Life on the Frontier (IC)

[EclecticGuru]

Spoiler: Prelude

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PRELUDE
(From the POV of the Adventurers)

"So its a three day trip on the road to get to that trading post, what's it called ... Left Leg's?" Blazec waved his hand in a round-about dismissive manner.

"Ooch, lad. It's Oleg's Trading Post, and its five days. But we'll have a few stops along the way to re-provision, so we won't need to worry about all the last minute gear until we get to the trading post." Dragan was calculating in his head how many rations they'd need, how much everything would weigh, and so forth.

"What about them?" Andrei indicated the rather sizable entourage that they had assembled, mostly at Dragan's request.

"Who?" Blazec looked right through the hirelings and henchmen as if they weren't there. But then his eyes focused on them sharply. "I'm just jesting, fellows. Relax." His toothy smile was disarming to say the least. He addressed his fellow adventurers. "What do you mean what about them?"

"I mean, what about them. Supplies, tents, things like that. You know. Things. For them." Andrei patted the side of his horse, already losing track of what they were talking about.

"I'm sure my old man has everything covered." Radu smiled toward the elder Lyttleton.

"Hold on hold on." Blazec crossed his tattooed arms across his chest. "They all got a bunch of coin up front to handle all those details. That and we made it clear they'd be sharing in the fruits of the land, such as it is."

"Wait. Sharing?!" Dragan scowled. "I thought we agreed on a five way split. One share for each of us, and one share for agreed upon group expenses. The value of items acquired to be set at an appraised sale value, not expected purchase price. We're not sharing with them, too, are we? That's not traditional ...."

"No." Blazec announced. "The fruits of the land. You know. They get to keep the value of their labor and the resources they gather -- after expenses of course. There's a whole wild frontier out there, lush fertile lands, minerals, wild animals and their furs, and so much lumber you could shake a stick at it. And we'll be clearing all the monsters and bandits out of the way for them. What a sweet deal for them, right?"

"Like I said," Radu cut in again. "My old man used to run an entire estate. I'm sure he can manage a glorified hunting/fishing trip like this."

"What about that other noble-man. The one with his own retinue. The Lebeda fellow. I assumed he was going to manage things." Dragan dug around his pouch for some pipe weed.

"Wait. House Lebeda? As in House in-bed-a with the Surtovas?" Andrei looked up from his horse for a moment, before returning his attention to the fine beast.

"You say Lebeda. I say Lebada." Blazec laughed. "Let's not worry about it. They'll work it out among themselves. Let's ride. I'm bored already."

"Ooch, come on lads, let's get going. You don't want to fall behind. The southern road runs right alongside bandit territory." Dragan shepherded the hirelings and henchmen along as the party began its journey with the first long day of many ahead.

THE BATTLE AT OLEG'S TRADING POST

The five day trip to the so-called Oleg's Trading Post was easy, and though it would have been nice to take advantage of the safety of the palisade walls and a roof over your heads, there just simply wasn't enough room for the hirelings to bed down in the quaint frontier outpost. The adventurers took the beds inside, and their horses and personal gear took the stables and courtyard.

Hopes of resupplying here for the last time before heading deeper south into the Greenbelt were dashed, however, as it was clear that Oleg was having supply issues.

"Listen up, it appears that Oleg's been shaked down by a bunch of good for nothing bandit types, so rather than look for adventure -- it has come looking for us. If these bandits keep the same routine, they should be here tomorrow afternoon, so we're bedding down here. We don't want to scare the bandits off, so the rest of you are going to head well out of sight, to the north of the road, until we give you the all clear." Andrei briefed the hirelings, his attention split evenly among them, but perhaps just a bit more to his cousin, Kliment.

"If you see fire, or hear any loud noises, don't worry. That'll just be us taking care of the bandits." Blazec grinned, flexing his hands into fists, which caused the tattoos on his forearms to almost seem as if they were coming alive. Tattoos of dragons.

"I'd prefer to do it quietly." Radu didn't seem like he was quite up to the task of arguing with Blazec, but he did let his preferences be known.

"Maybe we should try to parley first. They are outlaws, true, but this is outlaw territory, and having allies among them might make exploring and taming the land easier." Andrei sounded well-intentioned at least.

"If what Oleg's wife said about these bandits is true, we don't want to take any chances with them. We can question them after we've subdued them." Dragan lectured his fellows.

"Subdued. Right." Blazec smirked.

* * *

It was mid-morning -- just after breakfast -- when the hirelings and henchmen heard the first sounds of mayhem. Shouts, desperate warning cries, followed by a crackling whoosh -- and screams of pain. More warning shouts, accompanied by Blazec's thunderously booming mocking laughter. Then hoof beats, heavy hoof beats, and more shouting, this time clearly Andrei -- coming this way.

Before the hirelings could get ready to receive whatever threat was incoming, a light horse with a lightly armored rider burst through the brush at the side of the camp, knocking over bedrolls, pot stands, and tents -- which unfortunately slowed him down. Andrei, riding his heavy horse, followed and took the moment to heft a weighted javelin into the rider's back, center of mass and the force of the blow knocked the light rider off his horse with one shot.

"I got him!" Andrei shouted, rearing his horse. Somehow in the process, another javelin was drawn into his free hand, the other holding the reins. As the hirelings and henchmen scrambled to be ready, Andrei had already charged back south across the road toward Oleg's Trading Post.

"Nine Hells!" It was Radu this time. "Blazec's down!"

"Ooch, I've got him, lad! Now get up there and kill the archer before he gets another of us!"

"Andrei!"

* * *

Then an eerie quiet. The fight at Oleg's Trading Post was over. It only lasted about a minute, but the frenzy of action and violence was shocking.

And right there in the camp, right in the middle next to where breakfast had been made, was the body of the bandit (at least he looks like a bandit might) with a javelin stuck through him.

And then the bandit sat up suddenly, and gasped for air. He gripped the shaft of the javelin in weak hands and gasped again, desperately.

He wasn't dead yet.

"Help," his voice was more like a breathless bullfrog croak than any sound that a healthy man should ever make. Blood burbled out the corners of his mouth in a frothy crimson foam.

But he probably will be soon -- if nobody helps him.

[Hatter]

Aeli Pond rushed up to the bandit with a beastly hfound tagging along. She looked down at the bandit with her crossbow loaded and aimed at the man. She had a look of uncertainty upon her face... on one end, this was a criminal on the other hand..He was still a person.. He was a bad person who did bad things to good people and he would have killed everyone present if he could have. She hesitated, sweat beading on her forehead then she lowered her crossbow, cursing her kindness before shouting out as loud as she could "There's one still alive over here!"

[aturtledoesbite]

Kael had taken to hiding somewhere during the fight. He'd hoped the adventurers would be doing things away from the camp, but what can you do? On Aeli's yell, he walked up to where she and the injured bandit were.

"So he is, but not for long with an injury like that." Kael kneels down to see how urgent this injury is.

Spoiler

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Heal check to figure out about how long he's got left: (1d20+6)[24]

Note: If Profession (Healer) would be apt here as well, add 3 to that roll.

[Dayaz]

Donovan was still checking to make sure none of his equipment had been damaged, seeing as his tent was one of the ones the bandit had ridden over. Hearing Kael saying the bandit didn't have long to live, Donovan just chuckled under his breathe.

"Good. Scum like that don't deserve the lives they've been given." He said coldly. It would only make him happier if the man died soon, since Donovan hated nothing as much as bandits.

[EclecticGuru]

Spoiler: Kael

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His lifespan is more on the scale of seconds (rounds) than minutes, unless you intervene. You'll need to have someone strong (one person with strength at least 14; or two people with 12 -- one to hold the javelin and the other to hold the bandit) pull out the javelin before you can heal him though, its in there good, and someone needs to give it a good swift clean yank out or it'll kill him.

Once the Javelin is out, a Cure Light Wounds spell or a Heal check DC 20 will stabilize him.

[Cyber]

It was perfectly fine (Except maybe was too cold - for Fryderyk taste) morning until all this annoying сlamor started. Soon old merchant grabbed sword cane and crawled out from his large tent only to recollect Oleg's word and see something what turned his wearily grin in scowl of hatred.

"Bandits. It always bandits.", old nobleman fiercely mumbled to himself when he noticed that woman who stand not afar... Ami? Aerie? Aedi... Yes, Aedi Pond and shout 'warning' to her: "Check wagons, guardswoman! I pretty sure that was their main target!".

Than Fryderyk looked around and noticed another person from their expedition - that person was Kael... and heavily wounded or even dead man who lied near priest feet.

Merchant hurried to this two.

[aturtledoesbite]

"Perhaps not, but that only gives us all the more reason to make sure he gets a chance to earn that life."

Kael starts trying to slow the wound, buying time to find someone who can help. "If anyone's willing to help, I need someone strong to hold him down and pull out the javelin."

[Hatter]

Aeli glanced over her shoulder at the merchant whdom quickly approached the scene then took another look at the dying bandit. "Can you do anything?"

She dropped her crossbow to the ground before grabbing hold of the spear and yanking on it with all her might, though her efforts were in vain.

"Ratko! Ratko!" She shouted for the other guard as she pulled and pulled.

[EclecticGuru]

Aeli's yanking worsened the bandit's condition.

Thick sticky streams of arterial blood splattered over her hair, face, and torso before Kael could apply pressure. Thankfully (depending on your point of view) Kael stopped her yanking before she killed the Bandit.

[Cyber]

Wounded man (Pretty badly as Fryderyk realized from Kael's words and rashly actions.) wasn't Radoslaw. Or one of his vagobands-comrades. Or even anyone from their entourage. That was just one of attackers... bandit and Fryderyk disapprovingly shook his head when guard tried to help Kael save life of that thug... meaningless attempt. Wound was obviously fatal and Pond even wasn't strong enough to pull javelin out. Old nobleman took one last look at that disgusting scene and left to check wagons.

[Hatter]

Aeli grunted as she stopped and picked up her crossbow before shouting for Ratko again. "Ratko! Get your arse over here!"

She looked back at the dying bandit. She knew he was scum but she couldn't bring herself to let a person just die in front of her.

[Vhaidara]

William Danson, The Crotchety Farmer

William walks over towards the wounded bandit.
"It would probably be kinder to just let him die. Though I suppose Chelsea here could yank that javelin right out of him, if it should come to that."
He scratches the big dog behind the ears.
"You're a good girl, aren't you?"

[Zweanslord]

Kliment Orlovsky, Architect

Nodding to his cousin Andrei Orlovsky, Kliment went with the group north, waiting out the action of the bold adventurers. When the fight came to them, Kliment was startled to see the galloping horse of the bandit come forward, but by the time his cousin Andrei was galloping afterwards he had gripped his sword and as he unsheathed it the heroic action of Andrei unfolded before him. Impressed by his cousin's keen battle skills, Kliment found himself slow in comparison as by the time he was a ready battle stance, Andrei's valiant horse was galloping back and the bandit lay on the ground with a javelin pierced through him.

"I agree with mister Danson." Kliment said as he walked towards the fallen person, wincing as he saw Aeli trying to get the javelin out. "Nevertheless, if you are sure we can aid the man, mister Kael, then I will help." Having sheathed his blade again, Kliment Orlovsky stepped next to he bandit. "Can Chelsea help hold the man down with miss Pond instead?" Kliment said in a hurried tone as now closer up he saw the worsening state of the bandit. While Kliment possesses strength from his weapons training, he knows he compares poorly to Andrei and could use help. He put himself in a position to try and take the javelin out if he got help holding the man down, or would help hold the man down if Ratko came to help and pull the javelin out.

[EclecticGuru]

Situation Update

Things got crazy during the Battle at Oleg's Trading Post.

The fighting was focused mostly at the Trading Post itself, by the sound of things. You heard whooshing burny sounds (definitely magic) and lots of shouting. Scary, panicked. Violent, overbearing. Thrilled, anxious.

But things got even crazier when a bandit rode straight into the hidden hireling camp, tripping over tents and pots long enough for Andrei (the cavalier) to catch up to him and skewer him with a javelin through the midsection before riding back across the road to the Trading Post to help the other adventurers.

From the sounds of things, Blazec was wounded or killed during the battle.

No one had a chance to figure out what exactly happened -- the all clear signal wasn't given yet -- and the fact that it turned out the skewered bandit was still alive was a bit of a distraction.

Old Man Kael, a follower of one of those exotic Southern Gods, seemed interested in healing the fallen bandit -- and those hirelings with an overly developed conscience seemed at least as interested in doing SOMETHING -- watching a man die in agonizing pain was hard to handle for anyone with empathy.

That javelin was in good, and Aeli's attempts to pull it out only resulted in more pain, screaming, and lots of blood.

Ratko was shuffling toward Aeli's shouts for help (presumably), even while some foiks were considering trying to use their big hounds to hold the guy down while someone else pulled the javelin out.

But before Ratko could arrive, there was shouting from the Trading Post.

"FIRE FIRE! FIRE ON THE ROOF!" It sounded like Oleg, actually.

There was more shouting from over at Oleg's Trading Post, and then finally, a remarkably well projected shout crossed the road from Radu.

"Father! We need TWO of your men over here NOW! QUICK!"

[Vhaidara]

William Damson, the Crotchety Farmer

Hearing the call of fire, William turns and starts running towards the calls.
"Come on girl, with me!"

[Cyber]

Only when Fryderyk reached his wagon he realized what bandits didn't attacked from another side or outflank his son't group but just one of this despicable outlaws tried to escape and accidentally stumbled at expedition camp. Merchant recalled how he shout what he thought was a warning. Stupid decision and unacceptable miss for man of noble birth. Still that guardswoman ignored him and didn't even tried to tell old Nobleman what exactly happened. Unacceptable as well. But that can wait for now.

Fryderyk only had time to grab his heavy crossbow from wagon and bolts from saddlebags of his donkey - Perchy - when real troubles started.
Fire at Oleg's Tradepost.
And worst of all Radoslaw's call - perhaps to help with fire at Oleg's or maybe with adventurers much more grim affairs. Lyttelton rushed back to camp.

... Priest Kael, Pond, Donovan, that young man Kliment... and grumpy farmer already left in direction of tradepost. "The choice quite limited isn't it?", old man mumbled to himself.

"Methinks our friends from tradepost need assistance, my fellows", started merchant, "And they will appreciate your help much more than that dying man, milord Orlovsky... and your, guardswoman Pond: I don't think you can assist our healer here unfortunately. So I want to ask both of you to join our patrons. Let's pray what they need your help not with bandits... but if they are I think I can offer a little help from my side and lend you my crossbow, milord."

Spoiler: If Kliment and Aeli agreed

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Than old nobleman turned to Donovan and asked him, "If my memory still faithful to me you is hunter, right.... mmmm... Donovan? I want to ask favor from you as well - when all this trouble end - can you try to find and retrieve horse of our uninvited guest?"

Spoiler: Diplomacy check. If need one.

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(1d20+8)[21]

[Hatter]

Hearing the call for help, Aeli immediately took off towards the fire as she shoved her small crossbow into it's holster at her hip without a single word. There was no need to say anything else. There was nothing she or anyone could do to save the bandit and quite frankly it was probably for the better.

She gritted her teeth as she arrived on scene, taking in the sights around her.

[Zweanslord]

Kliment Orlovsky, Architect

Seeing William move with his dog Chelsea, Aeli taking off and Ratko taking some time, the words of Fryderyk sound only fair. "You are right, milord Lyttelton. Mister Kael, make sure his end is swift if we are not able to save his life." Letting out a soft sigh, Kliment Orlovsky steps away from the bandit, shakes his head for a moment and then moves to follow mister Damson and miss Pond. He gives a last polite nod politely to milord Lyttelton and then starts to wonder how severe the fire is. Perhaps later there was time to think about its cause. With a member of the team down, Kliment hoped it was because they needed help to contain the fire, not because they were losing the fight.

[Dayaz]

Finally giving up fixing his gear for the moment with a disgusted curse, Donovan turns his head to look at the merchant -Fryderyck, if he remembered correctly- Donovan tried to remember which direction the horse had run off in. After a moment, He nodded to Fryderyck and gathered his crossbow and a few bolts.

"Aye, I'll head after the horse. Hopefully it hasn't run too far, or even worse, made it's way back to the bandit camp."

Spoiler

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(1d20+5)[19] Survival check to try and track the horse.

[Cyber]

Fryderyk heavily leaned at cane and sighed softly. All this physical exercises... - not prolong in fact - made him feel himself tired... Another sad reminder what he not young anymore. And traitorous hands started to tremble. Good what cloak masks that.

Old nobleman nod to acknowledge what he heard Donovan's response and fixed his gaze at Kael. Good man that priest. And surely will be distressed when all his hard work to safe another life will be shrugged off by bandit's imminent death. Merchant started to juggle words in his mind trying to find ones which will ease pain from fail... And diverted his attention back to tradepost. Will be his fellow travelers able to save it? Or it awaits same fate as poor soul here?

[EclecticGuru]

Ratko reached the impaled bandit and old man Kael. He looked down at the javelin, and then at Kael. He brushed his fingers through his hair. THere was a lot of blood, and the bandit was definitely one of the bad guys.

Ratko looked into Kael's eyes. "Are you sure you want to try to save him?" He crouched down, and rested one hand on the bandit's chest, next to where the Javelin was stuck, and the other hand on the haft of the javelin. He was ready to pull it out, on Kael's word.


* * *

AT OLEG'S TRADING POST

The roof over the main building within the palisade wall was on fire. It was construction of dry thatch, and particular vulnerable. There was a small well with a wood bucket as the only source of water.

Andrei and Dragan were mostly focused on dealing with one of the bandits who they had taken alive, and with Blazec who was down and bleeding from multiple arrow wounds.

Radu was working with Oleg in trying to get water up to the roof to put out the fire. He shouted at William, Aeli, and Kliment. "One of you look around for something we can use like a bucket ..."

"There are pots in the kitchen, I'll get them!" Oleg was panicked, not thinking clearly, prone to mistakes ....

"Nevermind then. Oleg'll get them. The rest of you, form a bucket brigade line. Fill then pass to the next person in line. I'll climb up to the roof and lower a line. HURRY!" Radu was already scurrying up to the roof, climbing with impressive athletic prowess.

[Hatter]

"Let's go people! Let's get this going, we have to stop this fire!" Aeli shouted as she rushed up to the well and started heaving water up.

"What are you waiting for!? Get in line!" She passed the bucket off to whoever decided to start forming the line next to her.

[aturtledoesbite]

"If we do not, he will not have a chance to be absolved for his crimes. Now, keep him steady, and pull!"

After he gives the command, Kael begins chanting a spell, mending the man's flesh.

Spoiler

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Cure Light Wounds: (1d8+1)[2]

[Magatsu Izanagi]

Ivan Dobac

Ivan Dobac had always been a very heavy sleeper, one of many traits that made him unsuited for the actual adventuring life. He had been able to sleep right through the bandit skirmish, though given how quickly it had been resolved, he probably would not have been able to contribute much had he been roused by it. What did rouse him from his slumber, however, was the call for help with the fire at Oleg's Trading Post. Sure, Ivan may have been a feckless layabout most of the time, but even he wasn't about to let a frontier outpost burn to the ground.

Without a word, Ivan sprung into action with unusual alacrity (at least by his standards). He saw Aeli and William running off towards the trading post, no doubt to deal with the fire on their own, and so he followed. He arrived on the scene just in time to take his place in the bucket brigade, taking buckets from Aeli and passing them along to the next people in line. A fire may not have been the most auspicious way to start out life on the frontier, but at least he was finally doing something to help.

[Zweanslord]

Kliment Orlovsky, Architect

Moving quickly to the outpost, Kliment sheathed his sword and winced as he saw the fire having developed. He nodded towards Andrei as he passed by, spotting the bandit who was lucky enough to be alive. Kliment then looked at Oleg as he moved in the building. "Thank you, Mister Oleg! He shouted shortly, hoping to do his part as he then made his way to the end of the brigade line and took the bucket to tie it to whatever line Radu would pass down. As noble of House Orlovsky, this was not what he had exactly imagined from today, but he was doing his part to help the populace, which was good. Now to stop a house from burning down!

[EclecticGuru]

Situation Update and Brief Scene-Forward

Ratko gave the javelin a swift sharp yank with one hand, his other hand securing the man down in place. The javelin arced in the air, trailed by little droplets of gore, as it was tossed aside haphazardly. The bandit started to scream in horror, an inhumanly haunting wail that only subsided when Kael called upon the universal divine power, through the intercession of his merciful southern patroness.

The bandit fell quiet, limp, but alive. The wound was still dire, but it was stable. He would very likely survive -- thanks almost entirely to Kael's mercy and efforts.

* * *

The bucket brigade did fast work, and after a few minutes, the fire is out -- and the hirelings were soon forgotten -- little attention was paid to them at all after the crisis.

Blazec was healed, patched up, and seemed to have returned to his normal dangerously arrogant self.

* * *

When the hirelings had a chance to compare notes, they realizde that the Adventurers took one of the bandits alive and were holding him in Oleg's, that the Adventurers survived the encounter, though Blazec needed to call upon some of Dragan's healing powers to recover. And that the adventurers were currently too busy interrogating their prisoner to worry about the situation at the hireling camp or the other prisoner being held by the hirelings there.

[Hatter]

Ms. Pond returned to the Hireling Camp, she was exhausted from all the pressure put on her and she simply walked over to her pack and bedroll which lie next to a tree.

She sat down and leaned against the trunk, staring up at the leaves above with a heavy sigh. "How exciting...." she muttered to herself, sarcasm dripping from her lips and she immediately turned her attention to her crossbow, although it did not see any action, it was prudent that she made sure it was properly cared for.

[EclecticGuru]

Donovan returned to the hireling camp with the bandit's horse.

The bandit was still incapacitated, occasionally lifting his head just enough to look around at the people in the hireling camp, as if planning who to kill first, perhaps.

Everything was stable for the time being, but who knows for how long. Whatever the adventurers find out from their prisoner, you can only imagine what they'll do about it -- they're a wild, impulsive bunch.

And then there was "your" bandit. What on earth were the hirelings going to do about him?

[Zweanslord]

Kliment Orlovsky, Architect

"Phew.." Kliment wiped the sweat of his forehead as he walked back to the camp. Putting out a fire was no light work, even though the adventurers seemed to have little problems with their work. Kliment's respect for his cousin Andrei only grew. " Good work, everyone." He complimented the others with their efforts to put out the fire as they walked back.

Upon arriving with those who stayed behind, Kliment's attention moved towards Kael. "Mister Kael, how is your patient doing? I would also like to inform you that there has been another captive bandit at the outpost, though his condition is better." For now, at least. Stepping towards the man, Kliment meanwhile nodded in appreciation to Ratko, who had done a good job.

[Hatter]

At the mention of a "patient", Aeli also directed her attention to Kael. She finished up her work with he crossbow, holstered it and walked over to take a look.

"Will he be recovering soon?" Asked the guardswoman as she reached for the manacles that hung from her belt. "Might want to secure him for the sake of safety and security."