Liberty Beguiling

"Then we should offer it. Battle or surrender."  Aleixo lifts his shield onto his arm and grips his spear. 

Melanthios sits tall upon his horse, idly twirling a braid in his fingers as he talks. "Brim here could make the offer, with some strapping warriors behind her as punctuation. The rest could circle and cut off escape. If any of these men are disagreeable or flighty, we'll make quick work of them as an example. I could go either way, making the proposition seem more enticing or making the alternative seem more treacherous."

Brim hops up while sitting on her horse, "I support that!" She looks back at Dimitrios. After the battle, she'd made sure to run back and find him. What had followed was a flowery and fanciful fifteen-minute spiel on the virtues of redemption, trying over, and accepting one's past mistakes, as well as a short five-minute section praising of his heroism in the batte, a few more minutes on the wonders of buckwheat noodles because she started to get hungry and the thought came to her, and finally, an offer to make an oath to her own god to truly cement his changed life. And now, here he sat, an untapped wellspring of potential - now with a side-pool of divinely-granted magic. "Dimi can come! You're the perfect example of what we're trying to achieve here, and what they could be like if they renounced their ways!"

" Just make sure you keep your shield up too Dimi, just in case!" Xan calls over to them,  " Dawid and I will hold a way back from the shieldwall, ready to chase down runners or harass anyone who tries to get around the sides"   He adds, slapping his apprentice's shoulder, " Hopefully, they will see sense but you never know."

Melanthios blinks out of sight as Sval and Petros prepare to sneak around the western side of the camp. However, the brush is dry and crackly underfoot and it isn't long before the two men attract the attention of the guard atop one of the watchtowers. "THEY'RE COMING!" Comes the alarm and the camp's occupants leap into action, grabbing weapons and mounting the horses.

"Fuck..." Sval mutters as the bandits take their positions. Give them their one chance, Brim.  He draws his blade and stands upright.

Several of the bandits appear to be grabbing bags from beneath the eastern watchtower and strapping them to the horses. As Sval stands, the guard atop the watchtower looses a crossbow bolt at the witcher with pinpoint accuracy, but the Norscan merely snatches the projectile from the air with his enchanted gloves.

Melanthios slips through the brush unseen, getting closer and closer to the bandit camp. He is almost to the edge of the clearing when he hears the alarm. But this wouldn't do, little Brim hadn't had the chance to make her pitch! Hoping to prevent a premature battle or any of the men escaping, Melanthios strums a quiet tune on his invisible cittern. The melody drifts through the trees to the ears of the bandits near the eastern watchtower, and the bardic magic carried upon it begins to soothe their nerves. Suddenly the approaching party doesn't seem like such a problem.

Sval glares at the man in the lookout with contempt. "If you want to keep your arms, you won't do that again."

Standing up and walking southeast, while holding his arms loosely bent at the elbow, palms out to indicate he is unarmed, Petros says in a loud voice, amplified to the loudness of a shout while retaining it's casual and confident air, "Peace! You may join us as your friends willingly have.  Your chance at greatness and survival lies with us.  Throw down you arms, not your lives."

Hearing the cries of alarm, Aleixo spurs his horse on beside brim, determined not to leave his friend to fight without him. 

As the alarm breaks out Azul yells in draconic "Run Seian, we can't let them get away." Spurring the horse into a gallop he begins a quiet chant, as he does so an amethyst light extends from  his hands encircling himself and Seian. After a moment the light flows into Seian and the horse begins to gallop faster it's hoofs glowing with bright purple light. Leaving his shield on his back Azul draws both his sabre and scimitar brandishing the weapons as he rides off towards the camp.

Hooves pound the earth thundrously as cavalry comes charging towards the camp through the woods to the south and, atop the watchtower near Sval, the lookout with the crossbow hesitates in the face of the witcher's impressive display of skill. The men gathering supplies from the eastern watchtower fall still as Melanthios's spell washes over them and then Petros's voice comes booming through the trees. The two bandits on horseback immediately bolt to the north, but those remaining on foot look around in fear, knowing that they have nowhere to run. With few other options remaining, the men around the campfire let their weapons clatter to the ground.

As the fighting started and the first cries of alarm reached Brim's ears, she was quick to leap into action, practically ambling over Dimi to hop in front of him on the horse and snatching the reins from his hands. " Hiyah! " As the horse galloped ahead at a breakneck pace - careful to avoid the constant rocks and roots and hazards of the forest floor - she called out as the bandit camp came within sight, "Stop everything! Please don't kill anyone everybody! At least not before I get there, I've been practicing this speech in my head for the last hour!"

"My friends, my friends, there is no need for fear or brash decisions," the firbolg says as he emerges from his hiding place in the brush. One hand gives a gentle wave while the other cradles the cittern strapped around him. "We only come to share words with you all, words of hope, and freedom, and redemption."

With a preternatural burst of speed, Sval gives chase to the bandits on horseback. He leaps over a thicket and slides under a low-hanging branch, then vaults into the air off a unearthed root. He nocks an arrow and draws it back, but before he releases it, the arrow grows thorns and spikes, much like the bushes in the thicket the mutant had just leapt over. The arrow flies free from the bow and sails true, embedding itself in the meaty hide of the bandit's horse. The arrow immediately sprouts long, entangling vines and branches that pull the legs out from under the mount. The rider narrowly avoids a shattered spine by rolling to avoid a thick-trunked tree.  Sval hits the ground a beat after the bandit and continues the chase.

  Sval should be able to handle the last one with a bow shot, and if not, he'll be able to catch up to him easily enough overland.  I'm not a slouch, but there's no way I could catch a horse.  I'm better off making sure he doesn't get shot in the back. Petros turns and walks close to the man in the tree.  "Toss down that crossbow, I'll be sure to keep that one away from your arms," Petros says with a grin, cocking his head at Sval while calling on the gods to strike the man down with sacred flames should he decide to act aggressively.  "Come on down from there, brother."

Seeing the oncoming cavalry rapidly approaching from the south and the other bandits on the ground already throwing down their weapons, the lookout atop the tower lets his crossbow fall with a look of despair. Meanwhile, to the north, the second rider keeps galloping away, while the man who Sval has dismounted slowly stands, holding his hands in the air.

Melanthios continues strolling into the camp at a leisurely place. He pulls out his wineskin and takes a drink before nodding to one of the enchanted men near him. "Tell me, who here is in charge?"

Sval glares at the surrendering bandit. "Go back to the camp," he says, his voice rumbling with a vicious snarl. He chases after the fleeing rider and looses an arrow that slices through the retreating rider's arm.

Petros takes the man's crossbow from the ground, and escorts the man into the camp.  "I'm Petros Pantelis.  If you wish to lead a righteous life from now on, you have nothing to fear from us.  Come with me."

As her steed’s hooves pounded the uneven earth faster and faster, Brim finally reached the bandit’s camp. Already, the majority seemed kowtowed to Meli, standing at rapt attention. But ahead, Sval was calling out to a single rider hurriedly breaking fast for the trees.  Calling back to Dimitrios to hop off, the young man simply muttered a quick, “Y-yes ma’am!”  before dropping and rolling to safety. Approaching Sval from behind, Brim reached a hand out, “Hop on Sir Sval!”

Sval sends another arrow scraping past the man's armor. He turns as he hears the goblin cry out and swings up onto the horse in front of her, taking the spot recently vacated by Dimitrios. He takes the reigns from her hands and prepares to spur the horse onward after the fleeing bandit.

Seian hooves thunder through the air as she dashes through the forest. Getting closer to the man Azul focuses his magic, tilting his head back and then snapping it forward launching a firebolt from his snout at the retreating rider. Unfortunately Seian jumped over a root right as he let the bolt fly sending the blast crashing into a tree. 

As they race forward towards the fleeing man, Brim is caught momentarily off guard by Sval's faster, more skilled riding. The horse seems to be moving with all the grace and rhythm of a well-trained stallion, and it becomes clear immediately that they're gaining on the man. As a bolt of fire sears the winds to their side, it occurs to the young goblin the intentions of her and her compatriot may not actually be as aligned as she innately believed. "We're just gonna be stopping him to talk, right?" She has to lean up to try and intone in Sval's ear. Not waiting for an answer, she braces herself by holding tightly to the man's hip and swings herself out off the side of the horse, and little, sharply-honed nails unintentionally digging into his side no doubt. "Sir! I ask of you to turn around now and see reason! Redemption is a sight to behold, trust me!"

Sval wished he could say yes to the goblin's question, but the man was fleeing. He could know their numbers, their strength, their intentions and report all of it right back to Capricornus. That simply wasn't an option. The man was a skilled rider, and if he reached open terrain before Sval caught him, they may never catch him. Bearing that in mind, he looses one final arrow. Guided by skill and irony, the shaft flies true, striking the bandit in the eye as he turns in bewilderment at Brimblebread's redemptive call. The man slumps and falls from his horse.

The surrendering bandits look on in bewilderment as cavalry goes thundering by them, heading north after the remaining escapee. In response to Melanthios's question, those around the campfire point abruptly at a tiefling clad in half-plate, much as Hamon was. Yellow eyes, deep-red skin and horns that curve back along the man's head mark his fiendish bloodline. Escorting his own prisoner, Petros emerges from between the trees just in time to see this transpire. The tiefling groans and sits down on one of the logs with a clank .

Melanthios turns to face the man with a broad smile. "Rough day yes? Hopefully what my friends here have to say will make things a little less so." He strides closer and gives a bow. When he rises, the sun glints off the golden streaks that run through his braids. He delicately tucks two of them behind his ear before continuing. "I am Melanthios Nysaeus, and it is a pleasure to meet you. I've only just met these heroes, but I can assure you that they do not come to conquer but to liberate! What is your name, my friend?"

The tiefling glances up at Mel and slowly takes up his blade before stabbing it into the dirt besides him. "'Rough'. You could say that, I suppose, yes. My name is Locke. What became of Hamon? Did you 'liberate' him too?"

Melanthios makes his way over to an adjacent log and pulls out his lyre. "Sadly no, Hamon chose death over freedom. But many of the others saw the opportunity for what it was. Constantine, Yiannos, Jericho, Dimitrios; they've all joined us. It is a stark ultimatum that these heroes offer, but I think the choice is an easy one." As he talks, Melanthios begins plucking out a light and airy tune on his lyre. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8GJJoi9vtY&amp;ab_channel=rittajp" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8GJJoi9vtY&amp;ab_channel=rittajp</a>

Nodding at the Norscan as he urges Seian towards the fallen rider and horse&nbsp; "Impressive shot, especially from horseback" Azul then searches the fallen rider for any sign of Orion's ring and grabs the reigns of the horse, bringing it back to the camp.

"Did he now?" Locke replies doubtfully with an arched eyebrow. "Now that I would like to have seen. Can't say I ever took Hamon for the death-before-dishonour type. Traitorous outlaws in demand now, are they?"

"They certainly seem to be! Lucky you." he says with a wink. Before he continues, he scoots a little closer and lowers his voice. "Though I think their aim is to turn you from traitorous outlaws into upstanding citizens. That little goblin there," he points to Brim as the rest of the party approaches the center of the camp. "She will spin you a tale of honor and wrongs made right, she will offer you redemption. The others are less romantic, they offer the luxury of their blades at your side rather than at your throat. To tell you the truth it is I who offers liberation, and libation, and diversion, and debauchery. All of these things are good, yes? Like I said, the choice is easy." He holds Locke's gaze invitingly for a moment before he leans back and smiles to his approaching companions. "There you all are! Everyone, this is Locke. He is the leader among these men."

"Good day to you, Locke.&nbsp; I am Petros.&nbsp; We are sent here to take the north by Apolis' mayor and general.&nbsp; When we offered the rule of law and the chance for continued life to your fellows this morning, they turned on Hamon and butchered him themselves.&nbsp; We offer you the same now.&nbsp; We have no desire for bloodshed.&nbsp; We wish to bring structure and order to these lands that we might all live together in prosperity.&nbsp; The big one there, Azul, with Xan, likely, will talk with you and have you make your choice.&nbsp; I hope you will join us.&nbsp; We have much work to do, but you will be treated fairly, and with generosity." Petros looks over the crowd for any obvious injuries.&nbsp; Seeing none, he asks, "Although Xan has the greater expertise, I have some skill with healing if anyone hear is in need of it.&nbsp; While we are waiting for the others, why don't you all tell us about yourselves."

Azul finds a pouch full of silver and a silver&nbsp; amulet in the shape of a ram as he rifles through the fallen bandit's things. With the state the rest of this man's gear is in and the limited silver in his pouch. The amulet was by far the man's most valuable possession. To Azul it looked like a depiction of a sheep or a ram, but he suspected there was deeper meaning behind it.&nbsp; Seeing Brim coming up behind him to tend to the man, Azul leaves the pouch of silver but takes the amulet with him, hoping one of the others may know what it means.&nbsp; He then rides up as Petros finishes his pitch. Positioning Seian behind the man, he looks out into the crowd with his amethyst eyes evaluating the bandits.&nbsp;

Xan brings his horse in slowly, Dawid at his side, appraising the men in the camp, ready to defend himself as needed, but pleased that at least so far most of the men had shown some good sense. Staying in the saddle for the time being he catches the end of Petros' delivery and nods his head in greeting as he is mentioned. "Ah the price of fame Dawid, it doesn't look like we will have much to do here though. You know these men, are there any we should be especially careful with?" he asks quietly from his apprentice.

Locke's eyebrow remains markedly arched. "You'd have former bandits enforce 'structure and order'," he asks Petros sceptically. "Men who would, in your own words 'butcher' their commander?"

Dawid nods discreetly to Xan. "I wouldn't trust half of these as far as I can throw them," he murmurs back. "Keep yours eyes on the runner, the two big guys and the dark-skinned fellows with the axes."

Dismounting from Seian, Azul taps Xan on the shoulder and looks pointedly at his amulet before striding into the center of the bandits. Locke's remarks had reignited his own concerns, expecting snakes to learn honor was a fools errand. But his allies wished to offer them the chance of redemption and he will follow the will of the group.&nbsp; Reaching the center of the circle Azul lock's eyes with the Tiefling captain and says "For those who honor the chance and are worthy of it." Pausing his Amethyst eyes burrowing into Locke before he turns and speaks to the rest. "Before we discuss that, you have your first chance to show your commitment to the land's new order. I have three questions listen closely and answer truly. First where is&nbsp; Capricornus' base located and is Kristen with him? What do you know of his plans for this land. And lastly your group stole a ring that was precious to Orion. I have made it my mission to return it to him. If any of you has the ring bring it to me now or tell me who was the one who stole it?"

Following Sval's shot, Brim gasped in horror and leapt off the horse at first chance, rushing to offer some aid. Kneeling beside the man, she apologized before snapping the arrow off at the point where it met the man's former eye socket. Immediately, she laid a small green hand over the area and closed her eyes. A great warmth of light enveloped her before surging out and over the man. Instantly, the bleeding began to cease and the area closed up. The eye was gone, but the man should live. Afterwards, Brim made her way back towards the group, arriving a bit after the others. Catching the tail-end of Azul's questioning, she rushes up in front of the dragonborn and hops in the air, futilely trying to reach up in front of his face, "ALSO also and most importantly; what's your favorite flavor of tea!" She drops to the ground and stumbles forward, left hand reaching back to steady the wide-brimmed hat atop her head as the wind rushing up to meet her nearly pulls it off. Bounding towards the tiefling, she stands tall - arms akimbo - and proudly declares, "My name is Brimblebread and I have some incredible news for you! Your life has no doubt seen no shortage of hardship, turmoil, and treachery. You undoubtedly spent ages feeling pressured to act the way you have because of where you came from and what you've been through. Well guess what! All of that is O-K! You see, I too &nbsp;had such a life! I grew up part of a tribe that massa... um... well bad things happened! But that's O-K becau-" She frowns, &nbsp;"well actually no, it's not... wait I'm getting my speech all confuddled... um. One second please!" Bowing sharply, she turns and looks down, biting her nails a bit.&nbsp; "O-K! Shinpai shinaide &nbsp;everyone I'll just cut to the chase: All of you have a chance hear to make right what once went wrong! Throw off the shackles of the past by embracing the freedom of the future and you'll see there's still a chance for you!" The young goblin leaps up as high as her little legs will carry her, arms outstretched high over her head in a V as a smile beams over her face, &nbsp;"For everyone!"&nbsp;

Sval drags the unconscious half-sighted man back to the camp just in time to see Brimblebread's display. He drags the bandit to the center of the group and leaves him there, taking a few steps back and putting his hand on the hilt of his sword, scanning the line of bandits and daring any of them to refuse the goblin's offer.

Xan nods as Azul indicates the pendant. Touching it briefly he activates the magic and feels the overwhelming sensation of nearly 20 peoples thought assail him. Filtering them he focussed on the leader and those around him, letting the magic skim their surface thoughts hoping to.learn the answers they choose not to reveal.

Looking from Locke over to Aleixo, Petros responds "Yes, Locke.&nbsp; If they gain the courage to butcher a tyrant using people to hurt others.&nbsp; These men would do the same.&nbsp; But we welcome you all if you would commit to law and order.&nbsp; To goodness.&nbsp; To 'make right what once was wrong' as our smallest friend put it." &nbsp; Putting on his most winsome grin, Petros continues, "Plus, none of us are such easy meat as your former commander.&nbsp; Go ahead, Azul and Xan.&nbsp; Lets get these men sorted and head out. I need to pick up some moon radishes."

Locke chuckles in response to Petros's assertions and Brimblebread's dramatic pitch. "Hamon was not our commander, he was theirs," &nbsp;the tiefling explains, nodding to Dawid, Dimi and their comrades, "but if 'law and order' is offering me a job, then I'd sooner take that than a hangman's noose. Capricornus occupies a ruined fort to the north. Krysten left to bring him word of your arrival. She was my commander. I wouldn't know of any plans, but Krysten took that ring from the Leventis trading post." Locke stands and yanks his blade from where he'd stabbed it into the earth. "Little lady," &nbsp;he remarks to Brim, &nbsp;"I favour shepherd's tea. Still, if you're all not 'such easy meat', then one of you come show me. Then we can talk." Swishing his weapon back and forth through the air experimentally, the bandit beckons with the other hand to Petros or anyone else who will come duel him. As he does so, Xan hears Locke's thoughts; let's see if these 'heroes' really stand a chance against him .

Petros shakes his head, then walks a bit over to a clear area, swinging his arms to unlimber, praying to the gods to favor him in this duel--far from his first.&nbsp; All of a sudden, and quite unexpectedly, he feels supernatural power flood into him, and a golden sheen floods his eyes as blinding energy wreathes his feet, causing his feet to begin to glide over the earth.&nbsp; He draws his rapier, now suffused with the same glowing light, and points it towards Locke.&nbsp; "Are you quite sure you'd rather not take my word, and the blood of your fallen companions, on it?"

"...huh..." Locke marvels, letting his extended sword slowly drop from where it is pointing at Petros. "I guess the game was rigged from the start, eh?" He muses, glancing down at his own red devil's skin. A look of realisation, like an epiphany, crosses the tieflings face and he tosses the blade on the ground, before turning to walk back towards the campfire.&nbsp; "Hey, what do I care? Have at the old drunk."

Petros sheathes his sword but doesn't know what to think of the glowing energy suffusing him.&nbsp; He knew that occasionally the gods would favor him with minor gifts of healing and some other minor talents, but this was something different.&nbsp; This made him feel...strange.&nbsp; Special.&nbsp; Not quite human.&nbsp; What was going on?&nbsp; He inclines his head to Locke and picks the blade up from the ground, handing it back to Locke.&nbsp; "There is no shame in your challenge and none in your concession.&nbsp; If you are willing to put your honest effort into 'law and order', we still welcome you.&nbsp; Azul?" Petros indicates to Azul that he should proceed with what has become the usual interrogation.&nbsp; As he walks over and sits on a rock a little apart from the others, the glow of energy slowly begins to fade, but the questions remain, swirling through his head.

Azul's bronze scales ruffle at the mans challenge, his hand hovering over his sabre's hilt. He is about to respond when he sees Petros confidently walk into the makeshift ring. Smiling despite himself, he moves to stand outside of the ring in Petros' corner. His astonishment builds when he sees the Hellenian, begin to cast a golden light and levitate off of the ground. It builds even further when Locke throws his blade down and surrenders. Nodding his head at Petros' directive he leans in closely to the man as he walks off and says with a smile&nbsp; "You have been holding out on us my friend. There is more power within you than you have shown. Though today was truly an auspicious day to let loose." Looking at Loocke he says "Xan and I will handle the rest"&nbsp;

Melanthios seems to enjoy the displays of bravado, and his strumming intensifies as he prepares to score the upcoming duel. But as the tension breaks, he changes tune. "And here I thought we were going to get a show. But fear not, entertainment is never in short supply when a follower of Dionysus Lyaeus is near." The firbolg stands and swaps back to his cittern. While the others begin to sort out the camp and its occupants, Melanthios launches into a full on jam session. His eyes close as his fingers strum faster and faster, hair tumbling down as his head begins nodding to the rhythm and the music washes over those nearby.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT2KXy_IcMQ&amp;ab_channel=musichunterprojects" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT2KXy_IcMQ&amp;ab_channel=musichunterprojects</a>

Watching the near-duel with complete fascination, Brim runs up to Petros afterwards and stares up in awe. "That was incredible Sir Petros! You've been gifted by the gods as well, haven't you? I would be so deeply honored if you told me all about it, it looked super different than when I get all glowy an-" Like a candle had been lit over her head, her eyes widen as she swivels back towards the remaining bandits. "I nearly forgot! The magic! You can be gifted with magic, like Dimi has been!" Cupping her hands over her mouth, she turns around and calls out to the beleaguered young man, "Dimi! Come show everyone what you were gifted!" &nbsp;&nbsp;