Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"

Rumble certainly had half a mind to give chase after the fleeing man! Yet for all the compulsion to do so, he scarcely makes it a few steps before sounds of the bear viciously mauling one of the other bandits gives him pause in step. It was possible that whatever hunting instincts the bear might possess might encourage the beast to give chase after a lone target!

"Tch! Arkun! Any chance you can tell that bear friend of yours to get that last one?" He called out had neither Arkun or Melek not put that man down in short order. Apart from that, Rumble tried to position himself in such a way as to shield Melek and dissuade the bear from approach. Though as a precaution he focused more the power of stone within himself and further reenforced his body.

Action: Cast Stone Ward on self.

Arkun nods to Rumble, turning to the bear and forming his mouth just so he says, “The last of your captors runs away, take vengeance on him, then you are free!  My name is Arkun, and I will help you if you ever need it!  I am friend to bears, and friend to you!”  As if to light his way, he sends a mote of energy after the fleeing bandit, seeking to strike him down.  

Starry Wisp : 20 to hit, for 3 points of radiant damage to the fleeing bandit.  

Melek sees the remaining bandit fleeing toward him, and sees an opportunity to take a prisoner and return them to town for proper justice. He rises from his place of semi-concealment, and stands tall in front of the malefactor, the blue light of the fire painting his white hair, and his long wispy sword held in front at arms length, point forward.

You are defeated! Surrender or perish!

Action: Ready Eldritch Blast. Trigger if bandit is still up on his turn and makes any move to attack Melek.

(I figure if Arkun doesn't get him, then the bear will... but just in case)

The bear's head whips over to Arkun, the creature giving only a gruff snort before it lopes full speed toward the fleeing bandit. The druid's radiant wisp is faster than the bear's paws, however, and the fleeing man falls with a cry of pain, unmoving.

The bear slows as it reaches the dead man, pawing at him and sniffing the air. It turns to face Arkun and the rest of the party while Aldric places manacles on the hands of the only surviving bandit laying in front of him. The bear rears up and lets out a roar, before its jaws close over the arm of the dead man in front of it, dragging the body away into the brush.

Area Description:

In a brush-choked dell a short distance from the Cairn Road is a makeshift camp in front of a cave entrance. Nearby is a wagon with a wooden cage atop it.

OOC: Each character has received 16 XP for defeating the camp of bandits!

Though Rumble felt and even grimaced a little from retroactive guilt in encouraging the felling of the last bandit, he'd soon closed his eyes and took some small comfort in knowing -- believing the man had been doomed from the start. For if Arkun's magic hadn't felled the men, the bear -- who clearly moved with far greater haste than anything the bandit could've mustered -- would've slain the man in due time.

The genasi's eyes snap back open as he's suddenly torn from his thoughts hearing the bear roar. But while sharpened reflexes had him immediately snap into a more guarded posture, he soon instead found himself breathing a small sigh of relief as nothing more came of the roar.

Even still, he remained on edge as even as he looked over everyone and tried to roughly gauge their condition, before piping up with a plan of action: "Well, that went a whooole lot better than expected, huh? Shame we couldn't capture more, but these lot were given ample enough warning, I suppose." He sighed and shook his head. "In any event, seeing as no more of their fellows came pouring it, I believe it's safe to assume the cave is safe enough. But, I'm gonna go in and make sure. Be back in a sec." Rumble doesn't really wait for permission this time around before following through on his words. 

Aldric is disappointed they weren't able to capture more than just the one, but his new companions are more heavy handed than he, and they — save perhaps the novice — are not his to train or command. He sits the lone survivor up against a tree to keep him from choking on his own spit and nods at Rumble as he says he will check out the cave. It's as if the genasi had read the half-orc's mind. At least that is encouraging.

The old knight looks around, waving a finger at the two bodies. "Search them."

He kneels down and begins searching the unconscious man as well, only groaning a little at his wound's lingering pain.

Arkun relaxes for a moment, walking over to the mangled bodies and begins to search them.  “Got what they deserved, treating a bear like that…”  After searching pockets, he heads over to the fire to see if there is anything they were discussing, anything in their supplies to suggest why they were here and what they were planning.  

Atta, now that the combat is over, pulls another tool from his medical supplies. This time a simple salve of healing herbs. Finding where the obvious wounds were located, once the bandit was restrained, and even at the protest of allies, he would begin applying the salve slowly - since he has time - and allowing the bandit to heal enough to survive, and be coherent enough to speak. "There we go. They should be able to answer our questions... and should they have even a sliver of shame or conscience in their body, after healing them they should be willing to speak." he says, giving the Bandit one of those genuine smiles that while honest, also carries the hidden implication of a medical professional who just saved their life when they didn't have to, and by all accounts, had no reason to. (Nat 20(25) persuasion check on sheet) 

Melek obediently assists with searching the bodies.

((Sorry if I'm slow posting. My home internet has been down for a week, with no immediate hope of resolution))

While Arkun quickly finds that these bandits were not carrying anything of value on their person, Rumble sees the reason, their coinpurses and a fair amount of plunder sitting just inside the small cave. In total, he finds 99 copper pieces, 74 silver pieces, and 13 gold pieces divided among them, along with the other plunder that includes several weapons.

Atta's salve seems to do the trick, rousing the unconscious bandit quickly, and the man quickly takes in the fact that he's alone and outnumbered. "Hells, man!" he cries. "Now what'd ye go and do that for? We was just havin' a bit o' fun!"

OOC: Divided among the party, each character has received 19 cp, 14 sp, and 2 gp with 4 cp, 4 sp, and 3 gp left over to be claimed. I've added all but the unclaimed leftovers to sheets.

Aldric towers over the bound bandit. "Talk. Where can I find Grimjaw and Rivergard Keep?"

Rumble hadn't known whether to sigh in relief in seeing so light haul, or solemnly bow his head knowing that the bandits had any real success at all. "Well, they won't be getting up to any sorta trouble again at least." Or so the genasi told himself, before getting to work collecting it all in anticipation of sharing it out, as the odds hadn't favored being able to return the coin to the proper owners any time soon, if ever at all.

"Ya heard'em. And I'd do what he's asking this time, 'nd answer honestly. If not fer Tyr's sake, then at least yer own, as we're pretty the only one's standing between you and winding up a bear snack like the rest of yer friends." Rumble claimed as he eventually rejoined the rest of the party with new pouches in hand.

While Aldric interrogates the captive, Melek (and anyone else so inclined to assist) makes a sweep of the surrounding area, making sure there are no other bandits, or signs of any.

If it's safe, and the group have any intention of resting here until morning, then he will also stoke the campfire and make preparations for food and bedding. Personally though, Melek would rather return to town and sleep in an actual bed...

Arkun finishes his sweep of the campsite and the bear-mangled bodies, he comes to sit opposite of the captured bandit as Aldric looms over him.  He sits down criss-cross-apple-sauce and folds his hands together opposing fingertips resting under his chin.  He looks on with a hard stare at the bandit, looking extremely irritated and with a look of death in his eyes at the bandit.  “Bit o fun.  Really.”  

Then something strange starts to happen.  Arkun is opening his mouth very wide, in the manner of a scream, but he articulates his jaw in order to speak again in the manner of a bear, he utters out a roar in the manner of a bear, or the best that he can, roaring in a growl at the bandit.  His nostrils flared, his eyes open wide, he glares with the intensity of impending death at the man, taking deep breaths.  

“Talk.  Now.”  

Intimidation, with adv. : 13

Time of Day: Midnight

Quote from DirtyDogP >>

Aldric towers over the bound bandit. "Talk. Where can I find Grimjaw and Rivergard Keep?"

The bandit sputters out a few words before collecting himself. "I dunno what the hells ye're talkin' about man! You got the wrong guy, I'm tellin' ya! We ain't ever worked with no grim jaws or no river guards!"

Further encouragement from Rumble and Arkun elicits a similar response. "I'm swearin' man, to Tyr or to Tymora or whoevers you want me to swears to! Take our coin, whatever you want, you beat us fair and squares, but I ain't know what you're trying to figure out!"

The area seems safe for the time being as Melek scouts around.