Both Henry and Ferdinand listen to the comments that pass back and forth between members of the two groups, muttering to each other occasionally, before Henry sums the position up.  ”So we think there is a female wizard of some sort, perhaps linked with half-orcs and that this potentially links the bandit camp by the ford to the stockade structure that you found.  However, the wizard isn’t much more skilled than Valoria, while the half-orcs you have met so far have proved to be a threat, but have all been beaten.”

After clearing a space in front of him, Henry rests his sword across his knees and calls for the prisoners to be brought forward.  They are brought forward, hands bound in front of them – and all capable of walking.  Clearly Brother Bart has used just enough healing to get George and the half-orc conscious.  As they come forwards Yolen, George and the bandit walk quietly.  Yolen and Spike look nervous, while George seems more bemused than anything.

The half-orc, on the other hand, has a guard on each side holding onto his elbows.  While not really struggling he is pushing and jostling his guards and swearing at them in both common and Orcish.  Suddenly he sees Bai in the surrounding group, pulls away from his guards and lunges at her. His hands, still tied in front of him, grab for her throat.  ”You killed my brother …” he yells.

[Language unknown: "K strvorwil no acnont petra omeino! Fone con erbe eradinugh uretri esttiopro? Itinck as beou liwe astes som il ceti t a korwasantith t wi sipo noenti m asain Ev Whi? Atiareeve! Reserahat!"] Pipre places herself between the half-orc and Bai and lashes out, screaming at the half-orc. As usual, when excited and speaking loudly, her smoky voice turns shrill and powerful. [Language unknown: "Oreil ame ieet lo werreaine ckpre plad fo sell vorle ntiichpre lat ers chhou urany ur o tawing sa."] Which sounds pretty intense in the guttural language she speaks in.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 07:35, Sun 02 Oct 2016.

Andalon frowns at the fact the half-orc was able to lunge out of the guards' grasp so easily. Pipre's words mean nothing to him but he studies the half-orc intently as others (presumably) step in to restrain the half-orc again.

Cyrus doesn't waste any time with words as he sees the half orc straining to attack Bai. He takes a quick step and then slams the half orc squarely in the chest with his heavy spiked shield. "So much for trusting this one!"

Percy's chivalrous attempts to provide a distraction are completely overshadowed and entirely bested by the efforts of the Half-Orc prisoner, but as a gentleman he comes immediately to his feet as Pipre rises to place herself protectively before Bai.

"Reasonable threats," he mutters to himself, laconically.  "Perhaps that's where we went wrong ..."

"He's ... rather upset about his brother's death," the young gentleman calls out, attempting to provide clarification so as to avoid unnecessary unpleasantness.  "Pipre is ... attempting to calm him by reminding him of his current predicament."

[Language unknown: "T ssceol laprca ildial oudiouto p arer oer k any stahiswer e llespl us te weadou dinsonest rohica besica n miwhi ere day !"] Percy entreats the prisoner.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:36, Mon 03 Oct 2016.

The woman widens her eyes, but she makes no move to offer assistance. Not out of lack of desire to, but in that there seems no real need. Others who are closer are as quick as she and she doubts that it will escalate much further than this.

She feels only a moments pain for the man, knowing the loss of family. Even though she understands the risk the brother took with his own life, as they were entreated to stop,  she still knows the pain of that loss is intense. The situation grows tiring, it's almost too played out. Having lost interest, she closes her eyes once more and listens, not understanding most of the words, but still getting the meaning.

Valoria watched the scene with with much interest. She knew that with so many guards, that Bai was in no real harm. The speaking in a tongue not yet familiar to her was also of  interest. Valoria whispered the word of a spell as Pipre began talking. “Scire.” Orc was not a common language known to the upper class and now was a key time to learn some more words. As she listened, Valoria moved over to the drow that stood off to the distance. She looked at the dark elf with curiosity for a few seconds before turning her head back to watch what was about to happen.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:16, Mon 03 Oct 2016.

Bai jumps back as the half-orc lunged at her, her hands instinctively going for her weapon. Luckily for her the half-orc didn't seem to make it to her before people managed to get between her and her assailant. She did her best to compose her thoughts while Pipre spoke to him, but the translation she received from Percy ended that attempt.

"You're mad that I killed your brother in self defense?!" The small woman shouted incredulously. Her usual calm clearly starting to disappear. "I approached you and your stupid damned brother peacefully and you shot me in the arm with a damned arrow! I wasn't even holding a weapon and you shot me! I had right to defend myself then and there, but did I? No, we tried again to explain matters and stop bloodshed. AND YOUR STUPID ASS FIRED ON US AGAIN! So yes, I killed your stupid stupid brother, because if I hadn't you idiots would have killed me and my companions." The woman's tone went from frustration, to anger, and finally to the sort of condescension saved for an especially ignorant youth.

Percy's gaze flits worriedly between Bai and the prisoner, not entirely sure which of the two needs to be calmed the most.

"I don't think he sees it that way," despite the difference in the sizes of the two, the young gentleman quickly decides that his efforts are best directed towards the slender young woman.  "He is mad with grief."

"Perhaps you might ... take a breath of fresh air ?" he suggests.  "I would be honoured if you'd allow me to accompany you.  We don't want to be the cause of any interruption to these proceedings," he nods respectfully to Henry with a meaningful glance to Bai.

Vik stands, one hand on her knife and another on her shortsword, keeping back from the group currently speaking with the orc . . . but ready to pounce should this turn ugly. Bloodshed wouldn't sit well with the more upstanding members of her band, but it would be best to put the orc down quickly

OOC: ready action to step up, draw weapons, and attack with knife if need be (subdual of course)

Bai lifts her chin and pats down her clothes, physically composing herself, perhaps in an attempt to do the same with her emotions. "Thank you, no. I am more useful to Marshal de la Maistre here even if no one can be bothered to keep the violent prisoners in irons like they should be. How this... person views things isn't my concern. I stopped viewing him as relevant when he decided he wasn't willing to be rational."

Percy nods in agreement, relaxing a little as Bai regains her composure. "Grief can make one irrational," he suggests in a placatory manner.

"Oh. Very wise," the young gentleman says, most sincerely, gesturing to the guards to regain control of their charge.  "We shall leave him to these fine fellows."

Turning her head, the young woman's eyes spark to life. For a brief moment, her face reveals itself and in that moment there is seen a clear sense of contempt over what has just occurred and over what is said.

Somehow, the woman manages to keep her mouth shut, but her lips twist against the sudden, bitter taste in her mouth. With a slight jerk of her head, the hood falls back over her face. The grasp of her arms tightens about her waist, as does the grip about her elbows.

Valoria took small note of the goings on of the prisoner, still sure of Bank's safety. Instead, she continued taking note of any strange language and glancing over to the drow, as if looking at a very rare magical creature. Finally, Valoria spoke to her in a low tone. "Forgive me for asking, where you raised above...or below? Again, forgive my curiosity, but even the most knowledgeable know little about your kind."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:06, Mon 03 Oct 2016.

The grip about her elbows tightened slightly further and she lost what little of her resolve there was left to cling to. The silver of her eyes burned with a stark intensity as they turned and bore down on the small female. "My kind?" She asked, her voice devoid of any information. Releasing one hand, she reached up to pull back the hood from her face, revealing a look that spoke of her worn tolerance.

"If you will forgive me for saying, the people who you refer to as my kind, saw fit to leave a squalling infant to the elements of the woods nearly a hundred years ago. Those would be the ones who share the color of my skin, which is what I assume you were referring to as my kind. My kind look much like yours. They were also human, though they weren't blessed with the benefits of good rank and breeding as some. They worked hard for their living, and unlike your kind, they never referred to mine as being any different than theirs. Keep your curiosity to yourself, child. I am not here to expand your knowledge and idle fancies. If you'll excuse me, I've seen quite enough kindness for one morning. " Pushing herself from the wall, and turning her head, she moves away from the proceedings and off to find a shaded spot in which to rest.

Though they could easily assume that she was as cold-hearted as the kin they often mistook her for, they could not so easily see the shame of the pain she felt from such simple mistakes. Too often people saw her as a source of information, but in truth there was little she carried of her 'kin' other than their native tongue, their quick temper, and a touch of the magic they possessed.

Valoria smiled as Aris'ta proceeded to tell her what for. She gave a reply in a almost jovial tone. “Yes, I said your kind as to refer to your obvious drow heritage. You look like a drow...Would it be out of place for a dwarf to refer to my kind as human? A spade is a spade my dear...That said, I find it interesting that you where raised above...by humans no less. Good salt of the earth common folk, I assume? That sounds nice. Although, it must be hard to live so long....Thank you for answering my question. Most kind. I look forward to our next conversation.” Valoria gave Aris'ta a nod and then turned her attention back to the trial at hand.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:42, Tue 04 Oct 2016.

Assailed on all fronts, Percy half-turns his head towards Valeria and the hooded Aris'ta, but his lips quirk in a smile at Valoria's response and he looks away again, content that his companion of the road will neither take offence or wittingly give it.

Though he doesn't miss the meaning of Aris'ta's words and wonders just what is hidden beneath that hood.  Something, undoubtedly of which his mother would not approve.  Though that doughty lady would probably look down her nose at Henry himself and most certainly at his own current employment !

"I miss the road already," he mumbles to Vik, his voice low but his smile grown.

In reply to Percy Arndell (msg # 40):

"There's a certain . . . simplicity to the road, dear Percy."

Vik whispered to her recent traveling companion.

Aris'ta stopped only momentarily to turn and peer hard at the young woman. "If a spade were a spade, my dear I would have slit your throat the moment you opened your mouth to speak. Remember that about my kind" was the only reply given, before turning and moving from the room quickly. She doesn't give room to stop and look at anyone or anything, and just as she hovered as a shadow on the wall before, it is easy to forget she had ever been present at all.

There was far too many nuances conversing with the living, and so she went to take her place among the dead.

Valoria laughed at the Aris'ta comment. “Wow....very scary...Arisy. Just because you share their blood, does not mean you are like them, I know that. However, you are a drow with the values of humans...You will have to come to grips with that one day....Arisy.” As  Aris'ta walked away, Valoria rubbed her neck gently in a mocking manner. “Alas Arisy, my neck grows cold.”
This message was last edited by the player at 15:23, Wed 05 Oct 2016.

As Aris has already stepped away, and with a brisk pace, she misses Valoria's attempts to mock her warning, which is likely for the best.

As the Half-Orc suddenly lunges for Bai, Pipre tries to get between two while Cyrus lunges in using his shield to try and bash the Half-orc away.

Andalon stands by watching carefully, while Percy offers a basic translation and then speaks in the same guttural language as Pipre.  Valoria quickly casts a spell.  Bai half-jumps back as the half-orc lunges and starts on a long defence of her actions.

However, as Cyrus crashes into the half-orc, Bai and Pipre get caught up in the fight and they both  finish up in a pile on the ground with the half orc.   With Cyrus left standing over the three of them.

In the aftermath, Percy and Vik stand ready while Valoria and Aris’ta start to bicker …

"Keston!  Get him out of here." Henry roars pointing at the half orc, his face red with anger.  "His life is forfeit under the law for unrepentant banditry.  Rikka, Tib.  I do not want to see that half orc alive again!

Turning to the rest of the guards, he continues, still clearly angry "Put those three on their knees ..."  and the guards rush to comply as  Keston, Tib and Rikka drag the unconscious and bleeding half orc away.

Stepping forwards Henry offers Bai his hand to hep her to her feet.  "Are you alright, my dear?" he asks more solicitously.

Ferdniand and his retinue watch on impassively.

Bai accepts Henry's hand and smiles graciously. Muttering beneath her breath for a moment, or perhaps simply catching her words she nods thankfully, "I greatly appreciate that, and I'm sorry for losing my composure, perhaps it's a consequence of being out in the field so long away from civilization." She smiles and dips a brief curtsy before taking her hand back.

Cyrus steps aside as Keston, Rikka and Tib rush up to secure the prisoner and offers a hand to Pipre as Henry helps Bai to her feet. Though in the heat of the moment he'd considered drawing his blade and dispatching the bandit, striking a man while he was unarmed and on the ground was not something he could have reconciled. Even the order to execute him seemed harsh but he knew his place was not to question Henry and the bandit had threatened a fellow deputy...

In the tumult, Cyrus had missed the bickering between Valoria and Aris'ta but he saw the elf storm away and wondered what Valoria had done to elicit such a response. He would wait until later and ask her what had caused the outburst. Aris'ta had traveled with them to Oleg's and though it had been a short trip she had kept mostly to herself. He'd noticed she and Rook had gravitated towards one another but who was he to speculate on the relationships that were developing amidst the deputies. He knew little of her other than that she was skilled with a bow and avoided questions about her past. He wondered if Valoria hadn't let her curiosity get the better of her and unknowingly offended Aris'ta.

As the other prisoners are led away, Cyrus takes a deep breath and joins Valoria with an inquisitive look. He considered breaking the news she had mentioned to Henry but given the tension of the past few seconds, he thought it might be better to wait for cooler heads to prevail.

It does not need the finely tuned eye of a merchant to note Henry's anger, and Percy is determined not to give his patron further cause.  Seeing Cyrus offer his hand to Pipre, the young gentleman steps back politely, holding his tongue, risking no further jest and yielding the floor to the luckless guards who bear the brunt of Henry's anger.

Save for the prisoner, of course, but his fate was sealed when he let his grief o'ertake his reason, matter not that he chose it or not.  The law is harsh, but so too is the manner in which bandits conduct their business, and Percy has no argument with the judgment.