Svetlana looks at the lot of you and she says ”Thank you; thank you so much those who have offered to help; we appreciate you more than I can say...”

She takes a sip of wine and holds back her tears....
”I am not aware of the bandits having any legitimate authority they have been here several times and they have never mentioned that nor have they claimed any such thing. And what authority could threaten to force me into being prostitute?”

She chokes up again...
”Feel free to ask them; they will be here in the morning.”

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Que to begin your preparations for the arrival of the bandits

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 13:11, Mon 12 Mar 2018.

Tatyana puts a hand on Svetlana's shoulder. "Don't worry, we would never let it come to that. And while we may ask questions of the bandits in the morning, our aim is to end their preying on your fort most permanently."

She looked to the towers, and then back to Svetlana. "Tell me, those catapults on the towers - are they repaired, or as dilapidated as they seem from this distance?"

The elf nods, "Humans have odd social practices that I have little want to understand. Suffice it to say, if the ban will not take no, and no is your answer, then he will never sleep with another maiden." His visage grows dark as he finishes the last part. "Make sure your man is nearby so that he can do the deed if it comes to that."

"For now, let us drink and be merry."

Svetlana shrugs
”I would guess they are in as bad of shape as this place was when we first arrived; Oleg hasn’t even touched them.”

A quick inspection reveals....

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
These are of no use it would take a month to fix one of these.

---

Raz finishes his meandering and with casual disdain he tosses the violin and bow over his shoulders. With a twinkle they disappear in midair, returning back to whatever void they were conjured from.

"There appears to be quite a few avenues for ambush. For example, one could hide quite a few stout fighters behind these doors when they are open, wouldn't you say?

I would hope we could eliminate the whole lot in one go. I would hate for a rider to escape to warn the others or mobilize a counter-offensive. If there truly is a a score or more of bandits it would be good to thin their numbers before directly confronting them."

He paused and began gesturing around. As he spoke magical symbols wrote themselves into the air around him as he gestured to help direct his audience's attention in his typical theatrical way.

"We could pile the goods into the center of the square and let them ride in to claim them. Then when enough are dismounted we can close the gates with a couple stout fighters while archers reign down all manner of fire from on high...hmmmm"

He does another full 360 before spouting off directions.

"We could have...

• Octavia and Filarion could be positioned behind the open gates and shut them. That would demonstrate how strength is the dominate advantage in battle and let Fliarion be first into the fray with his skill of sword.
  
• Tauron, Silas, Drezghul and myself can take positions in each of the towers. Silas and Drezghul can hide in the towers flanking the gates to allow them easy ability to help reinforce Octavia and Filarion if necessary while us enchanters can be in the rear towers weaving our magic. Or perhaps we could be on the ground behind the buildings if the far towers are a bit too far. In any case just simply lying down flat with perhaps a fur covering would be sufficient to block sight from the ground.
  
• Our sneaky thief Tatyana can easily hide inside a building and help complete a pincer maneuver with our main fighters at the gates. If Drezghul or Tauron want a bit more action they they can assist as well from the ground.

"

He turns to others with a grin.

"How about that? Am I general yet? How is that for tactics!

Please take full advantage of the game map of Oleg’s trading post and the OOC thread to be ready for the morning arrival of the bandits....
And carry on here as well..

As the sunsets Oleg lights a torch and keeps hammering away on the roof.
It is not long before you hear him cursing and mumbling....
“Damnable bats flying all about my head.  Making me dizzy.”
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:45, Mon 12 Mar 2018.

Tatyana marches straight up to Razmatin in a huff. She puts her hands on her hips before one finger is jabbed toward the bard.

"You just watch who you're calling a 'thief'! I'm nothing of the sort; but I wouldn't expect a Varisian to know the difference. Point in fact, I'm a far better archer than I am with a blade, so amend your plan to have me atop one of the forward towers (she points to the forward towers) to rain arrows down on the enemy, whichever side they end up on." At this point, she smiled just a little.

"And as a second matter of fact, I'm going to see about moving or repositioning those old catapults. May give us some added cover to fire from," she grinned and giggled.

She turned and tromped off towards the south-west tower and scaled it quickly. She then set about to figure out if the catapult remains could be better positioned to provide cover. If she could, she would adjust the catapult atop the current tower, and then move to each of the other towers in turn to make similar adjustments.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=
19:12, Today: Tatyana Dec'lan rolled 19 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 10.  Knowledge: Engineering roll for catapult re-purposing.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:15, Tue 13 Mar 2018.

In reply to Razmatin Vulcovila (msg # 29):

"It seems that you've forgotten important details.", Drezghl replies coarsely.

"How many of these men are fighters or laborers?  What kind of weapons do they carry?  Are there any among them that cast spells?  Do they come on foot or horseback?  Do they ride into the gates or leave their mounts outside?  How many men remain outside the gates with the horses? Those men must be killed first so that they cannot ride to summon aid.  Many details, General."

This message was last edited by the player at 03:25, Tue 13 Mar 2018.

Silas nodded first at Razmatin's commentary and then at both Tatyana and Drezhi's responses.

"You're off to a good start Raz," he says smiling. "I will take the southwest tower, along the opening there. I can rise when the gate is closed and loose my arrows down of the wicked men. But we must make sure Oleg and Svetlana are safe and protected within the shop. If it is better that I stand out front here, to guard them I will do that as well."

He paused and then added, "Question though, is our aim to capture or kill? Though the leaders are likely lost causes, some of these men and women are likely doing what they can to survive. Perhaps some can be converted to work on our behalf?"

Taking it all in, Filarion turns to Silas and points. "See this guy?" He smiles walking over to him and patting his shoulder, "This guy gets it. Of course they'll have to stop their looting and banditry, but most of you are talking of murder. Theft of property doesn't warrant the death penalty. Besides, they might have information that is useful to us. I say we spring your trap," he nods at Razmatin, "but we offer them to join the coming civilisation. They'll have to make amends for their past crimes, but they could be offered a clean slate of they leave their barbarous ways."

Octavia took a moment to consider Raz's plan. After a few moments she nodded. “It's a good plan, although I think having over half of our forces as archers puts Filarion and myself in the most danger. Still it is a risk I will gladly accept.”

“As said in the charter, the punishment for unrepentant banditry remains, as always, execution by sword or rope. That said, I'm not much for hard rules and if someone surrenders, I would take prisoners.”
This message was last edited by the player at 07:59, Tue 13 Mar 2018.

"How about he at least leave the option for a duel to end this?" The elf says, "They could be useful and, while I will not flinch from a fight, am loathe to kill a sentient being without a trial. We should at least afford them a chance at redemption. They refuse? Well that'll be their last mistake."

A hard smile and glint in his eye indicated he is more than ready to find. "I should at least allow one to survive. After all, what's the point unless we can spread our deeds?"

Tauron had been listening to the talk while sorting out his animals.
He turns and answer the problem.
I think I have an answer.  We will down the bandits.  They will not surrender right away.
So we take as many down as we need to, to make them surrender.
Then I can look over the ones that we downed.  If I can save then I will.
So if we kill them in the fight so be it that not murder.
After the fight we save the ones we can.  Does that fit well with you Filarion Petxalim.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:54, Tue 13 Mar 2018.

"So long as we give them a chance at first to atone, then what happens happens," he nods to Tauron.

Those of you seeking some type of cover or concealment find that Oleg has left several faded brown tarps lying around the upper battlements and in other areas of the fort. Including some held in place by stones on the roof.  These tarps could easily be moved around and used to cover someone and make them more difficult to see.

Oleg begrudgingly
”Thank you; Svetlana and I are headed off to bed I will wake you all an hour before sunrise.”

Oleg extends his hand and shakes each of yours in turn.

Raz seems rather unconcerned about such things as details. He shrugs at the questions asked towards him and then grins again.

"I bit of improvisation wouldn't hurt anyone. I am about equal with bow as blade so I can hide in the house and provide aid if necessary to Octavia and Filarion.

As for moving the catapults, I would rather not touch a thing. No sense in putting the guards on alert if they notice something is off, eh?

Now for capturing the bandits, sure! While we're at it we should recruit them and press gang them into our service and take their place as lords of this land!"

Given the theatrical way he rose his voice at the end it was clear he was joking.

"If we kill them now or later what difference does it make? Oh sure we can drag out their secret bases and buried treasures but then what? Are you proposing that after months of murder and mayhem we just let them go?"

"It makes all the difference," the elf male says, "According to Svetlana and Oleg's tail, they've only been threatened and robbed." Turning to their hosts, "Unless there's more you're not telling us?"

Raz frowned at Filarion.

"Octavia like just read out the part in the charter that said banditry is punishable by death. Did you not hear her?"

"I don't think that this gang of thugs are the kind that change their ways and become farmers.   When the time comes they will say anything you want to hear to save their lives.  Better to dispatch them quickly than to fight them again later"., Drezghl said.

Oleg looks thoughtful for a second
“The man in the hood is called Happs and the woman with the axes is called Kressel.”
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:05, Tue 13 Mar 2018.

The elf's brow furrows in confusion, "Are the lives of mankind so short that there's no room for mercy? Are the babes of humans so numerous that life is so cheep? I'm not versed in the laws of humans so forgive my ignorance. If you sons and daughters of Man say they must be put down, then I will follow your leads. It is just an odd thing to me."

"All I'm asking is that we try a peaceful resolution before we hack them to bits. I will follow your lead though in this matter and if you say they are worthy of destruction, then so be it."

Raz just shrugs and smiles.

"I'm not big on the whole murder scene but one doesn't become a bandit in the River Kingdoms because they're trying to feed starving orphans. The charter does emphasize unrepented banditry so if they surrender maybe we can make them farmers..."

He drifted off and turned to Oleg.

"Hey Oleg, if we can convince some of these guys to turn from their bandtiry ways, would you be willing to put them to work? Let them work off their debts to society and become contributing members of civilization?"

Oleg raises an eyebrow
“Maybe one that has not harmed or threatened myself and Svetlana and has been tried convicted and sentenced.”

Tatyana had been listenng to the debate below while setting up archer blinds on each of the towers. As she finished the last one, she offered, "once they are inside and the gate closed behind them, offer them the obligatory chance to surrender peaceably. If they do not, then cut them down like the dogs they are," and her tone left no question as to where she stood on the subject, and she had stared at Filarion the whole time she spoke.

Oleg lites the fire pit between the two tables. He points to the guest house.

“You all can bed down there for the night, or the stables if you prefer.”


Oleg and Svetlana turn in for the evening .