(@Virst: For your records, Virst, assuming you keep such a thing/it is possible at the keep, Biri will make a 1st level Scroll of Magic Missile over the course of the next "day".)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Janter bows slightly to the traveler responding and approaching from the gate, "You are just in time, it seems, for the honorable yet menial task of forming a formidable task force to search out a thief. It may take a week to get together, or if we find a suitable leader to lead it, perhaps we leave tonight."
responding to Quodithas, "I suppose that might work for a roving band of bandits setting upon travelers. However, if I had just escaped from transport to the racks, I don't suppose I'd want to put my neck out again quite so soon, if I were to ever want to venture in such a trade. I had thought you and Bernard, was it? who talked with the guard on the matter? Did they offer any particular direction to search for the outlaw? Or mayhaps they had some other information about it you can share? Perhaps the local tavern may have a patron who may have seen something of the man?"
"We spoke with Castellan Shadowbreaker, she said that the fugitive escaped into the forest when the caravan he was being transported in was attacked. She suggested that scum tends to stick together, so mayhaps he'd have joined the bandits or they'd have killed him."
Quodithas adjusts his shield to a more comfortable position on his shoulder. "She reported that there have been merchants being held up and robbed on the southern side of the forest, and that there have been raids and kidnappings to the northwest."
He shrugs. "I'd much rather give them an unpleasant surprise on the road by spoiling an ambush I expect than to wander blindly through the woods without a destination, but I'm not the decider."
Elwin listened calmly to Janter, then to Quodithas as they discussed their situation. He wasn't quite sure if they were seeking one miscreant or several, but an idea still came to mind.
"Perhaps," he added cautiously, "the forest is all we really need?" Wait... that didn't make much sense. He hurried to explain.
"For an ambush to work, they's need to be watchin' the road anyways, yeah? That means they wouldn't be so far in the forest they couldn't see, they'd be near the road. So how's about we search the forest, but just alongside the road? We could split so's to be on each side, then we sneak down the whole length, and whichever of us sees 'em first can signal the others."
The young man ran his hand through his hair. He didn't consider it a very good plan... there were a number of holes. Still, maybe they'd get lucky? And besides, to his mind, just going out and trying something was better than spending all day trying to think up a complicated plan anyhow.
He grinned wryly, trying to appear more confident than he felt. "So long as we can don't make too much noise, might work, eh?"
Quodithas considers Elwin's words and pauses for a moment before he replies. "I'm afraid that I'm not the stealthiest person you've ever met, I'm not much use without my armor and shield, and I know very little woodcraft."
He rubs his chin thoughtfully. "I had been considering posing as a merchant wagon and a couple of guards, seems like less work to make them come to us." He chuckles softly. "Why, we might even find a merchant in need of escort and make a few coins in a sort of mutually beneficial arrangement."
Yuno nervously agrees. "I-I agree with Quodithas. The bandits... if they are ambushing people on the road... must be stopped. R-regardless of whether or not they are the ones we're looking for."
Bernard considers. "Elwin, I do not like the idea of splitting up. We do not know the number of bandits that plague the forest." He turns to Quodithas, "I do not believe we should put an innocent merchant at risk, but I agree that we should bait the attackers. Perhaps one of us could set up snares and pit traps around a site of our choosing ahead of time, then we camp nearby and make our presence obvious through a large campfire, talking and song. As they close in to attack, we catch a few of them in the traps, then jump into formation and defeat the ruffians?" He then looks towards the bloodied members of the conversation and seems to consider his words. "Forgive me if I make rash judgement, but I would see it that we do not end these men's lives. Banditry is more often the result of desperation than evil, in my experience." He stands straight backed, meeting the eyes of each of you - ready to challenge anybody who disagrees with his just mercy.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"The most important step a person can take is always the next one." -Dalinar Kholin; Oathbringer
Yuno says timidly but raising her voice a bit, "I... I'm sorry. I'm really sorry but I can't forgive them. I can't forgive people like the bandits who killed my sister. They... didn't have to hurt her but they did. T-They tortured and killed her. I can't forgive bandits for this. I'm... I'm sorry. If-If-If my weapon fells them... They will die so that others don't have to suffer."
If your Insight is higher than: 18 you notice the following:
Though Yuno isn't lying about her want to kill the bandits though she isn't being 100% honest when she says she can't forgive them.
Bernard remains stoic but softens his glare somewhat. "We do not know if these were the bandits who caused you such pain. It would be wrong to treat them as such without evidence. Detaining them and returning them to the castellan for trial is the right thing to do. It is for her to decide who lives and dies." He looks thoughtful for a moment. "I have had many run-ins with bandits and seen good men fall to their swords and arrows. I am sure that we would all feel justified in revenge, but it is wrong." He again stands straight, almost like a soldier at attention. "Justice before judgement. That is how society prospers."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"The most important step a person can take is always the next one." -Dalinar Kholin; Oathbringer
"Surely the merchants are already at risk as they're currently traveling through an area with bandits in it, all we'd be doing by accompanying them is providing extra security." He shrugs. "But I'd be just as happy to pose as a merchant with a wagon full of you all waiting to jump out and surprise them, or, even camp as you suggest."
He reaches in his backpack and pulls out a small bundle of burlap tied in several places with twine and hands it over to Bernard. "That's a set of manacles, I have two more of them, and I'll happily bring back any of them who surrender to face the justice of men, but I'm not going to hesitate to send those who resist on to the afterlife to face Torm's judgement." He looks extremely cold and distant for a moment. "They have chosen to ignore the law, an example must be made of them to discourage others from doing the same."
He nods to Bernard. "You appear to have more experience dealing with bandits than I do, I will defer to you in this. Know, however, that I will not hesitate to defend myself or my companions with deadly force..."
"Forgive me if I make rash judgement, but I would see it that we do not end these men's lives. Banditry is more often the result of desperation than evil, in my experience."
The young warlock rolled his eyes, but remained silent. He had just met this crew, and wasn't quite ready to throw away a perfectly promising chance at coin... but it took quite the effort to avoid responding to the man's declaration.
He had known the upper classes were soft people, but this? Maybe the man had been a cleric at one point? In any case, while there'd obviously be no reason to strike down any bandits who surrendered, Elwin had no intention of going easy on anyone who persisted in being a threat. If they fell, they fell. He made a mental note to keep an eye on this one.... his naiveté might just get someone hurt.
Insight: 9
He raised an eyebrow at the female. She seemed conflicted. But still willing to do what needed to be done.
Finally, after Quodithas spoke again, it seemed like a few options had been laid out. Camp? Guard? Or Pose?
"For the record," Elwin threw in, "My vote's to findin' some merchant to guard. Double coin, that."
You notice that Yuno seems to be lying about a lot of things. She is telling the truth about her sister being killed by bandits and that she will kill any bandit that fall by her blade. However, whenever she gets into her reasons for why she wants the bandits dead, things seems to get... iffy. As far as you can tell, she will help the party fight the bandits and she will kill the bandits but beyond that many of her words don't line up with her internal thoughts.
Yuno is getting a bit fidgety. She wants to get out there as soon as possible (and that is the truth). She waits patiently though and doesn't say anything.
A lone figure walks into Burle and up the road to the keep. The elven man travels light, wearing simple cloth attire well secured to his form with tied off strips. Over a shoulder is a full quiver of arrows and in his hand is an unstrung short bow. There are also darts secured to his clothing at convenient easy to reach spots.
The elf walks up to the the large board and reads some of the available bounties. Looking around for other adventurers and seeing none at that moment, the elf sits down crossed legged near the board and pulls a large tome out of his backpack, placing it just in front of him. Concentrating on his reading, the elf can be seen carefully and methodically practicing punches and strikes while he waits.
"It seems to me that accompanying a group of merchants already to be traveling with a second wagon full of us in hiding would be the better option. To the bandits, it would look like 2 loads worth of goods to steal, and so a better target for them, and we should be paid for the guarding by the merchants as well.", Janter states and nods to Elwin in agreement. He then glances around the surroundings adding, "So where do we get a second wagon around here? We'll likely be needing it to transport any captured thieves as well. Or perhaps said merchant may have an extra to use as well."
No one really reacts, there's mostly just farmers and soldiers here at the keep.
(For a full story about the criminal, he literally just escaped when an owlbear attacked the carriage transporting them. It wasn't an inside job.)
(@Virst: For your records, Virst, assuming you keep such a thing/it is possible at the keep, Biri will make a 1st level Scroll of Magic Missile over the course of the next "day".)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
(OOC Quodithas misunderstood the situation with the criminal, but still thinks that taking out the bandits will do the most good for the most people)
"So, do we set out down the road with a wagon and hope they'll take us for a merchant and attack us?"
Janter bows slightly to the traveler responding and approaching from the gate, "You are just in time, it seems, for the honorable yet menial task of forming a formidable task force to search out a thief. It may take a week to get together, or if we find a suitable leader to lead it, perhaps we leave tonight."
responding to Quodithas, "I suppose that might work for a roving band of bandits setting upon travelers. However, if I had just escaped from transport to the racks, I don't suppose I'd want to put my neck out again quite so soon, if I were to ever want to venture in such a trade. I had thought you and Bernard, was it? who talked with the guard on the matter? Did they offer any particular direction to search for the outlaw? Or mayhaps they had some other information about it you can share? Perhaps the local tavern may have a patron who may have seen something of the man?"
Me, Myself, and I
"We spoke with Castellan Shadowbreaker, she said that the fugitive escaped into the forest when the caravan he was being transported in was attacked. She suggested that scum tends to stick together, so mayhaps he'd have joined the bandits or they'd have killed him."
Quodithas adjusts his shield to a more comfortable position on his shoulder. "She reported that there have been merchants being held up and robbed on the southern side of the forest, and that there have been raids and kidnappings to the northwest."
He shrugs. "I'd much rather give them an unpleasant surprise on the road by spoiling an ambush I expect than to wander blindly through the woods without a destination, but I'm not the decider."
Elwin listened calmly to Janter, then to Quodithas as they discussed their situation. He wasn't quite sure if they were seeking one miscreant or several, but an idea still came to mind.
"Perhaps," he added cautiously, "the forest is all we really need?" Wait... that didn't make much sense. He hurried to explain.
"For an ambush to work, they's need to be watchin' the road anyways, yeah? That means they wouldn't be so far in the forest they couldn't see, they'd be near the road. So how's about we search the forest, but just alongside the road? We could split so's to be on each side, then we sneak down the whole length, and whichever of us sees 'em first can signal the others."
The young man ran his hand through his hair. He didn't consider it a very good plan... there were a number of holes. Still, maybe they'd get lucky? And besides, to his mind, just going out and trying something was better than spending all day trying to think up a complicated plan anyhow.
He grinned wryly, trying to appear more confident than he felt. "So long as we can don't make too much noise, might work, eh?"
Sterling - V. Human Bard 3 (College of Art) - [Pic] - [Traits] - in Bards: Dragon Heist (w/ Mansion) - Jasper's [Pic] - Sterling's [Sigil]
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
Quodithas considers Elwin's words and pauses for a moment before he replies. "I'm afraid that I'm not the stealthiest person you've ever met, I'm not much use without my armor and shield, and I know very little woodcraft."
He rubs his chin thoughtfully. "I had been considering posing as a merchant wagon and a couple of guards, seems like less work to make them come to us." He chuckles softly. "Why, we might even find a merchant in need of escort and make a few coins in a sort of mutually beneficial arrangement."
Yuno nervously agrees. "I-I agree with Quodithas. The bandits... if they are ambushing people on the road... must be stopped. R-regardless of whether or not they are the ones we're looking for."
Bernard considers. "Elwin, I do not like the idea of splitting up. We do not know the number of bandits that plague the forest." He turns to Quodithas, "I do not believe we should put an innocent merchant at risk, but I agree that we should bait the attackers. Perhaps one of us could set up snares and pit traps around a site of our choosing ahead of time, then we camp nearby and make our presence obvious through a large campfire, talking and song. As they close in to attack, we catch a few of them in the traps, then jump into formation and defeat the ruffians?" He then looks towards the bloodied members of the conversation and seems to consider his words. "Forgive me if I make rash judgement, but I would see it that we do not end these men's lives. Banditry is more often the result of desperation than evil, in my experience." He stands straight backed, meeting the eyes of each of you - ready to challenge anybody who disagrees with his just mercy.
"The most important step a person can take is always the next one." - Dalinar Kholin; Oathbringer
Yuno says timidly but raising her voice a bit, "I... I'm sorry. I'm really sorry but I can't forgive them. I can't forgive people like the bandits who killed my sister. They... didn't have to hurt her but they did. T-They tortured and killed her. I can't forgive bandits for this. I'm... I'm sorry. If-If-If my weapon fells them... They will die so that others don't have to suffer."
If your Insight is higher than: 18 you notice the following:
Though Yuno isn't lying about her want to kill the bandits though she isn't being 100% honest when she says she can't forgive them.
Insight: 15
Bernard remains stoic but softens his glare somewhat. "We do not know if these were the bandits who caused you such pain. It would be wrong to treat them as such without evidence. Detaining them and returning them to the castellan for trial is the right thing to do. It is for her to decide who lives and dies." He looks thoughtful for a moment. "I have had many run-ins with bandits and seen good men fall to their swords and arrows. I am sure that we would all feel justified in revenge, but it is wrong." He again stands straight, almost like a soldier at attention. "Justice before judgement. That is how society prospers."
"The most important step a person can take is always the next one." - Dalinar Kholin; Oathbringer
Yuno keeps her head down and says, "I... I'll try. I'll try to not kill them. I won't make any promises though."
"Surely the merchants are already at risk as they're currently traveling through an area with bandits in it, all we'd be doing by accompanying them is providing extra security." He shrugs. "But I'd be just as happy to pose as a merchant with a wagon full of you all waiting to jump out and surprise them, or, even camp as you suggest."
He reaches in his backpack and pulls out a small bundle of burlap tied in several places with twine and hands it over to Bernard. "That's a set of manacles, I have two more of them, and I'll happily bring back any of them who surrender to face the justice of men, but I'm not going to hesitate to send those who resist on to the afterlife to face Torm's judgement." He looks extremely cold and distant for a moment. "They have chosen to ignore the law, an example must be made of them to discourage others from doing the same."
He nods to Bernard. "You appear to have more experience dealing with bandits than I do, I will defer to you in this. Know, however, that I will not hesitate to defend myself or my companions with deadly force..."
@Biri
(Totally possible, 25 gp will be charged and I'm also assuming a long rest.)
(@Virst Indeed! Thanks boss.)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
The young warlock rolled his eyes, but remained silent. He had just met this crew, and wasn't quite ready to throw away a perfectly promising chance at coin... but it took quite the effort to avoid responding to the man's declaration.
He had known the upper classes were soft people, but this? Maybe the man had been a cleric at one point? In any case, while there'd obviously be no reason to strike down any bandits who surrendered, Elwin had no intention of going easy on anyone who persisted in being a threat. If they fell, they fell. He made a mental note to keep an eye on this one.... his naiveté might just get someone hurt.
Insight: 9
He raised an eyebrow at the female. She seemed conflicted. But still willing to do what needed to be done.
Finally, after Quodithas spoke again, it seemed like a few options had been laid out. Camp? Guard? Or Pose?
"For the record," Elwin threw in, "My vote's to findin' some merchant to guard. Double coin, that."
Sterling - V. Human Bard 3 (College of Art) - [Pic] - [Traits] - in Bards: Dragon Heist (w/ Mansion) - Jasper's [Pic] - Sterling's [Sigil]
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
Noticing that there are six others in the room, Sanzor will sneak off to go try to find Biri.
Stealth check?: 2
(I'll put that interaction in the Shadow Hunters thread)
@Elwin due to Insight 19
You notice that Yuno seems to be lying about a lot of things. She is telling the truth about her sister being killed by bandits and that she will kill any bandit that fall by her blade. However, whenever she gets into her reasons for why she wants the bandits dead, things seems to get... iffy. As far as you can tell, she will help the party fight the bandits and she will kill the bandits but beyond that many of her words don't line up with her internal thoughts.
Yuno is getting a bit fidgety. She wants to get out there as soon as possible (and that is the truth). She waits patiently though and doesn't say anything.
A lone figure walks into Burle and up the road to the keep. The elven man travels light, wearing simple cloth attire well secured to his form with tied off strips. Over a shoulder is a full quiver of arrows and in his hand is an unstrung short bow. There are also darts secured to his clothing at convenient easy to reach spots.
The elf walks up to the the large board and reads some of the available bounties. Looking around for other adventurers and seeing none at that moment, the elf sits down crossed legged near the board and pulls a large tome out of his backpack, placing it just in front of him. Concentrating on his reading, the elf can be seen carefully and methodically practicing punches and strikes while he waits.
"It seems to me that accompanying a group of merchants already to be traveling with a second wagon full of us in hiding would be the better option. To the bandits, it would look like 2 loads worth of goods to steal, and so a better target for them, and we should be paid for the guarding by the merchants as well.", Janter states and nods to Elwin in agreement. He then glances around the surroundings adding, "So where do we get a second wagon around here? We'll likely be needing it to transport any captured thieves as well. Or perhaps said merchant may have an extra to use as well."
Me, Myself, and I