Quote from Gorthmorg >>

"Witches curses... heavy stuff, po - but we can look into it for you. For now, take this and tell us what you can." Mal pulls out a gold coin and presses it gently into the beggar's hands.

Sila takes the coin her eyes, tear-stained as they are, bug out when she sees it is gold rather than copper.

Quote from KappyTheLimey >>

"No offence but I'd rather take my chances in the desert without water than deal with Witches," Cinta replies as she still scratches the sore shoulder.

Sila looks at her and bows deeply, " Most Honoured Cinta, The Nyols and Serpent-Blessed say that their southern homeland has a great desert the size of an ocean at its centre."

Quote from Al_the_bard >>

"I'll deal with Witches if it means helping someone," Uce adds. 

" Bless you, Wave-born."

Quote from Ismenow >>

Krikoris leans over to Uce, "How are witches different from any other magic user? I don't know about here, but back home, magic is fairly common."

Sila smiles at him, " If you need their help they are a dukun or balian or bomoh.....if you are their enemy....then they are a witch or dukun jahat"

Quote from IAmButADream >>

Persuasion if needed 9

"Sila, you tell us what we need to know. My friends here have paid you, more than you would see all year. Don't make them angry and me look like a fool. I told them you would help and you know that lifting your curse is a task beyond our measure."

" Most honoured Khutulun, I know it is a fools hope but am I not a fool?  Very Well......I saw a certain Smiling Seto last week in the evening, but he did not see me, I saw him mask himself before extorting Baman the Fish-seller."

" Also....there is one within this building. One of the work bosses by the name of Melu....I believe he knows something but he will not speak openly."

" I also know this.  Ketut Baranams lover was taken by bandits into the forest because they think Ketut will pay a ransom for him, but Ketuts family does not approve of the relationship and will not release funds for a ransom.  Ketut is a long time associate of Seto.....but he truly loves Abet.  Return him to him and you may have an insider in Setos court."

" Did you have any more of those shiny gold ingots?"

Looking up at the building that Sila points out, the monk nodes

"Well then, let us go have a talk to this Melu. Someone has to know the location of these bandits, we can't just go wandering through an entire forest and hope we find them."

Mal nods, and says "Agreed, I'm a better city guide than forest tracker. Thanks, po, but I'm sorry, that was the last of my shinies." He shrugs apologetically at Sila.

Sila looks disappointed and gets up to leave, " If your going after the bandits, word is that they have attacked farmers bringing goods in on the road a few hours from The Farm Gate."

" Good luck to you.", she picked up her alms bowl and meandered off down the street.

Krikoris steps towards Sila before she's able to leave, "Please, miss, take this for your help and if we are able to lift your blindness someday, I will try and return to do so." And he'll press a gold coin into her hand, not wanting to flash it around by dropping it into the bowl.

"Bandits, eh? I've had my fair share of them before. If you run a pike through their leader, they tend to run away afterwards," says Cinta who stopped leaning to allow the beggar to walk down the street. "Better bandits than witches."

Quote from Ismenow >>

Krikoris steps towards Sila before she's able to leave, "Please, miss, take this for your help and if we are able to lift your blindness someday, I will try and return to do so." And he'll press a gold coin into her hand, not wanting to flash it around by dropping it into the bowl.

 Sila bowed to Krikoris, though a little unsure, " Most honoured Stranger, Thankyou. I will count the days."

"If we know where the bandits are then let us leave and find them. Melu will be waiting for when we return but we do not know how long the bandits will keep there captive alive."

"I can definitely show you where the Farm Gate is, from there it shouldn't be hard to track the bandits - follow me!" Mal zips off through the crowd. 

Not wanting to lose sight of him the companions followed Malambing to the Farm Gate.

Along the center of the south wall of the town stands the broad Farm Gate. The farmers of the region bring their produce down from the foothills to the south where it is sold in the markets or held in the citys warehouses as supplies for times of need.

The district around the gate is given over to trade. Unlike the manufacturers of the Smoking Streets, the dealers at the Herdsman’s Gate trade in sundries, food and portable trade goods that might interest less affluent local residents. They  take silver or barter without complaint.

Order in the district is kept by a patrol of muscular Lokanan guardsmen who are quick to resolve scuffles with the butts of their spears and a few strokes of a club. Theft or false dealing are unhealthy things in Paraka, and serious deceptions will earn the culprit a place in the Cages.

Malambing knows that locals who need less-than-licit work done often haunt the drinking houses, where they can find some foreigner who will do the work and be gone before questions can be asked. 

( Opportunity to grab supplies if you need before heading out.  Just note purchases in OOC)

Krikoris follows along, calmly trying to take in as much of this foreign environment as he can, enjoying the difference from the near lifeless wasteland he can from.

(Should be good, no supplies yet.)

Khutulun follows along behind Malambing, her spear resting on her shoulder. She nodes to the guardsmen as she heads past towards the Farm Gate.

"I wonder the numbers of these bandits for they seem very bold."

The companions, some of them very recently part of the group, exited the farm gate. Rice fields dominated the landscape, dotted with lush stands of fruit trees and fields of taro and yams.  Workers in the fields stopped and stared at the unusual group, many of them making signs of obeisance as they noted the Orang Bunian among the group.  Child workers stared up at the huge Denawa and the solid orc.

After an hour or so the fields began to give way to rainforest and there was shade from the ever-present sun, they still passed carts heading into town loaded with farm goods but they were fewer now.

As they reached the area that Sila had spoken of they could see it had high banks either side of the trail and would allow any attackers to get very close indeed without being spotted.  As far as they could tell there was no one here currently....

 Cinta waves at the children as they walk by.

"Is dealing with bandits something you guys do on the regular?" she asks.

"Not so far, po, but these bandits are getting bold being this close to Parakan. Someone needs to do something about it," Mal says quietly, as he scans the brush for movement. Perception: 7

Khutulun nodes, flicking her spear off her shoulder and into her hands as she also looks around carefully at the lay of the land.

Perception 19

Krikoris gives a chilly smile, "I have to admit, it wouldn't be the first time I've had to eliminate bandits..." The smile fades as his voice trails off, "Though, in hindsight, those  bandits may have had the right of it."

Keeping a general eye out as he knows those who wish not to be seen will stay hidden Jupp chimes in "I've had my fair share and those I encounted back home usualy ended up six feet under, only ever lost one time but in the second round they found their maker"

Cinta smiles for there is nothing simpler than spanking an overeager bandit. She adjusts the padding to be a little more bearable for her shoulder as she brings down her pike into a forty-five-degree angle as her prosthetic whirls and clicks.

"Here I was, getting bored of the tales of the wannabe Smith adventurer until you turned up," smirks Cinta as she scans around for signs of movement.

(Not going to roll unless you need one DM, unsure if you want the group effort roll ruling or individual.)

Krikoris looks to the others, "I imagine it might be different here, but where I'm from, I'd just burn down the foliage until we found them. But from what our patroness said, that might go badly here."