PrP: Bandit Tree
The Guild of Explorers has received a contract that it labels as one of minor importance. A band of brigands has been waylaying travelers on a side road half a day out from the city. Small an opportunistic, many travelers have been robbed along the route, but few have had the means to do anything about it. The brigands seem to stick to taking on those who are disadvantaged in order to keep a low profile and disuade reprisals, however they misjudged one particular victim and have now drawn more attention than they would have liked.
Klindon Rommersplatch is a lucht historian from Alexandria who was returning from a research trip when he was wayland in the early hours of the morning while trying to make it back to the city without making the last stop. They knocked him out and took his belongings which included a rare figure that was to be the focus of a long running project. Upon making it back to town he has used a considerable portion of his research grant money to hire the Explorer's Guild to take back the figurine, a granite carving of a canine figure that dates back several thousand years.
Sigrid of course volunteers to help. "I will aid you. The Platinum Dragon guards all." She smiles warmly, but the huge sword on her hip looks pretty serious.
Veloria gets her first assignment from the guild and is perfectly okay with the fact that it is a minor contract. Her faith had been urging her to take up arms more and more recently, despite her devotion in prayer and study. She joins up at the appropriate place at the appointed time, ready to adventure.
The trip towards the rumored location is easy and straightforward. It is a well traveled road, though not well maintained, and is frequented more by those who are poorer and usually on foot. More wealth travelers with horses and carts and wagons stick to better maintained roads. The general location was given about a half day out from Alexandria, but it was left up to the adventurers to decide how they want to approach the assignment.
<OOC> Kailin says, "So you guys decide the time of day you want to get there."
<OOC> Sigrid says, "I have lowlight, so dawn or dusk is fine."
Sigrid introduces herself to Veloria, and will don a heavy cloak for this, so it's not completely obvious she's a paladin in shining armor. There's no hiding her size, but hopefully that won't deter predators.
<OOC> Veloria says, "Same here. I'd recommend dawn so if things go wrong,they'll have less darkness to hide in as things stretch on."
<OOC> Sigrid says, "Good call."
Veloria greets Sigrid, introducing herself as a cleric of Kor. She suggests, "I'd recommend we drawn them to us rather than trying to find them. Just look harmless enough." She motions towards Sigrid and says, "I don't know if you can do anything about your size. Maybe stoop over or something similar? Failing that maybe lie in wait and I'll use myself as bait."
<OOC> Kailin says, "You guys decide how to proceed ICly then pose heading out and I'll continue from my end."
Sigrid nods to Veloria, but says, "I'll just think small thoughts, how about that? Otherwise, I'd have to sneak along, and that'd never work." She chuckles softly.
Veloria shrugs at that with a smile and says, "It will have to do. We'll figure it out one way or another." And with that, they set off towards the appointed location through the night with the aim to arrive just before dawn.
<OOC> Kailin says, "Roll survival to see how well you can find the exact right spot."
GAME: Veloria rolls survival: (10)+4: 14
GAME: Sigrid rolls survival: (2)+1: 3
The stretch of road where the attacks take place cover around a mile stretch but Veloria can narrow that down to about a quarter mile, well within sightline from one end to the other. Somewhere in that area, the brigands were targeting people, but whether they were there that night or somewhere else nearby was yet to be determined.
<OOC> Kailin says, "Perception checks."
GAME: Sigrid rolls perception: (20)+3: 23
GAME: Veloria rolls perception: (10)+6: 16
You paged Sigrid with 'Someone is nearby. The area is too quite. The birds have silenced. I'll roll for them to see how well they are hidden.'
GAME: Kailin rolls 3 + 5: (2)+3+5: 10
GAME: Kailin rolls 10 + 5: (3)+10+5: 18
GAME: Kailin rolls 3+5: (12)+3+5: 20
You paged Sigrid with 'You see three individuals hiding in the trees and are fairly certain that you haven't missed anyone. One individual is on the north side of the road about 100' from where you are, the other two are on the south side of the road about 60' where you are. They are positioned so that you pass by the two on the south and they can drop in behind you while the one on the north cuts off your escape. But you haven't yet passed between them.'
You paged Sigrid with 'You're traveling east, btw, on an east-west road.'
Sigrid speaks sotto voce to Veloria, "Up ahead, right there. They're hiding now. Listen, no birds or animals, it's all quiet here." In a normal voice, she says, "I sure hope we're not attacked." Quietly again, "Two to the south side, one to the north. When we pass, they'll drop in behind us. They we'll turn on them. Just keep going normally for now."
<OOC> Veloria says, "Can I see where they are when she points them out?"
<OOC> Kailin says, "Sure. You both have low light vision. You see three individuals hiding in the trees. One individual is on the north side of the road about 100' from where you are, the other two are on the south side of the road about 60' where you are. They are positioned so that you pass by the two on the south and they can drop in behind you while the one on the north cuts off your escape. But you haven't yet passed between them. You're traveling east on an east-west road."
Veloria adjusts her own cloak to keep herself unencumbered and whispers, "Why let them get the drop on us? Why don't we attack them instead? If we attack the two closest to us, it'll give us a moment with them alone before the one further down the road can even join in. Knock them strait out of the trees."
Sigrid shakes her head. "If we do that and win too fast, the last one will run off. I think it's better to get all of them face to face." She walks along nonchallantly, not watching the woods now, but readying herself for action.
Veloria nods and says, "But I prefer that to being cut down while surrounded. You're a fighter, but me, not so much. If I go down quickly, I'll be of little use to you and my spells of healing won't be much help either." In any event she casts minor spells as they discuss the plan, keeping her back to the road ahead so that the muggers can't see or hear what she is doing.
<OOC> Veloria says, "Casting Virtue and Guidance on us both. 1 temp hp and +1 to first attack roll."
Sigrid says quietly to Veloria, "OK, how about this, then? As soon as the backup man starts moving, we turn on the two? It'll take him a bit of time to get to us if we're going after his buddies, and in the meantime, we'll just have the two to take down."
Veloria gives Sigrid a quick nod. "Fair enough compromise." She casts another spell and turns back around to continue down the road. "May Kor be with us."
<OOC> Veloria says, "Casting Bless for +1 to attack."
<OOC> Sigrid says, "Does that stack with Guidance?"
<OOC> Veloria says, "I believe so, let me check."
<OOC> Veloria says, "Yeah."
<OOC> Sigrid says, "Sweet."
<OOC> Veloria says, "Different types. Competance and morale."
The brigands do indeed wait until the travelers have passed between them before they begin to lower themselves to the ground. They creep down from behind the trunks and hang down from the lowest branches to drop to the dirt road, cutting off the west and east escape routes. The single man in front wears a cloak and does not try to hide while the two behind do remain as quiet as possible. The man in front holds up a hand and says, "Stop there. We'll be taking your belongings. If you give us trouble we'll be taking a bit of fun. And yer lives."
<OOC> Sigrid says, "Ah, I didn't realize they'd all close at once. That's OK, though. How close are both groups?"
<OOC> Kailin says, "20' on either side."
<OOC> Sigrid says, "OK. Can I partial-charge the group behind us, hoping to catch them by surprise. And if we have full actions, I'd like to do the move-action detect evil."
<OOC> Kailin says, "You do have full actions still. I don't there there is such thing as a partial charge, though. A regular charge is full round action."
<OOC> Sigrid says, "There used to be, for when you didn't have a full round available. Like in a surprise round. But OK. I won't use the smite. I will use Power Attack."
GAME: Sigrid rolls initiative: 6 + 1 = 7
GAME: Veloria rolls initiative: 3 + 2 = 5
GAME: You roll initiative for Leader: Roll: 4 + Bonus: 3 = Total: 7
GAME: You roll initiative for Thug 1: Roll: 17 + Bonus: 3 = Total: 20
GAME: You roll initiative for Thug 2: Roll: 12 + Bonus: 3 = Total: 15
<OOC> Kailin says, "Alright, so as soon as you start to go, they do as well and they get the jump on you."
<OOC> Kailin says, "Thug 1 will attack Sigrid, Thug 2 Veloria, then Leader will flank Sigrid."
GAME: Kailin rolls 6: (17)+6: 23
GAME: Kailin rolls 6: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Kailin rolls 7 + 2: (16)+7+2: 25
<OOC> Kailin says, "Two hits on Sigrid."
GAME: Kailin rolls 1d6 +2: (5)+2: 7
GAME: Kailin rolls 1d6+2: (6)+2: 8
GAME: You damaged Sigrid for 7 points. 18 remaining.
GAME: You damaged Sigrid for 8 points. 10 remaining.
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 20.
It is now Thug 1's turn! Thug 2 is next!
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 15.
It is now Thug 2's turn! Leader is next!
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 7.
It is now Leader's turn! Sigrid is next!
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 7.
It is now Sigrid's turn! Veloria is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed on Sigrid ended.
The brigands are ready for a fight, they have laid the trap and the two figures have walked right into it. They see the movement of resistance and react first, closing the distance and striking out with clubs. One gets a good smash on Sigrid but the other fumbles on the approach and drops his weapon completely. The leader moves almost as quickly and closes with a handaxe that lands upon Sigrid with effectiveness.
<OOC> Kailin says, "You're up Sigrid. What do you want to do?"
<OOC> Sigrid says, "OK, now since they're right up on us. Move to detect evil on thug 1, attack thug 1, swift to Lay On Hands on myself."
<OOC> Kailin says, "Roll out what needs rolling."
<OOC> Kailin says, "The thugs are not showing as evil."
<OOC> Sigrid says, "OK. No smite. No charge, so +2 for spells, -1 for PA."
GAME: Sigrid rolls 1d20+8: (6)+8: 14
<OOC> Kailin says, "Hit, barely."
GAME: Sigrid rolls 2d6+9: (8)+9: 17
<OOC> Veloria says, "Cool. Thank goods for level 0 spells."
<OOC> Sigrid says, "Yes, very!"
<OOC> Veloria says, "Just remember it only lasts the 1 attack."
<OOC> Kailin says, "He is moderately hurt."
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 5.
It is now Veloria's turn! Thug 1 is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed on Veloria ended.
GAME: Sigrid rolls 1d6: (1): 1
<OOC> Sigrid says, "that's my LOH. :("
Sigrid has decided to fight just in time - the enemy is attacking her! Well, at least it's no surprise, though she's injured twice as the leader and one of the flunkies wound her. Putting her all into taking out one of the flunkies, hoping to eliminate him from the fight in one shot, she spins and slams her sword into him. She doesn't take him out, but she's done her best! "Fiends, taste the punishment of Daeus!" she shouts.
GAME: You damaged Sigrid for -1 points. 11 remaining.
<OOC> Veloria says, "5' step away and cast spiritual weapon on Thug 1."
<OOC> Kailin says, "Roll what needs rolling."
GAME: Veloria rolls 6 + 2: (2)+6+2: 10
<OOC> Veloria says, "Attack roll. :-("
<OOC> Kailin nods. "Miss."
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 20.
It is now Thug 1's turn! Thug 2 is next!
Veloria steps back away from the fighting as the bandits come rushing it at them, grimacing. Once away by virtue of just a single step she unlesashes a spell against the bandit who has attacked Sigrid and a greatsword appears in the air, slashing at the man. It swings wide, though and misses its target.
<OOC> Kailin says, "Same attacks as last round for them."
GAME: Kailin rolls 6 + 2: (10)+6+2: 18
GAME: Kailin rolls 6: (8)+6: 14
GAME: Kailin rolls 7 + 2: (2)+7+2: 11
<OOC> Kailin says, "All misses this time." GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 15.
It is now Thug 2's turn! Leader is next!
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 7.
It is now Leader's turn! Sigrid is next!
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 7.
It is now Sigrid's turn! Veloria is next!
<OOC> Sigrid says, "Whew. I am not the dead."
<OOC> Sigrid says, "Same as before, but the detect evil on the leader. Attack is still on the same guy."
GAME: Sigrid rolls 1d20+7: (4)+7: 11
<OOC> Sigrid says, "I don't guess I can flank with the hammer?"
<OOC> Kailin says, "No evil their either."
<OOC> Kailin says, "Does the spiritual weapon give a flank?"
<OOC> Veloria says, "Unfortunately no."
The bandits continue to press their advantage, recoverying weapons as necessary, but they can't score a hit, even with Sigrid flanked. They swing and manage to glance off armor or miss completely. The one who dropped his weapon manages to retrieve it before closing in on the cleric again.
<OOC> Kailin says, "Miss there then."
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 5.
It is now Veloria's turn! Thug 1 is next!
<OOC> Veloria says, "Weapon attacks and I'll move back again and cast hold person on the leader."
<OOC> Kailin says, "Roll away"
GAME: Veloria rolls 6: (16)+6: 22
<OOC> Sigrid says, "Oh, mt swift heal again"
GAME: Sigrid rolls 1d6: (5): 5
<OOC> Kailin nods. "That hits, Vel."
GAME: You damaged Sigrid for -5 points. 16 remaining.
GAME: Veloria rolls 1d8+1: (1)+1: 2
Sigrid dodges the bandits attacks, her cloak billowing out to spoil their aim. She hacks with an overhead chop at the bandit befoer her, but he dodges out of the way. Grumbling, she demands, "Surrender now. You face a Sunguard, there is no victory here for you!"
<OOC> Veloria says, "Meh."
<OOC> Veloria says, "Will save for the leader."
GAME: Kailin rolls 2: (16)+2: 18
<OOC> Veloria says, "That passes, I believe."
<OOC> Veloria sighs.
<OOC> Kailin says, "The leader is not held."
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 20.
It is now Thug 1's turn! Thug 2 is next!
Veloria moves back again, working in retreat as she works another prayer, this time directed at the leader of the group. The magic attempts to hold him in place, but he fights it off and the spell falls flat.
GAME: Kailin rolls 6 + 2: (4)+6+2: 12
GAME: Kailin rolls 6: (18)+6: 24
GAME: Kailin rolls 7 + 2: (10)+7+2: 19
<OOC> Kailin says, "Veloria is hit."
GAME: Kailin rolls 1d8 + 3: (4)+3: 7
GAME: You damaged Veloria for 7 points. 9 remaining.
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 15.
It is now Thug 2's turn! Leader is next!
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 7.
It is now Leader's turn! Sigrid is next!
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 7.
It is now Sigrid's turn! Veloria is next!
<OOC> Sigrid says, "Same again"
GAME: Sigrid rolls 1d20+7: (7)+7: 14
<OOC> Kailin says, "Hit, barely."
GAME: Sigrid rolls 2d6+9: (6)+9: 15
<OOC> Sigrid says, "And LOH self"
The bandits continue to press, undeterred by the resistance of the two females. The leader somehow mangages to continue in the fight and the cleric takes a hit from the uninjured individual, a smash of the club that stings more than just a little.
GAME: Sigrid rolls 1d6: (1): 1
GAME: You damaged Sigrid for -1 points. 17 remaining.
<OOC> Kailin says, "He looks severely hurt now but still barely stands."
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 5.
It is now Veloria's turn! Thug 1 is next!
Sigrid fights on, despite the odds, undeterred and fearless as her armor deflects the bandits' attacks. She swings her greatsword again in a flat arc, wounding the man she's fighting, though he's still not going down. "If I hit you again, you'll die," she warns him. "Stand down now, and you live!"
<OOC> Sigrid says, "These guys have a ton of HP."
<OOC> Veloria says, "Weapon attacks, move away, cast cure light wounds. on self."
<OOC> Kailin says, "Roll on."
GAME: Veloria rolls 6: (10)+6: 16
GAME: Veloria rolls 1d8+1: (3)+1: 4
<OOC> Kailin says, "That hits and drops it unconscious"
<OOC> Kailin says, "Oh wait, it is not unconscious. It is disabled."
<OOC> Sigrid says, "ZOMG. I was worried. WHat CR are these guys?"
<OOC> Kailin says, "3. Blame the combat manager."
<OOC> Kailin says, "It had lots of hp. Great rolls on hit dice."
<OOC> Kailin says, "For your sanity, I will say that it had the most of the 3."
GAME: Veloria rolls 1d8 + 3: (6)+3: 9
<OOC> Veloria says, "Healing"
GAME: You damaged Veloria for -9 points. 16 remaining.
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 20.
It is now Thug 1's turn! Thug 2 is next!
<OOC> Kailin says, "The downed one is going to try to crawl away. The other two press their regular attacks."
GAME: Kailin rolls 6: (3)+6: 9
GAME: Kailin rolls 7: (7)+7: 14
<OOC> Kailin says, "Misses."
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 15.
It is now Thug 2's turn! Leader is next!
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 7.
It is now Leader's turn! Sigrid is next!
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 7.
It is now Sigrid's turn! Veloria is next!
<OOC> Sigrid says, "Hack the second thug."
GAME: Sigrid rolls 1d20+7: (14)+7: 21
The great axe waving in the air catches the bandit in the back and the man falls, though not compltely out of it. Continuing to move away, Veloria heals her own wounds, mending what might be broken bones in order to stay conscious and keep the spiritual weapon in the fight.
<OOC> Kailin says, "Hit"
GAME: Sigrid rolls 2d6+9: (4)+9: 13
<OOC> Sigrid says, "And last LOH"
GAME: Sigrid rolls 1d6: (2): 2
The downed brigand tries to crawl away, its wounds sending it reeling. It knows death is near and suddenly his instincts for self preservation overwhelm his ego and greed. The other two continue to press, sure that they can get the two females to fall before things get too much worse. But all the healing. They think they are making ground, but they can't quite tell how wrong they are. Both of them miss, trying to keep up with the women.
GAME: You damaged Sigrid for -2 points. 19 remaining.
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 5.
It is now Veloria's turn! Thug 1 is next!
Sigrid fights on, glad that the one fellow's no longer fighting. She doesn't have the concentration to spare to follow after him, she's still fighting two enemies, and it's a bit hairy, still. "Surrender now!" she demands, though they're clearly not listening, and she slashes him with her greatsword, and he's not happy with that after all.
<OOC> Veloria says, "Flank the second bandit and swing my weapon. Other weapon attacks the second bandit."
<OOC> Kailin says, "Roll"
GAME: Veloria rolls melee + 1: (17)+2+1: 20
GAME: Veloria rolls 6: (9)+6: 15
<OOC> Kailin says, "Both hit"
GAME: Veloria rolls 1d8: (8): 8
GAME: Veloria rolls 1d8 + 1: (7)+1: 8
<OOC> Veloria says, "Geez."
<OOC> Kailin says, "Luck is not with that guy. He's down. Unconscious."
Veloria takes postion in front of the bandit now, no longer running. She lifts her morningstar and swings it with a thrust of her thin arm. The head of the weapon catches the surprised bandit in the face while the battle axe hovering midair slices him in the back. He goes down hard and Veloria looks a little surprised herself.
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Five - Init 20.
It is now Thug 1's turn! Thug 2 is next!
<OOC> Kailin says, "Ah, leader. Its going to turn and try to take out the cleric to even the odds."
<OOC> Veloria says, "Eek."
GAME: Kailin rolls 7: (11)+7: 18
<OOC> Kailin says, "Hit."
GAME: Kailin rolls 1d6 + 2: (6)+2: 8
GAME: You damaged Veloria for 8 points. 8 remaining.
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Five - Init 15.
It is now Thug 2's turn! Leader is next!
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Five - Init 7.
It is now Leader's turn! Sigrid is next!
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Five - Init 7.
It is now Sigrid's turn! Veloria is next!
<OOC> Sigrid says, "I'd like to move to flank, then attack him with PA."
<OOC> Kailin says, "roll it"
GAME: Sigrid rolls 1d20+9: (13)+9: 22
<OOC> Kailin says, "Hit"
GAME: Sigrid rolls 2d6+9: (5)+9: 14
<OOC> Kailin says, "Hurting"
The leader is really feeling the pressure now that both of his allies have fallen. He turns on the smaller cleric and swings, his axe catching Veloria as she looks on stunned at the ally she felled. But it isn't enough to take her down and he still has two opponents, both of whom seem stronger now than when they started. The fear in his eyes is evident as he realizes his position is not a good one.
GAME: Kailin advances the initiative order.
Round Five - Init 5.
It is now Veloria's turn! Thug 1 is next!
<OOC> Veloria says, "Swing back at him. Axe attack."
<OOC> Kailin nods. "roll it."
GAME: Veloria rolls melee + 1 + 2: (15)+2+1+2: 20
Sigrid sees the second thug fall, and says, "This is your last chance, friend. Do you want to die so badly?" She moves around to flank with Veloria, and swings her greatsword, wounding him in the side. "You know I'll honor a surrender. Why do you keep fighting? You can't win."
GAME: Veloria rolls 6: (17)+6: 23
<OOC> Kailin says, "Both hit"
GAME: Veloria rolls 1d8: (2): 2
GAME: Veloria rolls 1d8+1: (7)+1: 8
<OOC> Kailin says, "He's in really bad shape after those. Critical."
Veloria takes a slash to her side but turns on the leader and is consumed with the battlelust born of her god. She swings her weapon again and again it connects, the great axe doing the same behind him as he is surrounded. She gives a bloodthirsty cry that is uncharacteristic of her calm demeanor after having slain her first foe in combat.
GAME: Kailin removes the timestop.
Timestop by Kailin has left.
GAME: You remove the timestop.
The last of the bandits drops his weapon and holds up his hands. "I relent! Have mercy, on your gods names! Have mercy!" He is definitely in fear fo his life and has surmised that there is no way he could have defeated the two women the way they had turned the battle on them. One of the bandits still crawls away, intent on trying to get back into the forest with his life while the leader surrenders.
Sigrid accepts the leader's surrender, kicking away his weapon so he can't change his mind so easily. "If you break faith, it will go hard on you," she says sternly. She says to Valoria, "Can you keep that fellow from dying," glancing over to the fallen one, "I'll run down our last friend." And so saying, she runs after the fellow staggering away. "You'll be seeing the inside of a cell," she assures him.
Veloria looks to the fallen one and then to the leader as she is left with him. Her eyes hold almost no compassion and she considers what she should do. For the sake of her ally in this fight, without whom she would not have made it, she kneels barely and touches the man on the ground with the tip of her finger, stopping any progress to death's door he may have had. She stands again immediately, keeping her eys on the surrendering leader. She stands back, far enough to allow him to run, almost daring him to make a move...
The one crawling away stops when Sigrid is on him, almost thankful to not have to push through his pains anymore. A jail cell was not such a bad alternative to the possibilities before him. He collapses and rests, giving in to being taken prisoner. The leader, in the meanwhile sees the opportunity before him. He looks at the cleric and while his body has the urge to flee, the look in the cleric's eyes tells him quite clearly that it is a trap. And so he makes no move, staying frozen where he is, fearful that even a slight twitch might given reason to the cleric who seems to have no sense of concern for law or mercy as the paladin does.
Sigrid picks the villain up by his belt like a sack of groceries, and carries him back to join his companions. They're, she'll sort out binding them in a coffle, so they can't easily get away. "Well," she says to Veloria, "It looks like this wraps things up." To the leading villian, she demands, "Are there any more of your ilk around here?"
Veloria watches the leader, but he makes no moves which would allow her to act in good faith with her weapon. Instead, she tends to her own wounds and helps bind the prisoners before looking back to Sigrid. "We still have to find the figurine. That's why we're here." She flicks a hand dismissively to the bandits, "Capturing this filth is just charity work."
The leader of the bandits shakes his head to Sigrid and says, "No, its just us. We're just trying to survive like the rest of folks. Everyone has to eat." He looks grom Sigrid to Veloria incredulously. "That's what this is about? You hunted us down for a rock? Killed my friend? Half killed another? For some stone!?"
Sigrid had completely forgotten the figurine. She was focused entirely on defeating the bandits! "You're right," she says, laughing. Turning to the leader, she demands, "Did you rob a halfling recently? With a rare figurine?" Ah, they had! "Where is your loot?" she demands.
Veloria shakes her head at the leader. "Actually, if I had been given my way that is exactly what would have happened. But the kind lady here gave you an opportunity to leave us be in peace. You're the one that came down out of your trees and tried to rob us, rape us, and/or kill us." She shrugs and says, "But had I been allowed to simply attack you in your trees you might actually have had a point. Not that I would have cared of it." She slashes her hand, ending that line of conversation. "Now answer the question, where is the figurine?"
Enraged, befuddled, the leader stumbles over his words as he literally foams at the mouth. "Wha-- If-- You---" He shakes his head and says, "Are you robbing us now? All that about, cutting us down, luring us into your trap and you're no better than us? You want a figurine after all that?" He shouts, angrily now. "You can have it in the hells of your gods. I'm not giving you a thing! If you want it, you can find it yourself. You killed my friend!"
Sigrid looks sternly at the fellow and shakes her head ruefully. "You attacked us. Don't cast us as aggressors. And we're not robbing you, since you stole it in the first place, it's simply returning stolen property. As far as killing your friend," she says, sighing heavily, "You all tried pretty hard to kill us, so you can't call us down for defending ourselves. Now will you tell us, or will she," she looks over to Veloria, "need to pry it out of you." There's a spell for that, she's pretty sure.
Veloria looks from Sigrid then turns about the area and pauses on the unconscious man. She can make the man speak only the truth, but she knows well that people usually just refuse to say anything at all. She slowly looks back to the leader and says calmly, "Your friend is not dead. He just looks it. If you give us the figurine, I'll see about letting you be released." She adds quickly, "But I make no promises that we or some other group won't come back to hunt you down if you remain in the area. We've disassembled your band of bandits and you'll plague this spot no more. So we have done good." She looks to Sigrid at that, then back to the leader. "But we are here to complete a job and so we shall be merciful with your freedom. The figurine for the rest of your life. I suggest you make better choices with it this time."
The leader considers the two women before it and sees that he has leverage to play. Looking back and forth between Sigrid and Veloria he shakes his head at Sigrid. "You won't let her torture me. It isn't in your nature to allow torture for material gain, Deusite." He looks to Veloria and shakes his head again. "And you'd just as soon kill me as free me. I don't believe a thing that comes out of your mouth." He looks back at Sigrid and says, "Your word. I want your word, on your god, that if I give you the figurine, you'll let me go and won't come back out looking for me until you've been inside the city walls once again." He adds, "And I'll also give you my word that I won't take up banditry again. Not after this..."
Sigrid hrms thoughtfully. "I am indeed a Sunblade," she admits freely. "But you mistake my purpose. I am hired to find this trinket. But the service of justice and the Platinum Dragon is a higher calling. You won't be tortured, but that doesn't mean we won't have the information out of you. And if you're srtonger than the magic, I know half a dozen trackers with the guild that could stand here and lead me back to your lair as if they'd known it all the time. But if you tell us where this thing is, you have my word I'll stand at your trial and recommend leniency." After all, he's a bandit, she's got no reason to trust -his- word.
Veloria narrows his eyes at the leader, but adds nothing to Sigrid's offer. She's happy to stick with that offer if the bandit will accept it. She smolders instead, pondering her next move, however if he does not.
The leder considers the to women again and after a time he shakes his head. "No deal. I'll never get a fair trial in that city. If I could, I wouldn't be forced to make a living this way. Its full of people it would grind under the wheel of progress to make the rich richer and the powerful more powerful. Any number of people would be glad to see a bandit hang, legitimate or not. No deal. Bring your friends and search the wood. You'll not find your silly stone." He says again, "I want the original deal. I give you the rock, and we walk... those of us who can walk."
Sigrid shrugs her shoulders as the man refuses to deal. "A fair trial," she says, "would see you hang. That's the price of banditry. So don't complain too much about not getting one. I would have seen you got mercy and lived on, but if you won't have it, then we'll see what we can do with the trackers." And the other two, when we can get them alone. As far as walking or no, she'll clean her sword and stow it, then pick up either man by the back of his belt and carry him. "Back to the city, then?" she says to Veloria.
Veloria looks annoyed at the turn of events but there's only so much she can do. "I don't want to leave quite yet. I'd like to get this done here and now. This is my first assignment and I'd like to get it right." She was pressing hard now as she motions to the leader. "Why don't you take that one off a ways and leave me with the other two. Time him to a tree or hang him from a branch or some such nonsense." She steeples her fingers and says, "I have a feeling at least one of the other two will be much more open to the deal. I think we spared that one too quickly and he did not come close enough to death."
The idea of splitting them up and talking to the others separately does not sit well with the leader. "Don't go exploiting the hurt and wounded. They can't make proper decisions hurt as they are. That's taking advantage of the helpless. Don't let her do this." He implores to Sigrid. "It isn't the goodly thing to do. Its something I would do and I'm the worst of the bunch. You can't be like me. Take us in, properly." He says, belatedly, "If you leave them alone she'll torture them. I can see it in her eyes. She's like that. She's like me. Don't leave her alone with them, I beg you. By Deus."
Sigrid sighs wistfully, but shakes her head. "The convenience is tempting," she says. "But I will not see anyone tortured. Particularly not for a lucht's trinket. We will ask the others when they wake up. I think that is sufficient. Or do you think it would be easier to wait here until they come around? I am all right with that." The man's getting on her nerves, though, one minute imploring her to do right, the next admitting he's a horrible person. "You know," she says frankly to Veloria. "The more this one talks, the more I think that it'd be a waste of time to hang him. I will stand as judge here and now, and listen to his confession and pass sentence." She puts the others down and places her hand on her sword. To the leader, she asks, "I will say this one more time, and then I will act. Tell us where the halfling's statue is, and we will recommend mercy. And if you do not, I will judge you here and now, and we will see what your friends have to say."
Veloria shakes her head to Sigrid. "I won't torture anyone. But I can offer them healing and I believe that it should suffice. There is nothing to lose by trying. But either way, I do think we should remain until we find it. I'll even try to track their path myself if I have to." She motions to the leader. "But if you are willing to judge that one here and now, I say do that first. It will provide motivation for the others to speak and we shall be done with this journey."
The bandit leader looks back and forth between them but focuses on Sigrid. "You won't. You won't murder me out her in the forest like a dog. It is not something you would do. Just take us all in and be done with it. I'd rather face the judges in the city. At least there I will die in the company of others. Not alone in the middle of nowhere."
Sigrid unsheaths her sword with a ringing sound, and eyes the edge. She pushes the bandit leader into a kneeling position, and declares, "In the name of Daeus, the Platinum Dragon, the Master of Law. I am called to judge this man for his crimes. There are no others here who have stronger claim, so it is left to me to issue judgement." Standing to one side, she lifts her sword. "This man did attack myself and Veloria this day, and has committed other acts of banditry in the past. He is neither repentant, nor will he relinquish items he stole to their original owners." She looks to the bandit leader. "That's right, isn't it? Last chance...." She'll let him speak up if he will. "The King's law is death for bandits," she goes on. "And with no mitigating circumstances, I can see no other alternative but to carry out that sentence." She'll pause again if he wants to speak up.
Veloria looks on in quiet, allowing the event and watching with anticipation. She crosses her robed arms over her chest and stands patiently for the judgment.
The bandit leader tenses at first, but then relaxes, watching her as if watching a performance. He does speak up when allowed and says, "Deus, your follower here accuses me unjustly. She says I stole something but has no proof at all. She says I attacked her, but I did not. You attacked us. Am I guilty of trying to rob you... That's debatable. Who's to say if it were even true? But is a few coppers punishable by death? That's tyranny. Even tyrants don't execute over petty theft. As for attacking, you drew on us first! We just reacted to that. You gonna execute yourself? And you got no right to say what we've done in the past. You don't know. You got no witnesses and no credibility. We were just looking out for ourselves and you cut us down." He has an answer for everything.
Sigrid pauses, her sword half-raised. "No proof? You /admitted/ to robbing the lucht," whoops, "when you tried to bargain his trinket for your freedom. And you attacked us first, let me remind you. I still have a bit of ache left from that. As for the law, the law says bandits are to be killed. It does not ask how much they stole. Leniency is possible, but you, yourself, ask for none. And now, you try to bandy words when there are none that will save you. I will not be browbeaten by a liar and a highwayman. I have a witness," she nods to Veloria, "and I have all the credibility in the world. In the name of the Platinum Dragon, I sentence you to death. May Vardama have mercy on your soul." And so saying, she'll bring the sword down to lop off his head.
Veloria watches with a grin as she rebukes the man's defense, but even she is surprised when she sentences him to death. She quickly gets the conscious bandit a good and clear position to see the act before the head is removed, making sure he sees the act. When its all over, she whispers to him, "Tell us what we want to know or you're next..."
The man's eyes widen a bit before his head comes off. It is clear that he did not think that would happen, but when Sigrid catches him in one of his lies he realizes that he's in trouble. Just before the sword comes in he calls out, "Wai--" but then his head is rolling and the matter is settled. For the other bandit's part, he does not want to play games. He was happy to remain quiet when he was forgotten about, but when the focus turns to him, he weakly shakes his head. If he were not so close to death there may be more frantic terror in him, but as he is, he can just barely speak clearly. "Mercy for me, please. I think what you want is in his pocket. We didn't know it was worth anything. It was just... a thing." He quiets then and speaks up to clarify, lest they think him lying too. "Inside of his breeches, not the outside like normal. Secret pocket at the front." He lays his head back again and continues to try not to die.
Sigrid would have held her blow when the man called wait, but there just wasn't time. How does a person not believe a paladin when she tells you she's going to do it? She peers at the confessor, and says, "Thank you sir. I will recommend mercy for you at the magistrate." She'll search for this secret pocket, then, and see if we've got what we came for.
Veloria smiles widely then and calls, "Bravo. And now we can be done with this. Let us be home. I don't even care to bring these men in anymore. Just to finish our job and be done with it. These kinds of decisions are more than I want to have to make." She chuckles softly, ignoring the execution for the successful result of their mission.
The figure in is indeed tucked away on an inside pocket of the leader's pants, along with a few other gems and platinum coins, tucked fully against the leader's bare crotch. However in the headless man's condition, there's nothing sexual about it. The figurine is indeed granite, with jagged carvings that make it a vague repesentation of an animal. It is certainly nothing pretty or fantastical, but it seems to be what all the fuss was about.
Sigrid now has to clean off her sword again, and she re-sheathes it. "We must still bring them in," she says. "And a magistrate will hear of their crimes, and of their repentance, and I will speak on this one's behalf, and then the judge will issue an apprpriate judgement." She'll take the figurine after showing it to Veloria, but the rest, she'll leave.