A large building that now houses the new wagon and Oleg's horse Claptrap.  The ex-bandits are sleeping in the hay loft

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New Day

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Lex can be found in the stables inspecting a saddle, measuring lengths of the elk hides he'd received from Oleg and then measuring, marking, and finally cutting leather to fit the dimension of the saddle.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:59, Thu 09 June 2016.

After measuring and cutting the elk skins, Lex finds a few pieces of wood leftover from the fencing project that were sturdy enough for the saddle tree. He began measuring and marking those to fit what he could feel under the leather from the other saddles he had examined.

He then cut the wood and assembled the saddle tree.

Footsteps sounded from the nearby opening, before the light only faintly dimmed by the presence of another body. With a piece of long cloth in her small hands, Pru stood, using the light to examine for the last time her handiwork. It was exceptional, but even as it was, Pru -as she liked to be called - could find room for criticism.

She was a pretty girl, if not quiet, with a gift for any sort of needlework. She was young, with a full face, pink lips, and a mane of wavy black curls. She had kept to herself and spoke to no one, but Lex had always been a friend and guide, a sort of tutor and mentor for real life skills.

"I'm sorry to take so long, Lex, but I needed to be sure it wouldn't come apart." knowing full well there was no  place for such fears.

The words out of the "silence" of the stables startled Lex. With the horses in the corral, the only noises in the stable were the "former bandits" and now the noises of his work. Then that beautiful voice that he so rarely heard said his name. He'd missed Pru these past few days. He'd been happy to see her among those who returned with the "deputy marshals" the day before but didn't get a chance to see her when he'd been working with Zorah and Puck.

"Pru! It's so good to see you!" Examining the cloak as though he were a seamstress himself, he looked at her and said "Better than I had ever hoped it would be, Pru! How do you do such fine work? Even while being taken captive you kept this safe and finished the repair. Thank you, Pru, thank you.

Barely taking a breath, Lex kept speaking, "And what do you think of these newcomers? I think if we play our cards right, maybe we can get out of the bandits life for good."

A smile flashed on the young woman's face, and she moved to sit down on a box of supplies, tucking her knees up. "I've not really spoken to them much, " she replies honestly, looking wistfully out the doorway. "I'm not one for chatter. I've nothing so great to offer. I'm just glad for a bed and the promise of things to change." she turned back and rested her forearms on her knees, before resting her chin on her uplifted hands. "They seem to have taken quite a liking to you, Lex. I'm so glad, only sorry it came at such a cost."

Without thinking about it Lex looked down at his hand. At the mark left by the hot metal. He felt the echo of the momentary pain and then he felt the shame of his screams. He'd made such a fool of himself...

He wondered if Pru had heard about the screams. He guessed she had. Word traveled fast around here. Too fast.

Lex realized he'd been staring at the mark and then held it up to Pru, "What this, it's nothing. Barely hurt. That Rook fella healed me almost immediately after. It burnt like hell before that though. But you know, only for a moment or two. So like I said it was nothing. And don't believe everything you hear."

He took a longer breath almost as if he was signaling Pru to speak.

Pru turned and lifted her head, blinking in surprise. The comment had surprised her as she had heard nothing. Tending to keep to herself, she rarely even sat around night times fires to listen to the local gossip while she worked.

"I'll take the advice, but I'm the last person who would know or hear anything, Lex." she remarked, glancing at the mark and rubbing her own hand subconsciously as if feeling the same sting. "I meant the cost of what we've done and how it weighs over our heads. Forgiveness and redemption are near impossibilities for us now. We'll always be outcasts in some ways." she smiled, twisting her fingers anxiously, regretting not bringing some of her work with her to occupy her hands.

"It's not much different for some of us, but others will have a harder time of it, you know they will. "

"I hadn't thought about that. Do you think there will be another fight? Kressle got away right? I like Zorah and Rook. They have both been kind to me. I don't really know the rest yet. I am glad you are here. I was worried about you, the rest of you I mean."
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:59, Sat 11 June 2016.

Pru sighs, slumping a bit, and looking wistfully outwards. "Honestly? I don't know. I can't see it ending so easily, but," she pauses, turning back. "I hope so. I wasn't really enjoying the life on the run way of living we had before. " she pushed herself to her feet, and paced a few steps. "You look happier too, Lex. I hope it all works out for us. "

"I think I am happier. I am working on a saddle and not stealing. I learned how to pet a horse and the beginnings of training one yesterday. If I do a good job with this saddle, maybe Oleg will let me make a few other pieces. Armor, belts, boots. Who knows. I don't know about you but I feel like the bandit life chose me, not the other way around. I will always have a reminder of that choice but maybe just maybe I can make a better life. I bet you can too. I mean look at this cloak. Have you thought about offering to make any clothes for the deputies?"

"I've... thought about it. " she admitted, turning and pacing the other direction. "It is something I have a knack for, though it's nothing, really. I like doing it. Making and fixing clothes, turning cloth into something usable and stylish. There isn't much call for that out here. "

"Are you sure about that? Have you seen some of these deputy marshals? A few nobles. The Marshal himself was just 'walking' with a lady." Lex realized he might be pushing to hard but he thought she of all people would be able to make a new life.

"'Walking?'" Pru gave Lex a lopsided grin. "Lex, I never knew you were one to join in the gossip" she teased, finally re-taking her seat.

"I'm not one for words, I wouldn't even know who to approach or how to speak to them when I did know. "

"Ha, it's not gossip if you observe and then state the facts... Or so my mom used to say when my dad accused her of gossiping too much. Huh. I guess maybe it is..."

Seeing another way he could help a friend, Lex offered, "I could help you with talking to them. I can mention the great work you did mending my cloak to a few of the deputies later this evening. I am going to ask one of the men headed back to the village to pick up some better tools for me, if I can convince Oleg that this sword and my leathers are worth anything. Do you need anything? In the meantime, keep an eye out for anyone with tattered clothes and perhaps you'll find your first customer."

"Really? Would you? Oh, Lex, that would be so helpful." she replies, honestly. Her eyes showing the gratitude there.

"I'd love to buy some cloth, but it's often so expensive." she laments with a high, slumping her shoulders again.

"I am at a good stopping point with this saddle, let's go sell our gear and put in orders for the tools and cloth. I'll introduce you to Zorah and the others and show off this cloak."

Lex dons the cloak, pulls up the hood and scowls at Pru playfully. He then pulls down the hood with a smile and waits for her acceptance of his plan.

Rising from her place, a grin on her face. "That sounds like an excellent idea, Lex. Let's go. And thank you... Again."

OOC: This post starts over at The Fire but rather than breaking it up and posting twice, I'm skipping ahead a bit.

Lex found Pru. She'd been helping Svetlana with chores around the settlement and looked like she could use a reprieve.

"Svetlana, can I borrow Pru for a moment? I need a second set of eyes."

Not waiting for a yes or a no, he reached out for Pru's hand and lead her away from her current chores over to the stables. He wasn't actually sure why he'd lead her away, it wasn't as though reviewing his plans required privacy, but he was shy, and these plans were important to him so he guessed he wanted her undivided attention.

"I've been drawing the plans for the tower. We are going to put in a second level and stairs to reach it. What do you think of these? Do you think the others can follow these directions?" Lex says as he hands her detailed plans showing the stairwell and the second level.

Pru had spent most of her morning trying to learn how to cook, with little success. It seemed her hands were only good for one thing, and she was more than happy to be dragged away. Secretly suspecting Svetlana was happy to be rid of her for fear she burn the water.

"Poor Svetlana, " Pru said once they were out of earshot "I'm not sure she'll ever want me near the kitchen again. " Pru confessed, giggling under her breath. Lex had been the one person she had confided in, in regards to Pipre and her 'measurements' and Lex, as always, had listened with an understanding ear. The whole incident had been fairly mortifying for poor Pru, who upon waking the next day couldn't fathom what had happened.

In actuality, the scene was minor, and Pru as always blew things out of proportion, but now with days between, Pru had settled back into the easiness of herself. Missing her new friends, but thankful for the ones still present.

Pru looked down at the plans, folding her hands before her in a way that made her hands look almost disfigured and nodded. "Lex! These are perfect, of course the others will be able to follow through.." she exclaimed, releasing her hands and tracing the lines of the design. "They're much better than Martin's ideas, do you remember?" She laughed again, tilting her head slightly at the recollection. "I think Miss Pipre will be pleased when she returns. I have to wait to proceed until the others are back from market, but I've made an excellent start. She'll be much more comfortable, the poor dear. "

Lex was ecstatic with the praise Pru had given his work. She was a great seamstress and recognized quality work when she had seen it, so it meant a lot for her to say such nice things. And the comparison to Martin really put it over the top. People had always looked to Martin when it came to tasks like this back when they were bandits. He would often take Lex's ideas and claim them as his own. That drove Lex crazy...

But then Pru mentioned Pipre and the bright shiny smile was a bit dampened. Pru had confided in Lex and he still wasn't sure to make of all of what had happened. It shouldn't have been a big deal, but something about it really bothered him. Perhaps it was just the position it put Pru in, who knows, but the young man really didn't know how to handle that. He tried to keep his wits about him but his awkwardness won out.

"Thank you Pru! You are the best! I really hate Martin. He was always taking credit for my work... Umm... Uh... yeah, I can't wait to get some proper tools and materials. Miss Zorah's saddle will be a masterpiece when they come back... So Pipre still wants the leatherwork too, right. That fitting wasn't just an excuse to get you alone was it..."

Pru could have cut off her tongue when she saw the change come over Lex. While she had been right to confide in him, she knew better than to keep reminding him of the incident. "I'm sure of it. I took all the measurements needed. You still have them, right?" she asked, hoping that speaking of work would bring back the gentle camaraderie between them.

"Speaking of Miss Zorah,..." she said slying, turning and stepping away with her hands behind her back. "She seems very nice, and she's certainly been very accepting of all of us."

"I have them. She does have good taste..." He pauses a moment too long and then tries to cover his pause by speaking really quickly, "The armor will be very fine indeed."

He is very glad Zorah is spoken of, "Zorah is very kind. She showed me how to work with her animals. I helped teach Puck how to throw her. I thought it was a funny thing to teach a horse, but you know, it actually makes a lot of sense and would help prevent a lot of horse theft."

Pru considered, "You mean teaching Puck to throw a rider than isn't Miss Zorah?" she asks, turning her blue eyes towards him. "That seems a grand idea, if it can be done of course. Teaching the horse to trust it's rider, but would that make it hard for others to ride them if something came up and they had to change?" Pru had never been on a horse in her life, and while she knew the basics of how to groom the animals, her personal experience with them ended there.

"I still cannot believe at how much has changed in the last few days. Life is considerably different. "

"That's what Zorah said, so she was teaching Puck a command phrase. I said it on accident once and she got thrown... I had an idea about how to make it better but she said that would take a lot longer."

Lex liked thinking about the horse training. He liked the new way of life. He wasn't sure about Henry or any of the newcomers except Zorah, he was sure she was kind. Rook had healed him after the branding. That was nice. They hadn't killed him for his "crimes" just left the mark that was currently itching...

"I think I like it. Don't you?"

Spotting a few of the others near the stables David took the opportunity to plant a seed of interest.  He walked toward them with a hand held up in greeting.

"Greetings!  I see you are both keeping busy with the adventurers away.  I am as well, but... it couldn't hurt to have a little fun while we have a chance."  David held up his hands like he was shuffling a deck of cards.  "Maybe we could have a little bit to drink and play some cards later tonight?  It's been a few stressful days, we could all use some relaxation."

Pru opened her mouth to answer Lex when another voice entered the fray and she turned to look at David. "I'm not much for drinking and card playing, but I'd be happy to come round to provide some company. " she turned her smile back to Lex. "What do you say, Lex? We have been working rather hard. I'm sure we could be spared for a few hours after the days chores are done?" she asked, thinking it was time to learn more about those who would likely be apart of her life along the way.

Lex wasn't much of a gambler or a drinker but he wanted to be well liked by the people he was building a new life with so he answered, "You'll have to teach me the game but count me in!" The mention of chores reminded him he would need to go over the plans with the others so they could start work in the morning.

"Thanks for all the help Pru! I will see you both again in a bit." Lex said getting up and moving toward the door.

"Happy to my boy, happy to."  David forced a smile to the both of them.  There was a fine line between taking someone for as much coin as you could and taking enough and still have them keep coming back.  Especially tricky with someone new to a game.  He remembered the first time someone had shown him how to play cards.  Lost a good pile of coins, but he had grown to love all of the games.  Maybe he could instill those feelings in the others.

"I'll see you both later, I need to find some of the others and invite them as well."

Pru watches both men leave and sighs. She returns to the kitchen in hopes of learning something more from Svetlana in regards to not burning water.

A few hours later, chores done, water sufficiently boiled and not burned and shoulders aching, Pru is once more wandering the stables in search of Lex. It's likely to be an interesting evening and she's had more than a few reservations about the whole things, but perhaps it was better to come out of her shell a bit, learn to trust more.

"Did I hear something about a game of cards?" Zack asks poking his head around the door to the stable

Lex returned to the stables pretty quickly after leaving. The blueprints were with the others who would begin preparing what they needed to get started in the morning but he still had some work to do on Zorah's saddle. He picked that up and spent a few minutes hammering in little designs that he thought the woman might appreciate. Little pictures of animals around the horn and top of the saddle.

He heard Pru return and was about to ask her if she thought supper was ready over at the fire when he heard Zack ask about a card game.

"Oh hey Zack, yeah, David is getting a few people together for a game. Pru and I told him we would come by after dinner. Do you want to join us? Pru, you still want to watch, right?"

"Watch?" Zach asks with surprise.  "Nothing more boring than watching.  And anyway, we'll make David play for coppers.  He's too much of a card shark for anything else." he says remembering games back in the bandit camp.

"Anyways, I managed to get a jug from Oleg." he says holding up a half gallon jug of hard cider.

Pru opened her mouth to call out a greeting when she heard Zack's voice fill the air. Turning, she offered him a smile and a shy wave before turning her eyes back to Lex. "Nothing else has come up. It will give me time to work on the hem for Miss. Pipre's new attire so it's ready for the new materials. " she said with a grin, then turned her gaze back to Zack. "Where have you been hiding Zack?"

"Out with the horse in to corral most of the time.  Pretty much like I did back ... err ....  before ..  err.  Yeah.  Pretty much like I used to do.  Tidying the fences up, exercising them, making sure they are brushed. That sort of thing.  Not hobnobbing with the bosses like you two." He says teasing the pair about their new positions in life.

Pru frowned. "If anything, disappointing them. " she corrects, placing her hands on her hips "I don't know the game and I know enough of David to know my money is best kept in my own purse. I've material to buy if I am to complete this order. This is to be my livelihood. " she swings closer, letting her hands relax, "Besides, who better to distract you than the one with nothing to lose?" she takes a small cue she picked up from Pipre and looks up prettily from beneath her lashes.

"I'm sure you will do alright." Zach responds, never having intended to do more than tease her slightly.  "Oh, I don't begrudge David a few coppers, after all it is almost worth the money to watch him working so hard." The ostler grins across at Pru.  "But maybe, if you were to sit next to me, and put David off ..." he suggests with a grin.

Pru grinned widely at the reassurance Zach gave and relented, "In that case I might be persuaded to-- Zach!" she said, her eyes wide and a surprised smile on her face. "You cheeky devil! Trying to swindle David out of his coppers. I'm sure the sight of me will hardly warrant him to lose his concentration. " she throws her hands behind her back, grasping at one of her wrists and grinning.

"Oh I don't know ...." he says looking Pru up and down with a cheeky grin.  "And its got to be worth a try, just to wind him up, if nothing else.  Anyway, I'll share my cider with you ..." he entices her.

Lex watched the back and forth and tried to hide his feelings, but when Zach so clearly looked Pru up and down, he had a hard time containing himself and issued an audible sigh. "Why don't we head over to the fire and see about dinner before cards get going?" Lex suggests and moves for the door.

Pru grinned cheekily and shook her head. "How did you manage to get it from Oleg? Do a special favor? Not up to old tricks, I hope. " She gave Lex a sideways glance at the sigh and nodded her head. Lex was a good friend, much like the brother she'd never had. "That's a good idea. I believe stew is on the menu, and not to worry, I did not cook it. " she sets all their minds at ease. It was no secret the horrors of Pru's attempts at cooking.

Zach can't help but catch the look on Lex's face and the deep sigh the lad allows to escape from his lips.  For a moment his eyes narrow, but then his grin returns as he nods his agreement to the younger man's suggestion.

"Shall we?" Zach asks Pru, offering an arm "It has been a long time since lunch.  And Oleg knows I have the cider, I paid for it like any good customer would." He says reminding the woman that this is a trade outpost and Oleg makes a living by buying and selling things.

"We shall." Pru agrees, reaching out to take the offered arm, ducking her head a bit as he explains the procurement of the cider. "Yes, yes, of course. Old notions die hard, but I promise not to make the same mistake again. " Flashing him an apologetic grin, she squeezes his arm and follows after Lex, but not before leaning over to whisper, "_{You might want to avoid the bread, I did help with that.}"

In reply to Prudence (msg # 44):

Zach smiles at Pru's response <dark blue>"I am sure it will be fine"<dark blue> he grins as they head towards the fire.

A large building that now houses the new wagon and Oleg's horse Claptrap.

A little while later after the newly paroled bandits are brought to the stables to start their new lives Andalon walks in and asks to speak to them.

"Hello, you are Yolen, George and Spike, aren't you? Have I got those names right? I am Andalon de Lebeda, a priest of Abadar. Do you mind if I ask you a few more questions? We need to know anything else you can tell us about this spellcaster woman, Lavinia, her half-orc sons and anyone else who might have gone to the ring fort with her. For example, what spells has anyone seen her cast or heard stories of her casting? How many half-orc sons does she have? Do you know any of their names, including the one who was killed in the forest and the one who signed his own death warrant tonight? Do you think they are fighters, or rogues or even assassins? What do they wear and what type of weapons do they usually carry? Who might have escaped from Kressel's camp and gone back with them to the ring fort?"

He doesn't mention whatever he already knows about the ring fort as he wants to see whether anything they tell him doesn't fit with what he has seen so far.

All three bandits offer bits of information, but from their various accounts you gather that  the two Half-Orcs who led the ambush in the forest were caller Finnock and Detrak - both were dressed in light armour and carried short swords.  Both they, and their mother, were very dismissive of the bandits  not wanting to follow the party deeper into the forest.  She has another son, Pakrit, with her who wears chain mail and carries a long sword and shield.  He is reputed to be a nasty piece of work.

None of the three have ever seen Lavinia cast spells, although she has a particularly mean look to her when she is angry.  If you upset her Pakrit and another son take you aside for a 'talking to' -  which often includes a beating.

There were another half-dozen bandits at the camp along with Kressle.  That said, Lavinia, and her sons, appear to have Kressle under their thumb.

Andalon looks thoughtful as he absorbs their news.

"Thank you, that's very helpful. I think you will find you have made the right choice. Life here should be much better for you. Good, honest work for fair pay means you have the chance to build a much brighter future for yourselves here as part of our growing community."

He smiles and shakes hands with each of them before bidding them goodnight.

Vik's approach was not in any way stealthy, being garbed, as de Lebeda knew, in metal armour and leather. However, she hung back as Andalon spoke with the bandits, if only to allow her companion the privacy to do what he did best. When the bandits left, she approached

"Brother Andalon, a moment of your time, if I may?"

She walked over to the cleric. They'd not seen eye to eye on the road, but Vik's respect for a well trained spellcaster and the wisdom of his line of thinking (even if she disagreed) was all Vik needed to know this man was a strong ally.

"I wanted to discuss a sensitive matter with you. As you know, our gods are not . . . we don't serve the same ends. The opposite in fact, battle and blood is oft times the end of good stable civilization. Be that as it may, my time on boats taught me a good many lessons, and Gorum gives room for interpretation to all his followers in how best to serve the cause of battle."

Vik produced a belt pouch (a spare taken from the hoard they'd divided), with fifty golden coins within, and handed it to Andalon, with a small half-kneel

"Respect must be paid, for a warrior to prosper. Your god heals my wounds, and so a tithe must be offered. I have not the patience or the inclination to tithe to your god as his followers must though, so a year's worth of wages from my work on the ships is what I offer. Can you ensure it is put to the proper use?"

She was, of course, unaware her allies had paid for her healing before she'd joined their band . . .

Andalon was both surprised and delighted at Vik's unprompted donation.

"Why, thank you, Lady Viktoria. That is most generous of you and it will relieve me of the difficult task of asking our friends to show their respect and gratitude for Abadar's blessings. For that I thank you doubly so. I shall hold it in safekeeping until such time as I return to a temple of Abadar in the city or establish my own place of worship as our little community here grows.

"I must say that I particularly admired the way you fought those devilish gargoyle creatures at Quern's cave. You certainly put that enchanted knife to good use that day. Gorum would have been proud when he saw that!

"Well, thank you again. Now I think I should wash off the dust from the last week's travels before I call it a night."

In reply to Andalon de Lebeda (msg # 51):

"Hopefully the day of your return to the temple will not be far off, though I'd prefer seeing a settlement established."

As Andalon makes to leave, Vik makes to leave as well, going the other direction

"Sleep well Brother Andalon."