Above & Below

Quickly, Effort casts guidance on herself in preparation.  Then she says in a low, urgent voice, "Several things are approaching us rapidly from the forest.  They sound human and are being rather noisy.  And they either bring dogs, or are being chased by them.  Have your weapons ready, just in case."

Looking up, she tells Cadmael: Make yourself scarce, and keep your eyes open for danger.  Warn us from where it comes, if you can.

Cadmael hoots and attempts to disappear into the treetrops.  Stealth:  10

 Kurama nods silently to Effort before similarly finding a location, if any to hide behind (Stealth: 9).  If there's nothing of the sort around, Kurama will stand in a defensive position and wait for the approaching sounds to appear.

As you all scramble to hide, you realize that it's far too late. The first figure comes into view running, somewhat slumped over, through the forest. It's a woman - middle-aged, with stringy brown hair and a dirty house dress. She emerges from the trees as she notices you all, trying to halt her momentum and sliding onto her back. Her face is red and dirty, and she scrambles to get back up.

Two dogs come into view, picking their way through the trees. Just behind them, two men race to catch up. "Stop her!" One of them shouts when he sees you. They both wear armor - one chain, one plate - and have weapons holstered but in clear view. They're still about a hundred feet away, so details are tough to come by.

"We should stop her," Effort says as she watches them approaching, pulling out her rod.  "Either she will need our protection and they will attack us anyway for providing it, or she is dangerous and they obviously are not up to the job of catching her themselves... and then, we may need their help."

Whispering a few words, she casts thaumaturgy and her voice rolls across the distance, several times louder than normal.  "Identify yourselves immediately!"

Kurama gives Effort a nod of understanding before calling out the pursuers, "Can you share what is going on?  Why are you chasing her" 

The woman, just about on her feet, is so startled she falls backward with wide eyes. "I...my name is Shei, please...help."

The two soldiers stop in their tracks hearing Effort's booming voice. They turn to each other, say something indistinguishable, and then begin approaching again, albeit slower than before. "We are appointed knights and protectors of the Baron Gavid Farvigor of Sicklerville. We have been tasked, with all the authority of the Baron, to stop this woman and bring her before his excellence for justice."

As they get closer, you see that they are relatively well-equipped. The taller one wears chain mail and sports long, black hair. He's quite handsome, with a clean shaven face and some tattoos along his forearms. His right hand holds a small, circular shield, while he holds his other hand out as if to say we don't want any trouble. A longsword hangs from his belt. The other man is wearing full plate armor, and at this point he wields a morningstar. Slightly shorter and slightly heavier than his counterpart, he keeps stride with him as they get within thirty feet of you and stop. This second knight has a bald head with a dark beard. Both seem confident in their movements. They're close to the road at this point, with only a few trees between you.

The woman has kicked at the ground, pushing herself just behind you all, putting you between her and the two knights. "Step aside now, we've spent enough time chasing this one down."

Kurama Insight check: 9

(If he can only insight check one person/ group, he will check one of the guards)

"How fortuitous.  We have business with Baron Farvigor ourselves.  What crime is this Shei accused of?" Effort asks as she turns and studies the woman, looking her over.

Insight check on Shei: 13

Cadmael, she calls in her mind.  Look around a bit.  See if these two men are alone.  And tell me if you see any of the sort of beasts Gil and Ava warned us about nearby.... they might prove useful.

"This one was caught stealing from the market...right in front of the baron's home to boot!" One of the guards replies. "She pulled away from one of our colleagues and has been running all morning. Now it's time to face justice."

"I was stealing bread!" Shei looks to Effort with pleading eyes. "And I wouldn't have to-"

"ENOUGH." The larger man speaks up. He holds the chain of the large dog as he takes a few more steps closer. "Hand her over. We're happy to bring you before the baron if you seek him."

As far as you all can tell, they all seem to be telling the truth. This woman was caught stealing, but she seems to think it was justified. The two guards are doing their jobs as they were ordered. Cadmael does a quick pass through the woods and then rises above the tree line, searching for any other signs of life. DC15 Luck check: 13 A large field set back in the forest reveals a few smaller animals at its edge - perhaps a family of mule deer rooting around for any food. Cadmael doesn't see much beyond that. 

"We will of course help you escort her back to town," Effort says, walking over to the woman and taking her gently by the crook of the arm.  "However, as you were unable to catch her on your own, we will of course demand compensation for this service.  A meeting with your Baron, and a reduced sentence for her theft.  I will be willing to reimburse the cost of the goods stolen on her behalf, so whatever punishment you were planning to mete out should be mitigated accordingly."

Give me a persuasion check. 

Persuasion: 18

The taller, more composed guard loosens his grip on his sword. "We will happily escort you and your traveling companions to see the baron, but we cannot promise any of those other things you mention. The baron will decide what becomes of this one, and whether or not you will be rewarded."

"Please..." Shei pleads through tears. "He'll have my hands, or worse. I just needed some food."

"Should have thought of that before stealing," the other guard chimes in. He looks up at the gray sky, somehow able to discern a time. "It's getting late. We better get a move on if we want to get back to town before dark."

Sounds like the Baron's the man to see, says Brask agreeably to the taller guard, without sparing even a glance for the tearful woman.  Let's get to it. Ignore the thief, he adds to Effort, I'm sure these lads will make sure she gets what she deserves.  He winks at her, trying to indicate that he doesn't mean it. 

And he starts along the way with the guards, headed towards the town.  Do the guards seem talkative, and likely to want to chat with him?  Or are they all business?  Insight 9

Effort looks at Shei sternly.  "Come along without protest now.  We've done what we can for you."  Press a finger to her lips, she points at Shei and sends her a message.

We will not allow them to take your hands, or any other part of your body.  But we need access to this Baron to complete our own quest.  Will you assist us in this deception?

Shei's eyes grow wide for a moment. She looks down, and thinks There will only be more of them back in town. You seem capable but they won't give your mercy a chance. She stands up slowly, and the guard wearing plate armor gives a command to his dog, who sits down, sniffing at the ground. He ties up Shei's hands with a rope and they turn to head back toward town. 

Brask, the guards don't offer up anything, but the taller, dark-haired one has seemed more open to discussion than the other. 

Insight (on Effort & Brask): 16 (The roll will decide how Kurama acts)

Trusting that the others know what they are doing, Kurama will following along with whatever plan they have cooked up for the time being; prepared to act should thing go sideways in a hurry.

Walking behind Shei in the guise of keeping guard, Effort points her fingers at Brask, Kurama, and Pip, and keeps them up to speed on her plotting via message.

Here are my thoughts.  We talk to the guards, and whichever is more chatty, get him to relay to us where Sicklerville is and what it's like, and how to curry their Baron's favor.  Then we knock them out and let this Shei go, after similarly questioning her.  We then bind these guards and keep them incapacitated long enough to ensure they cannot complete their mission.  If this Baron is as generous as I suspect him to be, they will be punished as harshly as they would the woman for failing to bring her in, so they may not even be eager to return themselves.  If one has a better plan than this, I suggest you share it now.  I do not enjoy hurting dogs, after all.

So, Brask inquires amiably to the chattier guard, life in service to a baron, is it?  Never fancied it myself, but...  pays well, does it?  Good hours and all that?

"I do not have much gold, but perhaps bribery to look the other way could be an easier solution?  And if they say no, they we could enact your plan as a back-up."  Kurama offers.