Checking Out The Caves (initial run)

[GreyWolfVT]

Pimlan eyes going wide "Giant frogs, oh man I'm half the size of a man so they would think I'm just a snack." distraction over he joins the huddle "So we're gonna take these guys down or just pay up? Weapons tied to the trees? Really? I must have missed that." he comments "Well whatever is decided, I'm in." he looks around to see if anyone else is paying attention to the conversation that aught not be.

[Hotgoblin]

Loyn-dwarf fighter

“I made a prudent decision to act, they had eyes on us the whole way. Are we supposed to kill, for some coin? My mission is to make it to the caves, we’ll deal with these bandits when we come back and can take them by surprise. Let’s keep going, what ever awaits us in the caves will need to be dealt with at full health.”

[Scott308]

Crobeus - Human Paladin

"And what exactly are you heading to the cave for? Coin? That is undoubtedly guarded by something that will not just allow you to walk in and plunder? Or is that different because those living in the caves are 'lesser'races, so it is ok to kill them and take their coin? I'm not proposing slaughter for the simple gaining of coin. No. These are bandits who are robbing citizens of their hard-earned money. I should think we'd be more likely to surprise them now, when they would not expect us to turn back and fight. Also, we are at full health and a full group, but soon we'll split into two. We will not come back together. If going to the caves at less than full health and spells is your main concern, we can spend another night at the keep to recover. The caves will still be there tomorrow.

[Monsieur Rose]

Bugs

"Eh. You look to be upset because they got the better of us. Unless you advocate the slaughter of every pickpocket, beggar, dishonest merchant, and oppressive lord in the land. Everyone is just looking for a living. Surely death isn't the answer for anyone who doesn't choose your path."

He holds up his hands in preparatory surrender. "Of course, if they were to actually kill and destroy property, then something should be done. But I don't recall Sabine mentioning a roving band of murder-hobos."

Bugs smiles as he looks over the marching band of adventurers.

[hedgeknight]

Dredd

Listening to Magdal's wisdom, Dredd shrugs and decides to do as the others. When he approaches the log across the path, he gives the speaker of the bandits a once-over, and grunts, then spits on the man's boots. "I look forward to meeting you on our way back."
He then crosses the log and joins his companions.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Detour Of Chaos
Forest Detour
Morning

The men continue to act cool and collected, as they watch the others pass, ignoring the harsh glares and the spittle. When the stragglers finally cross the log peaceably, the party reunites a short distance away to discuss their options. Bugs is almost sure he hears an audible sigh of relief from the now distant men.

Loyn reminds the others that he is here for a reason, and that killing random people, even if they are highwaymen, is a less than honorable notion.

Oddly, the chaos merchant gnome agrees with the dwarf, while the groups goodly Paladin suggests a much bloodier course of action, urging the others to go back to "deal" with these bandits right away.

While there is now a choice to be made, Renna keeps a sharp eye peeled, hoping to ascertain the number of bandits in the group. You saw at least 4 men, and there were at least two more people hiding in the trees shooting arrows, so the certain number seems to be around 6 (or possibly more).

When they look back to size up the enemy before deciding to attack, the unarmed bandits are seen slipping away north, into the forest, leaving the log right where it is in the middle of the trail.

Actions?

Renna Kellamin AC4 9
Magdal Haldeene AC7 16/16
Dredd AC3 16/16
Sylla Lontharra AC5 6/6/9
Stobart Galt AC5 10/10
Pimlan Greenstride AC6 9/9
Crobeus AC3 10/10

Loyn Shortbeard AC5 12/12
Rida AC2 10/10
Haldric Hammerheart AC3 12/12
Keya Redd AC5 12/12
Gyb the Meager AC10 8/8
Crabgrass AC7 6/6
Bugs Donato AC3 8/8

Marching order on the road:
Magdal (R) + Keya (C/R)
Stobart (C) + Loyn (F)
Sylla (M-U/C) + Haldric (C)
Crobeus (P) + Pimlin (F/T)
Renna (M-U/C) + Crabgrass (M-U/C)
Bugs (T) + Gyb (M)
Dredd (F) + Rida (F)

[Scott308]

Crobeus - Human Paladin

Bugs

Unless you advocate the slaughter of every pickpocket, beggar, dishonest merchant, and oppressive lord in the land. Everyone is just looking for a living. Surely death isn't the answer for anyone who doesn't choose your path."

"It isn't about my chosen path. They have broken the law. I would prefer they surrender and allow us to bring them to the keep where they can stand trial. But I don't think they'll go for that, do you? No, they'll fight or run, but at least they would know this area isn't such an easy spot to rob honest travelers. The gatekeeper mentioned a bandit problem. We can help solve that problem. It seems we outnumber them right now, but in the future, we will not."

Seeing the bandits slip away, he continues. "Well, we seem to have missed that opportunity. At the very least, nobody should object to moving the log out of the way to allow travelers to pass freely? At least until the bandits are forced to move it back to continue their scam, anyway.

Crobeus moves to begin pushing the log off the path, assuming others come over to help. When finished, he will take their sign and dismantle it, dropping pieces here and there on the way to the cave.

[hedgeknight]

Dredd

After listening to the Paladin, Dredd gives Loyn and Bugs a sneer and then goes to help Croebus with the log. As he does so, he says, "We had the chance to end them right here a minute a go. Too bad we let the pansies in the group persuade us differently. There's only one way to deal with a bully."

[sastaz]

Sylla seems yet undecided on the avenge vs live and let live issue, but follows along as the men the ones bent on not letting the bandits away with this removes the log and starts disrupting their business. She'll stay a bit back and use her keen elven sight and hearing to check for any signs of the bandits returning.

"Yes, these are most certainly at least a part of the bandits mentioned in the Keep. I just want to add that messing around with their ambush spot now surely decreases our chances of them making good on their promise and letting us pass on our way back."

[Stirling]

Crabgrass

We had a look at the log fellow, so I doubt he will stay around many taverns.

Ok. To the caves.

[Rex]

Rida

Rida will help Crobeus and Dredd with the log.

[GreyWolfVT]

Pimlan merely waits for a decision but seeing others moving on he isn't sure what to do "Hmm how about we just press on and worry about them for the return trip?" he suggests.

[sastaz]

Sylla stands watching with her hands crossed over her chest.

"Just let them roll their log, it will be the quickest way out of here."

[Rex]

Rida

"Actually quicker if you helped instead of just watching and bitching."

[sastaz]

Sylla raises both eyebrows and leans slightly backwards.

[Hotgoblin]

Loyn

“You might think you’re insulting me by calling me a pansie, Orc-man! But, everyone knows how much dwarves adore flowers.” He smiles at Dredd.

He rounds up those going to the Caves of Chaos,“Let’s be on our way gang, shall we?”

[Jernau35]

Gyb

"Without armor, Gyb doesn't want to get shot by arrows. Thank you to Loyn for this".

Gyb shrugs as the debate about bandits rumbles on. "So, we go to the caves, get money and pay them again on the way back. On our second trip out, certainly they will be waiting. That's when they can be killed".

Pointing up the road, Gyb says. "Now the bandits aren't here and the caves are there. Gyb needs money to eat tonight."

[ateno]

"We are new around here, the tree was freshly cut, they were expecting us. Who knows who they were, we should have avoided them along the woods by the wash. But they need to be shut down, not with a knife in the back but outwitting them. Coming up in the night thru the woods and looking at their set up and maybe destroying their equip,ent and running them out."

Keya Redd

[gurusql]

Renna

"Magdal, Dredd, Sylla, Stobart, Pimlan, and Crobeus I share your concern on paying them. I have an alternate route home planned if we wish ignore the bandits tom-foolery. We are past them now I would ask that we proceed to the Cave of Unknown as planned and put this behind us. Let's stay strong and unite for with that we will be victorious!"

[Scott308]

Crobeus - Human Paladin

"At this point, there is nothing more we can do about the bandits, so, yeah, to the Cave it is."