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Magdal

Magdal frowns obviously not happy about the direction of the conversation, but she had agreed to let Stobart handle this, so she remains silent for now.

Pim "Cave with skeletons was a unknown cavern not one of the caves of chaos. So it might be relatively unknown to most it certainly was to us." he adds. As for the accounting bit "Umm, I'm not great with numbers but can we only pay for those of us upright?"

Back To The Keep?
Smoking Bandits
Partly Cloudy, Late Afternoon

The men laugh at Stobarts suggestion, clearly unwilling to compromise on the fee.

One of the ugly highwaymen starts to get a little too close to the silent Magdal, stopping dead in his tracks after Pimlin speaks.

They all look at the three of you in shock, nodding their heads at your pile of unconscious friends. “You went there? To the Cave of the Unknown?”

They take a few steps back and look around nervously. ”And three of you lived? How is that even possible?”

Actions?

Magdal Haldeene AC7 15/16
Pimlan Greenstride AC6 7/9
Stobart Galt AC5 10/10 CLW, CLW, Command
Dredd AC3 -1/16 Unconscious
Meinhardt AC10 -2/5 MM, MM, Sleep Unconscious
Crobeus AC3 -2/10 LOH Unconscious
Renna Kellamin AC4 -3/9 CLW, CLW Unconscious

Stobart grips his staff tightly

"Do you really want to find out how? Just take the money and let us move on. No doubt we will be back around at some point to pay your toll."

Pim nods his head "That'd be the place. As for how luck, fate, skill. Take your pick."

Magdal

Magdal stands by trying to look tough, "Are you going to take the payment offered or not?" She lowers the travois and rests her hands on the hilts of her swords.

Back To The Keep?
Smoking Bandits
Partly Cloudy, Late Afternoon

All 6 of these men keep their distance, but none of them back down. A couple actually toss their cloaks aside to grab sword hilts once the threat of violence arises.

Their leader frowns under his hood. "It sounds like you lot got caught messing with the wrong people." He points to your pile of unconscious friends that you still need to drag the rest of the way to the Keep. "Most of you already look injured. Suppose we get into a fight here, and another of you drops? Maybe you chase us off, but will the two who remain be able to get the rest of your party back home safely? And before dark?"

He looks to the others, shaking his head before finishing. "I propose you give us 15 gold EACH, like your little friend suggests. So, 45 gold coins is our last offer to allow you passage."

Actions?

Magdal Haldeene AC7 15/16
Pimlan Greenstride AC6 7/9
Stobart Galt AC5 10/10 CLW, CLW, Command
Dredd AC3 -1/16 Unconscious
Meinhardt AC10 -2/5 MM, MM, Sleep Unconscious
Crobeus AC3 -2/10 LOH Unconscious
Renna Kellamin AC4 -3/9 CLW, CLW Unconscious

Stobart briefly glances at his friends before his gaze returns to the leader.

"It seems we have a stalemate. I will need to check that we have that much coin between us."

Pim turns so he isn't facing the bandits digs through his pouch and gets the 45 gold coins. Then acts like he is conferring with the other two and they are pooling their money for the cost. Then turns around and hands their leader the payment. "Here you are. And if you call living skeletons people I suppose yes you are correct most of out injuries were from them not whomever the men were that acted like they owned them."

Back To The Keep?
Smoking Bandits
Partly Cloudy, Late Afternoon

The man takes the offered payment from Pimlan with a smile. "I am glad to see that you are a halfling with some common sense."

The other 5 men stand down but remain alert for any surprises.

Then the rising sound of hoofbeats can be heard coming up the trail from the direction of the Keep. This seems make all the bandits a little nervous, looking around from one to the other. They appear about to bolt into the trees when their leader finishes. "Thanks for your donation! You can all go now!"

Actions?

Magdal Haldeene AC7 15/16
Pimlan Greenstride AC6 7/9
Stobart Galt AC5 10/10 CLW, CLW, Command
Dredd AC3 -1/16 Unconscious
Meinhardt AC10 -2/5 MM, MM, Sleep Unconscious
Crobeus AC3 -2/10 LOH Unconscious
Renna Kellamin AC4 -3/9 CLW, CLW Unconscious

Stobart

"Let's get the travois to the side of the trail, before our friends get trampled."

Stobart starts to move the travois over, but doesn't seem overly energetic about, almost like he wants to be around when the horse rider arrives.

Pim "Not sure how common it is but I at least have sense enough from time to time." he remarks and smiles then gets moving with his load in tow. "Yup we best get moving before we get trampled." he remarks to his travelling companions.

Magdal

Though curious about the rider, she quickly helps to move the travois out of their path, glancing to the others she the pauses to see who approaches.

Back To The Keep?
Fleeing Bandits
Partly Cloudy, Late Afternoon

As the hoofbeats grow louder, and the party get themselves and their unfortunate friends off the trail, the 6 bandits scatter into the trees.

A very large horse pulling a black buggy suddenly appears on the distant trail, coming from the direction of the Keep. There is an enormously fat man dressed in simple robes driving the buggy, and by the looks of it, a couple more passengers behind him. As they draw closer, the pair sitting on the bench behind him appear to be female.

When the driver notices you, he slows the horse to a trot as they approach. The men in the woods are no longer anywhere to be found.

The fat man speaks loudly. "Hail and well met, travelers. I am Mendel the merchant! You look like you could use some aid!"
Actions?

Magdal Haldeene AC7 15/16
Pimlan Greenstride AC6 7/9
Stobart Galt AC5 10/10 CLW, CLW, Command
Dredd AC3 -1/16 Unconscious
Meinhardt AC10 -2/5 MM, MM, Sleep Unconscious
Crobeus AC3 -2/10 LOH Unconscious
Renna Kellamin AC4 -3/9 CLW, CLW Unconscious

Stobart takes a step forward

"Well met, sir merchant. I am Stobart of Fharlanghn. We're trying to get our injured friends back to the keep for healing. If you could help us we would appreciate it greatly."

Pim nods his head "Well met, yes we could. A shame you didn't arrive a few minutes sooner though." he thinks about the coin they just paid that might have been prevented if the fellow arrived sooner. "Good sir how might you offer us aid? Perhaps a ride for our friends here?" he indicates the ones they are carrying/dragging back to the keep.

Magdal

Magdal bows to the newcomer and the two lady passengers, "Sir and ladies, our friends are in dire need to medical attention. Any help you could provide to them would be most appreciated."

Back To The Keep?
Mendel The Merch-cant
Partly Cloudy, Late Afternoon

The fat merchant smiles, clearly willing to lend the group aid. "We are full inside, but we could certainly pull your heavy travois back to...."

Before he can finish, one of the women, an attractive blonde haired beauty behind him whispers something into his ear, while the dark haired woman next to her remains silent. The message seems to confuse the merchant momentarily, turning his chubby smile to a frown. "I am sorry, I seem to have spoken too soon. We are in a dreadful hurry, so please accept my apology, as we can't help you after all. Good evening then!"

Mendel snaps the reigns, causing the very large horse to begin trotting away again down the empty path.

Though there is no help as promised, the bandits don't seem to come back around either, apparently keeping themselves out of sight while the buggy is within visual range.

With the road back to the keep now empty in front of them, the exhausted trio prepare for their final leg of this arduous return.

Actions?

Original artwork from the book.

Magdal Haldeene AC7 15/16
Pimlan Greenstride AC6 7/9
Stobart Galt AC5 10/10 CLW, CLW, Command
Dredd AC3 -1/16 Unconscious
Meinhardt AC10 -2/5 MM, MM, Sleep Unconscious
Crobeus AC3 -2/10 LOH Unconscious
Renna Kellamin AC4 -3/9 CLW, CLW Unconscious

Stobart

The cleric sighs

"Well, let's get going before the bandits return."

He picks up the travois and starts walking towards the keep.

Pim agrees though is dumbfounded at the weird encounter "Yes, lets keep going then, what a strange merchant."