Jak had no intention of going after the bear, and was in fact almost as startled as the bear when Morg let out a roar. "GAH!" He glared at the dwarf and shook his fist but a moment later he was chuckling. The word treasure from Bram brought his head around and he headed over to look and see what had been found.

The bear lopes off away from the group and the road, still glancing back on occasion.

Bram searches through the bandit's stash of stolen goods and finds quite a collection of weapons, coins, and other items strewn about the cave floor.

---

We're officially out of initiative, so here's the spoils:

XP: I'm going to award XP as a group, then divide by 4 and give each of you that number. So I'm scaling it up a bit from what you'd normally get as a 6 person party. I'll add this to the Loot thread so you won't have to track this all individually (you're welcome to track it individually as well).

4 bandits: 100 XP
1 bear (scared off): 100 XP
DM award, neutralizing a bandit group: 200 XP
Total XP: 400
XP per person: 100

Loot in the cave: I'll also add this to the Loot thread and you all can decide what to do with it. If you keep any of it we can divide it up & update the Inventory threads at a long rest:
99 cp
74 sp
13 gp

Merchant's scale
Rug
10' silken rope
Tent, 2 person
Broken lock
Sledge hammer
10' chain
Battleaxe
Greataxe
40 crossbow bolts
Morningstar
Javelin
Quarterstaff
Mace
Sickle
Club
Greatclub
Whip


This message was last edited by the GM at 12:51, Thu 08 Dec 2016.

Morg helps Asano carry the other unconscious bandit to the wagon cage, and hogties him with the other half of his rope after weaving it thru some of the slats.

He then removes the bolt from his arm, and after helping to thoroughly search both unconscious bandits, adds it to the ammunition, weapons, and other possessions from them, to the pile at the cave.

Picking up the silk rope there, he goes to try and tie up and close the cage where the bear broke thru.

---

What do the 2 unconscious bandits have on them, in addition to B4's spear, their crossbows, cases, and bolts?

Asano watched as Morg divested the captured bandits of any weapons and sundry. As much as he hated to admit it, these bandits seemed to have nothing to do with his purpose here. He sighs in exasperation.
"Anything linking them to a larger group, Morg?" he asks, eying the discarded equipment for any sign of an affiliation. Hells, even the mark borne by the masked men the prior evening would be fine.

Morg and Asano examine the fallen bandits.

---

The bandits wear poor quality leather armor, and bear only rusty scimitars and barely-functional light crossbows. The insignias on the masked men in the quarry the other night are entirely absent from the unconscious men's persons.

"I suggest we load everything into the cart , assuming it's still usable," Asano says as the others tally the bandit stash. "I imagine some of these goods may be claimed by merchants in Red Larch, maybe even with a reward of some kind. Otherwise, we can just sell the majority of it off and split the profits. After that, well, we had a fair list of other injustices in the area that we can look in to." He looks around the group, trying to gauge everyone's opinion of his plan.

"That sounds good. Let the guardsmen take care of the bandits, see what we can do with the supplies." Mayon agrees. He could use a rest. Fights like that one weren't something he was accustomed to, and he feels drained. His chest still aches from where the crossbow bolt pierced him, though there is no longer a wound. Healing magic was truly fascinating.

"Do we do something with the corpses, or leave them for the wildlife? I'm sure that bear would appreciate the meal should it come back this way for some reason." He adds wryly, though the joke is morbid.

Morg looks at the two corpses. "Asano, if you want to interrogate the living bandits about a larger group, and they're not co-operating, I could try and intimidate them into talking by doing the ol' "kill" the dead bodies for show."

---

This message was last edited by the player at 21:40, Thu 08 Dec 2016.

Jak frowned in thought for a moment. He grimaced slightly at the piss-poor light crossbows the bandits were using. He wasn't sure he wanted to rely on one himself. It would be a damn shame to have it give out on him or backfire in the middle of a fight.

He gave a shrug and dusted off his hands. "Maybe we should load up all the bodies along with the loot, make a good showing of just what we dealt with so that overly-suspicious and annoying lawman doesn't suspect we're the real bandits and bushwhacked and dressed up a couple of travelers to get some kind of reward."

He spat on the ground and it was clear the sheriff had left a sour taste in his mouth.

"Thank you, Morg, for the offer," Asano smiles, "I think it may be best to leave the bodies unmolested for now, though. Jakrynn does have a good point, bringing the dead bandits along would probably be the best show for the sheriff. A show that may be slightly undermined if the corpses are mutilated beyond recognition. The survivors will talk, or they won't. Either way they'll probably find justice at Red Larch." He talks while helping load the stash into the wagon, though his path clearly takes him nearer the unconscious prisoners than is absolutely needed. He watches them carefully for any sign that either of them are waking.

It takes some time sort through the various items in the cave, assess their worth, and load them onto the cart.

After about an hour, one of the bound bandits begins to stir where he is tied to the wagon. He kicks at the various goods and weapons surrounding him and blinks, then gives the group a good long stare.

"Bloody thieves - yer no good! Taking what we rightfully stole. I hope you all burn."

---

If you like this can constitute an hour's long short rest - feel free to use hit dice and/or other benefits that can happen during a short rest.

You estimate the full value of all the goods here at around 100 gold, though from previous experience you know you'll probably only receive about half that value in trade. If you're curious about the value of any individual item you can probably find it in the PHB, or just ask.

Asano listens to the bandit's affronted outburst, smiling. "First of of all," He says, smile still gracing his lips, "This isn't the Gilder frontier. Second of all, we're returning most of these goods to the people you probably stole them from. Third, and most importantly," He kneels down to eye-level with the bandit, but outside his reach, "Who are you working for? Tell me truth and I will fight for leniency in your sentence. Lie, and we'll leave you for the bear."

Despite his earlier proclamations of turning them all over to the sheriff, the hardened nature of Asano's green eyes leave little doubt in anyone's minds that he will follow through with his words.

OOC:
Persuasion- 22
This message was last edited by the player at 20:17, Fri 09 Dec 2016.

Morg tends to his injured arm and foot while listening to Asano interrogate the bandit.

---

During short rest recover HP from HD+CON mod, and recover second wind ability.

20:04, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 12 using 1d10+2 with rolls of 10.  Recover HP from HD.

Bram was relieved when the bear stormed off, but did not show much interest in the weaponry and miscellany stowed in the cave.  He jotted down a few quick notes on the encounter in his travel journal, then assisted in hauling the stolen goods into the cart, and then the dead and unconscious bandits.  On the road back to Red Larch he mused, "We've done a good thing, getting those villains off the road.  Perhaps the Constable will give us more breathing room once he hears of it."  He peered up at the sun, which was still high in the sky at this point and suggested, "The day will still be young once we've returned.  What say we pay a visit to that old tomb once we've unburdened ourselves of these scoundrels?  Whether it be haunted by spirits or mere goblins, I'd be interested to find out."

OOC: I'm at 8/11 HP, so I won't spend a HD just yet.  Here's hoping I don't suffer another crit today!

The bandit's face grows flushed, then redder and redder as Asano speaks. Finally, he barks a mirthless laugh.

"You can't threaten someone who's already lost everything he's got," the man grates through clenched teeth. "I ain't tellin' you nothing." Belying his own words, he immediately continues. "We don't work for no one, we lost everything and we got nothin' left to lose. We're just out here tryin' t'mind our own business as good honest bandits."

"Go ahead and leave us for the bear," he scoffs, "it's better than what's comin' anyway. It's comin' for you too, you know."

"An honest bandit is an oxymoron if I've ever heard one." Mayon comments as he walks over to stand beside Asano, watching the men intensely as they speak. The last part catches his attention.

"Something is coming? Well, perhaps it would be in your best interest to tell us exactly what. Perhaps we'll be a bit more lenient if you cooperate. It would be unwise to cross us in your position, after all. And as you've said, you have nothing to lose." He absently touches his fingers to his dagger as he speaks.

Since this could apply to either:
14:25, Today: Mayon Graycross rolled 13 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 10.  Persuasion.
14:26, Today: Mayon Graycross rolled 13 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 8.  Intimidation.
Wow. Lucky Number 13.
I think I'm at 5/9 HP, so I won't use a hit die just yet. I will mention that I recover my spell slots after the short rest, though. Whoo, one perk to that limited spellcasting!

"You're an oxymoron," the bandit hisses at Mayon.

"If you can't tell what's comin' I ain't gonna tell you. Wild dogs couldn't drag it outta me."

After a brief pause, the bandit again continues. "It's the end of the world," he intones, in mock solemnity. "The weather's changing. I hear tell of the dead risin' from the grave. All manner of unnatural stuff going on. It's those cults up in the Sumber Hills, mark me, they're bringin' on the Armageddon, and we're all be dead as doornails when it comes."
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:53, Fri 09 Dec 2016.

"Nothing left to lose?" Asano raises his eyebrows, reaching to remove the man's boot. "I see fingers, toes, eyes. You may not see much of a life ahead of you, but if you don't tell me what I want to know, I see your last few hours being very painful." He looks the bandit in the eyes, his gaze emotionless and cruel. "On the other hand, maybe we only found three bandits here today? Now, tell me what I want to know, or we'll start small. I only have two questions: what do you know of a man named Bastian Thermander and have you ever seen this symbol?" He makes a glowing mark in the dirt, then looks back at the conscious bandit, brow raised expectantly.

OOC:
Prestidigitation to create the following mark on the ground for a few minutes:
https://drive.google.com/file/...QVJkdG1PTFR5ZkU/view

Asano's interrogation methods were making Bram increasingly uneasy, but he seemed to be getting results.  He cocked an eyebrow at the bandit's apocalyptic fears, suddenly very interested.  He asked, "Cults in the Sumber Hills... plural?  What sort of cults?  Is there a group called the Circle of the Scarlet Moon among them, do you know?"  The half-elf flashed a glance at Asano and the symbol he'd conjured.  He wasn't really going to cut off this man's digits, was he?

Mayon cocks his head at the man's stubbornness, then shrugs. He doesn't generally like to use this little power of his, but now it feels useful. Wordlessly, he calls upon his patron's unearthly power, the very air seeming to shimmer with the presence of the Archfey's power.

"Perhaps you'll change your mind. While we're discussing names and cults, have you heard the name Marlos Urnrayle? Any information would be most useful to me, and may benefit you as well. For one thing, I may forgive the fact that one of you bastards shot me." He smiles, though it doesn't reach his eyes.

Welp, might as well do it now that I've mentioned it:
Fey Presence--Charm effect. All creatures within a 10-foot cube around Mayon must make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw against being Charmed. If that affects Asano and Bram...welp. Sorry. :P
19:38, Today: Mayon Graycross rolled 15 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 12.  Persuasion.
19:38, Today: Mayon Graycross rolled 11 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 8.  Persuasion (if with advantage, I believe if Charm succeeds)
First roll was better regardless of if it works or not.
Also, ability recovers after either a short or long rest. Going to assume that since I'm technically using it during a short rest, it won't apply until the next one.
EDIT: DC Save is actually 13. My bad!
This message was last edited by the player at 03:25, Sat 10 Dec 2016.

Bram glances toward Mayon and recognizes the pull of some sort of enchantment woven into his words, but manages to avoid being taken in by it.

---

Succeeded the save thanks to fey ancestry:

• 19:17, Today: Bramwell Caulder rolled 16 using 1d20+2.  Wisdom save advantage vs. charm.
• 19:15, Today: Bramwell Caulder rolled 4 using 1d20+2.  Wisdom save.

The bandit blanches visibly at mention of Bastian Thermander's name. "I don't know nothin' about that madman," the man shudders. "He used to run with some bandits in the area I used to know, but a few months back he joined up with those cultists in the Hills." He shudders. "Brought a few of his old gang with him, but I wouldn't join up with that crazy genasi. Seems like he's come up in the world. Lots more followers than just bandits, and... and I hear they've been messing with what they ought not to be. Evil magicks and the like."

He looks wide-eyed at the symbol Asano conjures in the dirt and shakes his head vigorously. "No, no, I never seen that symbol before! I don't know nothin' about no symbols! The only one I saw looked like some kind of half-circle, with some lines comin' out of it."

He shakes his head at Bram. "I never heard of no Circlet of the Scarred Moon. But there's for sure more than one weird group up in the Hills. Dunno if they're all cultists or not, but not folk I'm like to tangle with."

Raising an eyebrow at Mayon, he turns his head and spits. "I ain't telling you nothin'. I ain't never heard of no 'Marlon Urnface', sounds like some sorta artist-to-cratic name to me. I don't run in with those folk much."

---

By some miracle, the bandit managed to make his Wis save ;)

"I need a name or a location, friend," Asano says, his attention drifting toward Mayon as the warlock's power washed over him. He shakes his head to sharpen his thoughts, focusing back on the bandit. "I need something concrete, if you want to get out of here with enough supplies to get you to the Coast. I have a feeling this area is going to become very...inhospitable for you."

OOC:
Failed my save against Mayon's effect. lol

At the mention of cults in the Sumber Hills, Morg quickly looks up from trying to fix the chain mail covering his pierced arm.

As he listens to the questioning, something seems strange with the way Mayon asks his question, but he can't put his finger on it.

After the questioning finishes, he asks "Can you wizards check if any of these things from the cave are magical?"

---

17:25, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 15 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 14.  WIS saving throw against Mayon's fey presence charm effect.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:49, Sat 10 Dec 2016.

"I told you," the bandit growls, "I ain't tellin' you nothin'! And besides, I don't even know or want to know where Bastian is or what that lunatic is doing. He's part of some 'Cult of the Eternal Flame' or some such nonsense if the rumors are true, and I'm steering clear of them as long as I can. They'll do worse to me than you ever could, I'll warrant."

He narrows his eyes at Asano. "So cut off my fingers or my head, whatever you like, but be quick about it. You should have finished us off the first time!"