1 = 18
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
'Tace' listens as the Sergeant replies, trying to understand he means. Like everything, you adapt to your reality I guess.
"I will admit you and the Lieutenant are fearsome, Sir. The lieutenant even with his injured arm as well. I guess you have grown to trust each other. And it likely isn't by chance that you have survived all you have. I guess we have survived a few scrapes as well though, what with the spiders and Emma's alter ego and that bandit attack. Why did they think they could rob the camp with us in it, that makes no sense. They must have seen we are well armed soldiers. They didn't have to die...", he says, rambling on slightly before realising he is doing it and shutting up. Careful, starting to sound anything but a seasoned solider.
"And Walnuts, Sir? That is the Lieutenant's nickname?", he says cocking his head slightly as he changes the subject. "That leads me to wonder why. And also to wonder whether the Commandant has a nickname as well", he adds, not directly asking but interested if the Sergeant wanted to divulge that information.
Bryn finds that there isn't much cover near the hostlery. Close enough to be relevant for watch, the only sources of reliable non-living cover are the hostlery itself and the carriage nearby. On the bright side, these are also the only cover positions available to potential enemies, within range where an Elf could see in the dark (i.e., the darkvision's 60 feet). Given the immediate threat you've already encountered, you imagine Drow with their superior night vision aren't likely to be a threat tonight.
It hasn't been long into the watch before the conversation between Arren and Bryn begins. Half an hour at most since the Lieutenant started his trance, and yet it's already quite dark outside. At the moment, the rain still falls softly, though it's not strong enough to bother anyone with a raincoat.
But before Arren gets a chance to answer Bryn's last question, their conversation is abruptly interrupted by an arrow that suddenly plunges into the wooden wall next to Bryn, almost scraping his elbow. The arrow, fired at an angle to the house, sticks out as an indicator of the direction it came from. Quickly looking in that direction, both Arren and Bryn spot a movement just at the end of their darkvision's range. Something, possibly the shooter, moved away and out of sight.
Above is a schematic map of Lory's Hostlery, but I do not intend to run this combat with a map. Hence, you don't see anyone on the map. Consider this an aid for a theatre of the mind because I know I'll fail in explaining everything without this. The white rectangles in the walls are doors, and the small bumps on the walls (four, two on each of the longer walls) are windows. The window facing the carriage from the larger room is the broken window. The rectangle labelled 't' is a table next to which the Commandant sits, working. Lieutenant Tireur is trancing inside. Choco and Mocha are hitched next to the carriage.
Arren and Bryn are both by the door leading to the large room, outside. The arrow came from the direction opposite the carriage (left in the image), but the shooter is currently out of sight.
It is the party's turn; you may act in any order.
Varielky
"Fearsome?" Arren repeats, considering the choice of words. "I think I understand what you mean, and I see the usefulness of projecting that image in a fight, for example. Or as a way to prevent a confrontation from escalating. But, having said that, I really hope it isn't the image we usually present," he adds, with a slight smile, "Serious, pragmatic, ready to act when needed. Those, on the other hand, should come with the uniform. But I'm not saying anything you don't already know."
He listens as the Corporal continues, nodding in agreement when he mentions their past scrapes. When he continues to the topic of the dead bandits, his gaze lifts. "I also wish I knew why they did that," Arren murmurs. "Perhaps they underestimated us, or believed strength lies only numbers. But you're right — they didn't need to die." He looks out across the dark landscape, pondering his next words. "It's a delicate matter: knowing when to draw a weapon and strike, with all its consequences. And when not to. Distinguishing when hesitation might put your life at risk, or the life of someone in your care, or of a civilian."
He pauses. "It's the worst part of this job, but one we must learn to bear. There's no magic solution, no procedure that guarantees the right call every time. We do the best we can, and make it our duty to learn from each encounter so we do better next time."
The Sergeant is about to reply to the Corporal's next question when suddenly an arrow flies past them, embedding itself in the inn's wall. He curses, quickly drawing his weapons and moving toward the broken window, beside which he knows the Commandant is sitting. He assumes the Commandant — perhaps even the Lieutenant — have heard that. But in case they hadn’t heard, he whispers through the broken window, "We are under attack. We've only seen a figure so far, but there may be more. Wake the Lieutenant, Ma'am, please."
To Tace, he adds, "If they're not attacking all at once, that makes me think they want us to go looking for them, which would draw us far the inn. I'd say we stick together instead." He waits for Tace's opinion on the matter, bracing for more arrows.
(ooc: I'd say for the moment Arren will simply move towards the broken window, getting cover from the carriage. His action is Dodge. He'll want to stick closer to Tace if possible.
I thought of suggesting the Commandant/Lieutenant that they block the back door in the chamber they are in. With the table, or other furniture? That may prevent attacks comming from the external back door, at least for a while. Not sure if that would make sense?)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
'Tace' listens to the Sergeant speak of the expectations that come with wearing the uniform, and gains quite the insight into why he acts the way he does. The uniform comes with the expectation of being serious, pragmatic and ready to act. That certainly tracks for the Sergeant. If that is what the training teaches them then he is a model soldier.
The Sergeant's words regarding when to draw your weapon is also of interest to him. The responsibility of reading a situation. That is what I missed the thinking part. I just fought for my life, him against me, when I killed that bandit. It was almost primal, without thought.
He breaks the serious nature of their conversation with questions about nicknames, to stop him spiralling more into thoughts of the bandit he killed. And then the bolt strikes right next to his elbow.
The Sergeant reacted like the soldier he is, and 'Tace' is a little slower getting over the surprise, but react he does. His mind clicking into gear thinking along the same lines as the Sergeant as he sots the figure disappear into the darkness beyond the range of his vision.
"Agreed, Sir. They are trying to draw us out, or perhaps distract us from their real target, the other door", he whispers as the Sergeant moves around the Hostlery. He hears him speak to the Commandant so knows those inside have been warned, and moves around the building, trying to remain concealed to anyone moving in from the opposite direction.
His thoughts are on the Sergeant's words, about knowing when to strike and when hesitation will put your life at risk. What if these are not the bandits, but the owners of the Hostlery?
"We are soldiers of the Katton military. Leave now or drop your weapons and come out with your hands raised. This is your only warning", he calls out, using a hand to cup his mouth to hopefully conceal where the sound came from a little.
With his crossbow at the ready, he looks for shapes in the darkness.
Movement: Around the building in a clockwise direction, opposite to Arren, stopping at the corner by the north most window on the left. Trying to cover a bit of the north as well as the west.
Bonus Action: Hide
Stealth: 14+6=20
Action: Ready crossbow attack on any figure he sees that appears like it could be hostile
(OOC: If anything appears, let me know if 'Tace' can see if they have their hands up and are not armed. Also if he is hidden to them and would benefit from advantage should he attack)
"I'm awake!" Comes Lieutenant Tireur's response to Arren's call within moments. It doesn't take much to rouse him from his trance. Since he sees Arren guarding the broken window, he quickly shifts to crouch by the other window and peeks outside. "I can see them!" He calls, loud enough for both Bryn and Arren to hear even through the hostlery's wooden walls. "There are three of them there, with bows and crossbows ready, though they keep their distance!" Then, after he hears Bryn's call and sees him passing by the window on his way to the other side of the hostlery, he calls to him: "They're moving along with you, Corporal!"
And indeed, as Bryn crouches by the corner of the house, he sees three figures emerge from the shadows at the edge of his sight. They are tall enough to be Elves or Humans, and dressed all in black. One of them holds a shortbow ready, and the other two hold crossbows. All search for a target, but fail to notice him unless he fires his readied crossbow, revealing his location. If he fires, he is certain, those who remain alive will retaliate. In either case, after firing or not, they then retreat out of his darkvision's range.
Arren, sticking to the wall and partly covered from attacks orthogonal to the wall by the carriage, makes for a difficult target, and two bolts fly past him but miss (11 and 15 to hit), one from each side of the direction of the front of the house, and the other from the opposite side. Both shooters appear just for a brief moment, close enough to see their target, before retreating out of Arren's line of sight.
Before the party's turn, I want to see whether Bryn attacks, and if so, the shooters' response. If Bryn chooses to remain hidden, you may post your actions for the following round.
Varielky
'Tace's heart sinks when the Lieutenant warns him that there are three with weapons ready. And when he sees they are dressed all in black, he knows for certain they are bandits. Damn them, why couldn't they listen and leave. I warned them. If I do nothing they will ignore me every time.
He reluctantly squeezes the trigger of his crossbow, aiming it at one of the bandits holding a crossbow, then hopes that their aims are not good enough to pick him out. The first one had the drop on us and missed, please let that happen again.
Reaction: Attack with crossbow at one of the bandits also holding a crossbow. Advantage due to hidden. Sneak attack due to advantage.
To Hit (with advantage): (19,
6)+6=25, Damage: 1+4=5 [piercing], Sneak Attack: 2+5=7 [piercing]The three bandits had already started retreating when Bryn's bolt suddenly hit one of them square in the chest. Unarmoured as he is, the bandit falls back and out of Bryn's sight. A bolt and an arrow are released in Bryn's direction in retaliation, once the other two bandits spot him by the corner of the hostlery. The bolt misses, flying past the corner and into the ground somewhere behind Bryn, but the arrow strikes Bryn's arm, rolling 17 to hit, dealing 5 points of piercing damage. The two shooters then retreat farther into the dark and out of sight.
Party's turn.
Should Bryn step just a few feet in the shooters' direction, he'll spot the hit bandit on the ground (at least during Bryn's turn), though it's hard to tell whether he's unconscious, dead or just prone.
Varielky