Liberty Beguiling

Ignoring the rest of what is going on, Aleixo begins picking through the remains for any metal armour, or other quality items that would help in the construction of the plate he intends to make. Hamon's armour in particular looks like it could make a good base and he adds it to the pile in the cart.

Sval nods at Xan's statement.  "Agreed. This group has differing opinions on how to do this. Before I met Aleixo, I could have walked down there, cut the throat of every bandit still alive, and slept soundly tonight. But his story of redemption makes me stop and think about it."  He begins walking down the stairs to join the others, giving a small pat on the back to Petros as he goes by. He begins helping Aleixo gather Hamon's armor. Brushing a few bloody chunks of bandit off the breastplate, he sets it in the cart. "You'll have a full suit of armor before long," he says.

Aleixo smiles at his friend, clear gratitude for his help. "He looks through the cart. I have enough, more than enough even. I just need somewhere to make it now. Work like this requires a hot fire, but I will need this armour before this business is past I fear. It is time for me to return to my former self I think, staying the hands from these men has earned me a piece of that I think."

"Maybe the bandits have a forge you can 'borrow,'" Sval says with a smile. He turns back to the new....recruits? prisoners?...he didn't know what they were. "The more we keep doing this, the more likely we will be to have them turn on us."

Aleixo looks confused. "The more we keep doing what?"

"Turning them," he says, gesturing at the prisoners. "Maybe a few of them have good intentions, but I'd guess that most of them are just going along for the ride."

"Perhaps" Aleixo shrugs. "But if the ride is good, then maybe they will stay on that track. You remember when you found me? I had been on that ride a long time, doing the wrong thing, fighting evil men's battles and winning them. Then one grumpy Norscan saving a village showed me the right way to live. Do it for these men too." He gives him a playful nudge. "And find me something that will make a hot fire." 

"You made the right choice for yourself," Sval says. He opens his mouth to continue his point, but then closes it. Aleixo was a good man because he had received a choice to be so.  He shakes his head.  "I suppose you're right. They deserve the chance, same as you." Sval removes a small vial from his pouch and hands it to Aleixo. "Drink this," he says. "You took a hit." He remembers the bandit that had died to Dimitrios and Jericho's bolts and moves to where the two former bandits were standing. His purposeful stride gives them pause for a moment, but he stops short of them and extends his arm to first Dimitrios, then Jericho. "You had the chance to kill me. You didn't." The simple statement was mostly untrue -- Sval likely could have cut the bolts out of the air or dodged. But they didn't need to know that. And they had partially proved themselves today.

As the battle comes to a swift victory, Melanthios swoops down from the roof and strides over to the others. "Well fought! I was dismayed to find them so resistant to my songs, but it seems your blades sang loud enough on their own." He watches as they begin to round up the defeated bandits, and makes his way over to Brim. "You, cheery goblin girl. You seem quite invested in these men. You wish to win their loyalty, yes?"

Once it is clear that the battle is over, Orion and Sophia slowly stick their heads out from around their door to take stock of the situation, immediately casting foul looks in the direction of the surviving bandits.

Seeing Orion Azul walks up to the man with a large smile on his snout. He cheerfully says in gravelly Hellenian  "We did it, thank you for allowing us to use your fort to make a stand. It shows true character to be willing to risk your life to bring justice to these lands. " His smile fades and some of his cheer leaves his voice "Petros would like your opinion on the prisoners. Any information you have on the men, their past deeds, temperament  and so on would be greatly appreciated."

Xan looks over the group and decides it might be time to be a little diplomatic. Approaching Petros with a smile on his tanned face the healer claps him on the shoulder and leans a little closer. "There will undoubtedly come a time when hard decisions need to be made regarding these men. Before anyone makes any decisions we cant go back on may I suggest you line them up and ask them to offer their allegiance . I will read their thoughts, the question will prompt thoughts of their true feelings towards us, I will know who we can trust and I will signal to you which, if any, wish us harm. Those can be dispatched, which might appease Orion, but the others can be spared which helps in many ways. What do you think?" 

Brim stumbles around the trading post-turned-battlefield helping the injured to their feet or offering aid to those not quite able to stand. She stops mid-skip when she hears Mellie calling to her. The man was a great deal taller than even the towering men she'd found herself fighting alongside today, and she had to crane her neck to meet his eye, "I have no need for their loyalty, silly!" She sternly shakes her head as she speaks, voice firm, "I'm invested in all peoples who have found themselves on the wrong path. Walking a road of redemption is a challenge, but it's the right one, and anyone willing to take a chance on it deserves to have that chance given to them, you know?"

Orion grunts at Azul. "Bunch of brigands... get 'em out of my sight..." the man hesitates, before looking back, "but if you find a gold ring, let me know. Sophia claims that it's not big loss compared to what they could have taken, but those fuckers took her wedding ring and I know it bothers her. It sure as hell bothers me . I've promised not to risk life and limb to recover it, but if you can find it and return it to us, you will have my thanks - and a hefty reward to boot!"

Petros looks at Xan, smiling.  " You can do that?  It's a quite excellent idea, yes. I appreciate your suggesting it.  I'd prefer to leave the questioning to Brim and Azul though.  I really am not trying to take control of every little thing that happens here.  Just trying to provide some organization.  But, yes, please work with Azul to do just what you have suggested." Walking over to Linzi, Petros kneels down and pulls out the charter from his bag.   "Linzi, I'm glad you're OK.  I was quite scared there for a moment.  You were quite brave up there all alone.  I'm sorry our new friend abandoned you up there and that I was not in a position to help you immediately.  Anyway, I suspect that s group of us will be heading off soon to range about this area.  I think it would be helpful to leave an unofficial copy of this charter on Orion's message board, specifying the members of our party.  Getting the message out about us would be helpful and it's possible that it may forestall some minor problems before they become apparent.  What do you think?  If you agree, would you be able to do this for us?"

Azul places his hand on Orion's shoulder and says "I will do my best to get that ring back to you, you have my word Orion. Were any of the men here apart of the group that stole her ring?"

Melanthios gives the girl a quizzical smile. “Right... but just moments ago they had blades at our throats. Then we set them on fire and butchered their leader. Even if you have no need of loyalty, you do need their trust, as they need ours.” He swaps his cittern for his lyre and begins strumming at the softer instrument. “Perhaps now that the battle is won, my songs can win their hearts.”

Brim raises an eyebrow, “Why wouldn’t I trust them though? They saw us do that to them and in the moment, seeing the strength of those who walk a better path and the newfound convi- conbick-shons of Dimi and Jerry and knew then n’ there to make a change! If they break that trust I’ll have to think twice I suppose, but second chances are all about  trust!” She beams up at him at this, raising an outstretched hand over her head in wonder, “Either way, I’d be real happy to hear some more of your music, Sir Mellie. I’ll get my biwa  this time, too! Right after catching up with these men, though, I suppose...” she turns sheepishly towards Petros and starts looking for Azul.

"Krysten took it," Orion answers coldly, spitting in the dirt. "I'd watch that lot if I were you," he adds. "They just turned around and stabbed their leader in the back and that ain't no figure of speech. You really think they won't do it to you?"

With a weary shake of his head Azul looks Orion in the eye and says "No I'm certain the moment they find an opportunity, or are faced with a threat they believe is stronger than we are. They will turn their coats yet again." Pausing he looks over to his fellow companions lingering on Aleixo and Brim. "You've heard my thoughts on the justice they deserve, but my allies have a romanticized view of the world. And at this stage unity triumphs over any other concern." His Amethyst eyes glow flickering like a flame  "So I will stay vigilant and when the inevitable happens, they will burn." Azul then walks over to Valerie and says "Let's gather the prisoners and take them outside of Orion's walls. He shouldn't have to bear their presence in his home."

Dimitrios's face is set with determination as he takes Sval's hand with a nod. Jericho quickly follows suit.

"Azul, hold a moment!" Xan walks over to the dragonborn and in whispered tones outlines a plan to him, which Azul agrees to. With help from Valerie, Brim and Azul, Xan assembles the captives outside the walls, away from the death and destruction of the battle. Clearning his throat he speaks to them all,  "Men, this has been quite a morning. You came here for our heads and yet here we are, with a different outcome. We are glad that you did not fight to your deaths but we must have your words now that you will not betray us. It will end badly for you if you try but we do not wish to kill when we could redeem." He looks back at the gate,praying Brim doesn't interrupt and slow down the process knowing what he has planned, and that the spell can only last a short while . "We have faith that you will see the sensible choice is to join us and side against your former lords,you have taken the first step in doing this by killing Hamon. Krysten will not welcome you back anyway now, so you are safer with us anyway." Gesturing to the imposing long dragonborn he continues, "Lord Azul here represents our vision of loyalty and justice in these lands. He will receive an oath of loyalty from each of you now. Step forward, one by one, repeat the oath and we will welcome you into our group."  Seeing understanding in the eyes of the men, he points to the first one, a shifty looking chap, he has heard be called Dawid by another man. "You, Dawid, isn't it? Step up, you will begin." As he does this his reaches his throat and let's his powers flow onto the magical amulet, activating it. Again he is momentarily bombarded with a cacophony of thoughts but quickly brings them into line, focussing on each man in turn as they swear their oaths to Azul.

Brim hurries along to catch up with Azul and Xan as they shepherd the men outside the post. She skips up next to Xan just as he starts his speech, smiling up at the motley crew of ( former, of course! ) cutthroats with a toothy grin. At the mention of redeeming them, she nods enthusiastically.

Azul stands next to Xan his armored arms crossed, doing his best to play the part of the intimidating dragonborn. Xan's plan was brilliant much better to be able to get a read now on their motives vs finding out in the heat of battle and suffering the fate of their former leader. As Xan finishes speaking Azul adds one final piece "As you take your oath, remember the deeds you have done in the past in service to your former life. Here we stand for honor, justice and loyalty. You should think about what that means to you."

One by one, the 'penitents' step forwards before their captors and repeat the stated oath, each reciting the litany in turn. Dawid looks back on the life he's led of late with distaste and seems keen to turn over this new leaf. Yiorgos hungers for revenge on a bandit named Dorian. Yiannis and Constantine are trying to work out when best to flee. Nicholas is assessing how best to make money out of this situation.

Melanthios follows Brim to the impromptu ceremony, and his strumming picks up into a light and happy melody. Once each of them has recited the oath, Melanthios chimes in. “Congratulations! Not only have you shaken off the bindings of your old lives, but you have joined the side of the victors. And to the victors go the celebrations! Let us drink to this marvelous turn of fate.”

Xan waits until everything is concluded, he moves near to Azul indicating he needs to speak to him, when they have space he whispers "Dawid will serve us well, the others are less certain, Yiorgos has a personal score to settle with another bandit, I see no obvious problem,  Yiannis and Constantine are waiting for any opportunity to run, I do not know if they wish to betray us or merely escape. Nicholas is trying to work an angle to make money here,he could sell us out easily." The man looks up into the dragonborn's face. "I have given you what knowledge I have gained, you will have to decide what to do with it yourself though." He smiles, but then frowns slapping Azul on the shoulder " Heavy is the head that wears the crown they say. My gifts, as always are there for you but you must interpret them. My the gods guide you, my friend."

Azul smiles and says "Thank you Xan I truly appreciate your assistance." Turning to look at the bandits, Azul absentmindedly fiddles with his saber's hilt. "It will be best to sort this out now before they decide to flee or put a knife in our back"  Looking up as the Firbolg walks into view playing a delightful melody. As the song plays an idea strikes Azul. Waiving Mel over he quietly explains his plan to the pair, hoping to use Mel's captivating music to charm the bandits into revealing more. "Using your music and charm, and Xan's pendant we should hopefully be able to get to the bottom of this issue."

“Say no more.” Meli replies with a wink. He continues strumming the lyre, but now his voice joins the instrument. I sing of freedom, of joy ringing loud, Of new paths to follow, of old lives put down, Here you’ll find fortune, and honor, Here you’ll find song and sweet wine, Do not flee from these gifts, Do not turn on the light,  Just follow the torch-bearer into the night, Follow the torch-bearer into the night, Let him deliver you, let him make it right. The ensorcelled words envelope the soldiers, clinging to their minds like ivy. Immediately Melanthios can tell that one of the men, Constantine, has succumbed to the charm. He looks directly into the awestruck man’s eyes as he addresses them all again. “Come new friends, as I share my wine and songs, you can share tales of your old lives. And together, we can dream of what new lives you wish to cultivate.”

Constantine and Yiannis sit with Melianthos and drink and make merry in the company of the bard. Constantine admits that he is ill and believes that he is dying. All he really wants is to find somewhere where he can live out what time that he has left in peace. Yiannis, on the other hand, seeks glory and fame and has found neither working for Capricornus. He wishes to forge his own legend and not to be forgotten by the world when his time one day comes.

Watching Meli and the bandits drink and enjoy the Firbolg's music Anceon turns to Xan to see if he confirm if what Yiannis & Constantine said was true. Yiannis' goals weren't dissimilar from his own. Though it seems that the man initially chose to be infamous vs leaving on through glorious deeds. Though they may be a man down if Constantine is truly sick, better to let the man spend his final days in peace.  Seeing a small nod from Xan  he gestures towards Constantine to follow him separating him from the rest of the bandits.  Once they are out of ear shot and tries his best to sound somewhat sympathetic as he asks  "What do you suffer from Constantine? Some of our group have talents in the healing arts, we may be able to aid you?"

Constantine chuckles grimly before breaking into a fit of coughing. "The black lung. My da used to mine these hills, you see. It's not a good life. I've never heard of any cure, of man or god."

Azul looks at the man with a trace of pity in his eyes, he was familiar with this disease though his people knew it by a different name. From his readings there were not any known cures. Waving the man back to the revelry he says "Enjoy yourself".  Looking over to Xan & Meli after Constantine leaves he says "The man nears the end of his life, we should confer with the others but it seems best to let him find his own peace."

" Hmmm, yes it is beyond the healing of most, only the most powerful of healers might be able to save him. Alas we have no such ability amongst ourselves, one day perhaps, but that day is far away." Xan looks down, clearly frustrated. "I have seen too many lives lost to be shocked but in this age of miracles it is still a bitter pill that people can die of a disease, when we cast cast destructive magics of such power." 

Melanthios watches with sympathetic eyes as Constantine reveals his terminal illness and Xan goes to talk to him about it. He resolves to offer the man his own brand of peace later. In the meantime he turns back to Yiannis, with a smile on his face and a wineskin in his extended hand. "Fortune truly shines upon you friend. You seek glory and fame, enough for your legend to be told for years to come, enough perhaps for your deeds to be written in the stars? I have similar aspirations, and I too only recently joined this band. But already I feel the threads of the fates tying me to them. I believe these people are destined for great things, for adventure. I know you have sworn yourself to their cause already, but to be honest I am not one who puts so much weight in oaths. I'm much more invested in your desires," he leans closer in a way that is both conspiratorial and flirtatious "And my friend, I think your desires are right in front of you. This path leads to bounty, I swear to Dionysus."

Yiannis nods and smiles in response to Melanthios's encouragement. For the moment, the bard appears to have won these two men over.

Xan walks away from the group, thinking about the injustice of the world. He looks back at Meli, and wishes for a moment that he could be as carefree as their new companion seems to be, still you never really knew someone's heart dis you?  He moved towards the stables planning on checking on their mounts who fortunately had been unharmed during the fighting, as he turned the corner he walked straight into Dawid, and by pure chance their hands touch each other, for a mere fraction of a second but it is all Xan needed. It was like travelling back in time,nearly thirty years to when his own powers emerged, the feeling of a tidal wave of power that could rip through him in a heartbeat. He stepped back and saw the look on Dawid's face, he had felt it too, and Xan knew that nothing would be the same again for the young man. "It will be ok, stay calm and come with me, we need to get away from the others,and these lovely creatures" he says indicating the horses. He half pulled the clearly anxious man away with him into the farthest corner of the fort, an area he was sure nobody was currently in. " Listen to me, I think you are feeling something for the first time and I think I know what it is. Keep your emotions under control and nothing will go wrong. I can help you, trust me. I have been doing this since before you were born, now sit down." Tbe healer points at a barrel and Dawid complies, Xan can see his hands are shaking like a leaf. " You are already doing much better than I did, by now I had set my friend's house on fire, he wasn't pleased. Now this may sound ridiculous but I think the events of the day and all the magic flying around have tipped something in you, and there is no going back. You have the spark of the arcane in you, it can never be shut away again, it knows freedom and will never let you suppress it again. But it should not be suppressed anyway, it is the greatest of gifts and something to treasure. Do you feel it inside you?"  Dawid nods meekly, "It was the second I touched you, there is something swirling around in my body, it burns and freezes at the same time, what is happening?" He looks down at his hands, seeing them shake, he eyes dart at Xan, fearful of the changes. " Something is happening..." he hand begins to glow slightly, glittering notes if light spinning crazily around his fingers, as Xan grabs him by the wrist and points his hand up into the sky, seconds before an eldritch blast of energy streaks out, racing put of sight. The energy spent Dawid begins to shake uncontrollably, Xan grabs him and sits him back down, soothing him . "It gets easier and the control will come, I promise,and you will not have to do this alone. I will guide you Dawid." The older aasimar and the young human stay in their corner for a long time in silence and then, when all is calm Xan beg8ns his teaching...

Azul calls Constantine over as the rest of the party splits off and begins their own preparations for what's to come. Walking with the man, he leads Constantine outside of the fort. Once they are outside Azul locks eyes with the man and in a kind but gravelly tone says "We know you speak truly Constantine. It is not easy knowing that your life is coming to an end, if you desire we will release you from your oath so you can spend your final days in peace." Azul moves aside after he is finished speaking allowing the man to go free if he wishes.

Azul looks Constantine in the eyes and finds an unexpected intensity in the man's hazel gaze. His irises glint with specks of gold in the sunlight. "Your friends call you 'Lord Azul' the 'Justice of the North'. Tell me, dragonborn, what would you do with the last of your days, knowing that they were numbered?

Azul's amethyst eyes brighten as Constantine speaks "At the moment the title is probably more dream than reality but if I am being honest I am honored by it. Since I was a youngling in my clan, my goal has been to insure that my name survives long after I am gone." As he speaks Sofia lands on his shoulder and Azul pets the brass owl as he thinks. "To be honest with you Constantine I have never thought of it before. I think my goal would be the same. I would want to spend my last days accomplishing something so glorious that my name is burned into the worlds story until time itself ends. The only difference would be is that I would have nothing left to fear, it would be a matter of when rather than if." Smiling back to the man "Though there is no shame in spending your days in peace, your last days are one of the only times a man can be truly selfish."

Constantine smiles wrly, running a thoughtful hand back through the tufts of his thick black hair. "I'd be lying if I said that a part of me doesn't dream of finding a cure, as impossible as it sounds. Something like that must be one in a million. The Gods have been good to me at times. I doubt that I have any more to ask of them."

" My father once told me that the gods rarely bless those who ask, since there are so many voices that even the gods struggle to find the worthy. He told me that the gods choose to smile brightly on those forge their own path, using their own power to find the answers they seek." Pausing he looks up towards the sky before meeting Constantine's gaze again  "Every person must find their own way, but if I was in your position I would try   to make that one in a million chance a reality.  There are magics and beings of power in the world that are beyond our comprehension. If you continue to push & fight, there maybe a chance the gods smile upon you." Azul smiles at the man "And for me I would much rather meet my end, after exhausting every possibility, dead-end , and arcane object of lore. That could help end my ailment, and if you fail at least you have made a story with your end. But that choice is up to you Constantine, you owe your last days to no one."

Sval watches the interrogations and proceedings with little interest. These reformed bandits would stay loyal. Or they wouldn't. He would be keeping a special eye on them. But Aleixo was right -- they deserved the second chance.  He found a spot on top of one of the towers, next to the broken ballistae, to kneel down and meditate. As his eyes closed, his thoughts wandered to the battle to come. This siege had been quite a battle, but it could easily have taken them in the other direction. His friends could have died -- he could have died. Sval's mind did not travel to the afterlife often, but it always left him feeling empty. He had fled from his home -- been indirectly responsible for the killing of his father. When he met his hand, would Odin welcome him to the corpse hall? It seemed unlikely -- and he wasn't sure that was what he wanted. There would be too many judgmental eyes in Valhalla, and at any rate, he did not feel worthy of the feasting hall. Or would he be sent to Hel, to continue his hunt into the next world and to serve out his punishment? Whatever awaited him after death, he deserved it. The cold void in his chest pulses as his mind wanders to this thought. With a deep breath, he steadies himself for the battle to come.

Constantine nods to Azul and wanders away from the trading post to sit in the grass and think for a while. Less than an hour later, the chartered adventurers are saddling up their horses and making ready to ride north to thorn ford camp.

Aleixo has Jerry gather his gear and tie it to his horse. He watches carefully, correcting his mistakes and making sure he knows how it should be done. He then heads to the wagon to find some equipment to hand out to the ex-bandits. He takes some chainmail that he was intending for use in his future armour and a shield and hands them to Jerry. "We'll make you a spear later. For now use the sword. Watch and learn from me." He mounts his horse. 

Azul picks up one of the fallen bandit's scimitars replacing one the hand axes on his belt. Finding Saein he saddles the horse feeding her an apple as he gets her ready for the day. Taking calmly in draconic he says "We made it through the attack old friend, but the day is not over yet. We must be ready for what is to come." After he finishes saddling and brushing the horse he hops into the saddle and rides out of the fort. Seeing Constantine still sitting in the grass he rides over "I wish you success in whatever you decide, may your last days but what choose." He starts to ride off and pauses looking back to Constantine, surprising even himself  "If you are able to let me know what you decide, I'm most curious to see how you decide to face your fate." He then rides up and prepares to head towards the bandit fort.

Xan helps Dawid get some rudimentary gear together, as they prepare to move out. " We are going to go and visit your old camp, my young apprentice. Is your soul at peace with that, I may well be that they resist us, it may also be that we will need to kill some or all of them. I hope it is not the way it plays put but, well, the gods have ever loved to watch us fight." The healer shakes his head. " You may have to use these powers of yours, so we will practice when we get the chance, on the road. It makes no difference, the power is there forever now, the most simple spells you will always be able to call on, the more complex will tire you and you will need to rest afterwards, you will get used to gauging your own stamina, it is a good thing to understand early. You dont want to reach for something too powerful only to fail, you could hurt yourself."  Xan looks across at the rest of the group as they prepare, " How many men did you leave behind at your camp? It would be good to know beforehand." " Most came with us, probably a dozen stayed behind, no more." Dawid replies, distracted by the talk of his newfound powers. " Xan, will you teach me the spells you cast?" " Probably not, though I would do so happily. The power I sense in you is different to mine, although it is similar I suspect the origins of our powers are different. Mine come from the gods, I do not say that arrogantly, I mean exactly that. There is a divine part of my bloodline, i am not human because of it, the eye might have been a bit of a giveaway though " he laughs at his own observation. "For you it is something else, maybe in time we will find out what, but the things you can do will probably be very different to mine. For example that first bolt of energy you cast is not something I can do, we will see what else comes as you develop. Don't worry though, we have plenty of time to investigate this blessing you have received."

Seeing their liberators saddling up and preparing to ride out, Sophia hurries out to beg a favour of Petros. "Orion been under a lot of stress lately," she confides quietly, "and I'd love to cook him his favorite meal to help him relax. It's moon radish soup and they're a little rare, but a patch does grow in the woods about six miles north-east of the trading post. If you bring me a basket with enough to make a soup, I'll pay handsomely for them."

Half an hour's ride north-east from Orion's trading post, the open grassland of the plains gives way to the more densely wooded region of the savannah that others have described to the new arrivals. Birds cheep in the trees and wildlife is plentiful, although it gives the large group of riders a wide berth. After more than two hours of riding through the light forest, the bubbling of a brook can be heard in the distance and the former bandits warn their new allies that thorn ford camp is close by. Petros can feel it too. The outpost covers a fairly wide area, out to about sixty feet from the thorn river's bank, and is defended by two hidden platforms placed in the trees. A path winds alongside a shallow creek that leads directly up to the campsite, continuing for another two-hundred feet south of the camp before turning into a standard game trail.

As the party approaches the camp, Azul speaks softly in draconic to Sofia "Take to the skies old friend" The brass owl then jumps from the dragonborn's shoulders and flies into the air. Slumping into his saddle Azul closes his eyes and sees the world through Sofia's. The owl is able to stay out of sight as it soars through the sky. Looking at the camp Azul describes the scene, indicating that there were less than a dozen in the camp, and that two were in the watchtower.  As Sofia returns to his shoulder Azul returns his consciousness into himself and says " They seem alert but are not panicking. I expected them to be packing up to run after the route this morning." Looking at his companions he says "How do you want to handle this?" Patting  Seian  he says "Personally I would ride through their camp, hitting them hard and fast before they have a chance to mount a defense or flee. After the defeat they suffered this morning, if they have any sense they will surrender quickly."