[IC] Into the Unknown

[Julius Sleazer]

11th Springmonth II, Early Afternoon to Late Afternoon
The Squawking Bird, Public House
Village of Fort Pertinax

The adventurers converse amongst themselves for a while and then retire to some of the recently-reopened rooms on the second floor to take baths and wash away the grime from their previous excavation work. After a few hours, they find themselves taking an early evening meal in the main room of The Squawking Bird. As the day grows long, a number of local men tramp in.

"What a waste of time. I hate talking with those fools from Caius' Place!" complains one in an angry, red-faced manner.

"We're swiving farmers and tradesmen. Attack a castle full of bandits? Damned nonsense," adds another.

The adventurers eavesdrop in a polite and subtle fashion. It appears that the elders from Fort Pertinax and the elders from Caius' Place conferred, along with many of the reputable adult males from both communities. The party from Caius' Place has apparently already headed south, planning to camp beneath the stars; so great was their anger that they would not stay longer, for apparently the elders from Fort Pertinax have decreed that it would be imprudent and unwise to anger or otherwise antagonize the bandits by launching any sort of expedition to rescue the abducted lordling.

"It could well be worth our hides if the bandits thought that we were breaking the terms of the informal arrangement that has now been in place for many a year," says one man with a salt-and-pepper beard.

"Still and all, 'twould be nice to have all the reward money that young noble's kin are sure to post," opines a florid-faced farmer with a scarlet chapeau. "I know, I know...the risks are too great."

[MonsterMash]

Decimus Numerous

Quietly to his companions Decimus says "this rescue looks like an opportunity for us, particularly if we can get some kind of message to find out the reward in advance".

[Vektunaxa]

Alfius the Aeviternal, Fighter

Alfius quietly disagrees. "Soliciting a rescue may be construed as a notice of ransom; we may very well find ourselves in arrest the moment we return with the lordling. Furthermore, sending a message inquiring about such will take time, and the family of the detained debutante may send ransom before we receive our answer. I urge us to find the bandits forthwith, rescue the aristocrat, seize the bandit treasure for ourselves, and return for a reward."

[MonsterMash]

Decimus Numerous

"Your reasoning seems sound to me, let us rest overnight then proceed on a mission of rescue".

[Wyzard]

Tacitus the Adventurer

"Our purses are full and no pressing task weighs on our shoulders. We should indeed wait until tomorrow, and gather more information before assaulting the bandits. I personally see no advantage in attempting to rescue the lordling until a reward is offered; mere gratitude can be a wispy thing."

"And if no profit comes of this, we're no worse off than before. We'll go seek the dwarf."

[Julius Sleazer]

11th Springmonth II, Late Afternoon/Early Evening
The Squawking Bird, Public House
Village of Fort Pertinax

Alfius and Decimus put forth the motion that the group should venture into the castlet of the bandits and rescue the young noble, and the motion carries. Tacitus moves that the group wait until the morrow to do so, and use the intervening time to gather information about the bandits. As this motion in no way goes against the group's majority decision, a sort of common consent seems to establish itself, and the youths from Durans Well prepare to make inquiries in the common room of the public house.

Reasonably subtle questions about the bandits yield responses indicating that the bandits number about a dozen---or so. The vagueness concerning the number of bandits does not seem to stem from an utter ignorance coming from the speakers, or from bald-faced prevarication, but rather from the fact that banditry is a profession with a high turnover rate. One worthy indicates that a local living on the edge of town, one Balbus by name, is known jokingly as the "brother-in-law to bandits," for his sister has removed herself from the village to live in a common-law arrangement with one of the bandits.

[Wyzard]

Tacitus the Adventurer

"Inquiring of this man is as likely to lead to him tipping them off as it is to us gaining valuable intelligence. I think that our best option is to gain a certain idea of their location, and then proceed out there with rope and grappling hooks in case of a wall. Maybe some flaming oil, too."

[thirdkingdom]

Tacitus the Adventurer

"Inquiring of this man is as likely to lead to him tipping them off as it is to us gaining valuable intelligence. I think that our best option is to gain a certain idea of their location, and then proceed out there with rope and grappling hooks in case of a wall. Maybe some flaming oil, too."

Cadmus the Confused

Cadmus agrees to this plan of action and makes subtle inquiries as to the presence of a general store.

[MonsterMash]

Decimus Numerous

"Yes, let us make a quick approach relying on our skills to support us".

[Vektunaxa]

Alfius the Aeviternal, Fighter

Alfius agrees with the general course of action that has been proposed.

[Julius Sleazer]

Cadmus the Confused

Cadmus agrees to this plan of action and makes subtle inquiries as to the presence of a general store.

Locals

The locals stoutly deny the existence of a general store in town or even the very need for any such establishment, but they counsel Cadmus that Brightfame the Honest, a travelling peddler, is currently at the north edge of town with his wagon of wares.

[Julius Sleazer]

11th Springmonth II, Late Afternoon/Early Evening
The Squawking Bird, Public House
Village of Fort Pertinax

The adventurers buy some supplies from the peddler, and then retire to the second floor of the public house for an uneventful night's sleep.


12th Springmonth II, Early Morning to Late Morning

The adventurers eat a hurried breakfast and then mount up. A few miles after leaving town heading southwest, they come across a few loons piloting a cart. Inquiries of these worthies indicate that the bandits' castlet is indeed about a score of miles, or slightly more, southwest of Fort Pertinax.

About half an hour or so before noon, the adventurers come to an area where the ground grows hillier. These rolling hills are far more wooded than the surrounding terrain, although the wood is not particularly thick in most places; it appears that a forest fire may have cleared a great deal of brush and timber in this area perhaps fifteen or twenty years ago. The adventurers stumble upon a small, winding track.

Following this track around a bend, they come to a cleared field surrounded by mixed forest on all sides. A young man with an enormous longbow stands perched in the branches of a partially-blackened oak and lets out a loud whistle. Five muscular men toiling in the field look up immediately at the adventurers. They are stripped to the waist and covered in sweat and dirt. Two have rakes, two shovels, and one some sort of pruning shears or the like. Aside from slings and short-swords at their belts, the men appear unarmed.

"Hola the travellers," one booms out in a resonant voice. "We see few strangers here. What brings you to this place?"

[thirdkingdom]

Cadmus the Confused

"Merely young and naive travelers, burdened by more coin than sense and in need of shelter for the night!" calls the cleric, spurring his horse to put a half dozen yards between himself and his comrades so as to not present a clustered target.

[Julius Sleazer]

Man Performing Agricultural Labor

"Greetings, traveller!" calls out the largest and burliest of the men performing agricultural labor. "Nemo the Naive am I hight. These gentle hills are safe enough in daylight, but we are oft troubled by extraordinarily large and vicious wolves and bears after dark. Perhaps mutual benefit may ensue from your chance passing. You could spend the night with us? Thus, you would not be exposed to the elements, and you would have walls between you and the darkness. We would gain the benefit of news from the wider world and assistance from armed men if any wolves or bears attempted a break-in."

[Vektunaxa]

Alfius the Aeviternal, Fighter

"It is early to turn in for the night, unless your domicile is a great trek from here," Alfius calls out. "But it is about time we stop for our luncheon, and a warm meal would be a delight. Do you reside nearby?"

[Julius Sleazer]

Nemo the Naive

"But three miles from here, friend."

[Wyzard]

Tacitus the Adventurer

Tacitus whispers to his friends that these men might be in league with the bandits.

[MonsterMash]

Decimus

"I wondered that myself" Decimus whispers back.

[thirdkingdom]

Cadmus the Confused

"We are new to the area, I confess!" Cadmus exclaims, "far from home and the people who love us! Tell me, is there anything of interest to be found hereabouts, that we may entertain our youthful, naive hearts with before taking you up on your offer!"

[Julius Sleazer]

Nemo the Naive

"Hmm. There are tales of isolated woodland grottoes wherein dwell beautiful forest-maids, but I think these stories too fanciful by far; I myself lend no credence to them. For the main part, you shall find naught in these woods but trees, animals, and perhaps the opportunity to eke out an honest living, such as we here are doing."