Liberty Beguiling

It's four in the morning when the dawn chorus begins to announce the first rays of sunlight peeking out from behind the vast silver moon. By five o'clock the sun's golden orb shines upon Hellenia once more. Linzi can be seen sat upon a rock, gazing north as she writes in her book. Valerie straps on her armour and checks her blade's edge. Amiri lies with her mouth wide open, snoring loudly.

Awoken by the sound of Amiri's snoring, Sval rises early and meditates for a few minutes, the cool morning air raising goose flesh on his shoulders and arms as he kneels in the golden light. He rises, makes sure his horse has some feed, and then collects his kit and prepares for the day. He then pulls out his own maps and a crude piece of charcoal and cautiously interrupts Linzi as she writes, asking her to show him the maps for today's journey. He does his best to correct his own crude drawings as she does so.

Xan rises, streching out the kinks of the night out, noting that his shoulder seems tighter than usual he laments the passing of years for a moment before reminding himself that it was another day, and there were things to be done. He sees Sval preparing with the bard and rises quietly to check on Luthien without waking her. She seems past the need for spells so he doesn't use any of his gift. Wondering what breakfast is going to be he tries to remind himself of the layout of the land if he is needed to go out hunting again. He calls his familiar to his shoulder feeding the little weasel from a small bag of nuts he has for this very reason " I'm sorry, little one, I have neglected you recently, ride up on my shoulder if you like, you'll see more." Xan continues to ready himself ,drinking sparingly from his water and tidying up his bedding.

Judging by Linzi's map and Sval's feel for the land, it looks like Orion Leventis's trading post is roughly one more day's ride north-north-east, on the southern edge of the vast Hellenian savanna. The building, which was formerly an abandoned Appolitan fort, straddles the road and trading route to the major Dwarven hold of Karaz Karag. The road isn't maintained outside of Appolitan lands, but there is at least a rough dirt track marking the way. After a light breakfast, 'Petros's' troupe are saddled up and ready to go. Quickly leaving the forest behind them, the next six hours are a windy ride across open scrubland. Minor dust devils flurry to and fro in the distance and the dry air soon leaves the travellers parched.

Drinking greedily from his waterskin, sweating through his armour, Aleixo wipes his brow. "I feel there is a reason the mayor and general were so easy to give this land away. Can this land even be farmed? Why would a bandit choose to set up here?"  The question is more asked to the air as he adjusts his position in the saddle and continues to sway along on his horse.

" Nothing is free, and the rich and powerful never give away what they could keep." Xan replies, "There will be more to this than we have been told, but we are not rushing in blindly, at the least I wish to prevent Tartuccio from gaining any type of power by completing the mission instead of us. It may be we find ourselves opposed to the bandit lord, or maybe not, but we cannot let that devious little bastard triumph."

After six hours of hard riding, the arid shrubland finally gives way to a vast expanse of long grassland dotted periodically with trees. The great Hellenian savanna. The rolling plains extend for miles as far as the eye can see, and in the distance a herd of wildebeest can be seen grazing.

"The trading post shouldn't be far off," Sval says, watching the herd closely. Prey animals were always good metrics for how safe an area was. The fact that they were grazing peacefully was a good sign. "Let's push on."

"Good, the sooner we get there the sooner we can get this sorted out. However that ends up." Xan rides up fairly close to the front, taking in the view of an area he hasn't seen before, unlike the lands to the south where he is well travelled.

Aleixo is also curious of the lands here. All of his travels had taken him around the settled areas of the coast. "This is not so bad. Perhaps it can be settled after all. We should still seek water though, the heat in my armour."  He adjusts the metal pieces around himself and drains the end of a waterskin. 

After a couple more hours of following the dusty track north across the plains, the dark, blocky silhouette of the trading post begins to grow on the horizon. As the travellers draw nearer, a wild-looking, grey-haired man can be seen running out through the palisade gates. "Save yourselves, fools!" He exclaims as he bolts westwards. Inside the trading post's wooden walls, another booming and bawdy voice can be heard. "In the name of Lord Capricornus, the - haha! - 'lawful' authority of these lands, we demand this week's tax! And some beer." "And where's that pretty wife of yours, Orion?" Another adds. "She should serve us dinner!" "Quiet down, dimwit." A drawling woman interjects. "Orion, we're just here for Capricornus's tax. Hand over the money and we'll be on our way." "You want to drink some of my blood, too?" Replies a man with an Appolitan accent. "I'm sick of you - you're like locusts! You think you control everything around here just because you put up that painted rag of yours?! You come here, squeeze us dry and come ag-" Orion, a large man with a rough face, stops talking when he sees the convoy of riders round the gate. "Ah, you must be guests from Appolis!" He greets with a tinge of hope in his voice. Five men and a woman stand clustered around him, clearly armed and armoured in leather.

Finally,  Sval thinks to himself with a satisfied smile. He had been feeling uneasy since the encounter with the effigy. It had been a messy situation, with no clear direction. But here, the direction was crystal clear, like water from a quickly-flowing stream. He dismounts and draws his sword, standing between the bandits and the palisade.  "Alright,  tax men, "  he says, drenching the words with both loathing and sarcasm. "You're outnumbered. Drop your weapons, and you'll have the chance to change professions. Refuse, and we cut you down."

"Retreat!" The woman hisses at the men. "We're too few for a fight. Let's call for help from the camp." "No way!" Replies the oafish man who spoke before. "Just means we can rob a few idiots instead of just one! To arms, everyone!"

Sval cracks his neck as the bandits draw their weapons. "You should really listen to the woman. It seems she's got more sense than the rest of you put together."  With that, he switches off, ready for the fight.

Azul unsheathes his sword and dismounts from Seian, rage building as he moves. During his travels he had seen many shakedowns like this, brutes preying on the weak for a few pieces of gold. It never failed to make his blood boil. Seeing how little most beings valued honor surprised and infuriated the dragonborn. He enjoyed many aspects of the world's cultures, particularly the humans. But the fiery passion that Azul admired, often contributed to the beings lack of discipline and honor.  Hearing the bandits and Sval speak he flourishes his sword and in his gravelly accented Hellenian says "They speak truly, this is your one chance to stand down. My people do not tolerate thieves and bandits. If you persist at best you will lose a hand, but likely your life will end in flames. Make your choice."

As the party approaches the post and Petros takes in what is happening, he freezes.  This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen.  They needed time to understand and plan.  It's too soon to just waltz in and crack skulls.  They didn't understand the full scope of what is happening.  How many of the bandits were there?  Did they have reinforcements?  But it was too late.  His indecision and hesitancy had allowed Sval and Aleixos to step into the role of action.  Blast it.  Why hadn't Sval scouted this out for us!  Looking over to Amiri, Petros shrugs uncomfortably and says, "As you wish." For now, he was going to see what he could see.

Still recovering from the heat, Aleixo is a little slower to react. He carefully dismount as Sval and Azul address the bandits. Preferring to allow Sval to take the lead he simply takes his shield and spear from the side of the horse and waits to see how things develop. 

Xan steers his horse around, slowly aiming for the rear of the group, focussing his energy and feeling pleased with himself for having the sense to magically armour himself. Hoping it wouldn't come to a full scale battle he plans which spells may be of most use, sending his familiar down fron his shoulder into the saddle bag with brief mental command.

The room in the guest house was larger than she'd anticipated. In months of traveling on dirt paths and sleeping out in every nook and cranny on the back roads out of Appolis, Brimblebread had forgotten the size of civilized holdings. She sat atop her cot, her short legs dangling off the side and swinging gently to and fro with the soothing sounds of the wind whistling just outside. She idly fiddled with the purple petals of the wisteria inlaid in the brim of her pointed hat. As a small smile crept over her face, she felt for the first time in a long time a sense of true peace. The air was crisp and fresh. The bed was big and bouncy. The  wagashi  she'd scrounged together with the few red beans she had found were pairing quite well with the tea the folks at the post had been - reluctantly - willing to offer the little goblin girl. She shoved a whole nother one of the sweets   into her mouth, happily munching away at the mochi to her hearts content. For a single blissful moment, she felt quite happy.  Then the first scream tore through the facade of the evening. The attack of the "taxmen" came all at once, and as the individuals made their presence known, Brim's smile shifted.... into a beam.  A chance to change some lives!   She hopped off the bed, landing with her arms outstretched over her head. Turning towards the door, she snatched the long blackened crook that leaned against the door, using the hook of the staff to reach the handle of the door and turn it open. With a pep in her step, she hurried along the path out of the guest house, stepping into the light of the early night to greet the troublesome fellows. "Take it from me fellas!"  Her shrill voice rings throughout the wooden walls of the trading post as she stands triumphantly and small at the threshold of the guest house,  "It's not too late to turn from this path!"

Following the call of their reckless brother in arms, the bandits leap into action, loosing arrows at Aleixo, Azul and Brimblebread. Azul shrugs the shaft off like nothing as it ricochets off of his armour and, though Brimblebread feels the blow, her leathern trappings protect her from serious harm. Aleixo is not so lucky and the missile finds a weak spot in his armour, drawing blood. Aleixo takes 14 piercing damage to vigour and 2 to wounds, reduced to 5 and 2 by DR -> 42/47 Vigour, 17/19 Wounds, 2 Bleed Azul takes 7 piercing damage to vigour, reduced to 1 by DR -> 35/36 Vigour Brimblebread takes 5 piercing damage to vigour, reduced to 3 by DR -> 32/35 Vigour Two others draw blade and axe and set upon Sval. The first strike fails to pierce the ranger's chainmail, while the second he handily deflects with a twirl of his blade, taking the opportunity to strike home, drawing blood from the enemy. Sval takes 5 piercing damage and 7 slashing damage to vigour, reduced to 0 by DR and parry. Meanwhile, the woman who had spoken up against the fight downs a potion and vanishes from sight! Sval's action.

Following up on his riposte, Sval pulls a liquid-soaked cloth from a sealed pouch on his belt and wipes it across the blade in a quick flourishing motion. The cloth goes back in the pouch and a left behind on the blade is a green-colored faintly foul smelling liquid -- a poison of Sval's own creation. Nothing too toxic, but enough to infect wounds and cause rot in these already rotten souls. He follows up with another attack, which the wounded man dodges effortlessly.

Brimblebread brandished the blackened crook in her left hand, her right feeling the spot the arrow hit - having no more than stepped out the guest house when an archer loosed one straight into her. The small buckled shield strapped to her right arm had had no time to be raised, and the point of impact stung a bit, but she simply grimaced and turned towards the attackers. "That's hurt! I want you to be aware of that so you can later know what you are atoning for!" She skipped forward, up over the bench and over the table on the way towards the archers. As she moves she notes the man standing nearby - Orion, who had let her in when many others had turned her down - with a glint of fear in his eyes. She quickly hops in between the two archers and, with a murmer under her breath and a flick of her wrist, casts a quick bit of divine protection over herself before swinging with the crook. Unfortunately for her, the large man is more lithe than she expected - dodging away from her.

Azul barely restrains a laugh at sight of a Goblin skipping through the battlefield telling the bandits to repent. Seeing her lock down two of the archers he resolves himself to do the same. Placing himself behind the swordsman he slashes out with sabre the man quickly parries the blow deflecting most of the impact into his leather armor. Azul growls and rushes forward bashing the man twice with his shield drawing blood on the second impact. He then turns towards the archer, hoping that his size and presence may through the bandit's aim off. 

Petros heels his horse forward, draws his sword and plunges the tip into the swordsman's left eye as he whirls to face the charging horse.  The man crumples to the ground with a scream. As Amiri leaps in beside Petros and downs another man, Petros shouts,  "Your leader has abandoned you, but in the name of Apolis, you can receive justice rather than death.  Throw down your arms."

Seeing that the bandits inside the trading post are handled, Valerie wheels around, watching the rear for unexpected surprises. Meanwhile, Linzi hurries to Aleixo's aid, speaking words of power that bind his wounds. "Unrepentant banditry is punishable by sword or rope, Petros," she yells with fervour.

Xan focuses as he moves his horse forward into the space Petros has vacated throwing the energy out as he arrives. Azul, Sval and Aleixo all feel the warmth of the divine power flow through them energizing them and strengthening their bodies. "Fight well, friends ." Xan calls out softly.

Slipping forward in front of Petros' horse, Aleixo drives his spear forwards into the archer, driving him back, but he only finds himself bouncing off the crook of the goblin behind. 

Realising too late that they are obviously outclassed, the archers make for cover, only to have their escape cut off on all sides. Azul slashes swiftly at one, drawing blood with a gasp across the upper arm. Brimblebread thumps another deftly on the head, sending him crumpling to the ground, while Aleixo sends the last flying backwards with a thrust of his longspear. The crossbowman barely recovers in time to loose a stray bolt at Petros. Sval's action.

As the crossbowman levels his bow at Petros, he instinctively raises his hand towards the man.  As the bolt flies towards Petros's hand, a glimmering sector of a sphere erupts in front of him, the bolt harmlessly ricocheting off the barrier, electrical-like energy cascading across the surface of the barrier.   "The sword and the rope it is then."

Sval gives chase on one of the retreating bandits with a preternatural burst of speed. He feints overhead and then lunges at the bandit's face. The blade slices into flesh at the temple and the acid burns, the man screams, clutching at his now-ruined eye and collapses to the ground. Sval whirls around, prepared in case any have followed.

As the archers fled from her, Brim reached out with the hook of the crook to swipe the leg of one of the men out from under him, sending him tumbling to the ground in a heap.  "Oh no!"  She looks panicked for a moment, "Hey are you okay mister? I didn't mean to..."  Seeing him slumped to the ground, she feared she'd gone too far, before seeing the gentle rise and fall of his body taking in shallow breaths. "Oh great! I was worried ther- hey! Don't run off yet!" Her focus returns to the archer that had originally shot her.  She ambles forward, the long staff jutting out on each side of her by a full head.  "Some free advice,"  she starts, bringing the crook high up over her head,  "a good rule of thumb is not to shoot people! I know, I was raised believing differently too but it turns out it's not nice! Thank me when you wake up, okay?"  The curved head of the staff slams down into the taxman's head, letting out a heavy thud . As his body slumps to the ground she starts to panic once more, "Shoot, did it again, didn't I?"

"Sval, Xan, the lady disappeared.  Can you pick up her trail?  She can't have gone far."

Sval moves to where she disappeared from and quickly picks up her trail, which he follows to a ladder that leads to the top of the trading post's walls. He reaches the top and searches around, but finds nothing. "She came up here, but I don't know where she went after. Xan, anything?"

Suspicious of why she would climb the palisade, Aleixo mounts his horse and heads to the outside of the wall in the same place. He calls up to Sval and Xan, "Look out for ropes, or signs that a hook has been used on the wood." He looks around. "This way! I have the trail!" He immediately moves his horse to follow the trail. Eyes scouring the distance to find any signs of a person running. 

Aleixo scours the horizon, but there's no sign of the woman. Inside the trading post's walls, Orion shakes his fist at the fallen bandits. "Take that, you bastards!" He snarls, kicking at one of the bodies with a dull thump. "Of course, she  got away," he adds, spitting on the ground. "A plague on her. She's certain to tell Capricornus of this. They came before to 'collect taxes'. Next time they'll come to 'punish treason'. Now what are we to do?" He sighs heavily. "If only I could send Sophia somewhere safe and show those rats what's what!" A fair-headed woman emerges from the building at the back of the compound and comes running up to Orion. "Dove! Why are you here?" Orion exclaims with admonition. "I told you to stay hidden." "It's all over - I saw it," she replies tenderly, if with a hint of sorrow. "I just needed to be sure that you were alright." Orion mumbles something and looks away embarrassed. "My name is Sophia," the young woman continues, "I'm sorry that your arrival at our trading post began so... unwelcomingly."

"Aleixo, I will catch up to you." Xan calls after the spearman, and immediately begins to jog after him, nodding in greeting to Sophia as he speeds past. " Good day to you. " He calls out over his shoulder before moving after Aleixo.

Azul sheathes his blade and closing his eyes for a second, and looking through Sofia's. Seeing that the owl had not been able to pick up any signs of the invisible woman, he returns to himself. Telepathically saying "keep an eye out little one I fear that the trouble has only just begun. Stay in the skies and let me know if you spot anything." He bows his head towards Sophia and Orion.Saying in hesitant voice "My apologies,  I fear we have made more trouble for you. Though we are here to help, we have been sent by the mayor of Appollis to deal with Capricornus. What can you tell us of the man? Do you know where he is camped or how many men he has? Any information would aid our cause, and gods willing ensure that you never have to deal with these brutes again."

Petros dismounts and puts a hand up on Azul's shoulder.  "Azul, please.  These people have just had a fight and know us not.  Let's give them a moment to breathe before we question them within an inch of their lives."  Turning to Orion, Petros tries to turn up the charm.  "Orion?" Petros asks, extending an arm. "I am Petros Pantellis.  A pleasure to make your acquaintance  As Azul says, we have been sent here to help.  Perhaps while my companions hunt down the escapee, we can sit somewhere and talk.  I've also brought a barrel for you from Master Loukrazis.  He spoke well of your trade relationship, and I must say, he is doing an excellent job bringing up his daughter in the trade.  I imagine Laina will be a force to be reckoned with in her time.  A good relationship to strengthen I'd wager.  Now, besides the banditry, how are things going for you?  I must say this outpost is nicer than I expected." Petros continues to chat as they walk somewhere out of the heat.  

Following the battle, Brimblebread has been standing a little ways away from the new group, watching as they dismount their horses and start speaking with Orion. She takes a moment to check her shoulder, placing a hand on the spot the arrow made contact. The area wasn’t bleeding, but was still a tad sore, so she closed her eyes and concentrated, allowing some power to be channeled through her hand into the wound, and as quickly as she had started did the pain fade. Realizing she should be doing the same to everyone else who’d helped defend the trading post, she hurriedly bounded on up to Orion and the man in fancy garments. ”Sorry to interrupt, misters, but would you or anyone else require any aid? I know I some saw of ‘em tag ya in the fight and all is all.” She grins up at the two, baring her yellow, scraggly teeth.

Turning to take in the approaching goblin, Petros quickly turns back to Orion when she suggests that Orion may have been injured.  "Oh gods, were you injured.  How rude of me to not even ask." Turning back to the small, new arrival, Petros continues "I was not injured, thank you kind...er...Goblin?  The gods once again deigned to shield me from injury.  Why, I cannot conceive.  Petros Pantellis, at your service."

"These lands teem with bandits like bedbugs in a beggar's hut," Orion grumbles in reply to Azul, "and you just stirred them up! They have a camp not far from here - I expect that they'll return in full force tonight or tomorrow morning. Capricornus won't take an insult like this lightly and his henchmen are more like demons than men. Those bloodsuckers think they own this land - they come, take what they want and steal the better part of our money every month as a toll for their leader. They even broke our gate so that we couldn't try to hide anything from them. Nobody knows exactly how many there are. Sometimes only five or six come - sometimes, it's a whole gang. I'd have shown them what for long ago, if not for Sophia. Capricornus fancies himself a king in these parts. He may have horns for a crown, but all the troublemakers around here are happy to follow his orders as long as they're paid. So they charge an arm and a leg as 'taxes' and they call their executions 'punishment for treason', even if those who never swore allegiance to Capricornus. They're killed fast, if they're lucky. If not..." Orion looks to Sophia. "Dove, why don't you go start supper while we finish our talk?" "I've no need to be protected from dark talk," Sophia scoffs in return. "I'm not some blind kitten, you know - I've seen what they do to people."  Sophia lowers her head at the thought. "Most of the gang is made of up simple bandits, but there are a few monsters among the leadership, especially those close to Capricornus. Aucaman and Dolan come to mind. They like to make a show of their tortures and executions. My husband and I... we saw the bodies." "Well," Oleg adds gruffly, "I appreciate your good intentions. I may not have the best manners, but Orion Leventis is the last name you'll hear accused of being ungrateful! If we manage to defend this post, I'll reward you properly. We have to hide Sophia - please don't argue, Dove. Now, we also need to decide on a plan. Go ahead and look around - there may be some tools that can be used for the battle. There are some pretty solid traps around, some tar, and... a box of alchemist's fire, looks like."

Brimble blushes at the offer of service from a human like the man standing before her. She quickly averted her eyes, casting them down to the battle-scarred ground. "Oh no no no that is alright Irequirenoservicesnosirthankyousir but, um," eyes still averted, she sticks a hand up towards him, arm straight as an arrow, "My name is Brimblebread and I am a paladin and if there is to be a siege then I would very much like to offer my own  services, ifthat'sokaywithyoumister."

"Always happy to have another friend by our side.  Welcome to the team, Brimblebread."

Sval, having returned from atop the wall while Aleixo and Xan scout further, walks slowly up to Petros, Brimblebread, and the proprietors of this estate. "Aleixo has ridden ahead to follow her, but she had a good head start on him. I think he and Xan have lost the trail." His words are not accusatory, but simply stating a fact. He pauses, noticing the goblin. He begins to wipe the acid from his sword with a clean cloth from his pack as he speaks.  "You fight bravely, but you held back. What have these men done to deserve your mercy?"

As the kindly man welcomes her, Brim slowly looks up to meet his gaze, her face upturning into an open-mouthed smile. Then the other man approached, and she instinctively shrinks away again, sidestepping around Petros to be behind one of his legs a bit. "It's..."  she stutters, "...it's exactly what they did that warranted mercy, sir. See, they clearly have made some mistakes in life. But everyone makes mistakes! That doesn't mean they deserve to die does it?" She pops out from behind Petros and her elongated ears bob up and down to the side of her face as some of her confidence returns. She glances up to look the man in the eyes, her own eyes wide and blazing now,  "Anyone can change if you give them the chance! I don't think it's ever too late for that, so I did what I could to make sure they'd have that chance!"

Sval crouches down to meet Brimblebread's intense gaze on her level, and she can see the black veins of necrotic mutation coming up from beneath his armor and nearly covering the right side of his face, all the way up to his bloodshot right eye. He matches the intensity of her eyes for a few long moments, then smiles. "I did not mean to frighten you," he says. "If you truly believe the things you say, then I believe the world needs more people with your ideals. It would mean less work for me." He extends a hand in greeting. "I am Sval." Some monsters will not take their chance at redemption. And they must be put down. That's why I'm here. But merciful people are the balance to the hunt. She will act for light and redemption, so I can do what needs to be done.

Anyone can change if you give them the chance! I don't think it's ever too late for that.  The words echoe in Petros's head, reverberating off of the words from his dream last night.  From his dream most nights.   Wake up.  You are no longer a child, and it is time to put away childish things.  It is time to be who you were meant to be.  Wake up.   He stares stright ahead, a blank expression on his face until he snaps back to the present, his eyes focusing back on Sval.   "Sval, Orion here believes we will have a larger party here tomorrow.  With her escaping, that seems guaranteed.  And unfortunately they will have a good idea of what they face.  I...." Petros swallows what he was going to say, how he was going to try to again assert leadership over the group so that they wouldn't find themselves rushing headlong into things without a better grasp on what consequences their actions would have.  Instead, he continues, "We need to see about strengthening the defenses here quickly and coming up with a plan.  Orion says he has traps available.  Perhaps you can have Amiri set some in the woods from the directions they are likely to come and bring Valerie and Linzi in to help plan?"

Azul looks at the Goblin and gives her a small bow of his head as he says "That is a noble sentiment Brimblebread. Though those that have harmed the community do owe their penance before redemption can be attained. But the gods smile upon us for your mercy today. The one you spared may be able to tell us more about his group. Let's go wake him and see what words he decides to share."

She takes a step forward and reaches a hand out, taking it in hers and holding his gaze for a moment before shaking and releasing it.  "I am Brimblebread and I don't want to be rude sir but is your eye okay cause it looks sick."   Turning towards the other man, Brim nods, "I understand that. I don't think that bad crimes don't deserve penance..."  she looks down again, shuffling her feet,  "that's why I'm here afterall. But I'm sorry, there's clearly more important things you all have to discuss to protect these people. If I can be any help let me know! I'm not so experienced but I'll do my best!"